The forest beyond Blackmoor was forbidden for a reason.
Not because of what lived in it—but because of what slept.
But now, it was the only place with answers.
Richard stood before a tight group in the stables, where magical mounts were being prepped: a shadowhorse for him, a flame-steed for Hope, a wolf-runner for Raphael, and two griffin flight harnesses for Jessa and London.
"You four are coming with me," he said. "We follow the trail from the creature's entry point. It leads east, to the Wildfire Woods. Something was buried there—something older than this school."
Jessa adjusted her spellblade with precision. "Do we even need him?" she asked, nodding at London.
Hope tensed.
London stayed silent.
Richard sighed. "He's not trained. He's not ranked. But Hope wants him here, and frankly—" he looked at London, coldly, "—I want to see what you're really made of."
Hope stepped forward. "He saved my life."
"Let's hope he doesn't have to do it again."
---
The ride into the Wildfire Woods was long, dark, and silent. Strange mist clung to the trees like webs. Even the animals had stopped making noise. Raphael, riding ahead in half-wolf form, growled low as they crossed an ancient rune-line.
"This place is cursed."
"It's sealed," Richard corrected. "Cursed implies it wasn't deserved."Hope tensed.
London stayed silent.
Richard sighed. "He's not trained. He's not ranked. But Hope wants him here, and frankly—" he looked at London, coldly, "—I want to see what you're really made of."
Hope stepped forward. "He saved my life."
"Let's hope he doesn't have to do it again."
---
The ride into the Wildfire Woods was long, dark, and silent. Strange mist clung to the trees like webs. Even the animals had stopped making noise. Raphael, riding ahead in half-wolf form, growled low as they crossed an ancient rune-line.
"This place is cursed."
"It's sealed," Richard corrected. "Cursed implies it wasn't deserved."They dismounted at the heart of the glade. Black trees. Stone totems. And in the middle—a crater filled with burned bones. Not animal. Human. Charred long ago.
Hope whispered, "What is this?"
Richard scanned the area with glowing eyes—human, but enhanced by old relics.
"This used to be a sanctuary. For magical outcasts. Hundreds of years ago, before Blackmoor existed. But they were hunted. Slaughtered. The school was built to hide the massacre."
London took a slow step forward. "So… that's what the message meant. 'The truth is buried.'"
Jessa rolled her eyes. "Thank you, Captain Obvious."
"Jessa—" Hope warned.
But London didn't flinch. He was staring into the ashes, eyes narrowing. Then suddenly, he collapsed, gasping."London?!"
Hope dropped to his side. His skin was glowing again—like embers under flesh.
"Something's here," he choked out. "Something calling me."
Richard pulled Hope back. "Don't touch him! He could explode—we don't know what he is yet."
"I do!" Hope yelled. "He's London! He's saved more people in this school than your entire Council!"
But Richard was already casting a containment spell.
"I can't take chances."
And Jessa added, "He's glowing like a bomb. You really want to risk everyone?"
But before Richard could complete the spell, the fire around London burst into a phoenix form—a massive bird of flame shielding his body. It screamed with power—shaking the trees, melting the nearby totems.
London stood.
Eyes golden. Skin aflame. Voice calm and deep.
"I know where the enemy is."
Everyone froze.
"Something left behind a memory in these ashes," London continued, glowing brighter. "I saw the one who summoned the creature. A student. They didn't do it to destroy us. They did it to awaken something beneath the school."
Hope whispered, "You're remembering things…"
London turned to her."I think I was part of whatever happened here. A long time ago. Before I was reborn."
Richard lowered his hands slowly. "You… remember?"
London stared back, the fire dying down slightly. "Not everything. But enough."
Jessa muttered, "That's impossible."
"No," Richard said, shaken. "It's not."
---
As they turned to leave the crater, the ground beneath them trembled.
A deep rumble echoed through the forest.
From the far edge of the glade, three figures emerged.
Not creatures.
Students.
One of them stepped forward, eyes glowing violet.
"Well," she said softly. "Looks like someone finally woke up."