Eldryn Academy Of Elementals

The hallways of the Grandmasters' Tower were quiet as Mira stepped through the stone arch leading back into the dormitory wing. Her boots echoed softly on the polished black-marble floor as the flickering lights of suspended flame-crystals led the way. The weight of the meeting pressed against her, not as dread, but as a heavy truth finally spoken aloud.

She paused outside the dormitory chamber she shared with Aria. The door was ajar, warm light spilling out. She pushed it open gently-and before she could even step fully inside-

"Mira!" Aria jumped up from the floor cushion where she had been cross-legged, scribbling into a notebook. Her face lit with relief. "There you are! You've been gone for ages-what happened?"

Mira barely had time to remove her satchel before Riven, leaning against the far windowsill, folded his arms and added, "We were starting to wonder if you fell into another secret chamber again."

A small laugh escaped Mira's lips as she dropped onto a cushion between them. "Honestly... not far off."

Aria blinked. "Wait-you're serious?"

Mira nodded, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Alright. Sit tight, both of you. Because I have a lot to explain."

She told them everything-starting from the moment she stepped into the forest alone and felt the wrongness in the air. About the masked man, the rune trap, the casting of the teleportation spell. How the Eclipse Gryphon, one of Ashen's bonded creatures, had come to her aid just in time. And how the Lumephyr had taken her away the moment she broke free.

As she spoke, the warmth in the room dimmed, replaced by tension and wide eyes.

"You... what?!" Aria gasped, clutching Mira's arm. "Why didn't you tell us sooner?"

"Because I needed to talk to the Grandmasters first," Mira said gently. "They needed to know. And now that they do, they've confirmed it-the man was working for Vasryn. One of three informants sent into the convergence zone."

Riven's jaw tightened. "And you were the target."

"Not just me. Any of the multi-elementals. But yes... I was the one they tried to take."

He stood and paced once, fists clenching at his sides.

Aria's expression darkened. "And they think it's over now? Just because one was captured?"

Mira shook her head. "No. That's why we had the meeting. The Academy is making changes. For us-students like me, from the mortal world."

She leaned forward.

"They don't want us going back during term breaks anymore. It's not safe. Last time, the Tide Skimmer was almost compromised. This time I was nearly kidnapped. They're creating a secure, protected space within the Elemental world. So we can stay here when classes are out."

Aria exchanged a glance with Riven, then nodded slowly. "Honestly, I'm relieved. I've been worried about that exact thing happening. I mean, your vacation was anything but relaxing." Riven said.

"And mine was nearly worse," Mira admitted. "I was going to tell my parents I was flying back to MIT again. But now... I don't know."

Riven raised an eyebrow. "You've already used the MIT cover twice."

"I know," Mira groaned, sinking her face into her hands. "They're going to expect pictures, campus updates, something new. I can't just vanish every time a new term rolls around."

Aria chewed her lip. "What if... we upgrade the lie?"

Mira lifted her head. "Huh?"

"You were accepted to MIT's undergraduate program, right?" Aria said. "What if you tell them you got into an elite global research fellowship through MIT? Something off-grid, something experimental. A joint project between institutions. That would explain the travel, the remoteness, even the secrecy."

"Oh," Riven added with a smirk, "and they can't ask too many questions because you signed a nondisclosure agreement."

Mira stared at them, stunned. "You two are terrifyingly good at this."

"Hey, we're just trying to keep you from being dragged into a void portal by a cultist," Aria said, flipping her braid behind her shoulder.

Mira chuckled, the tension in her chest easing. "Alright. A fellowship. MIT Global Element-uh, Global Research Fellowship. I'll draft something. Maybe I need to contact Jason, he can help me forge a nice cover."

Riven nodded. "He's sharp. If anyone can make it look real, it's him."

The three fell silent for a moment, letting the reality of the plan settle in.

"Classes start again tomorrow," Aria finally said. "Feels like we just came back."

"Because we did," Riven said dryly. "I'd forgotten what a mattress felt like after sleeping on tree roots and moss for a week."

Mira leaned her head back against the wall. "Do we know what we're starting with?"

"Defense and Battle Techniques," Aria replied, holding up the new timetable. "Grandmaster Pyrrhus in the morning. And then Elemental Adaptation in the afternoon."

Riven winced. "Pyrrhus first thing in the morning. Fantastic."

Mira laughed. "Better get to bed early, then."

They sat in comfortable quiet for a few more moments, the firelight dancing in their eyes.

Then Mira stood. "I'll go draft that letter to my parents before bed. And maybe tell Jason the new plan."

Aria stood too, stretching. "Tomorrow... we go back to training."

Riven grinned. "And this time, with our creatures on our side."

Mira's smile lingered long after they said goodnight.

This time, she wasn't hiding to survive. She was planning to thrive.

And she wasn't alone.

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