Page 26 of Of Shadow and Moon

The library’s atmosphere wraps around me like a shroud, its silent depths broken only by the flipping of parchment or the occasional shift of chairs across the wooden floor. I weave through the rows, eyes darting from spine to spine, fingers ghosting over bindings that seem ready to crumble at my touch.

My curiosity tugs me deeper, guiding me through towering shelves that whisper secrets older than Tonalli itself. Tonight, the library has claimed me entirely, an obsession I can’t quite shake. Time passes quickly when I am in my favorite place.

The words I overheard from Evaline and her friend about unusual magic and lineage seem to cling to the air. The mention of it had prickled something in the back of my mind, an echo of a half remembered conversation between Alexander and Diego, whispers of ancient magic resurfacing, and a village of hollowed souls, lives snuffed out like candle flames. It’s a story I’d tried to forget, but that lingers, more haunting than a nightmare.

I pull a thick, dusty book from the shelf and sit by awindow where moonlight casts a silver hue over the parchment. The cover is worn, the leather cool and supple beneath my fingers, and I run a thumb over the faded gold letters spellingLegends of Reapers: Souls Lost. My pulse quickens with a strange sense of anticipation.

Pages filled with drawings of mythical creatures and tales of wars past slip through my fingers, one after another, each story more fantastical and grotesque than the last. Reapers are mentioned only in whispers, shadowy figures spoken of in fear but never confirmed to have walked this world. The text paints them as more legend than fact, creatures born from darkness, servants of death, wielders of magic that leaves no trace behind except the hollowed shells of their victims. I frown, disappointed. It's just a myth, empty speculation.

As I shelve the final book, a surge of exhaustion seeps into my bones, settling heavily in my chest. My fingers linger on the spine for a moment, and I feel the weight of the day's events pressing down on me.

My first day at Obsidian Academy.

So many things feel wrong, tangled beyond recognition, and I can't shake the lingering images of the princes, each with their confusing gazes and unspoken intentions. My life here isn’t supposed to feel this tangled, this uncertain. I expected challenges, yes, but this… this is something entirely different.

The thought of Nasarea waiting back at the dorm further bursts my bubble.

I linger in the library, stretching every second, praying that the lateness of the hour might mean she’s already asleep by the time I return. The stillness here feels like a reprieve, one I’m reluctant to let go.

Finally, I gather myself and make my way toward mydorm, ready to smash my face into my pillow. I’m too tired to wash my sheets, so I’ll have to use the spare and wash the others tomorrow. I make a mental note to not forget.

Even though I know I’m going to forget it.

The walk back to the dorm starts off quiet enough, but of course, peace doesn't last long around me. As I draw closer to the fountain, a figure, unmistakably Nasarea, comes into view, sitting on the edge like she owns the damn thing. She's buried her head in a book, her curls catching at the breeze like some goddess of self righteous bullshit.

Great,I think, picking up my pace. Maybe, just maybe, I can slip past her without?—

Too damn late.

Her head jerks up; it's like she has that sixth sense for ruining my day. Her bright, sparkling blue gaze locks on mine, and I swear I can hear her fucking sigh from across the damn courtyard. She snaps her book shut with a dramatic flourish, the sound echoes in the stillness like a boom of thunder.

“Why does it feel like you’re about to ruin my night?” she spits, her tone dripping with venom. Her curls bounce as she tilts her head, the picture of condescending grace.

I plaster on the biggest, fakest grin I can manage. “Funny, I was actually trying to sneak past without you noticing, so technically,you’reruiningmynight.”

Her lips twist into a sneer, and she sets her book down on the fountain’s edge before standing. She steps toward me, her boots clicking against the stone with enough force to tell me she’s already pissed off about something—probably my existence.

“Oh, please,” she snaps, her voice sharp enough to cut. “You ruin everything just by fucking breathing.”

I arch an eyebrow, refusing to back down. “Wow. That’s original. Did you practice that in the mirror, or did it come to you just now?”

Nasarea doesn’t flinch, her eyes narrowing as she closes the distance between us. She’s barely a foot away now, and I can feel the heat of her anger radiating off her like a damn furnace. “You know,” she says, her voice lower now, “I’ve already talked to the dorm head about having you moved out of my room.”

That one lands. I feel it like a slap, but fuck if I’m going to let her see it. My face stays neutral, though inside, I’m fucking seething. Theaudacityof this girl. Thefucking gallto decide she’s somehow entitled to rearrange my life, like I’m some goddamn inconvenience she can just shuffle around.

“A room change?” I echo, my tone dripping with sarcasm. “Wow, Nasarea, you really shouldn’t have. I’m so fucking touched by your generosity.” I place a hand over my heart in fake sincerity.

Her eyes narrow further, her lips curling into a cruel smile. “You should be. I’m doing you a favor.”

I bark out a laugh, sharp and hollow. “Oh,thank you,Nasarea. Truly. What would I do without your endless fucking charity?”

Her fists clench at her sides, her knuckles turning white, and for a moment, I think she might actually take a swing at me. Part of me almost hopes she does. Instead, she leans in closer, her voice dropping to a venomous hiss. “You’re unbearable, you know that? Smirking like you’ve got everything figured out when we both know you’re just a pathetic human who doesn’t belong here.”

The words cut deep, but I refuse to let her see it. Instead, I shrug, my grin widening. “And yet, here I am. Still standing. Still breathing. Must really suck for you, huh?”

Nasarea’s jaw tightens, her composure slipping just enough for me to see the cracks. “You’re lucky I haven’t gone to the headmistress about you. Yet.”

I laugh again, the sound sharp and cold. “What would you even tell her? That I exist in the same airspace as you? Gods, you’re fucking pathetic.”

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