Whispers of Worlds Beyond: A Series-Chapter 158: Orchestral Symphony [23]

The walk through the halls of Genvah was unlike any they had taken before- silent, guarded, and under the looming watch of something ancient.

The statue that had once stood harmless and unmoving now strode ahead of them, its carved stone limbs moving with fluid precision as if it had always known how to walk. Its once-vacant eyes now shimmered with a dim, enchanted light, and though it said nothing, its presence spoke volumes. Its body creaked with every movement, joints of granite and moss grinding together, yet it moved with eerie grace.

Rupert and Jarek walked stiffly, both glancing at each other occasionally with unsure expressions, while Adrian and Sevan trailed a step behind them.

"I'm just saying," Adrian murmured to Sevan, keeping his voice low but his grin bright, "if I break the perimeter, maybe I get turned to mear. Or maybe I get a 1v1 session. But maybe… I get a head start to run back to the dorms and pretend I slept through all of this and Aiden was actually there."

Sevan sighed, not even bothering to hide the smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Do you ever think before you speak?"

"All the time," Adrian said cheerfully. "Doesn't mean I listen."

Without waiting for a response, Adrian casually drifted to the side, inching away from the living statue. The second he stepped more than three meters from it, a low, grinding sound reverberated through the hall. It was a voice that wasn't like a voice, more a scraping command that filled their bones.

"Return. Do not stray from the path."

Adrian winced. "Yikes. Okay. Noted."

He shuffled back into place with exaggerated care. "See? It talks. Now I'm scared and intrigued."

The statue didn't react further. It simply continued its pace, leading them down corridors that glowed faintly with magical runes, each step echoing through the high arches of the academy. The tension was thick now, not just from their strange escort but from everything they'd seen that day.

They were nearing the Headmaster's wing when Sevan slowed, his eyes narrowing. A soft sound filtered through the corridor- a choked sob, quickly muffled, followed by the whisper of calming words. He held out a hand to stop the others.

"Wait," Sevan said, his voice just above a whisper. "Do you hear that?"

Rupert stiffened. "Crying?"

Adrian looked up ahead, frowning. The statue, oddly, came to a stop just as they turned the final corner, as if it, too, had heard. Or perhaps it simply knew. It stepped aside, standing silent like a sentinel to give them space.

The boys exchanged a glance before moving forward cautiously.

The hallway ahead opened into a side alcove near the Headmaster's office, and seated beside one of the benches was a small, trembling figure wrapped in a long black cloak. A cascade of unmistakable, snowy white hair spilled over her shoulders, catching the golden light of the wall sconces. Kneeling beside her was Professor Ylang-Ylang, her delicate form nearly hidden by her flowing dress, one hand gently stroking the girl's back.

"Amihan?" Sevan breathed, his steps quickening.

The girl's head snapped up. Her violet eyes were wide and wet with tears, her face pale and streaked with dirt. She looked fragile and lost, like she'd only just escaped a nightmare.

"Amihan!" Adrian called, running the last few steps.

She barely had time to stand before they reached her.

Sevan threw his arms around her without hesitation, and Adrian followed, wrapping her in a tight embrace. Jarek and Rupert stopped just behind, both letting out a collective breath they hadn't realized they'd been holding.

"You're okay," Sevan whispered. "You're safe."

"You have no idea how much we were losing our minds," Adrian added, his voice breaking with relief. "We thought you were taken or something."

Amihan's arms curled around them tightly, her breath shaking. And then, with a fresh wave of tears, she sobbed, "I lost Emmeranne again… but I found her. I found her and she told me to go and Professor Ylang-Ylang found me."

Professor Ylang-Ylang rose to her feet quietly, giving them space, her expression unreadable but her hand lingering gently on Amihan's shoulder. The air filled with the faint scent of lilacs and rain- a calming aura she always carried.

Adrian pulled back just enough to see Amihan's face.

"Wait. What do you mean she told you to go? Where's Aiden?"

Amihan blinked, confused. "Aiden? He's not in your room? I… I don't know. He wasn't with us."

Sevan and Adrian exchanged a glance, hearts sinking.

Jarek stepped forward. "We think he followed you."

Amihan's eyes widened. "No… no, he didn't. He couldn't have-"

"He probably did," Jarek said gently but firmly. "He must have realized you were missing or have heard you and went after you. When you vanished from your room, our group split up with Ivara leading the other group to find you. We thought it's likely you'll be at the forest."

