Zeph’s POV

Mariela Sensei returned after a few hours and it was almost dawn. I rushed to her side and inquired about Serene.

"She will be fine, Zeph. I will let you see her soon." With that being said she headed for Shumal Sensei and they began to discuss something in hushed voices.

I was becoming impatient, it was becoming impossible to stay here. After a while, I begged Shumal Sensei to take me to her and luckily she agreed.

Ralph patted my shoulder before whispering: "Go see her but stay strong in front of her. She will be broken and you have to be her strength." I nodded at him.

Shumal Sensei and I left the Enchantment Hall and made our way to the infirmary. My heart was almost in my throat thinking about how I will find her. There was a commotion outside and I could hear shrieks of monsters in the distance. Were they already here? Were we equipped enough to deal with them?

A thousand questions were racing through my mind. I thought about home and although we lived far away from Dark Realm, what if some monster attacked our homes?

The thought jolted me and I decided as soon as I made sure Serene was out of danger, I would need to head home. Hoping they would let us.

We reached the Infirmary and Shumal Sensei opened the door, I followed inside behind her, my eyes darting to find Serene.

There she was laying on the bed with Kilamin standing right beside her, protectively. She turned her head in my direction and there was so much pain in her eyes, they were blood-red and puffy from all the crying. Her arms were bandaged and the rest of her body was covered with a blanket.

I rushed toward her while Kilamin stepped back and moved in the direction of Shumal Sensei. Approaching her, I took her in my arms and she clung to me. Sob after sob escaped her throat.

"Serene..." I whispered to her and she clutched my shirt and tugged me closer.

"I am here now, it’s going to be alright." I rubbed her back, trying to calm her down. But her whole body was shaking and I was afraid she was going into shock. I felt utterly helpless, she was breaking down, right in my arms.

"I...doom..ed us all." She sobbed in my ear. "I was too weak Zeph, I couldn’t stop her from breaking...the barrier. Forgive me. I should have let the Council kill me." I was petrified at her words.

"Serene, stop that thinking. We have to be strong right now. What’s done is done, it wasn’t you alone..."Kilamin spoke in a firm tone from behind us but was cut off when she shrieked.

"Noooooo, it was only me. It was my blood alone and no one else, nothing else." She stared at Kilamin with a meaningful look and he gazed back at her. It felt like their eyes were talking more than their words. And I wondered what it was that she didn’t let him say. Tears flowed in torrents and lined her cheeks as I wiped them with my fingers.

He finally averted his gaze and began to discuss something with Shumal Sensei and she lowered her eyes before focusing them on me and whispering: "He is my step-brother and I didn’t even know, I found out when the shadowy figure from my nightmares took me and used my blood and his to break the barrier spell." I listened in horror as Serene explained to me in detail what had happened. This was too much information and no wonder she was in this state. Her whole body was covered in bandages and she looked so pale, almost ethereal because of the blood loss.

"Zeph, I am only telling you this. I don’t want anyone else to know what I told you. The barrier was broken only by my blood, not his." She was so determined in her stance, and already so protective of him.

"I understand, he is your brother and you both feel the need to protect each other. All your secrets are safe with me." I ensured her, cupping her face and landing a small kiss on her forehead.

The door opened again and Artins and Mariela Sensei stepped inside. Artins Sensei rushed towards Serene. His dreadlocks waving behind him.

"Are you alright?" He inquired, his eyes were glowing and his aura exuberated dominance. The seriousness in his manner charged the air around him.

"I am sorry Sensei, I have been such a failure." She was hardly speaking.

"No, Serene. We are sorry, it was our duty to protect you and yet we failed, I failed. But we will do everything in our power to protect you. I have reinforced the barrier so monsters can’t enter the Institue premises. Slayers are fighting them behind the barrier and trying to push them back. Also sent messengers to all the Realms, informing them to gather forces but I guess they already know the barrier has been broken." He filled us in on all the details and continued.

"What I don’t understand is how was Serene taken out of here?" He inquired.

"It was one of my monster birds and since Ayrden can control birds, she was put under possession to control that bird and take her out of here. Its claws are laced with paralytic toxins that immobilize the body and drain all energy. That’s why Serene was unable to use any powers." Mariela Sensei filled in all the missing pieces, her head lowered as if she was too ashamed.

"What’s done is done now. There is no use dwelling in the past. I have decided to send novices back to their respective realms. I am not sure how long the barrier will hold and also everyone deserves to be with their family at this time. We don’t know what the motive of the enemy is now. Until we figure out and gather all our forces, it’s better to go home." He then turned to Kilamin and said in a grave tone:

"You must take Serene back, they will come for her and she will be safest with her own people. I will send some trusted slayers with you, who hold unique powers. They will protect her, Council will come for her and over my dead body, they will take her away. I will hold them off."

"Understood, if anyone tried to come for her. I will show no restraints or mercy. Heads will roll." Kilamin replied fiercely, his eyes showing the determination of the elder brother. Now I understood why he was so protective of her.

"You have every right to decapitate the heads who dare come for her, you should leave as soon as possible," Artins spoke without hesitation and Kilamin nodded looking at Serene. She looked aghast.

"Shumal make preparations to send the novices back if anyone wants to stay then let them but make sure everyone reaches their homes safely." Shumal Sensei nodded before rushing out.

Artins Sensei then turned his attention to Ayrden and a hint of sadness passed through his eyes.

"How is she doing?" He inquired softly from Mariela Sensei.

"No change so far, I am afraid her brain received damage from the sudden mind control. Not everyone can handle the intrusion." Mariela Sensei replied in a hurtful tone.

"I will heal her," and my head whipped towards Serene who was trying to get up.

"Absolutely not, especially in this condition." Kilamin almost yelled at her.

"What do you expect me to do? Just leave her like that." She said glaring back at him.

"Yes, that’s what happens in times of war. I told you before, you won’t be able to save everyone."

"Well, I am saving her." She threw off the blanket and tried to stand up, but her legs buckled and I caught her before she fell to the ground. Kilamin shook his head, a pained expression settling on his face.

"Serene, you can’t heal her. Kilamin is right, listen to him. We will find another way. You need to go now. Meet your friends, and say your goodbyes. And let’s all hope we come out victorious at the end of this bloody reign we are about to pass through." Artins Sensei said as he approached us and patted her head before turning back and leaving the Infirmary. She clutched my arm, leaning against me as she rested her head on my chest, seeking comfort.

"Zeph can you take me to them so I can meet everyone before leaving." She pleaded.

"Of course," I replied before scooping her in my arms, I turned to Kilamin, and he nodded in approval.

"I will gather your belongings, you have half an hour and then we are leaving." Kilamin addressed Serene.

"Ok," she replied as I carried her away towards the Enchantment Hall, hoping our friends were still there have not already left.