Rambixs Academy

Chapter One: The Prophecy of Raven

In this world, you can sit back and watch a revolution or become the revolution, but the world is changing.

My professor said it was time for a motivational speech because she couldn't get the teenagers in her classroom to do what they were told. It was more for her sake than ours. I raised my hand and asked Miss Rosa a question.

“The Darkness have been terrorizing the city for years since the Queen and King disappeared. Nowhere is safe since the Darkness came into town. How can you teach us to start a revolution when the Lights can't do anything but wield a weapon?”

After I said that to Miss Rosa, in my head, with curiosity, I thought about the Darkness and what they had done. I told myself that if I were one of the Crystals in Rambix Academy, I could teach the Darkness a thing or two about disrespecting our city. Still, I'm here learning about starting a revolution, not being in one, and I'm in class with many teenagers who don't give a crap about the subject.

Miss Rosa just stared at me. She looked at me before taking the time to answer my questions. She smiled like it didn't even faze her.

She then said,
“Miss Adams, if you did more time studying the revolutions instead of dreaming of being in one, you would know that the Lights are just as unique as Rambixs. The Lights were once trained to be knights for the Queen and King, and they fought beside one another, defeating the Darkness. One day it will happen again.”

I looked at Miss Rosa and said,
“You believe that this world can change for the better.”

She looked at me and said,
“The world constantly changes, Miss Adams. Even when we can't see it, the world has shifted—and just like the world, we can change and shift as well. What I believe does not matter. Everyone believes in something different. If we were to fight with only our opinions and beliefs constantly, we would always have war due to others' ideas of what's suitable for the world. But what I teach does matter. It teaches you to decide what the world needs and what you can do to change it for the better or the worse.”

After she finished that sentence, the bell rang, and Miss Rosa said,
“That's a wrap for today. Please go outside for training.”

At training, everyone was wielding a weapon of their making, fighting one another in drills. I was in a tree I had climbed, hiding from the world once again. I couldn't stop thinking about the subject Miss Rosa was discussing. This world is scary even though we have protectors like Crystals. The kids in my class never learn that the Darkness will always hunt us unless we do something about it. The Darkness are always there at night, hunting us and stealing our abilities—trying to control the uncontrollable. At least we have the Crystals, the people who swore to protect us.

But sometimes I dream of the world that Amoura used to be, the world that it could be again. But I can't do anything about it. I am a Light, not a Rambix. I could never be a Crystal.

“Raven!”

I heard a voice call my name out of nowhere. I looked down at the ground. Leon—my best friend—was the only one besides me in this school who took being a knight and a protector seriously.

I smiled, jumped down from the tree, and said,
“Leon, hey, it's been a while.”

He smiled and said,
“Raven, you wouldn't believe what I heard in town. Everyone is talking about how the Crystals saved a little girl from Vex, the leader of the Darkness. They said that Vex tried to experiment on her.”

Vex, I said in my head in a furious notion. He sounded so familiar to me somehow. I read about him in the newsletter once as a child—a warning to the town explaining to stay inside and shut your doors at night to keep you away from the Darkness. They said that Vex was the one who caused all this chaos. He was the one who supposedly made the Queen and King disappear, but no one knew for sure. He corrupted this land.

Vex and his followers believed that to be truly free, they had to gain more power and control or take away other people's abilities.

I looked at Leon with such fire and said,
“Leon, you know how the Darkness are. They always want to gain more power and control, and you shouldn’t listen to the news. It will only cause you to fear.”

Leon laughed and said,
“You’re one to talk, Raven. You have been listening to the news since you were five and met that Crystal chick who saved your life.”

I smirked and said,
“I was one to talk, huh? But I was serious. Leon, just be careful. I am worried about you. The Darkness are not ones to fool around with.”

“I know, Raven, but you know how I am. My dream has always been to become a knight. I want to serve my King and Queen, fight the Darkness, and not be stuck in this town.”

I knew Leon was confident. He knew his path. He wanted to become a knight—not become another story they tell about a kid dying on the news because they couldn't defend themselves against the Darkness.

But for me… what is my path?

I never knew where I came from. I never knew who I was. I never told Leon this because my mom told me not to say it to a soul.

I was adopted as a baby and found on my parents' doorstep—or at least that's what they told me. My parents told me that I had to keep my identity a secret because of how unique I was in this world. Some Lights can wield a weapon with the power of the knights. They can heal themselves and others while defending the kingdom with their weapon of choice.

On the other hand, the Darkness are people of power who want to inflict pain and suffering to gain more control. They wield gifts based on their desires—usually selfish and dangerous.

Last, there are Rambix-trained royalty. Their ability is based on their personality, and some are chosen to become part of the Crystals—a group of social justice warriors who help the world by taking on the Darkness in battle.

Once, when I was three years old, the doctor told my foster parents that I had a birthmark of a royal bloodline. They said that particular royal lineage was wiped out by the Darkness. They told my parents I could wield all three abilities: the Lights, the Darkness, and the Rambix.

Scared to death of what the Darkness could do, my parents hid me and decided that it was safer for me to live an everyday life away from them. I was better off hidden with the Lights to be trained as a knight.

I dreamed of the day the Darkness would find out and kill my family and me—I woke up with nightmares every night. But I also dreamed of becoming a Crystal, fighting the Darkness, and finding my place in the world.

Still… I’m sixteen and haven’t even left the city. There is no way on earth that day will ever come.

After training, Leon and I headed to class. The teachers gathered students for the school festival, where the Rambix Academy students compete for a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to become a Crystal. The Lights were invited, even though we couldn’t participate due to our status.

I thought it was a dumb way to show power—but I won’t get into that.

Every year during the spring festival, the Crystals held a competition where challengers fought Abigail, the leader of the Crystals. If you got close to beating her, you could join them—but it didn’t come easily. Abigail was known for being the most brilliant and powerful of the Rambix students. She was head of her class, the future Queen of Sparks… and an overachiever.

I met Abigail once before when I was five years old. She saved my life from the Darkness.

I remember it like yesterday. It was raining and cloudy. My parents told me to stay near the preschool and not wander off. But I was daydreaming, as usual. I didn't remember how I ended up in the forest, or how I stood on top of that hill.

My teacher yelled at me to get down because the Darkness would come for me.

I slipped on the wet mud. I felt the ground tilt beneath me. But a hand pulled me up before I could fall.

A girl a little older than me stood before me. Looking at me curiously, she said,
“You should be more careful. It’s raining and slippery. It's not the time for daydreaming about a better world.”

She grabbed my hand and said,
“If you want to change the world, instead of wandering where you're not supposed to—find a better way to communicate how you feel about it.”

“My name is Abigail,” she said. “It's nice to meet you.”

Abigail. I repeated it over and over in my head.

At the festival, Leon and I stopped at the kettle corn truck. He tried all the flavors—chocolate, caramel, strawberry swirl. I started laughing.

He said, “Raven, don’t judge. You know food is my life.”

I laughed again.
“You and food are too much for me to handle.”

Then I told Leon I wanted to watch the fight between Abigail and Brandon.

The arena was already packed. Abigail was preparing to fight Brandon. I only knew a little about Brandon, but I had read about him in the Evermore Post, a weekly blog the Rambix students publish. His father was the king of Dallis, and his mother was a Light who served as a knight. After she died, Brandon wanted to serve Abigail—not rule a kingdom.

As I found a seat, the music started playing, the coaches’ whistles blew, and Abigail and Brandon rushed toward each other.

Abigail quickly pulled out a pocket knife and slit her finger. Her blood became water, and the water mutated into a sword.

As she ran toward Brandon, the ground started thumping.

Thump. Thump. Thump.

The concrete rose and cracked. Brandon controlled the vibrations of the earth.

