The rumors about the Arcane Academy lingered in Yuuto's mind, refusing to fade even as he tried to focus on his training. The whispers of ambition, power, and danger had taken root in his thoughts, and despite Aethir's warnings, Yuuto couldn't help but wonder if the Academy held the key to unlocking the strength he needed to face the dark forces in Aetheria.
As the days passed, Yuuto's curiosity grew, and soon, he found himself asking more questions—subtly at first, but then more directly. However, most of the Elves he spoke with gave him the same cautious answers as Aethir had. The Academy was a place of great potential, but it was also a place where many lost their way.
It wasn't until one evening, after another long day of training, that Yuuto encountered someone who knew more than just rumors.
He had been walking through one of the quieter sections of Elandrial, lost in thought, when an old voice called out to him from the shadows of a large oak tree.
"You're the one asking about the Arcane Academy, aren't you?"
Startled, Yuuto turned to see an ancient Elf sitting beneath the tree, wrapped in a tattered cloak that seemed to blend with the earth around him. His face was deeply lined with age, his eyes cloudy but sharp with a wisdom that sent a shiver down Yuuto's spine.
"I… yes," Yuuto admitted cautiously, stepping closer. "I've heard rumors about the place. I was wondering if—"
"You were wondering if it's worth the risk," the old Elf interrupted, his voice hoarse but firm. "I've seen that look before. You want to grow stronger, and you think the Academy might be the way to do it."
Yuuto hesitated, caught off guard by the old Elf's directness. "I've heard a lot of things. But no one has given me a clear answer. They talk about power, but they also talk about danger. I want to know what the truth is."
The old Elf let out a low, dry laugh. "Ah, the truth. That's a rare thing, especially when it comes to the Arcane Academy." He shifted, leaning against the trunk of the tree as he eyed Yuuto. "You won't find many willing to speak openly about it, but I've lived long enough to know the truth of that place. And I'll tell you, if you're willing to listen."
Yuuto nodded, intrigued and cautious at the same time. "I'm listening."
The old Elf's gaze sharpened, and he began to speak in a low, deliberate tone.
"The Arcane Academy was founded centuries ago, long before the Elves retreated to Elandrial and the humans began building their kingdoms. It was built on the idea that magic should be mastered—completely and without restraint. The founders believed that the natural limits of magic were nothing more than barriers to be broken. They sought to push the boundaries of what was possible, to unlock the deepest, most dangerous secrets of magic."
Yuuto felt a chill run down his spine as the old Elf continued.
"In the beginning, it was a place of great discovery. Many of the spells and techniques we use today were developed there. But as the centuries passed, the Academy's pursuit of power grew darker. They began experimenting with forms of magic that most mages would never dare touch—forbidden magic, the kind that twists the soul and warps the mind."
Yuuto's breath caught at the mention of forbidden magic, the very term sending a wave of unease through him. He remembered the rumors he had overheard, of mages expelled from the Academy for dabbling in forbidden arts, for pushing too far in their search for power.
"What kind of magic?" Yuuto asked quietly.
The old Elf's expression darkened. "Magic that controls life and death. Magic that corrupts the very essence of mana itself. There are whispers of mages who sought to bind souls, to trap them in crystals and objects, using them as fuel for their spells. Some even tried to create life—golems of flesh and blood, twisted creatures that should not exist."
Yuuto swallowed hard, feeling a growing sense of dread. "And they… allowed this?"
The old Elf nodded gravely. "For a time. The Academy's philosophy was that no magic should be off-limits. If it could be controlled, then it should be studied. But of course, not all magic can be controlled. Eventually, the experiments led to disaster. Mages lost their minds, their bodies twisted by the very magic they sought to master. The Academy was nearly destroyed by its own arrogance."
Yuuto was silent for a moment, his thoughts racing. The more he learned about the Arcane Academy, the more dangerous it seemed. And yet, there was still something that pulled at him—a desire to understand, to learn what the Academy knew, even if it meant facing the risks.
"What happened after that?" Yuuto asked. "Did they stop the experiments?"
The old Elf let out another dry laugh. "Some say they did. Others believe that the forbidden magic still thrives in the shadows of the Academy, hidden from outsiders. The Academy is a place of secrets, and not all of them are meant to be uncovered. But one thing is certain: those who go there seeking power often find themselves trapped in its pursuit, unable to turn back."
Yuuto felt the weight of the old Elf's words settle over him like a heavy cloak. He had come to Aetheria seeking strength, but was the Arcane Academy the path he should take? The allure of power was tempting, especially with the dark magic spreading across the land, but was it worth the risk?
As if sensing Yuuto's internal struggle, the old Elf leaned forward, his cloudy eyes narrowing. "I've seen many young mages make the same choice you're facing now. Some left the Academy stronger, wiser. But others… others were consumed by it. Their ambition, their desire for power—it twisted them into something unrecognizable."
Yuuto's throat tightened. "Do you think I should go?"
The old Elf's gaze softened, and for the first time, his voice took on a tone of kindness. "That is not for me to decide, boy. The Academy can teach you things you will never learn anywhere else. But it can also destroy you if you're not careful. The choice is yours, but if you go, you must remember this: balance. Without it, you will lose yourself. The Academy has a way of feeding on your ambition, of making you believe that power is all that matters. Don't fall into that trap."
Yuuto nodded slowly, the weight of the decision pressing down on him. The old Elf's warning echoed in his mind, but so did the stories of the powerful mages who had emerged from the Academy, their mastery of magic unmatched by any other.
Before Yuuto could speak again, the old Elf rose to his feet, his frail form standing tall despite his age. "I've told you what I know. The rest is up to you. But remember, Yuuto—power is a dangerous thing when it's not tempered by wisdom."
With that, the old Elf turned and walked away, disappearing into the shadows of the trees, leaving Yuuto alone with his thoughts.
That night, as Yuuto lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling of his small room in Elandrial, the old Elf's warning replayed over and over in his mind. The Arcane Academy was a place of immense power, but it was also a place of danger—danger that could lead him down a path he might not return from.
But as he drifted off to sleep, Yuuto knew one thing for certain: if he was going to face the dark magic spreading through Aetheria, he needed to learn everything he could. Whether that meant going to the Arcane Academy or finding another path, he would need to be prepared for the challenges ahead.
And as the shadows of his dreams deepened, Yuuto couldn't help but wonder: What secrets was the Academy hiding? And how far would he be willing to go to uncover them?