Episode 19 – Shadows and Whispers
Clover's eyes widened as the shadow at the doorway stepped into the classroom. Sunlight glinted off her hair, catching shades of deep brown and gold, falling just past her shoulders. Every student seemed frozen, their chatter vanished
Clover blinked rapidly. His heart skipped. She… she's beautiful… His mind reeled, a half-remembered dream surfacing—the twilight-colored girl, face hidden, standing alone. Could this be her?
The girl's voice was soft yet commanding. "Good afternoon," she said, stepping fully into the light. Her presence seemed to pull the air around her, subtle and magnetic.
Clover's jaw went slack. He barely registered that he had lowered his backpack to the floor. Aurora, who clover thought is in his room, flickered faintly—but unbeknownst to Clover, she had quietly slipped into the classroom with him, observing the new energy.
Meanwhile, Lionel Hawthorne, still flustered and dramatic, spun on his heels, waving his hands wildly. "Ah! Influence! Power! Persuasion! Look! Behold!" He nearly tripped over his own chair and waved a globe like a conductor's baton.
Miss Elara Talon sighed audibly. "Lionel, please. Focus."
But Lionel was unstoppable. "No, no, no! Students! Observe! Every gesture, every glance! This is how society bends to the aware!" He flailed, sending a stack of papers fluttering across the room like confetti. Students ducked and giggled nervously.
Rina stifled a laugh. Ty muttered, "This kid's gonna need therapy if he survives here." Jax smirked and leaned back, watching Clover like he'd just walked into a live experiment.
Clover barely noticed, still lost in the shadow's presence. The girl—tall, poised, around 5'7"—moved slowly past the desks, eyes briefly meeting his. For a heartbeat, Clover felt like time itself had slowed. This… this is her. She must be.
A whisper in his mind—the girl from my dream… twilight light…—simmered, sending a thrill of anticipation down his spine.
Aurora's faint glimmer, hidden in his sleeve, shifted restlessly. She sensed the power and subtle aura radiating from the new student. This is no ordinary girl, she hissed silently.
Lionel, oblivious to everything but his own excitement, flopped dramatically onto a desk. "Ah! Observe the world! Feel the art of influence!" Papers flew again. Miss Talon's eyes narrowed dangerously.
"Lionel!" she barked. "Sit. Down. Now."
The girl—Elizabeth Hemsworth—paused, watching the chaos with an amused tilt of her head. Her calm poise contrasted sharply with the room's absurd energy.
Clover could barely breathe. He swallowed hard, unaware that Aurora had fully merged into her physical presence , watching the girl silently.
His mind raced: Could this be the girl from my dream? Twilight-colored light,
mysterious… He didn't even notice that all the other students were staring too, each caught in the tension of this new arrival.
The bell hadn't rung yet, but the classroom felt suspended in time, every eye locked on her. Clover's fingers twitched slightly at the edge of his desk, instinctively reaching for a notebook to jot… something.
Elizabeth moved toward the empty seat in the center of the room, her steps smooth and deliberate. She glanced at Clover for a heartbeat, a subtle, almost imperceptible smile tugging at her lips.
Clover's thoughts spiraled: Her… her aura… is different. I've never felt anything like this.
Lionel, still recovering from his theatrics, flailed again, pointing at the girl. "Ah! Observe! See! Power! Grace! Influence!" He toppled backward into a pile of chairs, eliciting a collective gasp and snickers from the class.
Miss Talon pinched the bridge of her nose. "Lionel. Enough. Just—introduce the student properly.
But clover was thinking into the mystery of Elizabeth—the shadow from the doorway, the girl from his dreams bathed in twilight-colored light.
And in that moment, even Aurora inside Aetherfang stiffened slightly. This… is someone to watch closely.
The classroom buzzed with tension, humor, and curiosity all at once. Every student,
every glance, every movement felt magnified. And Clover… Clover knew, somewhere deep in his chest, that today's first meeting would ripple far beyond a simple introduction.
The bell rang—but for Clover, time seemed to hold still.
Who… really is she?
The sun shone brightly over the Vanguard Hall exercise yard. Students were scattered across the field, warming up or sparring in pairs. Clover walked in, rubbing the back of his neck, still half-asleep but trying to look confident.
A shadow fell over the yard. Darius
Branson—the legendary English teacher, former boxer, and living embodiment of intimidation—strode into view. Towering at 6'5", muscles rippled under his tight shirt as he surveyed the students. His deep voice carried across the yard:
"Everyone, shut up. Eyes forward."
