Max stood motionless, his breath coming in slow, measured breaths as the ghostly projection of his father faded into nothingness. The air around him felt heavy, like the atmosphere itself was pressing in on him, demanding answers he wasn't ready for.
The words of Peter echoed in his mind.
"They must never find it…"
The memory was haunting, not just for its cryptic nature, but for the emotion it carried. There was a desperation in Peter's voice, a kind of finality that Max couldn't ignore. He wasn't just talking about a physical object—he was talking about something far greater. Something more dangerous than Max had ever imagined.
What's this "it" that must never be found? Max wondered, his mind racing. The puzzle pieces were falling into place, but he wasn't sure what the picture looked like yet.
His hands clenched, and the familiar tingling of mana filled the air around him. He was tired. Too tired to think straight after the battle with the Aberration. But this… This was bigger than his exhaustion. This was a warning. A threat, not just to him, but to everything.
Without a word, Max turned and left the training area, the echo of his boots on the ground the only sound in the otherwise quiet night. The academy loomed ahead, a silent sentinel. He needed answers.
The hallways inside the academy were dim, most students having retired for the night. But Max didn't need sleep—he needed information. His feet carried him instinctively toward the archives, where dusty tomes and forbidden scrolls lay hidden. He could feel his heartbeat quicken with every step.
As he neared the entrance to the archives, Max stopped. He wasn't alone.
A figure stood in the shadows, waiting. Max's senses flared as he instinctively reached for his dagger, but the figure stepped forward with a fluid motion that made him pause.
"Max Frost," the voice was cool, calm, and unmistakably familiar. Celia Rugpt stepped into the dim light. Her eyes, once filled with warmth, now held a steely edge. She looked different somehow, like someone who had seen more than she was willing to admit.
"You shouldn't be here," Max said, his tone low, still cautious from their previous encounters.
"I could say the same to you," Celia replied, her lips curving into a half-smile. "But you've always had a way of getting yourself into trouble, haven't you?"
Max's eyes narrowed. He wasn't in the mood for games. "I'm looking for something. Something I shouldn't be asking about, but something I need to know."
Celia studied him for a moment, her expression unreadable. "That's a dangerous pursuit, Max. The truth isn't something the academy is keen on sharing with people like you."
"Then maybe I'll find it elsewhere." Max took a step forward, determined. But Celia's hand shot out, stopping him.
"Max, wait," she said, her voice softer now. "I came to warn you. There's more at play than you realize. The monsters, the academy, even the Board—everything is connected."
Max froze. "What do you mean?"
"I know you're working with some dangerous people, but it's not just the Board you need to worry about. There are forces at play much older and more dangerous than anyone realizes."
Max swallowed hard, his heart racing as his instincts screamed that Celia was holding back something vital. "What do you know?"
"I know enough to understand that everything you've been told is a lie," she said, her voice dropping to a whisper. "I know what your father was trying to protect. And I know that the more you dig, the more you'll end up uncovering something that could tear everything apart."
Max clenched his fists, suddenly feeling the weight of his destiny pressing down on him. There was a chill in the air, a sense of foreboding that seemed to surround them both. "Why are you telling me this?"
"Because I'm not the only one watching you, Max. There are others who know what you're capable of. And they'll come after you." She took a deep breath. "But you need to be careful. Don't trust anyone—no matter how much they promise to help you."
Max's gaze hardened. "I don't trust anyone. Not anymore."
Celia gave him a small, tight-lipped smile. "Good. Keep it that way. You're on a dangerous path, Max, but it's one you have no choice but to walk."
Max stood there for a long moment, his mind swirling with the weight of her words. She was right about one thing—nothing in this world was as it seemed. The more he learned, the deeper the mystery became.
Celia turned to leave, her footsteps silent in the darkness. "Be careful, Max. The game is far bigger than you think."
Max stayed still, the gravity of her words sinking in. His instincts told him she was right—he was in too deep. But now, he wasn't just going to survive. He was going to uncover the truth, no matter what it cost him.
And if anyone stood in his way, they'd regret it.