The library, for all its comforting mustiness and the promise of answers nestled within its aged pages, couldn't hold them forever. The prophecy, the Amulet, the encroaching darkness – all were external threats that demanded a wider stage. Ethan, fueled by lukewarm tea and even warmer anxiety, found himself drawn to the overgrown garden, a place his parents had largely ignored in their final years.

Seraphina, ever watchful, drifted beside him as he pushed open the heavy oak door leading outside. The air was thick with the scent of damp earth, overgrown roses fighting a losing battle against encroaching weeds, and the faint, unsettling sweetness of decay. The garden was a testament to neglect, a reflection, perhaps, of the crumbling state of the manor itself, and, Ethan thought with a pang, of his own life.

Sunlight, fractured by the dense foliage, dappled the uneven flagstones beneath their feet. Ethan ran a hand through the overgrown lavender, the sharp, clean scent a momentary distraction from the gnawing unease in his gut.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Seraphina whispered, her voice barely audible above the rustling leaves. He knew she wasn’t referring to the chaotic beauty of the garden in its current state. She was seeing something else, something he couldn't. A vision of meticulously manicured flowerbeds, vibrant colours, and laughter echoing through the air. A garden in its prime, a reflection of a Blackwood family long gone.

“It… needs work,” Ethan replied, stating the obvious.

Seraphina chuckled, a sound like wind chimes in a gentle breeze. “Everything does, Ethan. Everything does.”

He started to wander deeper into the garden, his boots sinking slightly into the soft earth. An old stone fountain, choked with moss and algae, stood silent in the centre of a small clearing. He reached out and touched its cold, damp surface. He imagined the water once gurgling merrily, reflecting the sunlight and the faces of children playing nearby. Now, it was just another forgotten monument.

He was about to turn back when he felt it. A sudden chill, a drop in temperature that had nothing to do with the evening air. The feeling of being watched, not by curious eyes, but by something… malevolent. The air itself seemed to thicken, pressing down on him, making it difficult to breathe.

Seraphina gasped, her spectral form flickering erratically. “Ethan, something is here. It’s… feeding on the darkness.”

He scanned the garden, his heart pounding against his ribs. The shadows seemed to deepen, twisting into grotesque shapes. The overgrown hedges looked like grasping claws. The roses, once romantic, now seemed to drip with a crimson stain.

He strained his eyes, trying to pierce the gloom. Then he saw it. A shifting darkness, a patch of shadow that seemed to absorb the light around it. It was vaguely humanoid in shape, but its form was constantly changing, swirling like smoke in a high wind. It had no discernible features, only a sense of immense power and overwhelming hatred.

“What is that?” Ethan whispered, his voice trembling.

"A manifestation of the darkness clinging to this place, fuelled by the negative energy of the prophecy. It's drawn to you, Ethan, to your grief, to your connection to the Blackwood bloodline," Seraphina responded, her voice strained. "It's been lurking, waiting for an opportunity. I didn't think it would reveal itself so soon."

The shadow lunged. It moved with unnatural speed, a blur of darkness that closed the distance between them in an instant. Ethan barely had time to react before it was upon him.

He felt a searing pain in his chest, as if his very soul were being ripped apart. The air around him crackled with negative energy. He stumbled back, gasping for breath, his vision blurring.

Seraphina screamed, a high-pitched, keening wail that seemed to resonate through the garden. She flew forward, her spectral form glowing with an ethereal light. She threw herself against the shadow, her translucent body momentarily solidifying as she unleashed her power.

A wave of energy erupted from her, a shimmering blast of white light that pushed the shadow back. The entity recoiled with a hiss, its form momentarily dissipating before reforming.

"Stay back, Ethan! I can hold it off, but I don't know for how long!" Seraphina cried, her voice laced with pain.

He wanted to help, but he was paralyzed with fear. He watched in horror as Seraphina battled the entity, her powers flickering and waning. The shadow was stronger than she had anticipated, its presence a suffocating weight on the air.

