Chapter 3 Whispers of the Past

As Jeo delved deeper into the investigation, the walls of Blackwood Academy seemed to close in, each stone whispering secrets of the past. He discovered that Professor Finch had been consumed by his research into the Shadow Weavers. His study, usually meticulously organized, was now a chaotic mess of parchment, ink, and arcane symbols. In a hidden compartment within his desk, Jeo found a series of notes detailing Finch's growing obsession with Elizabeth.

He had been tracking her lineage, her progress in her studies, and her potential to unlock a power that could either save or destroy Blackwood.

The notes revealed Finch's growing belief that Elizabeth was the key to understanding and controlling the Shadow Weaver magic, a force he saw as both a threat and a potential salvation for the academy. He had been meticulously documenting her spells, her interactions with other students, and her dreams, convinced that the answers lay within her.

Meanwhile, Elizabeth was tormented by a series of vivid visions, fragments of the past that began to bleed into her waking hours. She saw her ancestors, cloaked figures with faces obscured by shadows, wielding dark magic with terrifying ease. She witnessed their triumphs, their betrayals, and their eventual descent into madness, the power they wielded slowly corrupting their very souls. The visions left her shaken and terrified, convinced that she was destined to follow in their footsteps, to succumb to the darkness that ran through her veins. She struggled to control her emotions, to suppress the power that surged within her, fearing that she was losing control.