llar door was a realm u

air hung heavy with the scent of lavender mingled with the crackle of lightning. Floating lanterns danced above

d forward, each step echoing li

then sh

A g

e. Arched

gate loomed at the foot of a colossal mountain. Vines snaked around its edges, adorned with strange flowe

out, pressing her pal

Not

the rustling of leaves s

pproach the Gat

p back. "I... I'm Seraphine Vale,

erving. Then a second voice broke through

aim your

se someone told me I'd find answers here. Something

stretched i

himmer, luminous runes spiraling

hine Vale. Let Aetherbo

n light, surrounded by entwining vines of enchantment

nt, light erup

nd t

was n

loat

and fragrant. Ethereal birds with translucent wings glided overhead, while violet butterflies the size of her hand flitted among blooms sprouting from invisible w

only stare, wide-

she notice

, were moving in a way that made her instinctively look away. Just as she diver

r soared downwa

r, the crea

olding inward, and where the b

l. Eth

shimmering in a rich violet hue reminiscent of twilig

e dusk silk, adorned with jewelry that floated

..." Seraphine stammer

arching. "Yes. And yet your first question is not 'how did you just

, momentarily fluste

m Vice Principal Nyx Thorneveil.

This place is... I can't ev

rossed the threshold. The letter brought you here. You are now one of us. Aetherborn on

ask questions! The woman at my school, she said she'd explain everything

ion transformed,

on a Full Green

ine frown

green moon opens the portal

aphine's spine. "Wait...

mall, pitying smile. "Not un

! My aunt and uncle don't know I'm gone. I

ed her, calm and unyielding. "All that you need will be

! I thought I was coming for answers, not

ion you received explicitly stated you were chosen to enroll. This is

ine swallowed hard

ting through the air. "Do you think

them, the soft gusts of wind rustling

t truth, Seraphine. And it is here you will discover it. Y

t means," Seraphine whispered,

u will

, Nyx conjured a shimmering orb of li

y. For the next seven days, you'll be placed un

eraphine stammered, confus

gun to drift away, leaving her no cho

tepped forward into the billowing clouds

from which she c