“So he’s an Earthbender,” I said, jumping out of my seat.

Leon looked at me with a confused expression. “Raven, this whole place is about to collapse and you’re not even scared.”

“This fight is awesome,” I said.

Abigail ran across the rising concrete, using the uneven pieces as her steps. She slashed Brandon’s leg, sending him to his knees. He used the vibrations in Abigail’s body to crush her arm so she couldn’t use her sword. He punched her in the stomach, sending her stumbling.

But Abigail used the water from her fallen sword to heal herself. Then, with her other arm, she created a new sword and struck Brandon in the ribs.

Brandon, severely injured, yelled to Abigail. She rushed to him, healed him, and for a moment, even from afar, I could see how much she cared.

I wished I had friends like that.

Leon was like my brother—but sometimes, that scared me. He was all I had.

After the competition, Leon and I looked around the festival. My favorite booths were the art booth and face painting. I painted a butterfly on my face while Leon got a sword on his arm.

Meanwhile, Abigail and Brandon were searching for their friend at Rambix Academy.

Back at the academy, they went to the secret garden where the Crystals held council meetings about the Darkness.

Brandon asked, “Did you sense that presence at the arena, or was it just me?”

With a worried look, Abigail said, “I sensed it too, Brandon. It was her.”

Suddenly a guy with light brownish-blonde hair, blue eyes, and a chiseled chin appeared with a charming smile.

“Brandon, how could you let Abigail just beat you up like that?” he teased.

“Christopher,” Brandon said. “You said you weren’t going to watch the festival.”

“I can’t help what’s on the news, dude. It’s everywhere—the whole fight with you and Abigail,” Christopher said.

Abigail rolled her eyes.
“We have better things to discuss than our stupid fight. We found her, Christopher. She was at the Lights school.”

Christopher looked confused.
“Why would she be there? Wouldn’t they know the powers she possesses?”

Abigail said, “It makes more sense than sending her to Rambix. Think about it—she is more hidden away from her true potential in the Lights school. If she were here, she’d have to face her abilities sooner or later.”

Brandon said, “Okay, Abby, what do you want us to do?”

“We need to find her,” Abigail said. “We should check the town, split up, and ask around. The Lights have a small village—they’re going to know where she is.”

So the group went to search for me.

After the festival, I walked home with Leon. It was still early enough to be safe. He dropped me off before heading home. He’d walked me home every day since middle school. My parents worked nights to keep their business alive, and Leon promised them he would keep me safe.

I knew my parents would be home later, so I decided on a detour. I needed an outlet—somewhere to breathe. To rebel.

The Whisper Woods.

“The Whisper Woods?” Leon asked.

“They’re part of the city forest,” I said. “The border surrounding the Lights City. On the other side is the Rambix city of Amoura. They call them the Whisper Woods because at night, when everyone is asleep, the trees whine as the wind caresses their leaves and the birds chirp like they're whimpering.”

Leon said, “So you want to go where there are no people and the birds sound like they’re in pain? It sounds like a place the Darkness would go. No way—we’re not going there, Raven.”

“Don’t you want to explore? Don’t you want to see what it’s like outside this small town?”

“Of course I do,” he said. “I study every day so I can become a knight. But I won’t put you in danger. You are the most important thing to me in this world.”

His words hurt. He knew exactly how deadly the real world was. But he still craved something better. So did I.

“I understand if you want to stay,” I said. “But I'm going.”

Leon looked at me, wide-eyed. “Did you hear a word I just said?”

“Yes, Leon. But my whole life is mapped out for me. I need one thing—just one—to be mine. I need this.”

He wiped my tears and said,
“I understand. But you’re not going without me. After all, I’m your knight.”

I smiled, and we headed into the Whisper Woods.

The woods were nothing like the rumors. I felt at peace. The wind was melodic. The animals were in harmony. A cottage stood surrounded by a magical barrier.

Leon and I were surprised anyone lived here.

“It’s so peaceful,” Leon said. “The energy aligns with my soul.”

I felt a strong presence from the cottage. Leon warned me not to go near it, but something inside my body moved on its own. The pull was unbearable. I walked toward the cottage as if it were my only escape from the life I knew.

Leon called my name repeatedly, begging me to stop.

But when we reached the barrier—it lifted.

A woman emerged: long wavy dark-brown hair, a lace gown made of flowers, vines curling from her hands and hair. She levitated gracefully, calm and non-threatening.

Leon summoned a sword made of Light, but the woman gently touched his arm.

“I am no threat to you or your friend. You may lower your sword, my dear knight.”

Leon lowered his weapon reluctantly.

She faced me.
“I’ve been waiting a long time for you to show your face to me, Raven. Tell me—what would you like to discover about yourself?”

“How do you know my name?” I asked.

“I am a friend of your mother’s.”

“My mother doesn’t have any friends.”

The woman smirked softly.
“Your birth mother, Raven.”

Leon said she must be mistaken, but she ignored him and looked only at me.

“You know who I’m talking about, dear one.”

I told Leon it was okay—she meant no harm.

I looked at the woman and said,
“Show me my future. If I choose the path I'm on now, will it lead to a safer life for me and my people?”

She took my hands. Her eyes glowed. The earth shook.

Of course. She was an Earthbender—one connected to the spirits. She could see the future.

She was Terra. The mother spirit. Daughter of Gaia. Sister of Thor. The goddess who once befriended my birth mother.

Terra spoke:
“I see two paths you may take. One path leads to the outcome you desire—safety for your people. But it comes at a great cost. I see you losing something important. A loved one, perhaps. To get them back, you must reclaim your power and do what you never expected to do.”

“What… what do I need to do?” I asked.

“The next path shows safety, fear, and protection. But happiness is not guaranteed. You hide from the world and feel lost. Though people around you are at peace with this outcome, the people who need you are scared and shattered. This path will not save your people. It will lead to death and war and loss.”

“Raven!” Terra’s voice boomed like something not of this world.
“You can cower to others all your life—or you can rise up and save your people. This choice is yours and yours alone.”

My choice.
I was only sixteen. Was anything truly mine?

Terra looked at me with a sad expression.
“Choosing the path that aligns with the soul is rarely easy.”

She told me the answers were inside me—but for now, I must go home. Someone was waiting.

I looked at the sky. It was nearly dark.

I panicked. Leon and I ran. As we left, Terra watched us with the face of a mother who had just entrusted the fate of the world to a sixteen-year-old girl who had no idea what lay ahead.

Leon had questions—so many.

“That was crazy! Who was she? Who are YOU?”

“I need to get home,” I said.

“Your parents are going to freak out! Their daughter just interacted with a goddess who basically told her she’s fated to save the world or doom it!”

“Maybe keep that part between us,” I said.

“WHAT?! Raven, we are teenagers. How are we supposed to save a whole kingdom?”

“Bet you’re thinking about a career change right about now,” I said nervously.

Leon grabbed my wrist.
“This isn’t a joke, Raven.”

“I know. I’ll tell you everything tomorrow. But right now, I have to go home.”

He let go reluctantly.
“You better.”

I smiled sadly. My world was about to change forever.

When I reached my house, the door was cracked open. The energy was dangerous. Cold.

Death seemed to linger on the doorstep.

I rushed inside.

Everything was destroyed. Papers everywhere. Shattered frames. Bookshelves overturned.

Where were my parents?

 Five hours earlier…

Abigail and Brandon were searching for me. I didn’t know it at the time, but I was going to need their help—and they were going to need mine.

As they left Rambix Academy, they were followed by Ivy, one of the Darkness’s clan leaders. Ivy was Vex’s right-hand woman and had a particular past with Abigail. She used her desires to create poisonous, deadly vines and used other people’s sins against them, hypnotizing them to do the darkest of deeds. She was flirty, rageful, envious—and deadly to any woman she envied.

