Otter kept his hands stuffed into his pockets, fumbling with the whisper stone he’d purchased earlier. He could still hear Varek’s words ringing in his ears:
"Finding him is the only way I get paid."
Was his father truly alive? On the run? While he couldn't know for sure, he suspected that the key to finding him lay within the Restricted Section of the Library.
Otter swallowed hard and took a deep breath. It was time. "Back there," he started, voice steady despite the tightness in his chest. "With Varek—I didn’t tell you everything."
The group slowed their pace. Eyes turned to him.
Erin’s brow furrowed, concern already forming.
Milo shoved his hands into his coat pockets, silent but attentive. Levi tilted his head, curiosity clear on his face. Piper folded her arms, waiting. Liora—ever still, ever observant—said nothing.
"My father left a note for me before he disappeared," he said. "I found it…accidentally, I guess you could say."
Erin gave him a knowing look.
"What did it say?" Piper asked.
Otter took a breath and recited the words he had long ago committed to memory: "I hope you never read this. I hope I’ve returned to be the father you deserve. But if you ever find this, I’m sorry. Do whatever you can to be invited to the Adventurer’s Academy. You’ll find answers there."
Silence.
Piper leaned in, her voice hushed. “But… why here? What does the Academy have to do with your father?”
“I don’t know. I heard rumors when I was little that he was an Adventurer, but my mom never talked about it.”
“So maybe he was a student here,” said Liora. “But that would be ancient history. Do you think he was here more recently?”
Otter shrugged.
“Hang on a second,” said Erin. “You’re all assuming these answers have anything to do with his father’s disappearance. What if it has nothing to do with that?”
“What do you mean?”
She took his hand in hers. “Think about it, Otter. Sure you want to know what happened to your dad. But isn’t there something else you’re dying to know the answer to?”
He didn’t even need to think about it. “You mean why I haven’t been offered a Class.”
She nodded. “Where better to uncover the answer to that question than at the Academy?”
“Maybe. But how would he have known about that so long ago? He disappeared when I was just a toddler.”
Erin frowned as she considered that fact.
“Well, if there’s anything to find, we’ll help you,” said Milo quietly.
“I appreciate that,” said Otter. “But there’s more.” He turned his wrisplay toward them.
The glow of the screen illuminated the surrounding road, casting long, shifting shadows.
Current Objectives:
-
Find Your Calling.
-
Gain access to the Restricted Section of the Library.
The words seemed to pulse on the screen, as if mocking the weight they carried.
Erin stiffened, letting her hand drop.
Milo exhaled. “That’s… that’s an actual system objective?”
Piper shook her head, looking almost sick. “Otter, that’s—”
“The Restricted Section,” Erin finished, her voice tight.
Otter squared his shoulders. “That’s where the answer is. My father wanted me to find something.”
Erin’s jaw tightened. “No. That’s too far. The Restricted Section isn’t off-limits because they’re hoarding secrets—it’s off-limits because some knowledge is dangerous. You know that.”
Otter met her gaze. “And what if that’s the point? What if my father was onto something? Something important?”
“Or something forbidden,” Erin shot back. “There’s a reason they don’t let just anyone in.”
Levi glanced between them. “Okay, but why is the System telling him to go there? It doesn’t just throw out objectives for fun.”
“That’s exactly why I have to do this,” Otter pressed. “The System itself is pointing me there. That means the answer—the truth—is inside.”
Erin’s hands curled into fists. “And what if it’s not the answer you want?”
Otter opened his mouth, then shut it. He didn’t know.
Liora’s voice was cool, measured. “If you’re caught, they’ll expel you.”
Otter turned to her. “Not if I do it right.”
Milo swallowed. “You’re really serious about this.”
Otter nodded.
Another tense silence settled over them.
“I’ll help,” Levi said, stepping forward. “No way I’m missing out on a secret Library mission.”
Milo hesitated, then sighed. “Me too.”
Piper wrung her hands, torn. “Otter, I—”
He softened. “I get it, Piper. You don’t have to.”
She bit her lip. “...I’ll think about it.”
Otter turned to Erin. “Erin—”
“No,” she said, shaking her head. “I can’t do this.”
His chest tightened. “Why?”
She let out a sharp breath, stepping closer. “Because, Otter. You’re not thinking straight. This isn’t a game. You don’t even know what you’re looking for.”
He clenched his jaw. “Then I’ll find out.”
She shook her head again, frustration in her eyes. “You’re going to get yourself kicked out, and I—” She cut herself off, exhaling. “You worked so hard to get here. I won’t help you sabotage yourself.”
The words stung more than Otter expected.
Another long silence stretched between them, heavy and unresolved.
Finally, Erin turned away, walking ahead of the group without another word.
This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.
Otter watched her go, something in his chest sinking. He had always counted on Erin to stand by him. To be on his side. But this time… she wasn’t.
And that scared him more than he wanted to admit.
They continued toward the Academy in uneasy silence, the rift between them widening with every step.
