Chapter 35: Secrets in the Shadows with Audiobook

By: Asa Montreaux

Rumors spread like wildfire at The Andrews School, weaving their way through the halls and classrooms, whispered in between spell practice and during meals in the Great Hall. The latest piece of gossip, however, wasn’t about spells gone wrong or students showing off their magical talents in front of non-magicals. It was far more mundane but, in its own way, scandalous.

"Did you hear?" Sam whispered to Hugh as they crossed the courtyard on their way to class. "Apparently, some students were caught making out in the bathrooms. The ones in the east wing—the old, unused part of the building."

Hugh raised an eyebrow but kept walking. "That’s the big news?"

"It’s not just that," Sam said, eyes darting around to make sure no one else was listening. "It’s been happening for *hours*. Like, people have been sneaking in there all day. It’s practically a secret dating spot now."

Hugh smirked, more amused than scandalized. "And this is what people are talking about when we’ve got terrorists stealing airplane guidance systems?"

"Hey, people need distractions," Sam shot back with a grin. "You know what the pressure’s like around here. And not everyone’s diving into ancient telepathy books like you."

It was true that tension had been mounting at the school. Between the increasing difficulty of their magical lessons and the ever-present threat of The Crimson Dawn looming over them, students were desperate for anything to take their minds off the chaos outside. Still, Hugh couldn’t shake the feeling that these trivial distractions were part of the problem. People were growing careless. Reckless, even. Like the rumors about students flaunting their magic on social media, the rumors about secluded bathroom rendezvous felt like another sign that things were unraveling.

They reached their classroom, slipping into their seats just as the bell rang. Professor Terrence was already at the front of the room, flicking his wand as arcane symbols appeared on the chalkboard behind him. Today’s lesson was supposed to be about dimensional magic—creating small pocket dimensions for storing objects, a spell that could become useful in real-world scenarios. But Hugh found it hard to focus.

His mind was on the darker, more dangerous undercurrents swirling just out of sight. 

Eliza leaned over from her desk beside him. "Heard about the bathroom thing?" she whispered, her eyes twinkling with amusement.

"Of course," Hugh replied, but he was already half-distracted. His thoughts were on something else entirely.

Because in the background of this petty school gossip, something much more serious was taking place. Elder wizards—those who had been around for centuries and carried immense political and magical power—were starting to act. The recruitment process had already begun, quiet and discreet, but there were whispers that a few of the older students had been approached by members of the Council of Wizards. They were being groomed, possibly even recruited, for the coming battle against The Crimson Dawn.

Hugh hadn’t been approached—yet—but he could feel it coming. He had seen the older wizards around campus more often in the past few weeks, their appearances sudden and their expressions grim. They weren’t here for lessons or casual visits; they were scouting. And Hugh knew that soon, he and his friends might be caught up in that process.

After class, Hugh lingered in the hallway, watching as students passed by, some chattering about exams or who was caught where, others in deep concentration about their magical studies. But in the middle of it all, there were glimpses of something else—older wizards speaking in hushed tones with students whose power and promise were impossible to miss.

Eliza joined him in the corridor, her expression serious. "Did you hear? Marcus Bentley got approached by an elder today."

Hugh turned to face her. "Recruitment?"

She nodded. "Yeah. He won’t say much, but apparently, they’re gearing up for something. I think they’re starting to get ready for a fight. And they're scouting students they think will be able to handle it."

"I figured it would happen soon," Hugh said quietly, glancing around to see if anyone else was listening. "It makes sense. We’ve all known that this wasn’t just going to be solved by sitting in a classroom."

Eliza leaned in closer. "Do you think they’ll come for us?"

Hugh hesitated. "I don’t know. Maybe. But I’m not sure if we’re ready for that."

"Speak for yourself," she said, flashing him a quick grin, though her eyes betrayed the nerves hiding beneath. "You’ve been digging into some pretty powerful stuff lately. More than most students here."

He shook his head, a wry smile forming on his lips. "I don’t think the Council cares how many old books I’ve read. They want people with raw power, not someone who's still figuring it all out."

"You sell yourself short," she said. "But either way, we’re going to need more than just raw power to deal with this. Especially if the rumors are true."

Hugh frowned. "What rumors?"

Eliza lowered her voice even further. "That The Crimson Dawn isn’t just interested in taking over control centers or stealing equipment. I’ve heard whispers—they want to dismantle both worlds. Magical and non-magical. And they might have allies."

"Allies?" Hugh’s stomach tightened. "Other factions?"

"Maybe. Or people who have their own reasons to want both worlds in chaos. But it’s not just about planes and guidance systems anymore. Whatever they’re planning, it’s bigger than anyone’s let on."

The weight of her words hung between them, pressing down on Hugh’s chest. If The Crimson Dawn had allies, if this was about more than just isolated attacks, then the threat was even more dangerous than he had imagined.

"I need to figure out more," Hugh said, his mind already racing with possibilities. "We can’t just sit back and wait for the elders to make all the decisions."

Eliza nodded. "Agreed. But we need to be careful. Whatever’s coming, it’s going to get messy."

Later that evening, Hugh returned to the library, determined to push further with his telepathic abilities. If they were going to be recruited—or dragged—into this fight, he needed to be ready. He needed to be stronger. And he needed to be able to reach further into the minds of their enemies. It was a dangerous path, one that could easily lead to him losing control, but he had no choice. The world, both magical and non-magical, was on the brink, and Hugh could feel the storm gathering.

In the background, the school’s drama continued to swirl—rumors of secret relationships, scandals caught on social media, and the carefree antics of students oblivious to the looming danger. But Hugh knew that soon, all of that would seem like a distant memory.