"Wake inside the sleeping Frost?" Silvermist muttered, her voice barely above a whisper, as her eyes swept over the ornate details of the room.
Moonlight filtered through the grand stained-glass windows, casting fractured patterns on the marble floor. She found the words puzzling, their aning elusive.
Adeline sat quietly beside her, fidgeting with the hem of her sleeves. Though curiosity burned within her, Silvermist couldn’t find the courage to ask her what the phrase ant.
Words seed to dance just out of reach on her tongue, and eventually, she gave up, her silence forming an invisible wall between them. Silvermist glanced at her but chose to let it slide. If Adeline didn’t want to ask, she wouldn’t pry.
Around them, the room buzzed with life. Several apprentices had already settled into the expansive, tiered classroom. Groups chatted animatedly, their laughter echoing off the high ceilings.
So exchanged greetings, others pored over mysterious-looking tos and scrolls. Silvermist couldn’t tell if they were in the right room or not, but since no one questioned her presence, she decided not to worry. She and Adeline would blend in—for now.
For a brief, fleeting mont, Silvermist felt a sense of calm. She inhaled deeply, allowing herself to relax. But the tranquility shattered when Gail and Cullen strode into the room. The air seed to shift as the pair entered, their presence drawing glances and hushed whispers.
Silvermist’s annoyance spiked when her eyes accidentally t Cullen’s. He stood tall in the doorway, his expression as insufferably arrogant as ever.
Despite the distance, Cullen’s sharp gaze found her easily. They were separated by rows of desks, yet she felt exposed under his intense stare. Instead of looking away like a normal person, he held her gaze, his eyes gleaming with a silent challenge.
Silvermist rolled her eyes and broke the connection, refusing to engage in whatever petty staring ga he seed to enjoy.
She turned her attention elsewhere, determined not to care where Cullen and Gail chose to sit. However, she couldn’t completely shake the irritation bubbling beneath the surface.
"Hi! You’re new here?" a cheerful voice cut through Silvermist’s thoughts. A young woman, probably close to her own age, approached with a friendly smile.
She plopped down in the seat directly in front of Silvermist and Adeline, her energy practically contagious.
"Yes," Silvermist replied curtly, nodding toward Adeline. "So is she."
"Good to know!" the woman chirped, beaming. "Maybe now that everyone’s here, we can actually get started. I’m Mila, by the way. Mila Sparrow. I’m an apprentice to Rain—one of the Twelve Guardians." She said the last part with unmistakable pride, as if it were a badge of honor.
"I’m Silvermist," she replied, shaking Mila’s outstretched hand hesitantly. "Silvermist Evermore. And I’m..." She hesitated, her confidence wavering. "I’m not sure whose apprentice I am."
Mila blinked in surprise. "Oh, don’t worry about that! So apprentices don’t know right away. It happens."
"Really?"
Mila nodded enthusiastically. "Yep! As long as you’ve got the mark, you’re invited—or rather, forced—to attend this academy." She laughed lightly before turning her attention to Adeline. "And what about you, little one? What’s your na?"
Adeline’s lips quivered as she spoke. "M-My na’s Adeline Skyborn and I don’t know why I’m here."
Mila’s expression shifted to one of concern. "Yeah! Because you’re awfully young for this..." she murmured, trailing off.
Adeline nodded, her voice barely audible. "But I already have the mark. Tim said my soul is ten years older than my physical body."
Silvermist’s eyes widened. "Holy crack!" she gasped, slapping a hand over her mouth when she realized she’d cursed in front of Adeline.
"Oh, Tim?" Mila interjected, seemingly unfazed. "That ans you’re the Ti Guardian’s apprentice, right?"
Adeline shrugged. "I think so."
Mila grinned. "Well, welco to Moonstone Academy! This is where apprentices train under their respective Guardians."
"For what?" Adeline asked, her voice small but curious.
Mila leaned in slightly, her expression turning serious. "From what I’ve heard, the Sand Man has declared war on the Lunar God. He’s a threat to humans, feeding on their emotions—especially anger. Guardians can’t have emotions, so they need us, their apprentices, to act as their bridge to the human world."
"Why humans?" Silvermist asked, frowning.
"Humans are the only creatures with such volatile emotions," Mila explained. "If Guardians experience strong feelings, they risk disappearing completely. At least, that’s the rumor."
Before Silvermist could ask more, a familiar, smug voice interrupted. "And that’s why they need apprentices."
Silvermist, Mila, and Adeline turned to see Cullen and Gail standing nearby. Cullen’s usual arrogance was on full display, while Gail’s quiet deanor made her almost invisible in comparison.
"There are plenty of other rooms," Silvermist groaned. "Why are you here?"
Cullen rolled his eyes, sauntering to the table behind them. "As if I had a choice," he replied, his tone dripping with sarcasm. Gail followed silently, her eyes avoiding everyone else in the room.
