Chapter 17: Whispers of the Woods

The academy's atmosphere had grown heavier since the day Rian learned about the strange disappearances. He could sense the weight of fear pressing down on everyone—students and professors alike. The usual buzz of laughter and conversation in the halls was now replaced by hushed murmurs and suspicious glances. Rian felt like everyone knew something they weren't telling him. And as much as he wanted to ignore it, the missing students haunted his thoughts.

"What if it was that dark spirit we fought?" Rian said as he and Dante made their way through the academy's courtyard, heading toward the library. The courtyard, which was usually lively, seemed subdued, even with the warm afternoon sun streaming through the trees.

Dante shrugged but frowned. "I dunno. That spirit felt... different. Something bigger is happening here, and it's not just about a rogue spirit. I have a feeling whatever this is, it's not over."

Rian nodded silently, but he was distracted. His mind kept drifting back to his recent encounters—his uncontrollable powers, the headmaster's warnings, and Professor Eris's cryptic words about ancient magic. He felt like he was standing at the edge of a storm, waiting for the clouds to break.

"I heard a couple of students were seen near the woods the night they disappeared," Dante continued, oblivious to Rian's silence. "The western woods."

Rian's stomach twisted at the mention of the woods. The western woods were forbidden for a reason. They were old, full of forgotten magic and dark creatures that the academy had long since sealed away. It was where they had first encountered the dark spirit, and now it seemed like the danger was spreading.

"We need to figure out what's happening," Rian said, his voice firm. "And we need to find out before anyone else disappears."

Dante grinned, the same reckless gleam in his eyes that he had before every bad idea they ever had. "I was hoping you'd say that."

The library was one of the oldest buildings in the academy, with towering shelves that reached up to the vaulted ceiling. Dusty scrolls and ancient tomes lined every inch, filled with knowledge and secrets that most students would never uncover in their lifetimes.

As Rian and Dante made their way through the aisles, they passed a group of students huddled together at one of the reading tables. They were whispering urgently, casting anxious glances toward the back of the library. Rian slowed down, curiosity piqued.

"Do you think it's real?" one of the students, a girl with curly brown hair, whispered.

"Of course it's real," another boy replied. "You've heard the rumors. It's coming from the woods."

Rian exchanged a glance with Dante, who was already turning toward the back of the library. They followed the group's gaze to a dark corner of the library, where a solitary figure sat, her head bent over an old, leather-bound book.

Rian didn't recognize her. The girl had dark hair pulled back into a simple braid, and her eyes were a piercing green, intense and focused as they scanned the pages. There was something about her that set her apart from the other students, something... mysterious.

"Who do you think she is?" Dante muttered, leaning closer to Rian. "I've never seen her around before."

"Maybe she's new," Rian guessed, but his gut told him there was more to it than that. The way she sat, the way her fingers traced the words in the book with an almost obsessive care—it was as if she were studying something dangerous.

As if she could feel them watching, the girl suddenly looked up. Her green eyes locked onto Rian's, and for a moment, he felt like she could see straight into his thoughts. There was no surprise in her expression, no curiosity. Just calm, controlled awareness. Rian almost shivered.

Dante, never one to shy away from meeting new people, approached her without hesitation. "Hey," he said casually, leaning against the table. "I don't think we've met. I'm Dante, and this is Rian."

The girl studied them for a long moment before speaking. "Lyria," she said simply, then returned her gaze to the book, as if the conversation were over.

Dante, undeterred, leaned closer. "We couldn't help but overhear some stuff about the woods. You know anything about that?"

Lyria's eyes flicked up again, this time with a hint of interest. "What do you want to know?" she asked quietly, her voice soft but steady.

Rian stepped forward. "We heard students have been disappearing. Some say they were seen near the woods before they vanished. Do you know anything about that?"

Lyria closed the book and leaned back in her chair, her gaze never leaving Rian's. "The woods are dangerous. They've always been dangerous, but now something worse is stirring there. Dark magic."

Rian felt a chill run down his spine. "Do you know what's causing it?"

Lyria hesitated before speaking again. "I don't know for sure. But I've been studying the old records—books about the history of the academy, the woods, and the creatures that live there. Something has awakened. Something ancient."

Dante raised an eyebrow. "And you're reading about it because...?"

Lyria glanced at the book in front of her. "Because I don't think this is random. The disappearances, the increase in dark magic, the spirits—they're all connected."

Rian's heart pounded. "How do you know?"

Lyria's expression darkened. "Because I've seen it before."

Dante's cocky grin faltered. "What do you mean, 'seen it before'?"

"I come from a family of spirit hunters," Lyria explained, her voice barely above a whisper. "I've seen what dark magic can do. I've seen how it corrupts, how it takes and twists people. I came to this academy because I thought I could escape that life, but it seems like I've walked right into it again."

Rian swallowed hard. Spirit hunters were rare, often feared for their ability to sense and battle dark entities. It explained the aura of danger that seemed to hang around Lyria. She had faced things no normal person could understand.

"Why would dark magic start up again now?" Rian asked. "The woods have been quiet for years."

Lyria shook her head. "Something has changed. I don't know what yet, but I'm trying to find out. The disappearances might be part of a larger ritual—one that requires sacrifices of powerful magic."

Rian stiffened. "Sacrifices?"

Lyria nodded, her green eyes locking onto his. "The students who disappeared weren't random. Each of them was skilled in advanced magic. Someone—something—is using them to fuel a spell."

Rian's stomach twisted. The thought of his fellow students being used for some kind of ritual sickened him. "Do you know what kind of spell?"

Lyria hesitated before answering. "No. But it's not a spell for something small. It's a summoning. And whoever—or whatever—they're trying to summon, it's not something we want walking around."

Dante exhaled sharply. "You really know how to brighten the mood, huh?"

But Rian wasn't laughing. His mind raced with possibilities. Could the dark spirit they fought have been part of this summoning? And what about his own powers—could they be tied to the same forces?

"We have to stop this," Rian said, determination settling into his bones. "Whatever's happening, we can't just sit back and wait for more students to disappear."

Lyria's eyes softened, just a little. "You want to stop it? Good. Then you'll need to help me."

"Help you with what?" Dante asked, folding his arms.

"Finding the source of the dark magic," Lyria replied, standing up. "We need to get closer to the woods, but we can't go unprepared. There are wards in place around the edges, and if we break them, it will alert whoever is controlling the spirits. We need to find a way through without getting caught."

Rian nodded. "We'll figure it out. Just tell us what we need to do."

Lyria smiled slightly for the first time, though it was a grim smile. "You'll need to be ready for anything. The woods... they're not just dangerous anymore. They're alive. And they'll do whatever they can to keep us out."