Part 2: Shadows of Trust

Aria couldn't shake the unease that followed her after Raiden's visit.

The academy, once intimidating enough, now felt even more hostile.

The other students, with their cold gazes and whispers, seemed aware that something had changed in her.

But no one spoke to her—not directly.

In her next class, she met Eira, a vampire who was unlike the others. She had dark hair and sharp violet eyes, but there was a calmness in her presence.

Unlike the rest, Eira didn’t mock Aria for being a half-blood. Instead, she sat next to her, leaning in close.

“I know what you’re going through,” she whispered.Aria looked at her, cautious.

“What do you mean?”

“I can feel it. The power stirring inside you,” Eira said, her voice barely above a whisper.

“I felt it when I first awakened. But be careful—if the others sense it, they won’t just let you be. They’ll try to control you, just like Raiden did.”

Aria’s pulse quickened.

“How do you know about Raiden?”Eira’s eyes darkened.

“Raiden is the prince of the academy, but his ambitions go beyond this place.

He seeks power beyond the normal vampire realm. And you... you’re the key to unlocking it.”

“Why are you helping me?”

Aria asked.“Because I don’t want him to succeed,” Eira said simply. “He’s dangerous, more than you know. And if you trust the wrong person, it could mean your end.”For the first time, Aria felt like she had an ally.

But was Eira truly trustworthy?

In this world of shadows and deception, she knew she had to stay on guard, even with those who claimed to be friends.