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Chapter 59
~Valerie’s POV~
No, it wasn’t.
I got to my feet, panting. My instincts were screaming, and Astra still hadn’t said a word.
That was the scariest part.
Suddenly, I heard a rustle, then light footsteps. They were too calculated and silent.
I turned my head just slightly, my eyes narrowing as I caught the subtle shimmer of movement just beyond the misty tree line. And then they stepped into view—three figures, emerging from the fog like predators.
One look at them and I knew they weren’t cadets, even though they tried to dress up like one. They were no one I recognised.
They wore dark combat gear that resembled PSA training uniforms, but not quite.
These were sleeker, heavier and more custom-made to suit some of their weapons. Their faces were partially hidden behind black masks that covered their mouths and noses, leaving only their cold eyes exposed.
Each of them held a weapon, but they weren’t school-issued.
These were definitely not students.
The smallest detail gave them away. No guild emblems in their gloves either.
My fingers curled tighter around the hilt of my blade as I shifted into a defensive stance.
"Who are you?" I asked firmly.
I got no answer.
Erik, behind me, tensed. "Something’s wrong. These guys aren’t from here."
No shit.
Then one of them raised his hand and gave a quick, sharp gesture—like a signal.
At once, they moved swiftly, faster than they had any right to.
The first one lunged toward me with a blade in each hand, slashing horizontally at chest height. I bent low, the tips of his blades barely grazing the top of my shoulder.
I twisted and retaliated with a backwards strike to his side, but he spun away with inhuman speed and caught my leg.
Just as he tried driving the dagger into my skin, I lifted myself and threw the other leg at his face. Quickly, he let go, dodging my attack.
The second attacker came from the left, launching a projectile—some kind of dart or needle. I pivoted hard, the dart slicing through the strands of my hair as I ducked and rolled, landing on one knee.
The third stepped forward calmly, hand glowing with a faint red energy. Magic. Fae or witch. I wasn’t sure which angle he came from.
But that was the least of my problems, seeing how strong his magic was.
He raised his arm and fired a blast directly toward me, but I threw myself to the side behind a tree trunk. Thankfully, Erik hid himself quickly, giving me a better chance to fight without him in the way.
The blast hit the bark, splitting it in half with a sharp crack. Wood and splinters exploded around me.
Erik cried out and scrambled backwards, away from the wreckage.
"Urrgh!" I tried to swallow the pain as I crashed to the ground again, hard, and rolled just in time to avoid a dagger being driven into the spot where my throat had just been.
But it was quite clear what their mission was at this point. They weren’t just here to test me. They were here to take me out.
And I was losing. Not because I was weak. But because this wasn’t a test.
It was a hit in a test—a goddamn setup.
The red-magic guy fired again—faster this time. I barely dodged to the side in time before the blast ricocheted with a scream of energy.
Still, it sent me skidding back, boots tearing the forest floor, breath ragged in my throat.
I bent low again, ready for a counter—when suddenly the air behind me shifted. A pressure drop.
Magic again.
Stronger.
A spell charged in the wind, humming with heat. My wolf stirred finally. "Behind you!" Astra screamed in my mind.
I spun, but it was too late.
The blast came fast, a glowing arrow of compressed magical force aimed for my spine.
And then—a glint of silver flashed between me and the attack. A blur of motion cut through the smoke. Steel met magic mid-air.
And the blast exploded in a shower of sparks.
By the time my vision cleared, I saw him. Silver hair with purple streaks at the base. Xander.
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