Starwhisper Academy

The first rays of dawn broke over Starwhisper Academy, painting the stone towers gold. Light danced through stained-glass windows, casting kaleidoscopic patterns across Harper Quinn's floor. But the warmth did little to calm the storm brewing in her chest.

The events of the night before still gripped her: Astra and Mira's whispered plans, the pulsing Eclipse Rune, the looming celestial convergence.

There would be no waiting.Today, they hunted secrets. Or shadows would claim the sky.

Harper pulled on her green robe, her fingers brushing scattered notes across her desk—runic symbols, constellation sketches, scribbled warnings. One rune glowed faintly under her fingers.

The Eclipse Rune.Their only lead—and possibly Avaloria's last chance.

Downstairs, her team was already waiting. Asher hovered over a creased map, Nova stirred a potion in a flask glowing pale silver, and Luna traced lines across a celestial chart like a general preparing for war.

"Morning," Harper said, her voice steady.

Asher looked up. "The celestial event isn't just rare—it's volatile. Something about this alignment is triggering dormant magic all over Avaloria."

Nova nodded, her voice low. "It's the perfect storm. And the Eclipse Rune is the key. If Astra and Mira activate it, they won't just tap into forbidden power. They'll bend light and shadow to their will."

Harper exhaled, eyes scanning the map. "Professor Hawthorne's increasing wards, but if Astra and Mira are already this deep in… walls won't stop them."

Just then, the door opened.

Leo Brightstar walked in, glowing as usual, and beside him was Rylan Ember, his expression all business, dark curls falling over his sharp eyes.

"We brought backup," Leo said, nodding at Harper.

"You're chasing the Eclipse Rune," Rylan said without greeting. "I've studied it. If they bind it to the convergence, they won't just gain power. They'll corrupt the balance between day and night."

Nova's jaw tightened. "Meaning?"

"Meaning Avaloria itself could turn against us," Rylan said grimly. "Storms. Floods. Madness. This isn't just an artifact. It's a keystone of equilibrium."

Harper looked up. "Then we need to stop them before it activates."

Luna's voice was firm. "I've mapped three convergence sites where the rune's power could peak. The closest is in the northern wilds—there's a stone ridge with ancient markers."

Rylan pointed. "That's it. The rune was likely carved into one of those stones. If we reach it first, we can seal it—or disrupt the resonance."

Minutes later, Darius entered, holding a vial of shifting light.

"Celestial stabilizer," he said, handing it to Nova. "Use only if the magic turns wild."

"We'll handle it," Nova replied, pocketing the vial.

And just like that, they were off—seven students and a mission carved from stars and danger.

They crossed glowing lakes, shadowy woods, and windy highlands. The land itself buzzed with anticipation, the air heavy with arcane pressure. Harper's pendant pulsed steadily, guiding them forward like a beacon.

Above, the sky darkened—not with clouds, but with shifting constellations, bright as fire. The celestial event had begun.

They finally reached a wide clearing at the base of a jagged mountain. Floating islands hovered in the distance, and glowing stones marked the land like buried hearts.

"There," Rylan said, pointing toward the summit. "That's where it peaks."

They began the climb.

The wind grew wild. Magic cracked in the air. The mountain groaned beneath their feet.

At the ridge, the sight took Harper's breath: the sky was ablaze with light and shadow. And on a flat stone slab—the Eclipse Rune, pulsing like a heartbeat in sync with the stars.

"We're almost out of time," Asher said.

Then—a shadow split from the trees.

Nerith Shadowveil stepped forward, Malina's infamous enforcer. His cloak of mist curled around him like smoke, his eyes twin voids.

"Too late," he hissed. "The rune is already syncing with the sky."

"Then we'll sever it," Harper said, stepping forward, pendant glowing like a miniature sun.

"You?" Nerith laughed. "You're a flicker against the night."

And then—

Chaos.

The battle broke like a storm.

Nerith launched shadows like blades. Asher met them midair with his sword, sparks flying. Nova poured the stabilizer into her potion and hurled it toward the rune. Rylan carved counter-runes in the dirt, trying to disrupt the resonance.

Leo summoned a shield of starlight. Luna stabilized the ground beneath them as magic quaked around the peak.

And Harper—she faced the rune. Her pendant locked on the ancient stone, fighting to override the dark pulse surging within it.

Suddenly, twin auras surged from behind—Astra and Mira.

"You're too late," Astra spat. Lightning crackled in her palm.

"The Eclipse Rune is ours," Mira growled, her golden aura flaring.

The sky split. Stars flared like falling embers.

The fight escalated—celestial energy crashing against shadow, the mountain howling beneath them.

Astra and Mira dueled Nova and Leo in a dizzying dance of magic.

Rylan fought to rewrite the glyphs as Harper poured everything she had into the Rune. Her body trembled. Her mind burned. But her light held.

"You don't get to decide the fate of this world," she shouted, voice breaking.

Mira rushed at her—eyes wild, hands glowing.

But Harper met her head-on.

Light met shadow—

—and exploded.

Silence.

Then wind.

The Eclipse Rune dimmed, its glow fading as the constellations realigned. The pulse of the earth slowed. The balance had tipped away from the brink.

"We did it," Asher said, chest heaving.

"For now," Harper whispered, her eyes locked on the place where the rune had once burned.

They descended as the first light of morning kissed Avaloria's peaks.

The shadows had receded—for now.

But in the distance, far beyond the mountains, a storm still gathered.

And Harper Quinn knew:

The Celestial Hunt wasn't over.