It was Wednesday morning when Kormadyne Academy finally reached the Hudson River, hovering just above the skyline of New Jersey and New York. Eight massive bolts of divine energy flared to life along the island’s rim, lancing downward like spears of sunlight until they struck the reinforced canals below.

  The impact echoed for miles, a thunderclap that rattled glass towers and sent flocks of pigeons scattering into the sky. Slowly, the great floating island began to descend, lowering itself with an impossible grace before halting at the perfect height above the river.

  Flying ships as large as commercial airliners veered into formation, docking one after another along the island’s edges. Their silver hulls glinted in the sun, a ballet of precision that left Rin’s mouth slightly open.

  She stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Eddie and Chippy, clutching her small backpack. Vanessa, their house master, was roaring instructions to the students, but Rin barely heard a word of it.

  “Alright. You guys ready?” Chippy whispered, grinning ear to ear.

  “As ready as I can be…” Rin admitted softly.

  “Just to be sure, we’re taking the airship to Long Island, right?”

  “Aww. Long Island? Why not central city!” Chippy whined.

  “Chippy, stop whining! We agreed—smaller neighborhoods, bigger candy. We can walk into the city later,” Eddie snapped back.

  Chippy pouted, but Rin barely noticed. Her eyes were locked on the horizon.

  The skyline of New York stretched before her, alive in a way Paris hadn’t been. Towering buildings jutted into the sky with no rhythm or reason, like chaotic crystal spires. Some glimmered with rooftop shops as high as Kormadyne floated, while the lower levels overflowed with restaurants, schools, apartment complexes, and neon-streaked storefronts.

  And then there were the billboards. Gigantic floating screens drifted lazily over the city, their displays shifting with every blink. One in particular made Rin’s stomach growl—Yaxon himself, grinning mid–cheese pull with a dripping slice of pizza, pointing at her like he was in on a private joke.

  “If it isn’t New York style, it ain’t pizza! Carl John Junior’s Pizzeria!”

  She clutched her stomach, embarrassed.

  And all around, the air was alive with movement. Flying cars zipped past in glowing traffic tubes, darting through the sky like schools of fish. Others cruised calmly down traditional roads, honking and weaving through yellow cabs that looked antique compared to the streams above.

  Rin had never seen anything so vast, so noisy, so . It was thrilling. And terrifying.

  “Come on, let’s go! It’s early morning and we have the whole day ahead of us!” Eddie called out, already jogging toward the docking ramp of their chosen airship.

  Rin blinked, her eyes flicking one last time to the glittering skyline before she hurried after him, clutching her backpack straps tight.

  “Wait up!” Chippy barked, half-laughing as she broke into a run too, her ponytail bouncing behind her. “Don’t you dare hog the window seats, nerd!”

  Eddie shot her a grin over his shoulder. “Too late!”

  The three of them darted up the ramp together, their footsteps mixing with the clamor of dozens of other kids, the roar of engines, and the faint hum of magical anchors resonating beneath their feet. For Rin, it felt like the whole world had cracked open, and she was rushing straight into it.

  #

  The trip through Long Island suburbs got boring fast.

  “They’re all the same…” Chippy groaned, dragging her feet as she stared at another stretch of near-identical lawns and brick houses. “When do we go to the city?!”

  “I think it’s safe to say we have a plan for trick-or-treating…” Eddie muttered with a deep sigh, his own boredom painted all over his face.

  “I think the homes are interesting!” Rin chirped, clutching her backpack straps as she looked around. “They’re… quiet. And colorful. And they don’t all smell like smoke or dust.” Her voice softened as she smiled faintly. “I’m just glad I don’t feel… overwhelmed for once.”

  Chippy side-eyed her, then shook her head with a groan. “You’re way too easy to please, Rin.”

  Eddie shoved his hands into his pockets. “At least she’s not whining every two seconds.”

  “What was that?!” Chippy snapped, glaring at him.

  “Nothing!” Eddie replied quickly, but his grin gave him away.

  Rin giggled into her sleeve.

  “Hmm… I’m just going to have to tell my brother on you.”

