Aren woke with a start, drenched in cold sweat. Sharu lay curled at his feet, one ear twitching. The morning light seeped through the curtains, but the uneasy feeling from the previous night lingered.
His thoughts spun as he dressed. The encounter in the forest, the fragment of a combat uniform, and the shadowy figure—they couldn't all be coincidences. Someone was manipulating the corrupted seals, and if the academy's strongest students were involved, it could spell disaster.
A sharp knock on the door broke his reverie. Dorian pushed his way in, looking unusually grim.
"Aren, you need to come to the training grounds. Now."
Aren nodded, grabbing his gear and following Dorian outside. As they approached the training field, Aren saw a crowd gathered in a tight circle. He pushed through to the center, where Mira stood beside Kael and Lance Vermilion. Lance's face was hard, his gryphon pacing restlessly behind him.
"What's going on?" Aren whispered to Lyra, who stood nearby with her falcon perched on her shoulder.
"Someone broke into the combat division's equipment storage last night," Lyra whispered back. "They found traces of corrupted energy, and Lance's name is being tossed around."
Lance stepped forward, glaring at the crowd. "You think I'd jeopardize the academy? Someone's clearly trying to frame me!"
One of the instructors stepped in, silencing the murmurs. "Calm down, everyone. We are conducting a thorough investigation. Until then, we expect all students to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity."
Kael snorted. "Funny how the so-called 'elite' are the first ones suspected. Maybe you're not as perfect as you think, Vermilion."
Lance shot him a glare. "Watch your mouth, Rin. You're no saint either."
Before the argument could escalate, Mira intervened. "Enough. This is not the time for petty rivalries. We're all on the same side here."
The crowd slowly dispersed, but Aren couldn't shake his unease. If someone wanted to frame the top students, it meant they were targeting the academy's strongest protectors.
---
Later, in the strategy room, Aren and his friends gathered to discuss the situation. Mira spread a map of the forest on the table, marking several locations with red and blue symbols.
"These are the confirmed seal sites," she explained. "Red indicates corrupted energy detected. Blue means stable. So far, we've found traces of corruption at three different locations."
Aric leaned over the map. "But they're scattered. It doesn't look like a coordinated pattern."
Liora tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Unless the goal isn't to break the seals, but to weaken them just enough to let corruption seep through."
Dorian crossed his arms. "Like leaving a door cracked open—enough for small threats to slip in, but not enough to trigger an all-out breach."
Mira nodded. "Exactly. If the seals are systematically weakened, it could make the forest itself more hostile without causing a full collapse. But why? What's the point of creating minor disturbances?"
Lyra's eyes widened. "To force the academy to spread out its forces. If instructors and students are constantly patrolling and repairing seals, it leaves the main grounds vulnerable."
Aren's stomach dropped. "A distraction. They're trying to weaken the academy from the inside while everyone's focused on the forest."
Mira grimaced. "We need proof before we can act. But we can't ignore the possibility. For now, we'll double the patrols and keep our strongest students close to the main grounds."
Dorian scowled. "If this is all a setup, someone's playing a dangerous game. They're pushing the academy to the brink."
---
That evening, Aren and his team patrolled the western edge of the academy. The sky was painted with hues of orange and violet, but the ominous air remained. Sharu's ears twitched constantly, alert to every rustle and creak.
As they rounded a bend near the training fields, Aren caught sight of a figure slipping between the trees. He signaled for silence and motioned the group to follow. Carefully, they tracked the figure's movements, ducking behind bushes and keeping their footsteps light.
The figure finally stopped near an abandoned storage shed. Aren gestured for Dorian to circle around while Lyra and Liora stayed back, ready to assist. Aric remained by Aren's side, his Salamander's tail flicking with anticipation.
When the figure stepped into a patch of moonlight, Aren's breath hitched—it was Lance. He appeared to be examining the ground, his gryphon keeping watch. Just as Aren was about to step forward, another figure approached from the opposite direction.
It was Kael.
The two boys stood facing each other, tension crackling between them.
"What are you doing here, Rin?" Lance demanded.
Kael scoffed. "Funny, I was about to ask you the same thing. Trying to cover your tracks?"
Lance clenched his fists. "You think I'm responsible for this mess? You're the one always lurking around suspicious places."
Kael stepped closer, his serpent coiling around his feet. "Maybe because I'm the only one not blinded by your heroic act. You've got everyone fooled, but I see through you."
Before Lance could respond, Sharu let out a low growl, and both boys turned to see Aren and the others emerge from the shadows.
"What's going on here?" Aren demanded.
Lance glared at Kael. "This idiot thinks I'm behind the corrupted seal incidents."
Kael didn't back down. "And he's too arrogant to see that someone's framing both of us."
Lyra frowned. "If you both think you're being framed, why are you out here alone?"
Lance hesitated. "I… I thought I saw something. A shadow moving through the forest. I was following it when I ran into him."
Kael grumbled. "Same here. Something's been trailing me for days. I thought it was him."
Dorian glanced between them. "If neither of you is lying, then someone's playing both sides."
Aren considered the possibility. "If the goal is to turn the academy against itself, pitting the strongest students against each other would be the easiest way to divide us."
Aric sighed. "Great. So, someone's out there causing trouble while we're busy fighting each other."
Just then, Sharu let out a warning yip. The group froze as a chilling presence descended, and from the shadows, a corrupted beast emerged—a massive, horned warg with glowing red eyes.
Lance cursed. "We'll settle this later. For now, we work together."
Aren nodded, drawing his blade. "Focus on its legs! If we slow it down, it'll be easier to pin."
Kael's serpent hissed, lunging at the warg's flank, while Lance's gryphon dove from above, talons flashing. Sharu darted around its feet, emitting a blinding pulse of light to disorient the beast.
Despite their differences, the teamwork came naturally. As the warg reared up, Dorian's lion slammed into its side, sending a shockwave through its limbs. Aric's Salamander spewed flames, scorching the beast's back.
Finally, Lyra's falcon struck the warg's face, blinding it just long enough for Lance to deliver a powerful strike to its neck. The creature collapsed with a pained howl, fading into dark mist.
Panting, the group exchanged wary glances.
"Looks like we'll need to talk," Aren muttered.
Kael
and Lance both nodded, reluctantly realizing that the real enemy was still out there, lurking in the shadows.