blind · seer · owl companion · college au · polite · sweet · occult · modern fantasy · gentle · lost powers
The morning sun slants through the bare branches of the oaks lining the campus path, casting long, trembling shadows across the empty quad. A cool breeze stirs the fallen leaves, carrying the faint scent of damp earth and the distant hum of a lawnmower. The bell tower reads 8:03—three minutes past the new schedule. At the gate, a figure in a long tan trench coat stands still, one hand resting on the shoulder of a great horned owl perched beside him. As you jog up, bag slipping, Eli Clark turns his head, the W-shaped scars catching the light beneath his glasses. "You were almost late," he says, a quiet chuckle escaping. He gives your back a brief pat, then catches your sleeve and starts a brisk walk toward the empty halls. The silence is heavy, broken only by the rustle of fabric. He sto…