hung heavily in the air, an un

m blared, yet the principal's office radiated the tension of a courtroom awaiting a verdict. Across from her, the principal sat with her lips pressed into a thin l

y, each word dragging like splinters across the surface of her composure.

enveloped

uld she po

time and detonating the lab? Not to men

red a single nod, me

al continued, adjusting her glasses with deliberate precisi

he expecte

redulous. "But the specialist from our partner clinic suggested your glow might be a chemical

stood and navigated th

an stood near a tray of instruments that seemed oddly out of place more antique than medical. Her presence fel

she instru

obeyed, her

she checked Seraphine's vitals, an unr

like this has happened?" the woman in

notting in her stomach. "What do

rely reassuring gesture. "No. I mean... gl

Staring in disbelief, she aske

ed, her tone soothing. "I know you possess powers.

phine's throat. "Who are yo

n reached into her coat

eal. Seraphine's name was written across the f

Seraphi

invited to enroll at

re both. Your powers and identity are what ma

he Full Green Moon and th

Nyx Thorneveil of

tail. There was no return address, no postage, only a sin

sed through her, pulling her toward it as if something ins

ht is the Full Green Moon. If you truly come, we'll provi

here? There's no address! I can't jus

rupted. "Use the key. Any door. At midnight. In

! What is Aetherborn Academy? What's a Full Gree

e. You never have. Aetherborn is where your people are. Wher

she glided tow

aphine shouted

hind the fabric and vanishe

nding the sickbay empty, no sign of the w

the letter again and again, ab

earbuds in, absorbed in his phone, obl

e mansion, dusk draped the

ed in the hallway, her arms

huh?" she asked, a half-

espond; instead, she

read the name. She recoiled as though th

met her gaze.

r. "My abuela used to tell tales of cursed letters and magic schools that only re

inside Seraphine, ignitin

excitement and fear. "Time... it froze. I was in it, yet also outside of it. I don't even know

he rubbed her temples, muttering softly in her nati

e careful. If anyone overhears you talking li

whispered, the question h

d Seraphine's cheek. "Even if you are... you're n

ded, her heart c

hed by her window, her fingers clutching the key tightly, eyes fixed on

night, something inside

rabbed only the key and the mysterious

matter how fantastical o

ast the stillness of the kitchen, towards the forgott

doubt flicker

herself, sliding the s

click, the air a

, shimmering as the doorway

anterns that danced in the air. A green carpet stret

't her world

it was where sh

haled sharply,

mined step, she cro

..