MYSTERY OF SAINT HILLER DORMITORY

That night, the fog of Belgorov was thicker than usual, a heavy mist that seemed to swallow the light and darken the world. The moon, usually a watchful eye in the night sky, was dim and veiled by the thick, suffocating clouds. The air felt heavy, laden with an unease that seemed to spread through the very ground beneath Saint Hiller Academy.

In the heart of the academy, behind the towering stone walls, the deepest underground gate slowly began to creak open. The sound of chains rattling echoed through the narrow, dark passageways, a noise so unnatural it sent chills through anyone who heard it. The grinding of metal reverberated through the ancient stones, an ominous signal that something long imprisoned was about to be set loose.

Inside the chamber, tall figures cloaked in tattered black cloth stood motionless. Their faces were hidden in shadow, but their eyes glowed a deep, almost unnatural red, burning like embers in the dark. They were the Dark Sentinels, cursed warriors bound by ancient magic, bred to hunt and destroy.

A deep voice reverberated in the cold air, breaking the silence that had hung over the chamber for centuries.

"The time has come. Find the Heir. Show no mercy."

At the command, the Dark Sentinels stirred, their movements slow and deliberate, like creatures of the shadows themselves. They did not walk. They **melded with the mist**, their forms blending seamlessly with the fog, disappearing into the night.

The hunt had begun.

---

Brian woke with a start, his breath coming in quick, shallow gasps. The darkness of his dream still clung to him, a heavy weight pressing on his chest. In the nightmare, he had seen them—the Dark Sentinels, moving through the labyrinthine hallways of Saint Hiller, their dark figures chasing him relentlessly, never giving him a chance to escape.

"I feel it... they are really coming," he thought, a cold sweat breaking out across his skin.

His hand instinctively went to the pendant around his neck, the one that had been a gift from his father. It pulsed faintly, as if alive with a power that Brian didn’t yet understand. The purple aura from the pendant lingered in his senses, a constant reminder of the strange, growing power within him.

That morning, as classes began, the atmosphere in Saint Hiller felt off. The air was thick with tension, as though everyone sensed that something was terribly wrong. The students were on edge, casting nervous glances over their shoulders, whispers floating through the halls like smoke. Even the dormitory supervisors, normally calm and unflappable, seemed to be patrolling the hallways more than usual, their eyes darting in every direction, alert for something they couldn’t yet name.

Lucian approached Brian in the corridor, his expression grim and serious. His usual playful demeanor was gone, replaced with the weight of an unsettling truth.

"They’ve been released," he whispered, barely moving his lips.

"Who?" Brian asked, his voice barely above a breath.

Lucian’s gaze flicked around them, ensuring no one was listening, before he spoke again. "The Dark Sentinels. Hunters of the ancient bloodline heirs. And you—"

Brian felt a chill run through his veins, his heart pounding as the words sank in.

"You’re their primary target."

A sense of dread settled deep within him. He wasn’t just a student at Saint Hiller. He wasn’t just another heir. He was the heir—the one they had been waiting for.

Lucian’s voice lowered, his tone urgent. "We have to move faster. The Vault of Shadows isn’t the only key. There's another place—one that can accelerate the awakening of your power."

Brian looked at him, his eyes wide with disbelief. "Where?"

"At the top of the oldest tower. The Aegis Tower. It's a place even some of the teachers fear to enter."*

---

Heading to Aegis Tower

That night, under the cover of darkness, Brian, Lucian, Nika, and Tomas gathered in secret behind the dormitory. They had donned protective cloaks, carefully crafted by Nika, that would mask their presence and keep them hidden from the eyes of the supervisors and any magical wards that might be in place.

Lucian’s face was grim as he surveyed the surroundings. "We only have one night," he murmured. "After this, they’ll tighten the surveillance. We won’t get another chance."

They moved swiftly, staying close to the shadows, avoiding the prying eyes of the dormitory supervisors. As they crossed the eastern courtyard, they came upon the Aegis Tower, an ancient structure of black stone, its surface crawling with purple moss that seemed to pulse with an eerie light. The tower loomed over them, casting a long shadow across the courtyard. Its very presence felt oppressive, like a weight pressing down on their souls.

The entrance to the tower had been locked for decades, its key lost to time. But Lucian had come prepared. He produced a small, shadow key, an artifact passed down through the Shadow Fellowship, a secret society that had long protected the bloodlines of the Heirs.

With a low incantation, Lucian activated the key, and the lock on the door clicked open. The door creaked slowly, revealing the dark passage inside, the air thick with the scent of ancient dust and old magic.

"Let’s go," Lucian urged, stepping into the darkness. "We don’t have time to waste."

---

Inside the Tower

The inside of the tower was like stepping into another world. A narrow, spiraling staircase led them upward, past faded paintings and stone statues, their eyes fixed in eternal watchfulness. Some of the statues seemed to be guardians, their eyes following every movement, as though they had a life of their own.

The higher they ascended, the colder it became. Black mist began to creep along the walls, filling the space with a suffocating presence. The sound of footsteps—unseen, yet unmistakable—echoed from behind the walls, a haunting reminder that they were not alone.

"They’re here," Nika whispered, her voice barely audible.

At the crossroads of the hallway, a Dark Sentinel appeared, its towering form casting a long, dark shadow. Its eyes glowed a deep red, reflecting the ominous glow of the surrounding mist.

"Hand over the Heir," the voice of the Sentinel rumbled, deep and cold, resonating through the stone walls.

Lucian reacted instantly, drawing his silver dagger. The blade met the shadow claws of the creature, the clash ringing out through the tower. Tomas moved quickly, weaving protective spells around Brian, creating a barrier of magic to shield him from harm.

But the battle was far from over. More Dark Sentinels began to materialize from the shadows, their red eyes gleaming with malice.

"We need to break formation. Brian, go up!" Lucian shouted, his voice urgent. "Only you can open the path at the top of the tower!"

Brian’s heart raced, his breath coming faster as he sprinted up the final staircase, determined to reach the summit and unlock the ancient power that awaited him.

---

The Summit Room

At the top of the tower, Brian entered a circular chamber. In the center of the room was a ritual circle, its lines glowing faintly with arcane energy. In the middle of the room stood a large black mirror, its surface covered in intricate carvings of the Vindrae symbol.

Brian’s pendant, still hanging from his neck, began to glow brighter. The aura emanating from it pulsed in rhythm with the energy in the room, as though recognizing the sacred space.

"Enter the mirror," a deep voice echoed within his mind, its tone both commanding and familiar.

With a deep breath, Brian stepped into the ritual circle. The moment his foot crossed the threshold, the black mirror pulsed with life, its surface rippling like water. Then, slowly, it swallowed him, pulling him into the realm of shadows.

---

Inside the Mirror

Brian was cast into a void—endless, suffocating blackness. There was no sense of up or down, only an oppressive nothingness that seemed to stretch forever.

Before him, a figure appeared—Silvester Alexander, his father, his face serene yet troubled.

"At last, you’ve come," Silvester said, his voice a whisper in the darkness.

"Father!" Brian gasped. "What’s happening? Why was I chosen?"

Silvester’s smile was faint, almost sad. "Because of your blood. Because of your power. Because this world needs you."

He extended his hand, and Brian, desperate for answers, reached for it.

"See what truly happened to Saint Hiller."

In an instant, Brian’s vision was filled with the past—scenes of betrayal, of allies turned foes, and a world fractured by secrets.

The Shadow Council, once trusted guardians of the bloodline, had betrayed the Vindrae Clan. Teachers who had once stood for truth had been hunted down and sealed away, their voices