Chapter 76: The Forbidden Path
The Academy's halls seemed colder than before. The whispers of students and the distant footsteps of professors blended into a background hum, but Eren paid them no mind. His thoughts were elsewhere—on the black book he had uncovered and the cryptic vision of Elric Von Helios.
"You're not ready to see the truth yet."
Elric's words echoed in his mind, unsettling him more than he cared to admit.
If he wasn't ready… what would it take to become ready?
Eren clenched his fists as he walked, his path clear.
He needed answers. And he knew exactly where to start.
---
A Meeting in the Shadows
As night fell, Eren made his way toward a secluded part of the Academy—the restricted section of the Grand Library. It was guarded by multiple layers of magic, each designed to keep students out.
But Eren was no ordinary student.
With a deep breath, he reached out, letting his magic pulse through his fingertips. The Grimoir of Infinite Malice was tucked safely in his coat, radiating a faint presence, almost as if guiding him.
The first barrier—a simple detection ward—was easy to bypass. A whisper of his mana and the barrier flickered before fading entirely.
The second, however, was more intricate. An Arcane Lock.
Eren smirked. Amateurs.
Placing his hand on the invisible wall of energy, he let the Grimoir's power flow through him. Darkness curled around his fingers, seeping into the lock's structure like ink bleeding into paper.
A sharp click echoed in the silence.
The door swung open.
He was in.
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The Truth Beneath Dust
Eren moved between the towering shelves, running his fingers across the spines of forbidden tomes. Cursed knowledge, ancient spells, lost history… everything the Academy had tried to hide was stored here.
His eyes scanned the books until they landed on something familiar.
A symbol.
The same symbol he had seen in his vision—the mark of Elric Von Helios.
Pulling the book from the shelf, he carefully opened it, expecting resistance. Instead, the pages turned smoothly, revealing lines of ancient text.
But as he began to read, the letters shifted.
They rearranged themselves before his very eyes, forming words he could understand.
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Elric Von Helios—The Betrayed Hero
"In the age before the Academy's reign, there existed a man who wielded magic unlike any had ever seen. Elric Von Helios, a prodigy born of both darkness and light. A man who sought the truth buried beneath centuries of deception. But for his defiance, he was cast into oblivion, his name erased from history."
Eren's breath hitched.
"He discovered a secret the world was never meant to know…"
The text ended there, as if the rest had been ripped away.
Eren's fingers tightened on the pages. He had suspected Elric was important, but this?
A man erased from history, branded a betrayer—because he found something?
A cold realization settled over him.
Whatever Elric had discovered… the Academy feared it.
And now, they feared Eren too.
---
An Unseen Observer
A presence stirred behind him.
Eren reacted instantly, spinning on his heel, magic at the ready. Shadows curled around his fingers, preparing to strike.
But the figure in the doorway made him freeze.
Aldric.
The professor's usual calm demeanor was gone. His face was set in a grim expression, eyes locked onto the book in Eren's hands.
"You really don't know when to stop, do you?" Aldric's voice was quieter than usual, but it carried the weight of something dangerous.
Eren didn't respond, his grip tightening around the book.
Aldric sighed. "Do you have any idea what you've just done?"
Eren's jaw clenched. "I found the truth."
Aldric took a slow step forward. "No. You found a fragment of it. And if you keep going down this path…" He shook his head. "You will not like what you find."
Eren narrowed his eyes. "Then why was it hidden?"
Aldric's expression darkened. "Because some truths destroy those who seek them."
For the first time, genuine concern flickered in the professor's gaze.
But Eren had already made his decision.
He would not stop.
Not now.
Not ever.
---
A Dangerous Road Ahead
Aldric watched him for a long moment before sighing. "I won't stop you, Eren. But be prepared."
Eren exhaled, steadying himself. "For what?"
Aldric's gaze was unreadable.
"For the day when you wish you had never started this journey."
And with that, he turned and disappeared into the shadows.
Eren stood there, the weight of the book in his hands heavier than before.
The road ahead was dangerous. He knew that.
But it was far too late to turn back now.
---
Author's Note
Eren is getting closer to the truth, but at what cost? Why was Elric erased from history? And what is the Academy hiding?
Let me know your thoughts!
— bloodyking99