Chapter 25: Unraveling Secrets

Hugh.

By: Asa Montreaux

The day after the dance-off, the atmosphere at The Andrews School was charged with a mixture of excitement and gossip. Whispers filled the hallways as students replayed the performances in their minds, debating who had truly stolen the show. Hugh and his friends felt a wave of satisfaction wash over them, their hearts still racing from the thrill of their successful performance.

However, amid the post-event jubilation, an undercurrent of tension began to surface. As they gathered in the common room after class, Sam leaned in, his expression serious. “Have you guys heard about the rumors going around? They’re saying something weird happened during the dance-off.”

“What do you mean?” Eliza asked, her curiosity piqued.

“Apparently, a couple of upperclassmen were caught using some sort of forbidden magic during their performance,” Sam said, lowering his voice as if the walls had ears. “Something that’s not supposed to be allowed at school.”

Fiona raised an eyebrow. “Forbidden magic? Like what?”

Sam shrugged. “I don’t know the details, but I heard it had something to do with altering time or manipulating shadows. It was enough to get the teachers buzzing. They’re not happy about it.”

Hugh’s interest was immediately sparked. “That sounds serious. If they’re breaking the rules, it could affect everyone. We should find out more.”

Mish, who had been quietly listening, finally spoke up. “Maybe we could dig a little deeper. If there’s something shady going on, we should know about it.”

The group agreed, fueled by a mix of curiosity and concern. Over the next few days, they kept their ears open, picking up bits and pieces of information as they navigated through their classes. The more they listened, the more the rumors spread.

It turned out the upperclassmen in question were Talia and Leo, two students who had gained a reputation for being competitive and ambitious. They had been boasting about their performance, but now whispers of possible consequences for their use of forbidden magic clouded their triumph.

One evening, while walking back from a late class, Hugh spotted Talia and Leo in a corner of the courtyard, their voices low and intense. He motioned for his friends to follow him as they hid behind a nearby tree.

“Do you really think they’ll find out?” Talia asked, her voice laced with anxiety.

Leo shrugged, glancing around as if checking for eavesdroppers. “We were careful. As long as we don’t let anyone catch on, we should be fine. Besides, no one can prove anything.”

Mish exchanged a concerned look with the others. “This doesn’t sound good,” she whispered.

Hugh nodded. “We need to confront them about this. If they’re using forbidden magic, they might put the whole school at risk.”

The next day, the group decided to confront Talia and Leo. They found them lounging in the common room, basking in the afterglow of their performance, blissfully unaware of the storm brewing around them.

“Talia! Leo!” Hugh called out, striding toward them with determination. “We need to talk.”

Talia rolled her eyes, but Leo turned, his expression curious. “What’s up, Hugh? Didn’t think you’d be coming over to congratulate us after last night.”

Hugh crossed his arms, feeling the weight of the moment. “Congratulations aside, we know about the forbidden magic. You shouldn’t be messing with things you don’t fully understand.”

Talia’s smirk faltered, and she leaned back in her chair, feigning nonchalance. “What are you talking about? There’s no evidence.”

“Maybe not, but everyone’s talking about it,” Eliza interjected, stepping forward. “You can’t just go around using spells that are against the rules. What if something goes wrong?”

Leo’s gaze hardened. “We handled it just fine, thank you very much. This is a school for magic, isn’t it? Why shouldn’t we push the limits?”

“Because there are consequences!” Fiona snapped. “You could endanger not just yourselves but everyone here. You think it’s cool now, but what happens when it backfires?”

The tension in the air was thick, and for a moment, it felt as if the entire room had frozen. Talia and Leo exchanged glances, and Hugh saw the flicker of doubt in their eyes.

“Look, we’re not the ones you should be worried about,” Talia finally said, her voice cooler. “If anyone finds out, it’ll be you lot who get caught up in it. Maybe you should just stick to your little dance routine and stay out of our business.”

With that, she turned away, dismissing them as if they were a nuisance. Hugh’s frustration bubbled over, but before he could respond, Sam spoke up.

“Just remember, we’re all part of this school. If you’re doing something dangerous, it won’t just affect you; it affects everyone else, too.”

With a final glare, they turned and walked away, feeling the weight of the conversation hanging in the air. 

“Do you think they’ll actually stop?” Mish asked, concern etched on her face.

Hugh shook his head, determination building within him. “We can’t let this go. If they’re willing to take risks, we need to be prepared for anything. We should keep an eye on them—something tells me they’re not done yet.”

As the days passed, the tension at The Andrews School grew. Students whispered about the upcoming exams, the dance-off’s aftermath, and the rumors swirling around Talia and Leo. Hugh and his friends remained vigilant, knowing that they had stumbled onto something bigger than they anticipated.

That night, as Hugh lay in bed, he couldn’t shake the feeling that the winds of change were blowing through the school. Secrets lurked in the shadows, and the echoes of forbidden magic threatened to unravel everything they had worked for. 

Tomorrow would bring more than just classes—it would bring choices that could change the course of their time at The Andrews School.