  “What? No! Wait! Don’t!” Eddie practically squealed, smashing his palms together in mock prayer. “I take it back! Please don’t make the Captain hate me!!!”

  Chippy doubled over, laughing so hard she had to clutch her stomach. “I love when you behave yourself!”

  Eddie groaned, his cheeks glowing red with embarrassment.

  “Eddie? Relax,” Rin said softly. “I’m sure her brother would like you no matter what she said.”

  “Rinnn!” Chippy whined, puffing her cheeks out like a child. “Always ruining the fun! Come on. Let’s go to the city!”

  “Fine, fine. Let’s go.” Eddie patted his stomach with a dramatic sigh. “I’m starving. I’d like to eat something.”

  “But… it’s so far away! How would we get there?” Rin asked nervously, scanning the endless rows of houses.

  “We can take the sky train.” Eddie pointed down the block. “Look—there’s the station. Shouldn’t take more than fifteen, twenty minutes tops.”

  “Really?” Rin’s eyes widened, sparkling a little with curiosity.

  “Really,” Eddie confirmed with a grin.

  “Yeah. Let’s go!”

  The sky train hovered at the station like an enormous silver serpent clinging upside-down to its track. Its sleek body gleamed with blue lights running along its sides, the kind of glow that promised both safety and speed. The kids shuffled aboard with dozens of others, their small bags clutched tight.

  Inside, it was more luxurious than anything Rin had imagined. The floor wasn’t solid — not completely. Wide panes of enchanted glass ran in long slits, showing dizzying views of the homes beneath their feet. Rin froze in place, squealing softly as she tiptoed to one slit and clutched the rail. She could see gulls circling below, the faint wake of ferries, and the skyline of New Jersey sliding past like a toy city.

  “This is scary…” she whispered.

  “Whaaaat? No! It’s awesome!” Eddie grinned, strutting forward like he owned the place. “The train runs on inverted gravitational rails. Totally cutting-edge tech! So cool!!!”

  Chippy immediately pressed her face to the glass floor, laughing like a maniac. “Oh my gosh! Look at the boats! They look so small!” She started stomping lightly on the glass. Rin yelped, clutching the rail tighter.

  “C-Chippy! Don’t do that!” Rin grabbed her arm.

  “What? It’s reinforced! You’d need, like, ten Yaxons to break this thing!” Chippy replied with a proud nod.

  Eddie rolled his eyes. “That’s not even close to accurate…”

  The train gave a soft hum as it lurched forward. The sensation was strange — it didn’t rattle like a regular train. Instead, it felt smooth, like drifting across clouds. Outside the wide curved windows, Manhattan grew closer. Towering skyscrapers pierced the clouds, and some of them shimmered with magical energy.

  Rin pressed her forehead to the window, eyes wide. “It’s so… different.”

  She watched a flying car zip by in a glowing tube of light. Billboards floated in the air, shimmering between regular ads and magical illusions — one second selling watches, the next Offering floating spell lanterns for Halloween, the streets below shimmered in orange and violet glows that bobbed lazily through the air, each lantern drifting as if tethered to an invisible string.

  “Over there!” Eddie pointed. “That’s Central Park. Biggest park in the whole city. They say there’s a hidden dueling ground in there—but only the participants know how to find it. Could just be a rumor though.”

  Chippy waved him off. “Who cares? Look at ! Is that… the pizza place with my brother’s face on the ad again?!”

  Eddie smirked. “Yeah. If Yaxon’s endorsing it, it’s gotta be good.”

  The billboard flipped to Yaxon mid-cheese pull, his grin wide, a thumbs-up frozen in neon. Rin’s stomach growled. She clutched her belly in shame as Chippy burst out laughing, her voice echoing through the car.

  “Ha! Rin’s totally hungry for pizza!”

  Rin covered her face, muffling her protest.

  Then Eddie’s own stomach let out a loud growl. He pressed a hand to it with a sheepish grin. “Actually? I think Rin’s stomach might be onto something. Wanna grab some pizza?”

  “Sure!” Chippy said brightly.

