The dormitory common room was quiet, the crackling fire casting long shadows across the walls. Liam sat on the edge of his chair, staring into the flames as if they held the answers he desperately needed. Ethan paced behind him, restless, while Sarah leaned against the mantle, her arms crossed tightly over her chest. The weight of the day’s events lingered heavily in the air.

“We can’t just keep waiting for them to come after you again,” Sarah said, breaking the silence. Her voice was firm, but beneath it was a thread of urgency. “Something is going on here, and it’s bigger than any of us realize.”

Ethan stopped pacing, glancing toward the door as if expecting someone—or something—to burst through at any moment. “Yeah, no kidding. But what are we supposed to do? If the Arcane Wardens don’t have answers, how are we supposed to figure this out?”

Liam remained silent, his mind racing. He could still hear the wraiths’ voices, hollow and eerie. The Hawthorne boy. They’d come for him. But why?

“We start by investigating,” Liam said finally, his voice steadier than he felt. He glanced up at Sarah. “You’re right. Sitting around waiting for answers isn’t going to help.”

Sarah nodded, her eyes flickering with determination. “We need to find out why the West Tower is connected to all of this. You said you felt a pull toward it from the start, right? We need to understand what that means.”

Liam ran a hand through his hair, nodding. “The tower… it’s like a hum, always there in the background. And it’s been getting stronger.”

Ethan crossed his arms, leaning back against the wall. “So we’re going to investigate a creepy, off-limits tower now? I mean, I’m in, but it sounds like we’re asking for trouble.”

Sarah smirked slightly. “Since when have we not been in trouble?”

Ethan laughed lightly, but his eyes were serious. “Fair point. Still, we need a plan.”

Sarah pushed away from the mantle, her mind clearly already at work. “If the West Tower is involved, we need to find a way to learn more about it without drawing attention. The last thing we need is Master Murrow or anyone else realizing we’re snooping around.”

Liam glanced at Ethan. “You know the school better than any of us. Is there a way to get closer to the tower without being noticed?”

Ethan frowned, rubbing the back of his neck. “Well, not exactly… I mean, the place is under some serious magical protection. The wards around it are stronger than anywhere else on campus. But…” He paused, his brow furrowing in thought. “There might be another way. You know those old records in the library? The ones no one really looks at anymore? They’re practically buried, but if we dig deep enough, we might find something about the tower’s history.”

“Library research,” Sarah muttered with a small smile. “Good thing I’m used to that.”

“I was hoping for a more action-packed plan,” Ethan sighed dramatically, “but sure, let’s dig through some dusty old books.”

Liam nodded, feeling a flicker of hope. “It’s a start. If we can learn why the tower’s so important, maybe we can figure out why it’s pulling at me. And why the wraiths were sent after me.”

Sarah crossed the room and grabbed her cloak from a nearby chair. “Then let’s start tonight. The longer we wait, the more dangerous this could become.”

Ethan shot Liam a look. “Hope you’re ready to spend the night with your nose buried in ancient texts. This could take a while.”

The trio moved quietly through the dim corridors of Aethermoor, the sound of their footsteps barely audible against the stone floors. The castle had settled into an eerie quiet, the other students had long since retired to their dorms for the night. Outside, the wind howled, but inside, the weight of their mission kept them focused.

The library was as vast and intimidating as ever. Towering bookshelves lined the walls, each filled with volumes of magical history, theory, and spells. The flickering candlelight cast long shadows, making the space feel even more cavernous.

“We’re looking for anything about the tower or any old wards,” Sarah whispered, already pulling down dusty tomes from a nearby shelf. “Maybe something about ancient protections.”

Ethan, who had climbed up one of the rolling ladders, scanned the shelves with a mix of fascination and frustration. “This place is a maze. If the answer’s here, it’s probably buried under a century’s worth of forgotten notes.”

Liam picked up an old leather-bound book and opened it cautiously, the pages crinkling under his fingertips. As the hours passed, they sifted through text after text, their energy draining as the mystery remained unsolved.

We’ve been at this for hours,” Ethan groaned from atop the ladder. “Are we even looking in the right section?” Liam was starting to wonder the same. He flipped through another book—ancient, brittle, and completely unhelpful. But then, just as he was about to close it, his eyes landed on a passage that made his pulse quicken.

“Wait,” he said, his voice low but urgent. “I found something.”

Sarah and Ethan immediately gathered around him. The book was old, its cover worn and nearly falling apart. The pages were filled with faded writing and cryptic symbols, but one section stood out.

