The scent of aged parchment and forgotten lore hung heavy in the air, a palpable weight pressing down on Ethan’s shoulders. He stood before the towering wrought-iron gate that guarded the restricted section of Hawthorne Academy’s library, his heart hammering against his ribs. Beyond lay not just dusty books, but secrets whispered on the wind, knowledge deliberately kept from prying eyes. Knowledge, he hoped, that held the key to understanding his dual-core nature.