《Extra To Protagonist》 Chapter 1 1: Pilot A cold wind howled through the empty streets as snowflakes drifted lazily from the sky, settling onto an uncovered, snow-laden bus stop. A teenage boy stood beneath the dim glow of a flickering streetlight, his long brown hair dusted with white snowflakes. His glowing blue eyes were locked onto his phone screen, fingers tapping frantically. His brows furrowed, teeth clenched. His frustration was palpable. ''Is this serious? This is how it ends? You can''t be for real!'' Snowflakes melted against his screen, forcing him to wipe it repeatedly as he scrolled through the final chapter of his favorite web novel¡ªthe one he had loyally followed for years, practically alone. No one else even bothered reading the latest updates anymore. But now, the final battle had arrived. And it was garbage. Every side character had been killed off. The protagonist¡ªdespite years of struggle, power-ups, and near-death experiences¡ªhad failed to save his world. His greatest enemy, the Abyss King, had won. ''I get that bad endings exist, but this? This is just terrible writing.'' His grip on the phone tightened. A single vein throbbed on his forehead as he reached the author''s note at the bottom of the page. Author''s Note: Hope you enjoyed the final battle, DarkBlade420. I put my heart into crafting an ending that truly fits the story. Thanks for your support over the years. -Your dear Author, Flimsy His fingers twitched. His blood boiled. ''An ending that fits the story? Are you fucking kidding me?!'' Anger surged through him, his breath uneven as he furiously typed a response. Message Sent. The wind howled louder, rattling the thin bus stop sign. Snow swirled around him, but he barely noticed. He was waiting¡ªwaiting for the author to respond. Then, his phone chimed. A message popped up instantly, glowing on the screen. [Dear Jason, Do you think you could do better than the protagonist? :)] His heart skipped a beat. ''What...? How does he know my name?!'' His fingers hesitated before replying. Yes. Of course, he could do better. Anyone could. He scoffed, shaking his head. "What kind of question is that?" Another beep. [Then let''s see if you can.] "What¡ª?" Before he could finish his thought, his phone flared to life, glowing with an unnatural, blinding white light. A pulse of energy shot through his hand. Pain. Pressure. His body tensed. "Wait¡ªwhat the hell?!" The world blurred. His vision twisted, folding in on itself. "HELP¡ª" His scream was swallowed by the storm. The light expanded, engulfing him whole. A second later, his phone shattered onto the icy pavement, its fragments scattering across the snow. Within seconds, fresh snowfall covered the remains¡ª As if he had never been there at all. Darkness. Endless, suffocating darkness. Jason''s mind floated in an abyss, detached from his body. He couldn''t see. He couldn''t feel. It was like he had been erased from existence. Then, suddenly¡ª Light. Blinding, searing light exploded into his vision, forcing his eyes open. His breath hitched as he jolted upright in bed. "H-holy shit¡ªwhere am I?" His voice came out weak, unsteady. His body felt... wrong. Too light. Too unfamiliar. Before he could fully process it, a flood of memories surged through his mind. Not his own. Flashes of a life he had never lived. ''What... is this? These aren''t my memories!'' Then, like a cruel joke, a single phrase resurfaced¡ªclearer than everything else. [Then let''s see if you can.] Jason gritted his teeth, shaking off the dizziness. He needed to move¡ªnow. He swung his legs over the side of the bed¡ªonly for his feet to tangle beneath him. THUD. "Goddamn it." A long, frustrated sigh left his lips as he pushed himself up. His movements were sluggish, wrong. His limbs were too light. His balance was off. This wasn''t his body. Finally managing to stand, he scanned the room. A massive four-poster bed with silk sheets. Elegant wooden bookshelves stacked with thick tomes. A polished oak wardrobe. Velvet curtains were drawn over a tall window. This was no ordinary bedroom. His gaze darted to the desk in the corner. A mirror. His pulse quickened. He needed to see. Stumbling forward, he reached for it¡ªhis hand hesitating just before touching the glass. He took a deep breath. Then, finally¡ªhe looked. Golden eyes, gleaming like stars against a midnight sky. Long, jet-black hair tied into a loose ponytail. A face far too refined, too beautiful to be his own. "...Shit, Whose face is this? Did I reincarnate as a nobody?" A chime echoed in the air. A golden screen flickered into existence before his eyes. Jason froze. ''No way...'' [ Welcome, Host. ] His breath hitched. "A... system?" Hesitantly, he lifted a hand, reaching out¡ªonly for his fingers to pass right through. Then, words formed on the screen. [ Status Window ] ? Name: Merlin Everhart ? Age: 14 ? Class: Ascendant ? Type: Mage, Swordsman ? Affinities: Space ? Talent: (12 Stars) [ Attributes ] ? Strength: ¡ï ? Agility: ¡ï ? Vitality: ¡ï ? Endurance: ¡ï ? Intelligence: ¡ï Jason''s thoughts ground to a halt. ''Twelve-star talent?'' His heartbeat pounded in his ears. In The Hero''s Path, only one person had ever been born with a 12-star talent rating. The protagonist. But he wasn''t the protagonist. ''Who the fuck is Merlin Everhart?!'' Jason¡ªno, Merlin¡ªexhaled sharply. Laughter bubbled from his lips, sudden and unrestrained¡ªuntil the shrill chime of an alarm shattered his thoughts. ''School...'' His eyes flicked to the screen. The name of the alarm confirmed his suspicions. ''Star Power Academy...first day.'' A heavy sigh escaped him as he ran a hand down his face, fingers pressing into his temple. ''Just what I needed... I should hurry before they kill me for being late on the first day.'' At fourteen years old, Merlin knew this had to be his first year. Today was supposed to be the start of the best chapter of his life. Or the worst. Shaking off his hesitation, he tore open the wardrobe, rifling through its contents until his fingers brushed against the academy uniform. A sleek black-and-white suit hung neatly inside, adorned with a bold number one badge¡ªthe unmistakable mark of a first-year student. ''Just as I thought.'' Wasting no time, he dressed himself in his unfamiliar body, the motions feeling foreign yet strangely fluid. With his bag slung over one shoulder, he strode out of the room. The sight that greeted him confirmed another realization. ''So... I''m quite wealthy'' The living room was modern yet minimalistic. A black leather couch sat in front of a massive flat-screen TV, the soft hum of a ceiling fan breaking the silence. He barely spared it a glance. ''No time to explore. I need to leave¡ªnow.'' Darting out the door, he rushed into the hallway, quickly making his way to the elevator. The moment the doors closed, he jabbed the button for the ground floor. Then another problem hit him. ''Wait... where even am I?'' The moment he stepped outside, the city''s vastness swallowed him whole. Towering skyscrapers stretched toward the heavens, their futuristic designs gleaming under the morning light. Advanced rail systems whizzed past, sleek and nearly soundless, while pedestrians in high-tech attire moved with purposeful urgency. He exhaled sharply. ''Fantastic. Can this day get any better?'' He raised a hand, attempting to hail a cab. The first one ignored him. So did the second. By the twentieth attempt, he was ready to throw something¡ªuntil, finally, a taxi pulled over. The driver, an older man with graying hair, rolled down the window. "Good morning, sir. Where to¡ª" "Star Power Academy! And step on it!" Merlin barked, eyes glued to his phone as he checked the time. The driver blinked, then shrugged before slamming his foot on the accelerator. The ride was a blur. Merlin''s gaze darted from one marvel to the next. Towering buildings lined the streets, their designs far beyond what he remembered from his previous world. Glass walkways suspended midair, holographic billboards flickered with vibrant advertisements, and the sheer scale of technology left him reeling. It was mesmerizing. A sharp throat clearing snapped him back to reality. "Khm. We''re here, sir. That''ll be fifteen lonar." Merlin stiffened. ''Shit..Lonar... that''s the currency, right?'' Keeping his face impassive, he quickly rummaged through his bag. The driver raised a skeptical eyebrow as Merlin''s search grew increasingly desperate¡ªuntil, by some miracle, his fingers closed around a wallet. ''Please, please, please...'' Muttering a silent prayer, he flipped it open. His breath hitched. Stacks of lonar bills stared back at him. For a moment, he thought he might be dreaming. Recovering quickly, he pulled out a twenty-lonar bill and shoved it into the driver''s hand. "Keep the change." Before the man could protest, Merlin bolted from the taxi. The academy gates loomed ahead, grand and imposing. He sprinted toward them¡ªonly to be brought to an abrupt halt. Two security guards blocked his path, their scanners sweeping over his uniform. A soft beep echoed as the device registered his first-year badge and identification number. One of them glanced at the screen before nodding. "Merlin Everhart?" "Yeah." His response came instinctively, not a shred of hesitation in his voice. The guard stepped aside. "You''re clear. Move along." Wasting no time, Merlin broke into a run. The school loomed before him, its towering structure both awe-inspiring and ominous. And so began the first day of his suffering. Chapter 2 2: Homeroom and the Test Merlin sprinted through the academy''s halls, his breath coming in sharp gasps. His heartbeat pounded in his ears, but that wasn''t what unsettled him. ''I have no idea which classroom I''m supposed to be in...'' The realization struck like a brick to the face. He skidded to a halt in front of the reception desk, his sudden maneuver nearly sending him toppling over. A few passing students cast him strange looks, whispering among themselves. Behind the counter, an elderly woman sat stiffly, her lips already pursed in displeasure before he even spoke. "Good morning, ma''am. I''m Merlin Everhart, a first-year. Could you tell me which classroom I''ve been assigned to¡ª" "The First Room." She didn''t even let him finish. Without another word, she popped a piece of gum into her mouth and resumed chewing, eyes glazed over as if he no longer existed. Merlin clenched his fists, shutting his eyes for a brief moment. ''Of course, I''m in the same class as the protagonist...'' Dragging his feet like a condemned man, he trudged toward the door marked with a bold "1." The hinges moved soundlessly as he pushed it open. The door swung wide¡ªalmost mockingly¡ªas if welcoming him into his doom. No one even glanced his way. Conversations carried on, their voices weaving into an indistinct hum. ''The protagonist will sit at the front... I should sit in the back.'' Suppressing a groan, he made his way to the last row and dropped into a seat, alone. Then, the door opened again. A tall figure strode in, his steps fluid yet unhurried, like he owned the space around him. Merlin''s stomach twisted. ''Nathaniel Varen¡ªthe protagonist.'' Nathan moved with effortless confidence, the kind that didn''t need to demand attention. His dark blue eyes, cold as winter, swept across the room in a single, calculating glance. Then, a wry smile crossed his lips, his kind of shy personality surfacing. His gaze flicked toward Merlin. ''What the hell is he doing?'' Without hesitation, Nathan strode over and slid into the seat beside him, as if it had always been his. No pause. No second-guessing. Just an unspoken claim. Merlin barely had time to process it before the door swung open once more. This time, the presence that entered was completely different. Each step was precise, measured to the inch¡ªmilitaristic. It wasn''t just discipline; it was as if an unseen force dictated his every motion. Golden-blond hair. Amber eyes. ''Adrian Kain. Nathan''s best friend.'' Unlike Nathan, he didn''t scan the room. He didn''t search for a seat¡ªhe already knew where he belonged. His steps carried him straight to Merlin''s other side, and with the same unwavering certainty, he sat down. Merlin stared blankly ahead. ''...Great.'' Adrian glanced at him and smirked. "Glad to be here." Merlin exhaled slowly, resisting the urge to drop his head onto the desk. ''Just kill me now.'' And then, one by one, the other members of the protagonist''s group arrived. ¡ª First came a girl¡ªtall, chestnut hair cascading in soft waves, deep blue eyes filled with an elegance that made her seem fragile at first glance. But Merlin knew better. ''Liliana Astralis.'' Everything about her was too refined, too poised. She moved like a noblewoman stepping onto a ballroom floor, each gesture measured, each breath purposeful. At the center of the room, she scanned the students, expression unreadable. Then, with a barely audible sigh, she made her way to the front row and sat down without a word. ¡ª Next, a boy strolled in, dragging his feet like he had all the time in the world. His short, dark brown hair was tousled, and his green eyes carried the perpetual look of someone who had already given up on life. ''Ethan Crowell.'' The moment he crossed the threshold, he suppressed a yawn and let out a long sigh. "Well, another day of my life wasted," he muttered, plopping into a chair somewhere in the middle row. ¡ª Then came a stark contrast. She walked in with unwavering certainty, each step imbued with a quiet confidence that was impossible to ignore. Midnight-black hair framed a pale face, silver eyes reflecting the light like polished steel. ''Seraphina Alden.'' Merlin''s gaze briefly met hers, and an involuntary shiver ran down his spine. She said nothing. She didn''t need to. Silently, she claimed her seat at the front. ¡ª The next arrival was more shadow than person. He moved too quietly, his presence unsettling despite his lack of movement. Snow-white hair fell just past his shoulders, his deep crimson eyes sharp, unnatural in their intensity. ''Dorian Graves.'' He paused at the doorway as if sensing something unseen. Then, without a word, he strode to the front row, settling in with eerie ease. ¡ª And then, the final member arrived. Unlike the others, she was no ordinary human. Elara Vaelith¡ªthe only elf in the class¡ªmoved with a grace that didn''t belong to this world. She didn''t walk; she glided as if the air itself carried her forward. Every movement was seamless, fluid, an art in itself. Her silver-blond hair shimmered under the light, dark violet eyes sweeping across the room. Merlin stiffened. The moment she entered, the entire class unconsciously straightened. It wasn''t fear. It wasn''t admiration. It was instinct as if they were standing before nobility. ''She''s coming this way...'' Elara, however, paid no mind to the silent reverence. Without hesitation, she moved toward Merlin''s row, her steps as effortless as the wind itself. Then, she took the seat beside Nathan, crossing her legs with quiet poise. With that, the class was complete. ¡ª The door swung shut, and a tall woman strode inside. Long golden hair cascaded past her shoulders, and her hazel eyes gleamed with sharp intelligence. Her presence commanded attention without effort. Merlin recognized her instantly. ''Vivienne Dorne.'' "I am Vivienne Dorne, your homeroom teacher from this day forward." Her voice rang through the classroom, firm and unwavering. Merlin muttered her name under his breath at the same time she introduced herself, but her voice easily overpowered his. Around the room, students instinctively straightened under her scrutiny. "Let''s begin with roll call." She pulled a tablet from her bag and began reading the list. ¡ª "First¡ªNathaniel Varen." "Here." Nathan stood briefly, his posture flawless before he sat back down. Of course, the model student. ¡ª "Tenth¡ªMerlin Everhart." "I''m here." A ripple of movement. Some heads turned. Merlin blinked. ''What''s their problem...?'' ¡ª "Twenty-first¡ªSeraphina Alden." ¡ª "Twenty-fifth¡ªDorian Graves." ¡ª "And thirtieth¡ªElara Vaelith." "Present," she answered smoothly. Merlin heard many names he hadn''t ever even seen in the novel before. ''The Extra''s... worthless filler characters.'' With the list complete, Vivienne set down her tablet and clapped her hands together. "Now, gather your things. We are going to go and assess your abilities." A collective groan rippled through the room. Vivienne''s eye twitched. Merlin sighed. ''This is going to be a long day...perhaps the longest day of my life.'' One by one, the students poured into a vast training field under Vivienne''s lead, trailing behind her like a flock of ducklings. The open space stretched endlessly, the morning sun casting long shadows across the worn-down dirt. Merlin took a deep breath, his mind racing. The book''s trials surfaced in his memory. ''A test of strength, endurance, and affinity...'' His fingers twitched at the thought. Physically, he looked weak¡ªalmost frail, even compared to some of the girls in the class. And unlike them, he had no idea how well he''d fare in these trials. Especially the affinity test. Even with the memories in his head, the original Merlin had no affinity at all. ''This has to be the system''s doing.'' His golden eyes flickered. ''But how the hell am I supposed to use Space?'' A sharp voice cut through his thoughts. "Start running laps." Vivienne''s command echoed across the field. She didn''t give further instructions¡ªno pace, no time limit. Just run. Some students took off in a dead sprint, burning through their energy with reckless enthusiasm. Others, more cautious, started at a steady jog. Merlin? He also jogged. Slow and controlled. ''The longer you last, the more academy points you earn.'' It didn''t take long for the sprinters to regret their choice. One by one, they dropped out, clutching their sides, their breaths ragged. Within fifteen minutes, half the class had collapsed. Among them were Adrian and Dorian. Merlin barely spared them a glance, focusing instead on his breathing. His shirt clung to his back, damp with sweat, but he ignored it. Nathan, however, was still running. And he wasn''t just running¡ªhe was matching Merlin''s pace. ''Copying me?'' Merlin frowned slightly. Nathan had ranked first in the strength and affinity tests. But endurance? That was the only test he didn''t win. He placed second. Merlin wiped the sweat from his brow, his legs growing heavier with each step. More students fell away. A few tried to keep up but crumbled under the strain. Soon, only three remained. Merlin. Nathan. And Elara. Merlin''s breath came fast and uneven, his chest rising and falling as he struggled to keep up. His entire body ached. His throat burned. ''The two monsters...'' Then, after a few more laps, Nathan slowed. He exhaled sharply, gave Merlin a sidelong glance, and sat down. Only two remained. "Keep going, students¡ª" Vivienne''s voice rang across the field, but before she could finish, Merlin dropped to the ground, his legs giving out beneath him. Second place. For a moment, silence settled over the field. Then, quiet murmurs spread through the watching students. A few exchanged glances, brows furrowed in confusion. Nathan, still catching his breath, turned to him. "...Not bad." Merlin wiped the sweat from his face. "Thanks." Merlin''s voice was cold. Distant. It wasn''t enough. He would surpass all of them. No matter what. Vivienne''s voice carried over the field once more. "And the winner is Elara Vaelith." She stepped forward, lifting Elara''s hand in the air. "As you''ve likely realized, endurance was the key to this trial." A few students clapped, though Merlin didn''t join them. His golden eyes remained locked on Elara, watching, studying. This was only the first test. ''I won''t settle for second place again..I''ll do my best to Surpass Nathan in the other tests as well'' "The academy points will be awarded based on placement," Vivienne announced, her voice carrying effortlessly across the field. A small, satisfied smile tugged at her lips. "Naturally, last place earns nothing, while first place receives the most." Her words hung in the air, sinking into the exhausted students sprawled across