THE LAST PROPHECIES

By the time lunch rolled around, they were eager to regroup and share their thoughts.

The dining hall buzzed with the usual chatter, but they found a quiet corner, their faces serious and focused.

"What did you guys find out?" Lila asked, her eyes scanning the group for any sign of good news.

Ezra spoke first, pulling out a small notebook. "Professor Hawthorne mentioned a few defensive elixirs that could be useful. I've taken notes on the ingredients and procedures." He handed the notebook to Lila, who quickly scanned the pages.

"That's amazing," Lila said, a smile tugging at her lips. "These could help us."

Sophie leaned forward, her voice low. "We should go and speak to Professor Hartwood about our findings. He might have additional insights."

The group nodded in agreement. They all got up and started making their way to the shadow garden, a secluded area known for its shaded pathways and quiet atmosphere, perfect for discussing sensitive matters.

As they walked, the atmosphere shifted from the bustling dining hall to the calm serenity of the garden.

The tall trees and thick foliage provided a cool respite from the midday sun, casting intricate patterns of light and shadow on the ground.

They reached the heart of the shadow garden, where Professor Hartwood often spent his afternoons.

The air was filled with the scent of blooming flowers and the soft rustling of leaves.

As they reached the heart of the shadow garden, they found Professor Hartwood deep in conversation with Professor Marlowe.

The two professors spoke in low tones, their expressions serious.

When Professor Hartwood noticed the group approaching, he smiled warmly and stood up.

"Ah, Lila, Ezra, Sophie, Toby, and Mia" he greeted them, his eyes twinkling with a mix of curiosity and kindness. "I've been meaning to speak with you all."

Professor Marlowe nodded in greeting.

"Please, take a seat," Professor Hartwood gestured to a nearby stone bench under a large oak tree. "I have a valuable lesson for you."

Lila, Ezra, Sophie, Toby, and Mia sat around the large, circular table, their faces filled with curiosity and anticipation.

Professor Hartwood and Professor Marlowe stood at the head of the table, their expressions grave but determined.

"Thank you all for coming," Professor Hartwood began, his voice steady.

"What we are about to share with you is the culmination of centuries of knowledge, prophecies, and battles fought against the forces of darkness.

You must understand the history behind our current struggle, as it will guide us in forming a plan to defeat the Shadow King."

Professor Marlowe nodded, stepping forward to address the group. "Throughout history, there have been many prophecies foretelling the rise of great evils and the heroes destined to combat them.

These prophecies have shaped the course of our world, and each generation has faced its unique challenges."

Professor Hartwood waved his hand, and a magical projection appeared in the center of the table, showing an ancient, weathered scroll.

"The first recorded prophecy dates back over ten thousand years, to the time of the First Great War.

This prophecy spoke of a dark sorcerer named Arkanis, who sought to enslave the world with his necromantic powers."

The projection shifted to show a fierce battle, with warriors clad in primitive armor fighting against hordes of undead.

"Arkanis was eventually defeated by a group of brave warriors led by Elysia, a powerful enchantress whose light magic countered his dark spells.

She and her companions managed to seal Arkanis away, though it cost them their lives."

Professor Marlowe continued, her voice filled with reverence. "Over the centuries, new evils have arisen, each more formidable than the last.

In the age of the Ancient Kingdoms, a demon lord named Balzareth threatened to plunge the world into eternal night.

The prophecy of that time foretold the rise of a hero, a prince named Aric, who wielded the Blade of Dawn."

The projection showed a young prince battling a monstrous demon, his sword glowing with a brilliant light.

"Aric's courage and the power of the Blade of Dawn ultimately vanquished Balzareth, restoring peace to the land."

Professor Hartwood took over, his expression serious. "But as history has shown, peace is often fleeting.

In the era of the Mystic Realms, a dark fae queen named Morrigan sought to dominate the mortal world with her fae army.

The prophecy of that time spoke of twin siblings, Aelar and Elandra, who possessed the power of elemental magic."

