Unearthing the Secrets

Arvanya's POV:

I sat in the classroom, trying to focus on Ms. Mathilda Rivers' lecture, but my mind kept drifting. The hum of the air in the Vortex Academy classroom felt different from the vibrant energy of Aetheria. Here, Esme, Calen, and I, all air elementals, were stuck in a separate class from everyone else. Meanwhile, Nico and Dante—fire elementals—had their own class, and Sofia and Lila, being Water Elementals, were in another. Kai had his own class too. Everything felt... divided.

In Aetheria, it was the best part of the experience—first-year students from all elements mixed together for our academic classes, no matter what we could control. The camaraderie, the shared knowledge, and the excitement of learning side by side, despite our differences—that was what made Aetheria special. Here? It was just hierarchy, just separation. They made it feel like our powers defined us completely.

I glanced at Esme, who was scribbling notes with intense focus, and Calen, who was half-listening, probably thinking about his next sparring match. I could barely concentrate on the equations Ms. Rivers was drawing on the board. I wasn't the only one who felt disconnected. It was hard to ignore how unnatural it felt for all of us to be in separate rooms for things as simple as math, physics, and economics.

I leaned back in my chair, glancing at Esme and Calen, but my mind was far from the classroom, from the lesson. Ms. Rivers' voice barely registered in my ears as I thought about that place.

How could we possibly get inside? How could I bring my friends there without being caught or worse—being thrown out before we even had a chance to help? I couldn't just stand by while the students remained prisoners, hidden away from the rest of the world. It was a terrible secret they tried to bury deep, but I knew it existed.

The thought of sneaking in, of somehow finding a way to break the barriers that separated us... It was risky, yes. But what other choice did I have? If we didn't act, nothing would ever change. Those elementals needed us. I needed to do something. I couldn't let this injustice stand.

The rest of the class passed in a blur, one class merging into the next, each lesson fading into the background as I was caught up in my thoughts. I tried to focus, really, I did—but the weight of it all made it impossible.

Now, we were sitting in our physics class, and I was still miles away. The hum of the classroom was drowned out by the storm of thoughts raging in my head. Ms. Clara Hawthorne was speaking, but I barely heard her over the rush of plans, doubts, and fears.

"Ms. Collins," the teacher's voice cut through my thoughts like a whip.

I jolted upright, my chair screeching against the floor. A sharp intake of breath to my left—Esme. Her brows knitted together as she peeked at the board, then back at me, worry flickering in her eyes.

Calen, on the other hand, leaned back in his chair, arms crossed, the corners of his mouth twitching. His gaze flicked between me and the board, pure amusement dancing in his eyes.

I shot him a quick glare before turning to the teacher, who was now pointing at the board.

"Can you solve this problem for us?"

Heat crawled up my neck. My legs felt stiff as I pushed myself up, the weight of every pair of eyes in the room pressing down on me. I swallowed hard and trudged to the front, my heart hammering.

I stared at the problem on the board, my mind spinning, but the solution just wouldn't come to me. I felt like I was standing in front of a wall. Time stretched on, every second feeling like a hundred, until I finally had to admit defeat.

Ms. Hawthorne's voice was sharp as she spoke, the disappointment clear. "Next time, pay attention in class Ms. Collins"

I felt the heat rise in my cheeks, my stomach sinking. "Sorry, Ms. Hawthorne," I muttered, embarrassed, and made my way back to my seat.

Esme and Calen were both looking at me with encouraging smiles, their eyes full of silent support. "It's okay, Aria," Esme whispered. "You'll get it next time."

"Don't worry about it," Calen added, his tone gentle. "We all have our moments."

I smiled weakly at them, but the words didn't help much. I appreciated their kindness, but I couldn't shake the feeling that I had failed. Not just at the problem on the board, but at keeping my focus when it mattered most. That damn place, the elementals... It had my mind in knots, and no amount of supportive words seemed to untangle it.

As soon as the bell rang, signaling the end of class, I jumped out of my seat, grabbing my bag in a flash. "Let's go," I said, my voice barely contained with excitement. "We have a break now, and we need to talk to Master Orin."

Esme gave me a quick glance as we walked toward the door. "Okay, okay, but first, we need to wait for the others. They're probably on their way."

I could feel impatience boiling inside me. Every second felt like an eternity. I couldn't focus on anything other than what we were about to discuss. We had to figure out how to help those elementals, and time was slipping away. But I held my tongue as we walked toward Master Orin's office, my feet barely touching the ground with each step.

Standing outside the door, I felt the weight of the waiting pressing down on me. "Why are they taking so long?" I muttered, unable to keep the frustration out of my voice.