the ground. Some groaned in frustration, but no one dared to voice their complaints. "The final points will be distributed after all the tests are complete." She clapped her hands together. "For now, you have ten minutes to rest before we continue." A collective sigh rippled through the group. Some students wanted to protest¡ªwanted to demand more time, to argue against the brutal pace of these trials. But they didn''t. They wouldn''t. Because deep down, they all knew¡ª This was nothing. A simple warm-up. A prelude to the real training. Merlin exhaled, flexing his fingers as he stared at the sky. His heartbeat pounded in his ears, his muscles burned, but none of that mattered. ''It''s time to give it everything I''ve got.'' His golden eyes flickered with quiet resolve. ''I''m here with a purpose, to change the story. I won''t let that damn protagonist take first place.'' Chapter 3 3: Raw Power "The Trial of Strength begins!" Vivienne''s voice rang out, sharp and commanding. Ten minutes had passed, and though the students wanted to protest, they had no choice but to comply. Nathan, oblivious to the tension, jabbed the air in front of him as if swiping at something invisible. Merlin sighed at the idiot''s antics. ''He''s probably messing around with his system again... I have to beat him, whatever it takes.'' Clenching his fists, he steeled his resolve¡ªuntil Vivienne''s voice cut through his thoughts like a sharp blade. "Firstly, we will just assess your raw strength. No affinities allowed¡ªjust one punch or kick. Anyone caught using an affinity will receive an automatic zero, and will be disqualified from the rest of the tests as well." ''Just like in the novel'' As she finished, a simple training dummy materialized beside her. It was made out if simple wood, but beneath that wooden mask was a complete system of some kind. "When you strike it, my tablet will display a number, measuring the force of your hit." She briefly turned the screen toward the students before returning her gaze to the dummy. "We''ll go in order based on the previous test¡ªthose who were eliminated first will go first, and those who lasted the longest will go last." ''I can at least rest a bit.'' A murmur swept through the crowd. "Shouldn''t those who came first go first?" ''What kind of dumbass question is that..? We just finished running and you guys already had time to rest..'' Vivienne caught the whispers and cleared her throat loudly, silencing them at once without a care in the world. "They just finished performing, so they have the right to rest. Those who have finished should have already rested enough. If anyone has a complaint, feel free to take it up with the Headmaster. I''m sure she will be happy!" A wicked smile curled her lips as she scanned the students. ''No one will complain... they wouldn''t dare go against the headmaster..'' "The record for last year''s first-years was 956. That''s the score all of you should aim to surpass. Now, let''s begin. Nicholas Ravensmith, come forth." One by one, the students stepped forward to strike. Nicholas managed only to get 359 points even though he tried his best. ''Just another extra, no need to expect anything from them.'' Merlin shook his head, dismissing unnecessary thoughts. ''Nathan will break the record. If I want to take first place, I have to as well.'' He flexed his fingers, rolling his shoulders as the line moved forward slowly but surely. Then, suddenly¡ªa sharp chime echoed in his mind. A panel appeared before his eyes. ''Haa...finally. I''ve been waiting for a while.'' He sighed at the familiar sight. ¡ª¡ª[New Quest]¡ª¡ª [I''m Better!] Objective: Match or surpass Nathaniel Varen''s strength. Rewards: ? Unlock an additional affinity. ? Choose a new skill. ? Gain access to a special training option. ? +2 Strength. ? +2 Free Stat Points. Penalty for Failure: None. [Do you accept? Y/N] ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª- Merlin''s eyes gleamed at the rewards. ''Another affinity... and a skill. Such good rewards so early..'' It took everything in him not to grin like an idiot as the test continued. ''This was already my plan anyway, I want to surpass that fucker. Yes, I accept the quest System.'' [Quest Started! Good luck Host!] ''This will be good.'' Murmuring to himself, he focused as Adrian stepped forward. Planting his feet, Adrian twisted his waist and drove a clean right straight into the dummy. "910 points. Congratulations, Adrian, you''re in first place so far," Vivienne announced, her gaze approving. ''He''s good, but he should have the most raw strength anyways in the protagonist''s group. Except for Nathan himself of course.'' Adrian gave a curt nod and returned to his spot. Merlin barely held back a laugh at the way Adrian walked back so stiffly. ''Pff...how silly.'' Time passed quickly. One by one, the supposed "heroic" students fell short of Adrian''s score, which wasn''t surprising¡ªhe was the group''s muscle outside of Nathan. Now, only the top three remained. All eyes locked onto Nathan as he stepped forward towards the doll. ''I don''t remember his exact score, but it was definitely well over a thousand.'' With an embarrassed smirk, Nathan squared up before the dummy. He wasted no time¡ªhe just wanted to get it over with. A moment later¡ªboom. Vivienne''s eyes widened in shock before a delighted smile spread across her lips. "Nathaniel Varen¡ª1160 points! Congratulations, you''ve set a new record!" Applause rippled through the crowd, though not everyone clapped. Most of the students simply studied Nathan with wary eyes without even bothering to clap. ''Poor guy...'' Nathan tried to slip back into obscurity, but Vivienne''s praise had done the opposite, keeping him in the center of attention like a fool. A few more students applauded, but the majority only measured Nathan with calculating expressions. Nathan let out a sigh, wearing that familiar strained smile as he returned to his spot. ''It''s my turn I guess'' Then¡ª "The next challenger... Merlin Everhart, step forward." Silence, absolute silence. Dozens of eyes snapped to him, brows furrowed, expressions skeptical. Merlin took a deep breath. ''Calm down. No pressure at all. I will win this test.'' With steady steps, he approached the dummy. ''I can''t rely on raw strength alone, I''m way too weak for that...I need to use an actual technique.'' A slow inhale. His muscles coiled¡ªtensed like a bowstring. His posture remained deceptively relaxed, but beneath the surface, power surged through his body like a storm waiting to break. His gaze sharpened. ''This will work, at least I hope it does.'' A single step forward. His weight shifted¡ªhips twisting, core tightening. Power surged from his feet, through his waist, up his spine, flowing into his arm. Then¡ªexplosion. His elbow drove forward like a war hammer, striking with the precision of an executioner''s blade. The air shrieked. The dummy shuddered. And then¡ªsilence. ''Well? Did it work?'' "...." Vivienne stared at the screen, eyes wide with her eyebrows twitching. Then, her voice, slightly unsteady¡ª "Merlin Everhart¡ª1160 points! A tie for first place with Nathaniel!" For a brief second, she smiled. Merlin exhaled. ''So I barely matched him even with proper form and technique... I''m still too weak.'' His fists clenched at the realization, teeth gritted together. A few people clapped, but just like with Nathan, most simply observed him with a quiet intensity. ''Who is this kid...I have never even heard of him before'' Even Vivienne''s thoughts stirred uneasily. Merlin returned to his spot and dropped onto the ground expressionlessly. "Merlin, right? Good job bro!" Nathan offered him a genuine smile. ''Why are you pretending so badly? I didn''t beat you.'' "Thanks," Merlin muttered, looking away. Nathan just chuckled, unfazed by Merlin''s coldness. "And next¡ªElara Vaelith." The beautiful elf stepped forward with measured grace. Turning her torso, she uncoiled like a whip, delivering a flawless kick to the dummy''s midsection. Vivienne checked the score¡ªthen, for the third time that day, her expression froze. "Elara Vaelith¡ª1059 points!" She clapped, and this time, nearly everyone joined in¡ªincluding Nathan. Merlin, however, remained silent. Elara merely clicked her tongue, returning to her spot without fanfare. ''She''s not happy with second place at all...'' Merlin shook his head. "Alright, students, the next trial is Affinity Control. Line up according to your current placement¡ªthis time, those who ranked highest will go first." Merlin and Nathan locked eyes. ''He''s gonna go first'' Merlin''s stare was cold. Nathan''s was uncertain, yet warm. Merlin turned away. Murmurs spread as the students took their places. "In this test, we won''t measure raw strength," Vivienne explained. "Only your ability to control your affinity''s usefulness." ''Of course...since they want to weed out the weak early.'' Merlin''s thoughts remained sharp. Then, he clapped a hand on Nathan''s shoulder, his voice low and icy. Like a phantom. "You should go first." Nathan blinked. "Alright..." Vivienne nodded whilst locking eyes with Nathan. "Begin, Nathaniel Varen!" Nathan approached the training dummy with what seemed like quiet confidence. ''In reality he''s nervous as hell.'' His every step was deliberate. He looked at the doll as if it were a real opponent, not just an inert object. ''Let''s see it in action... that famous technique of yours.'' Suddenly, tendrils of black mist coiled around his body, writhing like living shadows. Then, like a whisper of a dying breath, he vanished. A hush fell over the students as Nathan reappeared behind the dummy, stepping forth from its very shadow as though the darkness had birthed him. His hands, wreathed in black energy, struck the dummy''s back with precision. The force sent it tipping forward. ''The infamous Backstep.'' Merlin covered his mouth, masking his amused smirk. ''Not exactly how I imagined it, but not bad.'' Vivienne nodded, her sharp gaze assessing every detail. "Nathaniel, 8 out of 10. Your technique is effective, but you need to compensate for the distance you must cover to execute it. Against a skilled swordsman, closing that gap could be fatal. Work on refining your range." Her tone was even, but the implication was clear¡ªhis technique had promise, but it wasn''t flawless. A few students clapped, though the applause was sparse. Many eyed Nathan with thinly veiled disdain. Darkness affinity users had never been particularly well-liked. Nathan gave a brief nod and stepped aside, his gaze locking onto Merlin''s. "Merlin Everhart, you''re up next." Vivienne''s voice rang with authority, slicing through the murmurs like a blade. Chapter 4 4: Affinity Test Merlin stepped forward, his eyes locking onto the unmoving training dummy ahead. Unlike other affinities, Space wasn''t about brute force. It wasn''t fire''s destruction, lightning''s volatility, or water''s suffocating grip. No, it was something far more... refined. ''Nathan used it like this in the novel later on...Let''s see if I can do better.'' Taking a deep breath, Merlin raised his hand. The air around him trembled, the space itself distorting as if reality were being wrung out like a wet towel. A flicker of silver light shimmered. ''First, compression.'' He clenched his fist. Instantly, space contracted around the dummy, pressing inward like an invisible vice. The air groaned. The surface creaked, resisting¡ªuntil a sharp crack split the silence. He shifted his stance. Compression pulled inward. Expansion was the reverse¡ªa violent outward snap. With a flick of his wrist, space rippled. For a moment, the world twisted. Then¡ª Snap. A shockwave blasted outward. The compressed force rebounded, hammering into the dummy like an invisible fist. A deep dent caved into its chest, despite Merlin never laying a hand on it. A hush fell over the training field. Merlin exhaled, feeling the strain coil in his core. His fingers twitched. ''That... took more out of me than I expected.'' He glanced up. His classmates were frozen. Wide eyes. Stiff postures. Even Vivienne, their instructor, was staring like he''d just rewritten the laws of magic in front of her. ''How did he just use Space Affinity like that?! Who the hell is this kid?'' Vivienne''s thoughts were practically painted across her face. She took a moment, gathering herself, before speaking. "Merlin Everhart. 10/10 points." Her voice rang out, clear and authoritative. "You executed both compression and expansion flawlessly. And you never even had to get close to the target. Congratulations." Her hands came together¡ªclap, clap, clap. Silence. Then, hesitantly, the other students followed, though most still looked like they had just witnessed a crime. Merlin suppressed the urge to laugh. ''I did it.'' His gaze drifted toward Nathan, the supposed prodigy of their year. The Main Character. Nathan, who was currently staring at him like he''d been hit by a wagon. Merlin met his gaze. And then¡ªhe smirked. Nathan blinked. Then again. ''What... what the hell was that?!'' He casually walked forward and gave Nathan a light pat on his shoulder before walking off, leaving the so-called genius and protagonist standing there, mouth half-open, brain still buffering. "..." Vivienne''s voice carried across the courtyard as she addressed the students. "Congratulations to everyone for completing the test. This marks the official start of your first year." "Tomorrow, you''ll find out your rankings from the test. These rankings will determine your standing for the year." A murmur rippled through the students present, tension hanging in the air. Vivienne continued, her gaze sweeping over them. "However, your ranking isn''t set in stone. You can improve it throughout the year by taking on challenges, dueling others, completing missions, or even excelling in written exams. The higher your rank, the better the rewards¡ªand for those in need, superior accommodations as well." Some students straightened at that, eyes gleaming with anticipation, while others exchanged nervous glances. Vivienne smiled, wrapping up her speech. "For today, take the time to explore the academy. Get familiar with your surroundings. Tomorrow, your real journey begins." With that, she turned on her heel and strode away, leaving the square buzzing with conversation. The moment she was out of sight, a collective sigh of relief swept through the students. Merlin barely paid attention, his eyes flicking to the floating screen in front of him. [Mission Complete!] [Mission: I''m Better!] Rewards: ? New Affinity Choice ? One Skill Choice ? Training Grounds Unlocked ? +2 Strength ? +2 Free Stat Points Merlin hummed. ''Affinity first.'' [Please choose an affinity!] ?Fire ?Water ?Lightning ?Wind ''Wind''s the obvious choice.'' [Wind Affinity unlocked!] Next. [Please choose a skill!] ?Swift Step (Increases movement speed. Passive growth.) ?Messenger''s Reach (Short-distance telepathic communication.) ?Trickster''s Reflex (Brief burst of enhanced reflexes. Short cooldown.) ?Wings of the Wind (Short-distance wind propulsion for mobility.) Merlin frowned. ''These skills... they''re too good. Nathan didn''t get anything like this until way later. The system isn''t supposed to be this generous. Is someone watching me?'' According to the later parts of the novel, gods and other entities can intervene with skills and such. These skills were way too related to each other. However that was a problem for another time. ''Trickster''s Reflex.'' [Trickster''s Reflex unlocked. Training Grounds now available.] Merlin shut the screen. And immediately felt a nudge at his side. Nathan and Adrien stood there. "Do you want to come with us? To explore the school?" Nathan asked stiffly. Adrien elbowed him, clearly annoyed. "Dude. Read the room." Merlin stared at them. Then blinked. "No." He turned and walked away without another word. Behind him, Nathan looked lost. "...What did we do wrong?" Adrien patted his shoulder like one would comfort a lost child. "Maybe he''s just having a bad day, man." Merlin didn''t care. He had better things to do. ... He was strolling through the academy''s halls, minding his own business, when¡ª Someone stepped in front of him. He stopped. Pointed ears. Razor-sharp gaze. Arms crossed. Elara. ''Oh no.'' Merlin barely held back a sigh. "Merlin, right?" ''Calm. Stay calm, Merlin. Don''t be a dumbass.'' "Nope. You''ve got the wrong guy." ''What the fuck am I saying?? I need to move on.'' He tried to brush past her. She moved to block him. ''Great. I just cannot escape this embarrassment can I.'' Elara''s eyes narrowed. "If you already know who I am, why ask?" Her face twitched at Merlin''s words. Nobody talked to her like that. Nobody. For a split second, she looked like she might explode. Merlin stared at her, unimpressed. "So?" A hush fell over the hallway. Students watched from the sidelines, some already holding their breath. "Don''t think that just because you got a high rank, you''re¡ª" Before she could finish, Merlin was already gone. Elara blinked. ''...Huh?'' She turned to find him already halfway down the hallway. "I don''t have time for this," Merlin called over his shoulder, voice bored. "Sorry." The watching students snickered. Elara''s eye twitched. ''Merlin Everhart... we''re not done here you bastard!'' She stormed off, practically crackling with frustration. Meanwhile, Merlin? ''Why was I such an ass just now?'' He rubbed his temples, exhaling. ''That was Elara. In my past life, I was a fan. And now I just... ignored her?'' He caught sight of his reflection in a nearby window. His face was slightly red. Merlin turned away, scowling. ''Great. I just made things even more awkward.'' Ignoring the stares of students whispering about him, he kept walking. Merlin strode toward the training facility, navigating the academy halls with single-minded determination. No sightseeing. No pointless wandering. He had a plan, and he was going to see it through. ''I need to be stronger than Nathan. A lot stronger.'' After what felt like a ridiculous amount of walking, he finally found the facility. The moment he stepped inside, he noticed something. It was empty. No students. No instructors. Nothing but dead silence, like a forgotten graveyard. ''Huh. Guess no one else is in a hurry to get stronger and save the world.'' Not his problem. Merlin made his way to one of the private training rooms, scanning the sleek interior before grabbing a tablet from the control panel. ''Alright... let''s see how this works.'' A few taps. Nothing happened. More taps. Still nothing. A minute later, he was just aggressively pressing random buttons. ''This is some next-level bullshit¡ªoh.'' His eyes landed on a Help button. With a sigh, he pressed it, skimming through the instructions. After some light reading (and totally not skimming until he found what he needed), he finally managed to summon a training dummy. It materialized in the center of the room¡ªtall, humanoid, with a reinforced core. According to the manual, these dummies had near-infinite durability. They could counterattack, defend, and adapt like a real opponent. Merlin set the tablet down, stepping toward it. The moment he got close, the dummy''s head snapped up, and it shifted into a combat stance. A faint chill ran down his spine. ''Why do I feel like this is going to hurt?'' "Begin," he said, following the manual''s instructions. ¡ªAnd immediately regretted it. The dummy exploded forward. Before he could even react, a solid kick slammed into his gut. All the air left his lungs. His vision blurred as he was launched backward, crashing onto the floor like a discarded ragdoll. "End," he wheezed. The dummy froze. Merlin just lay there, staring at the ceiling. ''That''s Level 1?!'' A violent cough rattled his chest as he sucked in a desperate breath. ''This thing kicked my soul out of my body.'' Shakily, he pushed himself up, wincing at the dull ache spreading through his torso. This was fine. Everything was fine. ''Round two.'' "Begin." The dummy charged again. But this time¡ªhe was ready. The Wind Affinity kicked in. Mana surged through his veins, accelerating his movements. Merlin twisted his body, barely dodging the incoming strike. The moment the dummy''s fist