—Narrated by Eli Whitmore
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The Arcane Institute of Mystical Sciences had seen many grand events, but nothing could compare to the energy building up for the 101st Arcane Tournament of Magical Beings.
Banners of silver and indigo floated magically in the wind. Students wore their robes with pride, showing off house emblems and personalized enchantments stitched into their sleeves. The air buzzed with spells, laughter, and the thrill of competition.
Even after everything we'd been through—vaults, seals, storms, and trials—we were still students. And this tournament reminded us of that. But the stakes felt different now. More than glory, this was a chance to strengthen our skills for the battle ahead.
We gathered in the Grand Courtyard, where the tournament board glowed with names and categories.
Thorne stood beside me, tall and steady as always.
"Feeling ready?" he asked, gently brushing my hand with his.
"As ready as I'll ever be," I replied with a soft smile. "But I can't shake the feeling that something else is coming."
Felix jogged over, Ryker at his side. "We're in the dueling bracket! Round one's against two alchemy prodigies from East Hall."
"Perfect," Ryker said, cracking his knuckles. "Let's blow something up. In style."
Luna and Draven joined us too, their names in the enchantment relay race.
"This place feels…different," Luna murmured.
I nodded. "It's not just you. Something's stirring."
---
The Tournament Begins
The first matches exploded into action. Colored shields, elemental spells, and conjured beasts roared across the coliseum. I couldn't help but marvel. It wasn't just a show—it was a testament of how powerful the students here had become.
I watched Felix and Ryker dominate their duel, combining strength and magic spells with perfect timing. Luna and Draven's teamwork in the relay showed not just skill, but heart.
When my name was called for the strategic spell-casting round, Thorne gave my shoulder a firm squeeze.
"You've got this."
I stepped onto the platform. My opponent—a shapeshifter named Orion—was fast and clever, but I trusted my instincts. My hands moved with memory, drawing circles in the air, whispering focus into each motion.
I won. Barely. But I won.
The cheers faded into the background, though, when I saw her.
A ghostly flicker in the air.
Seraphina Whitmore.
She stood beyond the archway of the Courtyard, her spirit form glowing soft blue. No one else saw her. Only me.
I slowly walked away from the crowd, heart pounding.
"Seraphina?" I whispered.
Her lips didn't move, but her voice echoed inside me.
> "The third key sleeps beneath a moonless gate, In silence deep, where shadows wait. To open what was sealed in sin, You must first unlock what lies within."
I repeated the riddle aloud, trying to remember each word. But by the time I looked up, she was gone.
Thorne found me moments later.
"You saw her again, didn't you?"
I nodded slowly. "She gave me a riddle. About the third key."
Thorne frowned, serious. "Another piece of the Seal, then."
We walked back to the others. I recited the riddle for them, and everyone fell silent.
"Sounds like we're going underground again," Draven said, trying to mask the unease in his tone.
"'What lies within…'" Luna echoed. "That could mean it's not just a place. Maybe it's something personal?"
Felix nodded. "A trial of self. Like before."
"And this 'moonless gate'..." Ryker added. "Sounds like the old ruins past the Forbidden Garden. No light ever touches that area."
We exchanged looks. Another journey was forming.
But first—we had to finish the tournament.
---
A Night of Celebration and Preparation
That night, a festival filled the Academy with warmth. Lights floated over the lake, music played from the Enchanted Hall, and students danced under the stars.
But we sat in a quiet circle near the Moon Fountain, away from the crowd.
"I'm scared," I admitted. "Not of the mission… but of what I might find inside myself."
Thorne reached for my hand, his voice calm. "You won't face it alone."
Ryker tossed a pebble into the fountain. "We're all in this, Eli. We've seen the worst and came back stronger."
Felix leaned against Ryker's shoulder. "And if this riddle is true, then what we face next… it could be the biggest part of the prophecy."
Luna looked up at the stars. "Then let's train. Let's be ready. And let's make sure we don't just survive—let's win."
Draven added, "Together. Always."
I took a deep breath. The riddle echoed again in my head.
"To open what was sealed in sin…"
We still had more to uncover. But whatever waited beyond the next gate—we would face it.
As one.
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To be continued...