[center][youtube]https://youtu.be/tAtKY2ia6fM?si=4uT2u_vhXQxtY5cE[/youtube]

[i]"All that we've been dreaming of lies beyond the [cliffs]."[/i][/center]

[u][h1]Ciara Ventura[/h1][/u]

She woke with a start.

It had been two days she had rested by the cliffside, sitting at the outskirts of Wingram Academy. The artificial leylines running below this area affected her less than when she moved from Vaal Kastrix to Vaal Shakta. She was grateful, but also somewhat disappointed. The natural leylines and overflow of essence, at least what was left of it, was unmatched between Vaal Shakta and this academy.

Regardless, she was here early, having traveled by night from Vaal Shakta through the shadows, reaching the northern areas of Vaal Nero in under a few hours.

Her eyes flickered from her cold fire to the line of marked caravans coming along the cliffside. This was the source of what woke her. The other students had finally arrived.

She stood, her loosely curled black hair swirling in the breeze as the coachmen gathered at the cliff's edge. Her breath caught as she felt the sudden surge of essence as a bridge of light formed, leaving her feeling light-headed as it cooled down into solid oak.

The booming voice echoed through the canyon and cliffs. It called for all students to make their way to the auditorium, quickly. She waited for the student body to shuffle past her, hoping to slip silently into their ranks.

That's when she felt eyes on her. Bright, and sharp.

[i]"It's dark... so peaceful." [/i]Said the Voice. She nodded to herself, noticing it as well. There wasn't a lot of light coming off of him. Instead, it was tinged with darkness, with a pressured refinement that caused her head to tilt curiously.

[i]"Get closer, I want to enjoy this."[/i] The Voice whined.

Her eyes narrowed, and she looked away harshly.[i] "Would you shut up?"[/i] She thought.

[i][b]"Show me wonders of this world."[/b][/i]

Her eyes were drawn back just in time. In an ethereal flash, he took off like a kite, sparks flying off into the air as he rocketed down the bridge's railing.

[i]"Why is he...?"[/i] She thought, watching his figure quickly recede into the distance.

The Voice laughed. [i]"It's dark, it's dark! Go, go go!"[/i]

[i]"We're not-"[/i] She thought in protest, taking a step back.

[i]"Shut up and [b]go![/b]"[/i] The Voice suddenly bit out, venom dripping in the thought.

Ciara visibly stiffened, and her soft amber eyes narrowed. There wasn't much she could do when the Voice was like this. She took a couple steps forward, an idea forming in her mind. And, as quietly as possible, Ciara fell off the edge of the cliffside. She pursed her lips together, wind tearing through her hair and clothes as she plummeted. She looked up briefly, seeing the bridge get smaller and smaller. Her speed picked up. As the ground came up to meet her, black tentacles reached out from her shadow, and pulled her in.

In a split second, she was flying across the bridge, using a shadow from the railing with which to launch herself and tentacles to adjust her trajectory at the last second. She could see the student riding the railing on their board, and she was quickly catching up to them. 

Her eyes narrowed against the wind whipping her face, the end of the bridge in sight, and Wingram quickly growing in size. The auditorium was nestled further within the academy grounds. She planned to hop from shadow to shadow and make her way to the Auditorium as quickly as possible. 

That was, if she managed to land safely.