The days had passed quietly, as Luna expected. The routine of academy life, with its lectures and training, continued as always. But something was different today, something subtle, like a faint hum beneath the air—a feeling she couldn’t quite ignore.

It was just after dusk, when the academy grounds seemed peaceful and the light from the setting sun cast long shadows across the stone pathways. Luna stood in the middle of the courtyard, her pale blue eyes scanning the area, a feeling tugging at the back of her mind. It wasn’t just the usual weight of the day; it was something more. Something unusual.

She blinked, rubbing her temples as she tried to clear her thoughts. The sensation was faint at first, but it grew stronger the more she concentrated. Rift energy. She could feel it in the air, like a low buzz under her skin, crackling just beneath the surface. Luna’s heartbeat quickened.

The energy was coming from the restricted area of the academy, an area so strictly off-limits that even the bravest of students never dared to venture near it. Luna's pulse quickened as she focused, feeling the energy calling to her, almost as if it knew she was there. Her heart sank.

She knew this feeling.

Luna had long since learned to keep her abilities hidden. Her powers weren’t like anyone else’s, she could manipulate ‘Rift Energy’. She couldn’t explain her powers, not fully—not even to herself. They felt... different. She’d discovered them by accident, years ago, when she used them to heal someone who had been injured. It had been a simple cut, just a small wound, but when she touched it, she felt the energy rush through her hands. The healing had been so fast, so powerful, that it left her breathless. It had scared her. The sheer force of it—the way the energy had flowed through her, like the Rift itself had come alive within her.

Since that day, Luna had kept her powers a secret. She didn’t dare tell anyone what she could do. It wasn’t just that people would think she was strange—it was that monsters were known to possess powers tied to the Rift. Guardians—elite hunters who ventured into dangerous dungeons—would never accept her if they found out. No, Luna couldn’t take that risk. Not yet. Not until she understood what it meant to have this power, and what it meant for her future.

But tonight… tonight something felt different. The Rift energy was stronger than she’d ever sensed before. It called to her, an irresistible pull that was both thrilling and terrifying at the same time. She had to find out what it was.

Her eyes darted toward the restricted area, hidden behind ivy-covered walls, and her heart beat faster. The rift was there, she was sure of it. Luna glanced around, checking to make sure no one was nearby. The evening was quiet, the academy grounds mostly deserted. Perfect.

She took a deep breath and began to carefully study her surroundings. The academy grounds were large, and there were plenty of spots where the night’s shadows could hide her, but there was one thing that could ruin her plans: the CCTV cameras. They were scattered across the area like silent sentinels, their lenses watching from every corner, every angle. Luna knew that the last thing she wanted was to be caught on camera sneaking around the restricted area. If she was seen, it could mean serious consequences—not just for her, but for anyone who had helped her.

She crouched low, moving with quiet steps, and began her reconnaissance. Her eyes scanned the academy’s stone walls, the large windows of the dormitory buildings, and the towering stone fences around the restricted area. Slowly, she noted the positions of the cameras as she moved along the path, tracing each one’s line of sight. They were there, in the most obvious spots—by the gates, near the main entrance of the dorms, and above the large stone walls of the restricted section.

The cameras didn’t just cover the main routes, though. They were on the rooftops, too, mounted high and looking down with an unwavering gaze. Luna narrowed her eyes, studying them. There had to be a way around this.

As she moved further along the edge of the campus, she realized there were spots where the cameras didn’t quite reach. Behind the tall hedges that lined the far side of the garden, there was a patch of darkness where the cameras’ view was blocked by the thick foliage. She smiled to herself, marking the location in her mind. There were also a few places where the cameras seemed to have blind spots—corners where the trees or statues blocked their line of sight, even if just for a few precious seconds. She mentally mapped out these areas, piecing together a route that would allow her to slip past without being noticed.

Luna continued to scout, moving quietly and steadily. She had to be sure—every detail needed to be accounted for. A small shift of the head, a slight change in her posture, and she could easily be caught. But if she could just avoid the cameras and stay hidden in the shadows, she might just make it to the restricted area undetected.

