Arin leapt back, his heart beating so fast.
The man outside the third-floor window didn't move — just hovered, cloaked in black with crimson eyes that burned like coals. He raised a gloved hand and tapped the glass twice.
Tap. Tap.
Arin reached for his desk drawer, grabbing the small crystal wand all first-years carried — mostly useless, but it made him feel a little less defenseless.
The man's voice echoed inside Arin's head. "We found you… heir of Velstra."
Suddenly, a blinding white sigil flashed around the window — a protective rune.
The man hissed, vanishing in a blink as the rune flared. The dorm ward had saved him.
But barely. Some Minutes later, Arin sprinted through the dark corridors to the only place that might have answers — the restricted section of the academy's ancient library.
He had never dared go there before.
The gates were supposed to be sealed to lower ranks, but tonight, something pulled them open with a soft creak as he approached.
Inside, dust filled the air. The shelves whispered with forgotten magic.
Drawn like a magnet, he found an old tome titled: "Blood Seals and Forbidden Lineages."
As he flipped through, a sigil shimmered on one page — identical to the mark in his father's journal.
Suddenly, pain shot through his chest. Arin dropped to his knees as the mark began glowing under his skin — just beneath his heart.
A voice echoed within him again:
"The seal cracks, heir. But with power… comes danger."
The next day, everything felt sharper — sounds, smells, mana flows in the air. Arin's senses had deepened and sharpened.
And his mana? It no longer sputtered.
In Elemental Control class, he summoned a fire orb with ease — then made it dance.
Whispers rippled through the room.
Professor Liora, filled with surprise and watching from the doorway, narrowed her eyes.
That boy was supposed to be a dud…
That night, as Arin studied in silence, another page of his father's journal shimmered and revealed a new message:
"Seek he Vault beneath Eldoria. The key is in your blood. But beware — if you open it too soon, it may consume you."
Arin touched the mark glowing faintly on his chest.
He didn't feel weak anymore.
But something told him…power like this always came with a price.
End of Chapter 2