The candle on the old wooden table flickered as the wind blew through the cracks in the window. It was a quiet night. Sera Ashgrave sat close to the light, watching the small flame. Her brown eyes were calm, but her mind was full of questions.
She was alone. Her mother and aunt had gone out to collect moonwater from the forest. It was something only they could do. Sera had to stay inside and wait.
She ran her fingers over the marks carved into the table. They were old protection signs, made long ago to keep their home safe. Sera whispered a small spell, just to be sure. Sometimes, strange spirits tried to visit when she was alone. She didn't like it, so the spell helped keep them away.
Suddenly, someone knocked on the door. It was loud and quick. Sera froze. No one ever came to their house. It was hidden deep in the forest, surrounded by strong magic. Whoever it was had passed through it.
She stood up fast and walked slowly to the door. Her heart was beating fast. She opened it just a little and looked out.
A tall man stood there. He wore a long purple robe, and his silver eyes looked serious. He didn't smile.
"Are you Sera Ashgrave?" he asked.
Sera nodded.
The man held out a rolled-up paper. A red seal kept it closed. The seal had a moon and a black feather on it. Sera had seen that mark once in a book. It was the symbol of Nytherra Academy.
"The headmistress sent me," the man said. "You've been invited to Nytherra Academy. A school for people with special powers. Like you."
Sera stared at the scroll. She had heard stories about Nytherra. A school hidden in a forest where people learned magic. She never thought someone like her would go there.
That night, her mother and aunt returned with the moonwater. Her aunt didn't say much. She just placed her hand on Sera's shoulder and looked at her with kind eyes.
"It's time," her aunt whispered. "You're ready."
Sera stayed awake in bed, staring at the scroll. She read the first line again and again.
All paths meet under the crimson moons.
She didn't know what it meant. But far away, three boys had already felt that she was coming. One was a vampire. One was a werewolf. One was something darker. They didn't know her yet, but soon they would.
Her life was about to change.
The next morning, Sera woke up early. She packed her things. A few clothes, some herbs, and the scroll. Her hands were shaking a little, but her eyes were full of wonder.
They left just after sunrise. The forest was quiet, with tall trees standing like guards on each side of the path. As they moved deeper into the forest, the air felt heavy with magic.
When they reached the academy gates, Sera stopped and stared. The gates were huge, made of black metal. Symbols on them glowed gently. As they stepped closer, the gates slowly opened.
Inside, the school looked like something from a dream. There were tall towers with strange lights glowing from the windows. Some of the buildings looked very old. Strange animals walked and flew around. Some looked normal. Others looked like they had come out of a storybook.
A tall woman with silver hair stood near the entrance. Her eyes were sharp, and she looked like someone who knew everything.
"Welcome to Nytherra Academy," she said. "I'm Headmistress Lysandra."
Sera bowed her head. Her mother and aunt started talking with the headmistress. Sera didn't listen. Her eyes had caught something else.
Three boys stood not too far away.
One was pale with black eyes. He looked calm and a little scary. He gave her a small smile.
"You must be Sera Ashgrave," he said. "I'm Valen."
The second boy had messy dark hair and a strong jaw. His eyes looked like they belonged to a wild animal. He didn't smile. He looked at her like he was trying to figure her out.
"Kael," he said with a deep voice.
The third boy had red eyes that looked like fire. He said nothing at first. Then he gave a small nod.
"Riven."
Sera felt strange. It was like her heart knew something her mind didn't. Like they were all connected somehow.
Before she could say anything, a loud bell rang across the school. The sound bounced off the buildings and echoed through the trees.
The first day had begun.
That evening, Sera sat on a soft bed in her new room. It was small, with shelves for books and a big window that showed the forest outside. The sky was turning orange as the sun went down.
She wasn't alone. Her roommate had just arrived. A girl with glowing wings and soft skin. Her name was Lira. She was a fairy.
Lira smiled and floated slightly above the ground. "You'll get used to this place," she said. "There are all kinds of people here. Witches, vampires, werewolves, even demons. It's scary at first, but fun too."
As she got into bed, Sera looked out the window. The moon had risen high in the sky. She wondered what tomorrow would bring.
She didn't know that someone deep inside the school was already watching her. Someone who had power. Someone who wanted something from her.