The Knight who Bears a Ring

Chapter 17: Secrets and Shadows

The next day dawned with a chill in the air, a foreshadowing of the storm that seemed to be brewing both inside and outside Aric’s world. The academy halls buzzed with the usual energy, but Aric moved through them like a ghost, his mind occupied by the secrets he now carried. His conversation with Kiva haunted him, and the relic in the crate lingered at the forefront of his thoughts.

As he went through the morning drills with the other trainees, Aric’s mind was distant, distracted by the weight of what he had learned. The relic was more than just a magical artifact—it was ancient, dangerous, and somehow connected to him. But what did that mean? And why had it responded to him of all people? The questions swirled, making it hard to focus on the present.

“Aric! Pay attention!”

Daelon’s voice snapped him out of his thoughts, just as a wooden training sword swung toward his head. Aric barely managed to duck in time, stumbling backward and nearly losing his balance. The group around him snickered, and even Daelon cracked a grin, clearly enjoying the moment.

“What's going on with you today?” Daelon asked, lowering his sword. “You’ve been out of it since we started.”

Aric forced a smile, trying to shake off the embarrassment. “Just a lot on my mind, I guess.”

Daelon raised an eyebrow, looking unconvinced, but didn’t press the issue. “Well, whatever it is, you need to get your head in the game. We’ve got evaluations coming up, and if you don’t pass, you won’t be sticking around here much longer.”

Aric nodded, even though he wasn’t sure if that was true. Passing evaluations was the least of his concerns at the moment. Still, he knew he couldn’t afford to draw any more attention to himself, especially not now. The academy was filled with eyes—watchful, suspicious eyes—and Radek was among the sharpest of them all.

By the time training was over, Aric was exhausted, but the weight on his shoulders hadn’t lessened. He knew he had to meet with Kiva again tonight, but the growing sense of danger gnawed at him. The more he learned, the riskier his position became. The academy was no place for secrets, especially one as volatile as magic.

He spent the rest of the day trying to lay low, avoiding any unnecessary attention. He practiced his swordsmanship in the courtyard alone, knowing that no amount of training would ever bring him to the level of his peers. But he went through the motions anyway, if only to keep up appearances.

As night fell, Aric made his way back to the Undermarket, his nerves tingling with anticipation. The streets were darker than usual, the flickering lanterns casting eerie shadows against the stone walls. He pulled his cloak tighter around him, trying to ward off both the chill and the feeling that he was being watched.

When he arrived at the tavern, Kiva was already waiting for him. She sat at the same table as before, her posture relaxed but her eyes sharp as they scanned the room. Aric could tell from the moment he approached that she had learned something new, and it wasn’t good news.

“You’re late,” Kiva remarked as he slid into the seat across from her.

“I had to be careful,” Aric said quietly, glancing around to make sure no one was paying attention to them. “What did you find out?”

Kiva leaned forward, lowering her voice. “More than I expected. And none of it’s good. The relic in that crate… it’s part of a set.”

“A set?” Aric repeated, frowning. “You mean there are more?”

“Exactly,” Kiva said. “The Relics of Zareth are seven in total, each tied to a different aspect of magic. The one in the crate is called the Eye of Zareth, said to grant the ability to see beyond the physical realm. It allows its wielder to see hidden truths, illusions, and even glimpses of the future. But that kind of power doesn’t come without a cost.”

Aric’s heart pounded as he processed her words. The Eye of Zareth… a relic that could reveal hidden truths? It sounded both incredible and terrifying at the same time. He could only imagine the havoc it could wreak in the wrong hands.

“What’s the cost?” he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Kiva’s expression darkened. “The relics are cursed, in a way. They demand something from their wielders—a price for their power. No one knows exactly what the price is, but the stories say it’s tied to the relic’s magic. In the case of the Eye, the more you use it, the more it warps your perception of reality. You start seeing things that aren’t there, or worse, you stop being able to tell the difference between what’s real and what’s not.”

A shiver ran down Aric’s spine. He had thought the relic was dangerous, but this was far beyond anything he had imagined. If the Eye could warp someone’s mind, how had it ended up in a crate, hidden away like some forgotten trinket?

“And why is it here, in the kingdom?” Aric asked, his voice tense. “Who brought it here?”

“That’s the other part,” Kiva said, her gaze narrowing. “There are rumors—whispers, really—that a group of nobles is trying to collect all seven relics. They believe that if they gather them, they’ll be able to control the kingdom, maybe even the entire world. It’s not just about magic, Aric. It’s about power.”

Aric clenched his fists under the table, his mind racing. A group of nobles trying to amass ancient, dangerous artifacts? That would explain the secrecy, the lengths they had gone to keep the relic hidden. But it also meant that he was in way over his head.

“So what do I do?” he asked, his voice strained. “If the Eye is that dangerous, I can’t just leave it. But if I take it, I’ll be marked as a traitor—or worse, as a magic user.”

Kiva sighed, leaning back in her chair. “That’s the problem, isn’t it? You’re trapped between two impossible choices. But I have an idea.”

Aric looked at her, hope flickering in his chest. “What is it?”

“There’s a way to use the Eye without fully activating it,” Kiva said slowly. “If you can find a mage crystal—a relic from the old days—you can channel the Eye’s power through it. The crystal will act as a buffer, absorbing some of the relic’s magic and protecting you from its full effects. But those crystals are rare, and finding one won’t be easy.”

Aric considered her words, the idea taking root in his mind. It was risky, but it was better than nothing. If he could find one of these mage crystals, he might be able to control the Eye without losing his mind in the process.

“Where can I find one?” he asked, his resolve strengthening.

“There’s an old legend,” Kiva said, her voice dropping to a near-whisper. “Deep in the catacombs beneath the capital, there’s said to be a vault—a place where the old mages stored their treasures before magic was outlawed. If the legends are true, there should be a crystal there.”

Aric’s heart raced. The catacombs? He had heard stories about the ancient underground tunnels that stretched beneath the city, but few dared to explore them. They were said to be filled with traps, illusions, and worse—creatures that had been sealed away by the mages long ago.

But if the crystal was there, it was his best chance.

“I’ll go,” Aric said, his voice steady. “I’ll find the crystal.”

Kiva raised an eyebrow, a smirk tugging at her lips. “You’re either brave or stupid, kid. Maybe both. But if you’re serious about this, you’ll need help. The catacombs aren’t a place you want to go alone.”

Aric nodded, knowing she was right. “I’ll find a way.”

Kiva stood, tossing a few coins onto the table. “Good luck, Aric. You’re going to need it.”

With that, she turned and disappeared into the shadows, leaving Aric alone once more.

As he sat there, the enormity of his task sank in. The catacombs were dangerous, the relic was deadly, and the forces at play were far beyond anything he had faced before. But if he was going to survive—if he was going to understand the truth about magic—he had no choice but to keep moving forward.

The storm was coming, and Aric was ready to face it.