The academy grounds were unusually quiet the next morning. Aren couldn't help but notice how tense everyone seemed, whispering about strange noises from the forest during the night. As he and his friends gathered near the training field, Lyra pointed out something peculiar.
"Look over there," she whispered.
Near the edge of the forest, a group of instructors stood in a tight formation, blocking the path. Their faces were stern, and behind them, several students were being questioned. Aren recognized one of the students—Kael Rin, the boy with the shadow serpent.
Aric nudged Aren's arm. "Think he's in trouble? He looks furious."
Dorian smirked. "He always looks like that. But it's strange to see the instructors so riled up."
Liora frowned. "Maybe they found more corrupted beasts? Or worse—another broken seal."
Before they could speculate further, Mira approached, her face clouded with worry.
"Aren, I need you and your team to come with me," she said, her tone unusually serious.
They followed her to a quieter spot by the gardens. Mira glanced around, ensuring no one was listening, before speaking.
"Last night, the patrols spotted corrupted energy at another seal site. It was faint, but it shouldn't be there at all. When they investigated, they found Kael and a few others nearby."
Aren furrowed his brow. "You think they were tampering with the seal?"
Mira sighed. "We don't know. Kael insists he was just training nearby, but the instructors are suspicious. Given the recent attack, they can't afford to take chances."
Lyra bit her lip. "But Kael's beast is a shadow serpent—it naturally exudes dark energy. Maybe they're just misunderstanding."
Mira nodded. "That's why they haven't taken any action yet. But there's something else—the corrupted energy faded before they could pinpoint it. Almost as if it was… concealed."
Dorian clenched his fists. "You think someone's framing him?"
"It's possible," Mira replied. "But if that's true, it means someone knows how to manipulate corrupted energy without leaving a trace."
Aric looked uneasy. "If someone's doing that on purpose, they might be trying to destabilize the academy—or worse, blame the strongest students."
Liora's eyes widened. "If they get rid of the top contenders, it leaves the academy defenseless if the seals break."
Aren glanced toward the forest. "Maybe the corrupted beasts aren't the main problem—maybe it's someone deliberately weakening the seals to cause chaos."
Mira looked thoughtful. "It's a theory worth investigating. In the meantime, stay alert. If anyone asks, you haven't heard anything about Kael's situation."
---
That evening, the tension in the academy had only grown. Kael had been released after questioning, but the rumors spread like wildfire. Aren saw Kael in the dining hall, glaring at anyone who dared to look his way.
"I bet they think he's a traitor now," Dorian muttered.
Aren nodded. "We need to talk to him. If someone's targeting him, he deserves to know."
They approached cautiously. Kael didn't look up, but his serpent hissed in warning.
"Hey," Aren began carefully. "We heard about what happened. Are you okay?"
Kael scoffed. "Why do you care? Everyone else seems convinced I'm some kind of saboteur."
Lyra spoke gently. "We don't think that. It doesn't add up. If someone's framing you, we want to help figure out who."
Kael's eyes narrowed. "You're just saying that because you think I'm too weak to pull it off myself. I don't need your pity."
Dorian huffed. "You're not listening, idiot. If someone's setting you up, they'll do it again. And next time, it might stick. Do you really want to be their scapegoat?"
Kael hesitated, his expression softening just a bit. "If you're lying, I swear I'll make you regret it."
Aren nodded. "Deal. We'll keep an eye out. If you remember anything weird about that night, let us know."
Kael didn't respond, but he didn't push them away either. As they left, Aric shook his head. "He's a handful."
Liora glanced back. "But he's scared. Not just of being blamed—he's afraid that something darker is at play."
---
The following day, Mira gathered the team again. "We're heading to another seal site to investigate. There have been faint signs of corruption, but no confirmed breach. I want you all on guard."
As they made their way through the forest, Sharu remained unusually quiet, his ears twitching at every sound. Lyra stroked her falcon's feathers, and Dorian's lion growled softly, sensing the unease.
When they arrived at the site, Aren felt a chill down his spine. The seal stone was intact, but the air was heavy with a dark presence. Liora knelt by the base, examining faint scorch marks.
"It's similar to the other site," she murmured. "But the energy is more concentrated."
Sharu suddenly darted forward, sniffing the ground. His fur bristled, and he let out a low growl. Mira frowned. "What is it, Sharu?"
Aren watched as Sharu nudged something with his nose—a piece of cloth, torn and singed. He picked it up, examining the rough fabric. "This… it looks like part of an academy uniform."
Dorian squinted. "Wait, isn't that the color scheme for the advanced combat division? Only a few students have that designation."
Aric's eyes widened. "Like Lance Vermilion."
Mira frowned. "Lance? He's one of the top-ranked students. Are you suggesting he was here?"
Lyra shook her head. "It could be anyone with a similar uniform. We can't jump to conclusions. But we should report this."
Suddenly, Sharu barked, and they turned to see a dark figure watching them from the trees. Before anyone could react, the figure vanished into the shadows.
"Was that—?" Aric started, but Mira cut him off.
"Let's head back. Whatever that was, we're not safe here."
As they hurried back to the academy, Aren couldn't shake the feeling that they had just stumbled upon something far more dangerous than corrupted beasts.
Once inside, Mira immediately reported their findings to the headmaster. He listened carefully, his face grim. "If what you say is true, someone within the academy might be involved. This changes everything."
Aren felt a knot in his stomach. They had to be careful who they trusted. If the corruption was seeping into the academy itself, then the real enemy might be closer than they realized.
That night, Aren lay awake, Sharu curled up beside him. The memory of the shadowy figure lingered, and Aren couldn't help but wonder: Was someone trying to use the corrupted seals for their own gain? And if so, how far would they go to achieve their goal?
The academy's safety was hanging by a thr
ead, and as Aren drifted into uneasy sleep, one thought remained clear—trust was becoming a dangerous game.