Cendikia's hands shook slightly as he set the Forgotten Scholar's grimoire aside, the weight of its knowledge pressing heavily on his mind. His body still hadn't fully recovered from the strain of attempting the dimensional rift spell, and the system's punishment had left him weaker than ever. But the pressure surrounding him was growing, and time was running out.
Aiden Drystan was moving, and Cendikia could feel the weight of his rival's gaze lingering on him, sharper and more suspicious with each passing day. Aiden wasn't the type to sit idly by while Cendikia pursued something as dangerous as the Forgotten Scholar's legacy he would act soon.
Cendikia stood from his desk, the dim light of the evening casting long shadows across his quarters. He couldn't afford to stay still any longer. Aiden had to be dealt with, but in a way that wouldn't draw attention back to himself. Lira had done her part, diverting Aiden's focus for the time being, but her patience was thin, and her ambitions made her an unpredictable ally.
'I'm caught between two predators,' Cendikia thought grimly as he prepared to leave his quarters. 'One wrong move, and I'll be torn apart.'
He needed to act before either Aiden or Lira gained too much ground. The key was to outmaneuver them both, using the knowledge he had gained from the grimoire to stay ahead without revealing too much of his hand.
But that was easier said than done.
As he made his way through the academy's winding halls, Cendikia kept his head down, his mind racing through the possibilities. The corridors were mostly empty, the hour late enough that most scholars had retired to their quarters or the library for late-night study sessions.
His destination was the Arcane Tower, one of the oldest sections of the academy and home to some of the most powerful and secretive magic users in the kingdom. It was a place Aiden frequented often, but it also housed ancient magical tomes that could hold the key to weakening Aiden's growing influence without directly confronting him.
If he could gain access to those tomes, he might find something or anything that could undermine Aiden's position at the academy.
The stone steps leading to the tower spiraled upward, and with each step, Cendikia's sense of urgency grew. The tower's halls were lined with intricate magical wards, and as Cendikia passed through them, he could feel the pressure of the academy's defenses pressing down on him, a reminder of how closely the place was watched.
But he had a plan.
When Cendikia reached the upper levels of the Arcane Tower, he was careful to move quietly. The Arcane Library, where the ancient tomes were kept, was guarded by a series of magical locks and wards. Only scholars of the highest rank were permitted to access it, and even then, they needed the approval of the High Magus.
Cendikia had neither the rank nor the approval, but the Forgotten Scholar's grimoire had revealed something far more valuable to him, a spell of runic deception, one that could temporarily alter magical wards to grant access without triggering any alarms. It was a subtle spell, but its complexity made it dangerous to use without precision.
He stopped in front of the massive, rune-etched doors of the Arcane Library and reached for the grimoire, feeling its familiar weight in his hands. As he flipped through the pages, the runes glowed faintly, responding to his touch. His eyes landed on the spell he had prepared, and his breath quickened.
'If I fail, the wards will alert the entire tower,' he thought, his heart pounding. 'But if I succeed…'
Taking a deep breath, Cendikia placed his hand against the door's surface and began to chant the incantation. The runes on the door shimmered as the magic took hold, and for a moment, Cendikia feared he had miscalculated. But then, the light dimmed, and the runes began to shift, rearranging themselves under the influence of his spell.
With a faint click, the door creaked open, revealing the vast collection of tomes inside.
Cendikia exhaled in relief. The spell had worked, but it had drained what little mana he had left. He stepped inside, his eyes scanning the shelves for any clue that could help him weaken Aiden's position.
The Arcane Library was a labyrinth of knowledge, filled with centuries-old tomes bound in leather and cloth, their pages heavy with the weight of ancient magic. Cendikia moved through the rows of shelves, his fingers brushing over the spines of books that whispered of long-forgotten secrets.
As he searched, the system's voice chimed softly in his mind:
[New Mission !!
Discover the secret to Aiden Drystan's power.]
Cendikia's pulse quickened. He knew Aiden's rise at the academy hadn't been entirely natural, there was something more behind his influence. And now, the system had confirmed it. Somewhere in these tomes lay the key to exposing Aiden's hidden power, to stripping him of his advantage.
Cendikia moved faster, his eyes scanning the titles of the books until one caught his attention; "The Legacy of Royal Bloodlines: The Magic of the Noble Houses."
He pulled the book from the shelf, his heart racing. Aiden had always been secretive about his past, about where his power came from, this could be the answer.
Opening the book, Cendikia quickly skimmed the pages, his eyes widening as he read. Aiden's family, the Drystan House, had long been associated with forbidden blood magic, a dangerous practice that tied a mage's power directly to their lineage. The deeper the connection to their ancestors, the greater their magical potential.
But there was more to it. Blood magic wasn't just about power, it came with a price. The stronger the magic, the more the caster was bound to their family's legacy, trapped in an unbreakable cycle of dependence. And if the connection to that magic was severed…
Cendikia's mind raced. If he could find a way to disrupt Aiden's connection to his family's bloodline, it would cripple his power. It wouldn't be easy, blood magic was notoriously difficult to counter, but it was possible. The key was finding the right ritual that could break the bond without directly confronting Aiden.
He closed the book, his heart pounding with a mixture of fear and excitement. This was it the leverage he needed.
But as Cendikia tucked the book under his arm, a soft voice echoed through the library.
"You've been busy, Cendikia."
Cendikia froze, his blood turning to ice. Slowly, he turned to find Aiden Drystan standing at the entrance to the library, his expression calm, but his eyes cold and calculating.
"I wondered what you were up to," Aiden said, stepping closer. "But I didn't expect you to be digging through the Arcane Library without permission."
Cendikia's mind raced. Aiden must have been watching him, waiting for him to slip up. The spell he had used to enter the library hadn't triggered the wards, but Aiden had known where to find him anyway.
"Research," Cendikia said smoothly, though his heart pounded in his chest. "Nothing more."
Aiden's eyes flicked to the book under Cendikia's arm, and a faint smile curved his lips.
"Research on blood magic, is it?" Aiden's voice was dangerously soft, his gaze sharp. "Interesting choice of topic. What exactly do you hope to find?"
Cendikia's grip on the book tightened, his mind scrambling for an answer. He couldn't reveal his true intentions, if he knew Aiden would destroy him.
"I was curious," Cendikia said, keeping his tone casual. "Blood magic has always fascinated me. It's powerful, but risky."
Aiden's smile didn't reach his eyes. "Curious, indeed. But be careful, Cendikia. Some knowledge is better left untouched."
The tension between them crackled in the air, thick with unspoken threats. Cendikia knew that Aiden wasn't fooled, he had seen through the lie, and now, the real game was beginning.
Aiden turned, walking away without another word, but the warning in his eyes was clear. Cendikia had crossed a line, and Aiden wouldn't forget it.
As the door closed behind him, Cendikia's breath came in shallow gasps. He had found the key to Aiden's power, but now Aiden knew that he was getting too close. The delicate balance between them was about to tip, and when it did, Cendikia would have to be ready.