Chapter 70: The Door of Secrets
Darius stepped through the portal door, the cool rush of mana washing over him like a breeze, depositing him in the academy’s bustling corridors. The pond classroom’s serene glow faded behind him, replaced by the vibrant hum of midday activity—students weaving through the halls, their robes a patchwork of colors, minor spells sparking in the air like fireflies. Runes etched into the stone walls pulsed with faint blue light, casting shadows that danced across his path. His notes, tucked under his arm, were slightly damp from the pond’s mist, a reminder of Thalassa’s lesson on sensing natural mana as a flowing current. The exercise had sharpened his awareness, the pond’s pulse still echoing in his mind, its rhythm sparking ideas for Zephyr, his wind-based Elemental Body that let non-mana attacks pass through. Could he weave ambient mana into its flow, make it as fluid as Thalassa’s water-form? And Anemoi Shades, his wind-spirit clones with their stubborn mana-targeting flaw—Study of Spirit might let him guide them with intent, not just raw energy.
His confidence surged, the meditation’s success a quiet victory. Lucien’s shadow, his rival’s tournament flair, loomed as always, but Darius’s vow to surpass him and prevent the dark future he sensed felt closer, bolstered by Thalassa’s guidance. The system, that mysterious interface boosting his skills, hummed faintly in his mind, a secret edge he guarded closely, especially after Thalassa’s probing questions. The corridor’s energy—students laughing, a stray spark from a fire spell sizzling past—contrasted the pond’s calm, grounding him in the academy’s chaotic pulse. Elara’s teasing smile lingered in his thoughts, her hydromancy sharper than his, fueling his drive to master his classes, a spark of his crush blending with his ambition.
As he rounded a corner into a sunlit courtyard, the scent of fresh grass and distant smoke from a training ground filled the air. Kai’s familiar figure barreled toward him, his messy black hair bouncing, his earth-toned robes rumpled as always. "Darius!" Kai called, breathless and grinning, skidding to a stop. "Just got out of Study of Earth—man, what a class! How was your first one? Spill it, what’s the deal?" His eyes sparkled with curiosity, his energy infectious, hands gesturing wildly as if shaping the earth itself.
Darius chuckled, slowing his pace, the courtyard’s cobblestones warm under his boots. "It was wild, Kai. Study of Water—the classroom’s this extradimensional pond, all mist and glowing lilies. Thalassa had us meditating, sensing mana in the water, the plants, everything. It’s like... feeling the world’s pulse." His voice carried excitement, tempered by reflection. "The others were amazing—someone made this huge tidal surge, another wove a mist veil that looked alive. My water orb’s not bad, but theirs? Next level."
Kai whistled, leaning against a stone pillar, the courtyard’s oak trees casting dappled shadows. "A pond classroom? That’s insane. My class was in a cavern—rocks shifting, crystals humming. Learned how to shape stone with mana, got my hands dirty." He flexed his fingers, smudged with dirt, grinning. "You picking up water tricks for Zephyr or those creepy wind clones of yours?"
Darius smirked, adjusting his notes. "Yeah, the mana-sensing stuff’s got me thinking. If I can pull ambient mana into Zephyr, make it flow better, or fix Anemoi Shades’ targeting, it’s a game-changer. Study of Spirit might be the key." He paused, Lucien’s fluid magic flashing in his mind, a spur to keep pushing. "What about you? Earth magic treating you right?"
"Man, it’s my thing," Kai said, his grin widening. "Shaped a boulder into a shield today, nearly crushed my foot, but it held. You should come train with me—some of us are hitting the grounds later, just messing around, no fancy magic, just pushing our limits. You in?" His voice was eager, his earth-focused energy practically shaking the cobblestones.
Darius shook his head, a regretful smile tugging at his lips. "Can’t, got Study of Air next. Sounds like a weird setup—some door outside the main buildings. Gotta run." He clapped Kai’s shoulder, the gesture familiar, their bond solid despite the brief encounter.
Kai groaned dramatically, stepping back. "Lame, but fine. Don’t get blown away in that air class, yeah? Catch you later—gonna go smash some rocks!" He jogged off, his laughter echoing, blending with the courtyard’s chatter as students milled about, their spells casting faint breezes and sparks.
