Page 70 of The Scars Within
My eyes swept the auditorium once more, and I finally spotted Aunt Cora standing in one of the lower alcoves. Her hands were clasped behind her back, her gaze fixed on the ground as if she were trying to hide her face.
“I have gathered you all here this evening to deliver grave news,” War Chief Kalluri began, his voice heavy. “A small group of villagers was discovered brutally murdered just beyond Mageia’s grounds.”
Panicked whispers rippled through the auditorium like wildfire. Amid the chaos, someone called out, “Is Tyria to blame?”
Kalluri slammed his palms against the podium; the room fell silent. “Our forces in the Barrens are resolute and unyielding,” he said, his tone firm. “We believe the perpetrator lies within Ayria’s borders and will be found.” He paused and cleared his throat. “Shortly after this horrific discovery, Professor Hogboom was found dead in his chambers.”
A wave of gasps swept over the cadets, but Kalluri raised his hand, commanding stillness once more.
“This was not a natural death,” he continued, his voice thick with foreboding. “The remaining liquid in the chalice at his bedside was tested and confirmed to contain nightshade.”
This time, the auditorium erupted into a storm of stunned murmurs. Kalluri didn’t silence them.
I looked over at Rhodes. His face was drained of color. The muscle in his jaw tensed as he stared straight ahead at the War Chief, not returning my gaze. My attention then shifted to a familiar figure seated beyond Rhodes in the last seat of our row—Shayde. His expressionmirrored Rhodes’s; his eyes fixed forward as he nervously bounced one knee and rubbed his jaw. He, too, didn’t look my way.
“As you all know, Mageia has always upheld the highest standards of security within our walls,” War Chief Kalluri began, though his voice now held a tremor that betrayed the weight of the moment. “Never before in our long history has there been…” He paused, struggling to find the words that could not be softened. “A murder within these sacred grounds since the founding of this war college.”
A heavy silence fell over the room, the gravity of his words sinking in like a stone.
“We will share information as it becomes available,” he continued, his tone now somber. “Your families will be contacted on our behalf. Classes will proceed as scheduled, but be warned—cadets will now be under strict curfew until we can ensure that no further dangers lurk among us. Do not venture into the halls alone. Do not leave the school grounds unless chaperoned with a professor. Report any unusual sightings or behavior immediately.”
A hand shot up in the air, and then I realized it was a fiery redhead.
“Will the curfew affect the All Hallows Eve Ball coming up?” Pehper asked.
Leave it to her to ask the most inappropriate question at the most inappropriate time.
“The event will not be affected since the ball is held on school grounds. As of now.” His eyes swept over the sea of cadets, each face reflecting the same shock and fear. “Dismissed,” he added, the word echoing like a final toll of a bell, signaling a dark turn in Mageia’s history.
My friends and I spent the rest of the evening holed up in our dorm, our minds still reeling from the day’s events. We took turns sharing ourthoughts on Professor Hogboom, doing our best to give the situation the gravity it deserved.
“So, who do you think the murderer is? Someone within these walls? And how would you even poison someone with nightshade?” Laney asked, her voice filled with curiosity.
Tatum and I exchanged a shrug before Cleo, calmly fiddling with her fingers, responded, “The most toxic part of the nightshade plant can be ground easily in a mortar and mixed into potions.”
“And the villagers…” Laney’s eyes glossed over. “My elements. Who could do such a thing?”
We sat in a tight circle, trading questions and connecting fragments of what might have happened to Hogboom and the villagers. The one thing we all agreed on was this: whoever killed Hogboom had to be someone familiar with the castle. His body was found in his chambers, nestled deep within the faculty wing—an area accessible only through a secret entrance sealed by a magical oath. However, based on what we pieced together, the two incidents occurred within the same time frame. That could only mean one thing: they were separate causes.
By the end of our conclusion, we all made a solemn pinky promise: no one would leave the dorm alone. We’d always stick together, even if it meant escorting each other to our classes.
Amidst the fear and uncertainty, I found myself oddly grateful. Having my friends close again felt like reclaiming the happier parts of my life. Laney, Tatum, and Cleo filled me in on their weekends with their families, and then Tatum steered the conversation toward me. “So, how was your weekend?” she asked, her voice gentle but probing.
I was tired of holding everything in. After everything that had happened, punishing myself more was the last thing I wanted to do. I felt safe with my friends, like I could finally let my feelings spill out.
Well, not all of them.
Deep down, I knew why I hadn’t told anyone the whole truth about what happened to me—or how I’ve hurt myself mentally, emotionally,and physically. Admitting those things out loud felt like a sure path to abandonment. It would mark me as a toxic presence, a darkness better kept at a distance. It would make them fear that the darkness follows me and that keeping me around would only drag them into it, too.
It would show that I’m unstable. That I’m not worth keeping around.
So, I kept those truths to myself, as always. Instead, I walked them through some of my weekend, starting with the library and the tavern. I hadn’t even finished skimming over the events of the last two days when Laney cut in.
“Wait. You went to a tavern with Rhodes?”
My eyes went wide as dragon eggs when I looked up to see my friends staring intently at me. I nodded.
Cleo jumped in next, “And what happened at this tavern?”
