The Royal Library of the Arcane University had always been my sanctuary. Towering vaulted ceilings, endless rows of dark oak bookshelves filled with ancient tomes and scrolls spanning centuries, and the lingering scent of aged parchment mixed with the faint fumes of enchanted oil lamps—this place always brought me a sense of peace and focus. But not today.
I sat at a long wooden table in a secluded corner, an open textbook on advanced transfiguration before me. Yet my eyes weren't scanning the intricate diagrams of clay golem transformations. My mind was elsewhere—on the Whispering Forest, on Kaelen Stonehand's case, and on the uneasy feeling that gnawed at me from within.
Seraphina's words from the day before still echoed in my head: "For the greater good." "Don't believe in rumors." It was easy for her to say. She came from nobility, a life where everything was handed to her, where she never had to worry about land rights or invisible injustices. But I… Even within the grandeur of this university, I still remembered what it felt like to be just an ordinary person. I couldn't help but sympathize with Kaelen. And I couldn't shake the worry about the forest I had only ever read about in enchanted botanical manuscripts.
Glancing around to make sure no one was paying attention—most importantly, that Seraphina was nowhere in sight (she had left earlier to shop for jewelry with her new circle of friends)—I carefully cast a minor illusion spell I had been secretly practicing. A faint circle of light formed at my fingertips, hovering just above the transfiguration textbook. An illusory page overlayed the real one, making it seem as though I were deeply engrossed in my studies.
Then, I reached under the table and carefully pulled out an old scroll I had borrowed from the department of local history. It contained records of noble families from the borderlands, including the Stonehand lineage. Slowly, I unrolled the fragile parchment, using a small breeze spell to clear away the dust.
The ancient script was difficult to decipher, but I focused intently. There were many accounts of past heroics and border defenses, but what caught my attention was a passage about the "Pact of the Wilds." It spoke of an agreement between the Stonehand family and the Whispering Forest, mentioning "a duty to uphold balance" and "a mutual dependence between the lineage and the unseen forces within the woods."
Unseen forces? Balance? Could this be why Lord Thorn's administration was after that land? Was it not just for timber or minerals but for some hidden power? And the "clearing efforts" that Elara—the woman I hadn't yet dared to contact directly but had heard whispers about—was so worried about… Could they be disturbing this very balance? The withering Whispering Spirit tree in the university garden—could it have been a warning sign?
I was about to turn to the next section when I felt a shadow fall over me. My heart lurched. Quickly, I tapped my fingers against the book, dispelling the illusion.
"Oh? Lyra, I thought you'd be at the alchemy study group."
A deep voice—Eldric, a fourth-year student from the Ancient Runes department. One of Seraphina's attempts at matchmaking.
"Oh… No, not today, senior," I replied, forcing my voice to remain steady as I hastily rolled up the scroll. "Just… reviewing transfiguration. It's so difficult." I made a face, pointing to the golem diagram.
Eldric chuckled. "It does take a bit of imagination. Need any help?"
"No, thank you, senior. I appreciate it," I said quickly, forcing a polite smile.
He shrugged. "Alright, then. Take your time." He strolled past me toward another set of bookshelves.
I let out a quiet sigh of relief, but my heart was still racing. This was too risky. Digging into secrets like this in such an open place—the Royal Library—was probably not my best idea. But where else could I turn for answers?
Packing my things into my satchel, I felt a growing conflict within me. What I had just discovered—the ancient pact, the hidden energies within the forest—made this situation far more dangerous and intricate than I had anticipated. This wasn't just politics or greed.
I needed to be more careful. And perhaps… it was time to decide.
Would I remain an observer from the shadows, or would I step forward and take action? Even if it meant risking my own safety. Even if it meant losing the illusion of friendships I had clung to for so long.