The entity lashed out again, a tendril of darkness snaking around Seraphina’s arm. She cried out as the darkness began to drain her energy, her light dimming. Ethan could see the strain on her face, the pain in her eyes.

He couldn't just stand there and watch her be consumed. He had to do something, anything. But what? He was just a college student, a cynical nobody with no magical abilities. He had nothing to offer against such a powerful force.

Then, he remembered something he’d read in one of the ancient texts in the library. A passage about the Blackwood lineage, about their connection to the land, about their inherent ability to channel the earth’s energy. It was just a theory, a forgotten piece of folklore, but it was all he had.

He closed his eyes, focusing on the feeling of the earth beneath his feet, the scent of the damp soil, the whisper of the wind through the trees. He tried to clear his mind, to empty himself of fear and doubt, to open himself to something larger than himself.

He imagined the energy flowing from the earth, up through his feet, into his body. He pictured it as a warm, vibrant light, filling him with strength and purpose. He focused on Seraphina, on her courage, on her unwavering commitment to protecting him.

He opened his eyes. He didn’t feel any different. He was still afraid, still uncertain. But something had shifted. A spark of defiance had ignited within him.

He picked up a loose stone from the ground, a small, unassuming piece of granite. He held it tightly in his hand, focusing all his energy on it. He wasn't sure what he was doing, but he knew he had to try.

He charged towards the battling figures, his heart pounding in his chest. He raised the stone above his head and threw it with all his might.

The stone struck the shadow with a dull thud. It was a pathetic gesture, a futile attempt to fight back against an overwhelming force. But something unexpected happened.

As the stone made contact, it seemed to disrupt the shadow’s form. A ripple of energy spread through the garden, causing the trees to sway and the flowers to tremble. The air crackled with a sudden surge of power.

The shadow shrieked, a high-pitched, ear-splitting sound that echoed through the manor grounds. It recoiled, its form flickering erratically. It released Seraphina, who collapsed to the ground, her spectral form barely visible.

"Ethan! What did you do?" she gasped, her voice weak.

He didn’t know. He only knew that he had to keep going. He picked up another stone, and another, and another. He threw them at the shadow, one after another, each impact disrupting its form, weakening its power.

The shadow fought back, lashing out with tendrils of darkness, trying to ensnare him. But Ethan was too quick, dodging and weaving through the garden, fueled by adrenaline and a desperate hope.

Seraphina, slowly regaining her strength, rose to her feet. She focused her remaining energy, summoning a wave of ethereal light that washed over the garden. The light strengthened Ethan, bolstering his resolve, making his movements faster, his aim more accurate.

Together, they fought back against the encroaching darkness. Ethan, the ordinary college student, armed with nothing but stones and a flicker of inherited power. Seraphina, the centuries-old spirit, battling to protect the man she had sworn to serve.

Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the shadow began to dissipate. Its form grew fainter and fainter, until it was nothing more than a wisp of smoke. With a final, despairing shriek, it vanished completely, leaving behind only the lingering scent of decay and a profound sense of relief.

Ethan collapsed to the ground, exhausted and trembling. Seraphina knelt beside him, her spectral hand reaching out to touch his.

“You did it, Ethan,” she whispered, her voice filled with awe. “You fought it off. You saved me.”

He looked at her, his heart swelling with a mixture of relief and affection. He didn't understand what had just happened, but he knew one thing for sure. He wasn't just a cynical college student anymore. He was something more. He was a Blackwood. And he was ready to fight for what he believed in.

The garden, still overgrown and neglected, seemed to glow with a renewed sense of peace. The shadows had receded, the darkness had been pushed back. But Ethan knew that it was only a temporary victory. The prophecy still loomed, the Amulet was still lost, and the darkness was still out there, waiting for another opportunity to strike.

He looked at Seraphina, her face pale but resolute. He knew that their journey had just begun. They had a long and perilous road ahead of them. But together, they would face whatever challenges lay in store. They had proven that even the smallest spark of hope could ignite the darkest of nights.