  The ride continued, each sight stacking on the last — golden bridges crossing between towers, rooftop gardens glowing with enchanted pumpkins for Halloween, glass walkways that made the whole city look alive. Rin couldn’t keep still, swiveling between the windows, the floor, and the glass ceiling that showed the track gliding above them like the ribbed spine of a giant beast.

  Finally, they stepped off the sky train and into the heart of New York. Neon lights and the rush of voices wrapped around them until one familiar sign cut through it all.

  “Ha! There it is! Carl John Junior’s Pizzeria!” Chippy cried, hopping in place as she pointed. “Let’s go!!”

  Rin and Eddie hurried after her, following the smell of baked dough and sizzling cheese. The shop buzzed with noise—other Kormadyne kids already crowded tables, laughing over greasy napkins and half-eaten slices.

  Chippy barreled straight into line, already shouting her order for onions and green peppers so loud the cashier blinked twice in surprise. Rin shuffled behind Eddie, twisting her fingers together.

  “So… what will you get, Eddie?” she asked softly.

  “Hmmm.” He squinted at the glowing menu. “Nothing can ever go wrong with cheese, right? I think I’ll get cheese.”

  “Oh… yeah! That’s true. I’ll get cheese too.”

  They both glanced over at Chippy, who was practically bouncing with anticipation as her slice hit the tray.

  “This is so good!” Eddie hummed moments later, holding up his slice for a dramatic cheese pull.

  “This place is amazing! I could eat here forever, if only my mom would let me.”

  Eddie tilted his head. “Why do you say that like you’ve eaten here before?”

  “Because I have?” Chippy said with a smirk.

  “Oh yeah… Yaxon’s little sister…” Eddie muttered, rolling his eyes.

  Chippy just hummed happily and dug in. Rin, meanwhile, took the tiniest bites, savoring each explosion of oil and salt on her tongue like a secret treasure.

  “…It is very good…” she murmured, cheeks warm.

  Naturally, Chippy was the first to finish. She immediately pulled out her communicator, thumbs tapping as she started fiddling with it.

  “No way… you have an A9?” Eddie exclaimed, leaning closer to Chippy’s communicator.

  “Mhmm! Cool, right?” Chippy flashed it proudly, the shell gleaming a rosy pink.

  “…More like… cute?” Eddie squinted.

  “So what if it’s pink! Let’s see yours!”

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  Groaning, Eddie fished his communicator out of his pocket. The casing was scratched, the screen a little dimmer. Definitely older.

  “Ha! I knew it!” Chippy cackled. “Three generations behind me. What a loser!”

  “Grrr… I’ll get a new one soon! Just you wait—I’ll even get the AX!” Eddie puffed his chest, then spun to face Rin. “Hey, Rin! Show us your communicator!”

  “What? Oh, sure…” Rin dug into her bag and passed hers over.

  Eddie’s jaw dropped the moment he saw it. The sleek shell glimmered with faint enchantments, the surface smooth and untouched. He turned it over and over in his hands, eyes bulging.

  “What?! You already have the AX!”

  “Uhh… is that… good?” Rin asked, blinking innocently.

  “It only came out this summer!” Eddie practically squealed, nearly drooling over the polished surface. “It’s so new! And—and shiny!!!”

  “Th-thanks…?” Rin mumbled, unsure how to react.

  Chippy plucked the communicator out of Eddie’s hands and twirled it in her fingers. “Whoa… black? Didn’t peg you for that. You feel like more of a silver kind of gal.”

  “I-I didn’t pick it… Mister Vix bought it for me.”

  “Oh yeah. The uncles,” Eddie muttered, rolling his eyes. His tone wasn’t harsh, but the tiniest edge of jealousy slipped in.

  Chippy passed the AX back with a shrug before dabbing her lips daintily with her napkin. “Alright, guys. Ready? We’ve got much more to see! Hurry up!”

  Eddie crammed the last of his slice into his mouth and downed his drink in two gulps before hopping to his feet.

  Rin scrambled after them, half-rising from her seat. She cast one wistful glance back at her untouched slice of pizza, then sighed and left it behind, clutching her backpack as she chased her friends out the door.

