Whispers in the Night

After the events of the day, Aleric found himself empty-handed in his quest for clues about the whereabouts of the Magic stone. Instead, he stumbled upon rumors circulating among the students. It was said that the top students of the year would be promoted to a special, advanced class beyond the standard advanced level. Additionally, there were murmurs of the possibility of witnessing the Hero's Magic Stone—a notion that intrigued Aleric, as it aligned with his suspicions regarding the stone he was tasked to steal.

As he wandered the dimly lit corridors of the academy, seeking answers, Aleric overheard two students conversing in hushed tones.

"Did you hear about the special class they're planning to introduce?" one student whispered eagerly.

"Yeah, I heard it's for the cream of the crop—the best students of the year," the other replied, excitement evident in his voice. "And I heard they might even show them the Hero's Magic Stone!"

Just as the students exchanged these words, a stern voice echoed down the hallway. "You shouldn't be here at this hour. It's late. Go to your dorms."

Startled, the students turned to see a guard approaching, his expression firm and unwavering. With a nervous glance at each other, they hastily nodded and scurried off toward their respective dormitories, leaving Aleric alone in the corridor.

This tidbit of information piqued Aleric's interest, prompting him to consider the possibility that this might be the very stone he was meant to procure for the noble who had commissioned the job for him and Damien.

With this new revelation swirling in his mind, Aleric decided to retire to his dormitory for the night. The hour was late, and exhaustion weighed heavily upon him. Moreover, the presence of guards patrolling the academy, as mentioned by the students, added an extra layer of caution to his movements. It seemed prudent to avoid drawing any unwanted attention, at least for the time being.

Resigned to the mysteries that lay ahead, Aleric settled into his bed, his thoughts consumed by the challenges that awaited him on the morrow. Little did he know that the secrets of the academy ran deeper than he could have ever imagined, and the path to uncovering the truth would be fraught with peril and deception.

But for now, as the whispers of the night enveloped him, Aleric drifted into a fitful sleep, his mind filled with visions of magic stones and clandestine agendas.