Esme and Calen exchanged a glance, then Calen spoke calmly, "Just give them a moment. They'll be here soon."

I wanted to snap back, but I forced myself to take a deep breath. I had to keep it together. So, I stood there, fidgeting with my bag, tapping my foot impatiently. The wait felt endless. I just hoped Master Orin might have some clue about that place. How could we get inside together? Was there any way in? I needed answers, and fast.

Just as I was about to lose my patience, I spotted Nico and Dante approaching. I couldn't help myself. "Where were you two?" I asked, the words rushing out.

Nico gave a casual shrug and spoke up, breaking my thoughts. "As you know, it's our first day here, and the teachers are practically trying to suppress us with their assignments."

The words hit me like a sudden realization. I had been so caught up in my own head about the air elementals and how to get us all into that place, I had completely forgotten that for Nico, Dante, and the others, this was their first day at Vortex Academy. They were probably overwhelmed with new assignments and expectations.

I felt a wave of guilt wash over me. Here I was, rushing ahead with my plans, forgetting that they all had to adjust to this new environment. "I'm so sorry," I muttered, my face flushing. "I totally forgot that it's your first day here. I shouldn't have been so caught up in everything."

Nico smiled, giving me a reassuring pat on the back. "Don't worry about it, Arvi. We get it. But yeah, we've got a lot to deal with today. So let's get this over with and then figure out what we can do about everything else."

I nodded, grateful for his understanding. Esme and Calen exchanged knowing looks, but they didn't say anything. It felt good to have my friends by my side, even when I got a little too lost in my own thoughts.

Then Sofia, Lila, and Kai appeared, making our group complete. Without wasting another second, I turned to them. "C'mon, let's go. We don't have time to waste."

I knocked on Master Orin's office door, the sound sharp and decisive. A voice from inside called out, "Come in."

With a quick glance around at my friends, I pushed open the door, and we all stepped into the office together. The moment the door closed behind us, I felt the weight of the conversation ahead settle on my shoulders. This was it. We were finally going to talk about what had been weighing on my mind all day. I just prayed Master Orin might know how we could all get into that place together, without raising any suspicion.

Master Orin looked at us with a confused expression, his brows furrowed in concern. "Arvanya, and all of you... what are you doing here?" He asked, his voice laced with worry. "Is something wrong?"

I quickly shook my head, trying to ease his concern. "No, no, Master Orin. Actually, we need to talk to you about something important."

He stood up from his seat immediately, his posture a mix of curiosity and unease. He gestured toward the sofas on the other side of the room. "Please, sit down. Let me hear what's going on."

We exchanged brief glances, a silent understanding passing between us. One by one, we walked over to the sofas and sat down. Master Orin took a chair opposite us, his gaze moving over each of us, but then it stopped on me.

"Tell me," he said, his voice calm but with a note of concern, "What do you want to talk about?"

I froze for a moment, my thoughts scrambling to find the right words. How could I start? Where should I begin?

This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

Master Orin, sensing my hesitation, spoke again, this time his voice softer. "Arvanya, you told me before that you all were planning to go to that place, the one you spoke of last time. So, did you go there?"

I nodded slowly, my stomach tightening. I could feel the heaviness of the situation bearing down on me. Master Orin's expression shifted, becoming more serious. "What happened?" he asked, his eyes searching mine. "Something serious? You can tell me, and I'll try to help you all."

I took a deep breath, then finally spoke. "It's strange, Master Orin... Only I can see the place. The others couldn’t see it at first, but when they touched my hand, they could. And when we tried to get in, when we were inside, and they let go of my hand, the place threw them out."

As I spoke, I could see Master Orin's expression changing. His brow furrowed deeper, and I could tell that he was processing everything carefully. By the time I finished, he looked completely stunned. It was like he didn't know whether to believe what I had just told him or not. He looked at us for a long moment, as if trying to grasp the gravity of the situation.

"So, you're saying," Master Orin began, his voice still tinged with disbelief, "that only you can see this place?"

Kai nodded, his expression serious. "Yes, Master Orin. Only she can see it."

Esme leaned forward slightly, adding, "And when we touched her hand, we were able to see it too. But the moment we let go, it disappeared. It's... like the place only exists when we're connected to her."

Master Orin’s gaze sharpened, his brow furrowing in disbelief. "How is that possible? Only you can see it?"

I took a moment before answering, my voice steady but filled with uncertainty. "Maybe it's because I'm... different. Being connected to five elements, I can see it. I don’t really understand why, but I can."