sailed past him, he unleashed a pulse of his spatial affinity¡ªa crushing force that froze it mid-motion, locking it in place. His head throbbed. A sharp metallic taste filled his mouth. Blood. His nose was bleeding from the strain. Didn''t matter. He clenched his fist, wind gathering around it, reinforcing his strike. Then using the wind to speed up his strike he slammed his fist into the dummy''s head with everything he had. A loud boom echoed through the room as the dummy staggered. Merlin didn''t let up. With a second burst of spatial force, he drove it into the ground, pressing it down like an insect underfoot. A chime rang out. "Level 1 ¨C Complete." A mechanical voice followed. "Time: 15 seconds." Merlin wiped the blood from his nose. ''Fifteen seconds... Not bad.'' Chapter 5 5: Learning at Ludicrous Speed ''This has to be a record. If I remember correctly, Nathan lasted 16 seconds on his first try. Barely one goddamn second. I need to do better.'' Merlin collapsed onto the cold floor of the training hall, gritting his teeth in frustration. His sense of smell was still shot from the sudden nosebleed, but it was starting to return. Then, he heard a knock against the wall. Instinctively, his head snapped toward the sound, his eyes darting like lightning. And that''s when he saw her. An otherworldly beauty... though technically, this was another world. Her hazel eyes were like the richest, sweetest chocolate, and her long blonde hair flowed dramatically¡ªdespite the complete lack of wind in the room. ''Vivienne? What is she doing here?'' "Merlin Everhart." She spoke his name, but Merlin didn''t react. Yeah? And? Obviously, she knew his name¡ªshe was his homeroom teacher, after all. Not exactly a shocking revelation. "Professor Vivienne Dorne. Can I help you with something?" Merlin kept his tone polite and friendly, but deep down, all he wanted was to get back to training. "I told you all to rest and explore. And yet, here you are, training?" She gave him a curious look. "Yes." Merlin''s answer was instant. No hesitation. No need to lie. He wanted to train. That was it. "Tell me, Merlin. Who are you, really? A mysterious boy from a mysterious family... and you possess a Spatial Affinity." ''Who am I...?'' Merlin actually paused to consider the question. Was he doing all this to save everyone? Or was it just to save himself? "I''m not sure what you mean, Professor Vivienne," he said with a small smile. Vivienne sighed. "Fine." She set down her papers and belongings, and Merlin raised an eyebrow. ''What is she up to?'' "Attack me." Her words made Merlin freeze for a second. "I''ll help you improve, Merlin Everhart. So don''t hesitate¡ªcome at m-" Before she could finish her sentence, Merlin''s fist was already flying toward her face. "Fast." She dodged effortlessly, her movements smooth and controlled. ''Vivienne is a high-level fire affinity user.'' Merlin''s thoughts raced as he started manipulating the wind around him, boosting his speed. "Wind?! You''re a dual affinity user?!" Vivienne''s pupils dilated in surprise as Merlin reappeared before her like a phantom. But even that wasn''t a problem for her. She sidestepped with ease and counterattacked. [Trickster''s Reflex] Merlin ducked under her strike, twisting his body midair to deliver a spinning kick¡ªonly for Vivienne to block it as if it were nothing. "Your affinity control is impressive, but your movements are all over the place. It''s obvious this is your first real fight." She chuckled, amused by the situation. Merlin Everhart was something rare¡ªsomeone who only appeared once in a century. And that''s exactly why she wanted to teach him. Vivienne Dorne was an Eight-Star Mage. Among humans, that level of power was monstrous. "..." Merlin didn''t confirm or deny her words. Yeah, this was his first fight... but he''d read plenty about affinities in the novel. Nathan had maxed out almost every affinity, after all. Then, fire flickered to life in Vivienne''s palm. "Defend yourself." Now. Merlin twisted space and wind together, wrapping them around the flames¡ªsnuffing them out instantly. "How¡ª?" Vivienne barely had time to react before Merlin was in front of her again, his leg rocketing toward her stomach. She avoided it with minimal effort. "You''re resourceful with your affinities, I''ll give you that. But like I said your combat skills still need work." She wasn''t just criticizing¡ªshe was advising him, and Merlin listened intently, soaking in every word like a well-trained puppy. "Try kicking like this." Vivienne adjusted her stance, lifting her right leg smoothly. With perfect control, she twisted her waist and launched a spinning kick. The air cracked from the force. And she just smiled. ''She''s serious about this, huh?'' "Your turn." Her voice snapped Merlin out of his thoughts. He exhaled, took his stance, and mirrored her movements. He lifted his leg, pivoted his waist like a tornado, and let the kick fly forward. ''Something like this?'' Vivienne''s eyes widened again. It was perfect. She muttered under her breath, almost in disbelief. "Flawless." ''...?'' Merlin blinked at her. ''What''s with that look? Did she lose her mind or something?'' Merlin cleared his throat loudly, finally snapping Vivienne out of whatever trance she had fallen into. "Alright, listen up," Vivienne said, straightening her posture. "This is how you throw a proper punch." With a smooth motion, she pulled her arm back, twisted her waist for momentum, and unleashed a punch forward. BOOM. The air in front of her practically exploded. Merlin blinked. Seriously? Was this even considered "basic"? It looked like she had just punched a hole through reality itself. Still, he had seen enough. Without hesitation, he adjusted his stance and flawlessly replicated her movements, down to the smallest detail. His punch didn''t quite shatter the air like Vivienne''s, but the execution was eerily perfect. Vivienne''s eye twitched. "Are you serious?" she muttered. Merlin tilted his head. "Did I do it wrong?" "No, that''s the problem," she grumbled, rubbing her forehead. "You did it too right." If she didn''t know any better, she''d think he had been secretly training for years. But no¡ªthis kid was just built different. And so began an endless loop of demonstration and imitation. Vivienne would show a move. Merlin would copy it perfectly. Vivienne would try something harder. Merlin would still copy it perfectly. Over and over. Minutes turned into hours. Merlin, for his part, was starting to get bored. Vivienne, on the other hand, was having a full-blown existential crisis. "This isn''t normal. This can''t be normal." She had taught prodigies before, but Merlin wasn''t just a prodigy¡ªhe was a monster. Finally, she sighed. "Alright, enough of this. Attack me one last time, and we''ll call it a day." Merlin didn''t need to be told twice. The wind surged around him as he dashed forward at a speed that would make most people question their life choices. Vivienne, however, was ready. Her sharp eyes locked onto him, reading every tiny movement. "I see it¡ª" His left fist flew toward her face. Vivienne easily anticipated the attack and prepared to dodge¡ª ¡ªonly to realize a second too late that the punch was a feint. Her pupils shrank. "Oh, you little¡ª!" Before she could react, Merlin''s leg was already swinging toward her side in a perfect spinning kick. A well-placed kick like this could easily send someone flying across the room. But Vivienne was no pushover. At the last second, she repositioned herself and blocked the kick effortlessly. "Not bad, kid," she said, nodding in approval. "Not bad at all." "Thank you, Professor," Merlin replied, giving a respectful nod of his own. Then, out of nowhere¡ª "Merlin, wanna be my disciple?" "...Huh?" The question hit him like a brick to the face. Vivienne stared at him expectantly, as if this was a totally normal thing to ask a student she had just met. Merlin''s brain lagged for a moment. ''Excuse me?'' He knew Vivienne was crazy strong¡ªan eight-star mage at her age? Insane. ''She''s, what, 25? Maybe? Probably?'' At this point, the number of people at her level could be counted on two hands. Vivienne, seeing his hesitation, smirked. "You don''t have to answer right away." Merlin mulled it over. She was strong. She had connections. Training under her would be an insane opportunity. But on the other hand... He had a strange feeling that she was going to make his life very exhausting. Still, the pros outweighed the cons. "...Alright." Vivienne''s eyes gleamed. "Oh? Does that mean¡ª" "I accept, Professor." A triumphant grin spread across her face¡ªuntil she noticed his awkward, clearly forced smile. "...You really don''t have to pretend you''re happy about it," she deadpanned. Merlin coughed. "Force of habit." Vivienne sighed and stretched her arms. "Well, whatever. We''ll start again tomorrow, same time." And just like that, she turned and strolled out of the training hall, humming to herself. Merlin watched her go, exhaling slowly. Somehow, he had a feeling he had just signed up for something far more troublesome than he had anticipated. It was about time Merlin wrapped things up for the day. He quickly gathered his things and made his way out of the training hall. ''Alright, time to head home... wherever that is.'' With a tired sigh, he pulled out his phone to check his apartment''s address¡ªbecause, quite frankly, he had no clue where he lived. Leaving was way easier than getting in. The guards barely spared him a glance, just giving him a casual nod as he walked past. ''Man, these guys take their job way too seriously. But I guess that''s good'' Now out on the street, he scanned his surroundings for a taxi. Just one taxi. That was all he needed. A simple request. ...And yet, the universe decided he must suffer. Fifteen failed attempts later, he was starting to question his life choices. ''Are you kidding me? Do I have some anti-taxi curse or something?'' By the twentieth attempt, a miracle occurred. A taxi finally stopped. "Silverveil Avenue 23," Merlin said as he got in, his voice devoid of enthusiasm. The driver nodded, and they were off. Before long, he found himself in front of his apartment. "Keep the change," he muttered, hopping out of the taxi and making a beeline for the building. His body was running on fumes at this point. He climbed up the stairs, reaching his door¡ªonly to notice something strange. It was already open. ''Huh?'' A sense of unease crept up his spine as he stepped inside and carefully shut the door behind him. And then¡ª "Where the hell have you been all this time, little bro?" A voice interrupted his thoughts, making him jump about two feet in the air. ''Little bro?'' Whipping his head toward the source of the voice, his gaze landed on a girl lounging on the couch. Long, jet-black hair cascaded down her shoulders, and her golden eyes gleamed like a treasure chest overflowing with gold. ''My sister?'' And just like that, a flood of memories came rushing back to him. Chapter 6 6: Boring Slaughterhause Memories of time spent with his sister flooded Merlin''s mind, making it almost impossible to think straight. Childhood memories. Recent memories. Pleasant and unpleasant ones. And at the center of it all¡ªVictoria Everhart. His older sister. Practically his twin, despite the lack of actual twinhood. They were nearly identical, from their long black hair to the striking golden eyes that shimmered like treasure hoards. "So, how was your first day, little bro?" Victoria was special¡ªnot in the way others might think. She had no talent. Not even a single star. In other words, she was what people called a baseline¡ªsomeone born without an affinity, unable to wield mana, completely and utterly average. Because of that, the academy was never an option for her. ''She wasn''t mentioned in the novel. That means she was even below that of an extra.'' "Not bad," Merlin replied with an easy smile. Victoria returned the gesture, taking a sip from her glass of water. "And the entrance tests?" "Endurance test¡ªsecond place. Strength test¡ªtied for first. The final test¡ªI ranked first." His words were casual, but the reaction he got wasn''t. Victoria had just taken another sip, and upon processing what he said, she immediately spat her drink out like a human fountain¡ªdirectly onto Merlin''s clothes. "..." Merlin closed his eyes. Breathed in. Breathed out. This was fine. This was absolutely fine. He wasn''t going to curse. He wasn''t going to flip the table. He wasn''t¡ª "You''re not joking?" Victoria''s voice wavered slightly. "No," Merlin replied, still standing in place, dripping wet. "I am not joking." "Uh¡ªwait here." His sister bolted out of the room, presumably for a towel, while he stood there in silence, contemplating his life choices. A minute later, she returned, shoving a large, black woolen towel into his hands. "Here." "Thanks." Merlin wiped himself off, muttering under his breath. "I need to change." "Y-Yeah, of course." She tried to look innocent. He didn''t buy it. ''Maybe getting burned alive by Vivienne''s flames during training would''ve been better than this.'' Sighing, he walked to his room, grabbed a change of clothes, and went for something simple¡ªa black sweater and gray sweatpants. But something felt off. He rolled up the sleeves of his sweater. ''That''s better.'' Back in the living room, Victoria still had that angelic, guilt-free smile plastered on her face. "So, you''re officially the number one first-year?" "For now. Who knows what''ll happen later?" Merlin shrugged, as if it didn''t matter. Because, well, it didn''t. "What do you mean?" Victoria tilted her head. "Dear sister, rankings mean nothing. In the academy, strength is the only thing that matters." Merlin spoke as if he''d been there for years. His knowledge, thanks to the novel, made it easy. "You know Mom and Dad would be proud of you... I''m proud of you, too." She stepped closer and pulled him into a hug. The moment she mentioned Mom and Dad, more memories flooded his mind¡ªones that weren''t originally his. Laughter. Conversations over dinner. Birthdays spent blowing out candles together. And then, the funeral. Two small children standing in front of their parents'' graves. Their lives had been taken in a dungeon break. Hundreds of monsters had escaped, and they had been among the casualties. Merlin returned the hug, his voice softer now. "Yeah... I know." He wasn''t the sentimental type, but even he could admit it was tragic. ''Losing parents at such a young age¡ªno kid should go through that.'' Victoria pulled away, wiping at her eyes¡ªthough they weren''t teary. "I should head to bed. I have work in the morning." She ruffled his hair, an affectionate gesture. Even though she was only eighteen, she had already taken on so many responsibilities. ''Yet another reason to get stronger.'' "Doubt we''ll see each other in the morning, but take care." She waved and headed to her room, leaving Merlin alone. "You too." Once she was gone, Merlin checked his phone. ''That late already? Time flew by.'' Sighing, he entered his room, laying down on his bed. The soft velvet sheets tried to lure him into sleep, but there was a problem¡ªhe wasn''t even remotely tired. ''This is going to be annoying.'' Or maybe not. An idea sparked in his mind. ''System. Training menu.'' [Training (Daily) Currently available.] [Would you like to proceed with the training? Y/N] It was time to see what this whole training was about. ''Yes.'' The moment he confirmed, his vision went black. It felt like he had fallen into unconsciousness, but his mind remained alert. ''So, it pulls my consciousness somewhere else?'' A sudden burst of white light hit him¡ªso blinding it felt like getting flashbanged in a game. Then, the sensation of grass beneath him. A crisp, fresh scent in the air, as if the field had just been mowed. [Please choose the weapon you wish to use.] ''Choose? But there''s nothing here to choose from..'' [Please choose the weapon you wish to use.] ''...Fine. A rapier.'' A sword materialized beside him, embedded in the ground. Sleek. Elegant. The hilt featured a guard to protect his fingers, with a white knuckle guard curving around the grip. It wasn''t overly long, but it exuded finesse. A true duelist''s weapon. ''Fits perfectly.'' [Wave 1] ''Wait. Wave 1?'' A portal ripped open about fifty meters ahead¡ªmassive, towering over the field. ''The hell kind of training is this?'' Before he could even process it, monsters started emerging from the rift. ''Goblins?'' Merlin recognized them instantly. Their grotesque, green bodies, sharp teeth, and crude weapons¡ªit was the same depiction from countless anime and games. ''Could this be any more cliche??'' The goblins snarled, brandishing their blades as they advanced toward him. ''Guess this is as good a time as any to test the rapier.'' Merlin took a step forward, trying to gauge his footing. He wasn''t entirely confident in his swordplay, but ten goblins shouldn''t be too difficult. Right? One of the creatures lunged, and Merlin swung¡ªonly to miss completely. ''...Are you serious?'' He activated his wind affinity, using a burst of speed to dodge before the goblin''s blade could reach him. ''No way I''m this bad. The system literally said I am a swordsman as well... and I can''t even land a hit?'' A smirk crept onto his lips. The goblins hesitated, watching him warily. ''Alright. Again.'' Merlin rushed forward, this time he used his space affinits to press down on the goblin. The creature''s dagger trembled in its grip. ''Sorry, not sorry.'' He used the wind to accelerate¡ªappearing right in front of the goblin. Its eyes widened in terror. It tried to swing¡ª ''Too late.'' With a swift, clean motion, Merlin sliced through its neck. ''Not bad.'' Black blood sprayed as the goblin''s head tumbled to the ground. Its lifeless body collapsed right after. The sight made his stomach churn. His hands clenched around the rapier. "Disgusting." Merlin''s brow twitched. "You disgusting little rats." His voice was cold, but his lips curled into a shaky grin¡ªone that sent shivers down even a goblin''s ugly green spine. The little monsters hesitated, confused for half a second. Then, instinct kicked in, and they all rushed him, their shrill screeches filling the air. Merlin? He spread his arms wide, as if welcoming them into a warm embrace. ''How generous of them to line up and die for me.'' He moved, weaving through them with the wind''s grace. A thrust¡ªone down. A slash¡ªtwo more. It was almost too easy. Goblin bodies hit the dirt one after another, their black blood soaking into the grass. He wasn''t particularly fast. If anything, compared to someone like Vivienne, he was slow. But against goblins? They might as well have been standing still. One of them mustered some courage and lunged at him. ''Cute.'' Merlin barely flicked his wrist¡ª [Trickster''s Reflex] ¡ªAnd the goblin missed, its dagger stabbing empty air. He stepped back, letting it believe he was retreating. It charged, eager to take advantage of his ''mistake''¡ªonly to stop dead as Merlin reappeared behind it. A moment later, its head popped off like a cork. The remaining goblins barely had time to process the slaughter before their numbers dwindled to two. Those two, unlike the others, didn''t attack. Instead, they dropped their weapons, fell to their knees, and started bowing. ''...Huh? The fuck are they doing?'' Merlin frowned. "At least try to die with some dignity." Two clean strikes later, they were gone. ''Pathetic. Absolutely pathetic.'' [Training Completed!] [Rewards] +1 Strength +2 Agility [Hidden Quest Completed ¨C Don''t Get Hit!] [Reward] +1 Selectable Skill Merlin blinked. ''A hidden quest? Damn, I''m actually cracked at this.'' He wiped some blood off his face. And then¡ªeverything went dark. When he opened his eyes again, he was back in bed. He glanced at his phone. Only thirty minutes had passed. ''So... I just lived through a bloodbath, and it hasn''t even been an hour?'' Merlin exhaled. ''Alright, let''s see what skill I get this time.'' Cracking his neck, he pulled up the reward screen. Excitement evident on his face. Chapter 7 7: Taking up Classes [Please choose one skill!] [1. Fleetfoot] A burst of agility that