Chapter 63: Unseen Currents

By: Asa Montreaux

As the battle raged outside, the atmosphere within the school shifted dramatically. The hallways, usually filled with laughter and chatter, had become hushed and tense. Students huddled in classrooms, their faces pale and anxious, listening to the distant echoes of chaos that seeped through the walls. Among them, the realities of their education felt trivial in the face of impending danger.

In one of the classrooms, Clara and Jake sat together at a table, surrounded by a group of their classmates. Clara’s eyes darted nervously toward the window, her heart pounding with each sound of magical explosions resonating from beyond the school grounds.

“What’s happening out there?” Clara asked, her voice barely above a whisper. “Why haven’t they called us to fight?”

Jake, trying to maintain a calm demeanor, shrugged. “They probably want to keep us safe. We’re not ready for this yet.”

“Not ready?” Clara exclaimed, a spark of defiance igniting in her eyes. “We’ve been training for months! We should be helping them!”

Just then, the classroom door swung open, and Agent Macomb stepped inside, his expression grim. The students instinctively straightened, sensing the gravity of the situation.

“Listen up!” he called, his voice firm. “You are to remain here until further notice. The elder wizards are doing everything they can to hold the line. Your safety is our top priority.”

A murmur of discontent rippled through the classroom. 

“But what about our friends?” Jake interjected. “They’re out there fighting! We can’t just sit here!”

Macomb’s gaze softened slightly as he scanned the room. “I understand your frustration, but you need to trust that the elder wizards know what they’re doing. Your time will come, but right now, you’re more valuable here.”

Across the hall, Fiona was pacing back and forth in a small group, her hands igniting with small flickers of flames as she spoke. “We can’t just wait around like this! I want to help, to do something!”

Tom, leaning against the wall with crossed arms, shook his head. “Fiona, you know it’s dangerous out there. If you step outside, you could get hurt—or worse. We need to stay focused on keeping ourselves safe until they give us the green light.”

Fiona stopped and looked at him, frustration bubbling in her chest. “But if we don’t practice now, how will we be ready when they need us?”

Meanwhile, a few floors down, Eliza found herself in the library with a small group of students. She had always loved the tranquility of the library, but the tension in the air was palpable. She could hear the faint sounds of spells colliding in the distance, and her heart ached with a mix of fear and longing to be out there with her friends.

“What if they need us?” one girl whispered, her voice shaking. “What if something happens to them?”

Eliza felt a wave of empathy for her classmates. She stood and moved to the window, peering outside at the swirling chaos beyond the protective barriers. “We can’t lose hope,” she said, her voice steady. “We’re trained to fight, but we also need to be smart about it. We have to trust that they’re doing everything they can.”

Back in the classroom where Clara and Jake were gathered, the mood shifted when Clara suggested a plan. “What if we go to the training room? We could practice some spells, and if they need us, we’d be ready to help!”

Jake hesitated. “What if we get caught? Macomb said we have to stay put.”

But Clara’s determination was infectious. “Come on! If we work together, we can do this. We can’t just sit around waiting for something bad to happen.”

Finally, with a nod of agreement, Jake relented. “Fine. But let’s be quick about it.”

As the group made their way to the training room, they were careful to stay out of sight of the teachers. The air was thick with a mix of adrenaline and fear, and Clara couldn’t shake the feeling that they needed to act.

Once inside the training room, Clara led the group in a series of exercises designed to hone their skills. They practiced defensive spells, shielding themselves against imagined threats, and soon the room was filled with bursts of light as their magic intertwined.

Outside, the chaos continued to unfold. Elder wizards battled against Crimson Dawn forces, and amidst the tumult, Sam fought valiantly, his illusions diverting attention away from his friends. But in the depths of the school, other students were preparing, their spirits ignited by the urgency of the moment.

Meanwhile, word spread quickly among students about the ongoing battle. Whispers turned into discussions, and soon the school became a hive of anxious energy. Students began forming small groups, strategizing and planning how they could help once they were given the chance.

In another corner of the school, a group of older students gathered around a table, their expressions grave. They had been keeping a close eye on the news, and as they shared updates, the gravity of the situation became more apparent.

“They’re saying there are hackers involved,” one of them said, flipping through channels on a magical tablet. “They’ve targeted several cities already. We need to figure out how to combat this.”

Another student nodded. “If we can identify their locations, we might be able to help the elder wizards. We can’t just sit here and do nothing!”

As the hours dragged on, the tension within the school reached a boiling point. Students practiced spells, honed their skills, and prepared for the moment they would be called to action. Clara, Jake, and their friends were determined to make a difference, knowing that the battle was far from over.

And as night fell outside, the darkness creeping into every corner of the school, the flickering lights of spells and determination illuminated the path ahead. They were united, ready to stand with their friends, prepared for whatever challenges lay ahead.