Chapter 18 The New Faction

• Ava’s heart pounded as the towering gates of the Elemental Academy opened once again, but this time, something was different. She felt the subtle shift in the atmosphere as if the very air crackled with anticipation. The Council's revelation about the Storm Relic still haunted her, but today, a new unease gripped her mind—rumors of a mysterious faction within the academy had been spreading like wildfire.
• She had caught wind of whispered conversations between students in the hallways and overheard professors sharing furtive glances. It seemed that not only had the Void’s shadow darkened the academy’s halls, but something—or someone—else was stirring from the depths.
• Finn and Lia joined her as they walked across the courtyard, the overcast sky threatening rain. The towering trees that surrounded the Academy swayed in the wind, and a chill ran through Ava. She still couldn’t shake the foreboding feeling that had settled in since the Council’s warning.