Savion had been a prankster, just like Adrian, but more importantly, he had been part of the Nocturnal Conclave as well. And if he had used the underground tunnels… that ant the secret society did, too.
Adrian was the first to break the silence, tapping the cover of the prank book he’d found.
"Savion was using the tunnels," he muttered. "And if he was part of the Nocturnal Conclave… then they are, too."
Aiden nodded. "Which ans if we’re not careful, we might run into them."
Sevan exhaled, setting down his notes. "Do we want to keep mapping them out, then? If the Conclave knows about them, we could be walking straight into their territory. I don’t really know about those guys but from what I read, the Nocturnal Conclave directly follows the Headmaster. Nobody knew who the mbers are."
Adrian leaned back against his chair.
"That’s exactly why we should go back. We need to know just how much they use them. If Savion had a way in and out of the academy without being noticed, who’s to say others aren’t doing the sa?"
Aiden agreed. The tunnels had always been a mystery, but now they were sothing more. If the Conclave had been using them, there was no telling what else was hidden beneath Genvah.
And now, with the realization that Savion and his unknown accomplice—L.A.—had been there before them, the tunnels weren’t just so forgotten relic of the past that they once thought.
They were still very much in use.
--------------------------
It was well past curfew when the three of them made their way back to the trophy room, moving quickly through the dimly lit corridors. The hallway was empty, save for the occasional flicker of torchlight along the stone walls.
Sevan kept glancing over his shoulder, his usual nerves heightened by the fact that this wasn’t just so adventure anymore. They weren’t just exploring hidden tunnels for fun.
They were sneaking into sothing that could get them into real trouble.
Reaching the entrance, Adrian moved swiftly, sliding the trophy case open with the ease of soone who had done this many tis before.
The cold air of the tunnels rushed out to greet them as they stepped inside, the stone steps leading downward into the depths of Genvah.
Aiden secured the entrance behind them, making sure no trace was left behind. They had to be cautious. The last thing they needed was soone noticing the trophy case was out of place.
The tunnels stretched before them, the air thick with dampness. The scent of stone and old earth filled their lungs as they moved forward, guided by the light of their lanterns.
Aiden unfolded the map they had started before, tracing the paths they had previously explored. "We need to be careful. If the Conclave uses this place, there might be more than just tunnels down here."
Adrian smirked. "Well, at least we know Savion didn’t get caught using them. If a prankster like him could sneak around unnoticed, I think we have a chance."
Sevan, however, didn’t seem convinced. He ran a hand through his hair, sighing. "Or maybe he did get caught, and that’s why he’s dead."
The words hung in the air, chilling them more than the cold underground ever could.
Aiden didn’t reply. Neither did Adrian.
Because Sevan had a point.
"That was harsh."
Adrian stopped in his tracks, turning to face Sevan. "You think there’s a tunnel leading outside?"
Sevan shrugged, adjusting his lantern. "It makes sense, doesn’t it? We’ve always assud the tunnels only connected different parts of the academy, but what if there’s more? If Savion was part of the Nocturnal Conclave and was using the tunnels, then maybe he found a way out- maybe that’s how he ended up in the forest."
Aiden furrowed his brows, considering the possibility. "If that’s true… then he might not have been the only one using it."
A heavy silence settled over them. The thought was unsettling- if there was a hidden passage leading outside, then anyone could co and go undetected. That ant Savion could have been eting soone out there, or worse… soone had followed him.
Adrian’s grip on the prank book tightened. "If a tunnel like that exists, we need to find it."
Sevan hesitated. "You want to find the exact place where Savion might’ve run into whatever killed him?"
Adrian nodded. "If we don’t, soone else might. I say we find it and then tell the Headmaster."
Aiden exhaled, glancing at the stone walls around them. "Then we need to start looking."
With that, they pressed on, moving deeper into the tunnels, the weight of their discovery settling heavy on their shoulders. If they were right, then these tunnels were more than just a hidden part of the school’s history.
The tunnels stretched before them like a labyrinth of forgotten history, the dim flicker of Aiden’s fire casting long shadows on the damp stone walls.
Adrian crouched near the ground, carefully sketching the latest twists and turns onto the map they had been working on since their first venture into the tunnels. Sevan, anwhile, ran his fingers along the uneven stones, feeling for anything out of place- hidden levers, carvings, or even another secret passage.
Aiden stood slightly apart, his gaze flickering between the passage ahead and the parchnt in Adrian’s hands. They had been mapping for nearly an hour now, retracing paths and adding notes where necessary. The tunnels were vast, so leading to dead ends, others spiraling into unknown depths.
Sevan exhaled. "I still think there might be a tunnel leading outside the academy. If Savion was able to reach the forest, maybe this was how."
Adrian glanced up. "That would explain why he was found out there. Then again, it’s also just coincidence since third years usually do missions during night at the forest."
Aiden frowned, adjusting his grip on the map’s edge. "If that’s true, then we need to be careful. If the Nocturnal Conclave uses these tunnels too, they might not be happy if they realize we’re following their paths. They could also be searching for clues about what happened to Savion."
That thought settled over them like a weight.
Adrian pressed his charcoal stick against the parchnt, marking down the latest section. "Alright, we should-"
Click.
Sevan’s fingers brushed against sothing. He blinked, looking up. "Hold on."
Aiden and Adrian turned their heads as Sevan stepped back, tilting his face toward the ceiling.
Embedded in the stone, almost hidden beneath layers of dust, was a small tallic handle. It was barely visible, blending in with the rough surface around it.
Adrian’s eyes glead with interest. "That’s new."
Sevan reached up and gave it a cautious tug.
The response was imdiate- a faint click, followed by the grinding sound of stone shifting. Dust rained down from the ceiling as a small panel slid open, revealing a passage above. Light filtered through the gap.
Aiden squinted, his heart beginning to race. Sothing about this felt off.
"We should add this to the map before we go up," he said quickly, kneeling beside Adrian.
Adrian, already sketching, smirked. "I was already on it."
He marked the hidden door with a small symbol and noted its location in the tunnels. Sevan leaned in, adding a few details of the surrounding area, including a rough estimate of where they thought this part of the tunnel was in relation to the school above.
Once satisfied, Adrian closed the map and slipped it into his jacket. "Alright, now we go up."
Sevan was the first to step beneath the opening. "Give a boost," he said, and Adrian rolled his eyes before crouching down.
With Sevan’s foot pressing into his hands, Adrian hoisted him up. Sevan grunted, pulling himself through the gap.
"It’s a room," he muttered from above.
Aiden suddenly had a terrible feeling.
His stomach twisted.
"We need to go back—"
Too late.
Adrian hauled himself up, slipping into the room. Aiden had no choice but to follow.
The mont his feet landed on solid ground, he recognized where they were.
The towering bookshelves, the elegant mahogany desk, the massive enchanted globe in the corner…
Before Aiden could warn the others, a deep, composed voice erged from the shadows.
"Good evening, gentlen."
Every muscle in Aiden’s body locked up.
The three of them turned as one, their breath catching in their throats.
There, standing near the desk, watching them with unreadable eyes, was Headmaster Kairos.
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