enhances movement for a short duration. ? Increases speed and reaction time by 20% for 3 seconds. ? Useful for dodging, repositioning, or quick escapes. ? Cooldown: 10 seconds. [2. Silver Whisper] A subtle persuasion ability that makes the user''s words more convincing. ? Minor lies or suggestions become slightly more believable. ? Works best on distracted or emotionally unstable individuals. ? Ineffective on highly alert or strong-willed targets. ? Cooldown: 30 seconds. [3. Shadow Step] Allows the user to take a near-silent step while briefly reducing their presence. ? Moves 3 meters instantly and muffles sound. ? Slightly lowers visibility for 1 second, making it harder to track them. ? Cannot pass through solid objects or be used mid-air. ? Cooldown: 15 seconds. [4. Courier''s Mark] Places a temporary mark on a surface, allowing the user to sense its location and return within a short time. ? Marks a spot within 20 meters. ? Can return to the mark within 10 seconds by instant teleportation. ? Mark disappears if the user moves too far or the time limit expires. ? Cooldown: 20 seconds. ''Hmm, none of these are too overpowered, but they''re decent. Fleetfoot isn''t really necessary¡ªI can already enhance my speed with wind magic. If I combined them, sure, I''d be faster, but it''s not a priority right now.'' Merlin rubbed his chin, deep in thought. ''Silver Whisper... nah, I don''t need speaking skill yet.'' His gaze landed on the last skill. [Courier''s Mark] [Courier''s Mark selected!] Merlin exhaled through his nose, a small smirk forming as he lay back in bed. The exhaustion finally hit him, and within moments, he drifted off to sleep. The next morning, Merlin woke up early¡ªbut not early enough to catch Victoria. ''Guess she really leaves fast...'' He stretched, then gathered his things before slipping into his academy uniform, finally dry after yesterday''s mess. ''Hopefully today''s a bit more exciting.'' Stepping out of his apartment, he made his way toward the elevator. Just as he reached for the button, a woman arrived first and stepped inside. ''Damn it, I don''t feel like waiting.'' "Hold the door, please!" Before the elevator closed, the woman placed her hand between the doors, stopping them just in time. Merlin slid inside, exhaling. "Thanks¡ª" As he looked up, he paused. Long brown hair flowed behind her¡ªthough there was no wind to explain why. And those blue eyes... deep and shimmering, like an endless ocean. ''Liliana Astralis... She lives here?'' Merlin didn''t dwell on it. He simply smiled and pressed the button. "You''re welcome," Liliana replied after a short delay, as if just realizing what had happened. Silence settled over the elevator. It was awkward. Liliana didn''t know him. They had no reason to talk. Nothing in common. Just a painfully quiet ride. When they finally reached the ground floor, they both stepped out¡ªonly to immediately start looking for a taxi. ''Come on... work with me here.'' Merlin tried... and tried... and kept trying. No luck. Liliana wasn''t having much success either. But just as he was about to give up, a taxi stopped right in front of him. ''God does love me.'' Eyes practically glistening, Merlin opened the door and climbed in, about to close it¡ªuntil he saw Liliana approaching. ''...'' "Sorry, mind if I ride with you? You''re headed to the academy, right?" Her gaze flicked to his uniform, then back to his face. ''No, I was actually planning to go on vacation.'' "...Yeah, sure." Merlin smiled and pushed the door open wider. Liliana slid inside, nodding. "To Star Power Academy, please," he told the driver, who simply nodded in response. For the entire ride, Liliana stayed silent. Merlin wasn''t much of a talker either. And so, both of them stared out their respective windows, watching the city pass by. When they arrived, the driver turned slightly. Before Liliana could pull out her wallet, Merlin had already paid. "Don''t worry about it, keep the change." The driver smiled and nodded. "Y-You didn''t have to. I don''t like owing people." Liliana frowned as they walked past the academy gates. "Then just don''t think of it as a debt." Merlin shrugged and continued walking toward their lecture hall. They entered at the same time. And just like that, every head in the room turned toward them. Whispers. Stares. ''Oh, come on.'' Merlin sighed. Liliana took her seat, and he started making his way toward his own. And sitting next to his seat, tapping at the air like he was playing an invisible piano... was Nathan. Merlin pinched the bridge of his nose. ''Please don''t say anything.'' Nathan noticed him, grinning as he stopped his little performance. His grin widened. Merlin''s sharp glare shut him up real fast. Nathan chuckled, closing his eyes as if he had no idea what Merlin was upset about. A moment later, Adrian arrived. "Yo, morning, guys!" "What''s up, Adrian," Nathan greeted loudly. Merlin? He dropped his head onto his desk. ''Just kill me.'' "?" Adrian and Nathan both raised an eyebrow. "...Hello." Merlin finally responded in a monotone, his voice practically dripping with exhaustion that didn''t even hit him yet. ''This is going to be a long day.'' Right then, their instructor, Vivienne, walked in. The class fell silent. "Alright, today you''ll be receiving your academy rankings. But before that..." She clapped her hands. A set of sleek, futuristic-looking phones materialized in front of every student. "These are your academy-issued devices. You''ll be using them to check your ranking, spend your academy points, and select your classes." More murmurs. Merlin glanced at the phone on his desk. ''The hell...?'' "Each student must enroll in at least six classes," Vivienne continued. Her gaze swept across the room¡ªthen landed directly on Merlin. "Everyone." Her smile was just a little too smug. "...Right." Merlin sighed and powered on his device, scrolling through the interface. The first thing that caught his eye was the ranking board. [First Year, Rank 1: Merlin] ''Huh. Not bad.'' And just below his name... [Rank 2: Nathaniel Varen] Merlin blinked. He glanced at Nathan. Nathan was grinning happily about his own ranking. Merlin shook his head, chuckling softly before turning back to his screen. He scrolled through the class options, wasting no time in making his selections. [Selected Classes] 1. Fundamentals of Sword Combat 2. Tactical Blade Application 3. Weapon Adaptability & Hybrid Combat 4. Mana Control & Efficiency 5. Applied Combat Magic 6. Runes & Arcane Theory ''Perfect.'' With a satisfied nod, Merlin locked in his choices. "Once you''ve chosen your classes, check your phone for your next session and head there." Vivienne''s voice echoed through the classroom. At her words, Merlin pulled out his phone and scrolled through his schedule. ''Fundamentals of Sword Combat ¨C Training Facility Three'' A small smirk tugged at his lips. Finally, a chance to properly learn how to wield a sword. Without hesitation, he was the first to stand and head toward the door. "That guy''s ranked first, right?" "Merlin Everhart? I''ve never heard of him before, where is he from?" Whispers trailed behind him, but he paid them no mind. Instead, his gaze flickered toward Vivienne, who wore a faint, knowing smile. She gave him a subtle nod, and he returned the gesture before stepping out of the room. "Training Facility Three... shouldn''t be too hard to find." Stepping outside, his eyes immediately locked onto a massive set of training halls, each numbered in bold. It didn''t take long to spot the one marked "3." "So this is it. If I remember right, Nathan should be here too... But who''s the instructor again?" With a quiet sigh, he pushed open the doors and stepped inside. The facility was empty. Except for one man. A lone figure sat cross-legged in the center of the hall, his broad frame unmoving, as if carved from stone. A thick beard covered his face, his long messy black hair covering his entire forehead. His presence alone radiating a quiet yet suffocating pressure. ''Is he...Meditating?'' Just as the thought crossed his mind¡ª "You''re early." A deep, resonant voice filled the room, making Merlin''s lips tremble. The man hadn''t moved. His eyes remained closed. Yet, the weight of his words felt heavier than the air itself. It felt suffocating. Merlin''s brows furrowed. And then it finally clicked. ''Reinhardt Vale?!'' The name sent a jolt through his mind. One of the strongest swordsmen in the novel. Nathan''s personal instructor. A man who had fought battles that reshaped history itself. The man who fought until the very end of the world without ever giving up. He was one of Merlin''s favorite side characters. ''Wait... he''s the instructor for this class? I completely forgot.'' Exhaling, Merlin walked forward before settling onto the ground at a reasonable distance. His gaze remained fixed on the man, watching. Unmoving. Breath steady. A statue. Merlin leaned back slightly, arms crossed as he waited and tried to sit in the same position as the man in front of him. ''This should be interesting. I wonder how many people will actually come.'' Chapter 8 8: Fundamentals of Sword Combat As time passed, only a few people entered the training hall. Some stepped in, took one look at the instructor, and immediately walked out. In the end, only twelve remained. ''These numbers are just pathetic.'' Merlin glanced around. Of course, Nathan was here. Dorian as well. And the rest? Not even worth calling extras. "Pick any sword, dagger, or weapon you like. But choose carefully because whatever you pick now, you''ll be stuck with it for the rest of your training." Reinhardt''s voice was cold, devoid of any warmth. He opened his eyes¡ªunnatural golden orbs that almost seemed to glow. His gaze swept over the students before locking onto one in particular. Merlin. ''This one... might be interesting.'' Reinhardt''s thoughts were clear, as always. He never dwelled on unnecessary things. Hearing Reinhardt''s words, Merlin got up from the floor and walked toward the weapons rack. The other students began choosing their respective weapons. Some picked immediately¡ªlike Nathan. ''Of course he''d pick those.'' Nathan held two short daggers in his hands, looking like a proper assassin. Dorian, on the other hand, picked a longsword, just like the one he used in the novel. ''I''ll just stick with what I used during training.'' Merlin grabbed a rapier, its weight fitting perfectly in his hands. ''Just like before.'' He gave it a few light swings, testing the balance. "A rapier, huh?" Nathan strolled over with a grin after noticing the medium-length blade in Merlin''s hand. "Exactly." Merlin''s response was short and firm. He had no intention of making conversation, and it showed in his voice. Nathan just chuckled dryly. "Line up." Reinhardt''s voice boomed across the training hall like a cannon blast. Nathan and Merlin exchanged a look before stepping into formation. The twelve students stood still, side by side, just as instructed. Reinhardt''s eyes passed over each of them, analyzing their choices. ''The boy with the daggers... and the one with the rapier. They stand out.'' His mind worked quickly, assessing every student''s potential. "Now, I''ll demonstrate a simple slash." A sword materialized in Reinhardt''s hand out of nowhere. No flash, no theatrics¡ªjust the overwhelming feeling that it had always been there, as if it was an extension of his very being. Some students whispered in awe, but the sharper ones¡ªMerlin, Nathan, and Dorian¡ªremained silent, their eyes locked onto Reinhardt. ''Party tricks during a lesson. How classy.'' Merlin thought as he watched Reinhardt move. A swift, precise motion. His blade cut through the air with terrifying ease, and a shockwave surged through the room as the slash ended. ''It''s like he just cut through space itself.'' Merlin''s brows furrowed. The image of Reinhardt''s movement replayed in his mind, over and over, as if he were dissecting it frame by frame. ''Got it.'' "Now, you''ll each demonstrate it in order. You first, kid." Reinhardt''s voice snapped through the silence, pointing straight at Nathan. Nathan smirked and stepped forward. ''I have no idea how he''ll do, but I doubt it''ll be bad.'' Merlin kept his eyes on him, analyzing every movement. Nathan''s slash wasn''t a perfect replica of Reinhardt''s, but it was solid. ''Not bad.'' Like a beginner swordsman, Merlin instinctively evaluated Nathan''s form. "Not bad." Reinhardt nodded and waved him back into line. Nathan sighed, as if shaking off a heavy burden, before grinning and returning to his place. ''Guess it''s my turn.'' Merlin''s hand was already on his rapier''s hilt, ready. "You, step forward." Reinhardt''s commanding voice rang out. Merlin gave a slight nod and moved up without a word. ''I can do this. I analyzed every detail of his slash.'' Taking a deep breath, Merlin positioned himself flawlessly. Some students shot him odd glances, but Reinhardt''s expression was different. It was... excited. ''Alright, kid... show me what you''ve got.'' Reinhardt watched him closely. Then¡ª For a split second, reality itself seemed uncertain of its own existence. Merlin''s rapier moved. A silent, nearly imperceptible slash forward. Precision beyond reason, as if the universe had allowed this one perfect motion to exist. A seamless, invisible line tore through the air¡ªneither too fast nor too slow. Simply perfect. ''Unbelievable.'' Reinhardt and Nathan both widened their eyes as they watched Merlin''s flawless execution. To the other students, it looked more like an elegant dance than an attack... Then¡ªBOOM. The air burst, not as violently as Reinhardt''s slash, but still noticeable. ''Not entirely perfect.'' Merlin withdrew his blade casually, as if nothing had happened. All eyes turned to Reinhardt, waiting for his reaction. Even Merlin observed him carefully. But Reinhardt... He just stood there. Processing. ''How... is that possible?'' The boy in front of him had replicated the technique after seeing it once. It wasn''t flawless, but it came disturbingly close to the pinnacle of perfection. "What''s your name?" No evaluation. No comments on his form. Just a simple question. "Merlin. Merlin Everhart." ''Why does he care about my name all of a sudden?'' Merlin''s voice echoed in the now-silent hall. Reinhardt didn''t respond right away. He just nodded, still processing. "...Alright. Next." ''???'' Everyone blinked in confusion. That''s it? Nothing else? Nathan and Merlin exchanged glances, equally bewildered. Merlin shrugged. Nathan shook his head. ''Whatever. I know I did well.'' The next student, a girl, stepped forward¡ªonly to nearly drop her sword in sheer incompetence. Not even worth mentioning. The line moved quickly. Dorian was the last, and based on Reinhardt''s reaction, he had performed similarly to Nathan. "Pair up." Reinhardt clapped his hands like a gunshot, signaling the next phase. Nathan and Merlin turned to each other immediately. ''This is gonna be fun.'' Reinhardt murmured under his breath, eyes locked on the two. The first and second-ranked students stood face to face. "What''s your name, boy?" Reinhardt asked Nathan directly. "Nathaniel Varen, sir." Nathan responded, standing firm. Reinhardt nodded. "This will be a spar. One by one, each pair will fight. Nathaniel and Merlin, you''re up first. The rest, sit down and watch. There''s a lot you can learn." His voice was strong, absolute. Both boys immediately placed their hands on their weapons. Merlin traced his fingers along his rapier''s hilt, his grip relaxed yet firm. Nathan clenched his daggers tightly. A duel between the top two contenders was about to begin. Both boys locked eyes, grinning as they awaited Reinhardt''s signal. "No affinities allowed." Reinhardt''s voice carried absolute authority, leaving no room for debate. Both fighters nodded, accepting the condition. Merlin shifted his stance slightly, his grip tightening around the hilt of his rapier. Nathan leaned forward, gripping a dagger in each hand. ''Let''s see what you''ve got.'' The same thought crossed both their minds. Silence followed. The air grew tense, thick with anticipation. The other students watched with bated breath, eyes wide in expectation. Then, like a lightning bolt splitting the sky, Reinhardt''s voice shattered the stillness. "Begin." Nathan lunged forward like a striking viper. His movements were quick¡ªdangerously so¡ªbut Merlin followed each step with calculated precision, smoothly stepping back to maintain distance. His daggers are short. If I control the spacing, he won''t stand a chance. This spar was a contest of intellect and technique rather than brute force. On paper, Merlin had the upper hand, but Nathan had a system too. That alone made the outcome unpredictable. Nathan dashed forward again, closing the gap before swinging at Merlin''s head. [Trickster''s Reflex] The skill activated in Merlin''s mind, and with a swift sidestep, he avoided the blow. Seizing the opening, he slashed toward Nathan''s exposed side with pinpoint accuracy. Nathan barely managed to block, but the force sent him skidding back two meters. ''Better than I expected.'' Reinhardt''s sharp eyes flickered with interest as he observed the fight, ready to intervene if necessary. Nathan quickly recovered, launching another attack¡ªthis time aiming for Merlin''s ribs. ''Too predictable.'' Merlin dodged effortlessly, his movements fluid as a dancer''s. Then, with sudden speed, he lashed out with a kick, striking Nathan''s left hand. The dagger slipped from his grip. Forced to retreat, Nathan clenched his teeth. ''Is that all, Nathan?'' Merlin advanced slowly, knocking the fallen dagger further away with his foot. Nathan refused to surrender. ''How the hell is Merlin this strong?'' His mind raced for a plan. He couldn''t afford to lose¡ªnot like this. He lunged again, this time pouring every ounce of strength into his charge. ''Fast.'' Time seemed to slow for Merlin as he met Nathan''s assault head-on, their weapons clashing at lightning speed. Sparks flew as steel met steel, their blades moving in a blur. The scent of metal filled the air. ''Time to end this.'' Merlin spun, and Nathan rushed forward to meet him. [Trickster''s Reflex] ''What?!'' Nathan''s eyes widened as Merlin twisted mid-air, avoiding the attack with unnatural grace. Before he could react, Merlin''s elbow struck his chin. The impact sent Nathan stumbling. His last dagger slipped from his grasp, clattering to the ground as he collapsed. ''Victory is mine.'' Merlin stood over him, rapier poised at Nathan''s throat. A slow smile spread across Nathan''s face as he raised his hands in surrender. "The winner is Merlin Everhart." Reinhardt''s announcement echoed through the hall like a thunderclap. The students were left speechless, their mouths hanging open in shock. "Good match." Both boys spoke at the same time. Merlin extended a hand, pulling Nathan to his feet. ''Another win for me.'' He thought to himself as they rejoined the group. Yet as they did, he felt the weight of Reinhardt''s gaze on him. ''This kid...'' The instructor''s golden eyes gleamed with something unreadable. ''A frightening talent.'' Chapter 9 9: Runes and Bullies The spars continued one after another, with Nathan and Merlin watching in silence. ''Terrible.'' Merlin didn''t even have to try to evaluate them. The last match had just begun between Dorian and some girl. ''Poor thing.'' Merlin sighed as he watched Dorian end the fight in five seconds. One-sided wasn''t even the right word for it. "Alright, that''s everyone. Merlin, Nathan¡ªyou both earned academy points for your performance. And Merlin, stay after class." Nathan lit up like a puppy getting a treat, grinning ear to ear. "Thank you, sir!" Merlin just nodded. Reinhardt returned the gesture. ''Why does he want me to stay?'' Merlin considered the possibilities, though he had a pretty good idea. ''Nevermind, I think I know why.'' The lesson continued¡ªbasic footwork, thrusts, and slashes. Merlin copied every movement Reinhardt demonstrated with eerie precision. The instructor grew more and more intrigued. ''Unbelievable, this kid.'' The same couldn''t be said for the rest of the class. Besides Nathan, who managed to keep up somewhat, the