Chapter 37: Smoke in the Shadows with Audiobook

 By: Asa Montreaux

The atmosphere around the school shifted yet again as rumors spread about more than just the Dean's letter. The gossip was thick—about students breaking rules, sneaking off to secluded parts of the campus, but also about something bigger—talk of elder wizards being seen in meetings with the administration. Words like "recruitment" and "Crimson Dawn" floated around in hushed whispers, and it felt as though the student body was being drawn into a greater battle, whether they were ready or not.

Hugh, Eliza, Sam, and Fiona found themselves in the middle of these rumors. After classes, they gathered in their usual spot in the library. The stacks were quiet, and students rarely ventured there unless they were serious about their studies. Today, however, the place felt tense, like the walls themselves were listening in on their conversations.

"Did you hear about the meeting the Headmistress had with some of the elder wizards?" Sam asked, keeping his voice low as he flipped through his Transfiguration textbook.

"I overheard some of the professors talking about it," Fiona said, leaning in. "Apparently, they’re starting to gather support to push back against The Crimson Dawn. They need people with combat experience, and it sounds like they’re trying to bolster the defenses here, too."

Eliza frowned, tapping her pencil against the edge of her notebook. "That makes sense, but why the secrecy? Shouldn't they be preparing everyone if things are getting that bad?"

"It’s about control," Hugh replied, his voice edged with frustration. "They don’t want to scare everyone, but they can’t hide it forever. The Crimson Dawn has been too quiet lately—it feels like something big is about to happen."

Eliza shot him a knowing glance. "And you’re still digging into all of it, aren’t you?"

Hugh nodded. His telepathy practice had been progressing faster than expected. He’d been pushing himself further, staying up late into the night, delving into older, more dangerous magic. He could feel the strain, but he needed answers. The more he uncovered, the more he realized just how deep The Crimson Dawn’s plans went. 

"I’ve been trying to piece together what their next move might be," Hugh said, leaning closer. "They’ve been stealing tech—guidance systems, hacking into control centers. At first, it seemed like they were just targeting a few buildings, but now… I think they’re planning something much bigger."

Fiona glanced at him warily. "What do you mean? Bigger like what?"

Hugh hesitated for a moment. "I’m not sure yet, but they’re not just after money or power. It feels like they want to bring down more than just governments. They want to throw the entire world into chaos, and I think it has to do with controlling transportation—airplanes, ships, maybe even satellites. They’re planning something global."

There was a moment of silence as his words sank in.

Sam let out a slow breath. "And we’re supposed to stop that? We’re just students."

"Not just students," Eliza corrected him, her voice firm. "We’re being trained for this. And if what Hugh’s saying is true, we won’t be the only ones fighting. The elder wizards will be involved too."

The library suddenly felt colder. Hugh couldn’t shake the feeling that they were running out of time, that The Crimson Dawn was getting closer to launching their next move.

"Speaking of elder wizards," Fiona said, changing the subject slightly, "have you heard about some of the students who are being recruited? I heard Mason Blane was approached."

"Mason Blane?" Eliza raised an eyebrow. "Of course. He’s been acting like he’s better than everyone else since day one. Wouldn’t surprise me if he jumped at the chance to fight."

"Yeah, well, he’s been bragging about it all week," Fiona added, rolling her eyes. "I swear, if I hear one more thing about how 'he’s destined for greatness,' I’m going to hex him."

Sam chuckled. "You’re not the only one. But seriously, they’re starting to pull in students for these recruitment programs. Some of the older ones have already signed up, but I heard they’re starting to look at our year too."

Hugh frowned. The idea of being recruited to fight against The Crimson Dawn was both thrilling and terrifying. But there was also the realization that this was becoming real. The battle wasn’t something distant—it was creeping closer to their world, to their lives, and soon they wouldn’t have a choice.

As they packed up their things to head to their next class, a familiar face appeared in the doorway—Agent Macomb. The room went still as the students noticed his presence. His usual calm, collected demeanor was tinged with something sharper today, a hint of urgency in his eyes.

"Hugh, Eliza, Sam, Fiona," he greeted them with a nod. "Mind if I have a word?"

They exchanged nervous glances but followed him into the corridor. Once they were away from the other students, Macomb’s expression grew more serious.

"You’ve probably heard by now that we’re on high alert," he began. "There’s no need to sugar-coat things. The Crimson Dawn has stolen more than just tech—they’ve gained access to sensitive infrastructure. If they succeed in their plans, it could mean widespread chaos, and we don’t have the luxury of waiting for them to strike first."

"Do you know what their next target is?" Hugh asked, his voice tense.

Macomb hesitated for a moment before answering. "We believe they’re aiming to take control of a global satellite network. If they manage that, they could disrupt everything—communications, navigation, even military systems."

The group exchanged horrified glances.

"Which is why we’re stepping up recruitment," Macomb continued. "We need skilled young witches and wizards who are willing to step up. This isn’t just about defense anymore—it’s about offense. We need to stop them before they can execute their plans."

Eliza’s eyes widened. "You mean you want us to fight?"

"You’ll be trained," Macomb assured them. "No one is throwing you into a battle unprepared. But make no mistake, we’re at war, and every able witch and wizard will be needed. Even students."

Hugh’s heart raced. He had known this moment would come, but hearing it confirmed sent a chill down his spine. They weren’t just students anymore. They were soldiers in a war they hadn’t signed up for.

"I’ll leave you to think about it," Macomb said, giving them a nod before walking away. "But don’t take too long. We’re running out of time."

As the agent disappeared down the hallway, Hugh turned to his friends, his mind racing. This was happening. The Crimson Dawn was making their move, and soon, so would they.

"I guess we don’t have a choice, do we?" Fiona whispered, her voice shaking slightly.

"No," Hugh replied, his expression hardening. "But we’ll be ready."