–
One month later, Eldrin entered his classroom with eyes a pale grey from stress, his hair loose from its bun. He had just returned from a meeting with the rest of the staff - those who knew of the Umbral Order. The rest of the students likely thought he had been fighting with Jasper or Viscryn, but Thalia and the other three knew it was something more.
Eldrin tossed a heavy bag onto the desk, closing the door and locking it. “By now, you’ve heard of the dramatic increase of serus attacks, some coming even as close as the city walls. They’re growing more bold. It would be foolish to not sense that something big is changing.”
His words were unsettling, and Thalia and Elana glanced at each other nervously. They sat beside each other now, to which everyone had been shocked. Eldrin finally turned to the class, reaching into the bag.
“The information I’m sharing with you can get me in trouble with a lot of people. The Headmaster thinks it’s a bad idea. She’s worried some of you will get the wrong idea and try to be heroic. I’m going to scare you from being stupid.”
He pulled out a long, black cloak dusted with a dark, dried liquid, ripped at the bottom as if the wearer had been running through a forest. That alone wasn’t shocking, but then he pulled out a white mask with a beastly face and horns on the forehead.
And it was almost identical to the one Thalia’s parents wore.
She stopped breathing, trying to make sense of what it could mean, not wanting to think of the impossibility of it all.
“There is an extremist group called the Umbral Order. They try to make and control seruses, and they believe the Shadowmaker is their God. They wear these. The horned mask means that the cultist is more dangerous, but do not be fooled into thinking that any of you could survive against a normal one.”
Eldrin breathed out shakily. Thalia knew that the mask had been his based on how he looked at it. “If you see one of these people, do not fight them. You will run and you will get me or another Guardian. You all are children and they do not care. They will rip you apart.”
“But how did you get these?” Someone asked.
Eldrin looked at the student a little wildly. “However you think. I know how to fight them, but I will not allow any of you to try this. If I find out that one of you have attempted to do so, I will order you to be expelled myself.”
Thalia raised her hand. “Do - Can someone have these masks and not be cultists?”
“No.”
When the class dismissed a little uneasily, Thalia stayed behind, looking at Eldrin nervously. He was packing up when she shuffled, gathering his attention. “Mr. Morna?”
Eldrin looked at her in surprise. “Yes, Thalia? What’s the matter?”
“My - My parents - They own those. They - I think they’re a part of the Order.”
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