Obsidian Tower—a name that echoed with the promise of endless possibilities. The city was a marvel of futuristic technology, a place where steel met sky and the hum of machines filled the air. Towering skyscrapers stretched endlessly toward the heavens, their glass walls reflecting the neon lights that painted the night sky in shades of purple and blue. The streets below bustled with activity, the pulse of the city echoing in the rhythm of its people—those who moved with purpose, their eyes fixed on the future.

But beneath this gleaming surface, there was another world, one that few ever saw. The world that Eryx Vale called home.

Eryx stood at the edge of the academy’s main hall, watching the students rush past him in a hurry, their heads down as they scrolled through their personal devices. He didn’t fit in here. Despite his intelligence, despite the potential that everyone saw when they looked at his work, he was still just another faceless figure in a sea of privileged, wealthy students.

Technos Academy, one of the most prestigious institutions in the city, was a place where the brightest minds in the world came to unlock the secrets of science and technology. But it was also a place where wealth determined your worth—where the rich were given the opportunities to rise, while those from lower-tier districts like Eryx were left to watch from the sidelines. It was a system designed to reward connections and resources, not merit or talent.

The halls of Technos were filled with the hum of advanced machinery, with holographic displays flickering to life at the touch of a button. But for Eryx, it was all just a blur—an endless parade of sleek devices and hollow displays. The real knowledge, the kind that could change everything, was hidden beneath the surface. It was buried in forgotten texts and ancient relics—things that few cared to look for.

But Eryx cared.

He had spent countless nights combing through the academy’s archives, scouring old texts and forgotten scrolls, trying to piece together the mysteries of the world that had been lost to time. He was fascinated by the idea of a time before technology had taken over, when knowledge wasn’t just a tool for power but something that shaped the very fabric of reality.

His hand brushed against the cool surface of the academy’s central terminal, a massive, intricate device that controlled much of the building’s systems. For most students, it was just a tool for learning, a way to access vast amounts of information with a flick of their fingers. But to Eryx, it was a reminder of the barrier that existed between him and the knowledge he craved.

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The terminal’s screen flickered, a new set of results appearing. Eryx leaned closer, his heart racing. His fingers moved quickly, scanning through the data. The file was marked with a red flag—restricted access only, an artifact buried deep within the archives. His pulse quickened as he opened the file.

It was an ancient text, one that had been lost for centuries. The text described an artifact—something beyond ordinary understanding, a relic from a time when the lines between science and magic had been indistinguishable. The document spoke of a hidden library, a place of vast knowledge that contained the secrets of the ancients. It was said to hold technologies long forgotten, techniques that could bend the laws of nature, and powers that could alter the course of history.

The text was vague, fragmented, but its promise was clear. Eryx’s breath caught in his throat. This was it. This was the breakthrough he had been searching for—the key to everything. If he could find this library, unlock its secrets, he could change his life. No longer would he be a forgotten student, scraping by in the shadows. He would be the one to bring the world’s lost knowledge into the light.

His fingers trembled as he read the final lines of the document: "The artifact awaits. The library is closer than you think. Follow the echoes of the forgotten, and you will find your path."

Eryx felt a chill crawl up his spine. He wasn’t sure what the text meant, but he knew one thing for certain: this was no ordinary discovery. This was something far more powerful, far more dangerous.

The door to the archives creaked open behind him. Eryx quickly closed the file and turned to face the figure standing in the doorway. It was Lyra, his best friend and only ally in the academy. She stood in the doorway, her arms crossed over her chest, a knowing smile on her face.

“Found something interesting?” she asked, her voice laced with curiosity.

Eryx hesitated for a moment before nodding. “I think I’ve just found the key to everything.”

Lyra raised an eyebrow, a skeptical look crossing her face. “The key to what?”

“The key to knowledge,” Eryx replied, his voice quiet but filled with determination. “A hidden library. An artifact. The secrets of the ancients. This is it, Lyra. This is what we’ve been looking for.”

Lyra stepped closer, her eyes narrowing as she scanned the screen. “You’re not serious. This sounds like some old myth.”

“I don’t think it’s a myth,” Eryx said, his voice steady. “I think it’s real. And I’m going to find it.”

Lyra didn’t reply immediately, her gaze lingering on him as if weighing his words. Then, with a sigh, she spoke. “You know this could be dangerous, right? People don’t just go looking for lost artifacts without consequences.”

“I know,” Eryx replied. “But this is bigger than us. It’s bigger than the academy. It’s the truth, Lyra. And I have to find it.”

Lyra hesitated, then placed a hand on his shoulder. “Be careful. I’m with you, Eryx. But you’re not the only one who’s chasing this. There are others who’ll stop at nothing to keep this kind of power hidden.”

Eryx nodded, his mind already racing with the possibilities. The library, the artifact—it was out there, waiting to be uncovered. And no matter the cost, he would find it.