Eiden walked out of the training yard, sweat still dripping from his brow. The duel with Elara left a strange feeling in his chest. She saw the magic. Just a flicker, just a flash. But enough.
And she said nothing.
He couldn't trust her yet. But she didn't report him either. That meant something.
The night sky was cloudy again, covering the moon. Eiden made sure no one followed him before slipping into a dark alley behind the dormitory. His steps were quiet. He had done this so many times now. His body moved on its own.
He reached the old tunnel hidden beneath a loose brick wall. With a soft push, the bricks slid open, and he entered the narrow passage.
The air was cold and damp.
He walked in silence, passing old symbols and cracked stones. The deeper he went, the warmer the air became. Magic still lingered here. Ancient and wild. It felt like a whisper against his skin.
He reached the underground room—the same one from before. The ancient ruin beneath the academy. Broken pillars. Faded glyphs. Old papers and strange crystals scattered around.
But this time, he wasn't alone.
"...You're late."
A voice echoed from the shadows. Eiden froze, hand on his sword.
A girl stepped out. Elara.
She wore her uniform coat loosely, her silver hair tied up in a messy bun. Her eyes locked onto his.
"I followed you," she said calmly. "You've been acting strange."
Eiden said nothing.
"You're not a normal student," she continued. "I thought you were working for Black Thorn, but… you're something else, aren't you?"
He frowned. "You shouldn't be here."
Elara walked closer. "Then explain. What is this place?"
Eiden sighed and lowered his hand. "It's a ruin. From the old world. Before the magic system was rewritten."
"You mean the time of the Archmages?"
He nodded slowly. "Yes."
Elara looked around. Her eyes landed on one of the notes—written in an old language. "You can read this?"
"I wrote it," Eiden whispered, almost too quiet to hear.
Elara looked at him sharply. "What did you say?"
"Nothing," he said quickly. "Just… don't touch anything."
She didn't press further, but the suspicion in her eyes grew.
Eiden went back to the circle in the center of the room. He sat down and began drawing with a piece of chalk. Strange lines, curved shapes, and ancient marks filled the floor.
"What are you doing?" Elara asked.
"Testing a new fusion method. Sword and magic together."
Elara's eyes narrowed. "That's dangerous."
"I know," he said. "That's why I have to do it."
He stood up, drew his sword, and held it above the glowing circle. The blade shimmered as mana flowed through it.
A soft hum filled the air.
Elara took a step back. "That's… not normal magic."
"No. It's not."
The blade burst with light. Small runes floated around it. Eiden swung the sword once. The slash cut the air, leaving behind a trail of sparks.
Elara watched in silence, her eyes wide.
"That technique…" she whispered. "It looks like… it was meant for war."
"It was."
They stood there, the air thick with energy. Then, from the hallway behind them—a sound.
Footsteps.
Elara grabbed her staff. Eiden hid the blade behind his coat.
A shadow moved across the wall. Someone else was here.
They weren't alone.
To be continued…