Tara's eyes found Arib's across the crowd—
and in that fleeting moment, everything else melted away.
They smiled at each other—soft, unspoken things exchanged through a single glance.
Like magnets drawn together, they stepped forward, and Tara gently rested her head against his chest, as if this—this heartbeat—was the only place in the world that made sense.
From a little distance, Rose and Neel watched them, smiling with knowing warmth. Neel moved forward, ready to hug them both, but Rose tugged his arm and whispered,
"Let them be."
The four of them were walking back toward the Academy now, the path golden in the fading light.
Rose:
"Semester finals are coming up."
Tara:
"It's going to be tough."
Arib:
"I heard a magician is coming... to examine your magical abilities."
Rose (thoughtfully):
"A magician? That reminds me... What do you all think about the blue-coated magician?"
Neel:
"He was powerful. Strange too."
Tara:
"I'm certain he had a bigger purpose. He wasn't just here for the show."
Arib:
"What could it be?"
Rose (lowers her voice):
"There are secrets about this school we still don't know."
Tara:
"Then let's find out. We need to go to the teachers' library."
Neel (frowning):
"Why us? And... we're not even allowed in there."
Arib:
"That's why we train—to protect this school. To uncover what others won't."
Rose (suddenly grinning):
"Let's go to the beach!"
Neel:
"I'm starving first!"
Tara (laughing):
"Me too!"
Arib:
"Evening's coming. Beach now?"
Tara looked at him, her eyes wide with a quiet plea.
He sighed.
Arib:
"Okay… let's go."
---
They had dinner at a small, cozy restaurant near the beach—coconuts in hand, the sea breeze in their hair.
The sky turned lavender as night slowly brushed across the horizon.
Suddenly, Rose darted toward the water.
Tara (calling out):
"Don't get wet! We don't have extra clothes!"
Rose (shouting back):
"I knooow!"
The sea shimmered in hues of deep blue, glowing like scattered stardust—
sea sparkles dancing on every ripple.
Laughter echoed in the distance, as Rose and Neel played like children under the stars.
Tara and Arib sat quietly by the shore,
the waves gently brushing their feet—coming close, then pulling away like secrets too shy to stay.
Tara (softly):
"Do you know why the sea glows like this?"
Arib:
"Hmm… Because of plankton, right?"
Tara (smiling faintly):
"Yes… They're called the living lights of the sea."
"And did you know… some people say the sound of waves is the heartbeat of the Earth?"
Arib turned to her, and for a moment—he looked at her like a man seeing a miracle.
As if time itself had slowed to let him memorize her face.
Arib (whispering):
"I missed you."
Tara's eyes softened, deep with emotion.
Arib:
"Can I kiss you?"
Tara (playfully):
"No."
Arib (smiling):
"May I kiss you softly?"
Tara:
"Nooo."
Arib (grinning):
"Okay then… can I kiss you breathless?"
Tara (smirking):
"Always."
And in that breath,
they kissed—wildly, like they had waited lifetimes for it.
Their silhouettes blurred in the dimming light, wrapped in waves and warmth and something beautifully reckless.
---
The ocean glowed again—its sparkle gentle, magical.
Tara leaned her head on Arib's shoulder, breath steady, heart full.
Tara leaned back against the sand, Arib's arm draped loosely around her. The world felt still again. The sea shimmered softly, and the stars above blinked in gentle rhythm.
But then—
The wind stopped.
The waves froze mid-motion.
Even the air around her felt... heavier.
Tara blinked.
Suddenly, everything around her went silent.
No waves.
No stars.
No warmth.
Only cold blue light—and shadows.
She was standing.
Barefoot, knee-deep in the dark sea.
Alone.
The water stretched endlessly, black and bottomless. Above her, a sky with no stars.
The moon hung low—twisted and red, like a bleeding eye.
Then she saw him.
A silhouette.
Standing on the water, several feet away—
His long blue coat billowing, though there was no wind.
The magician.
His eyes glowed faintly. Not with fire—but with knowing.
He didn't move. He didn't blink.
But somehow—Tara heard him.
The magician's (voice echoing inside her mind):
"You've seen the edges, haven't you?"
"This world is unraveling, Tara."
"And you... you are the key they all forgot to fear."
She stepped back instinctively—her breath catching in her throat.
Tara (shaky whisper):
"Who... are you?"
But he was already fading.
His form blurred—like mist dissolving into night.
Suddenly—
A hand touched her shoulder.
She flinched—gasping.
Arib's voice, urgent:
"Tara! Are you okay?"
She looked around.
She was back.
The sea was glowing again.
Laughter echoed distantly.
The wind was moving.
Everything... normal.
But Tara's heart was still racing.
She looked back at the water, eyes searching for the silhouette—but there was nothing.
Just ripples.
Tara (murmurs):
"He was here..."
Arib:
"What? Who?"
Tara (to herself):
That magician.
---
The Next Morning
A low buzz of curiosity echoed through the halls.
All students were called to the Auditorium.
Tara (whispers to Zoya):
"Do you know what's happening?"
Zoya:
"A magician is coming—for the semester finals."
Rose (eyes wide):
"So… the rumors were true."
From the crowd, whispers:
Student 1:
"I heard he's insanely powerful."
Student 2:
"I heard he used to be a teacher here…"
Suddenly, Miss Nyla and other teachers entered.
Miss Nyla (firmly):
"Silence. Principal Z is here."
Principal Z (calmly):
"Good morning, students. As you know, semester finals are near. New students will be joining soon. But this year—someone special will evaluate you."
"A former teacher of Eclipse Academy has returned—Mr. Valen Dusk."
Mr. Valen Dusk stepped forward.
Calm.
Charismatic.
Mysterious.
A hush fell over the hall.
A single name echoed in Tara's ears like thunder.
It's him.
The blue-coated magician.
The one who once kidnapped the girls.
Tara looked at Rose.
Tara " I have to tell you something. "
Their eyes met.
Their hearts were pounding.
His piercing eyes swept across the students—
Until they locked on Tara.
And he smiled.
---
Chapter Ends