MasukJulianna POV
Training days blurred together like bruises.
Every dawn, I found myself standing in the courtyard of Sylvaren Academy’s western grounds, hands shaking from the cold, waiting for Kaelen. He was always early—already meditating, his silver hair sharp as glass, his eyes colder than frostbite.
“You’re late,” he said the moment I stepped into the circle.
“It’s sunrise,” I muttered.
“Then you should’ve been here before it rose.” His tone didn’t rise, d
Cameron POVI woke up in the middle of Professor Elowen’s strategy class.A sharp tang of aged paper hung in the air, mixed with something electric - leftover traces of mana lingered still buzzing under layers of chalk residue. Light poured sideways through high panes, setting tiny specks glowing like sparks caught mid-fall. Nothing seemed out of place. Not a single thing felt wrong.Finding my spot by the window, I flipped the notebook wide, fingers curled around the pen. Up near the chalkboard, Kaid moved fast beside Lily, sketching shapes that tangled into plans most could not follow. Leaning close to the plaster, Scott held still, one brow lifted after a quiet word from Lila. Everyone else stayed silent, gazes fixed where power usually spoke first.From the chalkboard, Professor Elowen shifted her weight. She faced away slowly.“Cameron,” she said, voice calm and expectant. “Simple question. If a phoenix is cornered by t
Caleb POVRunning before my eyes even opened.Frozen ground shook under each step. Needles slapped skin, sharp and sudden. Shapes rushed by without names. Wet wool filled the air, mixed with something metallic - iron close, too close.I was alone.But I could feel him.Cameron.Down the road a piece. Pain shows up. It speaks its name.“Caleb… help…”A thin call split the air between trunks - trembling, quiet, just like that day long ago when he tumbled from the big oak and his breath caught sharp.I ran faster.Something in the trees pushed back. My sleeve caught on a splintered limb. Up ahead, roots lifted from the soil like warnings. Cold air twisted at my feet, thick with fog.“Caleb… it hurts…”Faster, I drove myself forward. Fire filled my chest with each breath. Then - scent hit me. His blood first. Next came sweat, thick and sour. Under it al
Kaid POVFog filled the air when I woke. Broken pieces lay everywhere around me.Nothing left of the courtyard now. Holes pocked the earth where steps once led. Fire climbed jagged rock, reaching skyward. Shapes writhed through smoke, bending without bones. Pupils sprawled in uneven heaps - one coughing, another not moving at all. Red trails marked the stones between them.Fingers slick, the stuff clung thick before I even noticed.Blood soaked my hands, climbing past the wrist. The claws jutted forward, stretched beyond their usual size, unsteady. They glistened, wet, hanging low under their own weight.“What… did I do?”A shriek tore into the fog.Scott.Down he knelt, two dozen paces off, hands pressed tight against his ribs. Red spread across the fabric of his clothes. From that distance, his gaze caught me - those ocean-colored eyes I had seen since childhood.Kaid…” He spoke softly.
Elias POVMy eyes flew open with a shout. Screaming filled the room as I came awake.The belt pressed hard against my chest before I even moved. Down spun the car - ripping metal, shattering glass, sky swapping with ground without warning. This moment had been lived before. That shirt clung tight. Beaten shoes on the floor. Fear rising like smoke."Stop!" I shouted, the very word ripped from me again like before. "Just stop fighting."A loud crash against the metal rail. Smoke rises. The vehicle trembles, teeters at the edge. After that, a slow fall into empty space. Noise fades. Only wind now. Ground far below.The wheels turned. One time. Then again. A third spin. Metal bent down from above. My legs stuck beneath the panel, mashed, lifeless, broken somehow. Blood spilled into my throat. Mother shouted from up ahead. Father said nothing - nothing at all.Fires rose out of the motor’s core.I couldn’t move.Frozen g
Solara POVAwake now, staring at gray steel, sharp scents filling the air around me.The Purity lab.Light bounced off pale walls. Overhead, the glow stung my eyes. Restraints dug into skin at arms and legs. Back in this place once more. Same as when they first dragged me away.“No… not this place again.” The words left my throat sharp, shaky. “Let me go.”I tried to summon fire. Just a spark. Nothing. My phoenix flames — the one thing that always came when I needed them — refused to answer.Out of nowhere, a known voice filled the air from the speakers.“Subject 47. Solara Phoenix project. Let’s begin the mana extraction process.”A sudden movement broke the silence as the doorway parted. It opened by itself, without a sound.Faces peeked from under hoods, coated in plastic shields. A figure stepped forward, gripping glass that hummed with light inside.
Lyra POVI opened my eyes to find the chandelier was already dripping with a liquid, it was blood.Just as the light shined through crimson crystal, making every turning a reflection scarlet. The grand dining hall of the Bloodworth mansion, a room so huge it stretched around me, marble floors gleaming, walls lined with portraits of my grandmother whose eyes always seemed to follow you wherever you went. My black velvet dress hung loose on narrow shoulders, lace sleeves swallowing my hands. The chair beneath me felt too big; my feet didn’t quite touch the floor.I looked down at my plate. A single crystal goblet sat there, half-full of thick, dark liquid. Still warm. The scent hit me—copper and iron and something sweeter, like rotting roses.My stomach turned.The long table was set for a ceremony. Candles burned with red flames. My family sat in their places: Taylor on the left, posture perfect, elder-sister smile already sharpene
I walked out of the Chairman's office, scratching my head in contemplation. The conversation had left me with more questions than answers. The Chairman's words echoed in my mind: "You'll be joining the Thane's team, Julianna. You're the only human at Paranormal High, and we need someone to strong en
MeanwhileLila POVAs Scott and Julianna vanished from sight, we all exclaimed in unison, "No!"Kaid, still in his bat form, urged us to keep moving forward."Keep moving! The Jumpers are right behind us.Suddenly, I felt an energy surge."We must be close to the Shadowwoods' exit," I said.Lily nodded. "Y
Julianna POV "Here we are," Lila said, her voice filled with reverence.Welcome to Eir's Stream. As we approached the tranquil waters, my jaw dropped in awe. Eir's Stream was renowned for its magical properties, healing wounds and replenishing mana."Okay, everybody, drink up and recharge before we co
As we stood before the breathtaking waterfalls, the tranquil atmosphere was a stark contrast to the danger lurking within the Maze."This won't be a easy." Scott said, his gaze flicking to me."Especially since we have to babysit Julianna," he added, a sly grin spreading across his face.I rolled my ey







