The next morning, Ethan didn't notice the envelope silently slid under his door while he was in the deepest part of his sleep. Dawn had just broken, and everyone in the dormitory was still asleep. When Ethan opened his eyes, an unusual silence dominated his room. His mind was still filled with the events of the previous day; Emris's words continued to echo in his head.
As Ethan stretched in his bed, an envelope that had fallen on the floor caught his attention. It was made of plain white paper, and the name "Ethan" was written on it in elegant handwriting. Filled with curiosity and a slight sense of unease, he picked up the envelope and slowly opened it. Inside, there was a single note:
"Come to the house with the black roses in the garden."
Emris's mysterious words were still fresh in his mind, so he could guess who this note was from. Emris was inviting him on a new journey, but it was impossible to know where this journey would lead. Ethan hesitated for a moment. It could be dangerous to go out at dawn, breaking the school rules. However, the opportunity and guidance offered by Emris were more important than anything else.
Ethan quickly dressed and left his room quietly. The stone corridors of the school were dimly lit by the first light of the morning, but there was still an eerie silence. He walked cautiously, keeping his steps light to avoid being noticed. Slowly pushing open the heavy wooden door, he stepped into the garden outside the school. The cool morning air hit his face, and Ethan instinctively shoved his hands into his pockets. The streets of Rothina were still asleep. The sky was painted in pink and orange hues, heralding the imminent sunrise.
Ethan decided to find the house with the black roses by recalling Emris's instructions. However, finding such a house in the streets of Rothina would not be easy. He glanced at the quiet houses around him; most gardens were either empty or filled with colorful flowers. But black roses? That was a very rare plant, and it was hard to guess where they would grow.
Determined, Ethan continued to walk through the streets, his mind constantly focusing on what Emris had said and the truths behind this mysterious meeting. Meanwhile, his eyes kept scanning his surroundings. Finally, as he approached the outskirts of Rothina, he came across an older, almost abandoned-looking house. Behind its iron gate, there were black roses so striking that they could be seen even in the dark.
Ethan paused for a moment. This house looked like a place no one had stepped foot in for a long time. Yet, the note from Emris had directed him here. Ethan approached the gate cautiously, pushing it open and stepping inside. The garden was overgrown with ivy, and the area where the black roses grew seemed to harbor a gloomy silence.
When he reached the door of the house, Ethan took a deep breath. The carvings on the door were old but still had an elegant appearance. With countless questions swirling in his head, he knocked on the door. The door creaked open, revealing a faint glimmer of light inside. As Ethan stepped in, he expected to find Emris, but the room was empty. Only a dim light illuminated an old table in the middle of the room.
Ethan cautiously entered, noticing an envelope on the table. It was the same plain white envelope with "Ethan" written on it, in the same handwriting. He picked up the envelope, opened it, and read the note inside:
"The path of justice is a challenging one that only the brave can walk. Coming to this house was your first step of determination. Now, it's time to find your own path.
Emris."
As Ethan read Emris's note, a sense of confusion arose within him. The path of justice... What could it mean? Emris had said this was his first step of determination, but what did those words signify? As he moved further into the room, he heard the door behind him slowly close and lock. This sent a shiver down his spine for a moment, but his curiosity overpowered his fear.
He carefully observed the details in the room. Under the dim light, old maps and symbols adorned the walls. Some symbols and figures on the paintings were familiar to him; others were completely foreign. Most of the items looked old but well-preserved. When he looked at the table, he noticed a small key. It was made of bronze and had a very simple design.
Ethan picked up the key and examined it carefully. Its weight and coldness made it feel real. While looking around, he noticed a large wooden chest in the corner of the room. The chest looked quite old, covered in dust, but it seemed sturdy. The lock on the chest seemed to match the key in his hand.
Ethan inserted the key into the lock and turned it. He slowly lifted the lid of the chest, revealing a few books, scrolls, and a pair of leather gloves. The writings on the scrolls seemed to be in an ancient language. When he picked up one of the books, he saw that its cover read "Secrets of the Lost Realm."
He opened the book and carefully flipped through its pages. The book contained ancient legends and stories. However, one chapter in particular caught his attention: The Path of Justice.
The Path of Justice described an ancient quest in the book. It was a journey that only the brave and determined could walk, where they had to find the balance between right and wrong. This journey would confront the person with great challenges and trials, eventually leading them to true knowledge and understanding.
Ethan closed the book and took a deep breath. This must be the quest Emris had mentioned to him. The note from Emris was a sign directing him to this journey. Ethan thought that this journey might be a part of his destiny. Maybe that's why he was here, in this house. Now he knew what he had to do.
He put the scrolls and the book back in the chest, then closed the lid. He picked up the gloves, hesitating for a moment. The gloves seemed ordinary, but he thought they might be useful on the journey. As he looked around the room again, he noticed a small mark on one of the maps on the wall. The mark indicated a hidden passage in Rothina, just outside the school.
Ethan moved toward the door to leave the room, but the door was locked. While searching for another exit in the corner of the room, something else caught his attention: He noticed that one of the bricks next to the map looked different from the others. When he gently pushed the brick with his fingers, a hidden mechanism activated, and the door opened by itself.
As Ethan stepped out through the door, the cool morning air hit his face. He exited into the garden outside the school and headed toward Rothina's streets, remembering the location of the passage marked on the map. The sky was slowly beginning to brighten, and Ethan started to think about how this journey would change his life.
Where would the Path of Justice take him? The excitement of this question filled him, but a whisper inside him said, "First, learn who Emris is." Ethan ignored this voice. Then it grew louder, saying, "I'll first ask my friends what they know about Emris." He decided to head back to the school.
He decided to discuss this with Harry, Lydia, and Pamela. When he arrived at the school, he headed straight for the dining hall. It was still very early, so only a few people were there. Ethan patiently waited for his friends to arrive.
After what felt like hours, but was only 15 minutes, his friends entered the dining hall. Seeing Ethan's excitement, they quickly went to him to learn the reason.
Ethan told them about his first encounter with Emris and the small adventure he had just experienced. Harry looked surprised and excited, but Lydia and Pamela seemed very scared.
"What's wrong, girls?" Ethan asked.
Lydia and Pamela exchanged glances. Pamela stayed silent, busying herself with the olives on her plate.
Lydia said, "Ethan, don't you know who Emris is?!" in horror.
"No?" Ethan replied, prompting Lydia to explain.
Just then, Pamela interrupted, "Wait, Lydia! I don't think Ethan is ready to hear this!"
Ethan and Harry looked at the girls in confusion.
Harry asked, "What do you know that we don't?"
Lydia said, "Pamela, Ethan will find out sooner or later, so don't look at me like that." She took a deep breath and continued, "Ethan, Emris... is the heir of Ravenna! He was exiled from Ravenna four years ago for passing vital information to another kingdom."
A wave of shock washed over Ethan. "NO!" he shouted. "You're joking, right? Lydia? Pamela?" he asked desperately.
But the girls looked at him sadly.