The sound of roaring voices filled the massive arena of Umbra. Torches burned brightly along the towering walls, the banners of the Order of Umbra fluttering high as the Shades of the second year stood in the middle of the grounds. Their names echoed like thunder.
“Hydra! Valkyrie! Leviathan! Phoenix! Griffin! Cerberus! Wyvern! Kraken! Nymph! Sphinx!”
The Circle of Leagues had ended, and there was no question of the result. The second-year Shades of Ravenfall stood victorious, each of them having fought through brutal one-on-one duels. Their teamwork, their cunning, their ferocity had carried them through. And in the end, Umbra’s trophy gleamed proudly in their hands.
For the first-years, it was no less glorious. The Inter-League competitions—a mix of nine challenges ranging from strategy and martial duels to endurance and intellect—had tested them harder than anything before. But under the loud and relentless pressure of their seniors, they’d fought tooth and nail. Out of nine matches, they claimed five victories, just enough to seize the trophy once again for Umbra.
Unlike the previous year—when victory had been muted by the death of a friend—this year was pure triumph.
A Night of Celebration
The halls of Umbra became a storm of joy. Bonfires burned in the courtyards, barrels of ale rolled into the open, and music blared through the night. Second-years and first-years alike shouted, danced, and drank like there was no tomorrow.
Phoenix leapt onto a table, mug in each hand, shouting:56Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1Rt5pAQoUx
“Umbra never loses! Drink until you can’t see straight, rookies, because this is what winning tastes like!”
“Sit down before you fall off,” Cerberus muttered, pulling him down by the collar.
“I can’t sit, the fire of victory is in my blood!” Phoenix slurred.
“More like beer,” Wyvern muttered, already halfway through his own drink.
Griffin, surprisingly steady despite the alcohol, grinned and raised a toast. “To Umbra. To our victory. And to the fact Phoenix hasn’t passed out yet.”
The crowd roared with laughter. Even Leviathan, who always carried an air of calm detachment, smiled faintly while sipping a glass of wine. Nymph and Sphinx pulled rookies into wild dances, while Kraken and Valkyrie toasted each other silently, sharing a knowing smile.
Amber and Azure joined their juniors as well, their presence as Glooms adding more gravity to the moment. “You’ve done well,” Azure said simply, but his eyes shone with pride.
By midnight, the dorms were a blur of drunken singing, laughter, and collapsed warriors sprawled across couches, beds, and even the floor. For the first time in a long while, Umbra felt untouchable.
Days Later
The high of victory didn’t last.
A courier from COMA brought the news like a knife through silk. In the council chamber, Elda sat still as stone, the message trembling in her hand.
“Gianluca Moretti… has taken his own life. He leapt into the sea. His body… was never recovered.”
The room was silent. Amber, Azure, Isolde, Damien, and the entirety of Ravenfall sat in shock.
“What?” Kraken whispered, voice breaking.
“That doesn’t make sense,” Wyvern growled, fists tightening. “A man like him… just jumps?”
“It has to be false,” Valkyrie muttered, shaking her head.
Elda closed her eyes. Her heart knew the truth. Gianluca hadn’t chosen this. This was the work of Adrian Valgrave, the son of Howard Valgrave. Ruthless. Cold. Calculated. But she said nothing aloud. She carried that knowledge quietly, knowing it was a burden she’d have to bear for now.
She looked at Hydra for a moment. He sat still, no expression on his face, but she knew. For him, Gianluca Moretti wasn’t some distant figure. To him, Gianluca was still grandfather. The truth of his birth—the real blood that ran in his veins—was still hidden. She hadn’t told him. Not yet.
“I… will need to inform Luciano Moretti of this news,” Elda finally said softly. “For now, take some rest.”
Hydra’s Silence
The team filed out in silence.
Cerberus lingered, looking at Hydra. “Are you alright?” she asked gently.
Hydra didn’t look at her, only at the shadows of the hall. “I want to be alone, dear. Please.” His voice was low, steady, but there was a weight behind it that pierced deeper than rage ever could.
Cerberus hesitated, then nodded, slipping away with the others.
Hydra remained, mind drifting to fragments of memory—moments of warmth, of words spoken in the old man’s voice, a presence that had always been distant but strangely firm. He clenched his fists.
Silent Prayer
The rest of Ravenfall gathered in the courtyard with Amber and Azure. The victory celebrations of days past felt like a dream now, the heaviness of loss hanging in the air. They lit candles together, the small flames flickering against the night.
Azure’s voice broke the silence: “For all that he was, Gianluca Moretti still gave much to this world. May his soul find rest.”
The candles burned, and no one spoke. They only stood, heads bowed, letting silence carry the weight words could not.
Phoenix, for once, didn’t make a joke. Leviathan’s eyes were shut in prayer. Griffin’s hand rested firmly on his crutch. Valkyrie, Wyvern, Nymph, Sphinx—all of them bowed their heads.
Damien stood close to Isolde, his usually playful nature subdued. Even she, ever proud and strong, seemed softened by the grief in the air.
As the flames flickered, Ravenfall remembered. Their laughter, their victories, their bonds—and the shadows that still haunted them.
Hydra remained apart, but the memory of his grandfather’s face lingered in his thoughts.
And though the night was quiet, the war in his heart was just beginning.
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and then Add to home screen.