As she observed the layout of the grounds, a thought crossed her mind. She had always been careful, always aware of her surroundings, but tonight, the risk felt different. The Rift’s energy was pulling at her more strongly than before, almost as if it were calling out to her, urging her to uncover its source. She couldn’t ignore it—not now, not when she was this close to understanding what was really going on.

Taking a deep breath, Luna began to formulate a plan. She would leave her dorm at exactly midnight, when most students would be asleep. The shadows would be at their thickest then, and the academy grounds would be almost completely empty. She would sneak down the hallway, staying as quiet as possible, until she reached the back door of the dormitory. Once outside, she would follow the path she had mapped out, using the blind spots she had found to avoid the cameras.

It wasn’t going to be easy. There were still areas where the cameras overlapped, where the shadows weren’t enough to hide her. But Luna was quick, and she had learned to move silently, to blend into the night. She knew that if she timed her steps carefully, she could slip through the gaps unnoticed. The hardest part would be getting past the main gates of the restricted area itself. That was where the most cameras were concentrated, watching every move.

Finally, the moment arrived. Midnight. The academy was silent, the only sounds a faint breeze and the soft rustling of leaves outside. Luna slipped out of bed, her movements quick but measured, each step carefully placed to avoid even the slightest creak in the floorboards. She glanced back at her room one last time, a pang of worry tugging at her. If anyone noticed her absence, it would mean trouble. But the pull of the Rift was too strong, and she couldn't ignore it.

Silently, Luna made her way down the darkened hallway, keeping to the shadows as she navigated through the academy. Her footsteps were light, barely making a sound as she moved. Every turn, every doorway, every stair was carefully calculated. She was mindful of every camera she had studied earlier, slipping past each one in their blind spots, ducking behind walls and gliding through patches of darkness with practiced precision.

She felt her heart pound in her chest as she got closer to the garden. The Rift was somewhere within the academy grounds—something that shouldn’t be possible. She thought back to Elara's words, the day they conquered that rift, the mystery of artificially created Rifts. It was disturbing, knowing that someone had the power to forcefully tear open these gateways. And now, one had appeared right here, inside the academy, a place that should have been safe.

Her own memories haunted her, memories of what Rifts had taken from her, what they had caused. They were more than just mysterious energy portals to her; they were reminders of pain and loss, scars that hadn’t yet healed. Part of her wanted to avoid them altogether, to ignore the power that called to her, but she couldn't let go of her curiosity—or her hatred. She had to understand what was happening.

When she reached the garden, the air felt thick and charged, as if the Rift's presence had warped reality itself. The entrance to the restricted area loomed before her, ivy crawling up the stone walls. The pathway was deserted, just as she had hoped. She glanced around, her eyes darting between the walls and the bushes, reassuring herself that she was alone.

The entrance to the restricted area was close now. All she had to do was take a few more steps, and she would be able to confirm the Rift’s location. The shadows here were dense, providing ample cover, and she stayed close to the walls, moving slowly and carefully to avoid detection. She was almost there.

Then, just as she was about to take her final step into the restricted zone, a hand gripped her shoulder.

Luna froze, every muscle tensing as a wave of fear surged through her. The grip was firm, unyielding, and utterly silent. Her heart hammered in her chest as she processed the sensation, her mind racing with possibilities. Who could it be? Had someone followed her? Was it a teacher, a guard, or perhaps… a Guardian?

She didn’t dare turn around. Her breath caught, and a chill ran down her spine as the reality of her situation sank in. She was inches away from uncovering the mystery of the Rift, so close to unlocking answers that she’d craved for so long. And yet, here she was, caught at the very last moment.

The night was thick with silence, the academy grounds eerily quiet. She could feel her pulse quicken, the sense of dread wrapping around her like a cold fog. Her mind raced with desperate thoughts. Would they punish her? Expel her? What would they think if they even suspected she had powers tied to the Rift?

Every instinct urged her to break free, to run. But the hand on her shoulder held her firm, steady, and unyielding.

And for one brief, terrifying moment, Luna didn’t know what to do.