An hour later, I found Professor Thorne by the ancient, gnarled heart-tree in the arboretum. The air was cooler now, filled with the scent of damp earth and the subtle magic of the night. He was no longer just the professor; he was Elara Vance, a woman with a chillingly specific, yet heartbreakingly familiar, quest.
"Professor Thorne," I greeted, my voice soft. "You wished to speak of historical families?"
"The Kaelan family," he stated, cutting straight to the chase. There was no pretense with him when we were alone. "What do you know of their history, particularly around the time of the... 'purification of magical lineages'?"
I remembered my family's hushed stories, the ones passed down in whispers from my grandmother. "The Kaelans. Their rise to prominence was indeed swift during that period.
They were known for their cunning, and their mastery of Elemental Magic was, shall we say, unusually aggressive. My family's records suggest they were instrumental in the... 'disbanding' of several old Elemental and Conjuration houses who did not align with the new order." I paused, my eyes meeting Elara's. "There were whispers, too, of their involvement in something called 'Elemental Shackling.'
A ritual that doesn't just bind wild elemental spirits, but can subtly drain the life force from places or people that are strongly connected to natural elemental currents."
I watched Elara's face, the subtle hardening of her jaw, the flicker of fury in her eyes as the pieces clicked into place for her. Her family's Life Magic, so vibrant and powerful, would have been a direct target for such a draining art.
"Draining life force? To what end?" she asked, her voice laced with bitterness.
"To fuel their own power, Elara," I whispered, stepping closer. "The Kaelans grew immensely wealthy, their lands inexplicably fertile, their magical capabilities amplified.
They achieved this by systematically weakening the natural magical flow of rival territories and lineages. Your family, with its profound connection to raw life essence, would have been particularly vulnerable to such a draining, yet also particularly resistant."
"And how were these rituals kept secret?" Elara asked, her voice raw.
"Illusions, Elara," I said, reaching out, my hand almost touching her arm. My family had seen it all, cloaked behind layers of fabricated reality. "Powerful illusions woven by those who mastered deception. And fear. The Moonshadows were, and are, often seen as reclusive, even eccentric. It made us convenient witnesses, overlooked and dismissed, yet we saw too much."
Her gaze met mine, a dawning understanding in her eyes. The weight of her solitude, the burden of her vengeance – I felt it all, like a tremor in the very air between us.
"Thank you, Lyra," she said, the words a raw confession. "This… this clarifies much."
"Now, the Valerius family," I prompted gently, my heart filled with a knowing concern.
"What is your first step for them?"
The warmth in her eyes receded, replaced by the cold steel of her purpose. "Cassian Valerius. He will be my public lesson. His father's pride is his greatest vulnerability."
"A public lesson?" I murmured, a hint of apprehension in my voice. The Valerius family was not to be trifled with.
"Yes," she confirmed, her voice low and steady. "I will subtly, gradually, expose Cassian's magical ineptitude in Life Magic classes, especially his inability to perform even the most basic nurturing spells. I will emphasize his callousness, his disregard for life, qualities that speak volumes about his family's true nature, given their public image of martial prowess and 'honor.' It will be a slow, public chipping away at the 'esteemed' Valerius name, starting with their arrogant heir."
"You plan to undermine his reputation in a way that reflects badly on his father's house," I understood, a flicker of concern in my eyes. "A powerful, subtle illusion of truth."
"Precisely," she affirmed. "His father's pride will be wounded, his influence subtly questioned. It's a soft blow, a warning shot. But it will set the stage. And I will continue to research their past, searching for the tangible proof of their Soul-Binding practices. When the time is right, I will strike directly at the patriarch."
I nodded slowly, my expression conflicted. "Be careful, Elara. Such strategies can draw dangerous attention. The Valerius family is powerful."
"I am aware," she said, her gaze distant, fixed on the moon just beginning to appear over the academy spires. "But I have waited too long. My family deserves more than just quiet vengeance. They deserve exposure. And now, Lyra," she turned, her eyes meeting mine with a new, dangerous resolve, "I have the Kaelans to contend with as well. Two families, two dark arts. I need to understand them fully before I make my next move."
The arboretum grew dark around us, the scent of night-blooming jasmine filling the air. I felt a renewed surge of purpose, a fierce loyalty to this fierce woman. When I returned to my quarters, Aster and Wren were still there, tidying up, their curious gazes following me. I offered them a small, knowing smile, the secret shared with Elara now mine to keep, a heavy, yet precious, weight.