✨ Chapter 29 – Cracks in the Walls
The next morning came too quickly.
Ariana hadn't slept much. She spent most of the night watching over Aster, feeling the faint lunar bond pulse softly between them like a heartbeat.
But Aster was still resting peacefully when Ariana finally slipped out of the infirmary to make it to her first class.
The moment she stepped into the hallway, normal academy life hit her like a wave.
Students laughed.
Groups hurried to class.
Magic flared in the air like sparks from a fire.
It should've been comforting.
Instead, Ariana felt… uneasy.
Her wolf paced inside her restlessly.
**"The traitor breathes the same air."**
Ariana hugged her books tighter.
---
## **Elemental Theory Class**
Professor Helran stood at the front, a stern man with a sharp jaw and eyes that glinted like steel.
"Today," he began, "we will practice controlled elemental projection. Gentle techniques, nothing explosive. Try not to destroy my classroom."
Multiple students glanced at Rylan.
He grinned proudly.
Ariana took her seat, Kai sliding into the one beside her. As always, the Pillars sat a row behind them.
A few moments later—
Seraphina Vale walked in.
Her presence drew eyes like magnets.
Her hair shone golden in the morning light.
Her uniform was perfect, her steps elegant.
She walked straight to Kai.
And sat on his other side.
Ariana blinked.
There were at least fifteen empty seats.
But sure. That's fine. That's normal.
Seraphina's perfume drifted in the air — roses and something sweet.
"Good morning, Kai," she whispered, smiling warmly.
Kai nodded politely. "Morning."
Then Seraphina casually leaned in, brushing invisible lint from his shoulder.
Ariana's wolf immediately snapped.
**"Touching."**
Ariana's jaw tightened.
Kai didn't seem to notice what she was doing — or the way Ariana stiffened.
"Are you okay?" Kai asked softly, turning toward Ariana.
She nodded way too quickly.
"Fine! Fine. Perfectly fine."
Seraphina didn't even try to hide her smirk.
Professor Helran clapped his hands.
"Partners!"
Ariana stiffened again.
Helran pointed without looking up. "Sterling, you're with Vesper."
Ariana felt relief flood her.
Then—
"And Vale, you may join them."
Ariana's relief shattered.
"Professor—" Kai began.
"No complaints," Helran said firmly. "A three-person team will do you good."
Ariana exhaled through her nose. Kai rubbed the back of his neck awkwardly. Seraphina beamed with a sugary smile.
Ariana glared at her textbook like it had personally offended her.
---
## **Training Begins**
"Alright," Kai said gently, "we just have to work together, okay?"
Ariana nodded stiffly.
Seraphina rested a hand on Kai's forearm as she leaned forward to look at the assignment.
"So, Kai," she purred, "should we start with your energy as the base?"
Ariana nearly snapped the pencil in her hand.
Kai cleared his throat and pulled his arm away.
"We use Ariana's energy. Her light stabilizes mine."
Seraphina's tone sharpened.
"Oh? She stabilizes you?"
Ariana flushed.
Kai stared at Seraphina. "Yes."
Seraphina tilted her head at Ariana.
"That's… impressive. Especially for someone so new."
Ariana felt heat rush to her cheeks — anger, embarrassment, or jealousy, she wasn't sure.
She planted her feet and lifted her hand, conjuring a small orb of light.
Kai mirrored the movement with his sun-flame aura.
Seraphina added a charm shimmer, merging her golden aura with theirs.
For a moment, the three energies hovered gently.
Then Seraphina leaned in too close to Kai again, distracted him—
And the orb exploded.
BOOM.
Smoke filled the air.
Seraphina shrieked.
Kai coughed.
Ariana stumbled back.
When the smoke cleared—
Kai's hair was standing up in random directions.
Seraphina's curls were frizzing.
Ariana had soot on her nose.
Aster would have laughed herself silly.
Professor Helran sighed deeply.
"Miss Vale, if you flirt with your partner during casting again, I will pair you with the exploding cauldron."
The class burst into laughter.
Seraphina's cheeks flushed pink.
Kai covered his face.
Ariana bit back a smile — just a little.
Seraphina glared at Ariana as if it were somehow *her* fault.
---
## **Cafeteria Break**
Ariana tried to sneak out quickly after class.
Kai called after her, "Ariana, wait!"
She didn't wait.
Not until Kai caught up with her outside the cafeteria.
"I'm sorry," he said immediately.
"She just… ignores boundaries."
Ariana shook her head quickly.
"It's fine."
Lie.
"It's just class."
Lie.
"I don't care."
Biggest lie of the day.
Kai frowned, stepping closer.
"You smell jealous."
Ariana almost choked.
"I—WHA—NO I— WHAT—?!"
Kai blinked in horror.
"I MEANT— you sound tense! I said sound tense!"
Ariana crossed her arms, mortified.
"Just… stop talking."
Kai nodded, equally mortified.
"Stopping."
They stood in awkward silence for a moment.
Until Rylan appeared, draping an arm around Ariana's shoulders.
"Well if it isn't the lovebirds—"
Ariana elbowed him in the ribs.
Hard.
Kai flushed scarlet.
Calen sipped his drink with a smirk.
"Seraphina's perfume hit you again?"
Ariana groaned.
"Can we please not—"
Zane arrived, looking grim.
"Ariana. Kai. We found something."
Ariana straightened instantly.
"What?"
Zane held up a scrap of cloth — a piece of deep navy fabric embroidered with silver thread.
A crest.
Ariana recognized it instantly.
"That's… a Prefect's cloak."
Kai's expression darkened.
"A Prefect opened the barrier?"
Zane nodded.
"This fabric was caught in the vines inside the greenhouse."
Ariana's heart hammered.
"A Prefect is the traitor."
Zane lowered his voice.
"And not just any Prefect."
He turned the fabric over.
On the inside, softly embroidered:
**L.V.**
Ariana froze.
Kai's eyes narrowed.
"Loren Vale."
Ariana's breath caught.
"Seraphina's brother."
---
## **Later, In the Corridor**
Students bustled around Ariana as she walked toward her next class. Her mind raced.
Loren.
Seraphina's arrogant older brother.
A Prefect.
A traitor?
Her wolf growled quietly.
**"He hides rot beneath polished skin."**
Suddenly—
Aster's voice whispered in her mind.
*Moon-sister… there's a hole… a hole in the shield…*
Ariana nearly tripped.
"Aster?"
The little girl's voice trembled through their lunar link.
*Someone poked the barrier again… tiny little hole… on the west side… the bad things are watching…*
Ariana's pulse skyrocketed.
She broke into a run.
"Kai!" she shouted through the bond.
Kai appeared almost instantly from around the corner.
"Ariana? What's wrong?"
"Aster feels a hole in the wards. West side."
Kai's expression hardened.
"Zane already found residue on the eastern side. That means—"
"Two holes," Ariana whispered.
"Two breaches."
Kai grabbed her hand.
"This wasn't random."
Ariana swallowed.
If Loren was the traitor…
If he was working with Rebirth…
Seraphina had no idea.
Ariana's chest tightened.
"We need to tell the Headmaster. Now."
Kai nodded, pulling her along.
But her wolf whispered in fear:
**"Rebirth moves on silent feet… and the next strike will not be subtle."**
A/n: guess which prefect it is