***

"There is this one rumor that used to circle around back in the army. About Arcadia that is," said Arsel, as he sat cross-legged in the shade of a colossal tree.

"What might that be?" Questioned Dariu.

"It's about a certain library there. They say that it contains all the knowledge of the world."

"All the knowledge, huh?" He pondered, "even the Elder Beasts?"

"I'm not sure. But if the rumors are true, then yes, it must have something about them."

***

In the northern side of Arcadia, a large forest of scarlet trees graced the landscape. Within it strolled Dariu and Naylu.

"Well, this is absurd. Just how big is this place?" Naylu wondered.

"Pretty big, I suppose."

"What was it that you wanted to check at the library, anyway?"

"Nothing specific, really. It's just that I heard some rumors about how it supposedly possesses all the knowledge of the world, so I got curious."

"That's intriguing. All I have ever heard about Arcadia is how it kills everyone that walks into it, and how it was founded by Mariadaishu."

"Well, at least we know that one of these is true."

"Speaking of Mariadaishu, didn't he live a thousand years ago? How could have a dead man founded this place?"

"His followers don't believe in his death. They claim that he still walks among the living in hiding, and that he would one day reveal himself once more to reshape the world."

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"That's... Madness."

"Not to them," Dariu said before he halted, "this is it."

Ahead of them stood an old square building, topped by a red brick roof, its entrance marked by a sizable wooden door. The structure, embraced by tall trees, stood apart in seclusion within the Academy, its surroundings blanketed in a carpet of red leaves.

"That doesn't look big enough to hold the knowledge of the world," Naylu commented.

The pair advanced towards the door, and to their surprise, it was locked. They attempted to push it multiple times, but to no avail.

"Look over there," Naylu pointed above the door.

Right above the wooden frame hung a sign that read 'The library opens at sunset.'

"Is this a joke?" Frustrated, Dariu questioned.

"It ought to be."

Growing mad from the illogical sign, Dariu hit the door with Dhormu, causing a Nymph stone to shatter to dust. The door however, did not even budge.

"This is no regular wood," Dariu remarked.

"Just why on earth would they do this?" Wondered Naylu, refering to the absurd sign.

"I don't know. Some kind of a twsited joke, maybe? Or perhaps," Dariu stopped mid-sentence, and gazed at the sign for a bit.

"A challenge?"

"What do we do now?"

"There is nothing we can do, let's return."

From afar hidden amidst the trees stood a red-eyed crow on a branch. The crow appeared to observe the pair as they took their leave, tracking them with its head.

Dariu and Naylu tried to navigate their way back through the woods, but got confused on the way and ended getting lost.

"I'm certain we passed through this path before," said Naylu.

"You're right, this is quite troublesome," he responded then looked up and around for some time, "sunset is nearing."

"Wait, can you hear that?"

From a distance echoed an odd noise. It was the sound of something heavy being dragged across the ground.

Intrigued, the pair decided to investigate the source of the sound, following its trail. After a brief walk, they stumbled upon an unexpected scene.

"Is that... The groundskeeper?" Naylu wondered.

Hiding behind a tree, Dariu and Naylu observed the groundskeeper as he walked with heavy steps, his right arm dragging a body, and his left holding a lantern bearing a purple flame. The body missed both a head and a right arm, prompting Dariu to immediately realize its identity:

"That's the girl from this morning."

"God... You're right, it is her."

As the groundskeeper continued his path, Dariu stepped out from behind the tree, silently trailing him.

"Dariu, what are you doing?!" Exclaimed Naylu.

"I want to see where he's taking her," he said, walking after the groundskeeper.

"Darn it," he said then swiflty followed.

Stealthily, the duo trailed the groundskeeper, strategically concealing themselves at each twist and turn. When the groundskeeper reached the forest' exit, what met Dariu and Naylu's gaze left them in awe: a vast cemetery unfolding before them. Not just vast, but seemingly endless, with tombstones numbering not in the hundreds, but the thousands.

"By god..." Exclaimed Dariu.

"I have never seen this many graves in my entire life, are these..."

"Previous students, yes. It got to be."

The groundskeeper dragged the body to a grave pit, tossed it inside, then began to throw dirt over it with a nearby shovel.

"This is... Too much," Expressed Naylu in a frustrated tone, "this place has been killing people for centuries, and no one has ever done anything about it."

"Arcadia is indeed shrouded in mystery, but there is no point thinking about that now," Dariu said, his hand on Naylu's shoulder, "all we can do is strive to survive, that is our sole concern."

"You're right."

"Let's go back, there is nothing for us here."

With growing concerns and heavier fears, the pair went back to their dorms. Their first day of class was soon about to end, and the real challenges had yet to begin.