Echoes of a Broken Order

Chapter 5: The Veil of Secrets

The days that followed Elias's late-night encounter with Jax and Liora felt like a haze. The academy bustled on as usual, but to Elias, every class, every interaction, seemed muted by the weight of what he now knew. Beneath the surface of the prestigious school, a hidden conspiracy was brewing, one that threatened not only the divide between nobles and commoners but the very fabric of the world.

He found it hard to focus in class. His mind kept drifting back to Jax's discovery of ancient magic, magic that defied the bloodlines of the nobles. And Liora's ominous warnings echoed in his thoughts—ancient power, locked beneath the academy, that could shatter the realms.

His usual routine was disrupted. Where before he would have braced himself against the glares of the noble students, he now barely noticed them. His mind was consumed with one question: What was the academy hiding?

On a particularly cold morning, Elias found himself seated in a history lecture, though his attention was far from the professor's monotonous voice droning on about the ancient wars. His eyes drifted toward the windows, where frost clung to the panes, giving the world outside an otherworldly glow.

Suddenly, the professor's voice sharpened, breaking through his thoughts.

"...and that brings us to the Arcanist's War, a pivotal moment when the first magic users were divided into noble bloodlines."

Elias sat up, listening more closely now.

"As we know, it was through this division that the noble houses were formed, each claiming their own specialized form of magic, passed down through generations."

Elias clenched his fists under the table. He knew now that this was only part of the truth. The nobles had carved out their power not through merit, but by suppressing magic that could have been available to all.

"Many commoners at the time were unable to wield magic and, thus, had to rely on the nobles for protection and leadership," the professor continued.

Elias fought the urge to challenge the professor right then and there. He wanted to stand up, to expose the lies, to demand the truth. But he wasn't ready. Not yet. The academy's walls held too many secrets, and the wrong move could get him expelled—or worse.

After class, Elias hurried to meet Jax in their usual spot behind the library, away from prying eyes. Jax had been spending more and more time digging through the academy's archives, and Elias hoped he had uncovered something new.

When Elias arrived, Jax was already there, poring over a stack of old, crumbling scrolls. His glasses perched precariously on his nose, and he didn't even look up as Elias approached.

"I found something," Jax said without preamble, his voice hushed. "You're not going to believe this."

Elias glanced around, making sure no one was nearby before sitting down beside Jax. "What is it?"

Jax unrolled one of the scrolls, revealing an intricate diagram of what looked like a massive underground chamber, filled with symbols Elias didn't recognize.

"This," Jax whispered, "is a map of the catacombs beneath the academy."

Elias's heart skipped a beat. "The catacombs?"

Jax nodded. "There's more. I cross-referenced these scrolls with records of the academy's construction. There's a hidden chamber down there—an ancient one. It's not on any modern maps, and it was sealed off centuries ago."

Elias leaned in closer, studying the diagram. "What's inside?"

Jax hesitated, his fingers brushing over a faded section of the scroll. "I don't know for sure. But according to these records, it was built to contain something powerful. Something the academy didn't want anyone to find."

Elias felt a chill run down his spine. Liora's warning about the ancient power buried beneath the academy suddenly seemed all too real.

"We have to find it," Elias said quietly.

Jax raised an eyebrow. "You want to go down there? Are you crazy? The academy has sealed it off for a reason."

Elias shook his head. "I need answers, Jax. This isn't just about me anymore. It's about everyone. If the nobles are hiding something that could change the balance of power..."

Jax sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "I figured you'd say that. And as much as I think this is a terrible idea, I'm in. But we can't just waltz into the catacombs. We need a plan."

"We'll need Liora's help," Elias said, his mind already racing. "She knows more than she's letting on. She might be able to get us access."

Jax nodded slowly. "I don't trust her, but we don't have much of a choice."

Later that night, the three of them met in a secluded part of the academy grounds, near an old, crumbling wall that had long been abandoned by students and staff alike. The moon hung low in the sky, casting an eerie light on the stone pathway.

Liora was waiting for them, her arms crossed and her expression unreadable.

"You really are reckless, you know that?" she said as soon as they approached. "The catacombs aren't some playground, Elias. If we get caught..."

"We won't get caught," Elias interrupted. "You said it yourself. The academy is hiding something. We need to know what."

Liora sighed, her gaze softening slightly. "You're not going to let this go, are you?"

Elias shook his head. "I can't. Not now."

For a moment, Liora was silent, as if weighing her options. Then, with a resigned nod, she stepped forward and handed Elias a small, metallic key.

"This will get you into the restricted section of the catacombs," she said quietly. "But I'm warning you—what you find down there might not be what you expect. The academy has been guarding those secrets for a reason."

Elias took the key, his fingers brushing against the cold metal. "Thank you."

Liora gave him a hard look. "Just... be careful."

Jax glanced between them, then sighed dramatically. "Well, this is going to be fun."

As the three of them made their way toward the hidden entrance to the catacombs, Elias couldn't shake the feeling that they were about to step into something far bigger than any of them had anticipated. The key in his hand felt heavier with each step, as if it carried the weight of centuries of forgotten history.

And as they descended into the darkness, Elias knew that whatever lay ahead, there was no turning back now.