Thornhill Academy (By Sheridan Hartin) novel Chapter 208

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Thornhill Academy.

EITA

JG

Blueprints of Destruction

(Allison)

The air in the war tent feels heavier now. Not tense, exactly, more like everyone here understands we have crossed a line we can’t step back from. This is real now. Not rumours. Not theories. Not fear whispered between canvas walls. This is war.

Vale rests her palms on the edge of the map–covered table. “We’ll start with placement,” she says. “Then numbers. Then the Council themselves – if they

show.”

“When,” Cassian corrects quietly. “They won’t let a rebellion stand without making an example.”

A chill prickles along my arms.

Vale nods grimly. “When, then.”

Rhaziel’s shadows stir at my side, rising like alert wolves.

60

Kael cracks his knuckles. “Alright. Let’s talk positions. Where do you need us?”

Vale gestures to the map, the rough parchment marked with charcoal lines, representing terrain I barely know. She points to the jagged curve of the Wall, its

silhouette dark and oppressive even in ink.

“This is our battlefield. The Council’s forces remain stationed along the outer perimeter – north, east, and south watchtowers.” She taps the north side. “This is where they are strongest. Heavy magic fortifications. Wardstones. Spellbound steel.”

ell they

Cassian leans forward, eyes sharp. “Break the wardstones and the rest collapses. But they won’t leave them unguarded.”

“They don’t,” Vale confirms. “Elite battalions rotate there. Trained mages. Veterans.”

Kael grins. “Perfect. We send the hellhounds.”

I give him a look. “You send the hellhounds where the enemy is strongest?”

Kael shrugs. “Yeah. That’s kind of our thing.”

Rhaziel tilts his head thoughtfully. “Their ferocity would cause a breach. Enough to redirect forces away from the western line.”

“And the dragons?” Evander asks quietly.

Vale looks to him with gratitude. “Air support changes everything. Their fire can break the ice wards the Council placed at the northern gate.”

Cassian’s brow furrows. “Ice wards? Those haven’t been used in decades.”

“They’re desperate,” Vale replies. “They’ve been pushing a lot harder this last year”

I straighten my spine. “Then let’s give them something real to worry about.”

Kael beams proudly.

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Blueprints of Destruction

Evander clears his throat, pulling attention back to the map. “Dragon flights strike here-” he circles the ice–warded gate “-and peel off when the hellhounds push from the side.”

“And the demons?” Vale asks.

Rhaziel’s shadows unfurl across the table like black smoke. “We slip beneath the ground,” he murmurs. “Under their lines. Through their blind spots. And

rise where they least expect.”

The leaders around the table flinch as shadow tendrils glide over their wrists.

He withdraws them gently, almost apologetically. “We will strike at their anchor points. The Council relies on formations. Break their structure, and the

chaos spreads like fire.”

“That covers the army,” Cassian says. “But what happens after we take down their soldiers? The Council will come.”

Silence ripples outward.

Cora folds her arms. “They always come when power shifts, and they will not tolerate losing control.”

Vale nods. “They will probably come themselves.”

“And they’re powerful,” Cassian adds. “Old magic and ancient bloodlines. No one makes Council unless they are strong enough to terrify the rest.”

Kael frowns. “How strong are we talking?”

Cassian meets his gaze. “Think Rhaziel, but without morals.”

Kael winces. “Oh. Shit.”

Rhaziel pats his shoulder. “Indeed.”

Vale points to a small circle drawn behind the main battlefield. “If they intervene, they will appear here – behind their army. They always want the upper

hand.”

Cassian nods. “A fallback point. They prefer being untouchable.”

Evander leans forward. “So what’s our counter? They’ll tear through ground troops if we don’t prepare for them specifically.”

The leaders murmur. There is clearly no easy answer. Then Vale’s gaze settles on me.

“Your parents,” she says softly, “were the only siphons the Council ever feared.”

My stomach drops. “Feared?”

She nods. “Siphons can drain magic. Raw power. And the Council… is made of that. Your parents were the only ones who tried to do that.”

Cassian turns to me slowly. “Allison. You could drain them.”

I swallow hard. “If I get close enough.”

Kael whistles. “She’s gonna chew through them like they’re battery packs.”

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JG

15:41 Tue, Jan 6 G

TEA

Blueprints of Destruction

“Kael-” I start.

“What? You will.”

Rhaziel’s voice drops low. “You cannot confront them alone, but with all of us around you…”

Evander finishes quietly, “We can create the opening.”

Cassian adds, “And keep you alive.”

Vale lifts her chin. “Then the plan becomes this: break their army, weaken their hold, and when the Council arrives –

Allison. And drain them.”

we isolate them. Surround. Support

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