In a dimly lit passageway illuminated by magic crystals hanging along the walls, Amabel hurried after Sylvia, her arms full with books and papers pressed tightly against her chest. "Sylvia, wait…" she called, slightly breathless from trying to keep up.
Sylvia, moving briskly ahead, barely turned back as she replied, "We need to inform the headmistress about this as soon as possible," her tone tense and urgent. In her right hand, Sylvia clutched a stack of documents — translations and deciphered passages that seemed to hold critical information.
Outside, the night had settled in, and moonlight filtered through an arched window, casting a pale glow across the passageway. Aki was walking slowly in thought, his mind replaying the troubling words he'd overheard in the headmistress's office. He was still uncertain if he should share what he had sensed in the garden with her.
Just then, the sound of hurried footsteps echoed ahead. Sylvia's determined figure came into view, with Amabel trailing closely behind, trying to match her pace.
As they dashed forward, Amabel briefly caught Aki's gaze, nodding to acknowledge him before refocusing on catching up to Sylvia.
Aki paused, watching them disappear around a corner, his curiosity piqued. "Isn't that the same girl I ran into earlier?" he murmured to himself, recalling their collision from that afternoon.
Sylvia arrived first at the headmistress's office door and knocked briskly. "Pardon me, headmistress. May I come in? I have an urgent matter to discuss," she called out, her tone conveying a sense of urgency.
Moments later, Amabel caught up, slightly out of breath.
Inside the office, the headmistress was seated at her desk, with Sir William and Sir Francis sitting across from her.
"That sounds like Sylvia," Sir Francis noted, exchanging a glance with Sir William, who seemed to share his recognition.
"Sylvia…" the headmistress murmured, a touch of nostalgia in her voice. Sylvia had once been a student at the academy, so it was no surprise that the headmistress recognized her name. "You may come in," she called.
With a determined look, Sylvia quickly opened the door, only to find Sir William and Sir Francis already there, their gazes fixed on her as she entered. "Eh… Both of you are here?" she blurted out, clearly surprised. But then, catching herself, she added with a spark of enthusiasm, "Perfect!"
Both knights looked at her, puzzled by her reaction. From behind, Amabel stepped in and moved to stand beside Sylvia, bowing slightly, her hood still up as she composed herself.
Sometimes later...
Inside the headmistress's office, the group gathered around a wooden rectangular table. On top lay Sylvia's notes, the translations she had made from the old texts found in the archive. Sylvia leaned forward, one hand braced against the table while her other hand pointed to a specific line. The headmistress stood across from her, hands on her waist, studying the notes intently. Beside her, Sir William held his chin, contemplating the text, while Sir Francis, arms crossed, wore a serious expression. Amabel stood quietly beside Sylvia, her hands folded neatly in front of her.
"It says here that arch mage Kayne used the Mother Crystal as a summoning tool," Sylvia explained, her finger tracing the ancient writing. "This text dates back around 300 years, likely from the last age of the first Royal Rothrosian lineage."
"Kayne… That name sounds oddly familiar," Sir Francis murmured, frowning in thought.
"If I'm not mistaken, I remember hearing that name in bedtime stories when I was a child," Sir William added, drawing puzzled glances from the others.
"Bedtime story… You're referring to the tale of the Nightly Terror, aren't you?" the headmistress said.
"Ah, yes! That's the one," Sir William replied, a nostalgic smile forming. "The story was supposed to keep kids from playing outside too late at night."
"Never heard of it," Sir Francis muttered, raising an eyebrow.
"Well, it's a tale that originates from the northern part of the kingdom," Sir William explained. "My late grandfather used to tell it to stop us from staying out too long after dark."
"So, who was this arch mage Kayne?" Sylvia asked eagerly.
The headmistress replied, "Kayne was believed to be one of the greatest mages of all time, but his greed for power ultimately consumed him. Most historical records about him have either been lost or were likely erased. His name survives mainly through oral stories, passed down through generations."
