"I had no idea," Ambrose whispered, looking shocked.
Diana and Sage had stumbled into his office covered in grime, and Diana couldn't help feeling that he knew about her talent but was hiding it from everyone. She opened her mouth to argue.
"Diana, calm down," Ambrose said. "You are now officially accepted into Ravenwood. You and Sage will each be honored and rewarded for services to the Spiral. And- who knows? Maybe one day you will become the Shadow Professor at Ravenwood."
Diana closed her mouth and considered that. Finally, her face broke into a grin.
"Fine. Let's get hopping, then!"
By the end of the day, everyone knew that Diana had almost singlehandedly saved the Spiral from destruction, had been misjudged and was really a Master of Shadow Magic. It seemed far too good to be true.
There was an official ceremony, where Diana and Sage were each rewarded a trophy. Everyone cheered. Diana felt better than any other time in her life. It was perfect. Almost.
The next day, Diana woke with her new Ravenwood school robes set out on her desk. She had a stack of brand new textbooks in her backpack, and for once in her life, she had to worry about being late. It was awesome. Her good mood lasted all through morning classes, and until lunch. That was when trouble came.
Diana was sitting in the Commons by the pond with Sage, eating her lunch and admiring the fountain. Students were milling around, gossiping or studying, sometimes at the same time. Every few minutes, a student would recognize Diana and run over to congratulate her. Basking in the sun, and drinking in the cheerful noise, Diana let out a euphoric sigh that was interrupted. There was a girl standing behind her and Sage.
"Oh, look who it is! Our two saviors. Ya learn anything today? Did your Shadow learn something? How about how to hide in shame? I know you can't do any other magic."
Sage's face flushed red, she hated hearing people harass Diana because of her abilities. Diana turned slowly to see who it was. A short, somewhat chubby girl about their age was standing behind them. She had a mean sneer on her face, and far too many acne scars.
"Go away, Hannah," Sage mumbled. Diana nodded, narrowing her eyes at the girl.
"Or what?" Gonna turn into a Shadow and kill me?" Then it was Diana's turn to blush. This had been haunting her, even she was a bit frightened of her newfound power. The embarrassment didn't last. She reached for her wand.
Hannah laughed and stayed where she was. Diana lifted her wand, but Hannah didn't move, so Diana began to cast a spell. She saw Hannah's pupils dilate in fear, but only for a moment. Then there was a loud bang.
When the dark cloud dissipated, Diana saw Hannah lying on the ground, covered in soot, purple smoke curling off her. There were kids surrounding them, gaping at Diana. Sage had backed away a fraction of an inch.
That was when Diana realized she had just attacked a student, and that was when she fled. She ran all the way home, fleeing the shocked stares of bystanders, fleeing the wrath and anger of her new teachers. Only stopping once she was in her bedroom, with the door locked. Then Diana buried her head in her pillow and sobbed.
An hour later, Diana heard footsteps, looked out the window, and saw Sage running down the front path. Sage stopped in front of the house, and called, "Diana, come down!"
Diana sighed and stormed down the stairs. She flung open the front door. "What?"
Sage took a deep, trembling breath. "It's bad. Real bad. People are starting to talk. They were saying, well, that you're evil! They think that you're some kind of demon or something! Diana, what are we going to do?!"
Diana shook her head. "I can't do anything. I just can't stay here." She started across the lawn, toward the Spiral door. Sage ran after her.
"Wait! But you're just... leaving? Forever? Where would you go?"
Diana sighed. "Khrysalis. It's where I belong. It's the source of my power. I can train properly there, I can test my power without hurting anyone." Her eyes filled with tears. "Sage, I just don't belong here. What if I hurt my family, or you? This time it was intentional. What if this turns me into something like Morganthe?"
Sage let out a little moan of despair. "Don't go, please!"
Diana took a Spiral Key out of her pocket, and unlocked Khrysalis. "I have to. I'll miss you, Sage. Maybe I'll see you someday."
Sage stepped back, tears running down her face. "I hope so."
Diana crossed over into the foggy dark entrance to Khrysalis. She turned, and laid her own hand upon Sage's.
"'Bye, Sage."
And with that, she closed the door behind herself, and locked it.
Suddenly, the door fell to the ground, it's frame shattered.
"My time has come," said Diana. "I know exactly what I am going to do." She walked down the familiar path, pausing at the fork in the road. "Where are you? I know you're there!" Diana called into the silence.
There was a scurrying noise, and then a figure appeared. Small, with rounded ears and armor that was slightly more beat up than last time.
"You have returned." The mouse took a deep bow, and Diana could tell by it's figure that this fierce little warrior was female. "Are you ready to seek your destiny?" she asked.
Diana paused. "What can I call you?" She knelt to the mouse, summoning a Shadow Pip in her hand to light up it's face. The mouse looked up, bathed in dark light.
"I am Sofia Darkside." Sofia dragged a paw in a circle on the dirt, and a shadow pip appeared there too. "Do you wish to join me?" she whispered. Diana nodded. "Very well. Follow me. With our power combined, we can create a place where those like us can learn without interference, where we can show them to respect us properly."
Diana rose, drinking in the prospect of belonging, knowing that this time, it wouldn't be only temporary. She followed the mouse, across the path and through the river. The water didn't burn either of them, as it had done to Sage. They passed Morganthe's castle, and Diana saw a wavering light coming from a tall window.
"Is that her again? Will she be back?" Diana asked Sofia. The mouse nodded.
"It may take years, centuries even, but she will return to full power again, someday. She is not our concern, however. This is. These are the Moon Cliffs, my home."
Diana looked around, taking in the bleak landscape and the flat, stony plain that they were standing on. "What will we do here?" she asked.
Sofia paused, turning to face her.
"Something I've wished to do for a long time, but require help in doing. Something you will appreciate. I am going to build a tower. As I told you, it will help all those petty wizards out there discover what true power is." She looked into the sky, where the sun and moon were beginning to cross each other through foggy clouds.
"I am going to call it the Eclipse Tower."
The End