others struggled. Many students watched Merlin with envy. He, however... couldn''t care less. ''I''m just him.'' Class ended quickly, leaving the students exhausted and gasping for air. Nathan flashed a smile at Merlin before running off. ''Like a little kid.'' Merlin exhaled and stood at attention in front of Reinhardt. "Let''s get to the point¡ªI don''t like wasting time." Reinhardt''s voice echoed through the now-empty hall. "Be my disciple." Merlin''s body tensed for a brief moment. ''I had a feeling he''d say that... He approached Nathan much later in the novel. But me? Already?'' Reinhardt was leagues stronger than Vivienne¡ªbut in a different way. Vivienne had near-perfect mana control. Reinhardt? A terrifyingly skilled swordsman. "I''d accept, sir." Reinhardt''s eyes gleamed, but Merlin wasn''t finished. "But I already have a master." The glimmer vanished in an instant. Reinhardt leaned on his hand. "Who? Whoever it is, they can''t be as good as me, kid! I could wipe the floor with¡ª" "Vivienne Dorne." Merlin cut him off. Reinhardt coughed. "Uh... Well, I meant that I''m sure we can... work something out with her." "...That''s not what you just said¡ª" Before Merlin could press further, Reinhardt stood up. "It''d be a mistake not to hone your swordsmanship. And I''m the best one to teach you!" He puffed his chest out proudly. ''Egotistical, but he''s not wrong.'' "Go to your next class¡ªI''ll handle things with Vivienne, brat." ''This should be interesting.'' Reinhardt clapped a hand on Merlin''s shoulder and sent him on his way. "See you later kid." They both nodded, and Merlin headed to his next class, slightly behind schedule. ''Rune and Arcane Theory... Back to Lecture Hall One.'' Navigating the hallways was much easier now, and he stepped into the classroom. ''Kill me.'' Of course, the perfect student Nathan was already there, waving him over. Merlin scanned the room, spotting a few familiar faces¡ªElara and Liliana among them. He had two choices: sit with Nathan or Elara. ''So either I get murdered or die from some natural causes...'' He reluctantly took the seat next to Nathan, who beamed. ''Someone save me.'' "What did Professor Reinhardt want, Merlin? Oh, and isn''t it great we got extra points¡ª" Thankfully, the instructor walked in before Merlin had to respond. He almost wanted to dance in relief. ''Sophia Ashford... interesting.'' According to Merlin''s memories she wasn''t mentioned much in the novel, but she was strong. And the fans claimed that she was hot. They hated the author for not giving her more scenes.. Her long brown hair cascaded down her back like an artisan''s finest work. Her eyes, deep and intelligent, gleamed beneath her glasses. She wore a serene, otherworldly smile. ''Maybe the fans were right.'' "Welcome, students. Today, we''ll cover the fundamental theories of runes and arcanology." Sophia scanned the room before continuing with a slight smile. ''...That smile is dangerous.'' "Let''s start with the basics." Despite her delicate appearance, her voice carried power, resonating through the hall. "Runes are not just symbols. They are ancient links to the fundamental laws of the universe. Each rune represents a concept, a force, or a natural principle. Take the ''Lire'' rune, for example¡ªit embodies light, knowledge, and inspiration. If used correctly, it reveals truth¡ªwhether in a hidden message or your opponent''s intent, it can also be used as a source of light." She pulled out a parchment and sketched a rune, a delicate shape resembling a blooming flower. As the ink settled, it faintly glowed, as if catching fire. ''Incredible.'' Merlin was entranced, eyes locked onto Sophia''s every movement. He analyzed each detail with obsessive precision. "See this?" Sophia gestured to the glowing rune. "Energy flows because the symbol is correctly drawn and imbued with the proper intent. A single misplaced stroke, a careless motion¡ªand the structure collapses. That''s why you must understand runes, not just copy them. You must feel their meaning." Nathan barely used runes in the novel... because they weren''t that useful. Sophia stepped back and drew another rune on the board. Merlin''s gaze tracked every stroke. "Take the ''Gebo'' rune. It represents exchange, contracts, and balance. When working with runes, always consider their meaning. A poor combination¡ªlike Gebo and Isa, the rune of ice¡ªcan have disastrous consequences. Imagine forming a magical contract, only for Isa to freeze its energy. No progress, no change. The result? A deadlock." Her eyes were sharp but not unkind. Her voice carried intent and strength. Yet she watched carefully to ensure everyone understood. "Now, try it yourselves. Draw the rune while focusing on the energy''s flow. Feel how it aligns with your intent." Out of nowhere, a parchment and quill materialized in front of every student. Merlin glanced at the parchment, recalling Sophia''s previous demonstration. ''Alright, let''s try the Lire one,''. Most students¡ªincluding Nathan¡ªhad no clue how to even start. The sheer complexity of the technique had deterred them from attempting it before. But Merlin? He simply picked up the quill and started sketching a delicate flower, guiding his energy into the parchment. ''Something like this?'' As he completed the drawing, mana coursed through the ink, illuminating the parchment. Then¡ª A blinding flash. The entire room lit up as if someone had detonated a flashbang in a game. The brightness surged for a moment before slowly dimming. ''That turned out better than I expected.'' A round of applause broke the silence. Sophia checked the student roster, a satisfied smile on her face. "Merlin Everhart, right? Well done! You''ve earned extra academy points!" A few light claps followed¡ªNathan, wearing a subtle grin. But as soon as Merlin glanced at him, he awkwardly stopped and turned back to his own parchment. The rest of the class, however, could only watch in silent envy. Not a single one had succeeded. Some had drawn the shape incorrectly, while others had botched their mana control¡ªburning their parchment to ashes. Elara had been one of them. Now she wore an embarrassed smile. ''Wasn''t that hard.'' But it was hard. Just not for Merlin for some reason. The attempts continued until the end of class, but Merlin found himself more entertained by Nathan''s struggles¡ªespecially when his parchment caught fire in his hands. ''...'' Merlin barely suppressed his laughter. Nathan, on the other hand, just grinned like everything was fine. By the time class ended, most students stumbled out¡ªeither drained or utterly frustrated from wasting so much mana. ''Lunchtime.'' Merlin left the classroom with Nathan trailing behind him like a loyal puppy. They made their way across the courtyard toward the cafeteria. Then, loud shouting echoed from their right. A spike of mana tingled in the air. ''Hm? What now?'' Merlin turned to see two older students cornering a younger one. ''Unfortunate.'' He kept walking¡ªuntil Nathan spoke. "Hey! What the hell do you think you''re doing?!" Merlin flinched. His body froze. His lips twitched. ''No... please, someone kill me.'' Nathan''s sudden outburst caught the bullies'' attention. "The hell are you looking at? Mind your business!" The two teenagers turned toward them, aggression clear in their stance. Merlin sighed and raised his hands in surrender. "Look, I don''t know this guy." He jabbed a thumb at Nathan, who still had that infuriatingly unbreakable smile. ''Why are you so goddamn kindhearted? I''m starving.'' The two students stalked toward them. Merlin sighed. "You do realize fighting outside of duels is against the academy''s rules¡ª" "Like I give a damn about those stupid rules!" One of them swung at him. ''Idiot.'' [Trickster''s Reflex] Merlin stepped aside, grabbed the attacker''s arm, and effortlessly tripped him, twisting his arm in the process. POP The sound echoed. The boy''s shoulder was dislocated. Merlin clicked his tongue. Nathan turned away, grimacing. The crack wasn''t pleasant. ''...Not even worth calling an extra. His shoulder snapped like a twig.'' "AAAAH! HELP!" The downed boy howled like a dying animal, while the other one bolted in sheer panic. Nathan stared, jaw slightly open, then turned to Merlin with sparkling admiration. "Listen, I told you not to¡ª" "What the hell is going on here?!" A sharp voice cut through the scene. Both Merlin and Nathan turned to see a red-haired girl striding toward them, her piercing eyes glowing like molten lava. ''...A student council member. We''re so cooked.'' Merlin instantly recognized her uniform. Nathan, as expected, just smiled like a harmless lamb. "I demand an explanation. Now." Merlin narrowed his eyes. The girl''s looks and attitude triggered a memory. ''Amelia Vaughn...?'' "You three¡ªfollow me immediately!" Her voice carried authority. But Merlin knew the truth. She wasn''t strong. In fact, according to the novel, the only reason she was even on the student council was her intelligence. In terms of combat ability? She was weak. "IT HURTS! IT HURTS SO MUCH!" The injured boy continued wailing like a damn monkey. Merlin wanted to argue, but there was no point. The student council always upheld the rules, no exceptions. ''Fantastic.'' Merlin glanced at Nathan, a vein twitching on his forehead. Nathan, ever the optimist, just chuckled awkwardly. Meanwhile, the injured kid was still screaming his lungs out. "Fine. We''ll go with you." Merlin sighed. Amelia nodded, satisfied. Chapter 10 10: I Just Want To Eat Amelia practically dragged the whining guy all the way to the student council office like she was escorting a criminal. It was a little funny to watch. Merlin let out a sigh as they stepped inside. ''This is gonna be a waste of time.'' The office was... underwhelming. No fancy decorations, no banners of justice, nothing. Just a long oak table that stretched almost comically far, surrounded by plain chairs. At the very end sat the big chair¡ªthe one reserved for the student council president. It was empty. ''Guess Amelia''s the only one bored enough to handle minor crap like this.'' She lined up the three of them, sat down, and opened her laptop like she was about to file taxes. Merlin and Nathan exchanged looks. The loud guy had finally shut up, standing close to Nathan like Merlin had some kind of disease. Amelia typed something, then spun the laptop around. Security footage. "You might already know me," she said flatly. "My name is Amelia Vaughn. Student council." ''Yeah, no kidding.'' Nathan, ever the polite one, nodded as if she''d just told him the meaning of life. "Now, explain what happened." Her voice filled the room, cold and sharp. "I-I didn''t do anything¡ª" The whiny dude instantly started spitting excuses at lightning speed. Amelia clicked her tongue. Merlin covered his face with his hand. ''Dumbass alert.'' Without another word, Amelia replayed the footage of the guy and his friend cornering a kid. "Eric Reed." Her voice could''ve frozen the air itself. ''Eric Reed? Never even heard of him in the novel.'' "Do I look stupid to you?" Her tone wasn''t loud, but it carried the weight of someone who didn''t tolerate nonsense. Eric, to his credit, folded instantly. "I-I''m sorry!" He started bowing so fast he looked like a broken wind-up toy. Merlin had to bite his cheek to stop himself from laughing. Amelia sighed and turned to Merlin, catching the amusement in his face. "Something funny, Merlin Everhart?" ''Oh, so she knows my name too. Great.'' "Not at all, ma''am." Merlin straightened his posture like a soldier. Nathan nearly choked trying not to laugh. "You two think this is a joke?" She slammed the table and stood up, walking over with slow, deliberate steps before fixing Eric with a glare. "Leave. You and your little friend''s punishment will be sent through the academy system." Eric''s entire face fell apart. He trembled, nodded, and ran out of the office like his life was over. ''Okay, so he''s gone. Why are we still here?'' "Merlin Everhart. Nathaniel Varen." Her tone dropped. "There was no need to resort to violence." ''??? What?'' Merlin narrowed his eyes. "With all due respect, we both saw the footage. He threw the first punch." He pointed at Nathan. "Nathan told them to stop. Eric and his buddy didn''t listen and came at us instead. Was I supposed to just stand there and let them take free shots?" Nathan, ever the moral compass, sighed and added, "I just wanted to help the kid. Eric was the one who escalated." Amelia folded her arms. "There were better ways to handle it." Merlin wasn''t letting this go. "The academy exists to teach us how to use our strength for the right reasons, doesn''t it?" Her brow twitched. "Yes, but¡ª" "Then let me ask you this, Amelia Vaughn." Merlin cut her off. "Should we have just let them beat up that kid? Just because the student council, the people responsible for stopping this, were nowhere to be found?" Silence. Amelia''s face twitched slightly. She didn''t like being interrupted¡ªtwice¡ªbut she couldn''t exactly argue. Nathan shot Merlin a look that said, Did you seriously just say that? Before she could respond, the office door creaked open. Amelia''s serious expression immediately melted into something... way too friendly. ''...What?'' Merlin and Nathan turned around at the same time. A girl walked in. Long, snow-white hair. Light blue eyes that almost glowed. A lollipop in her mouth, looking completely uninterested. Her gaze swept over them, then landed on Amelia, who was still smiling like she hadn''t just been arguing two seconds ago. ''...Isabelle Mercer.'' The student council president. The top-ranked third-year. One of the most influential students in the entire academy. "I-Isabelle," Amelia started. "I was just handling a minor incident." Isabelle didn''t respond. She just walked over, glanced at the laptop, and silently watched the footage. Merlin and Nathan looked at each other. Merlin shrugged. Nathan gave a nervous smile. After a moment, Isabelle finally spoke. "It''s obviously self-defense." Her voice echoed in the office. Amelia''s lips tightened. She knew she couldn''t argue against the president. "Understood," she said stiffly. "You''re free to go." Merlin and Nathan nodded, turning toward the door. Just as they stepped out, Isabelle''s voice rang out again. "Merlin Everhart." They stopped and both turned around almost synchronized. Her gaze was as deep as the ocean. "Be careful." ''...Huh?'' Merlin stared at her, but she didn''t say anything else. He just gave a slow nod and shoved Nathan out the door before he could open his mouth. Outside, Nathan turned to him, eyes full of questions. "What did she mean by that?" His voice was way too innocent. Merlin sighed. "Hell if I know." Without another word, he turned toward the cafeteria. ''I''m starving.'' Nathan stood there, watching his Merlin''s back. Then he jogged after him like a loyal puppy. ''...I''m never getting rid of him now, am I?'' Merlin sighed again, shaking his head. They finally made it back to their original destination¡ªthis time without any interruptions. The massive dining hall was packed with students, all stuffing their faces like they hadn''t eaten in days. The moment Merlin and Nathan laid eyes on the buffet, their expressions froze. Then Merlin let out a long sigh. ''This is why I wanted to get here early...'' A line¡ªat least fifteen meters long¡ªstretched out in front of the food counter. "...Maybe we should eat somewhere else?" Nathan smiled awkwardly, turning to Merlin, whose face looked seconds away from exploding. But then¡ªMerlin remembered something. Something that Nathan, with all his kindness, never took advantage of in the novel. ''That''s right... I almost forgot.'' Without another word, Merlin pulled out his academy-issued phone and started walking. Straight to the front of the line. "Uh... Merlin?" Nathan''s smile twitched as dozens of students turned to glare at them. Even some who were already eating put their food down to watch. "What do you want to eat." Merlin''s voice was flat¡ªalmost like a statement. For Nathan, it was a question. For the rest of the cafeteria? It was as if Merlin didn''t even see them. "...A hamburger?" Nathan answered hesitantly, watching as Merlin strolled right up to the cashier. One of the perks of being ranked first for a year. No waiting in line for food. "What do you think you''re doing?" The woman at the counter raised an eyebrow. Long black hair. Dark eyes. ''Like a phantom.'' Merlin didn''t answer. He just held up his phone, displaying his rank. The number 1 was clear as day. Her eyes widened slightly¡ªthen, just as quickly, a professional smile spread across her face. "What would you like to eat, Mr. Everhart?" ''That was fast.'' Merlin smirked. The rest of the cafeteria, however, was not as calm. "What the hell?!" "Who does he think he is, cutting the whole line?!" "Teach that bastard a lesson!" Muttering turned to shouting as irritation spread through the students. Merlin ignored all of it. He turned to the cashier like they didn''t exist. "Two hamburgers." "Right away!" She responded brightly before rushing off to grab the food. Nathan, standing beside him, was visibly uncomfortable under the barrage of complaints. Merlin, on the other hand, sighed as if none of this had anything to do with him. A moment later, the woman returned, handing over two burgers with a polite smile. "Here you go, Mr. Everhart!" "Thanks." His voice was indifferent as he passed one to Nathan¡ªwho was looking at him like he had just witnessed a miracle. ''Like a puppy.'' The two turned to leave, but¡ª A boy stepped in front of them. ''...You''ve got to be kidding me. Just let me eat my burger in peace.'' "Who do you think you are, cutting the whole line¡ª" Merlin sighed. Without a word, he raised his phone again. The ranking was right there for everyone to see. The boy went silent. Then he stepped aside. "Yeah, I figured." Merlin sighed and then they just kept walking. Well¡ªmore like Merlin looked for an empty table, and Nathan just followed behind him. ''...'' They sat down, unwrapped their food, and¡ªfinally. ''Finally.'' Merlin had been waiting for this moment for way too long. The smell of freshly grilled beef hit his nose, and for a second, his eyes almost watered. Nathan, on the other hand, was already eating. Without hesitation. Mouth completely stuffed. "This is so good." ''...He can eat that fast, huh?'' Merlin took his first bite¡ªand for a moment, he was in heaven. The juicy, tender beef patty practically melted in his mouth. ''Nothing could possibly ruin this.'' Right? Maybe he spoke too soon..Way too soon. Just as he was about to take another bite¡ª Two people sat down. One next to him. One next to Nathan. ''...'' Merlin closed his eyes for a moment. Prayed to whatever god might be listening. Hoping for an escape. For things to turn better. But nothing changed. So he just sighed and accepted his fate instead. ''Maybe if I ignore them, they''ll go away.'' Liliana and Seraphina sat beside them, smiling. Because, apparently¡ª There were no other empty seats in the whole cafeteria. Chapter 11 11: Getting Thrown Around Seraphina, obviously, sat next to Nathan. She kept sneaking glances at him, her face turning red before hurriedly looking back at her food. ''Could she be any more obvious?'' Merlin sighed. Seraphina was supposed to be Nathan''s main love interest in the novel. The problem? Her shy personality dragged things out for so long that even the readers got bored of the romance. No matter how much of a strong-willed person she was, when it came to Nathan, she just... froze. And Nathan? The guy was as dense as a brick wall. ''Perfect. Just how I remember it being in the novel, these two are gonna drag this out forever.'' Merlin glanced to his side. Liliana was silently eating her food... or more accurately, she was devouring three plates at once. She paused, turned to look at him, and raised a brow. ''...Glutton.'' Shaking his head, Merlin returned to his meal. Nathan, meanwhile, just smiled like he had no thoughts in his head. "So, how was everyone''s day?" he asked cheerfully. ''Did he seriously have to ask that?'' Merlin looked at him, then went right back to eating. Liliana, sitting next to