“Ivy!” Abigail shouted. “We don’t have time for this.”

Abigail, Brandon, and Christopher were headed out of Rambix Academy to find me only to be followed by what awaited them. Ivy stepped forward with a wicked grin.

“Abigail!” Ivy yelled. “Where is the girl?”

Abigail looked at Brandon and Christopher.
“There isn’t much time. We need to find her. Julian—me and Brandon will go look for her. Can you take care of this?”

Christopher smirked.
“You guys always leave me. I’ve gotten used to it. I can take her on.”

Brandon smiled.
“You’re feeling sentimental today, huh? Ha!”

Abigail rolled her eyes.
“Boys.”

Christopher’s playful expression faded into seriousness.
“You two just find the girl. We need her. I can take care of this.”

Both of them exchanged a look that said, We trust you.

As Abigail and Brandon ran off, Ivy’s patience snapped.

“Christopher, is it? You’re really getting on my nerves. Why are the Crystals so cocky? You think you have a chance against the Darkness?”

Christopher shrugged with a confident tilt of his head.
“Maybe we’re just that good.”

The battle lasted one minute.

A single blow—ice magic exploding through the air—and Ivy was defeated. With a worried expression, Christopher steadied the lingering frost around his hands, then headed back into the academy.

Abigail and Brandon raced toward the Lights city as if their lives depended on it.

“Do you think Christopher will be okay?” Brandon asked.

Abigail answered, “Yes. We both know Julian can handle himself. He’s always been a mystery—but he’s never lost a fight.”

They reached the city and began asking people if they knew anything about me. No one helped. Some weren’t interested. Others refused to answer.

Brandon grew impatient. Abigail grew worried about the Darkness finding me first.

“Abigail, we’re running out of time. Let me use my power to find her,” Brandon said.

Abigail shook her head.
“If you do that, the Darkness will know we’re searching for her. They’ll track us—and find her first.”

Suddenly, Abigail clutched her head. A sharp pain, then a presence—a familiar presence she hadn’t felt since she met me all those years ago.

A voice whispered:

“Please save her. Please save my little girl.”

Without hesitation, Abigail grabbed Brandon’s hand and started running.

“Abby! You’re scaring me!” Brandon yelled.

“I’m following a light!” she shouted.

Brandon’s eyes widened.
“Abby, I don’t want to scare you… but I think you’re going insane.”

“I’m not hallucinating, Brandon!”

“Sure, sure. Not crazy at all,” he said with sarcasm. “You’re just following a light that no one can see but you. Totally normal.”

Abigail glared at him, picking up speed.
“Keep talking and I’ll show you crazy.”

Suddenly, the glowing path she followed led them toward a small shop tended by an old man and his wife. Flowers surrounded the storefront. It looked ordinary… but something felt off in the most magical way.

“Abigail,” Brandon whispered, “I think they know something.”

“Good,” she said. “Then let’s ask.”

“But if they don’t,” Brandon warned, “we use my power to track Raven. Got it?”

“Fine. Let’s go.”

When they stepped inside, their jaws dropped.

The shop wasn’t ordinary at all.

Talking plants breathed healing air.
Potions shimmered with magic for every need.
Books flew above their heads.
Shelves shifted, revealing hidden rooms—technology in one, magic relics in another.
Narrow portals hummed quietly, each leading to a different realm.

There were castle tiles, cooking ingredients, outdated wands (“Who even uses wands anymore?” Abigail muttered), and artifacts humming with ancient power.

Walking deeper, they found the old man. Abigail greeted him kindly.

The old man turned—and transformed into his true self.

A centaur.
Human above the waist.
Deer-like nose and antlers.
Hooves where legs should be.

Brandon burst out laughing.
“Abby—he’s a deer man!”

Abigail elbowed him.
“Don’t be rude, Brandon. He’s not a deer. He’s a centaur.”

The old man smiled warmly.
“Welcome to my shop. How may I be of service?”

“We’re looking for someone,” Abigail said. “A girl named Raven. Someone with an energy like ours—the energy of a royal bloodline.”

The old man froze.

Brandon and Abigail exchanged a knowing look.

They were in the right place.

“These are dark times,” the centaur said softly. “I need proof of who you are.”

Abigail revealed her family symbol.

He nodded.

“Once you know the truth,” he warned, “there is no turning back.”

“We know,” Abigail said. “We’ve waited a long time for a sign. Now is the time.”

“Very well,” he replied. “Let me tell you the story of the long-lost child of Amoura—the one destined to save us from Darkness.”

“Long ago, Amoura had no true ruler. Only a tyrant—the King of Darkness. No one remembers his name. We only know he was Vex’s father.

He corrupted the land.
The goddess Terra, guardian of Amoura, vowed to intervene only through divine will. But when the king began stealing children—corrupting them, experimenting on them, trying to create a perfect divine being who could wield Light, Darkness, and Rambix—Terra could no longer stand aside.

He failed again and again. Children died from overwhelming power. Terra swore such horror would never happen again.

She found a potential queen—Valentina. Trusted ally. Fearless maiden. She wielded the strongest Rambix ability ever known: True Love’s Flame, a pink fire gifted by Terra herself.

But Terra saw that Valentina alone could not defeat the King of Darkness. Not without help.

She sought divine guidance. They told her: Look within.

Then Terra had a vision—a child. Valentina’s daughter. A girl who could wield all three abilities.

The prophecy said that on her seventeenth birthday, she would face Vex—with brave allies—and destroy him.

No one knew how this child came to exist. Only that she was the rightful heir to the throne. The one who could stop the King of Darkness… and save the world.”

Brandon exhaled and shook his head.
“Yeah, that sounds like a lot of responsibility to put on a kid. Are you saying a goddess like Terra couldn’t stop the king herself? Like she just… needs us to do it for her?”

“Forgive his rudeness,” Abigail muttered.

The old man laughed gently.
“The divine laws of free will, young man. Divine beings cannot interfere unless asked—or unless someone is in mortal danger. Terra needs allies. She cannot kill without consequence, even if ending this war is her deepest wish.”

Brandon shrugged.
“I get divine principles. I just think sometimes—if you want to stop a war—you have to be willing to get your hands dirty.”

“And this,” Abigail said dryly, “is why you are not the leader of the Crystals.”

“Just because I’m willing to kill,” Brandon argued, “doesn’t mean I’d be a bad leader. If I were in charge, the war would have ended by now.”

“With what army?” Abigail shot back.

The old man laughed again.
“You two remind me of a pair I met long ago. Now go—she is waiting for you.”

Abigail blinked.
“What do you mean?”

The old man handed her a slip of paper.

“Her address. I’ve kept it safe for years. I was part of the first Crystals—the ones who worked with Terra and Valentina. I’ve seen many generations take on this duty.”
He smiled at them.
“You two make a fine couple.”

Brandon snorted.
“Yeah, right. In her dreams.”

Abigail smacked his shoulder.
“We’re just friends.”

The old man’s wife giggled.
“That’s what he told me before we married.”

The old man grinned.
“Best decision I ever made.”

Abigail and Brandon ran toward my house.
They saw the door cracked open.
They sensed danger.

They stepped inside—

Just as I did.

And that is where the world changed.

Chapter 2

I started to freak out, calling my mom and dad, but no response. Running upstairs to see if they were in their room. You only realize how much you rely on your parents once they're gone. I heard footsteps entering my house, and filled with anger and tears, I started to head downstairs with a pocket knife I had in my back pocket that my parents gave me for protection if I ever needed to walk home without Leon one day.

