OUTCAST BY LOEY ANN

CHAPTER 4: The Prophecy

The nights at Arcanum Academy wrapped the world in an eerie stillness, making the shadows dance and the air hum with secrets waiting to be discovered. On such a night, with the moon hanging low and full, Astrid found herself drawn to the academy’s ancient library once more.

The library, a labyrinth of towering shelves and dusty tomes, felt alive with the whispers of countless generations. Tonight, it’s usually a comforting embrace that felt different. There was an unsettling chill as if the air carried the weight of unseen eyes. Driven by an unexplainable pull, Astrid wandered deeper into the restricted section, an area she had never dared to explore.

Her fingers trailed along the spines of forgotten books until they stopped on one particularly ancient volume. Its cover was embossed with the same owl and crescent moon that had marked her invitation letter. She paused for a moment, with eyes filled with curiosity and her heart racing, she opened it, releasing a cloud of dust that danced in the pale moonlight streaming through the high windows.

The book's pages were yellowed with age, and its ink had faded to a sepia tone, but the words still held a powerful resonance. As she read, the room seemed to grow colder, the shadows lengthening as if the library leaned in to listen. She knew she was reading what she wasn't supposed to.

The Prophecy of the Tenth

"In the era of shadows, when the night is most profound, a child shall be born under the waning moon. With eyes of night and a heart of gold, she shall rise amidst the darkness, her spirit unbroken. Upon her arrival, the world shall face its greatest plight, for a stirring of darkness, long dormant, shall awaken.

From the union of light and shadow, an unholy bond will birth a curse. A powerful witch, Seraphina, once bright as the morning star, will fall into the embrace of a demon. Their offspring, a child of twilight, shall be the harbinger of doom, cursed to wander the earth, her soul tainted and twisted by grief and vengeance.

But in the heart of this darkness lies the potential for redemption. The tenth, with eyes that see beyond the veil, will be the key. Only she, with a spirit bright and courage unmatched, can banish the shadow and restore the light.

Her journey would be fraught with peril, her soul tested by the very forces of night. Yet, should she prevail, the balance of the universe shall be restored, and peace shall reign once more."

Astrid’s breath caught in her throat. The prophecy seemed to speak directly to her, aligning too perfectly with her own life to be a mere coincidence. A cold dread seeped into her bones as she realized the gravity of what she had read. Could she truly be the one the prophecy spoke of?

Suddenly, a whisper of movement echoed through the library, breaking the stillness. She looked up, her eyes wide with fear and curiosity. The air seemed to thicken, shadows coalescing into darker forms at the edge of her vision. The dim light flickered, casting eerie shapes that writhed like spectral serpents along the walls.

With trembling hands, she closed the book and tucked it under her arm. She felt a presence, unseen but palpable, and the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end. She hurried through the maze of shelves, the sense of urgency driving her steps. As she neared the exit, a voice, barely more than a breath, seemed to drift from the darkness.

“Find the heart of gold, the spirit bright… the shadow must be banished.”

Astrid stumbled into the corridor, her heart racing. The library doors closed behind her with a soft thud, the unsettling chill dissipating as she stepped back into the warmth of the candle-lit hallways. She leaned against the wall, trying to steady her breath and calm her racing thoughts.

The prophecy echoed in her mind, each word a heavyweight. She couldn’t shake the feeling that something dark and ancient had been awakened the moment she opened that book. As she made her way back to her dormitory, the halls seemed to stretch on longer than usual, the flickering candlelight casting eerie shadows that seemed to reach out towards her.

Inside her room, Aurora was already asleep, her soft snores a soothing reminder of normalcy. Astrid placed the book on her desk and sat on her bed, staring at it as if it might reveal more secrets. The room felt smaller, the walls closing in with the weight of her newfound knowledge.

She couldn’t ignore the connection. The prophecy suggested an unsettling truth that she might be intertwined with the dark legend of Seraphina. The thought of the rogue witch’s spirit seeking vengeance sent a shiver down her spine. Could she, Astrid, truly be the one to restore balance and banish the darkness?

After so much thinking, she decided to free her mind of the scary thoughts she had, sitting still and watching her roomate snuggle herself in her cozy bed. This made her relax and calm for a while until sleep finally claimed her. Her dreams were haunted by visions of a world engulfed in shadow and a fierce battle against a malevolent force. She saw herself standing on the precipice of an abyss, a blinding light in one hand and an unyielding darkness in the other.

The path ahead was shrouded in uncertainty, but one thing was clear: her journey was just beginning, and the true test of her courage and strength lay ahead.

The stirring of darkness had begun, and Astrid was at the heart of it.