Celestia Academy: The Veiled Secrets [Book 2]

Chapter 7: Wishpers in the Halls

Chapter 7: Wishpers in the Halls

After Cedric’s ominous warning, Aria, Lila, and Marcus moved cautiously. They were more careful about where and when they met to discuss their findings, fearing that other eyes were watching their every move. As the days passed, Aria couldn’t shake the feeling that Cedric knew far more than he let on—and that he wasn’t the only one.

The academy’s usual routine carried on as though nothing had changed, but for Aria, everything felt different. Every class, every corridor seemed to hum with an undercurrent of unease, like the academy itself was aware of the secrets being unearthed.

It was during one of their late-night study sessions in the library that they found their next clue. Marcus was sifting through an old tome about magical artifacts when he stumbled upon a reference to a hidden vault.

“This vault,” Marcus began, “was created by the founders to contain powerful magical items too dangerous to be left in the open. It says here that only those who possess the ‘Mark of the Founder’ can access it.”

“The Mark of the Founder?” Lila asked, intrigued. “What does that mean?”

Marcus pointed to a drawing in the book. It was a symbol resembling a phoenix wrapped around a crescent moon. “According to this, the mark is passed down through bloodlines connected to the academy’s founders. Only descendants of these founders can activate the vault’s magical seals.”

Aria leaned closer, her eyes narrowing as she studied the symbol. “That’s strange. I’ve seen this symbol before.”

Lila’s eyebrows shot up. “Where?”

“In my dreams,” Aria said, her voice barely above a whisper. “Ever since we found the artifact, I’ve been having these strange dreams. There’s always a figure in a cloak standing in a circle of light, and this symbol appears in the sky. I thought it was just stress from everything that’s been happening, but... what if it’s more than that?”

Marcus frowned, deep in thought. “You could be connected to one of the founding families. Maybe that’s why you’ve been having these dreams.”

“But I’m not—at least, not that I know of,” Aria said, her heart racing. “My family’s history is... complicated. My parents never spoke much about it.”

Lila placed a comforting hand on Aria’s shoulder. “Whether you’re a descendant or not, there’s a reason you’re seeing this symbol. It could be a sign that we’re on the right path.”

As they continued their research, they found more references to the vault, including its rumored location beneath the East Wing of the academy, in a forgotten chamber. But finding the chamber and unlocking the vault would be no simple task. The texts hinted at powerful wards, traps, and magical puzzles designed to deter anyone who tried to enter uninvited.

“We’ll need to prepare,” Marcus said, scanning the pages for more details. “The vault won’t open easily, even if you do have the mark, Aria. We’ll need stronger spells and more information about these wards.”

Lila closed her book with a sigh. “And we’ll need to move carefully. If Cedric or anyone else is watching us, they’ll be suspicious if we start poking around the East Wing.”

Aria nodded in agreement. “We’ll split up for now. Marcus, you can keep researching the wards. Lila, see if you can find anything in the library’s records about the founding families. I’ll look into the East Wing and try to see if there’s any activity down there.”

The plan seemed solid, but as they stood to leave, the door to the library creaked open. A hooded figure slipped inside, moving silently toward them. Aria’s heart skipped a beat, but she quickly recognized the familiar outline.

It was Ivy Stormrider, one of the quieter students in their year, known for her sharp intellect and mysterious nature. She was rarely seen outside of her classes, often retreating to hidden corners of the academy to work on her magical experiments. Her silver hair shimmered faintly in the low light as she pulled back her hood.

“Ivy?” Lila asked, her voice filled with surprise. “What are you doing here?”

“I could ask you the same,” Ivy said in a low voice, glancing around to make sure they were alone. “You’re not the only ones interested in what’s been going on beneath the academy. I’ve been following the signs as well.”

Aria narrowed her eyes. “What do you mean?”

Ivy stepped closer, her voice barely a whisper. “The disturbances, the strange magic—there are more people involved in this than you realize. Some of the professors... and students... they’re not who they seem. There’s a group working in the shadows to retrieve the artifacts. And Cedric is part of it.”

Aria felt a cold chill run down her spine. “Cedric? How do you know this?”

“I’ve been keeping an eye on him,” Ivy replied, her tone steady. “He’s been meeting with certain professors late at night, discussing ‘reclaiming power’ and ‘restoring the academy’s former glory.’ They want the artifacts to control magic on a scale we can’t even imagine.”

Lila crossed her arms. “And why are you telling us this?”

“Because,” Ivy said, locking eyes with Aria, “you’re closer to finding the artifacts than anyone else. And they’re watching you. If you make the wrong move, they’ll strike. You need allies—and I can help.”

Aria studied Ivy’s face, searching for any signs of deceit. But all she saw was determination and a faint hint of fear.

“What do you want in return?” Aria asked cautiously.

“Nothing,” Ivy said, her expression serious. “I just don’t want to see the academy fall into the wrong hands. And I have my own reasons for stopping Cedric.”

Aria exchanged a glance with Marcus and Lila, both of whom seemed equally conflicted. But after a moment, she made her decision.

“Alright, Ivy,” Aria said. “We’ll work together. But no secrets—we share everything.”

Ivy nodded. “Agreed.”

As they left the library together, a new sense of urgency filled the air. With Ivy on their side and Cedric lurking in the shadows, the stakes had never been higher. The search for the vault—and the battle for the fate of Celestia Academy—was about to begin in earnest.

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