The academy buzzed with life as the morning sun bathed the courtyard in warm light. Students moved in clusters, discussing the forest trial results and their upcoming classes. Despite the normalcy, Aren couldn't shake the tension clinging to him like a second skin. The fragmented piece from the ruins remained tucked safely in his pack, but it seemed to pulse faintly, as if aware of his unease.
Aren, accompanied by Sharu, made his way to the library. The others had gone about their own tasks—Liora was already sneaking into the archives, Aric was gathering information from older students, and Dorian had stationed himself in the training yard to catch any passing gossip. Lyra, ever cautious, had chosen to observe the instructors, hoping to catch snippets of conversation.
As Aren pushed open the heavy wooden door to the library, he found the usual quiet atmosphere disrupted by scattered students poring over scrolls and ancient books. It seemed the recent forest trial had sparked a renewed interest in history and beast lore.
At one of the far tables, a girl with messy auburn hair sat surrounded by a fortress of books. Her nose was buried in a thick tome, and she seemed oblivious to the world around her. A crystalline pendant hung around her neck, catching the sunlight streaming through the windows.
Aren approached cautiously. "Mira Lark?"
She looked up, startled, and blinked behind round glasses. "Yes? Can I help you?"
Aren hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. "I heard you're knowledgeable about ancient texts—symbols, carvings, things like that."
Mira's curiosity piqued, and she adjusted her glasses. "I suppose I am. Why do you ask?"
He glanced around, ensuring no one was eavesdropping. "During the forest trial, my team found some ancient carvings—symbols that seemed to glow. They didn't match anything we've seen before. I was wondering if you knew something about them."
Mira's eyes widened. "Glowing symbols… did they have a spiraling pattern, like intertwining lines forming a circle?"
Aren nodded slowly. "Yes. Do you know what they mean?"
She bit her lip, then leaned closer. "Those symbols are from a lost civilization—one that predates the current kingdoms. They're believed to be linked to primordial beasts, creatures of immense power that were thought to be extinct. Some texts hint that these symbols act as seals, binding the power of these beasts or preventing something from awakening."
Aren's pulse quickened. "So, if the symbol was glowing… could it mean that the seal was breaking?"
Mira's face turned pale. "Possibly. If that's true, it would explain the increased corrupted beast sightings. If one of those primordial beasts were to reawaken, the corruption would spread like wildfire."
Aren's mind raced. The corrupted beast they fought at the ruins—it had seemed more intent on guarding the area than attacking. Was it protecting the seal?
"Do you know how to strengthen or restore these seals?" Aren asked, trying to keep his voice steady.
Mira shook her head. "The texts are fragmented—most were lost centuries ago. But there's a rumor that the academy's founder once dealt with a similar issue. Some say he sealed away a primordial beast deep within the forest. If the academy knows about this, they must have records somewhere."
Aren couldn't help but think of the judge's reaction when they mentioned the fragment. They definitely knew something.
"Thank you, Mira," Aren said, offering a small smile. "This helps a lot."
Mira nodded, still looking troubled. "If you find more symbols or anything related, let me know. I'll keep digging through the archives."
As Aren left the library, he spotted Lyra waiting by the entrance. She approached quietly. "Anything useful?"
"More than I expected," Aren replied, explaining what Mira had told him.
Lyra's expression darkened. "If the academy knew, and still sent us into the forest…"
"They wanted to test if the seal was weakening," Aren concluded. "If they knew a primordial beast might be awakening, they'd want to see how it affected the forest—how the corrupted beasts reacted."
"We need to warn the others," Lyra said. "If those seals are breaking, the next challenge could be even more dangerous."
Before they could move, a commotion from the courtyard drew their attention. Students gathered around a notice board, pointing and whispering. Aren and Lyra pushed through the crowd to read the new announcement.
"Second Trial Commencement: Tomorrow at dawn. Teams are to report to the central field. Further instructions will be given on arrival."
Dorian appeared at their side, looking mildly annoyed. "Another trial already? Didn't we just get out of the forest?"
Aric joined them, grinning. "Looks like the academy isn't giving us a break. Whatever it is, we'll handle it."
Liora arrived last, looking thoughtful. "I couldn't find much in the archives—too many restricted sections. But I did catch a glimpse of some old maps. There's a marked area deeper in the forest—the same spot where you found the fragment, Aren."
Lyra raised an eyebrow. "They marked it but didn't warn us?"
Aren's mind was racing. "They're monitoring it. Maybe they don't want to cause panic until they're sure."
Dorian huffed. "Or they're just using us as bait."
The tension in the air grew as the reality sank in. The academy wasn't just testing their skills—they were using the students to investigate the forest's corruption.
Aren looked at his team, determination hardening his resolve. "We'll participate in the next trial, but we'll stay on guard. If we encounter more of those symbols or fragments, we'll figure out how to protect them. We can't let whatever's awakening in the forest break free."
His friends nodded, each resolved in their own way. As they headed back to the dorm, Aren couldn't help but feel that the academy's shadows were growing longer—and that their next trial would bring them even closer to the forest's dark secrets.