Magnus Bloodstone knew that unveiling the truth was only the first step.
To put an end to the cursed cycle, he needed more than just knowledge, he needed power, preparation, and the will to stand against forces that had woven themselves into the very fabric of the academy.
He left the Forbidden Library that night with a fire in his heart, but the shadows did not let him go easily.
As he ascended the spiral stone steps leading back to the academy halls, he felt it, the weight of unseen eyes pressing against his back, the chilling whisper of something ancient stirring awake.
His fingers clenched around the book he had stolen, the forbidden text that carried the secrets of the academy's darkest deeds.
The stone walls pulsed with an unnatural life, the torches flickering wildly as though struggling against an invisible wind.
The moment he stepped into the upper corridors, a cold gust slammed into him, carrying the scent of decayed roses and burnt parchment.
