The academy grounds felt different after the forest challenge. Although the buildings stood tall and proud as ever, there was an air of tension among the students. News of corrupted beasts appearing more frequently had spread, and whispers about the ancient fragments and their significance were becoming harder to ignore.
Aren and his friends gathered in the common room of their dormitory. The warm glow of the fireplace did little to chase away the unease they all felt. Sharu lay curled at Aren's feet, eyes half-closed but ears alert.
Dorian leaned against the windowsill, his lion lying beside him. "So, we have a fragment. But what does it do? And why would corrupted beasts guard it?"
Liora paced back and forth, her Ice Wolf watching her with a calm gaze. "The teachers didn't say much after we reported it. Just that they'd 'investigate.' But we all saw how they reacted—like they knew something."
Lyra sat quietly, her Shadow Falcon preening its feathers. "They're hiding things. They must know more than they're letting on. That judge's face… he looked worried when he saw the fragment."
Aric, lounging on a chair with his Fire Salamander perched on his lap, sighed. "It's annoying. We're the ones risking our necks out there, but they won't tell us what we're up against."
Aren rubbed his temples, trying to piece everything together. "If the fragments are connected to corrupted beasts, then maybe there's something more to the corruption itself. Something ancient, like those carvings in the cavern."
Before anyone could respond, a sharp knock on the door interrupted their thoughts. Aren rose cautiously and opened it, revealing Velia Rune. Her crystalline fox sat at her side, its gem-like fur glimmering faintly in the firelight.
Velia's expression was neutral, but her voice was firm. "We need to talk."
Aric raised an eyebrow. "You and Lance planning to take the fragment by force?"
Velia shook her head. "No. I'm here because you're not the only ones who found something strange. After your group left the cavern, Lance and I explored another passage. We didn't find a fragment, but we saw symbols like the ones you described—glowing, ancient… and we felt the same oppressive energy."
Dorian frowned. "So there might be more fragments?"
Velia nodded. "And if the symbols are scattered throughout the forest, it's not just a coincidence. The academy has known about this for a while. I overheard some instructors discussing 'containment measures' before the trial started."
Aren felt a chill crawl down his spine. "They knew the forest was dangerous and sent us in anyway?"
"They wanted to see how the beasts reacted," Velia said grimly. "Like a test. Not just of our abilities—but of whatever's happening out there."
Lyra spoke up, her voice cold. "If that's true, then we're nothing but pawns. Testing grounds to see how these fragments affect the beasts."
Velia's fox let out a soft growl, and Velia sighed. "Lance doesn't care, but I do. If the academy's hiding something that puts us in danger, we need to know."
Aren looked at his friends, seeing the determination mirrored in their faces. "Then we investigate. We can't confront the instructors directly, but we can find out more ourselves. If the fragments are connected to corrupted beasts, there might be records about ancient artifacts in the library."
Liora nodded. "I'll check the archives. They're restricted, but I might be able to slip in after hours."
Aric grinned. "I'll ask around. Some of the older students might have heard stories or rumors."
Dorian cracked his knuckles. "And if anyone tries to stop us, well… we've handled worse."
Lyra's falcon gave a low screech, and she simply nodded, signaling her agreement.
Velia hesitated before speaking again. "One more thing. There's a student named Mira Lark. She's always in the library and has an interest in ancient texts. If anyone knows about these symbols, it's her."
Aren made a mental note. "Alright. We move carefully. If the academy's involved, we can't just barge in demanding answers. We'll gather what we can first."
As Velia left, the group remained deep in thought. The realization that the academy might be withholding crucial information weighed heavily on them.
Later that night, while the others slept, Aren couldn't help but stare at the fragment resting on his desk. It seemed ordinary now—just a dull piece of stone. But when he touched it, a faint warmth seeped into his fingers, and for a brief moment, he thought he heard distant whispers.
Sharu opened one eye, sensing his partner's unease. Aren offered a small smile, scratching behind Sharu's ears. "We'll figure this out," he whispered.
As the first light of dawn crept through the windows, Aren knew one thing for certain—whatever secrets the academy held, he wouldn't stop until he uncovered the truth