Once they passed the gates, the group of friends dispersed, each heading off their own way, lost in their own thoughts.
Otter lingered in the grand square lined with towering statues of past Adventurers. He watched each of them depart. He was glad to have Levi and Milo’s support, but that couldn't overcome the heaviness he felt at Erin’s reticence. Not that he could really blame her.
He gazed up at the stony face of some hero whose name he didn't know.
He exhaled sharply, pressing his thumb against the stone, as if grounding himself. What if Erin was right? What if he was making a mistake?
“You look troubled, Mr. Bennett.”
Otter stiffened. He turned sharply, half-expecting to see Blackwood emerging from the shadows. But it wasn’t Blackwood.
It was Headmaster Voss.
The old man stood a few paces away, his hands clasped neatly behind his back. The soft lantern light from the nearby walkway flickered over his worn, brown coat, highlighting the gold-threaded embroidery along the sleeves. His gray beard caught the glow, lending him an air of quiet authority.
But his expression wasn’t stern or disapproving.
It was… curious.
Otter swallowed. “Headmaster.”
Voss studied him for a long moment, then glanced toward the statue Otter had been examining. “Auric Plavix. A great Spell Lord,” Voss murmured, more to himself than to Otter. “One who believed that knowledge was the greatest tool an Adventurer could wield.”
Otter hesitated, unsure how to respond.
Voss shifted his gaze back to him. “Something weighs on you.”
Otter’s fingers curled into a loose fist. “It’s nothing.”
The headmaster raised a bushy brow. “A curious statement for someone who looks as though Sisyphus carried but a pebble.”
Otter’s throat tightened. He should have expected this. Voss was sharp—too sharp. Still, he wasn’t about to confess everything. “I just… had a rough night,” he admitted. “Learned some things I wasn’t expecting.”
Voss hummed thoughtfully. “Knowledge can be like that.” He studied Otter’s face for a long, unreadable moment before speaking again. “Tell me, Mr. Bennett. Do you believe knowledge is always worth the price?”
Otter frowned, shifting on his feet. “I don’t know.”
The headmaster nodded, as if he had expected the answer. “Few do.”
A breeze rolled through the courtyard, rustling the ivy that crept up the Academy walls.
Voss took a step back, preparing to leave. “Seek the truth,” he said, his voice quieter now. “But beware the cost.”
Otter’s stomach tightened.
Before he could say anything else, the Headmaster turned and strode away, his footsteps barely making a sound on the stone path.
Otter stood there for a long moment, his thoughts a tangled mess. Finally, slowly, he made his way back to the dorms.Voss had meant those words as general advice. Otter was sure of that.
And yet…
They felt far too relevant to ignore.
Otter barely made it halfway across the courtyard before something slammed into his side.
A hand clamped over his mouth. Another wrapped around his torso, pinning his arms to his side before he could even think to react.
Pain jolted through his shoulder as he was yanked backwards, dragged off the path and into the shadows between two buildings.
Before he could cry out, something was shoved into his mouth. A gag. A balled up sock or some other rag, by the feel of it. He thrashed, kicking out blindly, but another pair of hands grabbed his legs, lifting him clean off the ground.
“Struggle all you want, rat,” a voice sneered. “No one’s coming to save you.”
Lyle.
Otter bucked against their grip, but Torrin’s laughter rang in his ear. “Damn, he fights more than I expected. Thought he’d just roll over and take it.”
“Guess he hasn’t learned his lesson yet.” Lyle’s grip tightened. “Time we fix that.”
Otter thrashed harder, trying to get a foot on the ground, anything to shift their hold, but they were stronger. Bigger. And they’d planned this.
They hauled him across the courtyard, moving fast and silent. The Academy’s massive stone structures loomed around them, the warm glow of lanterns spilling from distant windows, but it was late. Taking liberty had bought him an extra two hours before curfew, and even that was almost up. Which meant no one was out to see the abduction.
They turned down a narrow side path, away from the dormitories.
Where are they taking me?
He pulled up the map of the Academy in his head, trying to figure out where they were headed. There were too many options to be sure.
Lyle pulled a key from his pocket and opened a small side door to a building Otter had never been in before, but it smelled musty and earthy—kind of like the heart of Redthorne. Then he opened an interior door, revealing a dimly lit room filled with shelves of supplies.
Otter barely had time to suck in a breath before they threw him inside.
He hit the ground hard, rolling onto his back just in time to see the door slam shut.
A lock clicked. Then silence.
Otter lay still, heart hammering, mind racing.
A laugh drifted from the other side. “Hope you’re comfortable, rat.”
Otter pressed his forehead against the door, inhaling sharply through his nose. “You have to be kidding me.”
“Aw, don’t sound so mad,” Torrin drawled. “We did warn you, didn’t we?”
Otter’s jaw clenched.
They were actually doing this. They were actually locking him in a damn closet.
“To teach me a lesson?” he snapped.
