17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡth4k1NCcZWEilara’s eyes snapped open as the nightmares finally retreated . Those evil, crimson red eyes still haunted her, demanding to be acknowledged even in the waking world. When her vision cleared, she found a white, fluffy owl perched on a wooden desk. The room was swallowed by shadows, lit only by a single candle that flickered in a persistent draft. Eilara’s eyes widened as she reached for her cheek; the bleeding had stopped, but she could still feel the jagged ridge of a fresh scar.
"Good evening, Mrs. Moore," the owl said in a squeaky voice. "I’m Lina."
"You talk?" Eilara whispered, her voice trembling.
"Yes," Lina replied. "I’m half Nexus."
"Nexus?" Eilara repeated the word. It felt familiar, echoing somewhere deep in her clouded memory.
"We are currently in Nyxarium," Lina explained.
"Huh?" was all Eilara could manage.
"You will be attending our school today," Lina continued matter-of-factly.
"School?" Eilara knew she should stop repeating everything she heard, but nothing made sense. Her past was a blurry smear of forgotten moments.
"The National School of Nyxarium," Lina told her. "You are currently in one of the school dorms." Lina flew toward the window and nudged open a secret door.
"You are awake," a soft voice murmured. Two men wearing red masks strode into the room.
"They’re teachers," Lina explained quickly.
"Looks like you’ve been explaining things to young Mrs. Moore," the other masked man said. His voice was harsh, scraping against the quiet of the room.
"Wait," Eilara sat up, her heart racing. "Have we met before?"
"I don't know what you mean," the harsh voice replied coldly.
"I remember your voice," Eilara pressed.
The man tilted his head toward her, his mask unreadable. "How much do you remember?"
"A pair of evil red eyes," she said. "And your voice. I know that I’ve bled." She pointed to the mark on her cheek.
"Well," the other masked man said, holding up a creepy, golden bell. "You know too much, Mrs. Moore."
A sharp, ringing sound filled the air, and Eilara felt herself falling back into the dark as her eyes rolled back.17Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzxur6IQkdB
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