Amihan's hands flew to her mouth, her voice trembling.

"That's- that's where I ran from… the creatures. Emmeranne felt something was off and was forced to go deeper. I didn't know- I didn't know he-"

Professor Ylang-Ylang finally spoke. "Come. You've all been through too much. We must inform the Headmaster… and send someone to find your friend."

Amihan's sobs had quieted to soft hiccups, her fingers gripping Adrian's jacket like it was the only anchor she had left. Her face was buried against his chest, her shoulders trembling with the leftover storm of fear and confusion.

Sevan stood nearby, silent, watching everything with a growing knot in his stomach. At first, the relief of finding Amihan had been so overwhelming that he'd ignored the tightness in his chest- the one whispering that something didn't sit right.

But now, standing just a few feet away from Professor Ylang-Ylang, it was impossible to ignore.

She was too still.

Professor Ylang-Ylang had always been gentle, yes. But she moved like a breeze on a flower stem, like wind dancing through leaves. Her golden eyes sparkled when she smiled. Her Divatas circled her constantly, tiny glowing creatures that floated like stars caught in an orbit only she could hold. They were her ever-present companions, flickering and fluttering and chirping with delight or distress depending on the mood around her. Her presence was warm, vibrant, bursting with life.

But this woman… this figure… felt like a painting.

Sevan's eyes narrowed. He looked around them slowly, methodically, letting the silence stretch. Adrian was still speaking to Amihan softly, reassuring her, saying things like "We've got you" and "You're safe now" and "We'll figure it out"- but Sevan couldn't join in. Something in his chest was screaming. He turned his eyes back toward the "professor" and spoke, cautious but clear.

"Professor… where are your Divatas?"

The silence that followed was sharp and immediate. Even Adrian paused mid-sentence. Amihan sniffled but glanced up slightly, curious.

The woman turned to Sevan, her golden eyes unmoving.

"Don't worry," she said gently, tilting her head in a soft, almost mechanical motion. "You're safe now."

Adrian frowned. "What?"

Professor Ylang-Ylang smiled wider and slid an arm around Amihan, pulling her close in a side embrace. "Everything is fine. I'm here now. We should go back. You've been through so much. Let me take you back."

Something in Sevan's chest cracked.

No.

No, no, no.

Professor Ylang-Ylang couldn't touch anyone. That was the first thing they'd learned about her in Mystical Botany.

Her power was so overwhelming, so attuned to flora, that even the lightest contact with another person could trigger a magical reaction. Her sleeves were enchanted to protect others from her touch. She never hugged students.

Ever.

His voice came out hoarse, stunned. "That's… that's not Professor Ylang-Ylang."

The others turned to look at him. Jarek blinked. "What do you mean?"

"She can't touch people," Sevan said, the words tumbling out in disbelief. "Her magic's too strong. That's why she always uses that stick, remember? And where are her Divatas? She never walks without them."

Amihan looked up, confused. "What…?"

Sevan stepped closer, his heart hammering. "That's not her. That's not her."

The false professor looked at them all serenely, still smiling, still gently stroking Amihan's hair. "Don't be afraid. I'm here."

But now, they saw it.

The stillness wasn't serenity. It was a mask. Her eyes didn't blink. Her breath didn't fog. Her clothes didn't sway when she moved. Her touch didn't trigger even the smallest bud of life.

Rupert took a sharp step back. "That's not anyone. That's a fake."

Jarek tensed, his hand instinctively going to the hilt of the mace slung behind his shoulder. "An illusion?"

"No," Sevan said slowly, "more than that. A shell. Someone pretending to be her."

Adrian looked pale now, his voice hollow as he spoke.

"Someone who knew how to replicate everything… almost perfectly. Everything but the magic. The tiny details like the ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom

Divatas."

Sevan and Adrian exchanged a look- one filled with dread and certainty.

"I don't know who's behind this," Rupert said.

But Sevan did.

He looked at Adrian. "I hope I'm wrong."

Adrian's eyes were already wide with recognition. "No…"

"I really really hope I'm wrong," Sevan repeated.

He turned his gaze back toward the false professor, his fists clenched, his heart pounding as fear twisted into bitter understanding.

"But I have a feeling I know who did this."

And with a breath barely louder than the hush of falling leaves, he said it.

"Lopt."