CHAPTER 60: WHISPERS IN THE DARK

The clearing was unnervingly quiet. Too quiet.

The root was still. Contained. But I didn’t trust it.

Not yet.

"Professor..." Wallace’s voice was barely a whisper, his breath labored.

I glanced at him. He was pale, drained, and barely upright. His hands trembled as he wiped the sweat from his brow, the remnants of mana exhaustion weighing him down.

"Sit down, Wallace," I murmured, my tone softer this time. "You’ve done enough."

He didn’t argue. For once.

Wallace slumped against a nearby tree, his eyes drooping as the weight of everything settled over him.

"Felix, keep an eye on him," I said, turning toward the others.

"Right..." Felix’s voice was shaky, but he moved to Wallace’s side, staying close.

I surveyed the rest of the group.

Julien was still standing, but his stance was looser—like he was ready to drop. His sword hung low, the glow around the blade almost gone.

Mira’s dagger was steady, but her mana was flickering dangerously. She’d pushed herself too far.

Leo...

He was quiet. Too quiet.

"Leo." I stepped closer, keeping my tone calm.

He didn’t move.

His eyes were locked on the now-contained root, his expression distant.

"Leo," I murmured again.

Still nothing.

"Damn it..."

I knelt beside him, placing a hand on his shoulder.

The moment I touched him—

Pulse.

It was faint, barely there, but I felt it.

The tether.

"Leo," I said softly. "Come back."

For a moment, nothing.

And then—

A shaky breath.

"Professor..." His voice was barely above a whisper.

"You’re alright," I murmured, squeezing his shoulder gently. "It’s over."

His eyes finally met mine.

And for the first time...

I saw it.

Fear.

Deep.

Consuming.

"I... I can still hear it..." Leo whispered, his voice trembling.

My jaw clenched.

The tether was gone. The root was contained. But...

It was still whispering to him.

"Leo," I murmured, keeping my tone steady. "Listen to me."

He blinked, his gaze unfocused.

"Whatever you’re hearing..." I said softly. "It’s not real."

His lips trembled.

"It feels real..."

"I know."

His breathing quickened, panic creeping into his eyes.

"Leo," I said, sharper this time. "Look at me."

He flinched but did as I asked.

"You’re here," I murmured. "With us."

Another shaky breath.

"It’s gone," I lied.

Because I wasn’t sure.

But he needed to believe it.

For now.

Leo’s body sagged, the tension finally leaving him.

"Good." I squeezed his shoulder gently. "Stay with Felix."

Leo nodded weakly, allowing Felix to guide him to a spot near Wallace.

But I wasn’t fooled.

This wasn’t over.

"Professor."

Mira’s voice was quiet, but there was steel in her tone.

I met her gaze.

"You felt it too." It wasn’t a question.

I gave a slight nod.

"The root’s not dead," she murmured, her expression grim.

"Not even close," I muttered, rising to my feet.

The array was still pulsing faintly, the runes holding the root in check. But the energy...

It was waiting.

"Professor," Julien’s voice was tight. "What the hell is that thing?"

"Not sure," I murmured, my eyes narrowing. "But whatever it is..."

I glanced at the cracked ground where the root had emerged.

"...it’s not natural."

Julien wiped the sweat from his brow, his expression grim. "Figures."

"Wallace," I called softly.

His head tilted slightly, but his eyes were barely open.

"Can you hold the array?" I asked, keeping my tone even.

"I... think so," he murmured, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Good."

Because we needed more time.

I knelt beside the array, placing my hand gently on the outer ring.

The mana is... wrong.

It wasn’t corrupted. Not exactly.

But it was twisting.

Shifting.

Like it was adapting.

"Professor..." Mira’s voice was low, her stance shifting.

I felt it too.

A ripple.

"Everyone," I murmured, rising slowly. "Stay alert."

"Again?" Julien groaned but raised his sword. "Seriously?"

"Always assume the worst," I muttered, scanning the area.

Mira shifted closer, her dagger poised.

Felix pulled Leo back slightly, keeping a watchful eye on the surroundings.

The air...

It’s changing.

The pulse was faint now. Barely noticeable.

But that’s what worried me.

It’s too quiet.

"Professor..." Mira’s voice was tight.

I followed her gaze.