The usual chatter evaporated. Even Jax "Knuckles" Durrant, leaning casually by the bleachers, froze mid-snicker, noticing Branson's gaze. He had been trying to bully a freshman, but one look at Branson's grin, and the smirk left his face. Every student felt it: fear and
respect in one glance.
Branson's eyes landed on Clover. "Ah… so this is the new kid. I hope you're ready. Today's about skill, strength, and focus. Don't disappoint me—or anyone else here."
Clover swallowed nervously but tried to maintain composure. He had faced challenges before, but this was different.
"
Miss Talon," Branson added, his tone softer but commanding, "ensure he's ready. No excuses." Miss Elara Talon's lips curved slightly. "Of course." She nudged Clover toward the center of the yard. "Yeager, your turn. Step in. Now.
Uh… seriously? Clover muttered. Talon's gaze hardened. "Now. Or I'll make your shoes float to the roof." Clover Step forward
From the sidelines, Ty and Jax grinned mischievously, holo-camera ready. Ty whispered, "This is going to be hilarious… or tragic."
"Shut it," Jax muttered, though he was clearly entertained.
At the center, Kade "Slip" Roderick stepped up, grinning slyly. "So, the new guy thinks he can take me on?"
Clover tightened his grip on his practice sword. "We'll see
Branson clapped once, the sound echoing. "One-on-one. No powers, just skill. Hand-to-hand, weapons allowed. Begin."
Kade lunged, fast and aggressive, aiming to overwhelm Clover with pure speed. Clover dodged and parried, each clash of their wooden blade ringing sharply. Sparks seemed to fly off Kade's attacks—not literally, but the intensity made everyone in the yard tense.
From Clover's perspective, something shifted. Each time Kade pressed too hard, Clover found himself reacting with uncanny timing, almost instinctively. He had no idea that Aurora, outside the classroom, flickered faintly in the open window, subtly nudging his reflexes, redirecting minor missteps. Clover thought it was his own skill.
The fight escalated. Kade's confidence began to crack. Sweat dripped from his brow as Clover's strikes became more precise. Ty and Jax were recording every move, Ty whispering gleefully,
"This is gold for the boss…
A sudden feint from Clover—a move he hadn't consciously planned—made Kade stumble. Clover pressed forward, weapon striking lightly but decisively. Kade froze, chest heaving.
The yard was silent. Everyone stared, mouths slightly open. Even Jax's smirk had vanished. Kade, the sly, confident trickster, had lost.
Branson's booming laughter broke the silence, though it was more amused than angry. "Excellent work, Yeager! That's what I'm talking about!" His smile was rare but commanding. "Skill, focus, and composure under pressure!"
Kade groaned, rubbing his jaw. "I… I can't believe I lost…"
Ty whispered to Jax, grinning. "Payback time." He uploaded the video directly to their so-called boss—not viral, just enough to make trouble.
Miss Talon crossed her arms, eyebrow raised. "Clover, you didn't have a choice—your performance had to match expectations. Well done, though… unexpectedly clean."
Clover, flushed with both effort and relief, wiped sweat from his brow. "Uh… thanks… I guess…"
From the bleachers, Elizabeth watched silently, arms folded, her presence
commanding but elegant at 5'7". Her sharp gaze made Clover forget the fight entirely for a moment. He thought of the dream again: a girl bathed in twilight light, face hidden… could this be her?
Meanwhile, Aurora twitched faintly, glowing softly outside the classroom, content with her invisible assistance. Clover remained oblivious.
Branson clapped once more, drawing the students' attention. "Remember, strength isn't just brute force. It's control, strategy, and heart. Everyone, reset!
The tension lifted, replaced by murmurs and laughter. Kade shot Clover a grudging nod, Ty and Jax whispered excitedly, and Elizabeth gave a slight, almost approving nod before stepping back.
Miss Talon's gaze lingered on Clover. "Yeager. Don't think the first victory means you can slack off."
Clover glanced at his sword, then back at Elizabeth, then at Aurora's faint glow in his mind. "Not… slacking… I promise."
The yard buzzed again, but now everyone knew one thing: Clover Yeager could fight. And with subtle, unseen forces at play, he might just be more dangerous than anyone anticipated.
Notes Characters Introduced
Daruis Bronson "Stone" Kade 6.5 age 40 vanguard hall Wing English teacher A Ex boxer essentia type Ehancer
Elizabeth Hemsworth The mayor daughter you hear from her soon