The Burden of Knowledge

The first light of dawn painted the horizon in soft hues of orange and gold, but for Lin Xuan, sleep had been elusive. His mind raced with thoughts of the shadow's ominous warning, the decaying seal, and the ancient texts he had uncovered. The weight of this newfound knowledge pressed heavily on his shoulders.

As he stepped outside his quarters, the crisp morning air offered a brief moment of clarity. The academy grounds were beginning to stir with activity, students and instructors preparing for another day. Lin Xuan spotted Li Fengxian waiting near the central courtyard, her stance firm and her expression resolute.

"You look like you haven't slept," she remarked as he approached.

"Neither have you," Lin Xuan countered, noticing the faint shadows under her eyes.

She sighed. "There's no time for rest when we're dealing with something like this."

Lin Xuan nodded. "We need to act quickly. If the seals are failing, the entire continent could be in danger. But we can't do this alone."

---

The pair made their way to Elder Mo's chambers. The elder greeted them with his usual stern demeanor, though a flicker of curiosity crossed his face as he noticed the urgency in their expressions.

"What brings you here so early?" he asked, motioning for them to sit.

Lin Xuan wasted no time. "Elder Mo, we've confirmed that the shadow we encountered is part of a larger threat. There are other seals across the continent, and if they fail, the consequences will be catastrophic."

Elder Mo's eyes narrowed. "Other seals? Are you certain?"

Lin Xuan handed him his notes from the library, along with references to the ancient texts. Elder Mo scanned the pages, his expression growing darker with each line.

"This is grave indeed," he muttered. "If what you say is true, then this goes far beyond the academy's scope. The kingdoms must be informed."

Li Fengxian interjected. "Elder Mo, with all due respect, the kingdoms are often slow to act. By the time they reach a consensus, it may be too late. We need to take the initiative."

Elder Mo studied her for a moment before nodding. "You're right. Bureaucracy and politics will only delay us. But this isn't a task for students alone. Reinforcements will be necessary."

---

By midday, a council of senior instructors and elders had convened in the academy's great hall. The room buzzed with tension as Lin Xuan and Li Fengxian presented their findings. Maps were unfurled, marking potential locations of other seals based on ancient records and geological anomalies.

As the discussion unfolded, Lin Xuan couldn't help but notice the skepticism in some of the elders' eyes. One of them, a sharp-tongued man named Elder Hua, spoke up.

"This is all speculation," he said, his tone dismissive. "We're basing our actions on fragmented texts and the accounts of a few students. How do we know this isn't an overreaction?"

Lin Xuan met his gaze calmly. "Would you rather wait until the seals break completely? By then, it will be too late to act. We've already seen what one failing seal can do. Are you willing to gamble with the lives of everyone on this continent?"

Elder Hua's lips thinned, but he said nothing further.

Elder Mo stepped in. "Enough. Whether or not we believe every detail, the risk is too great to ignore. We will form an expedition team to investigate the locations identified by Lin Xuan and his group. If the seals are failing, we'll reinforce them. If not, at least we'll have confirmed their status."

---

By evening, plans were in motion. The expedition team would consist of senior instructors, a handful of promising students, and a contingent of warriors from the academy's guard. Lin Xuan, Li Fengxian, and their companions were naturally included.

As the group gathered in the training grounds to prepare, Lin Xuan took a moment to observe his friends. Each of them bore the marks of their recent trials—Zhao Yue's usual cheerfulness was subdued, Wu Tian's stoic expression was edged with unease, and even Ji Mei seemed more serious than usual.

Li Fengxian approached him, her voice quiet. "You're thinking about the responsibility we're taking on, aren't you?"

Lin Xuan nodded. "This isn't just another mission. If we fail, the consequences will be unimaginable. And I can't shake the feeling that there's more