Chapter 75: If You Remember

The morning sun illuminated Aetheris Academy’s eastern courtyard.

Students hurried towards their respective lecture halls, while the sound of conversation filled the pathways.

It was an ordinary morning.

At least, that was what Kael wanted to believe.

He sat at a small table near the courtyard fountain, holding a cup of tea while Pi occupied the space beside him.

His attention, however, wasn’t on the drink.

It was on the strange memory from the previous night.

A wooden desk.

A silver quill.

A note.

IF YOU COME BACK, KNOCK THREE TIMES.

He had spent nearly an hour trying to remember where he had seen that room.

Nothing.

Every time he approached the memory, it slipped away.

Kael took a sip of tea.

"Annoying."

Pi raised its head.

"Pi?"

"Not you. Well, perhaps you too."

The creature tilted its head.

Kael sighed.

"Seriously, what exactly are you?"

Pi responded by climbing onto his arm.

"Pi!"

"Very informative."

A familiar voice interrupted him.

"Talking to yourself again?"

Kael looked up.

Mira stood nearby, holding two books.

"Good morning."

She sat opposite him.

"You’re unusually quiet today."

"Am I?"

"Usually, you have something sarcastic to say before anyone finishes greeting you."

Kael considered that.

"Perhaps I’m becoming a better person."

Mira smiled.

"That would be quite the achievement."

He gave her a dry look.

"You’re supposed to encourage personal growth."

"I prefer realistic expectations."

Kael chuckled.

For a while, they discussed the upcoming practical examination.

However, Mira’s attention eventually drifted towards Pi.

"Can I ask you something?"

"That depends."

"Does Pi ever behave strangely around you?"

Kael looked at the creature.

"Define strangely."

"Does it stare at things that aren’t there? React to places before you arrive? Or sometimes seem to understand conversations that it shouldn’t?"

Kael slowly placed his cup down.

"Why are you asking?"

Mira hesitated.

"I’ve been thinking about something."

She opened one of her books.

Inside was a rough sketch of a small creature with two horns, a long tail, and tiny wings.

Kael stared.

"...That’s Pi."

"I know."

"Where did you get this?"

Mira turned the page.

"I drew it last night."

Kael looked at her.

"Why?"

"That’s what I’m trying to understand."

She rubbed her forehead.

"I had a dream. I saw a circular room with seven chairs. There was a small creature sitting in one of them."

Her eyes moved towards Pi.

"It looked exactly like this."

Kael remained silent.

Mira closed the book.

"I don’t remember anything else. But when I woke up, I felt as though I’d forgotten someone important."

Pi suddenly moved closer to Kael.

Its golden eye remained fixed on Mira.

"Pi..."

Mira reached towards it.

The creature allowed her to touch its head.

Then she whispered something.

"You’re still here."

Kael’s expression changed.

"What did you say?"

Mira blinked.

"I... don’t know."

She withdrew her hand.

For a moment, neither spoke.

Then Kael leaned back.

"We l, that’s reassuring. Apparently, even my breakfast companion has secrets."

Pi chirped.

Mira laughed softly.

But neither of them noticed the faint silver light beneath the creature’s scales.

The first lecture of the day was Magical History.

Professor Graves stood before the class, holding a collection of ancient documents.

"Today, we’ll be discussing the earliest known magical settlements and their relationship with the establishment of modern kingdoms."

Kael sat near the window.

Leon occupied the seat beside him, while Mira and Elena sat in front.

The professor began explaining how the earliest human settlements had developed around natural mana concentrations.

Most students listened attentively.

Leon, however, leaned towards Kael.

"Do you think we’ll have another practical examination like the last one?"

Kael kept his eyes on the board.

"Hopefully not."

"Why?"

"Because I enjoy having a peaceful life."

Leon smiled.

"That’s funny coming from you."

Kael turned towards him.

"What’s that supposed to mean?"

"Nothing."

"You’re terrible at pretending."

Before Leon could respond, Graves placed an ancient parchment on the board.

"Now, this particular document is interesting."

The parchment displayed a map of an ancient settlement.

Several locations were marked with symbols.

One of them depicted a circular structure with seven smaller circles surrounding it.

Kael stopped moving.

His eyes narrowed.

The symbol was familiar.

Too familiar.

He looked towards Mira.

She had already noticed it.

Their eyes met.

Neither spoke.

Professor Graves continued.

"Unfortunately, the exact purpose of this structure remains unknown. The original inscription refers to it as a place of remembrance."

Kael’s fingers tightened around his pen.