Darius turned, his steps quickening, the academy’s energy fueling his anticipation. Study of Air awaited, a chance to refine Zephyr and Anemoi Shades, to close the gap with Lucien. The corridors gave way to open paths, the sun high, the air alive with mana
, carrying the faint hum of spells and the scent of fresh grass. Students darted past, their robes swishing, some tossing minor wind gusts that ruffled his hair, others conjuring sparks that fizzled in the warm light. His notes, still damp from the pond classroom, pressed against his side, a reminder of Thalassa’s lesson on sensing mana’s flow. The idea lingered—could he weave ambient air mana into Zephyr’s wind-form, make it more fluid, or sharpen Anemoi Shades’ control? Elara’s teasing smile from the water class flashed in his mind, her hydromancy a quiet challenge, spurring him to match her precision in this next class.
The campus paths wound past ancient oaks, their leaves whispering in the breeze, toward the outer grounds where Study of Air was held. His schedule noted a "Zephyr Nexus" outside the main buildings, but the directions were vague, mentioning only a special door. He scanned the crowd, spotting a second-year in blue robes juggling a tiny whirlwind between her palms. "Hey," he called, jogging over, "know where the Study of Air class is? Something about a door outside?" She grinned, flicking the whirlwind away, its breeze tousling his hair. "Past the training fields, near the old wall. Look for a weird arch with air runes—can’t miss it." Darius nodded his thanks, her directions clear, and picked up his pace, the sun’s warmth urging him forward.
The training fields opened before him, a sprawl of packed earth where students sparred, their spells kicking up dust and gusts. Beyond, near a weathered stone wall, he spotted the door—an ornate archway of pale stone, its surface etched with swirling air runes that shimmered with faint silver light. A tall, rune-covered obelisk stood nearby, its peak humming with a soft, windy pulse, like a trapped breeze. A small group of students—maybe ten, a mix of first- and second-years—gathered around, their voices buzzing with confusion and excitement. Some pointed at the obelisk, others at the door, their robes fluttering in the natural breeze, the air charged with anticipation and uncertainty.
Darius joined them, his boots crunching on the gravel, the obelisk’s hum growing louder as he approached. A student with short-cropped hair gestured at the runes, muttering, "Gotta be a test, right? Maybe we channel wind into it?" Another, her braids swaying, tried tracing a rune with her finger, sparking a faint gust that died quickly. "It’s not opening," she said, frowning. "Maybe it needs a specific spell?" A third student, bold and impatient, unleashed a sharp wind burst at the obelisk, its runes flaring briefly but fading, the structure unmoved. The group’s speculation grew—some suggested a rune puzzle, others a mana sink, their voices overlapping, a mix of frustration and intrigue.
Darius studied the obelisk, its runes swirling like miniature cyclones, their patterns complex but not random. He felt a pull, similar to the pond’s mana in Thalassa’s class, the air around the structure alive with energy. Could it be a barrier, needing a precise wind spell to unlock? He stepped closer, his hand hovering over a rune, feeling a faint breeze against his palm, but no clear answer came. Another student, his eyes narrowed, tried a spinning air orb, aiming it at the door. The runes glowed, a soft hum rising, but the door stayed shut, the obelisk’s pulse unchanged. "What are we missing?" he muttered, the group’s confusion mounting, their attempts flashy but fruitless.
Darius’s curiosity spiked, his mind racing with possibilities. Study of Air promised new ways to refine Zephyr’s fluid wind-form, maybe even fix Anemoi Shades’ erratic targeting. The obelisk felt like a challenge, its hum a call to action, but its purpose eluded him. He glanced at the students, their faces a mix of determination and puzzlement, some sketching runes in the air, others whispering theories. A girl with a sharp gaze suggested, "Maybe it’s not about power—maybe it’s precision, like syncing our mana with the runes." Her words echoed Thalassa’s lesson, stirring Darius’s thoughts, but no one tried yet, the group still probing the structure’s mystery.
The sun beat down, the air warm and alive, the obelisk’s hum steady, almost mocking their efforts. Darius stepped back, his notes shifting under his arm, his anticipation for the class growing despite the uncertainty. The door loomed, its runes glinting, the obelisk towering beside it, silent but expectant. The students’ voices rose, their attempts—gusts, orbs, rune-tracing—sparking brief reactions but no breakthrough, the structure’s purpose a riddle they couldn’t crack. Darius’s heart raced, the academy’s enigmatic nature pulling him deeper, the promise of Study of Air and its secrets just beyond the sealed door, waiting to be unlocked.