Chapter 96 Rogue Creature Ambush
POV: Luna
The next morning, we're all on edge.
The Council hearing is this afternoon. And now I know what might happen if they decide I'm too dangerous.
Binding Protocol. Power stripped. Slow death.
"We need to clear your head," Aria says at breakfast. "You can't go into that hearing terrified and scattered. They'll sense it."
"How am I supposed to not be terrified?"
"By doing something productive. Come on. Training glade. We'll practice combat. Burn off some anxiety."
It's not a bad idea.
So after morning classes, the five of us head into the forest.
Nova, Aria, Sienna, Lyric, and me.
Pack. Bonded. Together.
We're halfway to the glade when I feel it.
Wrong energy. Multiple signatures. Moving fast.
"Stop," I order. "Something's coming."
Everyone goes still. Alert.
"How many?" Aria asks, already shifting into combat stance.
"At least five. Maybe more. Moving to surround us."
"Rogues?"
"Has to be."
We form a defensive circle. Backs together. Facing outward.
The rogues emerge from the trees.
Seven of them. Red eyes glowing. Corrupted. Controlled.
But these are different from the ones we've seen before.
Bigger. More coordinated. More intelligent.
"These aren't random rogues," Sienna says. "These are hunters. Sent specifically for us."
"For me," I correct. "They're always after me."
The largest rogue steps forward.
When it speaks, the voice is almost human.
"Luna Eclipse. The shadow caller sends his regards. He wanted us to test you. See if you're as strong as the prophecy claims."
"Tell him I'm not interested in his tests."
"You don't have a choice."
The rogues attack.
All at once. Coordinated. Strategic.
I let my wolf surge forward. Partial shift. Claws. Enhanced senses. Strength.
And at the same time, I cast defensive wards.
Integration. Wolf and magic simultaneously.
Just like Cole taught me.
The first rogue reaches me. I dodge its attack and counter with a blast of silver light.
It flies backward. Hurt but not defeated.
Behind me, my friends are fighting.
Aria uses pure combat skill. Fast. Precise. Deadly.
Sienna casts offensive spells. Fire. Lightning. Force.
Lyric deploys magical disruptors. Interfering with the rogues' coordination.
And Nova provides defensive support. Shields. Wards. Protection.
We're holding our own. But barely.
These rogues are too strong. Too skilled.
I need to enhance us. Give us the edge.
I reach for the partial otherworld state while still fighting.
It's harder than during training. My concentration split between combat and otherworld access.
But I manage it.
One foot in each world.
Miguel's presence appears beside me in the otherworld vision.
"Luna, what are you doing? You're in combat!"
"I know. But we need the enhancement. Help me."
I channel his essence. Push it through the pack bond.
Immediately, my friends grow stronger. Faster. More coordinated.
Aria moves like lightning. Her strikes devastating.
Sienna's spells amplify. Powerful enough to take down two rogues at once.
Lyric's disruptors become more effective. Completely shutting down the rogues' magical communication.
Nova's shields become impenetrable. Protecting us all.
Together, we're unstoppable.
The rogues realize it. They're losing.
The largest one howls. A signal.
And they retreat.
Not panicked. Strategic. Organized.
They disappear back into the forest as quickly as they came.
We stand there, breathing hard. Injured but alive.
"Everyone okay?" I ask.
"Define okay," Aria mutters, holding her arm where claws caught her. "But yeah. Alive."
I drop the otherworld connection. Exhaustion hits immediately.
Nova catches me as I stumble.
"You held that for ten minutes during active combat," she says. "That's incredible."
"That's stupid," I correct. "I almost lost consciousness three times."
"But you didn't. And we won because of it."
Sienna is examining the ground where the rogues stood.
"They left something," she says.
We move closer.
Magical sigils. Burned into the earth. Glowing faintly.
"Marking territory," Lyric says. "Claiming this area."
"Or leaving a message," I add.
The sigils pulse. And I hear it.
The shadow caller's voice. Faint but clear.
"Well done, little Eclipse. You passed the first test. But there are more coming. Stronger. Deadlier. Can you keep your friends alive through all of them? Can you stay strong while the Council tries to chain you? We'll see."
The sigils pulse again. This time toward the Academy.
Pointing. Directing. Like arrows aimed at Silverwood.
"They're marking paths," Sienna realizes. "Routes to the Academy. Weaknesses in the wards. This is reconnaissance for a larger attack."
"We need to report this," Nova says. "Right now."
"And give the Council more reason to think I'm dangerous? That rogues are drawn to me specifically?" I shake my head. "They'll use this against me. Proof that I'm a liability."
"But if we don't report it, and there's an attack, we'll be responsible," Aria counters.
She's right. I know she's right.
"Fine. We report it. But we downplay my involvement. Say we stumbled on rogues during a walk. Defended ourselves. Found the sigils after."
"You want us to lie to the Council?"
"I want us to survive. There's a difference."
We head back to campus and report the attack to Professor Cael.
He immediately investigates the sigils. Brings other faculty. Examines the marking patterns.
"This is serious," he says. "These sigils create a magical map. Leading directly to Academy weak points. Someone is planning a coordinated assault."
"Can you remove them?" I ask.
"We can disrupt them. But whoever made them will know we found them. They'll adapt."
"So we're in a magical arms race."
"Essentially, yes."
Professor Cael looks at me seriously. "Luna, you need to be careful. The Council will hear about this attack. They'll ask why you were targeted specifically. You need to have good answers."
"I don't have good answers. I just know rogues keep coming after me."
"That's not going to satisfy them."
"I know."
He dismisses us with warnings to stay alert. To travel in groups. To report anything unusual.
As if our lives aren't already nothing but unusual.
The Council hearing is in two hours.
I barely have time to clean up. Change clothes. Prepare mentally.
Aria helps me practice what to say. How to present myself.
"Be honest but not overly detailed. Answer questions directly. Don't volunteer extra information. And whatever you do, don't let them see fear."
"I'm terrified."
"Then fake confidence. You're Eclipse. Act like it."
When the time comes, I walk to the Council chambers with my head high.
But inside, I'm shaking.
Because I know what's waiting.
Questions. Accusations. Judgment.
And possibly, the decision to bind my power. To chain me. To destroy me slowly.
But I can't show fear.
Can't show weakness.
I have to be strong.
For myself. For my friends. For everyone who believes in me.
Even when I barely believe in myself.