Transmigrated as the Villainess Princess - Chapter 160

Chapter 160: Secret Passage
The halls of the ruined academy were eerily silent as Aryndale, Azedreo, and Zefaniarina pressed forward, their footsteps echoing against the frost-covered stone.

Despite the devastation surrounding them, they needed to find shelter, a safe place to regroup, recover, and plan their next move.

The academy had suffered greatly, but it still held secrets, and perhaps, somewhere in its depths, answers.

Zefaniarina led the way, her cosmic aura dim but still flickering like embers of a dying star. Her golden eyes scanned the ruined architecture, searching for something unseen.

Aryndale and Azedreo followed closely, weapons still drawn, wary of any lingering threats.

They reached what remained of the academy’s grand library, one of the few structures that had not completely crumbled.

Though parts of the roof had caved in and frost coated the bookshelves, the heart of the library stood firm. It was a miracle in itself.

Azedreo exhaled. “This place should give us some cover for now.”

Aryndale sheathed his sword but didn’t let his guard down. “We need to make sure it’s truly safe. This academy has been crawling with those creatures.”

Zefaniarina, however, was already moving, her gaze fixed on a particular section of the library.

She approached a half-destroyed chamber tucked in the corner of the room, its entrance barely visible behind a fallen bookshelf.

The chamber seemed untouched by time, its walls strangely intact despite the destruction around it.

Aryndale frowned. “What are you looking for?”

Zefaniarina ran her fingers along the wall, pressing against the old stone with an air of familiarity. Then, with a soft click, something shifted.

A hidden mechanism rumbled to life.

The floor beneath them trembled, and a portion of the wall slid open, revealing a dark passage leading downward.

A cold gust of air rushed out, carrying the scent of old parchment, ink, and something else, secrets buried beneath centuries of silence.

Azedreo took a cautious step forward, peering into the darkness. “An underground passage…?”

Zefaniarina nodded. “A secret chamber beneath the academy. It was meant to be a sanctuary, hidden from prying eyes.”

Aryndale gave her a sharp look. “How do you know about this?”

She didn’t answer immediately. Instead, she stepped into the passage, her glowing fingers brushing against the walls as she led the way down a spiraling stone staircase.

“Because my clan knew of the academy’s true history. This place… was never just a school. It was something far more dangerous.”

The brothers exchanged a glance before following her into the depths. The passage was long and narrow, the air thick with dust and whispers of a forgotten past.

As they moved deeper underground, the temperature shifted, no longer freezing, but unsettlingly neutral, as though untouched by time.

The stone beneath their feet felt smoother, as if it had been carved with meticulous care. Then, they reached the end.

A massive circular chamber stretched before them, lined with walls of towering bookshelves, each filled with ancient records, journals, and classified documents.

The chamber was dimly lit by floating blue orbs, giving the place an ethereal glow.

In the center of the room, a large crystal console stood, surrounded by holographic projections, a monitoring station filled with preserved records and logs.

Azedreo’s eyes widened. “What is this place?”

Zefaniarina walked toward the console, running her fingers over the crystal surface.

“The Watcher’s Archive. A place where the academy’s true history was recorded. Every event, every secret, every lie, it’s all here.”

Aryndale approached one of the bookshelves, his fingers tracing the spines of ancient tomes. “The academy was hiding something this massive, and no one knew?”

Zefaniarina’s expression darkened.

“Not no one. The founders of the academy, the high-ranking officials, they knew. They used this place to control knowledge. To decide what truths should be erased and what should be remembered.”

Azedreo narrowed his eyes. “Then this means… somewhere in these records, there’s something about Ahcehera.”

Zefaniarina nodded. “And not just her. Everything about the academy’s connection to the void, the abyssal creatures, and why this world fell apart, it’s all here.”

Aryndale wasted no time. He reached for a book, flipping through its delicate pages. “Then we need to start looking.”

The three of them spread out, scanning the records as quickly as they could.

The archive contained more than just books, it held scrolls, holographic memory crystals, and coded transmissions dating back thousands of years.

It was a treasure trove of knowledge, but where to begin?

Zefaniarina activated the console, and the room came alive with shifting data. Holograms of the past flickered into existence, images of students, battles, hidden rituals.

It was overwhelming, but she focused on one thing, finding the truth about Ahcehera. Azedreo stumbled upon a section titled “Bloodlines and Origins.”

He pulled out a fragile document, scanning the text. His heart skipped a beat when he found something that made his blood run cold.

“Aryndale. Look at this.”

Aryndale turned, stepping beside his brother. Azedreo handed him the document, pointing to a specific passage:

“Ahcehera Bloodstone. Listed as a direct descendant of the Celestara royal bloodline. Subject’s origins are classified. Records indicate celestial heritage but are fragmented. Last known location, Academy of Agartha, prior to the Great Fall.”

Aryndale’s grip tightened around the paper. “What the hell does this mean?”

Zefaniarina’s voice was quiet, but firm. “It means Ahcehera isn’t just your sister. She’s tied to my clan.”

Aryndale turned to her sharply. “Are you saying she’s part Celestara?”

Zefaniarina hesitated. “Not exactly. But her existence is connected to the same power my people wield, the ability to see through the cosmos, to predict fate itself.”

Azedreo clenched his jaw. “Then why was she here? Why did she disappear?”

Zefaniarina tapped the console, bringing up an older file. The projection shifted, displaying a distorted image of Ahcehera, standing in the academy halls before it fell.

But her eyes were glowing, a cosmic light not of this world. She was speaking, but the audio was broken. Only fragments came through.

“The stars… they are shifting… Something is coming… The cycle will break if I…”

The transmission cut out.

Aryndale took a step forward. “She knew something.”

Azedreo’s mind raced. “And whatever she knew, it was enough to make her disappear.”

Zefaniarina turned to them, her face unreadable. “Ahcehera wasn’t taken. She left.”

Silence fell.

Aryndale’s breathing was slow, controlled. “Then we have to find her.”

Zefaniarina nodded. “And to do that, we need to understand what she saw.”

Azedreo clenched his fists. “Then let’s keep searching. We’re not leaving this place until we know the full truth.”

The chamber, filled with knowledge long hidden, would give them the answers they sought. But would they be ready for what they were about to uncover?