A Trap is Set

The air in the Grand Hall of Cora Amauta crackled with an energy that was both festive and unsettling. Banners in the school’s signature emerald and gold swayed gently, catching the light from the enchanted chandeliers. It was the eve of the annual Solstice Festival, a night when the school’s most ancient enchantments were celebrated, and students from every year gathered for a grand feast and a display of magical prowess. For Emiliano and me, however, the usual excitement was tinged with a gnawing unease. We’d spent days piecing together the fragments of Facundo’s plot, and the pieces pointed to a grand finale far more sinister than the isolated “accidents” we’d already witnessed.

“It has to be tonight, Em,” I whispered, my gaze sweeping across the bustling hall. Students were setting up tables laden with magically prepared treats, others were tuning enchanted instruments, and a few were practicing dazzling light displays for the evening’s entertainment. Each happy face felt like a potential victim, each cheerful laugh a prelude to terror.

Emiliano nodded, his brow furrowed in concentration as he subtly scanned the crowd. “The associate is too clever to risk another small incident. He wants to make a statement. The Solstice Festival is the perfect stage for maximum impact and maximum fear.” He adjusted his spectacles, a nervous habit I knew well. “Think about it, Amanda. If he can cause widespread panic during the festival, he doesn’t just hurt students; he tarnishes the very name of Cora Amauta. It’s exactly what Facundo would want.”