The Academy of Eldoria bustled with the familiar chaos of early morning. Students hurried between classes, their laughter and chatter echoing through the ancient stone corridors. The scent of brewing herbal tea wafted from the refectory, mingling with the musty aroma of old parchment emanating from the library. It was a scene of youthful vibrancy, a stark and painful contrast to the desolate ruin Elara remembered.
Moving through the throng felt surreal. Faces she knew were alive and brimming with potential, oblivious to the darkness that awaited them. It was like walking through a ghost town where the ghosts were yet to be made.
Her first immediate goal, after the urgent need to reach Liam, was information. The Academy library, for all its academic focus, held a vast collection of historical texts, local records, and even obscure folklore. Perhaps within its dusty tomes lay some forgotten detail about the Blackwood Forest or early warnings signs of the Blight that she had missed.
[Sub Quest Update: Secure the Ancient Library of Eldoria.] [Current Progress: Investigating the Academy Library.]
Elara navigated the crowded halls, her senses heightened by the lingering echoes of her Insight skill. She scanned faces, searching for Liam's familiar, slightly goofy grin. He wasn't hard to spot, even in a crowd.
[Target Located: Liam Kaelen.] [Distance: Approximately 20 meters.] [Emotional State: Cheerful.]
A pang of bittersweet longing hit Elara. There he was, laughing with a group of fellow apprentices near the notice board, completely unaware of the horrific fate that awaited him in the Blackwood.
Later, she told herself firmly. Information first. I need to understand what he's walking into.
She slipped into the relative quiet of the library, the towering shelves filled with leather-bound books offering a sense of both comfort and urgency. Where to even begin?
[Tip: Focus your search on local history records and texts related to the Blackwood Forest.]
The system's guidance was invaluable, cutting through the overwhelming amount of information. Elara headed towards the local history section, her fingers trailing along the spines of the ancient volumes.
She pulled out a particularly worn book titled "Chronicles of the Eldoria Region." Its pages, brittle with age, spoke of ancient settlements, forgotten conflicts, and local legends. Hours blurred as she meticulously scanned the text, her eyes searching for any mention of unusual occurrences in the Blackwood.
[Reading Comprehension Skill Increased (Passive).]
The system chimed softly, another small boost. It seemed even mundane actions contributed to her overall growth.
Finally, buried within a chapter detailing local folklore, she found it. Whispers of a creeping sickness that afflicted the forest centuries ago, twisting the flora and fauna into grotesque parodies of their natural forms. Tales of villagers who ventured in and returned… changed. The descriptions were chillingly similar to what she had witnessed during the Blight's full manifestation.
[New Information Acquired: Historical accounts of a past affliction in the Blackwood Forest.] [Potential Connection to the Shadow Blight: High.]
A cold dread settled in Elara's stomach. This wasn't a new threat. It had happened before. And if history was any indication, it could happen again.
She also stumbled upon a brief mention of an ancient hermitage nestled deep within the Blackwood, said to be inhabited by a reclusive scholar who studied the forest's unique, and sometimes dangerous, ecology. Could this hermit know more?
[New Lead Discovered: Existence of an ancient hermitage within the Blackwood Forest.] [Potential Information Source: High.]
Armed with this new information, Elara knew she couldn't delay any longer. Liam was heading into danger he couldn't possibly comprehend.
She found him near the training grounds, practicing basic fire spells with a focused intensity. He was talented, she remembered, with a natural affinity for elemental magic. If only that talent hadn't been snuffed out so brutally.
Taking a deep breath, Elara approached him.
"Liam," she said, her voice a little rough.
He turned, his usual cheerful expression lighting up his face. "Elara! Fancy seeing you here. Skipping out on Archmage Valerius's lecture again?" he teased.
Elara forced a small smile. "Something like that. Liam, I… I heard you were planning to go to the Blackwood Forest."
His smile faltered slightly. "Yeah, just a little trip. Some of the local villagers have been talking about… strange things. Twisted plants, animals acting aggressive. Figured I'd take a look, maybe even collect some interesting specimens for Master Elmsworth's botany class."
His innocent explanation sent a shiver down Elara's spine. He had no idea what he was walking into.
"Liam," she said again, her voice more urgent this time. "Please, don't go. It's… it's dangerous. More dangerous than you can imagine."
Liam frowned, concern etching lines on his young face. "Whoa, Elara, are you alright? You look pale. What's wrong?"
How could she explain? How could she tell him about a future he couldn't possibly believe? About the horrors that awaited him in that seemingly innocuous forest?
[Dialogue Option 1: Provide a vague warning based on a 'bad feeling'.] [Dialogue Option 2: Attempt to explain your 'visions' without revealing the system.] [Dialogue Option 3: Directly mention the historical accounts of the Blackwood's past affliction.]
Elara's mind raced, weighing the potential outcomes of each choice. Trust was fragile, especially when speaking of unbelievable things.
She decided on a middle ground, hoping the historical context would lend some credence to her warning.
"Liam," she said, her voice low and serious. "I was reading in the library… there are old stories about the Blackwood. About a sickness that twisted the forest, corrupted the creatures within. It happened centuries ago, and the descriptions… they're unsettlingly similar to some of the nightmares I've been having." She deliberately omitted the part about living through it.
Liam's brow furrowed. "Nightmares? Elara, are you sure you're not just stressed about the upcoming exams?"
"It feels… real, Liam. And the details in those old stories… they match. Twisted plants, aggressive animals… please, just be careful. Or better yet, postpone your trip. Let's look into this together, here in the Academy."
Liam hesitated, his adventurous spirit clearly clashing with his concern for her. "Well… I did promise old Man Hemlock I'd take a look. He's worried about his prize-winning sheep acting strange near the forest edge."
[New Objective Added to Sub Quest: Investigate Old Man Hemlock's claims near the Blackwood Forest.]
The system, ever-present, registered the change in her immediate plans. It seemed she wouldn't be able to dissuade Liam so easily. She would have to go with him.
"Then I'm coming with you," Elara said, her voice firm. "Two pairs of eyes are better than one. And if there's even a hint of what those old stories describe…"
Liam looked surprised, then a small smile touched his lips. "Alright, Elara. Always good to have you along. You always did have a knack for finding the weirdest things in the library."
He had no idea just how weird things were about to get. As they made plans to depart for the Blackwood, a sense of grim determination settled over Elara. She had to protect him. She had to protect them all. And the whispers of the past in the Academy library served as a chilling reminder of the darkness they were about to face.