Sofia did not sleep that night.
She sat on the edge of her bed, staring through the window of the girls' dormitory as moonlight spilled across the floor.
Machir's words kept replaying inside her head.
Then Rohgah will learn the truth.
She squeezed her eyes shut.
"No."
The word escaped her lips like a prayer.
She had spent years trying to forget.
Trying to pretend that the strange emptiness she felt whenever she heard Rohgah's name meant nothing.
Trying to convince herself that the dreams she sometimes had about a little boy were nothing more than dreams.
But now he was here.
Rohgah Perez.
The son of Machir Perez.
Her brother.
Sofia opened her eyes.
A tear rolled down her cheek.
"Why did you have to come here?"
She remembered the first time she had seen him at Ravenshade.
The moment their eyes met, something inside her had broken.
She had recognized something she couldn't explain.
Not his face.
Not his voice.
Something deeper.
Something buried.
And when he had spoken to her, her heart had screamed one word.
Family.
But Rohgah didn't know.
He couldn't know.
Not yet.
Because if he discovered the truth, Machir's carefully constructed world would collapse.
And Sofia wasn't sure what Machir would do to prevent that.
She stood and walked toward the mirror.
For a moment, she stared at her reflection.
Then she whispered,
"Stay away from him."
She wasn't sure whether she was speaking to herself or to her heart.
The next morning, Ravenshade High was unusually crowded.
Students filled the courtyard.
Teachers moved from one building to another.
The sound of laughter echoed everywhere.
Nicole walked between Ashbel and Bella, holding a book under her arm.
"I didn't sleep."
Bella glanced at her.
"Why?"
"Because someone snored."
Ashbel immediately looked offended.
"I don't snore."
Bella laughed.
"You do."
"I don't."
Nicole smiled.
"She does."
Ashbel stopped walking.
"Traitors."
They laughed.
For a moment, they were simply three girls enjoying each other's company.
Then Nicole noticed something.
Rohgah was standing near the main entrance.
He was talking to a group of students, but his eyes were elsewhere.
They were searching.
And Nicole knew exactly who he was looking for.
Sofia.
Nicole's smile disappeared.
"He hasn't stopped looking for her."
Bella followed her gaze.
"You're right."
Ashbel remained silent.
Nicole looked at her.
"What?"
"Nothing."
"You're doing that thing again."
"What thing?"
"Keeping something in your head."
Ashbel sighed.
"I think we should leave them alone."
Nicole stared at her.
"Why?"
"Because Sofia clearly doesn't want Rohgah around her."
Bella nodded.
"That's true."
Nicole crossed her arms.
"Then why does he keep following her?"
Nobody answered.
A moment later, Rohgah spotted the three girls.
He walked toward them.
Nicole immediately stiffened.
"Good morning."
Bella nodded.
"Morning."
Ashbel smiled politely.
"Good morning."
Rohgah looked at Nicole.
"Have you seen Sofia?"
Nicole raised an eyebrow.
"Why are you asking me?"
"Because you seem to notice everything."
She smiled coldly.
"Maybe I noticed you asking the wrong person."
Rohgah's expression hardened.
"I asked a simple question."
"And I gave you a simple answer."
Bella stepped between them.
"She hasn't seen Sofia."
Rohgah nodded.
"Fine."
He turned away.
Nicole watched him leave.
"He's obsessed."
Ashbel looked uncomfortable.
"Maybe there's a reason."
Nicole turned to her.
"You're defending him now?"
"No."
"Sounds like it."
Ashbel sighed.
"I just think there's something we don't know."
Bella looked between them.
"Then we'll find out."
Nicole smiled.
"Exactly."
Sofia was sitting alone in the library.
She had chosen the farthest table from everyone else.
Books surrounded her.
But she wasn't reading.
Her mind was elsewhere.
She heard footsteps.
She looked up.
Rohgah.
Her heart sank.
He stopped beside the table.
"You're avoiding me."
Sofia lowered her eyes.
"I'm studying."
"You've been studying for twenty minutes without turning a page."
She looked at the book.
He was right.
"Maybe I'm thinking."
"About me?"
"No."
He smiled.
"You're a terrible liar."
Sofia closed the book.
"What do you want?"
"I want to know why you keep running away."
"Because I don't want trouble."
"I'm not trouble."
"You are."
He sat opposite her.
"You barely know me."
"Exactly."
"Then get to know me."
Sofia looked at him.
She wanted to say yes.
More than anything.
But she couldn't.
"You should go."
Rohgah leaned forward.
"Why are you afraid of me?"
"I'm not."
"Then look at me."
Sofia froze.
Slowly, she lifted her eyes.
Their gazes met.
For a moment, the library disappeared.
Rohgah felt a strange warmth in his chest.
Sofia felt something even stronger.
A memory.
A tiny hand.
A crying child.
A woman's voice.
Protect your brother.
Sofia gasped and looked away.
Rohgah immediately noticed.
"What happened?"