Master Orin remained silent for a moment, clearly weighing everything we had said. His eyes flicked over each of us, trying to make sense of the puzzle. I couldn't tell if he had any answers or if he was as lost as we were.

I couldn't hold the silence any longer, and the words spilled out before I could stop myself. "Do you have any idea about that place? What kind of place it is?"

For a moment, Master Orin didn't say anything. I could feel the tension in the room thickening. My heart sank, and I feared that our last hope of finding answers was slipping away, leaving us as lost as we had been before. But then, after what felt like an eternity, Master Orin spoke.

"If you're telling me that the place is exactly like that... then it was made by dark magic," he said, his voice serious, carrying a weight of understanding that sent a ripple of hope through me.

My breath caught, and I leaned forward, eager for any shred of information. "Do you know anything about that place? Anything at all?" I asked, my voice shaky with both fear and anticipation.

He looked at me, his eyes deep and unreadable. "Yes," he said, slowly, almost as if weighing his words. "I have a little idea about it. This kind of place... made by dark magic, many years ago. It was used to hide terrible things, things no one was meant to see. It was created to keep those things from being discovered, to keep them hidden from prying eyes. But the fact that such a place exists now... It's almost... unbelievable. Dark magic was eradicated thousands of years ago."

My mind raced, the gravity of his words sinking in. Dark magic... that was something beyond my understanding. But if it had been wiped out so long ago, how could it possibly still exist? And why was I seeing it now?

I couldn't stop myself from asking. "Dark magic? What kind of dark magic are you talking about?"

Master Orin's gaze softened with concern, and he exhaled slowly, his face grim. "Listen, Arvanya," he said, his tone gentle but firm, "I know you're strong, stronger than most, but from what you're describing to me, this place... it was made with dark magic that's beyond powerful. The kind of power you can't even begin to imagine. The people who created it were dangerous. You have no idea what you're dealing with here."

My mind reeled from his words, the implications sinking in with a cold, heavy weight. But there was no time to dwell on fear—not now.

"Then what should we do?" I asked, my voice trembling with urgency. "Who can help us?"

Master Orin paused, then gave me a look that made my chest tighten. "You need to go to someone higher, someone with more authority—someone like your father, King Thalor, or King Drakos. They need to know about this."

I shook my head, the fear welling up inside me, and my voice grew more desperate. "No, Master Orin, we can't do that." I looked at each of my friends, who were silently watching, understanding my resolve. "You don't know. Higher authorities... they're involved in the abduction of those elementals. If we tell them, their lives will be in danger. We can't risk it."

Master Orin's expression hardened, his concern deepening, but he didn't argue further. He knew—he had to know—how much was at stake. But I had made my decision. The danger was too real, and we couldn't trust anyone else with this... not yet.

We were alone in this fight.

Master Orin tried again, his voice laced with caution. "Arvanya, you have to understand that this is dangerous. If you go any further with this, it could put you and your friends in harm's way."

I could see the concern in his eyes, but I was firm in my resolve. "I know it's dangerous, sir, but we have no choice," I replied, my voice steady despite the anxiety swirling within me. "Someone from the authorities is involved in this, and if they find out what we're doing, all our hard work will be wasted, and we'll lose the students trapped there. Please, Master Orin, don't tell anyone about it."

Master Orin hesitated for a moment longer, but finally, he nodded slowly. "Alright," he said, his tone softening. "I won't tell anyone. But you have to be careful. This is more than just a mission to free elementals—this is a battle against something ancient and powerful."

I let out a breath I hadn't realized I was holding. "Thank you, Master Orin. Thank you so much." I was filled with a mix of relief and dread. We had his support, but the road ahead would be fraught with danger.

I couldn't waste time. "Now, can you tell us how we can get into that place?" I asked, urgency in my voice.

He looked at me thoughtfully for a moment before speaking, his voice quieter now, as if contemplating the weight of his words. "I've read about these kinds of places," he said, his brow furrowing. "They are designed specifically to be undetectable by others, meant to hide dark magic and secrets from the world. These places are nearly impossible to access, but there's a chance you can break through it—only if you have the right tools."

"What kind of tools?" I asked, leaning forward, hoping for a solution.

"Ancient relics," Master Orin replied, his voice almost reverent. "Objects of immense power—ancient items imbued with magic capable of weakening the dark magic that guards these places. Only with such relics can the magic be cracked open enough for someone to see the place clearly."

Hope flickered within me like a tiny spark. "So, you mean if we find these relics, we'll be able to see the place and get inside?" I asked, my heart pounding with newfound determination.

