IMPERIAL ACADEMY

An unexpected revelation

As soon as they were outside, Bruno said to Alex.

"That was the spirit of Klaus Hodgkin. He was a professor here at the academy fifty years ago. He suddenly disappeared after rumors of him engaging in dark magic started to spread," Bruno explained.

"Apparently, Master Orion imprisoned him in a painting. But what happened back then? And why is he just trying to set himself free right now?" Alex asked with a sigh.

"We need more information. We must go to the library first thing in the morning. We only have hours to stop whatever it is that Klaus is planning," Bruno said to Alex.

"We must solve this, or else, I'll have blood on my hands. I will not have blood on my hands!" Alex voiced out with resolve. The pair quickly returned to their quarters. But all through the night, Alex was bothered by the sudden revelation that they had just come across. If he can prove that Klaus Hodgkin was responsible for the murders, that would change a lot of things, and perhaps even make other students in the school respect him. Alex made up his mind to do his best. He owed that to himself.

Daybreak came quickly, and although the snares and the whispers still persisted, Alex paid them no heed. Some students even refused to sit at his table during breakfast. But Alex didn't care anymore. None of them had seen what he had seen, and he didn't expect them to understand. Kevin and his gang sat at a table across from Alex, sending him threatening glares. Alex exhaled while he focused on his food. He didn't want to pick a fight with them that morning.

"We have to go to the library now. If we don't, our day will be so occupied, and we won't have another chance to do so," Bruno, who had left the dining room earlier, suddenly said to Alex.

"What about the seniors? They're here to keep us in check," Alex said to Bruno and nudged his head towards the final year students guarding the doors like soldiers. In a few months, they would become knights, and one could already see the aura within them. Bruno scoffed and tapped Alex on the shoulder.

"I've already handled that," he said and walked away. Alex followed him while Kevin kept his eyes on them. They approached a senior at the door and while they passed, Bruno stealthily gave the senior a little bag.

"What was in the bag?" Alex asked Bruno while they headed for the library.

"Devil's root. It causes intoxication, and induces a state of ecstasy. People easily get addicted to it, especially students here," Bruno replied to Alex.

"Is it even legal to have that in here?" Alex questioned.

"No. But it just solved our problem so we should be grateful," Bruno told Alex as they took another turn and stepped into the library.

The Luminari Athenaeum, an ancient crystal palace of knowledge, shone with an ethereal glow, housing forbidden tomes, ancient scrolls, and mystical manuscripts within its labyrinthine shelves. Whispering shadows and mischievous sprites guided patrons through the halls, revealing hidden truths and unlocking the secrets of the cosmos within the Athenaeum's vast and mystical collections.

"Avoid the sprites. We're not supposed to be here by this time of the day," Bruno said to Alex, and they started to carouse through the library. When they got to the section about the academy's history, Bruno started looking through the collections. Alex watched him closely as Bruno took out a large book that had a seal on it.

"Damn it. It's sealed. We can't open it," Bruno said to Alex and cursed. Alex gazed upon the book as its energy called to him.

"Allow me," Alex said, and touched the book. Suddenly, the seal broke and the book's pages started flipping vigorously. Both Alex and Bruno exchanged glances as a page soon opened with the name and picture of Klaus Hodgkin.

"Bingo!" Bruno exclaimed and quickly read through the page. "It seems Klaus became a fully blown wizard before his imprisonment. According to these texts, he wanted to destroy the school and expose its students to dark and forbidden magic. But Master Orion worked with three Earth Mages to trap Klaus in a painting. The earth mages created the painting and Master Orion sealed Klaus within it," Bruno explained to Alex.

"Why didn't Master Orion just kill Klaus?" Alex thought out loud.

"I don't know. But according to these texts, Klaus devised a means to set himself free. 'The hearts of the firstborn sons of thy third generation shall release me from my prison.' Klaus said that to the Earth Mages before Master Orion trapped him," Bruno said to Alex.

"What were the surnames of the students that had been murdered?" Alex questioned Bruno.

"Um, Hill, Levine and Rover," Bruno replied. Alex looked at the pages of the book.

"They correspond to the names of the Earth Mages that created the painting. The boy that was killed last night, his surname was Rover," Alex exclaimed.

"Does that mean you have already stopped Klaus' plan to come back?" Bruno asked with excitement. But Alex wasn't certain of that. He gazed at the pages again, but something suddenly caught his attention.

"No! One of the Earth Mages had another family. The bloodline of The Hargreaves," Alex said to Bruno, whose body tensed as he listened.

"According to the genealogy records, the last surviving firstborn son is… you, Bruno!" Alex exclaimed and Bruno froze.

"He's coming for me. Klaus Hodgkin is coming for me,"Bruno panicked, and he started to breathe heavily. Alex quickly covered the book and grabbed his arms.

"I won't let anything happen to you, Bruno. I promise," Alex reassured him, but Bruno was freaking out.

"You don't know that! The witch is probably on its way as we speak!" Bruno yelled at Alex as he fought back tears.

"What witch?" A female voice suddenly said behind them. Alex and Bruno jumped back in fear. But it was Princess Aurora. She gazed at them with curiosity in her eyes, and particularly settled her gaze on Alex.

"What are you two doing here? It's breakfast time," she asked them.

"We could say the same to you. What are you doing here?" Alex asked her and Aurora shrugged her shoulders.

"Turns out being royalty makes you seem like a freak as well. Oh, and Alex, I liked your colors. They were beautiful," she said to Alex and he chuckled nervously. Bruno sighed and rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, whatever. Are you going to tell her or should I do it?" Bruno asked Alex. Alex then proceeded to tell Aurora everything that happened the previous night. Her eyes glowed with intrigue as she listened to the story.

"So… we are looking for the witch so that we can save Bruno's life. The blood moon is tonight," Alex concluded. Auroro nodded.

"Amazing…" she commented.

"You're not the witch, are you?" Bruno suddenly blurted out and Aurora frowned.

"Are you serious right now?" She shot at Bruno and rolled her eyes.

"Look, we have to find the witch. When I fought it yesterday, it was wounded at the back of its head. We must look for someone with a fresh wound in their head and expose it. That's the witch!" Alex said to the other two.

"So, divide and conquer?" Aurora asked.

"Yes. We'll meet here tonight. I hope we find the witch by then," Alex said, and the other two nodded. With a fresh plan, they returned for breakfast.

But Alex had so many questions on his mind. What if he doesn't find the witch? What if Bruno dies? What if he gets expelled or, worse, executed?