Leon stood at the edge of the cliff, gazing at the distant mountains that surrounded Martial Haven Academy. The wind howled against his face, but his mind was clouded by something far more turbulent than the storm. The events of the past few days had changed everything. The tournament had been disrupted by the mysterious masked organization, and the academy's defenses had been tested like never before.
Yet, despite the chaos, Leon couldn't shake the feeling that something was still missing, something crucial that he hadn't yet uncovered. His instincts told him that this was only the beginning.
Behind him, footsteps echoed against the rocky path. He didn't need to turn around to know who it was.
"You're not thinking of running away, are you?" Seraphina's voice carried a teasing edge, but there was genuine concern in her violet eyes.
Leon chuckled, though there was little humor in it. "No. I just needed a moment to think."
Seraphina crossed her arms. "About what? The fact that we barely survived the last attack? Or the fact that the academy's leaders seem to be hiding something from us?"
Leon exhaled sharply. "Both."
The academy had always held secrets, secrets buried deep beneath its glorious reputation. The attack during the tournament wasn't just random violence. It was calculated. The masked assailants had targeted specific individuals, including Dante Blackwood and several other top-ranked students. But why?
Dante himself had gone silent after the attack, withdrawing from public view. It was as if he knew something but refused to share it. And that only made Leon more suspicious.
"Have you spoken to Dante?" Leon asked, glancing at Seraphina.
She shook her head. "He's been avoiding everyone. Even his own clan members can't get a straight answer out of him."
Leon clenched his fists. "Then we need to find out the truth ourselves."
Seraphina arched an eyebrow. "You're suggesting we sneak into the restricted archives, aren't you?"
Leon didn't respond immediately, but the look in his eyes was enough.
Seraphina groaned. "You're insane. You do realize that getting caught means expulsion, right?"
Leon smirked. "Only if we get caught."
The Martial Haven Academy had an extensive library filled with thousands of ancient texts, scrolls, and battle records. But hidden beneath the main library was the Forbidden Archives, a restricted section that only a select few had access to. If there were any answers about the attack, the masked organization, or even Leon's own mysterious powers, they would be there.
Getting inside, however, was easier said than done.
Leon and Seraphina crouched behind one of the massive stone pillars in the east wing of the library. The entrance to the Forbidden Archives was guarded by two elite academy sentinels, warriors who had graduated from the academy and were now tasked with protecting its secrets.
Seraphina leaned close to Leon and whispered, "Alright, genius, what's the plan?"
Leon scanned the area carefully. "We need a distraction."
Seraphina frowned. "We could set off one of the alchemical smoke bombs from Professor Kael's lab."
Leon shook his head. "Too risky. It would alert the entire academy."
He glanced at the shelves above them and noticed something. The library's massive bookshelves were suspended by thick iron chains, stretching high toward the vaulted ceiling. If those chains were loosened…
Leon pointed upward. "What if we make one of those fall? It'll create just enough chaos for us to slip through."
Seraphina followed his gaze, then nodded. "Alright, but how do we break the chains without being seen?"
Leon smirked and tapped his fingers against the stone floor, concentrating. A faint golden glow emanated from his hand.
"I have a few tricks up my sleeve."
As expected, the moment one of the massive bookshelves collapsed with a thunderous crash, the two guards rushed toward the commotion. The moment their backs were turned, Leon and Seraphina darted through the now-unattended entrance.
The Forbidden Archives were unlike anything Leon had ever seen. The air was thick with dust, and the walls were lined with ancient tomes bound in leather and iron. Unlike the grand library above, this place felt… untouched. Forgotten.
Seraphina coughed lightly. "Creepy. Why do I feel like we're walking straight into a horror story?"
Leon ignored the eerie atmosphere and focused on the task at hand. They needed information.
As they navigated the dimly lit aisles, Leon's eyes landed on a section labeled Bloodline Records.
He hesitated.
Seraphina noticed. "What is it?"
Leon swallowed. "I think… I might find something about myself here."
Seraphina's expression softened. "Then let's check."