A faint voice whispered inside his head.

You said you would come back.

He blinked.

The classroom seemed to grow distant.

For a brief moment, he saw a rain-covered window.

A desk.

A silver quill.

And someone sitting across from him.

Then the vision disappeared.

"Mr Veyron?"

Kael looked up.

Professor Graves was watching him.

"Would you care to explain what you find so interesting?"

Kael glanced towards the parchment.

"...I’ve seen that symbol before."

The classroom became quiet.

Graves adjusted his spectacles.

"Where?"

Kael opened his mouth.

Then stopped.

He didn’t know.

"...I can’t remember."

The professor studied him for several seconds.

Then he nodded.

"An interesting answer."

He turned back towards the board.

But his expression had become considerably more serious.

After the lecture, Elena caught up with Kael near the staircase.

"Wait."

He stopped.

"What is it?"

She looked at him carefully.

"You’ve been acting strangely lately."

Kael raised an eyebrow.

"That’s a rather broad accusation."

"I’m serious."

"So am I."

Elena crossed her arms.

"You’ve been distracted during lectures, and you’ve barely been paying attention during training."

"I’ve been paying attention."

"Then what did Sir Gareth explain about the defensive stance yesterday?"

Kael paused.

"...Something about defence?"

Elena stared at him.

He sighed.

"Fine. Perhaps I wasn’t listening."

"Exactly."

She moved closer and lowered her voice.

"Is something bothering you?"

Kael looked at her.

For a moment, he considered telling her about the dreams, the black door, and the strange messages.

But he didn’t know how to explain any of it.

"Just some strange dreams."

Elena’s expression softened.

"Again?"

Kael nodded.

She remained quiet for a moment.

Then she reached into her pocket and handed him a small object.

It was a silver pendant.

Kael examined it.

"What’s this?"

"Something I bought from the academy’s supply store."

"Why are you giving it to me?"

"Because you look like you need it."

He turned the pendant over.

A tiny protective rune had been engraved on its surface.

"You’re giving me a protective charm?"

"Don’t misunderstand. It’s an ordinary charm."

"Still, that’s thoughtful."

Elena looked away.

"Just keep it."

Kael smiled.

"Thank you."

She nodded before walking ahead.

Kael watched her leave.

Then he looked at the pendant again.

For reasons he couldn’t explain, it felt strangely familiar.

The afternoon brought an unexpected disturbance.

Mira had convinced Kael and Leon to accompany her to the eastern library annex.

According to an old record, the annex contained several documents concerning the earliest magical formations beneath Aetheris.

Kael wasn’t particularly enthusiastic.

But after the morning lecture, his curiosity had increased.

They entered the building.

Dusty shelves lined the walls, and the air carried the faint smell of old parchment.

Mira approached the librarian’s desk.

"Excuse me. We’re looking for historical records concerning the academy’s underground structures."

The librarian examined her request.

"Those records are restricted."

Mira presented a document signed by Professor Graves.

The librarian studied it before nodding.

"Very well. Follow me."

She led them towards a narrow staircase.

The lower archive was considerably older than the main library.

Several shelves had been covered with protective cloth, while ancient magical seals covered the doors.

Leon glanced around.

"This place feels abandoned."

"It hasn’t been used regularly in decades," Mira explained.

Kael examined one of the seals.

"Then why keep it?"

"Because some records are too valuable to discard."

They eventually reached a wooden cabinet.

Mira opened it.

Inside were several documents, including a faded architectural drawing.

She carefully unfolded it.

The drawing depicted the foundations beneath Aetheris Academy.

Kael leaned closer.

"That’s the academy?"

"Yes."

Mira traced one of the corridors.

"According to this, there should be a chamber beneath the eastern lecture hall."

Leon looked at the drawing.

"Is it accessible?"

"Apparently not. The entrance was sealed."

Kael studied the illustration.

Then he noticed something.

A small room had been drawn beneath the academy’s oldest foundation.

Its shape was familiar.

Seven chairs.

A circular table.

And a single door.

His expression changed.

"What’s that room?"

Mira examined the drawing.

"I don’t know."

Kael pointed towards the inscription.

ROOM SEVEN.

Leon leaned closer.

"That’s an unusual name."

Kael felt his silver mark grow warm.

Then something happened.

The drawing shifted.

Not physically.

The ink itself seemed to move.

A thin line appeared beneath the room.

Then another.

A sentence slowly formed.

THE CARRIER HAS FOUND THE WAY HOME.

Kael stepped backwards.

Mira gasped.

