It was still early when John and Alice met again near the edge of the forest. The sky was gray, and a cold wind passed through the trees. Both of them carried bags, packed with small tools, water, and the old map Alice had found.
"This is the path," Alice said, pointing to a narrow trail covered with leaves and branches.
They followed it silently. The woods grew thicker as they walked, and the air felt heavier. No birds sang, and the only sound was the crunch of dry leaves under their boots.
After nearly an hour of walking, they saw something in the distance — large, broken stone walls covered in vines.
"That's it," John said. "That's the academy."
They walked closer. What they found wasn't a grand building, but a ruined place. The walls were cracked. Windows broken. Nature had taken over. Trees had grown through the stone floors, and the roof was almost gone.
A large wooden sign hung crooked near the entrance gate.
"RESTRICTED AREA – DO NOT ENTER"
Alice read the words aloud. "Why would they block it off like this?"
The main gate was sealed with thick chains. Not just metal — the locks glowed faintly, like they were protected by magic.
"These are not normal locks," John said, bending down to look. "Someone didn't want people coming here."
Alice examined one of the glowing locks. "I don't think anyone can open this easily."
John stepped back. "Or maybe… only one person can."
They circled the ruins, but every path was blocked — locked gates, walls too tall to climb, and even magical barriers in some spots.
After a while, Alice said, "We need to find out who locked this place."
They turned around and started walking back.
---
The next day, they went around the village asking questions. They showed the old map, asked about Arcanwell, but most people shook their heads. Some ignored them. Others looked nervous.
"Don't bring that name up again," one man said.
In the evening, just when they were about to give up, an old man sitting near the well called them over.
"You two keep asking about the academy," he said, squinting at them. "Why?"
"We just… want to know more," John said carefully.
The man nodded. "It's dangerous to dig into the past. But since you've come this far, I'll tell you this much…"
He leaned forward.
"Long ago, there was someone who worked near the academy. A man who helped build the seals. He was trusted. People say he was the only one who knew how to open those gates."
John and Alice looked at each other.
"Who was he?" Alice asked.
The man smiled faintly. "His name was Oswin Kael."
"Where can we find him?" John asked.
The smile faded. "You can't."
"Why not?"
"He left the village years ago," the man said. "No one knows where he went. Some say he disappeared after the school shut down. Others think he was forced to leave."
John frowned. "Do you know anyone who might know where he went?"
The man thought for a moment. "There's a woman named Marla who lives near the east cliffs. She was close to him once. She might know something."
That was all they needed.
As the sun began to set behind the hills, John and Alice looked at each other.
They weren't going to stop.