Alaric Draven stepped into the faint light of the restricted archives, his presence commanding and cold. His pale blue eyes glinted like frost as they fell on Eren and Kaia, who were still pressed against the shelf, wands drawn.
"Well," Alaric said smoothly, his voice laced with mockery, "breaking into the restricted archives. Even for you two, that's bold."
Eren tightened his grip on his wand, his mind racing. Alaric had always been a thorn in their side, but this felt different. The way he moved, the way his gaze lingered on Eren's pocket—it was as if he knew.
"What are you doing here, Alaric?" Kaia said sharply, stepping forward. She kept her wand steady, but her voice carried a note of steel.
Alaric smirked. "I could ask you the same question. Late-night studying? Or perhaps you've taken a sudden interest in forbidden knowledge?"
Eren's chest tightened. He knew they were caught, but something about Alaric's tone set his teeth on edge. He wasn't just here by coincidence.
"We don't owe you an explanation," Eren said, trying to keep his voice calm. "But you've got no reason to be here either. What are you up to?"
Alaric's smirk faded, replaced by a calculating expression. He took a step closer, his wand resting casually in his hand.
"I could ask the same of you," he said, his voice dropping. "You've been acting strange lately, Vale. Distracted. Secretive. And now here you are, skulking around the restricted archives like you're hiding something."
Eren swallowed hard. Alaric wasn't just guessing—he knew something.
Kaia stepped between them, her wand raised. "Back off, Draven. Whatever game you're playing, we're not interested."
Alaric chuckled darkly. "Oh, I'm not playing a game. But you two clearly are. And I have to say, I'm very curious what it is you're looking for."
Eren's mind raced. He couldn't let Alaric know about the Ashen Key—it was too dangerous. But Alaric's eyes flicked to the bag slung over Eren's shoulder, and a knot of dread formed in his stomach.
"You don't want to do this, Alaric," Eren said, his voice low. "Whatever you think you're after, it's not worth it."
Alaric's smirk returned, sharper than ever. "Oh, I think it is. You see, Vale, you're not the only one interested in the Ashen Key."
Eren's blood ran cold. "How do you—"
"Please," Alaric interrupted, waving his wand lazily. "Do you really think you're the only one who's noticed the strange magic surrounding you? The whispers, the shadows—you're practically a beacon for trouble."
Kaia's eyes narrowed. "You've been spying on him."
"Spying? No," Alaric said, his tone mockingly offended. "Observing? Yes. And it's been very enlightening."
Eren's pulse pounded in his ears. Alaric knew too much, and the smug expression on his face only fueled Eren's anger.
"What do you want?" Eren demanded, his voice sharp.
Alaric's smirk widened. "Oh, I don't want much. Just a little… insurance. Whatever it is you're hiding, Vale, it's clearly important. And I think it's time you shared it."
Kaia took a step forward, her wand crackling with faint sparks of energy. "Stay away from him."
Alaric raised his hands in mock surrender. "Relax, Kaia. I'm not here to fight. But let's not pretend this is a fair game. You've got something powerful, something dangerous, and I think it's time we stopped pretending otherwise."
Eren's hand instinctively went to his pocket, where the fragment of the Ashen Key rested. The moment he moved, Alaric's eyes narrowed, his smirk vanishing.
"So it's true," Alaric said softly. "You have it."
Kaia stepped in front of Eren, her voice a low growl. "You don't know what you're talking about."
"Oh, I think I do," Alaric replied, his wand now pointed directly at Eren. "The Ashen Key. The whispers. The shadowbound. You've been at the center of all of it, haven't you?"
Eren's heart pounded. He didn't know how Alaric had pieced it together, but it was clear there was no use denying it now.
"Stay back," Eren said, his voice steady despite the fear coiling in his chest.
Alaric tilted his head, his expression turning almost curious. "You don't even know what you're holding, do you? The power you're carrying—it's more than you can handle. If you're not careful, it'll destroy you."
"Better me than someone like you," Eren snapped.
Alaric's eyes narrowed, his wand twitching slightly. "You think you're the hero in all this, Vale? You're not. You're just a pawn in a much bigger game. But keep telling yourself otherwise, if it helps you sleep at night."
Kaia's wand flared brighter. "Last warning, Draven. Leave. Now."
For a moment, the tension was so thick it was suffocating. Then, to their surprise, Alaric lowered his wand, a cold smile playing on his lips.
"Alright," he said casually. "I'll leave—for now. But don't think this is over."
He turned and began to walk away, his footsteps echoing in the silent archives. Before disappearing into the shadows, he glanced over his shoulder and added, "Be careful, Vale. The Ashen Key has a way of corrupting even the best intentions."
And then he was gone.
Eren and Kaia stood in stunned silence, the weight of Alaric's words hanging heavily in the air.
"He knows," Kaia said finally, her voice shaking. "Eren, he knows about the Key."
Eren nodded, his jaw clenched. "Yeah. And now he's watching us."
Kaia grabbed his arm, her eyes blazing with determination. "We can't let him get to it. Whatever happens, we have to protect the Key—and each other."
Eren met her gaze and nodded. "We will."
But as they left the archives, Eren couldn't shake the feeling that Alaric's warning wasn't just a threat—it was a prophecy.
And the shadows were closing in.