him, was the first to respond. "We had basic mana theory in the morning. The professor decided to experiment and nearly blew up the classroom." Merlin barely managed to stop himself from laughing. ''I think I have an idea who that professor is.'' Seraphina just sat there, smiling at Nathan and Liliana. Not even acknowledging Merlin''s existence. ''Wow. Okay.'' Nathan then started talking about his and Merlin''s day, and both girls listened with bright, proud expressions¡ªlike they were proud of him just for existing. But not of Merlin..just Nathan alone. ''Who would''ve thought.'' Merlin finished his food and suddenly remembered something. ''Vivienne told me to meet her today.'' "I''ve got stuff to do," he said, standing up before anyone could react. Then, he just walked out of the cafeteria. The others exchanged looks before turning to Nathan, who simply shrugged with a smile. "Must be important." ¡ª Finally, some peace and quiet. Merlin made his way to the same training facility where he had sparred with Vivienne yesterday. As he walked inside, he noticed some students already there and checked the room assignments. ''...The hell?'' One of the rooms had already been reserved under his name. ''This has to be Vivienne.'' Merlin headed toward the room and pushed open the door. ''...Nope.'' Sitting cross-legged in the middle of the room was Reinhardt, his eyes closed, a wooden sword resting on his shoulder. ''Guess he talked to Vivienne about it.'' As Merlin stepped closer, Reinhardt''s eyes snapped open. Without a word, he grabbed a rapier from the side and threw it at Merlin. ''Oh, we''re doing this now?'' Merlin caught the rapier mid-air. "Use both of your affinities. Vivienne told me about them, so don''t hold back." Reinhardt said flatly. Merlin barely had time to process that before Reinhardt vanished. ''She told this old man?! At least give me a second¡ª!'' [Trickster''s Reflex] His body moved before his mind could catch up. Instinctively, Merlin leaped to the side, narrowly avoiding a downward strike. "Couldn''t you at least give me some time?!" Reinhardt just smirked and lunged at him again. The wooden sword cut through the air like a storm. Merlin pushed off the ground, channeling his wind affinity to dodge¡ªjust in time. ''How the hell is a wooden sword hitting like that?!'' He quickly stepped back, using the wind to push himself farther away and create some distance. "Channel your mana into your rapier. Watch closely." Reinhardt lifted his wooden sword. The air around it ignited¡ªa deep, molten red glow, like lava flowing down the blade. ''Seriously...teaching me in the middle of a spar. Let''s try this.'' Merlin focused, guiding his mana into the rapier. A pale, misty light wrapped around it, flickering like an invisible haze. Reinhardt let out a laugh and clapped. "Hahaha! Now that''s interesting!" Then, without warning, he launched himself forward. And yelled in a voice like a goddamn cannon blast¡ª "The best way to learn is through experience!" ''You''re trying to KILL me, old man!'' Merlin barely dodged again, pouring all his focus into his space and wind affinities. He tried to remember how Nathan had done it in the novel. Then¡ª He disappeared. It wasn''t a full teleport. Not yet. But he had managed to manipulate space just enough to combine it with wind, moving faster than before. He reappeared right in front of Reinhardt. Merlin''s rapier lunged forward. "!!!" Reinhardt''s eyes widened for the first time. But¡ªeffortlessly¡ªhe dodged. "Now that''s more like it, kid!" Merlin didn''t stop. He immediately kicked back, using wind to accelerate. [Trickster''s Reflex] ''Okay. Focus. Use everything. Wind, space... and let''s try not to get shattered like a twig.'' He moved. A burst of wind sent him flying right, then space magic twisted around him, making him blur. His rapier shot forward¡ª ¡ªAnd the next second, he was flying backward. Spinning through the air, Merlin hit the ground with a groan. ''...What just happened.'' Reinhardt stood there, calmly scratching at his ear. ''Is this man serious?!'' "You''re too predictable. If you want to move faster, at least stop glowing like a goddamn fireworks show." Merlin groaned and forced himself up. "Then how do I get faster?" Reinhardt sighed. "Move smarter, not harder. You have two affinities. But you''re thinking too much." ''Oh, sorry, I''m not an ancient swordmaster, my bad.'' Merlin lunged again. This time, he did his best to not think. He let his instincts guide him¡ª BAM. Flat on the floor. Reinhardt laughed. "Still too slow, brat." Merlin just lay there, wheezing. ''Is this training... or just straight up assault?'' But he wasn''t going to give up. "Again!" he shouted, pushing himself up. Reinhardt grinned, resting his wooden sword on his shoulder. "Now we''re talking. Show me something good, kid." Merlin took a deep breath, closing his eyes for a second. ''Okay. Focus. Wind, space... reflexes.'' Then¡ªhe vanished. Reinhardt''s eyes gleamed. Merlin didn''t charge straight this time. He took two steps back, manipulating space, then burst forward with wind acceleration. The next second, he was behind Reinhardt. Thrust. His rapier shot toward Reinhardt''s back¡ª ¡ªAnd stopped. Merlin''s eyes widened. Reinhardt''s wooden sword was already at his throat. ''...WHEN?!'' "Better. But if you''re getting this close, expect your opponent to have a plan." Merlin panted, blood dripping from his nose. ''I pushed my affinities too hard. I''m still too weak.'' He glanced at his rapier, then at the wooden sword resting against his chin. "So... I lost." Reinhardt smirked. "Almost¡ª" However, Merlin wasn''t done. Not yet. ''NOW!'' His rapier trembled. A burst of wind slightly shifted the blade¡ªjust enough to almost graze Reinhardt''s shoulder. Reinhardt blinked. Then laughed, stepping back. "Well, well! Not bad, brat!" Merlin let out a long sigh. Reinhardt grinned and knocked him on the head with the wooden sword. "For the first day, you did alright. Don''t get discouraged." Then, resting the sword on his shoulder, he turned and left. "Same time, tomorrow." His voice echoed through the training hall. Merlin groaned. And collapsed to the floor. His body was done for today. He needed some rest..immediately. ''...That was just a beating.'' Merlin lay on the ground for a while. His body needed the rest¡ªhe had pushed his affinities too far. Even if the spar hadn''t lasted long, it had drained him. ''I should probably learn to use my affinities more wisely...'' Then, suddenly, his phone started ringing. ''Who the hell is calling me now?'' He pulled it out and checked the screen. Big Sis and a laughing emoji. ''Victoria? What does she want?'' Merlin sighed and answered the call, but before he could even say a word, Victoria''s voice rang through the phone. "Come outside, I''m picking you up." Before he could protest that he wasn''t exactly in the best condition, she hung up. ''...Great. All I needed today was for her to see me in this state.'' Merlin groaned and forced himself up, wiping the blood off his face as best as he could. His limbs ached, and his head was still spinning from overusing his affinities, but he had no choice. As he walked through the halls, he could feel the stares of other students. Some glanced at him like he was a walking corpse. Others outright gawked. ''Yeah, yeah. Stare all you want.'' By the time he reached the front gate, Victoria was already there, leaning against her car. "Little bro¡ª?!" Her eyes widened as she saw the state he was in. She rushed over and practically shoved him into the passenger seat. Merlin slumped into the seat and waved a hand lazily. "Had a rough training session with a teacher." He forced a grin, trying to brush it off. His hair was a complete mess, his face was pale, and his clothes were slightly bloody from his nosebleed. He looked less like a student and more like someone who had just survived a natural disaster. Victoria stared at him for a moment, then sighed as she got into the driver''s seat. "...You look like a half-dead ghost." "Thanks, Sis. That''s exactly what I wanted to hear." Victoria just shook her head and started the car. "Let''s get you home before someone mistakes you for a crime scene." Chapter 12 12: Making Investments Merlin and Victoria arrived home quickly. The entire walk was eerily silent¡ªthough that might''ve been because Merlin reeked the whole way. As soon as they stepped into the apartment, Merlin bolted straight to the bathroom, while Victoria barely held back a chuckle. ''This is ridiculous...'' Glancing at himself in the mirror, he looked like he had just crawled out of a horror movie. His hair was an absolute mess, his face was pale as a ghost, and bloodstains dotted his uniform. He looked less like a student and more like some half-baked cosplayer or a kid heading to a Halloween party. ''No wonder people were staring...'' With a sigh, he stripped off the filthy, bloodied uniform and tossed it straight into the washing machine before stepping into the shower. ''God, I needed this.'' The warm water ran down his body, washing away the grime, exhaustion, and whatever else clung to him. ''Perfect temperature. Not too hot, not too cold.'' It was refreshing, almost rejuvenating. By the time he stepped out and ran a comb through his hair, he actually looked human again. After throwing on some clean clothes, he dashed into the living room, where Victoria was lounging on the couch. "What do you wanna eat, little bro? You''re still paler than a fresh coat of paint." She barely held back a laugh as she spoke. ''Laughing at your brother''s suffering... How kind.'' Merlin sighed before collapsing onto the couch. "Anything but burgers." The mere thought of the heavenly burger he''d eaten earlier sent a pang of disappointment through him¡ªbecause he knew he''d never find one that could compare. "Alright, something spicy the¡ª" "No!" Merlin shot up instantly, his voice filled with sheer terror. He hated spicy food. He''d probably start crying if he ate it. Victoria burst out laughing at his reaction, while Merlin stubbornly turned away. "Fine, fine... I''ll order something nice." She wiped a few stray tears from her eyes as her laughter died down. "You were hilarious, by the way." Merlin narrowed his eyes at her, his lips curling into a devious smirk as he scrolled through his phone. After ordering the food, Victoria disappeared into the bathroom. Meanwhile, Merlin sat there, lost in thought. He needed a way to make money. But being only fourteen, it wasn''t like he could just invest in anything... At least, not in his old world. But here? Here it was perfectly legal. His mind wandered back to his past life, specifically to when Nathan made his first investment at sixteen. ''Alright, let''s see what we''re working with.'' Pulling up his bank account, Merlin nearly had a heart attack. ''One million Lonar?! Isn''t that a bit much for a fourteen-year-old?!'' Still... who was he to complain? Free money. He immediately jumped onto a few investment platforms, scanning for something worthwhile. ''There was that one company that blew up later on... there it is.'' Invoke. Without hesitation, he poured 900,000 Lonar into the company''s stocks. The verification process was painfully slow, but once it was done, he leaned back with a satisfied grin. Invoke was the company that ended up manufacturing Nathan''s weapons in the novel. It exploded in popularity not long after its launch, becoming the number-one weapons supplier in the world. ''I''d be an idiot not to buy in.'' By the time he was done, he had secured 8% of the company''s shares¡ªan investment that would be worth millions in the future. ''Now I just sit back and let the money roll in slowly.'' Rubbing his hands together like a villain scheming his next move, Merlin barely noticed Victoria stepping back into the room. The moment he did, he quickly leaned back and feigned innocence, acting as if he hadn''t just thrown nearly his entire fortune into a single investment. ''Everything''s fine. Nothing to see here.'' He forced a casual smile, which only made Victoria squint at him suspiciously. "Food should be here soon. And stop smiling like that¡ªit''s creepy." She shook her head before flopping onto the couch. ¡ª Their peaceful TV-watching session was interrupted by the sharp ringing of Victoria''s phone. ''Finally, the food?'' But instead of answering, she frowned. "I need to go. Something came up at the office." She was already gathering her things at an almost supernatural speed. "If the delivery guy rings, just grab the food. And don''t eat mine." Merlin rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah. Be careful." "You too." And with that, she was out the door. ''...What kind of trouble could be going on at her job?'' Merlin briefly considered looking into it¡ªthen shrugged and went back to watching TV. ''Not like I can do anything.'' ¡ª A little while later, the doorbell rang, snapping him out of his movie. ''Of course. Right when it''s getting to the good part.'' Sighing, he grabbed his wallet and opened the door, only to be hit by the mouthwatering aroma of freshly baked¡ª "Two pizzas for Victoria Everheart?" Ah. So she ordered pizza. "Yep, those are for us." He reached for his wallet, but the delivery guy cleared his throat. "It''s already paid for." ''Oh.'' Merlin accepted the pizzas, thanked the guy, and retreated back to the couch. ''...I should wait for her before eating.'' He needed something to kill time. ''System. Training menu.'' [Training (Daily) currently available.] [Would you like to proceed? Y/N] ''Yes.'' The moment he confirmed, a strange dizziness overtook him. It felt as if his mind was spinning on a rollercoaster. His vision darkened¡ª Then, suddenly, the scent of fresh grass filled his nose. A cool breeze brushed against his skin, and the soft earth pressed beneath his fingers. It was refreshing. Almost too real. Merlin pushed himself up from the ground, once again finding himself in the same vast field. ''This place is oddly refreshing again.'' Before him lay the same rapier he had used last time¡ªstill stained with goblin blood. ''Couldn''t it at least clean itself or something? It''s disgusting.'' With a sigh, he picked it up and tried to shake off as much of the dried blood as possible. Strangely enough, the black streaks still looked fresh, as if they had only just been spilled. But there was no time to dwell on it. [Wave 2] The system''s voice thundered in his mind like an explosion. ''So we''re jumping straight into it again, huh? No warm welcomes I guess.'' A portal tore open in the air before him, distorting space itself as it crackled with energy. What kind of nightmare is coming through this time? Then, he heard it¡ªdeep, rhythmic thuds shaking the earth. ''Footsteps? Jesus this is loud as fuck.'' A towering figure emerged from the portal¡ªa massive, ogre-like creature covered in thick, gray hide. It let out a deafening roar, almost draconic in its intensity. In one hand, it held an enormous battle-axe¡ªsomething that should''ve required two hands, yet it wielded it effortlessly with one. ''An ogre?'' Merlin tightened his grip on his rapier. Without hesitation, the ogre charged at him, the ground trembling under its sheer weight. Merlin sighed. ''This won''t take long. No armor, no defense¡ªjust a big, slow target.'' Mana surged through his rapier, and with a burst of speed, he vanished¡ªreappearing behind the ogre in an instant. A deep gash carved itself across its chest before it even realized what had happened. "Your skin''s tougher than I expected. I thought this would be over in one strike." The ogre roared in pain, but before it could react, Merlin disappeared again¡ªthen again, and again. He flickered around it like a phantom, each teleportation leaving behind another deep wound. Finally, the beast had enough. With a furious snarl, it swung its massive axe toward him. "You''re not bad, big guy!" [Tricker''s Reflex] Merlin twisted his body, narrowly avoiding the strike, then resumed his relentless assault. The ogre had no chance to counter. Its sheer size made it painfully slow, while Merlin was like a grasshopper¡ªdarting around unpredictably, landing strike after strike. Then, as blood dripped from his nose from overexertion, he smirked. ''Time for the finale.'' Channeling every ounce of mana into his rapier, he propelled himself forward, using his space and wind affinity to blur through the air like a lightning bolt. The ogre barely had time to react. In one clean motion, Merlin landed behind it. A moment later, its head soared into the air, severed as effortlessly as if it had been made of paper. "And that''s that." [Training Completed!] [Rewards] +2 Intelligence +2 Agility [Hidden Quest Completed ¨C Finish training in under ten minutes!] [Reward] +1 Selectable Affinity Suddenly Merlin''s mind raced, the world around him shifted as his eyes closed and he found himself back on his couch. The smell of the pizzas lingering in the room. Merlin looked around just to notice Victoria was still not home. ''One new affinity again. I might have just won the lottery this time again.'' He barely held back a chuckle as he looked at the reward of the hidden quest. ''I guess finishing quickly can be rewarding sometimes. Let''s see what I get.'' After he chose the reward a panel materialized in front of him displaying the affinities. Merlin''s eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. ''N-No way'' Chapter 13 13: Time Is On My Side [Please choose an affinity.] ? Time ? Shadow ? Lightning ? Light ''...These are all overpowered. But there''s only one real choice here.'' ''I choose time.'' The moment he made his choice, a flood of information rushed into his brain. It was so overwhelming that his body reacted instinctively¡ªhe smacked himself in the face. Right at that moment, the door opened. Victoria stood frozen in the doorway. "..." "...Pfft¡ª" She tried to hold it in. She really did. But within seconds, she burst out laughing, slamming the door shut behind her as she doubled over. ''Of course, this is my luck...'' Merlin sighed, rubbing his face as he got up from the couch. "They already delivered the pizza. I waited for you." He forced an unnatural smile, which only made Victoria raise an eyebrow. "Alright then." She sat down and opened the box, releasing the heavenly scent of otherworldly pepperoni into the room. The moment the smell hit Merlin''s nose, his eyes widened. ''Is this... heaven?'' He sat down, grabbed a slice, and so did Victoria. "Bon appe?tit." They said it at the same time. The pizza was perfectly balanced¡ªnot soggy, but crispy enough to crack slightly under his bite. It was the ideal texture. And the taste? Unreal. ''The food here is practically divine...'' Merlin savored every bite like it was his first time ever tasting pizza. Slice after slice disappeared into his stomach until he had eaten the entire thing¡ªnot a single crumb left. ''No food waste on my watch.'' Just as he was about to relax, a beeping sound came from the bathroom¡ªthe washing machine''s cycle was done. "Hold on a second." Victoria, half-asleep on the couch with the TV still playing, gave a lazy nod¡ªor at least, Merlin thought she did. She might''ve just twitched in her sleep. He grabbed his clothes, now freshly washed, and spun the air around them in tight, controlled motions. Within moments, they were completely dry. ''Perfect.'' Satisfied, he stepped back into the living room¡ªwhere Victoria was now softly snoring. ''Rough day at work?'' Shaking his head, Merlin grabbed a blanket and gently draped it over her. ''Guess it''s time for me to sleep too.'' He stretched and quietly made his way to his room. Lying in bed, Merlin stared at the ceiling, thinking about his new time affinity. Nathan, the protagonist in the original novel, had also gained time affinity¡ªbut only at the very end of the story. Which meant that Merlin, right now, had no idea how to use it. ''I can''t even kick a rock compared to late-game Nathan...'' Sighing, he rolled onto his side. Tomorrow was an important day. A specific event would take place¡ªone that had changed Nathan, even if he never showed it on the outside. ''And that means...tomorrow is going to fucking suck so damn much.'' Tomorrow, Nathan