The projection displayed the twins, one controlling fire and the other water, as they fought against the fae queen's forces.

"Aelar and Elandra's combined powers were enough to seal Morrigan away in the Faerie Realm, but not without great sacrifice."

Professor Marlowe stepped forward again, her eyes meeting each of the students.

"And then, Five hundred years ago, the prophecy spoke of Elara, the First Ember Child. She faced Morgath, a powerful sorcerer who sought to harness the power of the phoenix for his dark purposes."

The projection showed Elara, her fiery wings spread wide as she faced Morgath in a climactic battle.

"Elara, with no formal training and relying solely on her innate abilities, managed to defeat Morgath and restore balance. Her bravery and strength became legendary, and she has since been revered as one of the greatest heroes of our time."

Lila, Ezra, Sophie, Toby, and Mia listened intently, absorbing the weight of the history being recounted.

Professor Hartwood paused, allowing the significance of these past battles to sink in.

"Each of these heroes faced unique challenges and powerful adversaries," Hartwood continued.

"The common thread through all these prophecies is the rise of a new evil and the emergence of heroes to combat it.

The prophecies are not set in stone; they adapt to the changing times and the nature of the threats we face."

Professor Marlowe nodded. "The current prophecy speaks of the Shadow King, a being of immense power and darkness who seeks to engulf our world in shadow.

"His influence is already spreading, as we have seen with Jason's possession," Professor Hartwood stated, exchanging a glance with Marlowe.

"We need to find out everything we can about him so we can identify his weaknesses and use them against him."

The group looked at each other before Lila spoke up. "That's exactly why we're here, Professor. We know who the Shadow King is." Lila said with a proud smile.

Professor Hartwood looked at Professor Marlowe, then back at the group. "You do?" he inquired, intrigued.

"Yes, we do. His name is Corvus Ahriman Rex. He was a student here at Thornwood. We found out about him from that book we showed you yesterday. He's the one mentioned on the torn-off page.

Fortunately, we found an exact copy in the archives. It was challenging to uncover information about him since someone went to great lengths to hide his existence," Lila explained.

Ezra picked up where Lila left off, detailing everything they had discovered and presenting proof that Corvus was indeed the Shadow King.

After they finished explaining, Professors Hartwood and Marlowe were both perplexed and amazed by how much the group had uncovered, especially considering it had taken them years just to find his real name.

Professor Hartwood rubbed his chin thoughtfully, processing the new information.

"This changes everything," he murmured, glancing at Marlowe. "We now have a name and a history. And based on what you told me about his abilities and my knowledge of Ethics."

"Corvus's lineage might include a demon ancestor who made a pact with an eldritch entity from a shadow realm, granting their descendants terrifying and powerful abilities," Hartwood explained patiently.

"Over generations, the descendants of this pact have cultivated their dark arts, gaining more power and becoming more feared with each passing generation.

Corvus, being the latest in this line, inherited the full extent of these abilities, making him a formidable force from a young age."

"Thornwood Academy might have been intrigued or even fearful of the potential chaos Corvus could bring but allowed him to stay either to keep an eye on him or to harness his powers for their ends.

His mysterious disappearance could be linked to a summoning gone wrong or a deeper, more sinister plot involving his ancestors' pact."

"Oh, that clearly explains it. Maybe he wasn't bound like how we thought, but his time on earth was over, and he had to disappear and stay hidden to carry out whatever was asked of him when his ancestors made the pact," Toby said, nodding.

"I still think Lila's explanation on the binding and awakening when her powers awakened is significant. He's linked with her," said Ezra.

"I still think the Headmaster King is involved in this somehow," Sophie voiced her thoughts.

"The headmaster?" Professor Marlowe said, shocked as she stared at the group.

"Yes, we haven't ruled out Professor Hartwood either, or did we?" Sophie asked, looking at her friends.

"Sophie," Lila nudged her to keep quiet.

"Me?" Professor Hartwood said, holding his chest in shock.