  The streets buzzed with life the moment they stepped out. Cars floated in transparent tubes overhead, neon signs shimmered with spell-light, and human voices mixed with faint magical hums like the city itself was alive. Rin clutched her bag tightly, wide-eyed at every turn.

  “First stop—Central Park!” Eddie announced, pointing dramatically.

  The park wasn’t just a green patch in the middle of the city. Enormous willow trees swayed despite the still air, their branches glowing faintly blue with enchantments. A flock of enchanted pigeons shaped like origami darted between the branches, bursting into paper confetti when they collided with each other before reforming midair. On the lake, kids their age paddled boats powered by little wind-elemental sprites pushing them along.

  “This place is amazing…” Rin whispered, spinning slowly in place.

  “Eh. Not bad,” Chippy said, snapping a selfie in front of the glowing trees. “I like Chicago better.”

  “Chicago? Where’s that?” Rin asked.

  “In Illinois, silly!” Chippy replied.

  “Is that… by France?”

  “Uh. No? It’s another state. In the U.S. New York is in the U.S. too!”

  “This is so confusing…” Rin muttered, rubbing her temple.

  Next was Times Square. Floating billboards looped endless magical ads—spell-lotion that promised perfect skin, potions that fizzed in neon colors, broomsticks hovering to demo themselves before swooping back into displays. One massive screen showed Yaxon again, this time wielding a spatula like a sword for some chain of diners, his grin as wide as ever.

  “Does your brother just… sell ?” Eddie muttered, tugging at Chippy’s sleeve.

  “Global icon, dude, Chippy shot back with a smirk.

  Finally, they wound their way through smaller streets—tiny bakeries where cupcakes levitated in displays, toy stores where enchanted plushies waved from behind the glass, arcades filled with virtual reality crystal pods humming with energy. At one intersection, a street performer juggled floating fireballs while a musician beside him strummed a guitar that played three harmonies at once. Rin giggled as she dropped a coin into their hat, and one of the fireballs winked at her before popping into sparkles.

  Everywhere she looked, Rin wanted to stop and stare. Every corner felt alive.

  “Alright, alright, don’t just stand there gawking,” Chippy said, tugging her forward. “We’re

  now. Gotta keep moving, gotta keep loud, and—”

  “Gotta keep spending money,” Eddie groaned, though even he couldn’t hide the grin tugging at his face.

  Finally, the sun had begun its descent, painting the horizon in streaks of orange and violet.

  “Aw man! It’s getting late. We need to get back to the airships!” Eddie exclaimed, glancing nervously at the sky.

  “Aww! But it was so fun! I wanna stay here forever!” Chippy moaned, throwing her arms dramatically into the air.

  “It was nice… but I miss our house in Kormadyne a little bit…” Rin admitted softly.

  “Pftt! So boring! I swear, if you don’t get more fun as you grow, I’ll—”

  “Uh… guys?” Eddie cut her off, staring down at his communicator. His voice was shaky. “The sky train… it’s closed.”

  “What?!” Rin and Chippy exclaimed at the same time.

  “It’s—It’s really closed! What now?! We need to catch a bus! Or—or maybe a taxi?” Eddie stammered.

  “Can’t you just call us a ride?!” Chippy demanded.

  “We’re not allowed to. Only public transportation. House Master Vanessa’s rule…” Eddie muttered, already trembling at the thought of breaking it.

  “Ugh! No!!! We’re gonna be late! And she already doesn’t like us enough to believe our excuses!”

  “What do we do now?” Rin asked, fiddling nervously with her fingers.

  “Hmm…” Chippy rubbed her chin, scanning the streets. Her eyes flicked from the glowing signs above them to the shadowed alleys between towering buildings.

  Rin stepped over to Eddie’s side and clasped his hand with both of hers. The two of them turned to Chippy for direction.

  She blew out a sharp breath, puffing her cheeks before finally speaking. “I think I know where we are. I might have a shortcut!”

  “You do?” Rin asked hopefully.

  “Mhmm! If we just go two blocks down that way, then make a left… boom! We’d cut across all the people and traffic and hit the nearest bus station.”