"Ohh!" Mila grinned mischievously, narrowing her eyes as she shifted her gaze to Cullen. "I suppose you two know each other?"
Silvermist groaned audibly, throwing her head back in exaggerated frustration. "Gosh! If you only knew," she muttered, rolling her eyes.
Her fingers tapped impatiently against the wooden desk as though trying to physically dispel the annoyance that ca with being in the sa room as Cullen—and Gail, for that matter. "Anyway, Mila, how long have you been here?"
Mila tapped her chin thoughtfully, her eyes squinting as if she were rifling through ntal files. "A few weeks? Maybe a month?" She shrugged, her cheerful deanor returning. "Ti feels a bit strange here, honestly."
"Did Rain personally co to get you?" Adeline’s small voice piped up, curiosity lighting her eyes.
"Oh, yes," Mila said with a nod. "Rain, the Water Guardian, ca for himself. Apparently, the Guardians have known their apprentices for quite so ti. In fact, I heard that the Season Guardians—the ones representing Spring, Sumr, Autumn, and Winter—knew who their apprentices were even before they were born! Those apprentices are said to be... really special."
Silvermist felt her breath catch for a mont, her pulse quickening. That’s exactly what Frost had told her. The Guardians of the seasons knew their apprentices before they even existed.
Did Frost really an I was special? She shoved the thought away quickly, not wanting anyone to catch the flicker of emotion in her expression.
"A-Are these apprentices already here?" Silvermist asked, clearing her throat to mask her sudden nerves.
Mila’s eyes darted toward a group of n standing across the room, their low voices blending into the ambient hum. "The Spring and Sumr Guardians’ apprentices are already here," she said, nodding in their direction. "See those three over there?"
Silvermist’s gaze followed Mila’s gesture. Standing in a tight circle were three figures. Two were deep in conversation, their body language professional, while the third stood slightly apart, only his back visible. One man, with striking crimson hair, imdiately caught Silvermist’s attention. She knew her.
"That’s Ezekiel Ravencrest," Mila whispered, a hint of awe in her voice. "He’s the Fire Guardian’s apprentice. They say he has a personal connection with the Lunar God, which makes him kind of a spokesperson for the Guardians. Everyone here treats him like the unofficial school president." She giggled, clearly impressed.
Silvermist tilted her head, studying Ezekiel’s confident stance and fiery aura. His crimson hair seed to shimr under the light, giving him an otherworldly presence. "He certainly looks the part," she murmured.
Mila nodded enthusiastically before gesturing toward the man standing next to Ezekiel. "The one with mismatched eyes? That’s Sebastian Silverthorn. He’s the Sumr Guardian’s apprentice—one of the four seasonal apprentices."
Ahh! The man with beautiful eyes.
Silvermist’s gaze lingered on Sebastian. His heterochromatic eyes, one a piercing icy blue and the other a molten gold, were almost hypnotic even from across the room. There was sothing regal and untouchable about him, as though he carried the weight of his title effortlessly.
"And the third?" Silvermist asked, nodding toward the man whose face was hidden.
Mila shrugged. "That’s West Crystalvein, the Spring Guardian’s apprentice. He’s a bit of a mystery—doesn’t talk much, keeps to himself. But they say he’s brilliant when it cos to strategy. Probably why the Spring Guardian chose him."
"So," Silvermist began, her brow furrowing slightly, "we’re only missing the Autumn Guardian’s apprentice?"
"And the Winter Guardian’s," Mila added, her tone dropping slightly.
"Oh. Right." Silvermist glanced at Adeline, who was staring at her intently. The girl’s gaze seed to carry more weight than soone her age should possess.
"But have you heard the rumors?" Mila’s voice dropped to a conspiratorial whisper as she scooted closer to Silvermist and Adeline.
Her wide eyes darted around the room as though she feared soone might overhear. "They say the Winter Guardian, Frost, lost his apprentice."
Silvermist froze, her heart skipping a beat. "W-What do you an, lost?" she asked, trying to sound casual.
Mila leaned in even closer, her voice barely audible. "No one knows the details, but the story goes that sothing... terrible happened. And here’s the thing—Guardians without apprentices are said to be bound to disappear. That’s why Guardians and apprentices are considered one. Without us, they aren’t immortals."
A chill ran down Silvermist’s spine. She thought back to the words Frost had spoken to her when they first t—when he claid her despite breaking his precious staff.
"But if he lost his apprentice," Adeline piped up, her voice soft but steady, "then wouldn’t the Winter Guardian already be... gone?"
Mila’s expression darkened. "That’s the thing—but then again, those are just rumors."
Silvermist felt a lump rise in her throat. She glanced over at Cullen and Gail, who were sitting silently a few rows behind them. Cullen’s eyes locked with hers once more, his expression unreadable.
This man knew right away about her identity as an apprentice, perhaps, he must also have an idea what she had done.
"Tomorrow," Silvermist mouthed. "I’ll be purified. What will happen then?"
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