The next few days were filled with uneasy silence. The whispers from the Ashen Key fragment had not returned, but the feeling of being watched lingered, like a dark cloud hanging over Eren's every step.
He could barely focus on his classes, his thoughts constantly drifting to the shadowbound and the growing sense of dread that seemed to follow him. The warmth of the fragment in his pocket had become a constant presence, a reminder of the dangerous path he had chosen.
Kaia, ever observant, noticed the change in him.
"You're zoning out again," she said one afternoon, nudging him as they walked to the library. "What's going on? You've barely said anything in the past hour."
Eren blinked, trying to shake off the fog in his mind. "Sorry. Just… thinking."
"About the shadowbound?" she asked, her voice laced with concern.
Eren nodded. "I think they're getting closer. The whispers… I haven't heard them, but something's off. I feel like I'm being hunted."
Kaia's face hardened with determination. "We'll figure this out. We just need to get ahead of it before it catches up to you."
Eren couldn't help but feel a surge of gratitude for her unwavering support. But the fear gnawing at him remained. What if it was already too late?
That evening, as the sun began to set and the shadows stretched long across the courtyard, Eren found himself once again alone in the practice grounds. He had come here to focus, to hone his control over his fire magic, but it was hard to ignore the creeping sensation that something was lurking in the darkness.
He summoned a flame, steadying his breath as it flared into existence. The flickering light pushed back the darkness for a moment, but Eren couldn't shake the feeling that it wasn't enough.
The wind picked up, carrying with it a soft, chilling whisper—faint, but unmistakable.
"Find it… before it's too late…"
Eren's heart raced, his pulse quickening. The voice was back, louder now, its urgency sharp and clear. He clenched his fist around the flame, but instead of calming him, the magic seemed to flare out of control.
The fire surged wildly, spinning in erratic circles before exploding into a burst of heat that singed the edges of his sleeve.
"Damn it!" Eren hissed, extinguishing the fire with a wave of his hand.
His mind was reeling. The whisper had been too specific. The danger was no longer abstract. Someone—or something—was after the Ashen Key.
"Eren?"
The familiar voice snapped him out of his thoughts, and he turned to find Kaia standing a few feet away, her eyes wide with concern.
"You… you're hearing it again, aren't you?" she asked softly.
Eren nodded, his chest tight. "It's warning me. But I don't know what I'm supposed to do about it."
Kaia stepped closer, her face determined. "We need to figure out who—or what—is after the Ashen Key. If the shadowbound are involved, then we're dealing with something far worse than we thought."
Eren clenched his fists, frustration boiling inside him. "I know, but we don't have enough information. And every time I try to figure something out, it just leads to more questions."
"Then let's make sure we don't have to do this alone," Kaia said, her voice steady. "There has to be someone who knows more about this. Professor Caelith, maybe? Or… perhaps the Headmaster?"
Eren hesitated. He didn't want to involve anyone else. Not yet. The more people who knew about the Ashen Key, the more dangerous it could become.
But as he looked at Kaia's unwavering expression, he realized she was right. They couldn't face this alone.
"Alright," Eren said, taking a deep breath. "We'll talk to Professor Caelith tomorrow. But we have to be careful. We don't know who's watching."
Kaia nodded, her eyes sharp. "I'll be with you every step of the way."
And for the first time in what felt like days, Eren allowed himself to relax. He wasn't alone in this—he had Kaia, and together they might just stand a chance against whatever darkness was looming.
The following morning, they found themselves outside Professor Caelith's office, both filled with a nervous energy. Eren had tried to remain calm, but the weight of the situation was too great. His hand instinctively went to the fragment of the Ashen Key hidden beneath his cloak, as if reassuring himself that it was still there.
"Are you sure about this?" Kaia asked quietly. "We don't know how Caelith will react. He might not want to get involved."
"I know," Eren replied. "But we can't keep doing this on our own. We need help, Kaia. If the shadowbound are after me, we can't afford to wait any longer."
Kaia nodded in agreement, her expression serious. "Alright. Let's do it."
They knocked on the door, and moments later, Professor Caelith's deep voice beckoned them inside.
"Come in."
The office was just as Eren remembered it—filled with shelves of ancient texts, magical artifacts, and faintly glowing orbs of light. Caelith was seated at his desk, his long fingers steepled together as he looked up at them with a raised brow.
"What brings you two here today?" he asked, his tone neutral.
Eren swallowed hard. "Professor, we need your help. It's about the Ashen Key."
Caelith's eyes flickered with recognition. "I see."
He motioned for them to sit, and once they had, he leaned forward slightly. "Tell me everything."
Eren took a deep breath, explaining the whispers, the strange occurrences, and his growing fear that something—or someone—was after the Ashen Key. Kaia added her own observations, recounting how Eren's magic had become unstable and how they believed the shadowbound were involved.
When they finished, Professor Caelith was silent for a moment, his expression unreadable.
Finally, he spoke.
"This is far more complicated than I imagined," he said quietly. "The Ashen Key is not just an artifact—it is a key to something ancient and dangerous. It has been sought by many over the centuries, but those who seek it are not always what they seem."
Eren's heart skipped a beat. "What do you mean?"
Caelith met his gaze, his eyes sharp. "It is said that the Ashen Key can unlock a door to immense power. And those who seek that power are willing to do anything to possess it. That includes the shadowbound—and worse."
Eren's mind reeled. "Worse? Who else is after it?"
Caelith's gaze softened slightly, though the weight of his words hung in the air.
"You're not the only one being watched," he said softly. "And you need to be very careful. The true enemy is far closer than you realize."
Eren and Kaia exchanged a glance, their shared unease palpable.
It seemed their journey had only just begun.