Aren woke before dawn, a lingering sense of dread gnawing at his thoughts. Sharu lay curled at his side, the small silver beast twitching occasionally as if troubled by its own dreams. The room was quiet, the faint glow of early morning seeping through the window. Aren could hear the rhythmic breathing of his roommates, still caught in sleep's embrace.
He sat up, running a hand through his disheveled hair. Memories of the night before pressed down on him—Kael's harsh words, Mira's revelation about the guardian, and the headmaster's cautious announcement. The weight of guilt still lingered, but Aren forced himself to move. There was no time to wallow.
Sharu stirred, blinking up at Aren with curious eyes. "We've got work to do," Aren whispered. The little beast gave a quiet trill in response and hopped to the floor as Aren gathered his things.
Outside, the academy grounds were tranquil, the sky painted with soft hues of pink and gold. It was deceptive—like the world hadn't changed overnight. Aren couldn't help but wonder how many others knew the truth. How many understood that the forest challenge had been more than just a test of strength?
He found Lyra already waiting near the courtyard, her Shadow Falcon perched on a nearby post. She nodded in greeting, her expression thoughtful. "Couldn't sleep either?" she asked.
Aren shook his head. "Too much to think about. Where are the others?"
"Aric's grabbing breakfast, and Dorian's still half-asleep. Liora's at the archives again. Mira said she might have found something new."
They didn't have to wait long for the rest of the group to gather. Aric appeared with a bundle of bread and dried fruit, distributing it among them. "Figured we could use something before Mira drops another bomb on us," he said with a weak grin.
Dorian rubbed his eyes, looking unimpressed. "If I knew the forest trial would turn into this mess, I'd have stayed back and fought practice dummies."
Liora arrived a moment later, her eyes bright despite the early hour. "Mira wants us to meet in the east wing—apparently, she found a map."
Aren perked up. "A map? Of what?"
"The deeper forest. She thinks it might show more of those marked locations," Liora explained.
The group made their way across the grounds, dodging a few groggy students headed toward morning classes. The east wing was quieter than usual, most of the older students having already left for advanced training. Mira was waiting in one of the small study rooms, books piled high around her and a large, faded map spread out on the table.
She glanced up, visibly relieved to see them. "You're here. Good. I've been going through the academy's older records. This map—it's from the founding days, but look."
She pointed to a cluster of marks deeper in the forest, some circled in faded ink. "These are ancient warding sites. The one you found was just one of several. If that guardian was activated, it's likely the others are too. If they all fall—"
"The corruption will spread," Lyra finished, eyes narrowing.
Mira nodded. "And worse—if one of these sites is linked to a primordial beast, we might be looking at a full-scale disaster."
Dorian crossed his arms. "So what's the academy doing about it? They can't just sit on this."
Mira hesitated. "They're aware. I overheard some of the instructors—they're sending out scout teams to monitor the sites. But they're moving cautiously. It's like they don't want to admit how bad it could get."
Aric tapped the map thoughtfully. "So, if the academy's holding back, are we supposed to just wait and hope they can handle it?"
Aren clenched his fists. "We can't. If we're the ones who caused this, we need to make it right. Even if it means investigating on our own."
Lyra gave him a sidelong look. "You know they won't approve. They'll probably double the patrols after yesterday."
"That's why we have to be smart about it," Liora interjected. "If we go during a time when the guards are thinned out—like during class rotations—we might be able to reach one of the marked spots without drawing attention."
Mira looked apprehensive. "Are you sure? This is dangerous—if you're caught…"
Aren smiled faintly. "We've faced danger before. This time, we'll just be a bit more careful."
The plan took shape quickly. They would slip out during the afternoon when the patrols would be focused on the main grounds. Mira agreed to cover for them if anyone asked questions, though the worry never left her face.
As the morning wore on, Aren couldn't help but feel the tension growing. Their plan was risky, but waiting around while the corruption spread was far worse. As they made their final preparations, a sense of resolve settled over him. They had to know the truth—before it was too late.
