The academy's Depths of Esthara were not a place where most scholars ventured willingly. Buried far beneath the main halls, the lower levels housed long-forgotten wings, sealed sections that had been closed off for centuries. The magic there was ancient and raw, a remnant of the kingdom's early days when power was wilder and far less controlled.
For Cendikia, it was the perfect place to hide secrets, especially a door that led to forbidden knowledge.
His footsteps echoed softly as he made his way through the twisting corridors of the academy, the relic pulsing faintly in his pack. The system had been quiet since it assigned him the new mission, but Cendikia could feel its presence lingering in the back of his mind, watching and waiting.
[Mission:
Seek the Door of Knowledge in the Depths of Esthara.]
The words repeated in his mind, urging him forward. He knew the Door of Knowledge held the next step in unlocking the Forgotten Scholar's legacy, but it wouldn't be easy to reach. The Depths were restricted, accessible only to the academy's most trusted scholars, and Cendikia was far from the inner circle. If he was caught, the consequences would be severe, not just expulsion, but possibly worse.
As he approached the entrance to the lower levels, he paused, checking his surroundings. The halls were quiet at this hour, most scholars long since retired to their quarters. But the academy was never completely silent, and there was always the risk that someone might stumble upon him.
Taking a deep breath, he moved forward, casting a quick glance over his shoulder before descending the stone staircase that led into the Depths.
The air grew colder as he descended, the walls lined with flickering torches that cast long shadows. The weight of the academy's ancient history pressed down on him, the magic in the air growing heavier the deeper he went. Every step felt like a descent into a different world, a world where forgotten power still lingered, waiting to be uncovered.
When Cendikia reached the bottom of the staircase, he found himself standing before a large stone door, its surface carved with intricate runes that glowed faintly in the dim light. This was one of the academy's barriers, a protective ward designed to keep unauthorized scholars from entering the restricted sections below.
Cendikia's heart raced. He had anticipated this, but seeing it in person reminded him of the challenge ahead. The runes on the door were powerful, a combination of locking magic and detection spells. If he tried to force his way through, the entire academy would know within moments.
I'll need to be careful, he thought, his mind racing as he studied the barrier. The relic in his pack hummed softly, its magic pulsing in response to the wards. There was a way through, he just needed to find it.
He reached into his pack and pulled out the Forgotten Scholar's relic, its dark glow casting strange shadows on the walls. The energy radiating from the orb felt stronger down here, as if it resonated with the ancient magic in the Depths.
Cendikia closed his eyes, focusing on the relic's power. He could sense the runes on the door, the magic woven into them, but he needed a way to disrupt the spell without triggering the academy's defenses.
The system's voice interrupted his thoughts:
[New Skill Unlocked:
Runes of Disruption.]
His eyes snapped open. The system had given him the answer. Runes of Disruption, a spell that could weaken the wards without alerting the academy. It was risky, but it was his best option.
He began the incantation, his voice low and steady as he spoke the ancient words. Dark tendrils of magic extended from the relic, snaking toward the door. The runes on the door flickered as Cendikia's spell took hold, the magic twisting and unraveling the protective wards.
Slowly, the stone door groaned, the runes dimming as the spell weakened. After a tense moment, the door swung open with a heavy creak, revealing a dark passage beyond.
Cendikia exhaled, his heart pounding in his chest. The wards were down, but he wasn't out of danger yet. The Depths lay ahead, and the Door of Knowledge was waiting.
The passageway beyond the door was narrow and winding, the walls lined with ancient symbols that had long since faded into obscurity. The air was thick with dust, and the faint hum of magic vibrated through the stone. Cendikia moved cautiously, his eyes scanning every shadow, every corner. He couldn't afford to let his guard down.
As he walked deeper into the Depths, the relic's glow brightened, its energy guiding him forward. The further he went, the stronger the connection between the relic and the magic in the air became. It was as if the two forces were drawn to each other, pulling him closer to the heart of the academy's forgotten power.
After what felt like hours of walking, Cendikia reached a large, open chamber. The room was circular, with high ceilings that disappeared into shadow. At the center of the chamber stood a massive stone door, its surface covered in intricate runes that glowed faintly in the dark.
This was it. The Door of Knowledge.
Cendikia stepped forward, his breath catching as he approached the door. The relic in his hand pulsed, its light growing stronger as it resonated with the runes on the door.
He could feel the power behind the door, a raw and untapped magic that had been sealed away for centuries. This was what the system had guided him toward, the next piece of the Forgotten Scholar's legacy.
But as Cendikia reached out to touch the door, the system's voice rang out in his mind, sharper than before:
[Warning!!
Beyond this door lies knowledge that cannot be undone. Proceed with caution.]
Cendikia's hand hovered just inches from the door. The system's warning wasn't to be taken lightly, he had learned that the hard way. But the temptation was too great. The knowledge behind this door could give him the power he needed, power that would put him on par with the academy's most dangerous figures. He would no longer be a side character, but someone who could control his own fate.
But at what cost? The system had been growing more insistent, and each step deeper into the Forgotten Scholar's legacy brought new dangers. He could feel the weight of it pressing down on him, a path that was becoming harder to escape.
But Cendikia had made his decision.
With a deep breath, he pressed his hand against the door. The runes glowed brighter, and the door groaned as ancient magic surged through it.
Suddenly, a voice deep and powerful echoed through the chamber.
"Who dares seek the knowledge of the Forgotten?"
Cendikia froze, his hand still on the door. The voice wasn't the system, it was something else, something tied to the magic of the Depths.
Before he could react, the runes on the door flared, and a figure began to materialize before him. Cloaked in shadow, the figure's presence filled the room with an oppressive weight. Its eyes, glowing with a faint blue light, fixed on Cendikia.
"You seek the Door of Knowledge, yet you are unworthy."
Cendikia's heart pounded in his chest. The figure was powerful, more so than anything he had encountered before. He could feel the magic radiating from it, ancient and bound to the Forgotten Scholar's legacy.
But he couldn't back down now. The system had brought him here for a reason, and if he wanted to unlock the next step of the legacy, he had to prove himself.
"I seek the knowledge of the Forgotten Scholar," Cendikia said, his voice steady despite the fear gnawing at him. "I have already unlocked part of their legacy. I can handle whatever lies behind this door."
The figure's eyes narrowed, its form shifting as it studied him. "The knowledge you seek comes with a price. You have felt its weight already. Are you willing to bear it further?"
Cendikia hesitated, the system's warnings flashing in his mind. But he had come too far to turn back now.
"I am," he replied, his voice firm.
The figure stared at him for a long moment, then slowly nodded.
"Very well. But know this scholar, once you open this door there is no turning back."
With a wave of the figure's hand, the runes on the door flared, and the stone began to shift. The door opened with a heavy groan, revealing a dark chamber beyond.
Cendikia stepped forward, his heart pounding in his chest. The knowledge of the Forgotten Scholar awaited him, but as he crossed the threshold, he couldn't shake the feeling that the price for this power was greater than he had imagined.
The system's final warning echoed in his mind as the door closed behind him:
[Warning!!
The path you have chosen leads to power, but also to ruin.]