I wasn't scared heading down; I had to pull myself together. Anger is a powerful tool and a big motivator. I thought in my head, Raven, you need to find your parents. This is not the time to be a scaredy cat. As I headed down the stairs into the kitchen, I heard footsteps and shattered glass. I was startled by two figures that looked like Brandon and Abigail, but in a world where Darkness is involved, you can't be too careful, especially if one's Dark ability is shapeshifting. They were just looking at me, sitting on the chairs at my kitchen table.

Brandon, with a sly smile, said, "Abby, is this her?" As I wiped my tears, the girl who looked like Abigail came up to me and, with a gentle smile, took the knife I was holding out of my shaking hand. She then said,

"Raven, I know you're frightened, but it's me, Abigail. I'm not a shapeshifter, and I can prove it." It's like this girl could read my mind.

"How?" I said in a whimpering voice.

Abigail took my pocket knife and slit her wrist, and her blood suddenly became a water key. She then told me shapeshifters could steal my looks but not my abilities.

In my head I thought, I guess that's one way to prove you're not a shapeshifter. This girl is crazy. She just slit her own wrist without blinking—doesn't she know that could have killed her? Abigail, with a look that wasn’t phased, said she could use her abilities to form a water key the same shape as my house key. That's how they got in.

I looked at Abigail and said, "Even so, Abigail, that's still a little creepy—breaking into someone's house like that." Not to mention she just used her ability by cutting into her flesh. This girl is insane, but I won't mention that part. "I mean, we haven't seen each other since kindergarten. How did you think breaking into my house was the appropriate approach?" I said to her.

Abigail sighed and said, "It was Brandon's idea. He thought it was best since we already saw that the Darkness broke in." Brandon, who was quiet till now, just said to Abigail, "It wasn't the best plan, but we had little time." He then looked at me and said, "We looked all over the city for you. When we reached your house, we saw that the Darkness had already broken in."

Abigail smiled gently again and said, "We're usually more planned out than this. I promise, Christopher is the one who is better at making plans." Brandon just rolled his eyes and said to Abigail, "I make one bad move, and you scold me."

I just thought, Who the hell is Christopher, and why am I in this mess? They both looked at me with a concerned expression. Abigail told me and Brandon that she thought they should take me to the Rambix Academy.

I then stopped them and said, "Okay, look, I know I'm surprisingly calm for someone whose parents are missing and for you both breaking into my house, but this is going too fast. Please just tell me what's going on."

Brandon looked at me and rolled his eyes. He crossed his arms and said, "Since last month, we slowly started to realize the world we live in. Ya, powers are fantastic, but the danger of the Dark abilities and how they use them are not. We had no choice but to take action into our own hands and protect the ones we love. Since then, me and Abigail decided it was time to bring the Crystals back and start our own team to stop the Darkness, but we didn't realize the consequences to our alliance, and we made some very bad people angry."

Abigail just sighed and said, "The Crystals team has been fighting the Darkness for centuries. They had never retaliated this way. We expected some war, yes, but it is like they were scared or something. They felt threatened by our certain team of Crystals, and we don't know why."

Brandon then took Abigail's hand to comfort her and said to me, "Raven, they took our parents, the last kings and queens standing. We have no one protecting our cities anymore. Yes, it is one thing that the Queen and King of Amoura went missing years ago, but even then, we still had protection from other kingdoms like my family's and Abigail's—but now we don't."

Abigail said, "We don't know why they wanted your foster parents. All we know is you are somehow an important piece to this war, and we need your help. If you know anything, please tell us."

I was completely shocked. My parents were missing, and the Darkness knew where I lived. I was no longer protected. I was on my own. And even so, my mind wandered to the thought of me not having to hide anymore. I could team up with them, and I would be safe. I would be a part of something great just like I wanted—but war… I never wanted war or for my parents to be kidnapped. My parents always warned me to be careful of who I trusted. It even took them years to trust Leon.

Should I trust them? Can they protect me? I mean, they couldn't even protect their own parents. I mean, it's not their job, but on the other hand, they're Crystals—so it kinda is.

All I knew was I was in danger, and I needed to survive so I could save my parents. And the only way I knew how was to trust them—to trust someone for once. So like a foolish idiot, I said,

"How can I trust you? I don't even know you both. I just found out my parents were kidnapped or worse—dead—and you want me to transfer schools and become a part of some team that can't even keep their shit together."

Brandon said, "We're your only shot at finding your parents, and you are our only shot at finding ours. We risked everything to come and find you. So you might not trust us, and we might not trust you, but we need each other. So deal with it. Take that pain and fuckin' deal with it."

Abigail then said, "I think what Brandon is trying to say is: we are your best shot. Please come to Rambix Academy, tell us who you are, and let's figure this shit out together—with a cherry on top."

I rolled my eyes and just thought in my head, This speech of theirs can't possibly work on the whole city. Are people really naive enough to trust them? I mean, I was naive to want to join them sure, but that was before my parents went missing. And now they want me to pretend nothing happened and join their school only to team up with them and use me against the Darkness?

Abigail said, "Please, Raven, we need you. Tell me the truth. There is way more to you than you let people see, isn't there?"

I took a deep breath and thought, I need them, and they need me. Just suck it up, Raven. You need to find your parents. So I said to Abigail,

"Yes. Yes, there is."

I told Abigail and Brandon the whole truth. I told them about my abilities, my past, and why the Darkness was most likely after me. I didn't know why I was venting my whole life to these strangers, but they asked, and it felt like I needed their help more than I wanted to admit.

Brandon then looked at Abigail and said, "Guess the old man was right, this little girl really is going to save us from the Darkness."

I looked at Brandon with disgust and said, "You know we're only like one year apart in age, right?"

Abigail laughed and said, "Don't mind him, Raven. He can be immature sometimes."

"So Raven, if I am hearing you right," she continued, "you said that you are a celestial being who can wield all three abilities: the Light, the Darkness, and Rambix. While others like me and Brandon are mythical beings who can only wield one of these. This is not good."

Brandon then said, "So you're like the Avatar of the wizard realm! Wow, that's so cool!"

"Ow!" Brandon yelped as Abigail smacked his head in a teasing way and said, "No, this isn't good. Raven, you're special, but this has put you and our people in danger. The Darkness wants you now, and Vex won't stop hunting you until he can steal your abilities. This leaves me with only one choice. Raven, since you are unable to protect yourself, you will need to come with me and Brandon to train at Rambix Academy."

"What?" Brandon said with one eyebrow raised, crossing his arms with a smirk. "You want to take this girl you only met once as a child into our school and help her unlock her abilities? What if she is evil just like Vex? What then, Abigail?"

I looked at Brandon and said, "I am not evil, and I don't need your help. I can find my parents on my own."

"Yeah? And how are you gonna do that? Are you going to stop them with pretty light and a sweet little sword, when Vex can corrupt your mind with a single touch?" Brandon said sarcastically.

"You know Lights can do more than just wield a sword—they have combat abilities. They can heal people who are injured. All you can do is break rocks and shake the earth for about two seconds."

Brandon grinned and said, "You have no idea what I can do, little one."

Raven then smirked and said, "And you have no idea what I'm capable of. Yet you want to sit and mock my kind when you need a little girl to save you."

"Enough!" Abigail shouted. "Brandon, that was uncalled for. The Lights are heroic knights, and we need them on our side if we want to defeat Vex. Raven, you will come to Rambix Academy and learn to fight. We need you in this fight whether you like it or not. We are all in danger because you haven't learned to fight with your abilities. This is the only way we can make sure she is safe and our people will be safe, Brandon. Understood?"

Brandon rolled his eyes but said, "I understand, Abby."

I just stopped and hesitated and said, "How are you guys going to get me enrolled in Rambix Academy if I can't even pass the entry exam?"

