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The University
*** Chapter 19: The Secrets Beneath the Stone***
"My name is not Nora," she began, her voice slicing through the silence with cold precision. The soft glow of the flickering candles distorted her features, casting sharp shadows that danced across her face, twisting her into something almost inhuman. "It never has been. I was born *Lazaria* more than a century ago, long before this university, this town, and certainly before any of you. The name you know me by, like everything else you think you understand, is nothing but a carefully crafted lie."
She turned toward Ryan, who stood silently beside her, a dark smirk playing on his lips. “And Ryan? The loyal, dependable friend you thought you knew? His true name is *Varaxis*, my eternal counterpart, my mate. Together, we have built this place, shaped it into a perfect trap. But we are not alone. The man you call Dean Harris? The man you trusted as a protector and guide? He is my father—*Malzareth*. He is the mastermind behind everything. Without him, none of this would exist.”
Malzareth stepped forward, his towering frame casting an oppressive shadow over the room. His presence seemed to suck the air from the space, leaving the others struggling to breathe. His voice was deep and commanding, carrying with it an undeniable weight of authority. "You should be honored to stand here, to see the truth before you die. Few are granted such a privilege."
Ann, Yasmine, and Matthew huddled closer together, their faces pale and filled with terror. In the corner, Mira's unconscious body lay still, her shallow breathing the only sign of life.
Lazaria began to pace slowly, her voice laced with both pride and menace. “This town was not built by chance, nor was it founded out of goodwill. A hundred years ago, we came...
"My name is not Nora," she began, her voice slicing through the silence with cold precision. The soft glow of the flickering candles distorted her features, casting sharp shadows that danced across her face, twisting her into something almost inhuman. "It never has been. I was born *Lazaria* more than a century ago, long before this university, this town, and certainly before any of you. The name you know me by, like everything else you think you understand, is nothing but a carefully crafted lie."
She turned toward Ryan, who stood silently beside her, a dark smirk playing on his lips. “And Ryan? The loyal, dependable friend you thought you knew? His true name is *Varaxis*, my eternal counterpart, my mate. Together, we have built this place, shaped it into a perfect trap. But we are not alone. The man you call Dean Harris? The man you trusted as a protector and guide? He is my father—*Malzareth*. He is the mastermind behind everything. Without him, none of this would exist.”
Malzareth stepped forward, his towering frame casting an oppressive shadow over the room. His presence seemed to suck the air from the space, leaving the others struggling to breathe. His voice was deep and commanding, carrying with it an undeniable weight of authority. "You should be honored to stand here, to see the truth before you die. Few are granted such a privilege."
Ann, Yasmine, and Matthew huddled closer together, their faces pale and filled with terror. In the corner, Mira's unconscious body lay still, her shallow breathing the only sign of life.
Lazaria began to pace slowly, her voice laced with both pride and menace. “This town was not built by chance, nor was it founded out of goodwill. A hundred years ago, we came...
