After weeks of intense training with Lila Kim, Alex felt the pull of normalcy stronger than ever. Despite the weight of the amulet and the responsibility it carried, there was a part of him that longed for the routine and comfort of school life. He missed the hallways of the school, the buzz of chatter, the laughter, and even the classes. But most of all, he missed the idea of what his life had been before everything changed—the days when his biggest problem had been dealing with bullies like Victor, not fighting off dangerous assassins. Lila, of course, had been hesitant. She had seen what Alex was up against, the forces that were out there. For her, sending Alex back into the normal world without fully mastering his abilities seemed reckless. But Alex had insisted. He needed balance, needed to feel like himself again. One late evening, after a grueling training session where Lila had pushed Alex to his limits, he finally broached the topic. Samira was off resting, and the campfi

The next morning at lunchtime, the cafeteria was buzzing with the usual noise of students chatting and laughing as they ate. Freshman students clustered at the far end of the room, nervously eyeing the older students, especially those like Victor, who had a reputation for making their lives miserable. It was an unspoken rule that lunchtime was when Victor and his gang liked to assert their dominance.Victor was standing near the middle of the cafeteria, his eyes scanning the tables as if he were a predator sizing up his prey. He locked onto a lone freshman boy sitting at the corner, shy and clearly out of place. The boy was quietly eating his sandwich, trying not to draw any attention to himself, but Victor wasn’t about to let him go unnoticed.With a cruel grin, Victor motioned to Jake and Emily, his ever-loyal companions. “Watch this,” he said, striding over to the freshman’s table. The boy froze, his eyes widening in fear as Victor towered over him.“Hey, loser,” Victor said, leani

Lila had always been a mystery, a shadow who seemed to appear when things got rough, only to disappear just as quickly. But now, as Alex and Samira sat across from her in the cozy living room of the house she had arranged for them, they began to realize just how deeply she was involved in their lives. This wasn’t just a temporary arrangement. It was a safe haven.The house was modest but beautiful—a small two-story structure tucked away in a quiet neighborhood, in the heart of the city. It was modern, with large windows that let in plenty of sunlight, casting warm golden rays over the wooden floors. The scent of fresh paint still lingered in the air, a sign that the home had been newly prepared for them.Samira’s eyes lit up as she explored, peeking into the spacious kitchen and running her fingers along the smooth granite countertops. She could already picture the meals they would share, the laughter that would fill the space as they finally had a place to call their own, free from t

Lila stepped forward, her expression cold and unwavering. “Let him come. We’ll be ready.”Astra staggered back, her body trembling with pain and exhaustion. She knew she had no choice but to retreat. Fighting both Alex and Lila simultaneously had been a mistake. She was overconfident, and now she was paying the price. Silas would not be pleased, but she had to survive to fight another day.She clenched her jaw, fury boiling beneath the surface, but she could barely stand. Glaring at Alex and Lila, she turned on her heel, using the last of her strength to disappear into the shadows. The wind carried her away, leaving only the tension of her words hanging in the air. Alex watched Astra vanish, his chest still heaving from the exertion of the battle. He felt a strange mixture of relief and frustration. He had come close to defeating her, but without Lila’s intervention, he wasn’t sure how the fight would have ended. The power of the amulet surged within him, but something inside him sti

The next day at school, Alex found Ryan by the lockers. He had been thinking about Ryan and Samira’s growing closeness for a while now, and though Alex trusted Samira completely, he couldn’t help feeling protective. Samira had been through so much, and the last thing Alex wanted was for anyone to hurt her, especially after everything they had faced together.Ryan was pulling a textbook out of his locker when Alex approached. He noticed Alex coming and gave a friendly smile, but Alex's expression was serious, and it stopped Ryan in his tracks."Hey, Alex," Ryan said, his voice casual but with a hint of uncertainty. "What’s up?"Alex crossed his arms, standing a little taller as he looked at Ryan directly. "We need to talk."Ryan blinked, confused by the tone. "Okay, sure. What about?""About Samira," Alex said, his voice calm but firm.Ryan’s brows furrowed. "Is something wrong? Did I—""No," Alex cut in. "Not yet. But let me make this clear, Ryan." He stepped a little closer, lowering