Abigail and Brandon smirked and both said, "We have our ways." This meant that since they are both royalty and have status in the school as Crystals, the school will most likely have to submit to them.

I rolled my eyes and said, "This is going to be a long year." I knew that my life was going to change, and I questioned whether I was even worthy of the abilities I was born with.

I was ready to scream—like full-on Godzilla—but something about Abigail’s presence calmed the storm inside me. She explained everything: about Rambix, the war brewing in the shadows, and how the Darks were taking parents from the Crystals, an elite team of young magic wielders who fought against the Darkness.

And they had taken mine.

I felt like the world had split open beneath me. My parents were gone, and I was supposed to act like everything was fine? I was supposed to hide who I was when the world needed me to be strong again?

"Why me?" I asked, hugging my knees to my chest.

"Because you're not just a Light user," Abigail said softly, sitting beside me. "You're more than you've ever been told. And it's time to stop hiding."

That day, I packed what I could—my pink crystal necklace, my black combat boots, and the courage I had left—and left with Abigail and Brandon to Abigail's home, awaiting me at Rambix Academy.

The next day, Brandon, Abigail, and I headed to Rambix Academy. We had all slept over at Abigail’s home—the palace of Exedora. I’d never slept in a palace before. Leon would freak. Speaking of Leon...

I had not told Leon yet where I was going. Actually, he will probably kill me, as I have been avoiding his phone calls about why I haven't shown up to school for about two hours. But I have a good reason for that. Abigail and Brandon have been watching me like a hawk—no literally, they even followed me to the bathroom. Not in the bathroom, but they stalked the bathroom door. Good thing it had a lock.

Abigail and Brandon both gave me a uniform to put on for Rambix Academy. It was very stylish and unique. They even added a charm for me representing my birth mother—may she rest in peace. After breakfast, they shoved me into the limo that was taking us to Rambix Academy.

The ride to Rambix was nerve-wracking. You could hear the dead silence from everyone in the car and the longing stares between Abigail and Brandon. I was like the third wheel in one of Leon’s chick-flick movies.

When we actually got to the school, there were thousands of students outside waiting for us.

Abigail, brushing her uniform and getting ready to run, said, "Oh Raven, watch your back. Brandon's fans can get a little unpleasant—including with newcomers."

"Fans?" I said.

"They're scary," Brandon replied. "One girl punched Abby one time just to get next to me and Christopher. It was quite a show. Abby punched her back—it was hilarious."

Abigail rolled her eyes. "I did not punch her back. I poured water on her to cool her off. I wouldn’t use violence to calm a storm."

I giggled inside, thinking, Yeah, like that’s any better. That fan probably was more pissed.

"Okay Brandon, we're leaving you," Abigail said.

"Excuse me?" Brandon replied.

"Yeah, I don't have time to baby you in front of your fans today. I have to show Raven around. Come on, Raven," Abigail said, taking my hand and pulling me out of the car.

Brandon said, "Wait—don't leave!"

"Good luck," I replied back.

Chapter 3 — Rambixs Academy

Rambixs Academy

The academy was a castle-like school nestled in the rainbow cliffs of Amora. Magic pulsed in the air like music. Floating lanterns lit the halls, spellbooks flew on their own, and crystal creatures roamed freely.

Abigail walked me to the front gates, her blue and purple hair flowing like waves in the wind.
“Welcome to Rambixs, Raven. This is where your real story begins.”

I didn’t know it yet, but the day I stepped into Rambixs was the day I would find my true family.

Stepping into Rambixs Academy felt like walking into a dream I didn’t even know I’d had. The castle-like school perched on rainbow cliffs, with waterfalls cascading below and the air alive with the hum of spells and laughter.

The halls were lined with glowing lanterns floating above lockers painted in swirling colors of pink, blue, and gold. Enchanted paintings whispered secrets, and spellbooks flapped their covers like wings as they zoomed by students. Everywhere I looked, there was color, movement, life.

Abigail walked beside me, pointing out classrooms filled with magic:
a room where students shaped water into glowing creatures,
another where a fire user created dancing flames to a piano melody,
and a glass greenhouse where plants sang when you touched them.

“This is your new home, Raven,” she said gently.

“Feels like a fairytale,” I whispered.

She nodded. “It is. But it’s also a battleground.”

We stopped at a large oak door etched with crystal symbols. She placed her hand on it, and the door swung open, revealing a classroom filled with students of every magical type—light, water, fire, ice, shadow, wind, earth. Some had glowing auras; others wore gemstone accessories that pulsed softly.

That’s when I saw him.

Christopher.

His silvery-blue hair—almost white with a hint of blond—shimmered under the crystal chandeliers. His ice-blue eyes glanced at me, sharp but soft, like he could see every secret I tried to hide. He gave me a crooked grin and raised an eyebrow.

“New kid?” he asked, leaning back in his chair.

I crossed my arms. “Yeah, what of it?”

He chuckled. “Feisty.”

Abigail rolled her eyes and pulled me toward an empty desk. “Ignore him. He’s annoying.”

Christopher smirked. “Only to you, Abby.”

“Don’t call me that!” she snapped, cheeks turning pink.

I sat down, feeling something I hadn’t felt in years—belonging. For once, I wasn’t the odd one out. I was just another magic user in a room full of others like me.

Mr. Andrews walked in with a stack of spellbooks. His kind eyes landed on me, and he smiled.

“Ah, the new student. Raven, welcome to Rambixs Academy. Abigale’s parents said you would be joining us.”

“Thank you,” I whispered, clutching my necklace. I leaned toward Abigale and muttered, “You said your parents were missing.”
She winked. “He doesn’t know that.”

Mr. Andrews handed me a book, the cover glowing softly in my hands.
“Your journey begins today. Let’s see what kind of magic you truly hold.”

I glanced at Abigale for reassurance—and for the first time, determination. I would find my parents.

In class we learned spells, spells that would come in handy when I faced Vexs. Christopher kept glancing at me, which was confusing and honestly annoying. What was his deal?

Mr. Andrews gathered everyone around. He wanted Abigale to demonstrate a spell for the class. I always knew she was the strongest wizard at Rambixs Academy, but being a teacher’s pet was something else.

“Abigale,” Mr. Andrews said, “please show the class how the spell is done.”

She opened the spellbook. With a wave of her hand, she conjured water and shaped it into a shield.

“This is how you conjure a shield. Remember it—it will be a lifesaver against the forces of darkness,” Mr. Andrews said. Then he looked at me. “Miss Ravens?”

“Yes?” I answered nervously.

“Please perform the spell Abigale just demonstrated.”

My heart raced, but I forced myself to breathe. If what Terra and my foster parents said was true, then I was destined to have Rambixs powers too.

I chanted the spell…
and nothing happened.

The class went silent. Panic rose in my throat.

Then suddenly the ground trembled. The spellbook flew from the desk, landing open on the floor—open to a sealed page no one had noticed before. Words glowed in the air, forming a name:

Valentina.

A name I had never heard before.
Abigale looked shocked… but not surprised.
Christopher stared at me, first startled, then studying me with a seriousness that chilled me. A symbol—an elegant heart—glowed on his wrist, and I swore I had seen it somewhere before.

Then the book snapped shut, and a symbol formed on my forehead: a pink heart with a sword through it and black wings. My hands burned with the essence of a pink flame.

Even Mr. Andrews looked stunned.

As the symbols faded and the book closed, my powers quieted.
But something inside me had awakened.

Mr. Andrews cleared his throat quickly.
“And that is how you don’t perform an energy shield. Alright class, turn to page thirty-five. We’ll discuss animal shifting.”

I whispered to Abigale, “Did you see that?”