“The West Tower,” Liam read aloud, “was once a place of immense power, used to contain dangerous forces that threatened the very fabric of magical society. The wards placed around it are designed to hold back something ancient…”

“Something ancient?” Ethan echoed. “That doesn’t sound good.”

Liam’s pulse quickened as he scanned the next few lines. “It says that the tower’s wards are linked to a bloodline, a family that helped seal away… whatever’s inside. But the records don’t say who or what it was.”

Sarah’s brow furrowed. “A bloodline? Does it mention the name of the family?”

Liam shook his head, frustration bubbling inside him. “No. Just that the family played a crucial role in keeping something locked away. And that if the bloodline fades, so too will the wards.”

They all exchanged uneasy glances, the implications sinking in.

“That’s why the wraiths were looking for you,” Sarah said, her voice soft but certain. “It’s your family. Somehow, you’re connected to whatever’s in that tower.”

The weight of Sarah’s words hung heavily in the air. Liam stared down at the book, his heart racing. Connected to whatever’s in the tower? How? He knew nothing of magical bloodlines, of any family legacy involving dark forces or wards. All his life, he had been just… ordinary. At least, he had thought so.

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Ethan broke the silence first. “So… what now? We can’t just leave it at that.”

Liam shook his head, feeling the pull of this revelation tugging him deeper into confusion. “There has to be more. Something that explains why my family would be involved. I don’t understand any of this.”

“We’ll figure it out,” Sarah said quietly, her hand resting lightly on his arm. “But we need to be careful. If your family is connected to the wards, it means there are even more secrets being kept from you—dangerous ones.”

Ethan leaned against the bookshelf, arms crossed. “And if the wraiths are after you because of it, we’re running out of time. This is bigger than just a few attacks. Someone’s moving pieces behind the scenes, and we’re in the middle of it.”

Liam took a deep breath, trying to steady his racing thoughts. He glanced back at the book, flipping through the brittle pages, searching for more clues. But as he turned the final page, he found nothing. The rest of the text had been deliberately torn out, leaving only frayed edges behind.

“Great,” he muttered, closing the book with a sigh. “Someone didn’t want anyone to read the rest.”

Sarah frowned. “We need more information. Maybe there’s another record somewhere else, something that wasn’t erased.”

Ethan pushed himself off the wall, glancing around the vast library. “If there is, it’s not going to be easy to find. We’re already going down the rabbit hole.”

Liam stared at the shelves, feeling the weight of the discovery settle deeper into his chest. His family… involved in ancient wards? It was unbelievable, and yet the more he thought about it, the more certain he became that it was true. It would explain so much—why he had magic when no one else in his family did, why the wraiths had been hunting him, why the tower had felt like it was calling to him since he arrived.

“Let’s get out of here for now,” Sarah said, sensing his unease. “We’ll need a new plan.”

They carefully tucked the book away and slipped out of the library as quietly as they had entered. The moon had climbed high in the sky, casting long shadows over the Academy grounds. As they walked back to the dormitory, the weight of the discovery pressed down on Liam like a suffocating blanket.

The next few days passed in a blur of normalcy, yet Liam couldn’t shake the feeling that his life was on the verge of something monumental. He continued to go to classes, practice his magic, and avoid the constant whispers about the disturbances happening outside the Academy. The rumors about a new criminal organization were growing, but most students, including Ethan, waved it off, confident that the Arcane Wardens would handle it.

But Liam’s mind kept returning to the book, to the mention of the bloodline and the tower. He didn’t tell anyone else about it, not yet. Not until he understood more. But it was impossible to push it to the back of his mind. The thought of the wraiths—shadowy figures hunting him because of some ancient connection—kept him awake at night.

His only reprieve was his continued letters to Oliver. The small golem homunculus continued its cheerful routine of delivering messages back and forth, a small comfort in the midst of the chaos. Oliver’s enthusiasm for the magical creatures Liam described always brought a smile to his face, and their back-and-forth helped ground Liam in the normalcy of family. But even then, he hesitated to tell Oliver the truth about what was happening at Aethermoor. It was too much for his little brother to understand, and Liam didn’t want to worry him.

One evening, as Liam sat at his desk, staring at the flickering light of the enchanted candle, there was a knock on his door. Before he could answer, the door creaked open, and Sarah stepped in quietly.

“Can we talk?” she asked, her voice soft but urgent.

Liam nodded, gesturing for her to sit. She crossed the room and took a seat at the edge of his bed, her eyes scanning the room before resting on him.

“I’ve been thinking about the wraiths,” she began. “I don’t think they were just a random attack. They were summoned. Someone sent them after you on purpose.”

Liam sighed, running a hand through his hair. “I’ve been thinking the same thing. But why me? I don’t even know anything about my family’s connection to the tower.”