"Ah… yes, Kayne," Sir Francis suddenly spoke, prompting a puzzled look from Sir William.
Sir Francis continued, "Back when I was an adventurer, I once teamed up with a group of mages on a mission. One of them mentioned a powerful mage of old named Kayne. To think his name would appear alongside the Mother Crystal... it's almost unreal."
"So, this Kayne—a once powerful mage—did something so terrible that his name was erased from history, yet he lives on through stories and legends," Sylvia stated, seeking confirmation.
"Seems like it," Sir William agreed, nodding.
"But… what did he summon?" the headmistress asked, her curiosity piqued.
Sylvia pointed to the last paragraph in her notes. "Here, it says, 'The Ghoul King has been reborn.'"
"Wait…," Sir Francis leaned in closer, eyes narrowing. "Ghoul? What?" He turned to the headmistress, noticing her concerned expression.
"There's only one Ghoul King ever mentioned in the stories of old," the headmistress said solemnly. "And to see it documented in Rothrosia's historical records… this is unsettling."
"So, who is this Ghoul King?" Sir William asked, his tone filled with curiosity. Sir Francis also turned his attention fully to the headmistress.
Taking a deep breath, the headmistress explained, "The Ghoul King is none other than the Demon Lord Alastair, who commanded an army of ghouls, attacking humans from the shadows at night. His terror was written about in the tale of Athia's war against Nishay."
A heavy silence filled the room. The weight of the revelation left everyone in disbelief. Even Sylvia, who had learned bits and pieces from Amabel, found it hard to process. The myths, legends, and tales they had grown up with were now unfolding as chilling reality before them.
Sir Francis broke the silence. "William, that ghoul… the one we encountered in the mine," he said, his tone laced with realization.
"Yeah, I know," Sir William replied, understanding the connection immediately.
"What ghoul?" Sylvia asked, puzzled. Amabel also leaned in, intrigued.
Sir William placed a hand on his waist and explained, "Sir Francis and I recently investigated an old abandoned mine near the academy, and…" He glanced at the headmistress before continuing, "we came across a creature that the headmistress suspects might be a ghoul."
"What? Are you serious?" Sylvia exclaimed, taken aback. Her eyes widened in disbelief.
The headmistress nodded, clarifying, "Based on their description, it matches the characteristics of a ghoul, though it's still an assumption. A thorough investigation is needed to confirm it."
Sylvia took a deep breath, regaining her composure. Crossing her arms over her chest, she said, "A ghoul is a creation of dark magic, requiring a human sacrifice. Only a truly wicked mind would attempt to bring such a creature into existence."
"That's why we decided to investigate further tomorrow," Sir Francis added.
Sylvia's eyes gleamed with determination. "Let me join the investigation!" she said resolutely.
Sir William looked at her with concern. "It might be dangerous…" he started, but before he could finish, Sir Francis interjected, "I trust her. She's proven herself. Without her help, we might not have survived the witches' attack."
Sylvia's expression brightened with hope and determination. Seeing her enthusiasm, Sir William gave a small smile and said, "Very well. We could use a capable mage with us."
Sylvia's face lit up with a smile. "I'll do my best," she said confidently.
The headmistress, smiling at Sylvia's eagerness, subtly turned her gaze to Amabel. Feeling the headmistress's eyes on her, Amabel quickly spoke up. "I… I'll stay here. There's still a lot of work to do in the archive," she said, her voice tinged with concern.
Sylvia turned to Amabel with an encouraging smile. "I'll trust you with it."
The headmistress then stepped forward slightly. "I won't be able to join the investigation myself, but I'll send one of my best professors instead. His name is Professor Gale, and he specializes in the study of magical creatures."
With the plan set, they agreed to head back to the mine the following day to uncover the secrets within.
Outside, the moon shone brightly in the night sky. The weather was calm, with a gentle breeze rustling the leaves. A distant wolf's howl echoed through the night.
In the shadows of the old mine, a rough, hoarse grunt resonated, followed by the eerie glow of two eyes watching in the darkness.