Page 74 of Tempest Rising

I shifted where I stood, my mind already racing ahead. Adjusted trainings? Would this affect the applicant process? The trials were already brutal—designed to break both our physical abilities and our mental fortitude. But if the Harbingers were really back, maybe those tests weren’t enough anymore.

The crowd began to disperse, the weight of the announcement settling heavily on everyone’s shoulders. But I couldn’t move, couldn’t shake the feeling that there was more—something Moriyana wasn’t telling us.

Beside me, Mason’s hand found the small of my back, his touch grounding. Warm. Protective. I let myself lean into it for half a second, just long enough to steady my breathing.

“Tess,” he murmured, his voice low. “You okay?”

I nodded, but the motion felt hollow. “I need to talk to her.”

Without waiting for a response, I stepped forward, weaving through the thinning crowd toward the platform. Mason followed instantly, his presence a steady anchor. Kane and Draven trailed behind, their expressions a mixture of curiosity and caution.

Moriyana’s gaze locked onto me as I approached, her molten eyes almost too intense to meet. Her voice filled my mind once more, softer now but no less commanding.

“Tempest Whittaker. You have questions.”

I swallowed hard, forcing my voice to remain steady. “What aren’t you telling us?”

For a moment, Moriyana regarded us in silence, her massive form radiating an aura of ancient power. Then, to my surprise, her lips curled slightly—not quite a smile, but something close.

“Very well. Follow me.”

She turned, her massive form moving with a surprising grace, and led us to a quieter corner of the arena. The other Supes didn’t follow, their attention already shifting to the next task athand. Theron’s hard gaze lingered on us for a moment longer before he turned away, his black cloak billowing behind him.

Once we were out of earshot, Moriyana lowered her head to our level, her telepathic voice softer now but no less commanding.

“The Harbingers are already here.”

The words settled like a stone in my gut.

“During yesterday’s chaos, a witness saw Akira leading someone into a restricted area. When questioned, she claimed to have no memory of the event.”

“Mind control,” Kane interjected, his tone sharp. “Vampiric magic.”

Moriyana inclined her massive head slightly.“Precisely. Security tests confirmed traces of lingering magic in her mind. We’re still investigating the area, but we already know some things are missing.”

“Is there anything we can do to help?” I asked.

Moriyana's tail swished once, a gesture of dismissal."Be vigilant,"she commanded, her mental voice fading as she turned away."And remember—what I've shared with you stays between us."

Kane nodded solemnly, already jotting down notes in his journal. Mason’s grip on my shoulder tightened slightly, a silent reassurance.

As we left the arena, the weight of Moriyana’s revelations pressed heavily on my chest.

The Harbingers weren’t just a distant threat anymore—they were here, among us. And they were after something that could change everything.

I pulled out my phone, quickly scanning news sites for details about the attacks. My heart rate slowed a bit when I saw that Sacramento and Portland weren’t among the affected areas. Mom and Madison should be safe, but I made a mental note to text them both later, just to be sure.

The world was shifting. And I had a feeling things were only going to get worse.

???

I was tucked away in my office, surrounded by piles of books and scrolls. The faint glow of my enchanted desk lamp illuminated the leather-bound journal where I’d been jotting notes. The Harbingers were far worse than I’d imagined—insidious, patient, and utterly obsessed with eliminating humans. They were real, dangerous, and far too close. The forest fire, the coordinated attacks across the world—it all pointed back to them.

And I was supposed to stand against them?

The thought sent a cold wave of doubt through me. I was new to this world, still fumbling my way through magical politics and ancient rivalries. Just weeks ago, I’d been nothing more than a librarian with a knack for research and a love for stories. Now, I was applying to be a Dragon Rider, a force capable of protecting both humans and Supes alike. But how could I do that when I barely understood what I was up against?

That's why I was here in the Library, doing what I'd done so many times before—learning from books.

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