The bell for midday lessons rang, and the group split up to avoid suspicion, agreeing to meet at the north gate when the time came. Aren went through the motions of his combat theory class, barely hearing the instructor's words. His thoughts remained fixed on the map, on the looming threat of a primordial beast awakening.
When the appointed time arrived, Aren slipped away, keeping to the shadows as he approached the meeting point. One by one, the others joined him, their expressions tense but determined.
Aric clapped his hands softly. "Ready to poke the bear?"
Dorian smirked. "More like kick the hornet's nest, but sure."
Lyra glanced around. "No patrols in sight. Let's move."
They slipped into the forest, keeping their footsteps light. Sharu led the way, nose to the ground, guiding them toward the location marked on Mira's map. The deeper they went, the more the air seemed to thicken, the trees looming like silent sentinels.
After what felt like an hour of cautious progress, they arrived at a clearing ringed by jagged stones. In the center stood another stone pillar, this one etched with the same glowing symbols they'd seen before. However, this time, the light flickered erratically, as if struggling to hold on.
Aric muttered under his breath. "That doesn't look stable."
Aren approached carefully, Sharu at his heels. As he reached out to inspect the carvings, a low growl sounded from the opposite side of the clearing. A shape moved among the shadows—then another, and another.
Dorian gripped his spear. "We've got company."
Three corrupted beasts stalked into the clearing, their eyes glowing with a sickly green light. One resembled a wolf, its fur matted and darkened with corruption. The second was a massive boar, tusks twisted and oozing. The third was a serpent, its scales flaking off in patches.
Lyra whispered, "They're guarding the pillar—like the guardian before."
Aren set his jaw. "We have to protect it. If they destroy it, the seal could break entirely."
Dorian grinned, despite the
tension. "Then let's give them something to fear."
Aren didn't hesitate. "We'll take them one at a time. Aric, focus on the serpent. Dorian, the boar is yours. Lyra and Liora, handle the wolf. Sharu and I will back up whoever needs it."
The group split, each pairing off against a corrupted beast. Aric stepped forward, his Fire Salamander at his side, flames already licking at its claws. The serpent hissed, coiling tightly before lunging. Aric ducked, rolling to the side as his beast unleashed a jet of fire. The flames seared the ground where the serpent had been, but it was fast—too fast.
The serpent lashed out, its tail whipping toward Aric's legs. He barely managed to jump over it, but the creature's next strike almost grazed his shoulder. The Salamander intervened, launching a fireball that exploded against the serpent's side, but the creature seemed barely phased.
Dorian's battle was no less intense. The boar charged, its massive bulk barreling through the underbrush. Dorian sidestepped just in time, slamming his spear into the beast's shoulder. Electricity crackled down the weapon's length, but the boar seemed fueled by the pain, wheeling around and nearly clipping Dorian's legs with its jagged tusks. The Shockwave Lion roared, blasting a wave of sound at the boar, staggering it but failing to bring it down.
Meanwhile, Lyra and Liora coordinated against the wolf. The Ice Wolf darted in and out, frost forming where it moved, while the Shadow Falcon circled overhead, looking for an opening. The corrupted wolf snarled, lunging at Liora, but Lyra's falcon dove, raking its back with shadow-imbued talons. The wolf howled, twisting to snap at the air, only for Liora's beast to coat the ground in a slick sheet of ice, causing it to slip.
Sharu stood beside Aren, ears perked, ready to intervene. Aren watched each battle, his mind racing. They needed to weaken the beasts faster—every moment they stayed was another risk that more creatures would appear.
"Sharu, let's help Aric!" Aren decided. The small beast's eyes gleamed with determination as they charged toward the serpent. As the snake reared back, preparing to strike again, Sharu leapt forward, a burst of silvery light trailing behind. The serpent hesitated, momentarily blinded, and the Fire Salamander seized the opportunity, unleashing a concentrated blast of flame directly into its face. The serpent screeched, thrashing in pain as its scales smoked and cracked.
