Chapter 16: Shadows in the Sealed Tower

Angeline stood before a long-abandoned structure:The Sealed Tower, a black stone edifice on the eastern edge of the Academy, surrounded by enchanted barriers and eternal mist.
But tonight… the barrier was open.
> “They’re waiting for me.”


Her footsteps made barely a sound, yet her heartbeat echoed like a war drum.

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🔒 The Entrance Ritual
As her hand touched the ancient door, the Voidstep mark on her palm began to glow faintly.The stone door creaked open by itself, revealing a corridor bathed in dim, bluish light.
Inside, whispers echoed — not from living beings, but from the memories embedded in the walls.
> “Tabaxi souls were once tortured here,” something whispered in her mind.



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🕯️ The Meeting with Shadows
At the top of the tower, four hooded figures awaited.Among them stood the veiled woman from the evaluation hall earlier that day.
> “Welcome, Heir of the Hollow Step.”


They introduced themselves as members of the Lunaris Order — a secret organization that, for centuries, had preserved what little remained of demihuman heritage from systematic erasure.
> “Voidstep isn’t just a spell. It’s a fragment of Voidroot — an ancient source of magic feared by all nations.”


They believed Angeline could tap into powers long forgotten… and that made her a threat to the world.

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📜 Relics and a Secret Map
One of them opened a black wooden chest and revealed an ancient scroll.
When unrolled, a faint violet light spilled out, forming a map of eastern Aerthalia.At the center, marked by an old Tabaxi symbol, was a forgotten ruin:
“The Sand-Buried City — Lagh’ra Fel.”The last refuge of Angeline’s ancestors.
> “We believe something vital was sealed there… and only you can unlock it.”


But the map was only half-complete.

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🧪 Doubt and Consequence
Angeline asked, “Why now? Why me?”
Their answer was cryptic and unsettling:
> “Because when your power awakened, fate itself began to ripple.The old world resists its return… but chaos will force it open.”

Before she left, they gave a final warning:
> “If you continue down this path, you won’t just challenge the system…You’ll be defying history itself.”

🌙 End of Chapter
As Angeline stepped out of the tower, she found Myra waiting silently at the base.
> “Angeline… you went alone. Without telling me.”
Myra’s gaze was sharp — hurt, but full of concern.
Angeline clutched the scroll tightly in her hand.
> “I’m sorry. But there are things… I need to discover on my own first.”

The night wind whispered through the trees.Above, a crescent moon glowed faintly — like an eye watching from the shadows.
> The path had opened.But the truth… was still far from reach.