Page 25 of Secrets and Shadows

My expression remains neutral as I nod, my gaze shifting to the ever-watchful crow perched beside her. While I still don’t believe Lilith has any connections with the Rogues, keeping a close eye on her will ensure I can keep her safe if she becomes a target.

“Consider it done.”

An hour later,I find Lilith in the gardens, her nose buried in a book from the library. She’s seated by the Withering Oak, its bare branches casting fragmented shadows that envelop her in partial darkness. The cover ofThe History of Shadowsis unmistakable as she flips through the pages quickly. I can’t help but wonder what she’s searching for.

I take a moment to observe her: her dark hair, streaked with purple, is pulled into a messy braid, with a few rebellious strands falling across her face. Her all-black attire and heavy boots standout against her fair skin, while her gray eyes remain fixed on the book, completely unaware of my presence.

Finally, she glances up at me. “You know it’s impolite to stare, right?” she says, closing the book with a snap.

A smile tugs at the corners of my lips at her casual greeting, and I slide my hands into my pockets as I step closer. “My apologies; I didn’t mean to intrude. But since we’ll be spending a lot of time together from now on, I thought it would be a good idea to talk and get to know each other better…”

“Wait… You’re going to be my mentor?” Lilith interrupts, a small smile tilting the corner of her lips upward. “I thought we were supposed to be paired with our mentors in a few days.”

We haven’t chatted much outside of class, and when we have, it was usually just about instructions. So the fact that she’s being so informal right now sends a small thrill through me—one that I quickly dismiss.

I shrug. “Sometimes connections happen sooner than expected. With the current tension in the realm, it’s not surprising we’d be linked early. That said, how familiar are you with the whole process?”

Lilith hesitates for a moment, her piercing gaze studying me with curiosity. Her stunning gray eyes, flecked with tiny hints of purple, are an unusual detail I’ve never seen on anyone else, and I find it hard to look away.

“I know you’ll essentially be watching my every move,” she says, her tone cautious.

A small chuckle escapes me. “That’s one way to put it. But the reality is that while the academy may provide you with all the technical and theoretical knowledge, our true power comes from how we adapt to situations that aren’t covered in textbooks. My role is to ensure you face those real-world scenarios and learn to handle them effectively. So yes, we’ll be spending a lot of timetogether, but I hope you don’t feel like I’m constantly hovering over you.”

“Understood,” Lilith replies, nodding as she waves a hand between us. “When do we start?”

I gesture toward her book. “As soon as you’re done reading about the Shadows. If you have any questions, I’m happy to answer them.”

With that, Lilith stands up, brushing off her black pants as she shifts her weight from one foot to the other, clearly contemplating whether to voice her thoughts. There’s a flicker of something more in her eyes, and I find myself wanting to uncover every little detail in that pretty head of hers.

“I know that everyone’s experience is different,” she begins cautiously, “but I’m curious… What was the Shadowing like for you?”

Her questions always catch me off guard, and basically confirms that something unusualdidhappen to her in the forest.

Memories of my own experience flood back to me, as vivid as if they were yesterday instead of almost four years ago.

“Summoning my Shadow wasn’t too difficult. Taming and controlling it, on the other hand, proved to be quite a challenge. The damn thing nearly killed me,” I say with a wry smile. “With great power comes great unpredictability. Shadows can be fickle, especially Predators, and they might even turn on you once summoned. It’s our responsibility to shape and mold them to our will. That said, there are rare cases where a bond forms immediately between a person and their Shadow, particularly in moments of danger.”

I pause to watch her reaction. Lilith listens intently, but her expression remains unreadable. Feeling a surge of curiosity, I decide to take a risk and see if she’ll open up about her own experience.

“Do you want to talk about what happened to you in the forest?” I ask gently.

Her unreadable expression finally cracks, and she swallows hard, a tight line forming at the corners of her mouth. It’s clear she isn’t ready to discuss her experience yet. “Maybe some other time,” she murmurs, her voice barely above a whisper. “It was... more intense than I expected.

I can imagine. The way Vaughn said she looked when she emerged from the forest is a testament to that.

I give her a reassuring smile, knowing that trust isn’t built overnight. “At least it’s behind you now. You won’t have to go through that again. Now, come on. I want to show you something.”

We walkin silence toward the secluded training grounds just outside the academy. Nestled at the forest’s edge, it’s an ideal spot for those seeking solitude. Few students venture here, especially newcomers, as they often associate the forest with their Shadowing ceremony and tend to avoid it. This area is also beyond the academy’s protective shield.

Personally, it’s one of my favorite spots because of the privacy it offers, making it perfect for one-on-one training with Lilith.

As we reach the clearing, I notice the circular patches where the grass has long since withered, scorched from countless magic practices. The place is deserted—good. My gaze flickers to Lilith, who seems to be scanning the looming trees as if searching for something.

“Ready?” I ask, bringing her attention back to me.

She blinks, pulling her gaze from the forest and nods. “Yeah, let’s get started.”

Rolling up my sleeves, I step into the circular patch of dirt. Lilith has already shown that she’s more advanced than most students her age, so today I want to see just how far she can push herself—especially if she’s going to join Operation Nightfall. I also need to ensure she can properly defend herself if she becomes, in fact, become a target for the Rogues.

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