“Another piece moves slowly.”

  The voice wasn’t loud.

  It didn’t need to be.

  It slid into Kyrex’s ears like a thought he didn’t remember thinking.

  He turned sharply.

  “…Who’s there?”

  The hallway was empty. Evening light stretched long across the academy floor, painting everything gold and quiet. Students had already left for dinner.

  Only silence answered him.

  Kyrex frowned.

  Great. First week and I’m already hearing things.

  He shook his head and continued walking.

  But his steps felt… heavier.

  Like the air had thickened.

  Halfway down the corridor, he noticed something strange.

  His shadow didn’t match his movement.

  He stopped.

  His shadow took one extra step.

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  Kyrex’s heart skipped.

  “…Okay, not funny.”

  He lifted his arm.

  The shadow followed — but a split second late.

  Like it was copying him instead of being him.

  He quickly looked around.

  Still no one.

  “…It’s just the light. Just the light,” he whispered to himself.

  But deep down, he knew.

  Light didn’t hesitate.

  That night, the academy dorms buzzed with energy.

  Students bragged about their spell control.

  Some practiced making sparks dance between their fingers.

  Kyrex sat by the window, chin resting on his palm.

  He tried.

  Nothing happened.

  No spark.

  No warmth.

  Nothing.

  A few students had already labeled him:

  “The normal one.”

  “The theory admit.”

  “The charity case.”

  He laughed it off.

  Mostly.

  He stared outside at the academy courtyard below. Moonlight spilled across the stone paths.

  Then he saw it.

  A figure standing under a tree.

  Tall. Still. Watching the dorm windows.

  Kyrex squinted.

  The figure blended into the darkness unnaturally well.

  Almost like—

  A shadow standing upright.

  He blinked.

  Gone.

  “…I seriously need sleep.”

  He pulled the curtains shut.

  The moment the room went dark—

  A whisper brushed past his ear.

  “You see more than you should.”

  Kyrex jumped to his feet.

  “WHO—?!”

  His roommates were asleep.

  Dead asleep.

  Slow breathing. No movement.

  Kyrex’s chest tightened.

  He scanned the room.

  Nothing.

  But in the corner near the ceiling—

  A patch of darkness looked deeper than the rest.

  Like a hole in the night.

  He stared at it.

  It stared back.

  He didn’t know how he knew.

  He just did.

  Then the same voice murmured:

  “Don’t rush your role, little piece.”

  The darkness softened.

  Normal shadow again.

  Kyrex stayed awake for hours.

  Not out of fear.

  But confusion.

  Why him?

  He wasn’t strong.

  Wasn’t talented.

  Wasn’t special.

  Right?

  The next morning, he arrived early to class.

  Too early.

  The hall was empty.

  Rows of seats. Quiet air. Dawn light.

  He walked in slowly.

  And there it was.

  In the far corner of the room.

  A shadow darker than the rest.

  Waiting.

  Kyrex stared at it.

  This time, he didn’t look away.

  “…What are you?”

  For a brief second—

  The shadow curved.

  Like a smile.