They pulled open one of the heavy tomes and began scanning through its pages.
And that's when they found it.
A name that shouldn't have existed.
A name that changed everything.
Leon's hands trembled as he traced his fingers over the name in the ancient tome. His heart pounded in his chest, louder than the eerie silence of the Forbidden Archives.
Leon Valtara.
His own name, written in a book that should have had nothing to do with him. But what made his breath catch was the title that followed:
"The Lost Heir of the Valtara Bloodline."
He read the words again, unable to believe his eyes.
Seraphina, standing beside him, peered over his shoulder. "Leon… this can't be right."
Leon turned the page, his mind racing. The Valtara Bloodline, one of the most feared and powerful warrior clans in history, had been wiped out decades ago. They had been known for their ability to wield Primordial Energy, a force beyond the reach of ordinary martial artists.
But they were supposed to be extinct. Every member of the Valtara lineage had been hunted down and eliminated.
So why was his name here?
"Lost heir…" Leon muttered under his breath. "This doesn't make sense. I grew up in the slums. My parents—"
He froze.
His parents?
For as long as he could remember, Leon had been an orphan, raised in the harsh streets of the lower districts. He had no memories of his real family, only the brutal struggle for survival.
Seraphina gently placed a hand on his arm. "Leon, if this is true… then that means someone hid your identity. Someone wanted to keep you safe."
Leon clenched his fists. "Or someone wanted to keep me weak."
He flipped through the pages desperately, searching for more answers. His eyes landed on a faded passage at the bottom of the page:
"The last known heir of the Valtara Bloodline was hidden among the commoners. If he awakens his true power, the balance of the world will shift. Many will seek him… to control him or to destroy him."
A chill ran down Leon's spine.
Everything was starting to make sense, the mysterious power that awakened in him during battle, the way his enemies always seemed to recognize something in him before attacking with greater fury.
He wasn't just a random orphan who got lucky.
He was a target.
A hunted heir.
Seraphina grabbed his wrist. "Leon, we need to go. If someone finds us here—"
A loud clang echoed through the chamber.
Leon and Seraphina both spun around, their instincts flaring.
The entrance to the Forbidden Archives had been sealed shut.
And in the darkness of the chamber, a pair of glowing red eyes emerged from the shadows.
Leon instinctively reached for his sword, but before he could react, a cold voice filled the air.
"You shouldn't be here, boy."
From the depths of the archives stepped a towering figure clad in obsidian armor. His face was hidden behind a dark mask, and the aura around him was suffocating, filled with a deadly, refined power.
Seraphina immediately took a defensive stance, but Leon's mind was still racing.
This man…
Leon had seen him before.
Not in real life, but in his visions.
The masked warrior took a step forward. "The lost heir of the Valtara Bloodline… I had my suspicions, but to think you'd come here of your own will."
Leon gritted his teeth. "Who are you?"
The man tilted his head. "A guardian of secrets. A keeper of truths that were never meant to be found."
Without warning, the warrior vanished, moving faster than the eye could track. Leon barely had time to react before a powerful force slammed into him, sending him crashing into a bookshelf.
Seraphina lunged forward, drawing her twin daggers. "Leon!"
The masked warrior didn't even flinch. With a flick of his wrist, a dark energy wave exploded from his palm, forcing Seraphina to leap back to avoid being struck.
Leon coughed, pushing himself up. His body ached, but his blood was boiling. His instincts screamed at him, this wasn't just a battle. This was a test.
A test to see if he was worthy.
Leon exhaled sharply. He could feel it the dormant power inside him. He had spent his life suppressing it, but now…
He had no choice but to unleash it.
Closing his eyes for a brief moment, he let go of the fear. Let go of the doubts.
And then, his body ignited with golden energy.
The masked warrior stopped in his tracks. "So, you've finally awakened."
Leon lifted his gaze, his golden eyes glowing with newfound power.
"I don't know who you are," he said, his voice steady, "but I'm done running from the truth."
The warrior smirked beneath his mask. "Then prove it."
And in the next instant, the battle truly began.