The academy's halls were quieter than usual. Even the guards patrolling the upper spires moved with deliberate caution, as though sensing the subtle disturbance in the air.
Lyn and Umbra walked toward the lower vaults, following the faint pulse of violet mana that had been growing stronger each day. The pendant from the cloaked figure seemed to hum softly in Lyn's hand, its glow faint but persistent.
"Umbra… something's definitely here," Lyn whispered.The wolf's ears twitched. "Yes. They are probing. Testing."
The vault corridors were lined with ancient runes, many flickering irregularly. Shadows twisted unnaturally along the walls, disappearing whenever Lyn tried to focus on them. Occasionally, a soft whisper echoed — not quite words, just hints of intent and observation.
"It's as if the walls themselves are alive," Lyn said.Umbra's tail twitched. "Or someone is playing with the walls."
At the far end of the corridor, a small group of Class C students had ventured in on their own. Their shouts echoed off the stone walls, a mix of fear and excitement.
"This way! Look at this!" one exclaimed."Careful!" another warned.Lyn hurried forward, Umbra leading, and intercepted them before any harm could come.
"Stick to the main path," Lyn instructed. "Do not touch anything unusual. Understand?"The students nodded, glancing nervously at the faint flickers along the walls.
High above in the council chambers, Kaelen studied projections of mana flows across the academy.
"The disturbances are growing faster than anticipated," he said, frowning.Archmagister Veyran's voice was calm, yet tense. "And Ashveil's Dual Resonance… it may be the key to understanding these fluctuations.""Should we intervene directly?" Kaelen asked."Not yet," Veyran replied. "Observation will reveal the pattern. The academy itself will guide us."
Even from a distance, Lyn could feel the watchful eyes of the council. Their subtle guidance and restraint added to the tension, a reminder that the academy's mysteries extended beyond the vaults.
As they approached the main vault chamber, small shadow-like creatures began to emerge — only faint shapes, but enough to test Lyn's reflexes and Umbra's agility.
"Umbra, defensive formation!" Lyn commanded.The wolf leapt, weaving golden-violet threads that glimmered across the stone walls, scattering the creatures harmlessly into the shadows.
The brief skirmish allowed Lyn to experiment with a new Dual Resonance pattern, combining light and shadow in ways he hadn't tried before. The pendant pulsed in his hand, almost as if reacting to his mana.
"It's guiding us," Lyn said softly.Umbra's eyes gleamed. "Or warning us."
When they emerged from the vaults, twilight had begun to settle over the academy. The distant forest shimmered faintly, almost alive, and Lyn could feel the presence of someone — or something — watching.
"Umbra… it's closer," Lyn said, voice tense.The wolf growled low. "Yes. And it will not wait long."
As they returned to the courtyard, students whispered among themselves about strange lights, unusual shadows, and the feeling of being watched. The academy's calm was gone, replaced with the first real sense that unseen forces were at play.
Lyn held the rune-engraved pendant tightly, feeling the weight of the coming days.
"The trials have taught us something," he murmured to Umbra."Yes," Umbra replied. "But the real challenge has yet to arrive."
The echoes of trial had begun — and the academy was about to face changes no student could have predicted.