Chapter 2: Shadows of Decelis Academy

The tension in the air thickened as Sooji's piercing gaze passed over each girl, assessing their state. It was as if she could sense the whispers of fear crackling around them, a palpable energy that hung like storm clouds. "You are not the first to arrive in this manner," she finally said, her voice calm yet tinged with an urgency that suggested she knew more than she was letting on. "Come inside, quickly. You’re not safe here." The group exchanged hesitant looks, then nodded, finding some comfort in the leader’s authoritative presence as they stepped over the threshold into the academy's heart. The atrium, illuminated by ghostly chandeliers, seemed to buzz with an undercurrent of magic that tingled against their skin. Everywhere they turned, murals painted across the walls told stories—of heroes, of battles fought, of realms merged and lost. The portraits stilled them, whispering secrets of old. A grand staircase spiraled upward at the far end, leading to countless doors that hinted at thousands of stories locked away. "This place... it’s like a storybook come to life," Lizzie murmured, her cautious optimism nudging aside the dread gnawing at her gut. Sooji led them deeper into the building, her heels echoing on the polished marble floor. "Decelis Academy is not just a school; it is a nexus of continuity between worlds. Here, we teach those who can traverse realms." Karina felt the weight of responsibility settle on her back with each echoing step they took. Was it possible that their fall through the rift was no accident? "But we didn’t choose to come here!" Winter protested, her brows furrowing in confusion. "We didn’t even know this place existed." "Neither did they," Sooji replied, gesturing to the wall adorned with fading photographs of students who had disappeared, never to return. "But once you are here, the challenge is to understand why. Every choice has a purpose—every choice leads to a consequence." The group halted at the base of the grand staircase, uncertainty sparking among them. Karina, determined to regain control over the situation, stepped up to Sooji. "What happens now? What do we need to do to get back home?" Sooji's expression softened momentarily before hardening again. "In time, you may find your path back. But first, there are trials to endure, lessons to learn. You must understand the threads you weave—what has brought you here and what awaits you beyond these walls." Minhee swallowed hard, fear pooling in her stomach. The academy felt like a labyrinth holding secrets they weren’t yet equipped to face. "And what if we fail?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Sooji met her gaze, an impenetrable expression masking whatever sympathy lay beneath. "Failure may not be an option. You carry with you burdens that could alter the very fabric of our realms." As the girls exchanged glances filled with uncertainty, the shadows seemed to stretch and encroach upon them, almost alive with hunger. The otherworldly energy they had felt earlier pulsed through the very architecture of the academy, calling to them, urging them closer to the heart of its mysteries. "There is much you do not know yet," Sooji continued, her voice low as she motioned for them to follow her upwards. "But first, you must become aware of the shadows that lurk—not just in Decelis, but within yourselves. Each of you bears a secret, a shadow, that will guide your journey here." As they climbed the grand staircase, the air thickened once more, the anticipation shrouded in impending challenges and revelations that awaited. At the top, another door awaited them, carved with ancient runes. There was no turning back now, and curiosity battled with fear within them, merging like the shadows that beckoned them closer. Sooji pushed the door open, revealing a classroom unlike any they had encountered before. It hummed with energy, books with gilded edges fluttered as if stirred by an unseen wind, and arcane symbols shimmered in the air like fireflies. "Welcome to your first lesson," Sooji said with a slight smile that did little to alleviate the weight of dread looming over them. "Here in Decelis, we explore what it means to embrace the shadows of our own making." As her words settled over the room, the girls took a collective breath, steeling themselves for whatever was to come next.