will have his first training session with the system. ¡ª The Next Morning Merlin got up, completed his usual morning routine, and stepped out of the apartment. Victoria was already gone¡ªprobably at work. Taking a deep breath, he stretched. ''Everything feels... oddly perfect today.'' As soon as he stepped onto the street, a taxi pulled up right in front of him. ''What kind of luck is this?'' Skeptically, he got in. The ride to the academy was flawless¡ªno delays, no traffic, no issues getting through security. ''Okay... this is definitely a prank.'' Opening his phone, he checked his schedule for the day. [Tactical Blade Application] His hands started trembling. His eyes twitched. ''Never mind. My luck is officially over.'' With a heavy sigh, he made his way toward the open training ground, where a few students were already waiting. Nathan wasn''t here yet. Neither was Reinhardt. But Dorian was. ''This is awkward.'' Silently, Merlin walked up and stood beside him. Dorian did the same. Neither of them said a word. It was like watching two mute birds trying to out-silence each other. Eventually, Reinhardt entered the training ground. Nathan was still nowhere to be seen. ''So he''s still going through system training, huh? That''s... unfortunate.'' Reinhardt crossed his arms and swept his gaze across the students. His eyes landed on Merlin. "Everyone, grab your weapons." Merlin picked up his rapier¡ªthe same one he always used. "I''ll be demonstrating a basic technique." ''Please, please, please don''t¡ª'' "Merlin Everhart, step forward." A chill ran down his spine. Reinhardt''s smile was terrifying. "Sir, I think there might be someone more qualified¡ª" "Merlin Everhart." There was no escape. Letting out a slow, defeated exhale, he stepped forward. He and Reinhardt faced each other, weapons drawn, while the students watched in anticipation. ''Please, gods, if you exist¡ªjust don''t let me break any ribs. Or limbs. Or my spine. Or my¡ª'' "Merlin, attack me." Reinhardt didn''t even move. Merlin just stared at him. ''It doesn''t matter how I attack¡ªhe''s going to absolutely wreck me.'' Resigning himself to fate, he took a step forward and executed a simple, speed-boosted slash. At the very last second, Reinhardt slid his sword along Merlin''s blade and¡ª WHAM. ¡ªslammed the hilt of his sword straight into Merlin''s stomach. Merlin doubled over in pain, clutching his abdomen. ''This... this is torture...'' Reinhardt turned back to the students. "As you can see, this is how you properly execute a parry. Of course, I didn''t want to hurt Mr. Everhart, so I only used the hilt." ''Yeah, sure. Totally didn''t want to hurt me. Not at all.'' Merlin groaned. Today was not his day. "Mr. Everhart, attack again¡ª" Before Reinhardt could finish his sentence, Merlin warped forward, using his space affinity to instantly close the gap. ''Screw you, you sadistic bastard!'' He swung his sword down, aiming straight for Reinhardt''s head. Reinhardt moved to parry, but just as he was about to counter¡ª [Trickster''s Reflex] Merlin''s body twisted unnaturally, avoiding the counter at the last second. Reinhardt''s brow twitched. ''Yeah, what now, you¡ª'' BAM! A well-placed kick to the stomach sent Merlin flying back several meters, like a ragdoll tossed into the void. Lying on the ground, Merlin gasped for air. ''Alright. Now this is personal.'' Ignoring the pain, he leaped back to his feet and charged again. Reinhardt, meanwhile, casually scratched his ear. The students just stared, blinking in confusion. "...Has he lost his mind?" "Did he finally snap?" Merlin lunged forward, executing a sharp forward slash. Reinhardt blocked it effortlessly. "When slashing, make sure to use your waist properly. Rotating your core adds more speed and power." Merlin''s eyes twitched. ''He''s actually giving a lesson while I''m attacking him?!'' He resisted the urge to throw in his other affinities, limiting himself to just space¡ªnot that he could do much with it yet. Still, he tried applying pressure with spatial distortions. It felt like an ant trying to push over a boulder. Merlin gritted his teeth and slashed again. Reinhardt countered with a powerful downward swing¡ª And for a split second¡ª Everything slowed down. ''...What the hell?'' Reinhardt''s movements turned sluggish, his blade creeping toward Merlin at a snail''s pace. Acting on instinct, Merlin jumped back¡ª And suddenly, time resumed as normal. Reinhardt''s eyes widened. From the students'' perspective, it just looked like Merlin had dodged at the last second. Merlin, standing there in shock, blinked. ''Was that... my time affinity?'' Reinhardt''s expression remained unreadable. But his raised eyebrows and stunned stare spoke volumes. ''Time...'' Reinhardt''s thoughts churned. It wasn''t just the dodge¡ªit was how Merlin dodged. His movement wasn''t natural. His eyes had flickered, scanning everything at an unnatural speed mid-evade. ''...She''s the only one who could have this.'' Time affinity. The rarest affinity in the world. The only known user was the Academy''s Headmaster. No one else. Merlin stood motionless, staring at Reinhardt. ''The old man knows something.'' Merlin already knew that nobody besides the Headmaster possessed time affinity¡ªexcept for Nathan at the end of the novel. Which was precisely why he chose it when the system offered. ''It''s broken. That''s why I took it.'' He narrowed his eyes. ''Now, what''s this old man planning¡ª'' "Well done, Merlin. That was a good demonstration. Return to your spot." Merlin''s eyebrow twitched. ''...What? That''s all? Seriously?'' His forced smile trembled as he wordlessly nodded and walked back to the group. As Merlin walked back, the students around him stared. Some with confusion. Some with amusement. And some... with pure disbelief. "...That''s it?" "That''s the whole demonstration?" A few students were already snickering among themselves. "Oh no, Merlin''s just too powerful to keep fighting! Reinhardt must''ve gotten scared!" "Clearly, he''s a hidden monster!" Merlin ignored them. He literally couldn''t care less about them. Mostly because he was too busy gritting his teeth whilst thinking about the consequences of his time affinity. ''Now that I think about it..maybe time is too good..I also wanted to get back at the old man.'' And even though his brain told him it was good news¡ªthat Reinhardt wasn''t going to publicly annihilate him in front of all the students present, his pride felt like it had just been drop-kicked. He sat down with an exaggerated sigh, arms crossed. As he looked at the rapier in front of him. Chapter 14 14: Demon Headmaster Class ended quickly¡ªnothing special happened, and Nathan was still nowhere to be seen. The other students started filing out, chatting amongst themselves. Merlin, sensing an opportunity, tried to slip away unnoticed. Unfortunately, a massive hand clamped down on his shoulder like a vice. ''Here we go again..'' Turning around slowly, he found himself staring into Reinhardt''s piercing gaze. "We''re going to the Headmaster''s office." ''Yeah, saw that coming from a mile away.'' Merlin sighed and met Reinhardt''s gaze. "Am I allowed to say no?" "No." The sheer finality in Reinhardt''s voice struck Merlin like a hammer. "...Alright, lead the way then." As they made their way toward the main building, hushed whispers followed them down the hallway. "What the hell did he do this time?" "Probably something stupid." A few students even chuckled, their amusement at Merlin''s expense. A vein twitched on his forehead. ''Great. Just great.'' Reinhardt exchanged a few words with the Headmistress''s secretary¡ªa woman with striking red hair and fiery eyes¡ªbefore she stepped into the office and shut the door behind her. ''What now¡ª'' Moments later, she reappeared and gave them a nod. "You may enter." Reinhardt pushed open the door, and they stepped inside. At first glance, Merlin almost thought they had entered the wrong office. Sitting¡ªno, lounging¡ªon the desk was a woman who looked far too young to be the Headmaster. Long blue hair cascaded down her back, and her sharp, almost predatory gaze locked onto him. ''Morgana Thorne Vyle.'' Merlin immediately tried¡ªtried¡ªnot to stare. ''...Her outfit is way too revealing.'' His face grew red as Reinhardt coughed, clearly telling him to snap out of it. "I''ve brought the boy¡ª" "You can leave for now." Morgana''s voice cut him off with a wink as her gaze shifted to Merlin. Her eyes were white¡ªcompletely white, like a snow-covered landscape untouched by imperfection. Reinhardt''s expression twitched, but he didn''t dare argue. He simply nodded and glanced at Merlin. ''Help me.'' And then, just like that, he was gone. Merlin gulped. ''This is bad.'' Morgana stood, closing the distance between them in an instant. Her hand rested on his shoulder. "You''re the one with Time Affinity." ''So she already knows.'' Merlin wasn''t sure if Reinhardt had told her, or if she had simply sensed it herself. Considering she was a Ten-Star Mage, one of the strongest humans alive... it wouldn''t surprise him if it was the latter. "Three affinities, actually." Morgana leaned in closer, her nose practically touching his collarbone. And then¡ªshe sniffed him. Merlin jumped back as if electrocuted. ''She was weird in the novel... but experiencing this firsthand is way worse.'' His face flushed as their eyes met again. There was something suffocating about her gaze, like falling into an abyss. "Hmm... all your affinities are still at One Star." Morgana clicked her tongue, as if disappointed. "You''re as weak as an ant." Merlin''s expression twitched. ''Thanks. I love being reminded.'' "I could train you..." His heart skipped a beat. If Morgana personally trained him, his progress would skyrocket. His life would instantly become 500 times easier. ''This is it¡ª!'' "But you''re too weak." Morgana shook her head, her tone flat. Merlin''s shoulders slumped as he shut his eyes and took a deep breath. Acceptance. Inner peace. Whatever. "You have three affinities... and yet you''re still this pathetic." She sighed, genuinely sounding let down, as if she had expected something more. "Pity. I was starting to get excited. I''ll have to see for myself though." She said the last part quietly so that Merlin couldn''t hear it. Her expression remained cold and unchanging as she studied him, while Merlin stood there, frozen like a statue. ''Someone. Anyone. Save me.'' Merlin stood completely still. He wasn''t sure if it was because Morgana''s gaze had him rooted in place like an insect pinned to a board... or if he had simply given up on processing what was happening. ''I''m so cooked.'' She continued circling him like a predator inspecting its prey, her white eyes practically glowing in the dimly lit office. "Hmm... You have a terrible physique and your foundation isn''t the best either, it''s clear you haven''t been pushed properly at all." Her voice was like silk laced with something dangerous. Merlin clenched his jaw. ''Yeah, no kidding. If I was properly trained, I wouldn''t be One Star at everything.'' "Do you at least have combat experience?" Merlin couldn''t tell her about the goblins or the training he does with his system. "...no." Morgana raised an eyebrow. Merlin averted his eyes. Silence. Then¡ª "Pfft. Truly pathetic. I already had experience when I was your age." ''Yeah no shit..'' Morgana laughed. It was soft at first, like she was trying to hold it in, but then it broke into a full, melodic laugh. Merlin''s face burned. ''I just embarrassed myself in front of one of the strongest humans alive. Fantastic.'' Morgana took a deep breath, a grin still playing on her lips. "Oh, this is going to be fun." ''Fun? That doesn''t sound good at all.'' Merlin took a cautious step back. Morgana took a step forward. "...What exactly are you planning?" Morgana''s smile widened. "You''ll see." She snapped her fingers. BOOM. The world shifted. Space seemed to distort around Merlin as his mind blurred. His vision blurred completely and he was pulled by an incisive force as if something had yanked him through space itself. When he blinked, he wasn''t in the office anymore. Instead, he stood in the center of a vast, empty battlefield? The sky was a swirling mix of violet and gold, and the ground beneath him looked like smooth, polished obsidian. Merlin swallowed. "...Where the hell am I?" Morgana stretched her arms, rolling her shoulders as if warming up. "The Training Field. It''s one of my personal domains. I want to test your capabilities." That... was not a good answer. Merlin did not want to hear that..at all. ''One of her domains...I''m so, so fucked.'' A person could use multiple of so called domains, but one needed to be insanely strong to be able to do it..which Morgana just happened to be. He turned his head slightly. Noticing another person standing beside Morgana. He noticed Reinhardt, his arms crossed, watching with an amused expression as he looked Merlin in the eye. ''He knew about this?! How the fuck? Did they fucking plan all of this shit?'' Merlin''s stomach dropped. His heart was racing, nearly escaping his body. "Alright," Morgana said, whilst turning to face Merlin with an indifferent expression as she snapped her fingers. "Let''s see if you''re worth training." Then another Morgana appeared? No, to be more precise she seemed like a younger version. ''She has a skill to clone herself if I remember correctly. Is she using time to make the clone appear younger?? Does she have some kind of weird fetish of beating children or what the fuck?'' Merlin''s eyes widened as the clone disappeared from its place. His heart beating in his head. "Wait¡ªwhat?" BOOM. Merlin barely had a second to react before the clone reappeared in front of him¡ªso fast it was like it had teleported. ''Oh, sh¡ª'' A fist rocketed toward his stomach. Merlin moved purely out of instinct. [Trickster''s Reflex] His body flickered as he dodged just by a hair''s breadth. Barely avoiding the strike. He only had a second to breathe before the clone turned to look at him. And it smiled. It was creepy as hell. The original Morgana''s voice reverberated through the domain. "Good." ''Not good. Not good. It''s going to kill me!'' It vanished again. Merlin tried to move¡ª Too late. BANG. A foot slammed into his side, sending him soaring across the field like a ragdoll. He hit the ground hard, rolling several times before finally skidding to a stop. His brain barely processed what had happened. The only thing he could focus on was the searing pain in his ribs. ''She''s trying to kill me.'' He groaned, rolling onto his back. The clone stood a few meters away, her hands on her hips as the original talked. "I made her hold back, you know." Merlin just wheezed. ''...Screw this woman. I''ll kill that bitch''s clone.'' Reinhardt, meanwhile, was openly grinning, obviously enjoying Merlin getting beat. ''Screw him too. They all conspired against me.'' The clone tilted her head as the original Morgana talked. "Get up." Merlin did not want to get up. He wanted to just lay there and die or something. But then the clone raised a hand. Mana gathered in its palm, swirling like a miniature storm. ''Fuck..she''ll actually kill me.'' Merlin''s survival instincts screamed. He immediately scrambled to his feet and dodged the strike. Morgana grinned as the clone shook her head. "Good boy." Merlin''s eyes twitched. He clenched his fists. ''Fine. If she wants a fight...'' He took a deep breath, forcing mana into his limbs. ''Then I''ll beat that fucking clone to death.'' Merlin used his wind affinity and space to dash towards the clone...whilst it just stood still waiting for Merlin''s attack. ''It''s fucking toying with me.'' Chapter 15 15: Creepy Ladies Merlin channeled his wind and space affinity, pushing his movements to their limit. He had no weapon. Nothing but his fists. ''Alright, don''t be useless now." He launched a kick at the clone. It blocked it effortlessly. ''Again.'' Merlin swung a right hook. The clone sidestepped, reaching for him¡ª [Trickster''s Reflex] Merlin twisted out of its grasp. Morgana''s eyes flickered with interest. ''Huh. He''s definitely not entirely hopeless.'' She tracked his every movement, down to the rhythm of his breathing. Reinhardt, meanwhile, was watching with the wide-eyed intensity of a man betting on an underdog. ''You got this, kid.'' Merlin kept attacking. Then¡ª The clone struck. It moved for his throat, fingers curled like claws. ''I''m gonna die I''m gonna die I''m gonna die¡ª'' Panic seized his brain. He activated his time affinity¡ª And suddenly, the clone''s movements slowed. ''Oh. That... worked?'' He dodged. The clone hadn''t expected that. Merlin countered with a punch to the face, sending it skidding back. Morgana''s expression remained neutral, but her eyes burned with something dangerous. ''I want him as a disciple, but I can''t make it too obvious.'' She licked her lips. Reinhardt, watching from the side, paled. ''What the hell is this demon woman planning...?'' He shook his head and looked back at Merlin. Merlin, meanwhile, was frozen. Because the clone was smiling. Okay, nope. That''s terrifying. Then¡ª The clone shot toward him like a bullet. ''Shit¡ª'' Merlin tried slowing time again¡ª The clone countered, restoring its speed instantly. ''I''m so cooked.'' [Trickster''s Reflex] Merlin threw every ounce of affinity he had into dodging¡ª The clone grabbed his arm anyway. ''Oh for fuck''s sake¡ª'' He was slammed into the ground. Face-first. His arm twisted behind his back. A knee pressed against his spine. "..." Merlin tried very, very hard to ignore the feeling of the clone pressed against him. He cleared his throat. Morgana clapped her hands. The clone vanished. The pressure on his back lifted. Merlin groaned, pushing himself off the floor. Morgana snapped her fingers. Reality ripped. Next thing he knew¡ª They were back in her office. ''...This is normal to them. It shouldn''t be. But it is.'' Merlin sighed, rubbing his face. Morgana, meanwhile, rested her chin on her hand, lost in thought. Reinhardt and Merlin exchanged glances. Then looked at Morgana. ''What is she plotting?'' They thought it in perfect sync. If Morgana was thinking this much, it was never a good sign. Sweat formed on Merlin''s brow as she met his gaze. "Not bad." ...Here it comes. She''s gonna keep talking. She always does this. She loves leaving sentences unfinished just to mess with people. Merlin waited. And waited. ...And waited. The office was dead silent. Like an abandoned graveyard. Without the abandoned part. "...So?" Merlin finally asked, breaking first. "So what?" ''...Is she serious?'' A giant question mark might as well have been drawn on Merlin''s face as he searched Morgana''s expression for anything. Nothing. She sighed. Then, staring straight into his soul, she said¡ª "The Battle Royale games for first-years are coming up soon." ''...Battle Royale? Ah, right. That dumb event Nathan always won.'' Merlin grimaced. Morgana continued, "If you place first¡ª" She leaned forward slightly. "¡ªand defeat at least ten other students¡ª" Reinhardt''s eyes lit up. "...I''ll teach you." A deal. Morgana stepped closer. ''Too close.'' Merlin shifted uncomfortably. "I accept the offer." Merlin met Morgana''s gaze, watching as her lips curled into a devilish smile. ''Yeah, I don''t like that.'' Reinhardt cleared his throat. Both of them turned to him at the exact same time. "The kid should get back to training. If I recall correctly, he doesn''t have any more classes today." ''...How does he know that?'' Merlin resisted the urge to smack himself. ''Did he seriously check my schedule?'' Morgana shrugged. "Fine." The door swung open without a sound. "Thanks for the opportunity." Merlin nodded slightly before stepping out with Reinhardt. The moment the door closed behind them, Reinhardt clapped a hand on his shoulder. "See? You survived." ''Survived? Since when are we close enough for shoulder pats, old man?'' Merlin sighed, pushing forward toward the training hall. He ignored the odd looks he got along the way. ''Where the hell is Nathan?'' As he walked, his mind drifted. ''Shouldn''t he be done with training by now?'' Merlin shook his head, snapping himself out of