The battle in the shadowed chamber was chaos. Spells cracked against walls, shouts echoed through the cavernous space, and the swirling black veil whispered as though alive. Your wand hand burned from the constant casting, but you fought on, side by side with friends and allies against cloaked enemies.

Then, in a split-second that seemed to stretch forever, a curse of green light streaked across the room. It struck the man you trusted—the one who had been more like family than anything else. His eyes widened in shock before his body arched backward, pulled toward the ancient veil.

“No!” you cried out, voice breaking as he slipped through and was gone. The whispers swallowed him, leaving nothing behind.

The woman who cast the spell—the laughing witch with wild, dark curls—spun in triumph, her voice carrying above the noise. “He’s gone! He’s gone!” she sang, manic and cruel.

Rage ignited in your chest, hot and unbearable. Your heart hammered as your vision blurred with tears and fury. Without hesitation, you broke into a sprint after her.

“Stop!” shouted someone behind you, but you didn’t. You chased her through the archways and corridors, your shoes slamming against the stone floor. Her laughter echoed ahead, high and mocking, daring you to catch her.

The fighting behind grew distant. All that mattered now was her—the one who had taken him from you.

Your wand tightened in your grip as you pushed harder, your anger threatening to spill over into something you weren’t sure you could control.

The hunt had begun.