She smiled. “Yes. You did amazing.”

Christopher said, “Amazing? She almost blew up the school.”

“I did not!” I snapped.

He smirked. “Keep telling yourself that.”

I glared at him.

His face softened. “You did great.”

Something in his voice sounded familiar.

Christopher shrugged. “Glad you’re on our team. You’ve got some pretty destructive abilities. Could come in handy when we defeat Vexs.”

My glare returned. “Vexs… I’m coming for you.”

After class, Christopher asked Abigale where Brandon was.

I said, “We left him to die with his fans.”

Christopher whistled. “I’m shocked the new girl has the courage to face Brandon’s wrath.”

“Wrath?” I said.

Abigale sighed. “Let’s just say it comes with being an earth-bender.”

Suddenly the ground shook. Pieces of rock lifted off the floor. Brandon marched toward us, sunburned and dramatic.

“Abby! You left me! Do you know teenage girls are crazy? They literally pulled my shirt—IT HURT!”

Abigale laughed. “I’m sorry, Brandon. I had to show Raven around. I had to get her to her first class on time.”

Christopher cracked up. “Dude—you got beat up by a girl.”

Brandon scowled. “You try fending off thousands of girls with abilities, all trying to rip your shirt apart!”

I looked at Christopher. “You’ve got fans too, huh?”

“Yup,” he said. “They can’t resist me.”

I rolled my eyes. “I can’t imagine why.”

Abigale whispered, “Christopher’s fans are way worse than Brandon’s. They look you in the eye and smile before they end your existence.”

“Remind me never to piss you two off,” I muttered.

Brandon said, “Too late, little bird.”

“Oh, I get my nickname,” I replied. “Cute. Couldn’t come up with anything better?”

He smirked, annoyed.

After two more classes, Abigale insisted I sit with them at lunch. Gossip spread like wildfire about why I was invited to join the Crystals when I hadn’t even taken the tests. I guess I understood why people were annoyed—they’d been trying their whole lives, and here I was joining before them.

To be fair, none of their parents had been kidnapped by a murderous psycho trying to end the world, but hey—who am I to judge?

“Raven,” Abigale said, “me and Brandon are getting juice and lunch. Want anything?”

“Yes please,” I said. “I’ll have a slushie, a grilled cheese, a cheeseburger, ramen, a cinnamon bun, and fries.”

Brandon stared. “Are you feeding an army with that stomach of yours?”

Christopher smacked him. I huffed, “No. I am the army. And I’m hungry. And Brandon—you do not want to see me when I’m hangry.”

My eyes glowed with fire.

“Right. Got it. Food. Immediately,” Brandon said.

Abigale laughed. “See, Brandon? This happens when you piss off a queen. Good training for when you find a wife.”

Brandon smirked. “No, Abby. You will be my wife.”

Abigale dropped his arm. “What happened to the ‘in your dreams’ speech?”

“I was joking,” Brandon said. “You’re the one who put me in the friend zone.”

Abigale smiled. “Yes. Friends. We’re fighting a war—no need for romance.”

Brandon muttered, “When have we not fought a war? We’ve been fighting since we were babies.”

Christopher groaned. “Oh my god—just fuck already.”

I looked at him. “You know, for a prince, you have zero manners.”

He grinned. “It was God-given.”

“Your mouth?”

“That… and other things,” he said, winking at me.

“Gross.”

He leaned back. “You could lighten up, you know.”

“My parents are missing and the Darkness want to murder me. And you want me to chill?”

Christopher said softly, “Yes… well, that’s true. But you have us.”

“Oh, I feel sooo safe,” I said sarcastically.

He didn’t flinch. He just looked at Abigail then back at me and said “You should. I’ve never seen Abigale this worried before. She cares about you. A lot. And whether you like it or not—so do me and Brandon.”

“Why?” I asked.

His eyes softened for a moment. There it was—the mystery Abigale talked about. The thing he hid behind jokes and smirks.

“Because the Crystals protect people,” he said quietly. “That’s why. And we’re protecting you now.”

“That’s sweet,” I said. “But is that the truth? Or the lie you tell to hide the truth?”

He froze—something unspoken in his eyes—and just as he opened his mouth, Abigale returned with the food.

“Here,” she said. “One large Icee and a cinnamon bun. They didn’t have grilled cheese, but they had fries.”

“Thank you, Abby,” I said.

She smiled. “First time you called me that.”

I shrugged. “Well… Brandon calls you Abby, so I thought I’d try it.”

She laughed. “It fits me well, doesn’t it?”

I nodded. “Yeah—it does.”

“Wow,” Christopher said. “So this is what it feels like having another girl on our team. You see that, Brandon?”

Brandon huffed. “Abby never smiles at me like that when I call her by her nickname.”

Abigale smirked. “Well duh.”

I laughed.

Christopher sat forward. “Okay—so what’s the plan, Abby? We can play cute team all we want, but Vexs is still out there. We need a plan.”

Brandon groaned. “Way to ruin the mood, dude.”

“No,” Abigale said. “He’s right. Lunch is the perfect time to rehearse and practice what we talked about.”

I blinked. “Want to fill me in on what that is?”

They all looked at me.

“The Crystal Gardens.”

I stared at them.

“Oh great… I’m screwed.”

Chapter 4 — The Crystal Gardens

Everyone knew about the Crystal Gardens. They were created by the first Crystals when Valintina reigned as Queen. A beautiful garden with a class table carved from crystal, seven chairs representing all its members. So far, Abigale, Christopher, and Brandon were the only active members.

Beneath that beauty was the real legend — an extreme underground base where the Crystals trained in combat, magic, and strategy to protect the city.

Abigale looked at me.
“Raven, here’s the plan. While Brandon and I try to find Vexs through the computer database, you’re going to learn from Christopher how to activate your powers in combat. Okay?”

“But before… it just happened because of the book,” I said. “I don’t know if I can do it again.”

Abigale took my hand.
“You are your powers, Raven. No book can ever take that from you. You’re capable.”

I wasn’t sure. A part of me still felt like someone who needed saving, not someone who saved others. All my life I’d been told I was some hidden savior, someone meant to stay out of sight. All I knew was this: if I wanted to defeat Vexs, I needed my powers. And pain, anger, fear — those were emotions I understood too well.

“Okay,” I said. “Let’s do it.”

The atmosphere shifted as we entered the underground base. Cold. Metallic. Completely different from the gardens above. Red leather couches, a snack bar, tech walls, and a full arena for the Crystals. Honestly… it made sense to hide something powerful in a place no one would think to look.

I put on my combat boots and training clothes while Abigale and Brandon sat at the computers pretending to be tech geniuses, hacking into Amoura’s security servers to track Vexs.

Christopher and I stepped into the training arena.

“Raven, read this,” he said, handing me a spellbook. “It’s from our class. It’ll help you build a foundation for your powers.”

As I read, the lights around us flickered. My hands glowed soft pink again.

“Good,” Christopher said. “Now focus. Choose an emotion that activates your power.”

“An emotion?”

“Yes. Powers magnify through emotion — rage, joy, sadness…” He hesitated, then quietly added, “and love.”

“I’m trying,” I said. “But all I feel is fear.”

“Fear is an emotion. Use it. Focus on an image. When was the last time you felt truly afraid?”

I closed my eyes and the flashback hit instantly — me as a child, running through the woods with a woman who had reddish-pink hair. She wore a lace gown embedded with diamonds and starlit threads. She held my hand, breathless but steady.

“Raven… this world is no stranger to darkness. But I promise, sweet child… no matter what, no matter when… I will find you again.”

Tears streamed down my face. My powers exploded. Flames burst around me, swirling like a storm ready to swallow us whole. Black feathers fell from nowhere. My eyes turned pitch black as my body lifted from the ground.

