Eren walked back to the dormitory with a strange mixture of exhaustion and resolve. His training with Professor Caelith had left him drained, but something had shifted. For the first time, he didn't feel entirely afraid of the fire burning inside him.
The corridors of Aetherwell were quiet at this hour, the faint hum of magical wards the only sound. As he passed the windows, the moonlight reflected off the pendant around his neck, and he felt its warmth pulse faintly, as if acknowledging his effort.
He reached the door to his dorm room, but paused when he heard low voices from inside.
"I'm just saying, it's getting worse," Kaia's voice said, muffled but sharp.
"You don't know that," Cedric replied. His tone was softer, but there was an edge of concern.
"Don't I? He won't talk to us, Cedric. And that thing around his neck—it's dangerous. You've seen what it does to him."
Eren's stomach dropped. He stepped closer to the door, pressing his ear against the wood.
"I know," Cedric said after a pause. "But he's still Eren. He's just… struggling right now."
"And what if that struggle gets someone hurt?" Kaia said, her voice rising. "You saw what happened in sparring today. That fire—he couldn't stop it. What if next time it's not a dummy he burns?"
"That's not fair," Cedric said, his voice tightening.
"It's the truth," Kaia said, her tone quieter now but no less intense. "I care about him too, Cedric. But we can't ignore this. If he won't open up, how are we supposed to help him?"
Eren backed away from the door, his chest tight. He didn't want to hear any more. Turning on his heel, he walked down the corridor, his footsteps echoing in the empty halls.
He didn't know where he was going, but his feet carried him to the library. It was mostly empty this late, save for a few students poring over books at the far end of the room. Eren found a quiet corner near the back, where the shelves were crammed with dusty tomes that no one seemed to touch.
He sank into a chair, letting his head fall into his hands. Kaia was right. He couldn't control the magic, and every time he tried, it felt like it was slipping further out of his grasp.
The pendant pulsed again, and he felt a faint whisper at the edge of his mind.
Embrace it.
He sat up, his eyes darting around the room. "What was that?" he muttered.
The whisper came again, softer this time, but insistent.
You are stronger than you know.
Eren's heart pounded. The pendant had always been a source of power, but it had never… spoken to him. Was this part of the Ashen Key's magic?
He looked down at the pendant, its surface shimmering faintly in the dim light. "What are you trying to tell me?" he whispered.
The whisper didn't respond, but he felt the warmth spread from the pendant to his chest, as if it were encouraging him.
Before he could think too much about it, a hand landed on his shoulder, and he nearly jumped out of his chair.
"Easy, it's just me," Cedric said, holding up his hands in mock surrender.
Eren let out a shaky breath. "What are you doing here?"
"I could ask you the same thing," Cedric said, sliding into the chair across from him. "Kaia was worried when you didn't come back to the dorm."
Eren frowned. "Kaia's worried about a lot of things."
Cedric raised an eyebrow. "You heard us, didn't you?"
Eren didn't answer, but his silence was enough.
Cedric sighed, leaning back in his chair. "She doesn't mean it the way it sounds. She's scared, Eren. We both are. But that doesn't mean we don't trust you."
"It doesn't feel like it," Eren muttered.
"Look, I'm not going to pretend I understand what you're going through," Cedric said. "But I do know this—you're not alone. Whatever this magic is, whatever the pendant is doing to you, we'll figure it out. Together."
Eren looked at him, searching his face for any hint of doubt. But Cedric's gaze was steady, his words sincere.
Before Eren could respond, a loud thud echoed through the library. Both boys turned toward the sound, their wands already in their hands.
A book had fallen from one of the high shelves, landing with a resounding crash on the floor.
"That's odd," Cedric said, frowning.
Eren stood, moving toward the fallen book. The air around it felt strange, charged with a faint energy. As he bent to pick it up, the pendant pulsed again, brighter this time.
The book was heavy, its leather cover cracked with age. The title was embossed in faded gold letters: The Legacy of the Ashen Key.
Eren's breath caught in his throat. "This… this can't be a coincidence."
Cedric came to stand beside him, his eyes widening as he read the title. "What does it say?"
Eren opened the book carefully, the pages brittle under his fingers. The text was written in an old script, but he could make out enough to understand. It detailed the history of the Ashen Key, its origins, and the legends surrounding it.
"There's a map," Eren said, pointing to one of the pages. A rough sketch of the academy grounds was drawn there, with a hidden chamber marked beneath the west wing.
Cedric leaned closer. "Do you think it's still there?"
"I don't know," Eren said, his mind racing. "But I think we need to find out."
Cedric hesitated. "Eren, if this is about the Ashen Key, it could be dangerous."
"I know," Eren said, his grip tightening on the book. "But I don't have a choice. If I'm going to figure out what's happening to me, I need answers. And this might be the only way to get them."
Cedric nodded slowly. "Then I'm coming with you."
Eren looked at him, startled. "You don't have to—"
"Yes, I do," Cedric said firmly. "You're not doing this alone, Eren. Whether you like it or not."
Eren felt a flicker of gratitude, even as his fear grew. "All right," he said. "Let's do this."
The pendant warmed against his chest, as if in agreement.