Aria, Elijah, and Professor Nightshade venture into Ashwood Academy's hidden archives, a labyrinthine section of the library reserved for forbidden knowledge.
The air is thick with dust, and ancient tomes line the shelves, their leather bindings creaking with age.
Nightshade leads them to a section filled with texts on dark magic and ancient artifacts.
"This is where we'll find clues about the Shattered Reflection," he says, his eyes scanning the shelves.
As they search, Aria discovers a cryptic message etched into the wall, hidden behind a tattered tapestry:
"Beneath the moon's pale light,
Seek the keystone, hidden in plain sight."
Elijah's eyes narrow. "What does it mean?"
Nightshade's expression turns thoughtful. "The keystone might be a physical object or a metaphorical key.
We need to decipher the message."
Aria's ancestor's diary reveals a hidden compartment, concealed within the diary's cover.
Inside, they find:
One, A moonstone pendant with an intricate symbol, matching the one on the cryptic message
Two, A map of the academy's hidden passageways, highlighting a secret route
Three, A riddle, written in an ancient language:
"Where shadows dance, light reveals
The keystone's path, through silence feels"
Nightshade's eyes light up. "This riddle points to an ancient ritual.
We need to recreate the conditions to uncover the keystone's location."
Aria's determination grows. "Let's do it."
Elijah nods. "We'll need to move quickly.
Kael's followers might be closing in."
Recreating the Ritual:
Nightshade explains the ritual requires:
One, A full moon
Two , A specific alignment of celestial bodies
Three, A silent, darkness-free environment
Aria's eyes sparkle. "I think I know where we can do it."
She leads them to an abandoned observatory on the academy's outskirts.
Under the full moon, they prepare the ritual:
One, Lighting candles to replicate the celestial alignment
Two, Using sound-absorbing materials to create silence
Three, Aria wears the moonstone pendant, connecting her to the ancient magic
As the ritual begins, the air shifts, and shadows dance across the walls.
A hidden door slides open, revealing a narrow passageway.