And then I saw it.

The shadows.

They were... moving.

Slow. Subtle. But definitely moving.

"Julien," I murmured.

"Yeah..." His voice was sharp, his sword already glowing faintly. "I see it."

The shadows shifted, pooling around the edges of the clearing.

It wasn’t the same as before.

This...

This was something else.

"Wallace," I said softly.

"Still here..." His voice was weak, but he was alert.

"Strengthen the outer runes."

"Professor..." Wallace’s voice was strained. "I’m—"

"Do it."

He didn’t argue.

His hands moved sluggishly, tracing faint lines of mana to reinforce the edges of the array.

"Felix," I murmured, eyes scanning the darkness.

"Y-Yeah?"

"Keep Leo close. Don’t let him wander."

Felix swallowed hard but nodded. "Got it."

"Professor..." Mira’s voice was sharper now.

I felt it.

The pulse.

Stronger.

"Here we go..." Julien muttered, shifting his stance.

The shadows...

They weren’t just moving.

They were forming.

"Everyone," I murmured, my voice low but firm. "Stay together."

The air grew colder, the pulse reverberating through the ground.

Something’s coming.

"Wallace," I said softly.

"Still holding..." His voice was strained.

"Hold it tighter."

The array pulsed again, fighting back.

But this time...

It wasn’t enough.

A ripple echoed through the clearing.

And then—

The shadows surged.

"Move!" I barked, raising my cane.

Mira’s dagger lashed out, slicing through a tendril of darkness.

Julien’s sword glowed, cutting through another.

But the shadows didn’t stop.

"Felix, get Leo back!" I snapped.

Felix stumbled, dragging Leo farther from the growing mass of shadows.

"Wallace!" I barked.

"I’m trying!" Wallace’s voice was strained, his mana flickering dangerously.

The array was holding.

Barely.

"Julien, Mira!" I called.

"Still here!" Julien grunted, his blade slashing through another tendril.

"On it!" Mira’s dagger flared with mana, her strikes precise and relentless.

But the shadows...

They weren’t weakening.

"Professor!" Mira’s voice was sharp.

I saw it.

A tendril of shadow—

Lunging for Leo.

"NO!"

I moved.

Mana surged through my veins, my body reacting before my mind could catch up.

I slammed my cane down, a burst of energy erupting outward.

The shadow recoiled—

But not fast enough.

A thin tendril grazed Leo’s arm.

His body seized.

"Leo!" Felix shouted, grabbing him.

"Professor!" Mira’s voice was frantic.

But I was already moving.

"Stay back!" I barked, pouring mana into the array.

The shadows surged again, but this time...

They weren’t alone.

A new pulse echoed through the clearing.

Faint.

But...

Familiar.

"Professor..." Wallace’s voice was barely above a whisper.

I felt it too.

The tether.

It’s reforming.

My jaw clenched.

"Julien," I murmured.

"Yeah?" His voice was tight, his blade steady.

"Brace yourself."

"For what?"

The ground trembled.

And then—

A whisper.

Soft.

Barely audible.

But it was there.

"Not yet..."

My blood ran cold.

"Wallace," I murmured, my tone sharp.

"Professor..." His voice was weak.

"Seal it."

"Again?" Wallace’s voice cracked.

"Now."

Wallace’s hands moved, his mana flickering as he poured everything into the array.

The lines pulsed—

But this time...

The root fought back.

Hard.

"Damn it," I muttered through clenched teeth.

The pulse grew stronger, vibrating through the ground.

It’s trying to break free.

"Not happening," I growled, pouring my own mana into the seal.

The array flared—

But it wasn’t enough.

The shadows surged again, faster.

"Julien, Mira!" I barked.

"Still here!"

"Hold them off!"

"Trying!"

But it was too much.

We were out of time.

And then—

The whisper.

"I see you..."

My heart stopped.

No.

Not again.

"Professor..." Mira’s voice was tight.

"We’re out of time," I muttered, my jaw clenching.

"Then what do we do?" Julien’s voice was strained, his blade flickering.

"We run."

Mira’s eyes widened. "What?"

"Now."

I didn’t wait for them to argue.

"Everyone," I barked, grabbing Leo’s arm. "Move!"

The shadows surged—

And this time...

They weren’t going to stop.