A Prophecy of Light

[Susan Matthews]

Susan could tell the others were assessing her presence. They all mentioned how she had helped. Susan couldn't think of anything directly that she had done, besides hold her wand higher and tighter. Then she recalled the feeling that she got. Starting with her toes and coming all the way up her body. Susan looked to Wysteria when she spoke to her.

"Actually, I think I did. I could feel 'it'," she recalled. She wasn't sure what "it" was, but it felt good. "I felt it build up from within me and spread throughout my body. It was kind of a warmth, and I seemed to get it just from being around you guys," Susan explained. She looked around at everyone, "My wand seemed to shine a little brighter, and your chanting seemed to gain more strength."

Susan thought a moment, what was it that Wysteria had called her?

"Light Fighter . . ." Susan asked Wysteria, "Is that what you called me?". Wysteria had mentioned the name to the others. Susan thought back to all the rumors she'd been hearing. It all led back to that night in the Forbidden Forest that she'd heard so many whispers about.

[D'rorah Philosophy]

"Perhaps," agreed D'rorah with a slight nod. Though, she tilted her head slightly and looked at the girl with an assessing eye. Her energy seemed different somehow... she didn't have the particular look of one who had endured the trauma necessary to seal one's fate as a Shadow Warrior. It was a defining moment... for D'rorah it had been witnessing the torturous and brutal slaying of her parents, followed by an equally brutal attack against herself in which the Shadows had moved over her mind, attempting to corrupt her. She knew the others had endured similar attacks... it was always evident in a slight set of the eyes, a slight defiance which asserted itself in the posture... a feeling of being haunted, though nearly indiscernable, that followed the warrior wherever she went. Now that she knew who some of the warriors were, she was surprised she hadn't noticed it before... it had been there, had she only known where to look.

This girl, however, seemed slightly different. She wondered what that might mean... or if perhaps her perception were off, though she didn't think it was. Her eyes narrowed slightly as she thought... the first Shadow Warriors had not had to endure a great trauma... they had been able to bond with their Elemental Masters; that act alone had brought their powers forth... however, Yang's interference in the cycle of Shadow Warrior and Elemental Master had meant that evey cycle since then had been disrupted... the Warriors and Masters no longer grew up knowing one another; indeed, sometimes never finding one another at all... and the Shadow Warriors were identified by resisting an attempted corruption of the Shadow Realm.

If Susan was indeed a Shadow Warrior, as she suspected, it would mean that the cycle was beginning to slowly come back into alignment... which was a positive sign for them overall.

She looked up from her musings to the others. "We should attend to Mister Darko and that text. And then, perhaps, we could have a few moments of your time, Miss Matthews?"

[Alessandro Darko]

Alessandro looked to D'rorah, then the others. "The Maleficus Obscurum??" He murmured allowed. His eyes darted down the hall. "Um, no, I think I chucked that book shortly after we summoned you through the rift...." He trailed off and shifted uneasily in the dark hallway. He was surrounded by his friends and they all seemed to be concerned for him. He felt that he needed to get out of this situation quickly.

Keaira's voice broke through his quickened thoughts. “Alessandro,… how do you feel?”

He looked to her. "I'm fine now..." He forced his smile. "I really don't mean to be a bother to anyone right now...I was just having a nightmare and felt a bit restless after I woke up....I must have nodded off here for a moment." He said. Wysteria then spoke up.

"You gave us a bit of a scare," Wysteria said to him, laughing dryly. He smirked at her. "I tend to have that effect on people." He said winking, having his outward emotion shift from uneasy to playful and light.

"I'm just gonna get back to bed...it's very late...and I have a lot of studying to do tomorrow...." Alessandro said as he waved on at everybody.

As he turned and began to walk back toward Ravenclaw tower, he heard a voice in the back of his mind. He paused a little and cocked his head.

Wysteria...I'll need to talk with you tomorrow....Alright? He sent to her via their connection.

He resumed walking back to his dormitory.

[Susan Matthews]

D'rorah had asked to speak with Susan later. Susan couldn't see why she shouldn't, and she was curious to know more about what just happened.

"Alright," She said plainly, a little nervous. She had just remembered that D'rorah was a prefect. Students were not allowed to roam the halls at night and that was what she had been doing previously. Susan severely hoped that no points would be taken from Gryffindor. Their house was already behind enough in the running. Susan eyes nervously switched to Professor Serlaen, as a teacher he could easily take points too.

Alessandro seemed to be okay. Susan was happy to hear that Alessandro was alright. Or at least that was what he said.

"Nox," Susan muttered and placed her wand into her pocket. The others had theirs out and they were all shining brightly. Susan began to rub her hands together. As she rubbed, warmth returned to her hands and the whiteness left her knuckles. If there was one thing Susan hated, it was the cold.

[D'rorah Philosophy]

D'rorah listened to Alessandro's words with a thick air of skepticism. She knew better than to believe a Ravenclaw would simply dispose of a book... and particularly, such a dangerous book should be kept somewhere where it was safe. If he had indeed gotten rid of it, she would be quite upset about that.

She turned her attention to Susan as he walked away. "Miss Matthews, perhaps we should meet somewhere where I might speak with your privately," she remarked. Seeing the girl's nervousness, she added, "And do not worry. The matters on my mind are rather more serious than a student being out of her bed so late at night. Please, return to your dormitory for now and I will find you later to discuss some things with you."

"Miss Edwin, Professor Serlaen, Miss O'Connell," she added, nodded to each of them in turn. "Perhaps it would be best if we all returned to our beds at the moment. Good evening." With that, she turned to head back to her dormitory, following the path Alessandro had taken mere moments before.