  “One that’s actually gonna let from Kormadyne on it?” Eddie said, raising an eyebrow as he tapped furiously at his communicator.

  “Yeah! Trust me, dude!” Chippy replied with a confident grin.

  Eddie squinted but finally nodded. “…Well, looks like you’re right. I see the bus stop you’re talking about on my map. Alright then. Let’s go.”

  Chippy took off first, practically bouncing with energy, and Eddie and Rin hurried behind her into the narrowing streets.

  They made it two blocks before Chippy darted into an alley—only to skid to a halt. It was a dead end.

  “Wait… I took a wrong turn…” she muttered.

  “Chippy!” Eddie panted, clutching his side. “You completely missed it! We were supposed to go

  one more block!”

  “Yeah, yeah. Sorry! Let’s just—” She sighed, spun around, and started back.

  But she only made it a few steps before colliding with something solid.

  “What the—?” She stumbled back and looked up. A broad-shouldered man towered over her, his shadow blotting out the faint streetlight.

  “Little girl…” His voice was gravel, deep and deliberate. “…where you going?”

  Two more figures emerged from the darkness behind him, cracking their knuckles and sneering. Their footsteps echoed too loudly in the narrow alley.

  “We just need your wands,” the first man said, grinning wide enough to show broken teeth. “Hand them over nice and easy.”

  Chippy instinctively backed up, her voice catching. “…N-No… I can’t…”

  “Chippy!” Eddie hissed, stepping in front of her. His knees were shaking, but his wand was steady. “We don’t want to mess with them… we’ll just tell the professors what happened and they’ll help us!”

  “But—”

  “Not now! Just—just listen to what he says…” Eddie’s jaw clenched as he held out his wand. One of the men yanked it from his hand like a hungry dog snapping at meat. Another thug shoved Chippy hard by the shoulder and plucked hers away, sending her stumbling.

  “You jerks!” she shouted, but her voice cracked halfway through.

  “Now for you, girl.” The third man extended his hand toward Rin, palm open like a demand.

  Rin froze. Her wand felt heavier than ever in her grasp, Professor Oraus’s words echoing in her head:

  “I… I can’t… Mister… my wand… it doesn’t like other people… my-my professor—”

  Her protest ended in a squeal as the thug’s hand shot out and clamped around her wrist. He hoisted her nearly off the ground, tearing the wand from her grip. Pain shot up her arm and she crumpled when he released her, hitting the cobbles hard.

  “Rin!” Eddie and Chippy rushed to her side, pulling her close.

  “You got what you wanted… now… leave us alone!” Eddie yelled, his voice breaking between anger and fear.

  The man with Rin’s wand smirked, twirling it between his fingers. “No… we only got of what we wanted…”

  “What?!” Eddie gasped.

  “Come with us, kids. Or else…” The leader growled, his shadow stretching long against the alley walls. The other two chuckled darkly, already turning their backs as if the decision was made.

  Eddie’s grip tightened. His eyes blazed with stubborn fire. “Okay… I didn’t want it to come to this…” He leapt to his feet, yanking out a second wand—the same gray rod Rin remembered from their first day.

  He thrust it forward.

  A burst of compressed wind exploded down the alley, hurling the men to the pavement.

  “Come on, get your wands back!” Eddie shouted. His chest heaved, but his hands never faltered. Flames spun into existence above his wand, coiling into a fiery sphere. He slashed downward, sending the spiraling inferno roaring toward the men.

  One recovered quick, slamming a wind barrier into place, while the other fired a jagged bolt of curse straight at Eddie. Eddie snapped his wand up——the curse deflected, sparks scattering like shattered glass, and the fireball kept plunging.

  The barrier shattered with a concussive The thug behind it screamed as flames licked his clothes, forcing him to douse himself in conjured water.

  “Yes!” Eddie barked, already spinning wind into razor-thin blades. He slashed them down the alley. The men dove aside—the bricks behind them shredded apart like paper, shards spraying across the cobbles.

  For a heartbeat, Eddie looked unstoppable.

