The wind was cold that night. Eiden stood under the tall tower of the academy. His black cloak moved gently as he looked at the wall in front of him. It was old and full of cracks. But more importantly, it was strange. He had checked many walls in the past week. Most were normal. But this one… this one whispered.
He pressed his hand on it. The texture felt wrong—like it wasn't just stone. With his other hand, he pulled out a small glowing crystal. It gave off a faint light. He had taken it from the secret box he found in the hidden tunnel last night.
"Please work," Eiden whispered.
He pressed the crystal into the center of the wall. For a moment, nothing happened. Then—
Click.
A soft sound. The wall shimmered for just one second. Then it vanished, turning into air. Behind it was a staircase going down, deeper into the ground.
Eiden looked around. No one was watching. He stepped inside and began to descend.
---
The stairs were narrow. Dust covered each step. It looked like no one had walked here for hundreds of years. The air was thick and old. His boots made soft noises as he walked down slowly, step by step.
After a few minutes, he reached the bottom. A large stone door stood in front of him. Words were carved into it—but in a language no longer taught. Yet, to Eiden, they were familiar.
> "Only those who remember may enter."
His heart beat faster. That was his handwriting. He had written this… in his past life.
He placed his palm on the door. Energy flowed into it. The door responded, glowing faintly. Then it began to open with a deep rumbling sound.
Inside was a wide room. Torches on the walls lit themselves with blue fire as he entered. Books, scrolls, broken tools, and crystals were scattered everywhere. It was like a forgotten lab.
He walked to the middle. A circle was drawn on the ground. In its center, a sword was stabbed into the stone floor. Next to it lay a leather notebook—old, burned at the edges, but still readable.
Eiden picked it up and opened the first page.
> "Day 1. The experiment to mix sword and magic begins."
He smiled. "I wrote this... a long time ago."
---
For the next few hours, Eiden read through the notes. They talked about spells, sword paths, and runes. Some pages had diagrams. Some had parts missing. But he understood most of it.
He pulled out his wooden practice sword. Holding it tightly, he began to move. Step by step, he followed the sword forms from the book. Each swing, each thrust, was combined with a small rune.
Light sparkled at the edge of his blade.
It was weak, but it was there.
"Again," Eiden said to himself.
And again, he moved. Sweat fell from his forehead. But he did not stop. Each hour he trained, the light got stronger. The swings became faster.
He was creating something new—something only he could do.
---
Back at the academy, a few students noticed Eiden's seat was empty again in the morning class. One of them, Elara, narrowed her eyes.
"He's missing again," she muttered. "Three nights in a row now."
She looked at the teacher, then at the window. Her hand touched the charm at her waist.
"I'll follow him tonight."
---
Down below, Eiden sat in the circle. The room was quiet except for the hum of magic. He held the sword on his lap and whispered:
"I don't remember everything yet… but this power… it's mine."
Outside, in the shadows, someone watched the stone wall quietly.
The whispers had returned.