Points and Pressure

  Morning arrived at Arcanmere quietly.

  Too quietly.

  The sky above the castle was pale blue, almost washed out, as if the sun itself had lost some of its warmth. A cold wind moved across the tall towers, brushing against the ancient stone walls before slipping through the narrow windows of the corridors.

  Inside the castle, students moved through the halls with unusual discipline.

  No loud laughter.

  No chaotic running.

  Exams were close.

  And the teachers had made it very clear that any mistake would cost house points.

  That alone was enough to make everyone careful.

  But for Daniel, the pressure felt heavier than simple exams.

  Because he had not slept well.

  Not after last night.

  The memory of the lake still lingered in his mind.

  The moon reflecting on the dark water.

  The silent man standing at the edge.

  And the strange prophecy that Daniel still couldn’t understand.

  He had returned to the castle quietly before dawn, hoping no one would notice.

  But the words the man spoke continued echoing in his head like a whisper he couldn’t escape.

  "The door does not open with keys."

  "It opens when the vessel remembers its shape."

  Daniel didn’t understand what it meant.

  And that made it worse.

  The Library

  The library was nearly full when Daniel entered.

  Students had occupied almost every table, their heads buried in books and scrolls. The soft scratching of quills against parchment filled the air.

  Scarlett was already sitting at their usual corner table.

  Three large books were stacked beside her, and she was reading intensely, occasionally writing notes with sharp, precise strokes.

  Tom sat across from her.

  Unlike Scarlett, he looked relaxed, leaning back slightly in his chair while flipping through a smaller notebook.

  Not a textbook.

  His private notebook.

  Daniel noticed the moment he arrived.

  Tom had been writing in it more often recently.

  Observations.

  Strange events.

  Things that didn’t make sense.

  Daniel sat down quietly.

  Scarlett looked up first.

  The author's narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon.

  “You look terrible,” she said bluntly.

  Daniel blinked.

  “Good morning to you too.”

  “You didn’t sleep,” she replied.

  It wasn’t a question.

  Daniel hesitated.

  Tom glanced up from his notebook.

  “You were gone last night.”

  Daniel froze slightly.

  Scarlett’s eyes narrowed.

  “Gone?”

  Tom shrugged casually.

  “I woke up for water. His bed was empty.”

  Daniel forced a calm expression.

  “I went for a walk.”

  Scarlett stared at him for a few seconds.

  “You chose to wander around the castle at night when exams are in three days?”

  Daniel shrugged.

  “I needed fresh air.”

  She didn’t look convinced.

  But before she could question him further—

  A chair scraped loudly behind them.

  Someone had pulled it out deliberately.

  Daniel turned.

  Light stood there.

  The second-year student leaned against the back of the chair casually, his usual smirk resting on his face.

  But today his expression looked slightly sharper.

  Like he was enjoying something.

  “Well, well,” Light said quietly.

  “The famous trio.”

  Tom sighed.

  “Morning, parasite.”

  Light ignored the comment and looked directly at Daniel.

  “You heard the news?”

  Daniel frowned.

  “What news?”

  Light tilted his head slightly.

  “Dracorus lost ten points this morning.”

  Scarlett stiffened.

  “What?”

  Light smiled wider.

  “Someone from your house was caught wandering the castle corridors late at night.”

  Daniel’s stomach tightened instantly.

  The head boy.

  The encounter from last night flashed in his mind.

  Scarlett looked directly at him.

  “Daniel.”

  Daniel kept his voice steady.

  “I was outside. Not in the corridors.”

  Light chuckled.

  “Doesn’t matter. Rules are rules.”

  He leaned closer to Daniel.

  “And people are starting to notice something interesting.”

  Daniel didn’t respond.

  Light lowered his voice slightly.

  “Every strange thing happening lately…”

  His eyes glinted.

  “…seems to happen near you.”

  Tom immediately spoke.

  “That’s nonsense.”

  Light raised an eyebrow.

  “Is it?”

  He leaned closer to Daniel’s ear.

  “Just a small reminder,” he whispered.

  “I still know about the greenhouse.”

  Daniel’s eyes hardened slightly.

  The Polyjuice brewing.

  Light had discovered it weeks ago.

  He hadn’t told anyone.

  But he had used it as leverage ever since.

  Light straightened again.

  “Relax,” he said lightly.

  “I’m not planning to ruin your lives.”

  “Yet.”

  Scarlett crossed her arms.

  “What do you want now?”

  Light smiled.

  “Nothing big.”

  He glanced around the library.

