A dangerous rival
The stone door loomed ahead, the runes glowing with an eerie, rhythmic pulse, as though it was alive. Isagi, Reo, and Rin stood frozen, eyeing the footprints in the dust. They weren’t alone down here.
"This wasn’t part of the plan," Reo muttered under his breath, eyes scanning the room. His voice was laced with the same unease that hung thick in the air.
Rin, ever the strategist, was already on edge. He crouched next to the footprints, running his fingers over the ground to test their freshness. "These tracks are less than a day old," he said, his tone low. "Whoever was here isn’t far ahead."
Isagi felt his heart skip a beat. They had come so close. The map from the book, the door, the catacombs—they were all supposed to be the key to finding the Astralis Beast. But now, with the realization that someone else was already ahead of them, a gnawing anxiety clawed at his insides.
"We don’t know who it is," Isagi said, trying to keep his voice steady. "But if they’re already down here, it’s possible they know something we don’t."
Rin stood up slowly, eyes flashing with determination. "It doesn’t matter. We’ve come this far. We’re not going to stop now."
Reo crossed his arms, looking unconvinced. "And if they’re trying to get the Beast first? What if they’re dangerous?"
Isagi glanced at him. "We’ll deal with that when we get to it. We have the advantage. They don't know what we're really after."
Rin narrowed his eyes at the glowing door ahead. "Enough talking. Let’s open it."
He moved toward the stone door, raising his wand. The glowing runes flickered as if sensing his presence, but the door didn’t budge.
Isagi stepped forward, narrowing his eyes at the markings. "It’s just like the door in the Forgotten Grounds. It’s all about intention. Maybe it’s not just about unlocking the door—it’s about proving that we’re meant to go inside."
Rin shot him an irritated look. "And you have a plan for that?"
Isagi paused, then nodded slowly. "Yeah. I think so."
Without waiting for a response, Isagi closed his eyes and focused, pushing aside his doubt. He thought back to the words in the book: The Astralis Beast is not lost. It waits for the one who seeks with true intent. His mind raced as he focused on the truth of what he wanted to find—what they had all come here to uncover. The Beast wasn’t just a creature. It was something deeper, more ancient than anything they could imagine.
"I want to find the truth," Isagi muttered, his voice barely a whisper.
The runes on the door flared brightly, reacting to his words. A soft hum filled the air as the door groaned, the ancient stone slowly beginning to shift. It was working.
"Whoa." Reo’s voice was barely audible as the door creaked open, revealing a dark passage beyond.
But just as they were about to step inside, a sharp, mocking laugh echoed from the shadows behind them.
"Well, well, well." The voice was smooth and dripping with malice. "Looks like we have some eager little Gryffindors in our midst."
Isagi’s pulse spiked. He spun around, his wand raised.
From the shadows, a figure emerged, stepping into the dim light. A tall, slender boy with sharp, striking features and blonde hair with pink ends that gleamed even in the low light.
Shidou.
Isagi’s heart sank. Of all people, it had to be him.
"Shidou," Rin growled, his eyes narrowing in distrust. "What are you doing here?"
The Slytherin smirked, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "Me? Oh, just following a little rumor. Heard there’s something interesting down here." He surveyed the three of them with an air of superiority. "Looks like I was right. You really think you can handle this? The Astralis Beast is more than just a pet to collect, you know."
Isagi clenched his fists, feeling the familiar rush of irritation building in his chest. "What’s your game, Shidou? Why are you here?"
Shidou stepped closer, his hands casually resting in his pockets. "I’m just here to see who can get their hands on it first." His grin widened, and for a brief moment, his eyes flicked to the now-open stone door. "But I don’t think it’s you three. You don’t even know what you’re dealing with."
Reo took a step forward, his expression cold. "And you do?"
Shidou’s smirk didn’t falter. "I know enough to make sure you don’t get there before me." He took another step forward, his presence suddenly feeling like a physical weight. "I’m not here to play games. I’m going to find the Astralis Beast, and when I do, nothing will stand in my way."
Isagi met his gaze, refusing to back down. "You won’t get away with it. Whatever you think you know, we’ll stop you."
Shidou chuckled, eyes glinting with mischief. "We’ll see about that." His voice dropped low, just a shade darker. "But I’ll warn you, Gryffindor—this isn’t a quest for glory or fame. It’s something deeper. You might want to turn back now. It’s too late to back out once you’re in."
Before Isagi could respond, Shidou turned, his silver hair flashing as he disappeared into the darkness of the catacombs, leaving the three of them standing there, tense and silent.
Reo was the first to speak. "That guy is a problem."
"He always has been," Rin muttered darkly. "He’s been obsessed with this Beast for years. He’ll stop at nothing to get it."
Isagi gritted his teeth. "Then we stop him."
The three of them exchanged determined looks. They had come too far to let Shidou or anyone else stop them now. If the Astralis Beast was really out there, they were going to be the ones to find it.
Isagi stepped forward, raising his wand again. The stone door was still open, the glowing runes shimmering with promise.Â
"Let’s go," he said, his voice steady. "We’re not backing down."
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