Chapter 20 — Silver's Secret
After explaining everything to Silver, we went together to the cafeteria.
I ordered a burger and fries with iced coffee. Silver, on the other hand, revealed a surprising sweet tooth, piling her tray with apple pie, cheesecake, and a tall vanilla milkshake.
I was carrying my tray toward an empty seat when a strange feeling prickled at the back of my neck—the same one I had when I first saw that girl.
I turned.
There she was again.
This time, her face was uncovered.
Her eyes were an unnatural shade of purple, her hair a strange mixture of white and half-purple.
As she passed, people instinctively moved away, parting like a tide before her.
Before I could react, Silver, acting like her usual self, bounced up to her and wrapped her in a hug.
I didn't wait.
Without a word, I turned back and headed for the door, my footsteps quick.
As I passed the girl, a chill shot through me, leaving a shudder under my skin.
Who is she?
The thought dug itself into my mind, refusing to let go.
---
Weeks passed after that day.
Silver and I grew closer, spending more time together, falling into an easy rhythm.
The days blurred, and before long, Winter Solace was almost upon us.
I was walking toward Master Raven's class, lost in thought, when a sudden clatter jolted me.
Something had fallen nearby.
A girl bolted past me in a rush, but before I could move, a splash of heat struck my face—hot coffee spilling across my skin.
"Ah—sorry!" the girl gasped.
She thrust her hand forward—and to my shock, the coffee droplets lifted off my face, floating briefly before falling harmlessly to the ground.
I blinked at her, startled but somehow... not as surprised as I should have been.
"I'm sorry," she said again, her voice hurried.
"It's fine," I said.
She hesitated, then added quickly, "Elisa Drift."
"What?" I asked, confused.
"My name is Elisa," she repeated.
Before I could say another word, she turned and sprinted away, disappearing into the crowd.
I glanced down at my shadow, still shifting lightly under my feet.
Find Silver, I ordered silently.
The shadow darted off ahead of me.
I made my way into Master Raven's classroom.
Silver was already there, seated in her usual spot.
But something was different.
The gloves she always wore—without fail—were gone.
And her bare hand… was spotless.
No Mark.
Nothing.
I froze.
Shock ran through me.
I knew Silver was a Seeker. I knew she had passed her Trial.
But a Seeker without a Mark? That wasn't supposed to be possible.
Before I could move, Master Raven stepped forward.
In one fluid motion, sparks of light flared in his palm—and from it, a longsword materialized, gleaming coldly in the light.
"I'm sorry, Night," he said quietly.
"But I can't let you leave... knowing Silver's scar."