Celestia Academy: The Veiled Secrets [Book 2]

Chapter 8: Into the East Wing

Chapter 8: Into the East Wing

The moon hung high in the night sky as Aria, Marcus, Lila, and their new ally, Ivy, moved silently through the academy's corridors. Their destination was the East Wing, a part of Celestia Academy long abandoned and rumored to be haunted. Only the most powerful students and professors were granted access to its forgotten halls, and the four of them were breaking more than a few rules by even attempting this.

"We have to be careful," Ivy whispered, her sharp eyes scanning the dimly lit corridors. "The wards here are old but still powerful. If we trip one, we'll alert the entire academy."

Aria nodded, gripping the map they'd found in one of the ancient tomes. The East Wing had been sealed off decades ago after a mysterious magical explosion, and since then, few had ventured inside. However, the map indicated that somewhere within its crumbling walls was the entrance to the vault that held the other artifacts.

As they moved deeper into the East Wing, the atmosphere grew colder, and the familiar warmth of the academy was replaced with an eerie silence. The walls were covered in dust, and broken chandeliers hung precariously from the ceiling. Faded tapestries depicted scenes of ancient battles between mages, some of whom wore the same symbol Aria had seen in her dreams-the phoenix wrapped around the crescent moon.

"This place gives me the creeps," Marcus muttered under his breath, his hand hovering near his wand.

"Stay focused," Aria said, though she couldn't deny the unsettling feeling creeping up her spine. Every shadow seemed to stretch unnaturally, as if watching them.

They finally reached the end of a long corridor, where a massive stone door stood, engraved with ancient runes and the symbol of the phoenix-moon. The air around it seemed to pulse with energy, and Aria felt a faint warmth emanating from the mark on her hand, the one she hadn't fully understood until now.

"This is it," Ivy said, her voice barely audible. "The entrance to the vault."

Aria stepped forward, feeling the pull of the magic in the air. Her hand tingled as she raised it toward the door, the mark on her skin glowing faintly in response. As her fingers brushed the surface, the runes began to glow with a soft blue light, and the door rumbled as it started to move.

Suddenly, a sharp voice cut through the silence. "What do you think you're doing?"

They all froze, turning to see a figure standing in the shadows of the corridor. It was Cedric Valemont, his arms crossed and a smirk playing on his lips. Behind him, two other students flanked him, both of them known to be equally powerful and cunning.

"You've been busy," Cedric said, stepping closer, his eyes flicking to the glowing door. "Did you really think you could get this far without me noticing?"

Aria's heart pounded in her chest. They were caught, and Cedric didn't look like he was going to let them pass without a fight.

"What do you want, Cedric?" Aria asked, standing her ground.

Cedric's smirk widened. "The same thing you want, of course-the artifacts. But unlike you, I'm not interested in locking them away. These relics belong to those who have the power to wield them, not hide them."

"You're insane," Ivy said, her voice filled with disgust. "The artifacts are dangerous. They're not meant to be used for personal gain."

Cedric's eyes darkened. "That's where you're wrong, Ivy. Power belongs to those who are willing to take it. And I intend to take it."

Without warning, Cedric raised his hand, and a bolt of dark energy shot toward them. Aria barely had time to react, throwing up a shield that deflected the blast. The corridor erupted into chaos as spells flew back and forth, lighting up the ancient walls with bursts of energy.

Marcus and Lila quickly joined in, launching counterattacks to keep Cedric and his allies at bay. Ivy, with her precise control over magic, used a series of illusionary spells to confuse their opponents, creating decoys that distracted Cedric's group long enough for Aria to focus on the door.

The door was still partially open, the glowing runes flickering as the battle raged on. Aria knew they didn't have much time-if they didn't get through soon, Cedric would overwhelm them. She turned to Marcus and Lila.

"Keep them busy!" Aria shouted, her hand glowing as she pressed it against the door once more.

The door responded immediately, the light from the runes growing brighter until it bathed the entire corridor in a blinding glow. With a final push, the door groaned open, revealing a long staircase descending into darkness.

"Go, now!" Ivy urged, firing another spell to block Cedric's path.

Aria hesitated for a moment, glancing back at Cedric, who was fuming with rage. His eyes locked onto hers, and for a brief moment, she saw something dark and twisted in his gaze-something far worse than ambition. He wasn't just after the artifacts for power; there was something more sinister at play.

Before she could dwell on it, Ivy pulled her toward the stairs, and they all rushed through the door, slamming it shut behind them. The runes flared brightly for a second before the door sealed itself with a final thud, cutting them off from Cedric and his allies.

Breathing heavily, they stood at the top of the staircase, the air thick with magic. Aria's heart raced as she looked down into the abyss below. The stairway was ancient, carved from stone and lined with more glowing runes that seemed to pulse with life.

"That was too close," Lila whispered, clutching her wand tightly.

"We need to move fast," Marcus said, glancing back at the door. "Cedric won't be stopped for long."

Aria nodded, taking a deep breath to steady herself. "Let's go. The vault is waiting."

As they descended into the depths of the academy, the weight of their task pressed down on them. The vault held unimaginable power, and now they were closer to it than anyone had been in centuries. But with Cedric hot on their heels, and the secrets of the academy still unraveling, Aria couldn't shake the feeling that the true danger was yet to come.

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Word Count: 1061