Master Orin nodded, but his expression was somber. "It's the only way. But such relics are rare and difficult to find. And even if you find them, there's no guarantee they will work. The magic in those places is far beyond what most can comprehend."

I glanced at my friends, each of them wearing the same expression of hope mixed with uncertainty. We were closer to the answer, but the path ahead was more dangerous than ever.

"We'll find them," I said quietly, my resolve hardening. "We'll find the relics, and we'll free the Elementals."

Esme, Calen, Nico, Dante, Sofia, Lila, and Kai nodded in unison, their faces set with determination. Together, we were ready to take on whatever this dark magic threw at us.

Master Orin paused, his eyes clouding with concern as he continued, "The exact relics that can weaken the dark magic... I can't say for sure which ones would work. You'll have to do your own research. There's information out there, in the library, and even on the internet, but... there's a problem."

We all leaned in, eager to hear more.

"The books in the library that could help you are kept in a restricted section," he said, his voice lower now, as if the very mention of it was dangerous. "the websites on the internet that might have had information about these relics have also been blocked off, and no one can access it without special clearance."

"Why?" Lila asked, her voice sharp with curiosity. "Why are those books kept a secret?"

Master Orin looked at us seriously before answering, "It's because of the negative potential these relics hold. People don't realize how dangerous they are. If the wrong hands got hold of them, the consequences could be catastrophic. These relics... they're not just ancient artifacts. They can be used for much darker purposes. The knowledge about them has been hidden for years to prevent that."

"So, people think they're just ancient trinkets?" Kai asked, sounding frustrated.

"Exactly," Master Orin nodded. "Most believe they're simply museum pieces or relics of a forgotten past. But in truth, they possess far more power than anyone could imagine. That's why the information about them have been hidden away. To keep the world safe from those who would misuse them."

My mind was spinning. Not only did we need to find these relics, but now it seemed we had to navigate the dangers of secrecy and hidden knowledge. Yet, despite the risks, there was no turning back.

"Don't worry, Master Orin. We'll find a way," I said, keeping my voice steady despite the uncertainty ahead.

Master Orin's expression grew even more serious as he leaned forward. "Arvanya, it's not that simple to enter the restricted section. If you're caught there..." He hesitated for a moment before continuing, his voice grim, "The consequences will be far worse than you all can imagine."

A shiver ran down my spine at his words, but instead of backing down, an idea formed in my mind. I met his gaze and gave him a reassuring smile. "Trust me, Sir. We won't go into the restricted section. We'll definitely find some other way."

I could feel my friends glancing at me, confused by my sudden change of tone, but I ignored them. If we told Master Orin the truth—that we planned to sneak into the restricted section—he would never let us go through with it. And right now, we needed every bit of information we could get.

Master Orin studied me for a moment, as if trying to determine whether I was telling the truth. Finally, he sighed and gave a small nod. "Good. I hope you mean that. Because if anything were to happen..." He trailed off, shaking his head.

"We'll be careful," I assured him, even as my mind was already racing with plans. One way or another, we were getting into that restricted section.

Master Orin gave me a small, knowing smile. "I know you will. Just be careful. Not everything is as simple as it seems." He then straightened, his expression shifting to something unreadable. "Now, you all should go. I have very important work to do."

With that, our mission felt clearer, but the obstacles ahead seemed more daunting than ever.

As soon as we stepped out of Master Orin's office, Dante turned to me, frowning. "Why did you say we won't go into the restricted section? If we don't, then how are we supposed to find anything about those relics?"

Before I could respond, Sofia smacked the back of his head. "You idiot! Keep your voice down," she hissed. "Do you really think Arvi would just sit back and do nothing? That was just a lie. We have to go there if we want to find out about those relics."

Dante rubbed his head, looking sheepish. "Ohh... I thought she had given up after hearing that ancient things were involved in this."

I narrowed my eyes at him. "Do I look like someone who would be afraid of some ancient secrets? We will find those relics, and we will go inside that damn place."

Excitement sparked in everyone's eyes. "Yes! We all will!" the others echoed, their determination mirroring mine.

Then Nico groaned dramatically. "Can we talk about this over food? I'm practically starving here."

Laughter rippled through the group as we made our way to the canteen. But the moment I stepped inside—

I stopped.

My body refused to move forward, breath catching in my throat.

And then, I realized—

I wasn't the only one.

Without a word, without an explanation, my friends had all stopped, frozen at the entrance just like me.

The air felt wrong. Thick. Suffocating.

My heart pounded as I stared ahead, unable to tear my gaze away from what was in front of me.

I didn't know what I expected to see.

But this—

This was something I could have never imagined.