RISKING THE FUTURE

In the dim glow of early morning, Alaric made his way through the quiet corridors of the mansion, his mind heavy with concern. After the harrowing events of the night, Adrianna lay unconscious in the infirmary, her body caught in some unnatural limbo. Alaric's chest tightened with worry at the sight of her: pale, motionless, and caught in the grip of whatever dark magic Xavier had invoked.

As he entered the room, a silent wave of dread washed over him, its weight pressing down on his shoulders. Adrianna's face, framed by her dark hair, looked ethereal and cold against the soft sheets. Her skin was paler than usual, almost luminous under the dim light, but there was an unsettling stillness about her, a quietness that went beyond mere unconsciousness. Whatever had happened to her, Alaric knew it had altered her profoundly.