The Warlord's Second Life As A Commoner : 010

That night, Arcadia Academy was enveloped in an unusual atmosphere. A cold wind blew, carrying the scent of rain, which seemed to indicate that something was about to happen. Lucian, who was sitting in the Academy library, looked up from the book he was reading when a wooden door creaked open.

An elderly man in dark robes stepped inside, the carved wooden staff in his hand reflecting the dim candlelight. The figure was not part of the teaching staff, and the aura he exuded made every head in the room turn. The man's eyes stopped on Lucian, then nodded as if recognizing him.

"Lucian Rayne," he called in a hoarse but firm voice. "Follow me."

Immediately, the atmosphere in the library became tense. Low whispers could be heard from the other students. But Lucian stood up without hesitation and followed the man out of the room. He had a feeling that this encounter was not entirely coincidental.

The man led him to a small room at the end of a secluded corridor. There was nothing there but a stone table and two chairs. The man sat down and gestured for Lucian to do the same.

"Who are you?" asked Lucian matter-of-factly.

The man smiled faintly, his eyes flashing enigmatically. "My name is Aldarion, one of the observers of the Royal Council of Magic. My job is to make sure that talented candidates like you do not fall into the wrong hands."

Lucian frowned. "Why me?"

Aldarion leaned forward and stared intently at Lucian. "Because I know who you really are, Lucian. You are not an ordinary boy from a small village. You carry a legacy greater than you can imagine."

These words made Lucian cautious. He wasn't sure how much this man knew about his past life as Caelum, but he hid his fear well.

"What heritage are you talking about?" Lucian replied, keeping his tone neutral.

Aldarion smiled again, this time deeper. "You are the key to something much greater. This Academy is only the beginning. The world beyond these walls is on the move, and great powers are rising again. You, Lucian, will play an important role in the war to come."

Lucian tried to digest Aldarion's words. He knew the man was not being completely honest, but there was truth in his words.

"What is being revived?" he finally asked.

"A shadow of the past," Aldarion answered in a mysterious tone. "The group known as the Order of Darkness. They nearly destroyed this kingdom centuries ago. Now there are signs that they are gathering strength again, and they seek ancient artifacts to rule the world."

The name stirred a faint memory in Lucian's mind. In his life as Caelum, he had heard stories of the Order of Darkness, a group of wizards and shadow warriors who sought to overthrow the world order. But he never thought they would be a threat again in his new life.

"What does this have to do with me?" Lucian demanded.

"That is something you must discover for yourself," Aldarion replied cryptically. "But know this, you will not be able to escape your fate. You must choose whether you will be their tool or the protector of this world."

After this conversation, Lucian returned to his dormitory with a full head. However, he didn't have time to think for long when someone knocked on his door.

When he opened the door, he saw a girl with long brown hair and bright green eyes. She wore a neat academy uniform, but there was an air of confidence about her that set her apart from the other students.

"You're Lucian, right?" she asked with a friendly smile.

Lucian nodded. "I am. What's wrong?"

"My name is Elara," the girl said. "I just heard that Aldarion spoke to you. Then perhaps you and I have more in common than we think."

Lucian looked at Elara questioningly. "What do you mean?"

Elara entered uninvited and closed the door behind her. "I'm one of the few people in this academy who knows about the Order of the Dark. My family was once their target and I'm here to make sure they don't get what they want."

Lucian looked at the girl more closely. Elara had the aura of courage he knew well from the battlefield, though her body did not show the same scars or fatigue.

"So you will cooperate?" asked Lucian finally.

"Of course," Elara replied with a broad smile. "We can start by learning more about Aldarion. He never appears here without a reason. If you agree, I can help you find out what's going on."

Despite his initial hesitation, Lucian finally nodded. He knew that having an ally would be a great advantage, especially if the Eclipse Order truly became a threat.

The next day, Lucian and Elara decided to learn more about Aldarion. They used the free time between classes to search the archives of the academy, hoping to find clues about the man's connection to the royal magical council.

In the library, they found old records of the war against the Order of Darkness. One of the records caught their attention - a document that mentioned Aldarion by name as part of the alliance that had fought the Order of Darkness. However, the document also mentioned something more surprising: Aldarion was said to have betrayed the Alliance.

"So he fought them, but then betrayed them?" whispered Elara, her eyes widening.

"Or there could be another reason," Lucian replied calmly. "We can't just trust this record. But it definitely means he was more than just a casual observer."

Their investigation was interrupted by the sound of approaching footsteps. A library guard appeared, and they quickly hid the document before leaving.

That night, Lucian stood on the balcony of his dormitory and looked up at the tower where Aldarion was staying. Inside, he knew the man held more secrets than he let on.

"If this is only the beginning," Lucian thought, "then I must prepare myself for what lies ahead.

With new allies at his side and threats slowly unfolding, Lucian's journey at Arcadia Academy becomes increasingly fraught with mystery and danger. But he is undaunted. He knows in his heart that a great destiny awaits him, and he is ready to face it.