Leon immediately reached for his sword.

"What was that?"

The ink returned to normal.

The sentence disappeared.

But Kael had seen it.

And so had Mira.

She stared at the parchment.

"...That wasn’t there before."

Kael looked towards her.

"No. It wasn’t."

A faint ringing sound travelled through the archive.

Pi suddenly emerged from beneath Kael’s coat.

Its wings spread.

"NO."

The single word echoed through the chamber.

Kael froze.

Leon stared at the creature.

"Did it just speak?"

Pi turned towards the far wall.

A section of the stone surface had begun glowing.

A silver outline appeared.

It resembled a door.

Kael slowly approached.

"Wait."

Mira grabbed his sleeve.

"Don’t touch it."

He looked towards her.

Her expression was unusually tense.

"I don’t know why, but I have a terrible feeling about this."

Kael examined the door.

A small inscription appeared across its surface.

IF YOU REMEMBER, KNOCK THREE TIMES.

His breathing slowed.

Three knocks.

Then one more.

He raised his hand.

But before he could touch the door, the silver outline vanished.

The stone returned to normal.

Pi lowered its wings.

"Not... yet."

They returned to the main academy before sunset.

Leon was unusually quiet.

He had spent most of the journey wondering whether Pi had genuinely spoken.

Mira, meanwhile, was examining her notes.

Kael walked beside them, turning Elena’s pendant between his fingers.

He had another question.

If Room Seven existed beneath the academy, why did it appear in his dreams?

And why did Pi seem to know the way?

"Kael."

He turned.

Leon was looking at him.

"Do you think we’re being watched?"

Kael studied him.

"What makes you say that?"

"I don’t know."

Leon glanced towards the academy towers.

"Ever since we entered that archive, I’ve had the feeling someone was standing behind us."

Mira nodded slowly.

"I felt something too."

Kael looked towards the windows.

For a fraction of a second, he saw a figure standing on the highest balcony.

A black coat.

Silver eyes.

A familiar presence.

Then the figure disappeared.

Kael stopped walking.

His fingers tightened around the pendant.

He didn’t know who he had seen.

But a single word surfaced in his mind.

First User.

The moment the thought appeared, a sharp headache struck.

He staggered.

Leon caught his arm.

"Kael!"

"I’m fine."

But his voice sounded distant even to himself.

That night, Kael sat at his desk.

Pi was sleeping beside his books.

The silver pendant Elena had given him rested in his palm.

He had placed it beside the mysterious mark on his hand.

For some reason, the two objects seemed to resonate.

A faint silver light spread across the desk.

Kael watched it carefully.

Then a sentence appeared on the blank page of his notebook.

He hadn’t written it.

YOU HAVE BEEN HERE BEFORE.

He stared at the words.

Another sentence formed beneath it.

YOU PROMISED TO RETURN.

Kael slowly stood.

His eyes moved towards Pi.

The creature had awakened.

Its golden eye was fixed on the notebook.

"Pi?"

Kael approached.

"What’s happening?"

Pi looked at him.

For a moment, its expression seemed almost sorrowful.

Then it spoke.

"Kael..."

He froze.

That was different.

It hadn’t simply repeated its name.

It had addressed him.

"Pi?"

The creature stretched out one tiny claw and touched his palm.

A memory erupted.

A small room.

Rain against a window.

A young man sitting beside a desk.

Three knocks.

Then a fourth.

And a voice.

You’re late.

Kael’s vision shattered.

He grabbed the edge of the desk.

His breathing became uneven.

"...I know that room."

Pi lowered its head.

"Home."

Kael stared at it.

For the first time, he didn’t dismiss the word.

He understood that Pi wasn’t talking about his current room.

It was talking about somewhere else.

Somewhere he had once belonged.

---

Beneath Aetheris Academy.

The ancient door stood in darkness.

Its surface trembled.

A silver inscription appeared.

THE CARRIER HAS REMEMBERED THE LOCATION.

A second line formed.

THE WITNESS HAS SPOKEN.

Then—

Knock.

Knock.

Knock.

A pause.

Knock.

The door opened slightly.

Beyond it, a young man sat beside a wooden desk.

His face was hidden in shadow.

A silver quill rested between his fingers.

He slowly raised his head.

"Finally."

His voice echoed through the empty chamber.

"How long do you intend to make me wait, Kael?"

The door began closing.

But before it could shut completely, the young man added:

"Next time, don’t come alone."

The darkness swallowed the room.

And for the first time since the seventh bell rang, something on the other side of the door smiled.