Aurelius stiffened at Augustus' words, waiting for him to continue.

"Well, you see," Augustus began, deliberately drawing out the suspense. "Let's just say our time is limited, much more so than I initially believed."

"What does that mean?" Aurelius demanded, his curiosity piqued.

"I'm afraid I can't divulge many details about the events involving other races and the other chosen ones. The same binding that prevents me from traversing the world also restricts what I can say."

"But let's just say something enormous is unfolding," Augustus said, widening his eyes and spreading his wings for emphasis. "Something of considerable magnitude. You may soon catch wind of rumors or receive news about it.”

"And you can't provide me with any information?" Aurelius inquired, raising an eyebrow.

"Nope," Augustus replied, reverting to his usual personality. Even in his crow form, his expression reminded Aurelius of a toddler concealing a secret.

"Well, actually," Augustus began, a mischievous glint in his eye. "You will be forced to answer, the question," he added, allowing his final words to resonate ominously in the room.

Aurelius felt a tinge of frustration welling up. "What does that even mean?" he repeated, throwing his hands up in exasperation.

"You will understand in due time," Augustus began. "But for now, I must depart," and before Aurelius could utter a word, the god vanished with a playful wink.

Aurelius stood there, staring at the spot where Augustus had just been, his mind racing with questions and a sense of impending doom. What was this "question" that Augustus had mentioned? And why did it sound so foreboding? He had a couple of guesses, and none of them seemed too promising.

Aurelius shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. There was no use speculating about Augustus' cryptic words now. He needed to focus on the present and gather any information he could to make sense of the situation.

Packing up his belongings, Aurelius left the study room. As he stepped out of the library, he noticed that the sky had turned dark. Making a quiet trek back to his dorm room, Aurelius’ mind was consumed with questions.

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Opening the door to the dorm room, Aurelius found Valen sprawled out on his bed, engrossed in a book. Valen's head snapped up when he heard Aurelius enter.

"Damn, Aurelius! What took you so long at the library? It's been like six hours!" Valen exclaimed. "I knew you took your classes seriously, but spending six hours straight on a research project seems excessive."

Valen's words came as a surprise to Aurelius as well. Although he could tell that he had spent a considerable amount of time in the library since it was now nighttime, it certainly didn't feel like 6 or 7 hours had passed.

After a grueling day filled with morning fitness, rune crafting, class evolution, and Augustus' cryptic warning, Aurelius was utterly exhausted. He slumped onto his own bed, sighing heavily.

"I guess time just got away from me," Aurelius replied, his voice laced with weariness. As he touched the soft mattress of the bed, Aurelius nearly passed out then and there. He hadn’t realized how truly tired his body had been.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

But before he succumbed to sleep, a sudden thought jolted him back to reality.

"Valen," Aurelius called out, mustering the last bit of energy he had. "There's something I have to ask you."

Valen looked up from his book, concern etched across his face. "What's wrong, Aurelius? You seem really serious."

Aurelius drew in a long breath, his mind intent on gathering its scattered fragments. "Have you observed anything peculiar lately? Perhaps caught wind of rumors or noteworthy events?" Aurelius cautiously inquired, striving to avoid revealing too much to Valen.

Valen furrowed his eyebrows, processing the information at hand. "Not particularly," he began, "aside from the usual conspiracy theories surrounding the Chosen, claiming they defected to the Dark Elves and betrayed us."

Aurelius raised an eyebrow, his surprise subtly surfacing in his tone. "Is that actually a theory?" he questioned.

Valen shrugged, nonchalant. "Just one of many I've come across. But let's get back to the original question—why do you want to know?" Curiosity tinged his voice.

Aurelius let his gaze drift upward, fixating on the ceiling. To reveal or not to reveal? One of the many contemplations that had plagued him lately.

Suddenly, a realization struck Aurelius. Could this be the very question Augustus had warned him about? Aurelius hesitated for a moment, grappling with the weight of the secret he carried. He knew that revealing the truth to Valen could have far-reaching consequences, not only for their friendship. But as he looked into Valen's earnest eyes, he felt a flicker of trust, a glimmer of the bond they had quickly forged over the past month.

Aurelius took a deep breath, steeling his resolve to keep the secret hidden for the time being. The weight of the truth bore down on him, but he knew that revealing his true self to Valen at this point would only invite more trouble. The consequences could be dire, not only for himself but also for Valen, who could find himself thrust into a position of danger. Aurelius couldn't bear the thought of putting his friend at risk, and the thought of yet another factor to worry about added to his growing concerns.

He needed more time, more certainty, before he could reveal the truth. Even as Aurelius repeated these words silently, an increasing weight seemed to grow on his back.

"Never mind," Aurelius said, his voice tinged with regret. "It was just a passing thought. Forget I mentioned anything."

Valen’s eyes studied Aurelius for a moment, as if he sensed a weight behind Aurelius’ words. With a nod, Valen let the matter drop, not pressuring Aurelius any further.

"Alright, Aurelius," Valen said gently, offering a reassuring smile. "If you ever want to talk about it, you know I'm here for you, right?"

Aurelius felt a mixture of relief and guilt wash over him.

"I appreciate that, Valen," Aurelius replied, sincerity lacing his words. "I truly do."

The two friends shared a quiet moment of understanding, their unspoken connection strengthening in the face of uncertainty. Though Aurelius had chosen to keep the secret hidden, he knew that Valen would be there for him whenever he was ready to reveal the truth.

As exhaustion finally caught up with him, Aurelius allowed sleep to claim him, hoping that in the respite of dreams, he might find some clarity to guide him forward. With the weight of the question still pressing on his heart, Aurelius drifted into a restless sleep.

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Aurelius woke up with a jolt, drenched in sweat.

"Damn," he groggily muttered, realizing that his dream had left a strong impact. He could still remember the fires from his dreams still tickling his skin, the fires that represented… What exactly did they represent? Try as he might, Aurelius couldn't recollect the contents of the dream, as they slipped away like water through his memory's crevices.

Frustrated and determined, Aurelius knew one thing for certain—whatever the dream represented, it was foreboding. Its timing aligned precisely with the day he received Augustus' warning. Coincidence? Aurelius doubted it. The dream served as a stark reminder that, no matter what lay ahead, he needed to become stronger.

Infused with the motivation of a 3 a.m. workout session, Aurelius leapt out of bed, intent on making the most of his time today. Fortunately, it was a Saturday, a weekend day devoid of classes, granting him extra hours and opportunities to focus on himself. Usually, he spent these spare days studying, relaxing, or getting ahead on homework. However, now, Aurelius no longer felt ahead. He sensed that he had fallen far behind and had a considerable amount of catching up to do.

Considering his options, Aurelius headed towards a secluded dueling room at a private academy. There, he could practice his newfound skill with the Arcane Blade in solitude. Another thought crossed his mind as he left his dorm room—perhaps it was time to stop concealing his talent in the Tournament of Elites.