  Then—

  One thug was suddenly right in front of him. Too fast. Too close. The man’s hand clamped over Eddie’s wrist, wrenching the wand from his grip with brutal force. Before Eddie could breathe, a knee drove deep into his stomach.

  The air ripped from his lungs. His body folded, then flew—slamming into the ground and skidding across the cobblestones.

  “Eddie!!!” Rin and Chippy screamed, scrambling to his side. Rin held his head, her hands shaking.

  “I… tried…” Eddie gasped, wincing, his voice thin as a thread.

  The men advanced, their shadows long and sharp under the flickering alley lamps.

  “Think you’re clever, little dual-wielder?” the leader snarled, his wand raised high. “You’ll pay for that. We need you alive—but hurting you won’t lower your price.”

  At the tip of his wand, a ball of electric-blue energy crackled to life, humming like thunder contained in glass. The air itself grew charged, heavy, unbreathable.

  “Ed-Eddie! What do we do?!” Chippy stammered, her fingers digging into his hand, her voice cracking from sheer terror.

  Rin’s cheeks were streaked with dirt and fear-tears, her wide eyes flickering between Eddie and the men closing in.

  Eddie said nothing. His lips parted, his chest heaving, still fighting for breath. He had no plan. No strength left.

  And then—

  A sound.

  Low at first, like a groan echoing through stone corridors, but it grew deeper, louder, until the entire alley vibrated with it. The men froze mid-step. The children turned their heads, searching the shadows.

  “What are you pulling now, boy?” the leader sneered. But Eddie only shook his head, eyes wide, his face pale. He had no idea either.

  Behind the men, the ground ruptured with a purple swirl, thick smoke bubbling up like poison. The fog churned, dense and cold, crawling over the cobbles. Two skeletal hands clawed their way out, each finger bony and too long, scratching gouges into the pavement.

  Then it

  A figure of bone, rattling and wrong, its jaw unhinged and swaying with every groan. Its sockets were hollow voids except for the twin pinpricks of violet flame burning where eyes should have been. The flames flickered like dying candles yet pierced the darkness with unnatural malice.

  “What the hell?!” one thug shrieked, stumbling back.

  The skeleton straightened, its movements jerky yet deliberate, as though time lagged between each gesture. Its groan turned into words, a voice both hollow and echoing, as if spoken from deep underground:

  “Thou… shall… perish…”

  It reached behind itself, pulling free a sword—no rust, no wear, no sign of time. A pristine blade, polished so perfectly it caught the moonlight and hurled it into the nearest man’s eyes, blinding him in a flash.

  The blade swung. One clean arc.

  The blinded man screamed as a deep slash opened across his chest, blood scattering into the mist.

  “Screw this!” another thug bellowed, twisting his wand into a spear and driving it straight into the skeleton’s ribcage where its heart should be.

  The spear lodged deep. The skeleton did not move. It did not groan. It only its jaw swinging in silence, the purple flames flaring brighter as if amused.

  Then, with a sudden swing of its blade, it cleaved the spear—and the wand—clean in half. Sparks of severed magic spilled into the air like fireflies.

  Eddie’s breath caught. His mind reeled. To cut a wand—a sorcerer’s soul-bonded instrument—was unthinkable. Only entities of immense magical displacement could bend reality enough to break one. For this creature to slice a wand with nothing more than its sword meant one thing.

  It was no less than a

  “WHAT THE HELL! TO HELL WITH THIS! RUN FOR YOUR LIVES!” one of the men shrieked.

  The three thugs bolted. One wandless, one clutching a sack of stolen wands, the last staggering with his shoulder scorched and bleeding from the skeleton’s cut.

  The entity didn’t pursue. Instead, it calmly sheathed its gleaming sword, raising a palm outward.

  “Ra…”

  A single syllable, dragged like a groan from the grave. Purple lightning cracked and roared from its hand, flooding the alley with blinding light. The stone walls shook, bricks cracked, and the air itself screamed. Yet by some miracle—or curse—the men slipped away into the night, just outside the blast’s edge.

