The west wing of Aetherwell Academy was quieter than usual, its hallways eerily silent. It was nearing midnight, and Eren and Cedric moved cautiously through the shadows, their footsteps muffled by the ancient stone floors.
Eren clutched the leather-bound book tightly, his eyes darting between the map and his surroundings. The pendant around his neck pulsed faintly, as if it, too, was guiding him.
"This way," he whispered, turning down a narrow corridor that led deeper into the west wing.
Cedric followed close behind, his wand drawn and glowing faintly at the tip. "I still think we should have brought Kaia," he muttered.
"She's already mad at me," Eren said, keeping his voice low. "If she knew about this, she'd never forgive me."
"She'll be even angrier if we get caught or killed," Cedric pointed out.
Eren ignored him, focusing on the map. According to the text, the hidden chamber lay beneath the west wing, accessible only through a secret passage hidden in the wall of an old classroom.
They reached the end of the corridor and stopped in front of a heavy wooden door. Faded gold letters above the doorframe read: Advanced Transmutation, Lecture Hall 3.
"This is it," Eren said, glancing at the map.
Cedric pushed the door open, and the two boys stepped inside. The room was dark and abandoned, the air thick with the scent of dust and parchment. Rows of wooden desks were stacked neatly at the back, and a large chalkboard covered most of the front wall.
"Where do we start?" Cedric asked, scanning the room.
Eren set the book down on the nearest desk, flipping to the map again. "There's supposed to be a symbol on the wall. Something to do with fire."
Cedric snorted. "Of course it's fire."
Ignoring him, Eren moved toward the front of the room, running his fingers along the stone wall. The pendant grew warmer with each step, its glow illuminating faint carvings in the surface.
"Here," he said, stopping in front of a section of the wall near the chalkboard. A symbol was etched into the stone—a circular flame, almost identical to the one on his pendant.
"What now?" Cedric asked, standing beside him.
Eren hesitated, then reached out and placed his hand on the symbol. The stone was cool under his palm, but the pendant flared to life, its heat spreading through his body.
The wall began to shift, the carvings glowing faintly as the stones moved and rearranged themselves. A narrow archway appeared, leading to a spiral staircase that descended into darkness.
Cedric whistled softly. "That's… not ominous at all."
Eren swallowed hard, gripping his wand. "You don't have to come with me."
Cedric rolled his eyes. "We've been over this. Let's go."
They stepped through the archway and began their descent, the air growing colder with each step. The staircase spiraled downward for what felt like forever, the only light coming from their wands and the faint glow of the pendant.
Finally, they reached the bottom, stepping into a circular chamber. The walls were lined with ancient carvings, depicting scenes of fire and destruction. In the center of the room stood a pedestal, and on it rested a small, metallic object shaped like a key.
"The Ashen Key," Cedric murmured.
"No," Eren said, stepping closer. "It's not the real key. It's… a piece of it."
The pendant pulsed again, and Eren felt a strange pull toward the object. He reached out, his fingers brushing the surface. The moment he touched it, a surge of energy shot through him, and the carvings on the walls began to glow.
The room trembled, and a deep, resonant voice echoed in the chamber.
"The bearer of the Ashen Key approaches. Will you accept the burden of truth?"
Eren froze, his heart pounding. "What does that mean?" he whispered.
"I don't think it's waiting for an answer," Cedric said, his voice tight.
The walls began to shift, the carvings transforming into moving images. They showed a figure shrouded in flames, holding the Ashen Key aloft as the world burned around them.
Eren felt a chill run down his spine. "Is this… the future?"
The voice spoke again.
"The Ashen Key is a gift and a curse. To wield its power is to walk the path of fire. But beware—the flames consume as easily as they protect."
The images shifted again, this time showing a group of figures standing together against the flames. Each of them held a different object—a sword, a staff, a shield, and more.
"Others," Cedric said, stepping closer to the wall. "There were others who fought against this. Maybe they can help us."
Eren stared at the images, his mind racing. If there were others connected to the Ashen Key, they might know how to control its power—or how to destroy it.
Before he could say anything, the ground beneath them shook violently. Cracks spread across the floor, and the glow from the carvings grew brighter.
"We need to get out of here," Cedric said, grabbing Eren's arm.
Eren hesitated, then grabbed the fragment of the key from the pedestal. The moment he did, the pendant around his neck grew searing hot, and the room erupted into flames.
"Run!" Cedric shouted, pulling him toward the staircase.
They sprinted up the spiral stairs, the heat from the flames licking at their heels. The archway at the top was closing, the stones shifting back into place.
Eren pushed himself harder, his lungs burning as he and Cedric dove through the opening just before it sealed shut.
They collapsed on the floor of the classroom, gasping for breath. Behind them, the wall was solid once more, the symbol of the flame faint and unlit.
"What… was that?" Cedric panted, sitting up.
Eren held up the fragment of the key, its surface shimmering faintly. "I think it's the beginning of something much bigger."
Cedric groaned, flopping back onto the floor. "Great. Because things weren't complicated enough already."
Eren didn't respond. He stared at the fragment in his hand, the weight of the voice's words settling heavily in his mind.
The path of fire.
What had he gotten himself into?