  “Just remember that if Dracorus keeps losing points…”

  He tapped the table softly.

  “…people will start looking for someone to blame.”

  Then he walked away.

  Tom exhaled slowly.

  “I hate that kid.”

  Scarlett didn’t respond.

  She was watching Daniel.

  “You really were wandering the castle last night.”

  Daniel avoided her gaze.

  “It was nothing.”

  Scarlett didn’t push further.

  But the silence at the table grew heavier.

  Rumors

  By midday, the tension had spread across the castle.

  Dracorus students whispered in corridors.

  Ten points lost.

  Right before exams.

  That kind of thing made people angry.

  Daniel noticed the looks.

  Subtle.

  But different.

  Students who used to greet him now only nodded.

  Some didn’t greet him at all.

  At lunch, a group of older Dracorus students complained loudly about “idiots breaking rules.”

  No one said Daniel’s name.

  But the message was clear.

  Scarlett noticed it too.

  “They’re looking for someone to blame,” she muttered.

  Tom tapped his notebook with his quill.

  “Already writing that down.”

  Daniel forced a small smile.

  “You’re documenting social tension now?”

  Tom shrugged.

  “Everything.”

  ---

  The Name Blackthorne

  Later that afternoon, while returning from the library archives, Scarlett stopped suddenly in the corridor.

  “What is it?” Tom asked.

  She was staring at a notice board.

  A new announcement had been pinned there.

  Official seal of Arcanmere at the top.

  Daniel stepped closer.

  The announcement read:

  Security Notice

  Due to recent disturbances, the Ministry has confirmed that the escaped prisoner Aarav Blackthorne remains at large.

  All students are advised to report any unusual activity to staff immediately.

  Do not wander the castle grounds after nightfall.

  Additional protective wards have been placed around the forest.

  Scarlett read the notice again.

  Slowly.

  “Aarav Blackthorne…”

  Tom frowned.

  “That name again.”

  Daniel’s chest tightened slightly.

  Scarlett spoke quietly.

  “He escaped from Azkaban months ago.”

  Tom looked skeptical.

  “Why would a prisoner care about Arcanmere?”

  Scarlett shook her head.

  “I don’t know.”

  But Daniel remembered something.

  The archives.

  The moon-marked history.

  The name Blackthorne had appeared there too.

  Connected to lunar magic.

  Connected to something older.

  And suddenly Daniel felt a strange unease.

  As if the name itself had weight.

  Evening

  By evening the castle felt heavier.

  Not physically.

  But socially.

  Whispers traveled through the halls.

  Dracorus students counting points.

  Teachers watching more carefully.

  Light occasionally appearing nearby.

  Observing.

  Always observing.

  At dinner, Daniel noticed something else.

  The Headmaster and Prince Lean sat at the high table in complete silence.

  They spoke very little to the other professors.

  And once…

  Just once…

  Prince Lean glanced directly toward Daniel.

  Only for a second.

  But Daniel felt it.

  Like being examined.

  Night

  Later that night the corridors were empty.

  Daniel sat alone near the common room fireplace.

  Tom had gone to sleep.

  Scarlett had returned to Nihilara earlier.

  The fire crackled softly.

  Daniel stared into the flames.

  Thinking about everything.

  The lake.

  The prophecy.

  The pressure.

  And the name Blackthorne.

  Footsteps echoed quietly behind him.

  Daniel turned slightly.

  Light stood in the doorway.

  Again.

  “You’re everywhere,” Daniel muttered.

  Light shrugged.

  “I like observing.”

  He walked closer.

  “You should be careful, Daniel.”

  Daniel didn’t respond.

  Light lowered his voice.

  “You know something interesting about Aarav Blackthorne?”

  Daniel looked up slowly.

  “What?”

  Light’s smile faded slightly.

  “They say he wasn’t just a prisoner.”

  Light leaned closer.

  “They say he was looking for something.”

  Daniel’s heart beat slightly faster.

  “What?”

  Light’s eyes gleamed.

  “Someone.”

  The fire cracked loudly behind them.

  For a moment neither spoke.

  Then Light whispered something that made Daniel’s blood run cold.

  “They say before he escaped…”

  Light’s voice dropped to a whisper.

  “…Aarav Blackthorne kept repeating one name.”

  Daniel felt a strange chill crawl up his spine.

  Light stepped back slowly.

  And with a quiet grin, he said:

  “Guess whose name it was.”

  The fire flickered.

  And Daniel suddenly realized something terrifying.

  Because deep in his mind…

  He already knew the answer.