  The lightning died, leaving smoke curling against the walls. Slowly, deliberately, the skeleton lowered its arm. Then, with a grinding turn, its skull rotated a full 180 degrees, its spine creaking as the rest of its body followed.

  It faced the children.

  It stepped forward. The sound of its bare bones against the stone was soft, yet unbearable.

  The three pressed back until the cold brick wall met their shoulders. There was no more room to run.

  The creature stopped. Just short of them. It stared. Hollow sockets locked on their faces. The tiny violet flames inside flickered and pulsed. But it made no move. No sound. Its stillness was worse than its attack. It was like being frozen under a predator’s gaze, waiting for it to decide.

  Eddie swallowed, his voice shaking as he whispered, “G-Guys…? It was nice knowing you…”

  “Don’t say that, Eddie!” Chippy hissed, her voice breaking as she clutched her side tighter.

  Rin clung to Eddie’s arm, unable to blink. Her breath came in short, desperate bursts, eyes locked on the thing’s motionless frame.

  The alley was silent except for the pounding of their hearts. One minute. Two. Five. The skeletal figure never twitched, never breathed. It was as if death itself had frozen before them.

  Finally, Chippy whispered, her words trembling. “Is… is this thing going to kill us?”

  The skeleton stirred. Its jaw groaned downward, unhinged further than humanly possible. The sound was not one voice, but dozens—layered, hollow, warped.

  “No…”

  The three froze.

  “S-So… you’re not going to kill us?” Chippy asked louder, forcing the words out.

  The entity tilted its head, and the same chorus of voices answered, echoing through the alley like a dirge:

  “No…”

  Chippy blinked, then turned to Eddie.

  He only shrugged, wincing from the pain in his ribs. He looked just as lost as she was.

  Chippy faced the figure again, her lips trembling. She took a hesitant step forward. Rin instinctively pressed herself tighter against Eddie’s side, and he instinctively held her back, his arm protective even as it shook.

  The skull creaked as it rotated, every grind of bone against bone drawn out, until its hollow sockets locked onto Chippy once more.

  “Wh-what are you…?” she managed.

  The voice that answered was layered, hollow, ancient.

  “I am… Ra… your servant…”

  “M-My servant?!” Chippy recoiled, face twisting in shock, almost offense.

  “Yes…”

  She turned back to Eddie, completely baffled.

  Eddie coughed and rasped through clenched teeth. “Are you… Chippy’s servant?”

  The skull ground toward him, sockets burning with violet fire, before dragging back to Chippy without a word.

  Chippy tilted her head slowly. “…Are you… my servant?”

  “Yes…”

  Silence. The three exchanged looks, unsure whether to feel relief or terror.

  Chippy swallowed, then asked softly, “Can you… get our wands back?”

  “Yes…”

  The ground beneath the skeleton stirred, purple fog rising in coils. Stone and dirt churned, swallowing the entity from its feet downward. It never blinked, never broke its forward gaze — its sockets locked somewhere past Chippy, as though staring straight through her into something unseen.

  With a final groan, it sank fully into the earth. The swirling glow sealed shut, leaving nothing but cracked stone and the echo of its last word.

  The kids were left alone in the suffocating quiet of the alley.

  Chippy shook her head hard and darted back to Eddie, slipping under his arm to heave him upright. Rin mirrored her without hesitation, slipping her small shoulder under his other side.

  “It just… disappeared,” Eddie coughed, clutching his stomach. panted. “Do you really think it’ll get our wands back?”

  “I-I don’t know!” Chippy panted. “Let’s just get back to the academy—”

  But the earth answered before they could move.

  The ground ahead churned with that same sickly purple swirl, and the skeletal figure rose once more. Its groan dragged through the alley, low and guttural.

  This time, its bones were splattered with fresh blood. Half its skull was painted red, as if dipped into gore. It didn’t move, didn’t blink — it simply extended both arms outward.

  In one hand: Rin’s wand, Chippy’s wand.

  In the other: Eddie’s twin wands… and two more, dripping with scarlet.

  The three froze, staring at the grisly offering.

  Chippy swallowed hard, her throat dry. None of them dared to ask the question that hung in the air.