Sarah leaned forward, her gaze intense. “That’s the point. Someone knows more about your family than you do. And they’re trying to get to you before you figure it out. We need to figure out who’s behind this before they come for you again.”

Liam met her gaze, feeling a surge of gratitude for her determination. “You’re right. But we can’t just keep sneaking into the library hoping for answers. We need another way.”

“I’ve been doing some research,” Sarah said, her voice lowering. “There’s an old network of tunnels beneath Aethermoor. They’re sealed off now, but if we can find a way in, they might lead us closer to the truth.”

Liam raised an eyebrow. “Tunnels? How do you know about them?”

Sarah smiled slightly. “I may have a few tricks up my sleeve. I found a reference to them in an old map of the grounds. If we can get down there, we might find records or artifacts that could tell us more about the tower—and your family’s connection to it.”

Liam’s heart raced at the thought of uncovering more. It was risky, but it felt like the only option. He nodded. “Let’s do it. But we need to be careful. If anyone finds out, we’re in trouble.”

Sarah nodded. “We’ll plan it out. I’ll bring Ethan into the loop. We’re going to need all the help we can get.”

The next day, Liam, Sarah, and Ethan met in a quiet corner of the grounds to discuss their plan. The wind had picked up, swirling leaves around their feet as they huddled close, speaking in hushed tones.

Ethan crossed his arms, glancing between Liam and Sarah. “So, let me get this straight. We’re going to sneak into some ancient, creepy tunnels under the Academy, looking for clues about a magical conspiracy involving Liam’s family and a bunch of evil wraiths?”

Sarah rolled her eyes. “That’s a bit dramatic. But yes, that’s the plan.”

Ethan grinned. “I’m in.”

Liam couldn’t help but smile, feeling a sense of unity between them. Despite the danger, he knew he wasn’t facing this alone.

As they finalized their preparations, the weight of their mission pressed down on Liam. They were delving into something far more dangerous than he had ever imagined. But as the winds howled around them, Liam felt a quiet determination settle within him.

Whatever secrets were hidden beneath Aethermoor, he was going to uncover them. And he wasn’t going to stop until he knew the truth about his family, the tower, and why the wraiths had come for him.

As they entered the dormitory, a calm quiet fell over them. Liam lingered in the hallway for a moment, watching as Ethan and Sarah made their way toward their rooms. His mind was still buzzing with everything they’d uncovered, and the unsettling truth that someone, somewhere, knew more about his family than he did.

He moved toward his own room, the thought of sleep feeling distant. But as he closed the door behind him, his eyes landed on the small golem homunculus perched on his desk, patiently waiting. The sight of it brought a flicker of comfort amidst the chaos. Oliver’s latest letter.

Liam crossed the room, picking up the letter from his younger brother. For a moment, the weight of the world lifted, replaced by the innocent excitement in Oliver’s messy handwriting. Oliver’s curiosity about magical creatures, his sketches, his endless questions—those small, normal things grounded Liam in a way nothing else could.

He sighed and sat down, beginning to write a response, telling Oliver about the fall of the new creatures he learned about, avoiding any mention of the dangers creeping closer. As he wrote, the warmth of the candlelight and the familiar act of talking to his brother soothed some of the tension that had gripped him all evening.

But as he finished his letter and watched the golem scuttle out with the note in hand, the silence of the room returned, heavier now. The mysteries surrounding the West Tower, the wraiths, and his own family’s hidden past loomed larger than ever. His fingers absently traced the desk as his mind circled back to the vision in his dream. The voice had warned him to protect the ward, to protect everyone.

Liam stood and moved to the window, staring out at the Academy grounds, his gaze drawn to the silhouette of the West Tower in the distance. The pull he felt toward it had only grown stronger since the wraith attack.

Whatever was coming, it wasn’t going to wait for him to be ready.

Liam’s hands tightened into fists as a quiet resolve settled over him. He wasn’t just going to wait around for answers. He was going to find them—about his family, the tower, and why his life had been thrown into this world of secrets and shadows.

And when the time came, he would be ready to face whatever lay ahead.

With that thought, he finally turned away from the window, the determination solidifying within him. Tomorrow, they would begin their search for the tunnels. And maybe, just maybe, they’d find the truth buried beneath Aethermoor.

As he lay down, sleep didn’t come easily, but his mind was clearer now. He had a path forward, even if it was uncertain. And with Ethan and Sarah by his side, he wasn’t facing it alone.

Liam closed his eyes, the faint hum of magic in the walls lulling him toward uneasy rest. Tomorrow, they’d take their first step into the unknown.

And whatever they found, there would be no turning back.