A ghostly voice echoed through the base:

“Please… please protect my Raven…”

The screeching sound tore through the room. Abigale and Brandon covered their ears, chanting a spell. Christopher grabbed my shoulders, shaking me.

“Raven! Can you hear me?!”

“I’m so scared!” I screamed. “I can’t save them — I can’t save anyone!”

“Raven, listen to me,” Christopher said, his voice low and steady. “I know it’s hard. You’ve been thrown into a world you’ve been hiding from your whole life, surrounded by strangers. I get it. I do. I’ve felt this way before.”

“You have?” I cried.

“Yes. I’ve been lost. Afraid to lose control. Afraid to embrace who I was. But then I met Abigale and Brandon. People I trusted. People who believed in me. And Raven… you’re not alone anymore. I’m not leaving you. Not again.”

And just like that, my body dropped to the ground. I reached for Christopher, and he pulled me into a hug.

“I’m sorry… I’m so sorry,” I whispered.

“I know,” he said softly. “It wasn’t you.”

Abigale and Brandon rushed over.
“Are you okay?” Abigale asked, hugging me.
“Yeah, are you good?” Brandon added.

I teased him. “Wow… no sarcastic comment?”

Brandon snorted. Abigale laughed.
“There you are,” she said.

“Here I am,” I whispered.

Brandon looked between me and Christopher. “So this isn’t awkward at all.”

“Yeah, man,” Christopher replied. “While you and Abby stood there like freaked-out statues, I helped.”

“I did not stand like a freaked statue,” Brandon protested.

“Kinda did,” Christopher said.

I laughed with Abigale.

“I need answers,” I said. “Why do my powers activate so intensely? I need to know how to control them — and I think we need help.”

“There’s one person at this school who knows every power in Amoura,” Abigale said.

“Who?” I asked.

Brandon sighed. “Mr. Andrews.”

“Then we talk to him,” I said.

“What if he’s involved?” Christopher asked.

“At least we’ll get answers,” Abigale said. “We need them if we’re going to defeat Vexs.”

I felt drained, but determined. Mr. Andrews knew something — I could feel it.

We walked to his classroom.

“Mr. Andrews?” Abigale asked.

“Ah, Abigale.” He looked at me. “Hello to you as well, Miss Adams.”

“Do you know anything about why my powers activated today in class?” I asked.

His expression shifted with concern.
“Is this about Vexs? Are you searching for answers about the past?”

“Yes,” I said. “I had a glimpse — a woman with red and pink hair. She had powers like mine. Who was she?”

“Please, Professor,” Brandon said.
Christopher added, “Any time now.”

Mr. Andrews sighed.
“There is only one person I’ve known who possessed abilities like yours, Raven. Queen Valintina.”

“Who?” I breathed.

Abigale and Brandon exchanged a look.

“So that old man was right,” Brandon said. “Raven… you’re Queen Valintina’s daughter.”

“No. I had parents. My birth parents died. I never knew them — that’s what I was told.”

Christopher’s eyes glowed bright blue for a moment. His wrist shimmered again. Then it faded as he looked at me.

Mr. Andrews rolled out a cart and opened a large archive book.
“Here. The history of Amoura.”

Abigale pointed.
“Look — Queen Valintina’s daughter, born 2009. Documented at her coronation with the Prince, who was destined to marry her. Queen Valintina died in the Great Battle… but the bodies were never found. Neither was her daughter.”

“Great,” Brandon muttered. “Eighteen pages I’m never getting back.”

“So what?” I said. “Just because she and I share a birth year doesn’t mean I’m her daughter.”

“True,” Mr. Andrews said. “But your powers do. Queen Valintina’s True Love Flame only activated on her daughter’s sixteenth birthday. The power was passed down by blood. Chosen by the goddess Terra herself. Raven… you possess the True Love Flame.”

The room fell silent.

“The facts add up,” Abigale said gently.

“I know,” I said. “I don’t have to like it… but I know.”

Mr. Andrews continued,
“I may be able to help you on your quest.”

“Huh? How did you know we were on a mission?” Christopher asked.

“I’m part of the Council. I know the importance—and the danger—of what you’re facing. I valued the days when the Council didn’t rely on teenagers. But Raven… your mother asked me to protect you if I ever found you.”

He handed me a bracelet.

“A… bracelet?” I asked.

“A charm bracelet with a time-watch. Twist the charm, and it opens a portal.”

“A portal?” Brandon echoed.

“Why would we need a portal?” Abigale asked.

“To reach Amoura’s castle,” Mr. Andrews said. “That is where your answers lie. But be warned… the darkness guards it now.”

Christopher stepped closer.
“We’ll keep her safe.”

I looked at all of them. “Are we really doing this?”

“Yes,” Abigale said. “Together.”

“Together,” I repeated.

Brandon grinned. “What could go wrong?”

As we stepped into the portal, one thought echoed in my mind:
I’m the daughter of Queen Valintina… and I’m returning home.

Oh gods. How did I end up in this mess?

“By being born,” Brandon said.

“Shut up,” Abigale groaned.

We laughed — but the silence that followed said everything.
We were one step closer to the battle that would change everything.

Chapter 5 — The Kingdom of Amora and the Echoes of Vexs

When we arrived, we all thought we would’ve ended up near the castle, but instead we appeared on the other side of the castle gates, deep inside the castle’s forest.

“Great,” Brandon said. “Mr. Andrews left us on the wrong side of the island.”

“It’s okay,” Abigule replied. “We’ll find a way. I have a map—Mr. Andrews gave it to me to find our way back to the portal.”

Christepher looked at me. “Do you recognize any of this?”

“No,” I said. “It feels familiar… but I don’t recognize this place at all.”

As we walked through Amora’s forest—its towering trees, roses blooming in impossible colors, and a winding path through the woods—I felt a sudden chill run down my spine, sharp enough to stop my breath.
Something was coming.
Which was strange, because sunlight filtered through the branches in soft, warm beams.

“Well, at least we have clear skies,” Brandon said.

“Really, Brandon? You want to talk about the weather right now?” I muttered.

“Someone’s gotta put us in a good mood.”

As it grew late—almost dark—we climbed a small mountain hill. Below us, in a narrow passage leading to the castle, stood a group of knights.

“Shit,” Brandon whispered. “It’s Vexs’ crew.”

“We need a plan,” Abigule said. “If they see us, we fight.”

I stared down at them. They felt… familiar. Almost like family. But this was the Darkness Territory, and we had to stay alert.

Suddenly Christepher grabbed my wrist and pulled me behind him.

“Hey—what are you doing?” I hissed.

He winked. “Protecting you, love.”

I tried to yank my arm away, but he didn’t budge.
“I don’t need protection—”

The guards turned at the exact moment Christepher moved, as if he predicted every shift of their bodies.

“Yes. Yes, you do,” he whispered.

I rolled my eyes, but a tiny smile slipped out anyway.

“Stay back!” Abigule called. “I’ll use my abilities!”

The guards raised their spears to their chests, ready to attack—until a strand of my hair slipped forward, glowing faintly in the dim light. Their faces froze.

“Who are you?!” they yelled.

“Who are you?” I replied, stepping out from behind Christepher.

Their eyes widened. “Princess…? It can’t be. You’re dead.”

Confusion rippled through them. Then they saw Christepher.
Recognition hit instantly.

“We see… we are sorry, Princess. We are the last guards of Amora. We heard the knights of Vexs have taken over this kingdom, and we swore to protect the Queen and King from being found.”

Abigule, Brandon, and Christepher exchanged looks.

“We heard the Queen was dead,” Christepher said. “We heard Vexs killed her.”

