Chapter 5: Into Silver Hollow

The sky was clear, the air crisp, and strange shadows darted overhead as I sped along in my old Ford pickup truck. The engine hummed to the tune of my favorite country radio station, and a half-eaten bag of Cheetos rattled on the seat beside me. Roadside billboards flashed by, advertising everything from homemade fudge to tractor sales.

I hurried down winding roads, passing through ancient, perilous woods and entering Silver Hollow, where ordinary folks lived. The trees loomed tall, their branches scraping the windshield like fingers.

At the city gate, the guards handed me a suppressant pill. I swallowed it, feeling its bitter taste on my tongue, my core sealed, and entered the city smoothly.

At a motel with flickering neon lights, before I could inquire about Caleb Monroe, I overheard his name in the crowd. The lobby buzzed with conversation, the scent of stale coffee mixing with the tang of fried onions from the diner next door.

“Did you hear? The Monroe family’s second son, Carter Monroe, joined the Sterling Society this year. His sword talent is the best among the new members. After ten years, the Monroe family finally has another genius.”

The person next to him snorted, voice casual and dismissive. “Compared to his brother Caleb, Carter’s talent is nothing. Too bad Caleb Monroe’s a lost cause, huh?”

“A few days ago, I saw him at that warlock Vincent Graves’s house—the one who eats bones whole. He must’ve been sold again, his body ruined, not a spot left unharmed.”

The man stroked his beard and sighed, looking pained. “That family’s cursed, I swear.”

I listened silently, recalling the plot Tessa had described. The details matched, but the pain in their voices made it real.

In the novel, Caleb Monroe was born with blocked channels. He wielded a fine sword, but was considered useless. The shame of it haunted every conversation.

Ten years ago, the Monroe family gave up on him. To avoid shaming the family, they abandoned him at the edge of our academy grounds. The memory felt heavy, like a stone in my pocket.

I, Autumn Hayes, was supposed to pick up Caleb Monroe that day. The regret gnawed at me, sharper than ever.

Then help him repair his core, nurse him back to health, and set him on the righteous path. The plan was clear, but fate had other ideas.

But fate intervened, and I picked up Marcus Blackwell—the ungrateful wolf—instead. The detour had cost me everything.

People’s fates can change in an instant. I’m really afraid these ten years have turned his light into darkness.

Although spell techniques are forbidden in Silver Hollow, potion brewing and the like are not restricted. The loophole gave me hope.

I’d heard of Vincent Graves before—a scum among warlocks. He even used his own daughter as a living battery. Twisted and unscrupulous, his reputation was legendary in all the worst ways.

If Caleb fell into his hands, he’d surely die. I had to hurry and rescue him.

The neon lights of Silver Hollow blinked above me, casting an uneasy glow on the cracked sidewalks. The hum of old air conditioners and distant laughter filled the air. I kept my jacket zipped tight, one hand gripping my messenger bag, the other resting on the hilt of my sword. The world felt so ordinary, yet the stakes couldn't have been higher. Every step felt like a countdown, and the scent of rain on hot pavement reminded me that time was running out.