“Smart boy,” Lyle sneered. “You’ve been a real pain. And now you’re a liability. You heard Jasper. Guess we’ll see how much the instructors like it when you miss curfew.”
“You do know this is a closet, right?” he said, forcing his voice to stay level. “I’m pretty sure someone’s going to open it in the morning.”
Lyle chuckled. “Yeah. Morning. Which means you’ll be real late getting back to your room.”
There was more laughter, then footsteps echoed as they walked away, leaving him in the suffocating dark.
Otter exhaled sharply, pressing his back against the wall. He scanned the shelves, then searched them. Maybe there was something he could use. A pry bar? A loose hinge?
Nothing.
He tried the lock anyway. No give. He shoved his shoulder against the door. Nothing. He was trapped.
For the first time in a long time, he felt helpless.
Otter inhaled slowly through his nose, forcing himself to calm down.
This wasn’t over. Not yet.
But no matter how much he searched, he found no way out.
Minutes stretched on. Then an hour.
How long had he been in here?
He kicked one of the shelves in frustration. Above, something shifted and toppled from the top shelf. There was something metal in it and it clanged and banged as it fell, knocking into other supplies, creating a cascade of falling items.
When the dust settled, Otter coughed. Then he heard a scratching sound at the door. A key rattled in the lock and the door swung open.
Otter blinked at the unexpected sight of a stocky man wearing overalls with the Academy’s crest stitched across the front. The man squinted at him, then down at the mess on the floor.
Otter raised a hand. “Uh. Hi.”
The janitor’s expression darkened. “What are you doing in here?”
Otter opened his mouth to respond, but the janitor didn't give him a chance. “Nevermind, you’re coming with me.” He grabbed Otter by the arm and steered him out of the closet.
They hastened the short distance to the nearest dorm, where a resident advisor on duty sat behind a desk, half-asleep over a pile of paperwork. The janitor cleared his throat, and the RA—an older student with a stern face—looked up, his eyes sharpening.
“Caught this one breaking curfew. Found him rummaging around in the groundskeepers' building,” the janitor said.
Otter’s heart sank. “I wasn’t—”
“Save it,” the RA snapped, already reaching for his ledger. He scribbled something down, then looked up, eyes cold. “Name?”
“Dwayne Bennett,” Otter muttered.
The RA nodded, making another note. “Breaking curfew, unauthorized presence in a restricted area. You’ll be written up. An administrator will meet with you in the morning to determine consequences. Understood?”
Otter gritted his teeth, nodding stiffly. “Yes, sir.”
“Good. Now, let’s get you back to your room.”
The RA led Otter back to his own dorm. When they reached Otter’s door, the RA gave him a hard look.
“Stay out of trouble.”
Otter nodded again, waiting until the RA turned and walked away before slipping inside.
Otter shut the door to his room behind him, the latch clicking into place with a finality that sent a shiver down his spine.
He exhaled, rubbing his hands over his face before sinking onto the edge of his bed. His mind churned, replaying every moment of the evening.
His birthday was supposed to be a happy occasion. Tonight had been anything but. Lyle and Torrin’s ambush had taken him completely by surprise. He’d been utterly helpless, unable to defend himself. Was this how he would always be? Outmatched, overpowered, and alone?
Anger flared, but it quickly melted into something colder.
No. Lyle and Torrin were bullies and cowards. He wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of seeing him give up. He’d come here to find answers about his father, to make something of himself. He wouldn’t let those two drive him away.
And then there was Varek. He hadn't yet come to terms with that encounter. The more he thought about it, the more questions he had. Why was the bounty hunter looking for his father? Who had hired him in the first place? There had to be some way to find those answers. They might not tell him where his father was now, but it would be a place to begin.
The revelation ignited something in his chest—something urgent, something unrelenting. He had always known there was more to his father’s story, but now, the weight of that knowledge pressed down on him like an iron chain. The System had set him on this path, but it hadn’t warned him what it would cost.
The Restricted Section held answers. That much he was sure of. And he would find a way in, no matter what. Even if it meant sneaking past wards designed to keep people like him out. Even if it meant risking his standing at the Academy. Even if it meant keeping secrets from Erin.
Erin. He clenched his jaw. She had been his anchor since the day he arrived, a tether to the life he had left behind. She would understand, wouldn’t she? No—she would try to stop him. She would tell him that he was getting reckless, that the System had its own rules for a reason, that he was playing with forces he didn’t understand. And she would be right.
But he couldn’t stop now.
Otter leaned forward, pressing his forehead against his clasped hands. Was it worth it? If he went too far, if he got caught, if Erin turned away from him because she couldn’t watch him destroy himself in pursuit of a ghost… would he regret it?
A cold breeze rattled the windowpane, and he looked up, staring at the night sky beyond the glass. His father had disappeared into the unknown. And Otter had spent his whole life wondering if he’d been abandoned or if something darker had taken his father. That question had gnawed at him for years, a wound that had never quite healed.
He needed to know.
Even if it cost him everything.