“That’s what Vexs wants the kingdom to think,” one guard replied. “He’s been trying to break through the castle walls—trying to shatter Goddess Terra’s spell. But the spell protects them still.”

“Who?” Abigule asked.

The guards turned to me. “I’m sorry, Princess. We swore under oath not to say.”

“I’m not a princess,” I said. “My name is Raven. I don’t want you to bow. I want to find my foster parents. Will you help me? As comrades—not worshipers?”

They lifted their heads.
“Yes, Your Highness.”

I shot Abigule a look. “Your Highness?”

She smirked. “Just go with it.”

“How did you know Raven was the Princess?” Brandon asked.

“Only one person has pink hair in this kingdom—the royal bloodline. If she were not of royal blood, she wouldn’t possess Queen Valentina’s hair. And Christepher… he is with her.”

“Christepher?” Brandon repeated.

The guards led us toward the castle. Christepher stayed close, and I noticed—he always did.
He never left my side in the forest.
Always checking on me more than Abigule did.
Offering water, rest… or just silence when I needed it.

I felt less alone with him near. I felt more myself.

Inside the castle walls, the guards lifted the veil of Terra’s spell and let us through.

What waited for us on the other side… none of us expected.

The first room was the old kingdom library.
Searching for answers, we found a book about Amora’s history…
and a picture of me as a child.

It confirmed everything Mr. Andrews feared.

Suddenly, a voice echoed through the halls—a woman’s voice—weak, trembling:

“Please… please find me, daughter… please do not wait any longer…”

“Abigule! Brandon!” I yelled. “Check the corridors!”

They ran—only to be confronted by Ivy.
Vexs’ right hand.

“I finally found you,” Ivy hissed. “Abigule… did you miss me?”

Brandon groaned. “Girl, this chick hates you. She always comes after us.”

Abigule ignored him. “We’re really doing this again?”

Ivy shrieked and her vines snapped to life—hissing, cracking, whipping through the air like angry serpents.
A thick vine wrapped around Abigule’s ankle and snatched her off her feet, slamming her to the ground.

Brandon jumped in, trying to fight her off, but Ivy’s power was overwhelming.
His search-bending wasn’t enough.
He hesitated—fear mixed with anger.

This was the moment he always avoided…
the moment he had to choose between being the knight he wanted to be
or becoming the king his father demanded.

Ivy’s vines tightened around Abigule’s throat—creaking, squeezing, the sound like bark snapping under pressure.

Poison pulsed through them, inching toward Abigule’s heart.

Abigule gasped, using her water abilities to slice through the vines—water sheared the vines cleanly, the sound a sharp slicing hiss—cutting Ivy’s cheek in the process.

“You cut my face?!” Ivy screamed.

Abigule coughed. “Brandon… anytime now!”

Ivy lunged again, screaming, “Do you remember?!”

“Remember what?” Abigule snapped.

“Remember who he was—who you took from me!”

Abigule smirked. “I remember you becoming a jealous bitch when I wouldn’t join Vexs. That’s what I remember.”

Ivy shrieked, slashing Abigule’s arms open.

Brandon froze—his father’s voice in his head, every expectation weighing on him.

Then courage snapped inside him like lightning.

His royal power surged.

Lightning exploded from his hands—electricity cracking, burning, rattling Ivy’s vines.
Ivy fell, her body twitching.

Vexs appeared behind her—silent, furious.

“What have you done?” he growled.

Before anyone could react, he grabbed Brandon—
slammed him into the wall—
the crack echoing through the castle—

Brandon’s head hit stone. Blood poured down.
Vexs crushed Brandon’s arm—the one he used against Ivy—until bone cracked.

Abigule screamed.
She dropped beside him, hands trembling, breath faltering.

“Brandon—Brandon—stay with me—”

His blood warmed her palms. Too much. Way too much.

Christepher and I sprinted in just in time to see Vexs smirking.

“Hello, Raven,” Vexs purred. “I’ve been waiting for you.”

He snapped his fingers.

And I vanished.

Christepher shouted my name, searching for me through the fading magic.

Abigule could barely breathe through her crying.

“Abby,” Christepher urged, “you have to heal him!”

“I—I can’t—there’s too much blood—Christepher, I can’t lose him—”

“Yes, you can,” Christepher said firmly. “Because you love him. And love unlocks power. Focus.”

Her hands shook violently as she held Brandon’s head and arm.

She focused on:
his stupid jokes,
their arguments,
the week he was gone and how empty the castle felt without him,
how she never admitted she needed him.

Her healing power glowed—a soft golden light —warming Brandon’s body.

Christepher’s eyes flickered blue.
“I’ll find you, Raven,” he whispered. “I promise.”

Brandon stirred, blinking. “Abby… why are you crying?”

She sobbed and laughed at once. “Because you almost died, idiot.”

He smirked weakly. “You must really love me, huh?”

She rolled her eyes. “Shut up. I’m glad you’re back.”

Christepher hugged them both.
Brandon groaned. “Awww, you love me too, hu?”

“If you ever die again,” Christepher said, “Abby will heal you so I can kill you.”

Brandon snorted. “Glad I was missed. But uh… where’s Raven?”

They froze.

“We don’t know,” Abby whispered.

A hidden door creaked open behind them—a door unseen by Vexs, but familiar to Abigule from her visions.

“I’ve seen this,” she said. “In the vision where I was looking for Raven.”

“You mean when you were hearing voices?” Brandon asked.

Christepher raised an eyebrow. “Like creepy voices or sexy voices?”

Abigule glared. “And this is why Raven is my favorite.”

They muttered “rude” under their breath.

Inside, the air dropped instantly.
Cold—so cold their breath turned white.

The room was made of glass shards embedded into the walls, like the room had been frozen mid-explosion.
A massive window was cracked, showing claw marks and vines—evidence of a failed escape.

Queen Valentina was strapped down by vines, her arms and legs cut and bruised, her skin turning faint blue from the cold.
Beside her, the King hung unconscious, vines wrapping around his body like restraints.

Abigule gasped. “Queen Valentina…”

The Queen lifted her head weakly. “Where… where is my daughter?”

“She was taken,” Christepher said, kneeling beside her. His voice softened—gentle, protective.
A child promised long ago to guard his future wife… and now facing the family he failed.

The Queen recognized him instantly.

“You… let her get taken…”

“Brandon was dying,” Abigule whispered. “Christepher didn’t mean to—”

The Queen trembled. “You must find her, Christepher…”

“I will,” he vowed. “I promise.”

Abigule stepped forward. “We need to free them.”

“I cannot leave my husband,” the Queen said. “Only a healer can help him. I am too weak…”

“I can do it,” Abigule said.

The Queen looked at her with desperate hope. “Please.”

Abigule used her healing abilities to revive the King.
He gasped awake, eyes landing on his wife.

“Valentina… who has done this to you?”

“I am fine now that you’re awake,” she whispered. “It was worth it.”

“We have to find Raven,” Abigule said.

The King steadied himself. “Go. We have fought darkness before.”

“No,” Christepher said. “Brandon will go with you. You both must be protected.”

“Christepher’s right,” Abigule added. “Now that you’re awake, Vexs will hunt you. We’ll take you to the school—Rambix Academy—until he’s defeated.”

She grabbed Brandon’s hand.
“I’m glad you’re safe. Our talk will have to wait.”

Brandon squeezed her hand. “I’ll keep them safe. You two find Raven.”

He guided the King and Queen to the portal.

As they left, I opened my eyes somewhere dark.
Cold vines wrapped around my arms and legs—tight, pulsing with magic.
I couldn’t move.

A voice breathed against my ear—

“Raven… we’re finally alone.”

Vexs.

“Let’s talk.”

And the real battle began.