Eren and Kaia's training sessions became routine over the next few weeks. While others prepared for the upcoming Aetherwell Equinox Festival—a grand celebration of magic and unity—the two of them dedicated every spare moment to unlocking the mysteries of the Ashen Key.
Eren's control over fire magic was improving rapidly. The spiral flame that had once eluded him now danced effortlessly in his palm, and he had even begun experimenting with spells not found in the book. Kaia had proven invaluable, her sharp mind and steady patience keeping him grounded when frustration threatened to take over.
But the more they practiced, the more Eren became aware of a growing unease within himself. The Ashen Key fragment, tucked beneath his cloak, seemed to hum with a low, restless energy, as though it were aware of something he wasn't.
And then there were the whispers.
They had started a week ago—faint, indistinct murmurs that drifted through the air when Eren was alone. At first, he thought he was imagining them, but they grew louder with each passing day, until they became impossible to ignore.
One evening, after yet another training session, Eren sat alone in the library, poring over a dusty tome on ancient magical artifacts. The flickering candlelight cast long shadows across the room, and the faint sound of pages turning filled the silence.
But then the whispers began again.
Eren froze, his eyes scanning the dimly lit library. The whispers were soft at first, like the rustling of leaves, but they gradually grew louder, forming words that sent chills down his spine.
"…danger… find it… before they do…"
He stood abruptly, the chair scraping against the stone floor. "Who's there?"
The whispers faded, leaving behind an oppressive silence. Eren's heart pounded as he looked around, but the library was empty.
Clenching his jaw, he reached into his cloak and pulled out the fragment of the Ashen Key. Its surface was warm to the touch, and the faint glow that emanated from its edges seemed brighter than usual.
It's connected, he thought. The key is trying to tell me something.
He slipped the fragment back into his pocket and hurried out of the library, his mind racing.
The next morning, Eren shared his experience with Kaia as they walked to their first class.
"Whispers?" she said, her brow furrowing. "That's… unsettling. Do you think it's the key?"
Eren nodded. "I can't think of anything else it could be. But it's not just random noise—it's like it's trying to warn me about something."
Kaia frowned, her gaze distant. "If the key is warning you, then maybe something—or someone—is getting closer to it. We need to figure out what it's reacting to."
Eren agreed, but neither of them could think of a way to interpret the whispers. The fragment's cryptic behavior only deepened the mystery surrounding the Ashen Key.
Later that day, during Defense Rites class, Eren's unease took a sharp turn into dread.
The lesson was focused on recognizing and defending against shadowbound—a rare, malevolent type of spirit that thrived on fear and uncertainty. Professor Thorne, a stern woman with a knack for making students uncomfortable, had conjured an illusion of a shadowbound to demonstrate its hunting behavior.
"Shadowbound are opportunistic," she explained, pacing in front of the class. "They are drawn to strong sources of magic, particularly when that magic is tied to raw emotion. Once they latch onto a target, they are difficult to shake off. Does anyone know how to repel them?"
Eren wasn't paying attention to her words. His eyes were fixed on the illusion of the shadowbound—a shifting, amorphous figure with glowing red eyes and jagged edges. It slithered across the floor, its form constantly morphing.
For a moment, he could have sworn it turned toward him.
His hand clenched around the edge of his desk, and the fragment in his pocket grew hotter.
"Mr. Evern!"
Eren jolted, realizing Professor Thorne was staring at him expectantly. "Y-yes?"
"What is the primary defense against a shadowbound?" she repeated, her tone clipped.
"Uh… light magic?" he guessed, barely managing to pull the answer from his scattered thoughts.
Thorne's lips twitched in disapproval. "Correct, though I'd prefer if you paid closer attention."
The rest of the class passed in a blur. Eren couldn't shake the feeling that something was watching him.
That night, Eren and Kaia met in the practice grounds again.
"I think it's the shadowbound," Eren said, pacing back and forth. "The whispers, the unease—it all started after I found the fragment. What if it's attracting something?"
Kaia crossed her arms, her expression serious. "If that's true, then we need to figure out how to protect you. If the fragment is drawing shadowbound, you'll be their target."
Eren nodded, his mind racing. "Professor Thorne said light magic can repel them. I'll start practicing tomorrow."
Kaia hesitated, then added, "Maybe we should tell someone. Professor Caelith, or even Thorne. They might know how to help."
Eren shook his head. "Not yet. I don't want to draw more attention to this. If word gets out about the Ashen Key, who knows what'll happen?"
Kaia didn't look convinced, but she didn't argue.
"Fine," she said. "But promise me you'll be careful. If you start hearing those whispers again, come find me immediately."
"I promise," Eren said.
But deep down, he wasn't sure if even Kaia's support would be enough to protect him from the shadows closing in.