"Nice one!" Aric called out, flashing Aren a grin.
The boar roared, charging at Dorian again. The Shockwave Lion planted its paws firmly, releasing a concussive roar that sent the beast skidding backward. Dorian took advantage of its disorientation, jabbing his spear into its side and sending another jolt of electricity through its body. The boar convulsed, collapsing to one knee before scrambling upright again.
"We need more power!" Dorian shouted.
Aren quickly assessed the situation, noticing how the wolf's movements were slowing as ice formed on its legs, courtesy of Liora's Ice Wolf. Lyra's falcon struck from above, aiming for the wolf's eyes, forcing it to backpedal.
"Everyone, focus on one beast at a time!" Aren commanded. "Take down the serpent first—it's the most agile."
The others nodded, shifting their attention. Lyra directed her falcon to dive-bomb the snake, drawing its focus upward. Aric's Salamander darted in, slashing at its exposed flank, while Liora's Ice Wolf froze the ground around it, limiting its movements. Aren and Sharu moved to the other side, keeping the serpent from slithering away.
In a coordinated strike, Sharu unleashed a pulse of silvery energy that seemed to resonate with the symbols on the stone. The serpent froze, its body shuddering as if trapped in place. Aric took the chance, his Salamander launching a searing flame right into the creature's open maw. The serpent convulsed, its body glowing with cracks of light before it collapsed, smoldering.
"One down!" Aric cheered.
The boar bellowed, furious at seeing its companion fall. Dorian and his lion didn't give it a chance to retaliate. Charging forward, the lion leapt onto the beast's back, claws digging in as static crackled through its mane. Dorian jammed his spear into the ground, sending a shockwave that unbalanced the boar, making it rear up. In that moment, Lyra's falcon dove, striking the boar's eyes. The creature roared in agony, stumbling and finally crashing to the ground.
That left the wolf. Panting and limping, it tried to circle back, but Liora's Ice Wolf lunged, biting down on its hind leg and freezing the limb solid. Lyra's falcon landed on the wolf's back, pinning it while Sharu let out a sharp yip, and the corrupted beast fell still, frost spreading over its body.
Aren wiped sweat from his brow, his heart pounding. "Is everyone okay?"
Dorian gave a tired thumbs-up. "Better than them, at least."
Lyra eyed the pillar, its light still flickering. "It's unstable. We need to figure out how to strengthen it."
Liora knelt by the base, examining the carvings. "Mira mentioned something about resonance—symbols reacting to specific energy. Maybe Sharu's pulse from earlier?"
Aren looked at his companion. "Think you can do that again?"
Sharu cocked his head, then approached the stone. As Aren knelt beside him, he could feel a subtle hum resonating through the ground. Sharu closed his eyes, and the silvery glow returned, spreading from his body to the stone. The symbols flared brightly, and slowly, the flickering stabilized, becoming a steady, calm light.
Liora exhaled in relief. "I think it worked."
Lyra remained tense. "If this one's failing, what about the others?"
Aren's thoughts matched hers. If more of these pillars were weakening, the forest would soon be crawling with corrupted beasts. And if they were linked to primordial guardians, the danger was far greater than they realized.
Dorian broke the silence. "We should head back before we're missed. We'll tell Mira what we found."
They agreed, retracing their steps with Sharu leading the way. Despite the victory, unease lingered. This was only one site among many, and there was no telling how long the seal would hold.
As they approached the academy grounds, the sky had darkened, storm clouds gathering ominously. Aren glanced back at the forest, dread pooling in his stomach. Whatever was coming, it wasn't going to be something they could easily fight.
They had to prepare.
The academy's secrets were unraveling faster than they could comprehend, and with each step forward, they only uncovered more questions. As the storm broke and rain began to fall, Aren knew one thing for certain: they couldn't face this alone.
The shadows were stirring, and it was time to confront the truth—no matter how dark it was.