The Warlord's Second Life As A Commoner : 013

The night sky above Arcadia Academy was lit by a bright full moon. Lucian sat on the edge of his bedroom window, looking at the documents they had managed to steal from the nobles' dungeons. In the pile were symbols that reminded him of his past as Caelum, Commander of the Shadows. One symbol, in the shape of a sword surrounded by coiled snakes, made his heart tremble.

"That emblem... I've seen it before," Lucian murmured, his eyes narrowing. Memories of his old life began to flood his mind. The emblem belonged to the Order of the Twilight, a secret organization he had destroyed years ago. How could they reappear in this world? And why are they working with the nobles?

Suddenly there was a soft knock on his bedroom door. Lucian hid the documents under a pile of books before opening the door. Alden stood there, his face grave.

"We need to talk," Alden said matter-of-factly.

Lucian nodded and invited his friend inside. Alden closed the door and sat down on a wooden chair near the table.

"Eris has just returned from an investigation. She has found something important," Alden said.

"What's that?" Lucian asked.

Alden sighed. "There is an old wizard who lives in the forest near the Academy. He is known to know many secrets about nobles and secret societies. Eris thinks he might be able to help us understand these documents."

Lucian looked at Alden with pensive eyes. "An old wizard, huh? Can he be trusted?"

"That's the problem," Alden replied. "Eris said this man wouldn't help anyone without a reason. He's notoriously hard to reach. But if there's anyone who knows about these symbols, it's definitely him."

Lucian was silent for a moment. In his heart he knew this was the next step he had to take. "When can we go?"

The next day, Lucian, Alden, and Eris gathered at the Academy gate. They had prepared supplies and made travel plans for the forest beyond the border. The forest is known as the Dark Forest, a place full of scary legends about magical creatures and invisible traps.

"Are you sure this is a good idea?" Eris asked, her voice filled with doubt. "This forest is not a friendly place. Even adventurers seldom return safely."

"There is no other choice," Lucian replied firmly. "If this witch really knows something, we must find her."

They walked into the forest. The atmosphere inside immediately became dark and tense. Tall trees with claw-like branches blocked the sunlight, while the calls of owls and nocturnal insects created a disturbing harmony.

On their way, they encounter the first magical trap. A glowing circle appears on the ground, and without warning, the roots of the trees begin to move, trying to catch them.

"Be careful!" Alden shouted, jumping back.

Lucian drew his sword and slashed at the approaching roots. "This is high-level magic. The witch must have known we were coming," he said as he continued to cut at the roots, which moved like snakes.

Eris raised her hand and cast a protective spell that emitted a soft blue light. The spell managed to stop the movement of the roots, giving them time to escape.

"This is just a warning," Eris muttered. "We must be more vigilant."

After several hours of dangerous travel, they finally arrived at an old hut in the middle of the forest. The hut looked as if it might collapse at any moment, but from inside it radiated the light of a small fire. Lucian stepped forward and knocked on the fragile wooden door.

"Who is it?" An old man's hoarse voice came from inside.

"We have come to seek answers," Lucian replied. "We have brought documents that may interest you."

The door opened slowly, revealing an old man with a long gray beard and eyes glowing with magical power. He looked at Lucian and his party with a sharp gaze.

"Come in," he said simply.

They followed the old man into the hut. Inside, the room was filled with old books, glass bottles filled with strange colored liquids, and magical talismans hanging on the walls. The wizard sat in a worn chair and looked at them with an unreadable gaze.

"You brought something for me?" he asked.

Lucian took some documents out of his bag and handed them to the wizard. The old man opened the documents and read them carefully. His face slowly became serious.

"This emblem..." he murmured. "It belongs to the Order of the Twilight. They are a dark shadow in the history of this kingdom."

Lucian clenched his fists. "Do you know what their plan is?"

The wizard nodded slowly. "The Order of the Twilight has always desired the destruction of the kingdom. They believe that chaos is the way to renew the world. If these documents are true, then they plan to use an ancient, long-buried power."

"Ancient power?" Alden asked, his eyes wide.

The wizard looked at them one by one. "An artifact known as the 'Sword of Twilight.' According to legend, the sword is capable of destroying everything it touches. If it falls into the wrong hands, this kingdom will not survive."

Lucian felt a tightness in his chest. "Where is the sword now?"

The wizard took a deep breath. "I don't know for sure. But I know they are looking for it. And if they find it first, nothing can stop them."

After a few more words with the witch, Lucian and his friends leave the hut with many questions on their minds. They know their time is limited. The Order of the Twilight is on the move, and they must find the Sword of the Twilight before the group succeeds.

When they came out of the forest, Lucian stopped for a moment and looked at the moon shining brightly in the sky.

"This is only the beginning," he muttered. "But I'm not going to let them win."

In his heart, Lucian knew that this journey would be the greatest test of his life. But with Alden, Eris, and any new allies they might find along the way, he believes they have a chance against the shadows that threaten this world.