"The Lost Heart of Ice Across the Realms".

"Seriously?" Luke snapped, his eyes burning with frustration. "You want me to leave you with that filthy wolf? He's getting too close to you, and you talk to him more than you talk to me!"

Before I could respond, Black let out a low growl, a quiet warning that made the air tense. I turned to Luke with a playful smile, amused by his obvious jealousy, but I wasn't about to let him see that.

I stepped closer to him, gently taking his hand. "There's nothing to worry about, Luke," I said softly. "I just need a few minutes to say goodbye to Black."

I felt his grip tighten, but he didn't pull away. For a moment, we stood in silence before he finally sighed, his frustration still lingering.

"Fine," he muttered. "I'll give you some space."

As he walked away, I sat beside Black, running my fingers through his fur. His usual fierce gaze was filled with something softer now—something that mirrored my own sadness.

"Don't be upset, Black," I whispered. "He's just jealous. I brought you some meat—don't hunt too much, okay? You're still healing." I paused, swallowing the lump in my throat. "I'm leaving for a while. I don't know when I'll be back… or if I'll even find you here. Maybe you'll return to your family, or maybe… maybe we'll never see each other again. We always knew this day would come, but it still hurts. I just hope… I hope you'll be okay."

Black's eyes softened as if he understood every word. The ache in my chest deepened. I had grown so used to his presence, to his silent support. Saying goodbye was harder than I had imagined.

I stood up, forcing a smile. "Goodbye, Black."

Reluctantly, I turned back toward Luke. He was still tense, his arms crossed as he stared off into the distance. Without a word, I slipped my hand into his and rested my head against his shoulder.

"Are you really mad at me?" I asked quietly.

Luke exhaled, some of his anger fading. "I'm just not used to you being close to anyone but me. That wolf... you spent so much time with him. It made me mad."

I gave him a small smile, trying to ease the tension. "You know I love you, right? I don't hide anything from you. But some things… some things I just couldn't say to anyone but Black."

Luke sighed, his expression softening as a distant memory surfaced. "Do you remember when we were twelve? That party… when that boy tried to confess his love to you?"

I laughed, warmth filling my chest at the memory. "I remember! He was so nervous, holding out a rose, and you—" I giggled, recalling how Luke had snatched the rose and tossed it back at the poor boy's face. "You nearly threw him across the room!"

Luke smirked. "That boy was a vampire prince. We almost started a war that night."

I shook my head, still laughing. "And when the fight broke out, the King of Wizards had to step in and stop us. The whole party turned into chaos—broken glass, spilled drinks, dresses ruined by cake and candy. And you… you were furious, but you couldn't stop laughing at the mess we made."

Luke chuckled. "After that, my dad banned us from parties. And when he found out we were the ones who started the fight, we were grounded for two weeks."

I smiled at the memory, but the weight of what was coming pressed against me. That night, when we returned home, our father had been waiting at the door, worry and frustration in his eyes.

"Where have you been?" he had asked. "You should be in bed."

Luke and I had exchanged glances before rushing to hug him. He had hesitated at first, surprised, but then his arms wrapped around us, warm and strong.

"We're going to miss you, Dad," we had whispered together.

His voice had been thick with emotion as he replied, "I'll miss you too, more than you know."

Now, sitting beside Luke, those words echoed in my mind. Upstairs, I packed my bag, but sleep wouldn't come. I tossed and turned, my mind racing with everything left unsaid.

Eventually, I gave up and went to find Luke. I thought he'd be asleep, but he was awake, staring at the ceiling. Without a word, I lay beside him, reaching for his hand. The silence between us was heavy, filled with unspoken fears.

Then, suddenly, I was somewhere else.

A dark forest. Towering trees stretched into the night sky, their twisted branches casting endless shadows. The eerie silence made my skin crawl, yet something—something powerful—was pulling me forward.

I walked, not knowing why, until I reached a lake I had only seen in dreams. The water shimmered under the moonlight, still as glass. A faint breeze sent ripples across its surface, yet the air around me felt unnaturally heavy.

Then, footsteps.

I turned, spotting a figure leaning against a tree. He wasn't familiar, yet there was something in his eyes—something that felt like a memory I couldn't quite grasp.

We stood in silence, the moment stretched between us like a thin thread waiting to snap. Finally, I sank onto the grass, looking up at the star-filled sky. The vastness made me feel small, lost in a world I didn't understand.

As I counted the stars, my eyes grew heavy. Sleep pulled at me, but just as I drifted, my father's voice echoed through my mind.

"Come on, we're going to miss the plane."

My eyes snapped open. The plane. Our departure. It was happening.

Heart pounding, I rushed to grab my bag and ran downstairs. My father and Luke were already waiting, their expressions unreadable. We ate quickly, the weight of goodbye settling over us.

At the airport, my father's hug lingered, tight and full of unspoken words. "I'll miss you," he murmured.

As the plane took off, I held Luke's hand, watching the clouds pass below. A strange sense of freedom filled my lungs, yet deep inside, something told me this was only the beginning.

Hours later, we arrived in London. The city glittered beneath us, unfamiliar and vast. But when we reached Levana School, confusion set in.

Instead of the grand academy we expected, an old mansion loomed before us. The air was thick with mystery, the garden surrounding it both beautiful and unsettling.

Luke glanced at the worn sign beside the gate. "This is the school, apparently," he muttered.

Nothing about it felt normal. It was as if we had stepped into another world—one filled with secrets waiting to be uncovered.

And in my heart, I knew… our real journey was just beginning.

—

What do you think?

1. What challenges do you think the characters will face in this strange school?

2. How do you think this journey will change them?

3. Will they uncover hidden dangers lurking in Levana School?

4. What do you think about the glimpses of their past? Will they shape their future?

5. What mystery intrigues you the most so far?

Let me know your thoughts in the comments!