"Nothing."
"You almost looked like you remembered something."
Sofia stood abruptly.
"I have to go."
She gathered her books.
Rohgah grabbed her wrist.
She froze.
"Let me go."
He released her immediately.
"I'm sorry."
Sofia looked at him.
For a second, she wanted to tell him everything.
She wanted to scream.
You're my brother.
But Machir's warning returned.
If Rohgah learns the truth, everything changes.
Sofia walked away.
Rohgah remained seated.
His confusion had turned into determination.
He was going to find out what she was hiding.
No matter how long it took.
That afternoon, the headmaster summoned Rohgah.
The office door closed behind him.
The headmaster looked serious.
"Sit."
Rohgah sat.
"I've been receiving complaints."
"About what?"
"Your use of magic."
Rohgah's expression remained calm.
"They attacked me."
"You could have handled the situation without throwing a student across the courtyard."
"He deserved it."
The headmaster sighed.
"You are head prefect now. You represent this school."
Rohgah looked away.
"I understand."
"Do you?"
Rohgah remained silent.
The headmaster leaned forward.
"There is another matter."
"What?"
"Your father called."
Rohgah's eyes changed.
"What did he want?"
"He asked about your behavior."
"That's none of his concern."
The headmaster studied him.
"You know your father doesn't think like an ordinary man."
Rohgah stood.
"I'll handle him."
He turned toward the door.
"Rohgah."
He stopped.
"Stay away from Sofia."
Rohgah slowly turned around.
"Why?"
The headmaster's face became tense.
"Because I'm telling you to."
Rohgah stared at him.
"That's not an answer."
"It's the only one you're getting."
Rohgah left.
But the warning only made him more curious.
Why was everyone telling him to stay away from Sofia?
His father.
Sofia.
Now the headmaster.
There was something connecting them.
And he intended to discover it.
After classes ended, Nicole, Ashbel, and Bella went toward the training grounds.
Bella carried three wooden swords.
She tossed one to Nicole.
"Let's train."
Nicole caught it.
Ashbel frowned.
"Why am I here?"
"Because you need to learn how to defend yourself without magic."
Ashbel sighed.
"I have magic."
"Exactly."
Bella pointed the sword at her.
"Which is why you're lazy."
Nicole laughed.
They began training.
Bella attacked first.
Nicole blocked.
Their wooden swords collided repeatedly.
Ashbel watched.
"You're both insane."
Nicole smiled.
"Join us."
"No."
Bella suddenly attacked Ashbel.
Ashbel screamed and moved aside.
"You!"
Bella laughed.
"Now you're training."
Ashbel grabbed the sword.
Within minutes, all three were laughing.
But their laughter stopped when a scream came from the forest.
They turned toward the sound.
Bella's expression changed.
"That came from the woods."
Nicole lowered her sword.
"Someone could be hurt."
Ashbel looked frightened.
"We shouldn't go."
Bella was already walking.
"We have to."
Nicole followed.
Ashbel reluctantly followed behind them.
They entered the forest.
The trees grew thicker with every step.
The sounds of the school disappeared.
Then they heard another scream.
This time, it was closer.
Bella raised her sword.
"Stay behind me."
They moved forward.
Suddenly, something crashed through the trees.
A dark creature emerged.
Nicole's eyes turned red.
Ashbel's hands began glowing blue.
Bella raised her weapon.
The creature growled.
Then another sound came from behind them.
Footsteps.
They turned.
Rohgah stood between the trees.
His eyes were glowing.
"What are you three doing here?"
Nicole stared at him.
"We heard a scream."
Rohgah looked at the creature.
His expression changed.
"Get out."
Bella tightened her grip.
"We're not leaving."
Rohgah's voice became colder.
"I said leave."
Before anyone could respond, the creature lunged.
Rohgah raised his hand.
A powerful blast sent it flying into the trees.
The ground shook.
Ashbel stared.
Nicole's eyes widened.
Bella whispered,
"That wasn't normal magic."
Rohgah didn't answer.
He was staring past them.
At Sofia.
She stood several meters away.
Her face was pale.
And for the first time, Rohgah saw genuine terror in her eyes.
Not terror of the creature.
Terror of him.
"Sofia?"
She took a step backward.
Then another.
Rohgah moved toward her.
"Wait."
She turned and ran.
Rohgah followed.
But before he could catch her, a strange voice echoed through the forest.
"Rohgah."
He stopped.
The voice was his father's.
Machir.
Rohgah looked around.
There was nobody there.
Then a cold whisper passed through the trees.
"Leave the girl alone."
Rohgah's jaw tightened.
"Why?"
Silence.
Then the voice returned.
"Because some truths are better left buried."
The forest became silent.
Rohgah stared into the darkness.
He had spent his entire life believing his father feared nothing.
Now, for the first time, he wondered whether Machir wasn't afraid of something.
Perhaps he was protecting something.
Or someone.
And Rohgah was determined to discover exactly what it was.