it. ''Not my problem.'' The facility was packed. Students filled almost every room¡ª Except one. "Perfect¡ª" "You want to use it too?" A cold, familiar voice cut in. ''Oh, this can''t be good.'' Merlin turned. Elara Vaelith stood behind him, arms crossed like she owned the place. This day just keeps getting better. Meanwhile, Reinhardt... Reinhardt was smiling. But not in a normal way. In a creepy, definitely-up-to-something way. ''What is this old man planning?'' Elara and Merlin both glanced at him¡ª Just as he started rubbing his hands together like some evil mastermind. ''That''s so unsettling.'' "How about a spar¡ª" "No." "Sure." Reinhardt didn''t even finish before Merlin rejected the idea outright. Meanwhile, Elara agreed. With a smirk. ''Why is everyone acting so goddamn weird today?'' Merlin sighed, shaking his head. "Fine. But this is the first and last¡ª" Before he could finish, Reinhardt was already shoving him toward the training room. Elara followed with a cold, almost amused smile¡ªlike she was watching a kitten struggle. "Grab the weapon you want to use." Reinhardt''s voice echoed as they stepped inside. ''...I have to go all out.'' Merlin exhaled sharply and picked up his usual rapier. The moment his fingers wrapped around the hilt, he felt it. Like the blade had been made for his hands. Like it was a part of him. ''Perfect.'' He swung it a few times¡ªquick, precise cuts. The air whistled with every motion. Then, he took his stance. Elara, on the other hand¡ª She grabbed a spear. A long one. Longer than she was tall. ''...This is a terrible matchup for me.'' Merlin clicked his tongue but quickly adjusted his stance. Elara was way more experienced with weapons. However, Merlin was him. ''I wouldn''t lose though.'' Reinhardt watched, eyes narrowing slightly at Elara''s weapon choice. Then¡ª "Fight!" His voice cracked through the room like an explosion. Both of them launched forward at the same time. Merlin channeled his Space Affinity. ''He never said I couldn''t use it.'' Elara, however¡ª She still wasn''t using hers. Chapter 16 16: A Little Trickery Elara lunged forward, her spear aimed straight at Merlin''s chest. ''That''s not very nice.'' Merlin sidestepped effortlessly, not even needing to use his skill. As he dodged, he swung his rapier through the air. A sharp whistle accompanied the movement, slicing through the silence¡ª ¡ªonly for his blade to get lodged in a rising wall of earth. ''Finally, she''s using her affinity.'' Elara was a prodigy, blessed with an Earth Affinity so strong that people called her a once-in-a-century talent. Unfortunately for her, if she was a century-level genius, then Merlin was a once-in-a-hundred-thousand-years anomaly. With a flicker of mana, just as Reinhardt had taught him, he channeled power into his sword¡ª And split the earthen wall clean in half. "!!!" Elara''s eyes widened in shock. Even Reinhardt, who had been watching from the sidelines, gave a satisfied nod. "You''re not bad," Merlin said smugly, grinning as Elara shot toward him like a lightning bolt. He had no intention of revealing all his affinities just yet, so he stuck to Space. With a casual thought, he increased the pressure on Elara while subtly accelerating his own movements. ''Perfect.'' This trick hadn''t worked on Reinhardt before, but Elara wasn''t Reinhardt. Not even close. "The Space Affinity..." Elara''s voice trembled as she realized what he was doing. Her grip on her spear wavered for a split second before she clenched her teeth and conjured several small earthen spikes, launching them at Merlin. "Toothpicks?" Merlin tilted his head mockingly, earning a glare from Elara. [Trickster''s Reflex] His body weaved between the spikes like a professional dancer in peak season. "You''re not bad, but it''s not enough." His voice echoed through the training hall as he closed the distance with a swift slash. Elara quickly stepped back, barely dodging in time. The room filled with the rhythmic clash of sword and spear, their weapons striking and deflecting in rapid succession. ''Come on.'' Reinhardt watched intently, resisting the urge to openly root for Merlin. As a teacher, he should have remained neutral, but deep down, he was already cheering for his student. ''I expected more from her.'' Merlin thought as he dodged yet another thrust without breaking a sweat. With a quick step forward, he kicked at her midsection¡ª Only for another earth wall to rise up and block his foot. ''She has to believe it.'' Feigning injury, Merlin exaggerated his reaction, clutching his leg and stumbling backward. "Shit." His voice was cold, and his face contorted in "pain". "Does it hurt?" Elara smirked as she lunged forward, seeing him ''retreat.'' ''Bingo.'' Merlin had completely read her personality from the novel. He knew she would go on the offensive the moment she thought she had the upper hand. So as she lunged¡ª Merlin dashed toward her. "What the hell¡ª?!" Her expression twisted in confusion. She had been so sure his leg was injured. She tried to retreat¡ª But couldn''t. The space around her pressed down like invisible chains, rooting her in place. "You should block this." Merlin''s voice was emotionless as he appeared in front of her, leg raised. She tried to lift her spear¡ª But there was no time. His kick landed squarely in her stomach, sending her flying backward. The pressure in the air intensified. "This is over." His cold voice echoed as he stood over her motionless body. "You... tricked me." Elara''s face burned red in embarrassment. Merlin shrugged. "In a fight, anything goes." She fell silent at his words. As much as she hated to admit it, he was right. A slow clap broke the silence. Reinhardt smirked as he applauded. "A good match. But you both have a lot to learn. You''re nowhere near competent yet." He turned to Elara first. "Drop your ego and stop blindly attacking. Think. Merlin won because he used his head. Meanwhile, your brain was practically knocking on an empty room the entire fight. You barely utilized your affinity." "..." Elara bit her lip and nodded quietly. Meanwhile, Merlin was trying very hard not to laugh. "Pfft..." Reinhardt''s gaze snapped to him. "And you. It''s obvious you lack proper affinity control and that your body is weak." Merlin''s laughter died instantly. Elara, on the other hand, smirked. Merlin felt his soul leave his body. ''The Ice Queen can smirk?'' They exchanged glances¡ªthen, as if on cue, both turned away at the same time. Reinhardt''s smile grew wider. ''Ohoho?'' He rubbed his hands together, looking far too pleased. Merlin immediately grew suspicious. ''What is this old man plotting...?'' Shaking his head, he turned back to Elara, ignoring Reinhardt completely. "Shall we continue?" His voice was emotionless. Elara nodded, raising her spear. Merlin gripped his sword. Reinhardt, meanwhile, was lost in his own little fantasy world. ''...Romance was his weakness in the novel. Please don''t get any weird ideas.'' Merlin sighed before calling out¡ª "Begin!" And their spar resumed. ¡ª A few hours later, they finally stopped. Reinhardt had left earlier, claiming he had "more important things to do." The final score? 16-0. ''Sixteen wins for me... Zero for Elara.'' Elara sat on the ground, clutching her spear like it was her last lifeline. Merlin wiped the sweat from his forehead awkwardly. ''Time to go.'' "Good luck improving," he said casually before turning to leave. Just as he reached the door¡ª "If... you want, we can spar again sometime." ''???'' Merlin stopped mid-step, his brain buffering. He turned, saw Elara''s slightly flushed face, and gave a slow nod before walking out. His mind was a whirlwind of confusion. ''What the hell was that...?'' Shaking his head, he refocused. ''I have things to do. I need a weapon.'' Leaving the academy, he flagged down a taxi without issue. Sliding into the backseat, he pulled out his wallet. "To Eldermoor, please." The driver turned around, looking nervous. "Eldermoor? Isn''t that a bit far, sir?" Merlin pulled out a handful of cash and placed it in the man''s hand. The driver''s eyes practically glowed. "Oh, absolutely, sir! We''ll be there in no time!" As the car pulled away, Merlin leaned back, recalling the details from the novel. ''Keryx... the sword of an ancient herald, blessed by a god. It''s perfect for me.'' Taking out his phone, he sent a quick text to his sister. {Merlin: I''m staying at a friend''s place tonight.} {Victoria: You have friends? LOL} {Merlin: ...} {Victoria: Just be safe.} Merlin sighed, putting his phone away. ''...She has a point, though.'' ¡ª The trip was painfully boring. Merlin spent the entire ride playing mobile games, zoning out until they finally arrived under the veil of night. The taxi driver gave him a nod. Merlin had already handed him a generous stack of bills in advance¡ªmore than enough, considering the driver didn''t even try asking for more. Instead, he just waved cheerfully as he pulled away. ''Of course he''s happy.'' Merlin turned his attention to the dense forest ahead. Somewhere within it lay Eldermoor¡ªa village the novel had described as a haven for swordmasters. The forest was eerily silent. No rustling, no birdsong. Just an oppressive stillness. Yet, the crisp scent of flowers lingered in the air, making it oddly refreshing. ''Not bad.'' As Merlin reached the village, the first thing he noticed was how empty it was. No city bustle, no shouting merchants¡ªjust a few people, most of whom carried swords at their waists. Every adult, to be precise. ''Maybe everyone''s inside because it''s late.'' The buildings were old, their walls engraved with dragons and ancient symbols, as if they had stood for thousands of years. ''Seeing it in person is... insane.'' But he wasn''t here to sightsee. His goal was deeper in the forest. As he walked through the village, he felt the occasional curious gaze land on him. But the moment they spotted his academy uniform, they looked away. It made sense. The academy often sent students on trivial quests as part of their training. They probably thought he was just another one of those students. ''If only they knew I''m actually here to steal a legendary sword.'' Merlin shook his head and pressed forward into the forest beyond Eldermoor. This time, there was no unnatural silence. Birds chirped in the distance, and a gentle breeze rustled through the leaves. It was peaceful¡ªtoo peaceful. Moonlight filtered through the canopy as Merlin retraced the novel''s description, searching for one thing. A tree... surrounded by strange white flowers. That was all the novel had given him to work with. Not exactly helpful. ''Of course, the protagonist just stumbled across it by sheer dumb luck halfway through the story.'' Yes¡ªNathan had found this very sword. And what did he do with it? Absolutely nothing. He had already obtained some factory-made weapons by then, so this priceless artifact had been left to gather dust. ''Moron.'' Merlin kept searching, pushing deeper and deeper into the woods. His patience started wearing thin¡ªuntil, at last... A soft glow caught his eye. Nestled between the trees were luminous white flowers, basking in the moon''s gentle radiance. He exhaled slowly, his shoulders relaxing as relief washed over him. For a moment, his eyes stung. ''Finally.'' He had found it. Chapter 17 17: The Herald鈥檚 Sword Merlin walked toward the tree with slow, steady steps. ''What the hell is this?'' A door was carved into the bark, almost entirely blended in as if moss had grown over it. ''No way¡ª'' He wiped the surface with his hand... and immediately regretted it. "Ugh, that''s disgusting." Shaking his head, he pressed against the door. The moment he did, a blinding white light burst from inside. ''Oh, come on¡ª'' Before he could even finish his thought, the light pulled him in. It was a familiar sensation¡ªspace itself seemed to twist and tear around him. Then, suddenly, he was somewhere else. A white void. Everything around him was pure, endless white. It felt like... heaven? ''What just happened?! This wasn''t in the novel!'' His thoughts raced as he recalled the scene¡ªNathan had just walked in and picked up the sword. Simple. Quick. No bullshit. This? This was bullshit. "Hello?" He called out, hoping for a response. Nothing. Not even an echo. ''Fantastic.'' Then¡ª || Hm... So, you''re the one who wants to wield the weapon? || A voice boomed through the void. No form, no figure¡ªjust a deep, masculine voice vibrating through his bones. "W-Who are you?" Merlin''s voice shook as he dropped to his knees. His heartbeat pounded against his ribs like it wanted to get the hell out of his body. || Who am I? Who are YOU to ask questions, Merlin Everhart? || The voice was cold, almost amused. Merlin wasn''t even surprised it knew his name. If just the voice alone made him feel like this, then this thing was something he absolutely should not piss off. "I-I apologize for asking." Silence. Then¡ª || HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! || It started laughing. Loudly. ''...Is this bastard laughing at me?'' Merlin clenched his teeth as he stared into the whiteness. || I am $#%$# || Searing pain. Merlin''s head throbbed violently as he coughed up blood, splattering the pristine white ground. ''WHAT THE HELL¡ª'' His body overheated, every cell screaming as if it were about to explode. || Ah... looks like it''s too early for you to hear my name. Oh well, doesn''t change much, kid. || The voice sounded amused. ''Great. I''m getting roasted by some eldritch entity.'' Merlin barely managed to support himself on his hands, sweating bullets as he listened to the voice''s casual tone. || You''re here for the sword, aren''t you? || His thoughts snapped back to reality. ''The sword... right. I nearly forgot about it.'' The voice read his mind like an open book. Figures. "Yes." He kept his response short. No need to get another migraine. || It''s about #%#% time someone $#%$%* || ''Oh, come ON!'' Merlin clutched his skull as another sharp pain shot through his brain. The static in the words made his entire body tremble. || Hmm... it seems even my voice is starting to become too much for your current self. || ''No shit, Sherlock.'' Merlin wheezed on the ground, feeling like he just went through a washing machine set to maximum torment mode. || Well, whatever. Here it is¡ªKeryx. But you''ll only be able to wield it if it chooses you. || A floating ore appeared in front of him, glowing white and gold. ''Wait, this is the sword?'' The ore drifted toward him. || Your hand. || Merlin hesitated. Should he really listen to a literal disembodied voice? Then again, if this thing wanted him dead, it would''ve happened already. ''Screw it.'' He reached out. With a little hesitation in his movement. || We will meet again, #%€&''s chosen. || The voice glitched at the last part, but Merlin wasn''t able to hear the entity anyways, his hand touched the ore¡ª And everything went black. ¡ª The chirping of birds slowly pulled Merlin back to consciousness. Mild scent of flowers lingered everywhere as he blinked. He was back. Finally. The tree was there. The forest was there. And¡ª ''Wait... it''s already nearly morning?!'' Panic set in. Too much time has passed. ''The Academy...they are going to fucking kill me if I''m late.'' Just as he pushed himself up, something heavy pressed against his stomach. He looked down. A white rapier with a golden hilt rested on his torso. "..." Merlin grabbed the sword. The moment his fingers wrapped around the hilt¡ª It felt perfect. The weight, the balance, the grip¡ªas if it was made just for him. ''Holy shit¡ª'' BEEP! A notification flashed in his vision. [Keryx, Herald''s Sword, is resonating with you.] The rapier trembled slightly in his grasp. ''Wait. What? Resonating? Herald''s Sword?!'' Merlin barely knew anything about Keryx. In the novel, Nathan never used it¡ªit just collected dust for the entire story. He gave the rapier a few swings. Swoosh! It cut through the air effortlessly, making Merlin feel faster, sharper, lighter. ''This thing is amazing.'' A grin crept onto his face as he slashed again. And again. Then¡ª ''Wait. I have to get back!'' Merlin bolted out of the forest, sprinting through the quiet village. A few people gave him weird looks¡ªprobably wondering why he looked like he just stole something. Which... wasn''t technically wrong he did steal some kind of god blessed weapon. Finally, he reached the road and yanked out his phone. ''TAXI. I NEED A TAXI. RIGHT NOW.'' He called for a ride. Fast. A few minutes later, one showed up. ''Thank God, my luck is insane today.'' He hopped in and directed the driver to the academy. ¡ª After what felt like an eternity, Merlin arrived at the academy gates. He shoved a wad of cash into the driver''s hand. "Keep the change." The driver glanced down, counted the money, then frowned. "Sir, this isn''t enough." Merlin froze. His smile twitched. ''Oh... oh shit.'' He frantically searched his pockets and his wallet for any amount of money. ''Please, PLEASE¡ª'' Then, footsteps approached. A woman''s voice. "Here you go, sir." A hand offered the missing amount to the driver. Long brown hair swayed in the wind, and piercing blue eyes looked down at him like a calm ocean. ''Liliana...'' She smiled slightly. "Now we''re even. Also, nice sword." She glanced at the rapier strapped to his side before casually walking into the academy. "Even?" Merlin stared, confused¡ªthen it finally hit him. ''Oh... the taxi ride from before.'' "...Right." Shaking his head, he checked his schedule. [Applied Combat Magic] ''Great. Just what I needed.'' He headed toward Training Facility Three, where familiar faces were already gathered. Adrien leaned against the wall, arms crossed. Liliana and Seraph were chatting¡ªwith Nathan. ''Oh? He finally finished his first training, it seems.'' Then Merlin remembered something. ''And I forgot to do my training...'' Elara sat on the floor, watching everyone like a spy in a thriller movie. Then¡ª The doors swung open. A familiar blonde woman walked in, her long hair flowing dramatically despite there being no wind indoors. Her brown eyes sparkled as she smiled. "Alright, let''s begin today''s lesson!" ''Vivienne...'' Merlin sighed. This was going to be a long day. Vivienne''s gaze swept over the students one by one, briefly pausing on Merlin¡ªwho looked like he had just crawled out of a cave. Dusty, slightly disheveled... borderline tragic. Her smile twitched, but Merlin acted as if he didn''t notice. Or maybe he just didn''t care. "Pair up! Today, we''ll be working on affinities through sparring!" ''Fantastic.'' Merlin''s eyes met Nathan''s, and for a moment, they both understood what had to be done. Nathan grinned, already making his way over¡ª Until someone abruptly cut in front of Merlin. ''Elara.'' Her voice was quiet but carried a cold finality as she looked up at him. "We''re partners." It wasn''t a question. It was a declaration. A done deal. Merlin blinked and glanced at Nathan, who simply gave him a thumbs-up before backing away, looking way too pleased with himself. ''Do not get the wrong idea...I don''t have a choice.'' Merlin sighed but took his position across from Elara, who had already turned her head away as if dismissing his very existence. Vivienne''s voice echoed across the room. "Begin!" Chapter 18 18: Falling Head First Merlin and Elara shot toward each other like two bolts of lightning. ''How the hell am I supposed to use space affinity properly?'' His mind raced while Elara summoned earth spears from the ground, launching them at him like a damn machine gun. [Trickster''s Reflex] With a flicker of movement, Merlin dodged every single spear, weaving through them with unnatural grace. He closed in on Elara, who instinctively began backing away. ''Oh no, you don''t.'' Merlin applied pressure with his space affinity, making her body feel momentarily sluggish. Elara trembled slightly before summoning a massive boulder, preparing to launch it. ''Oh, for fu¡ª'' Merlin nearly froze as the gigantic rock rumbled toward him like a runaway train. ''Nope, this won''t do.'' Pouring mana into his hand, he wrapped his fist in spatial energy and punched the boulder. BOOM! The rock shattered into countless fragments, flying in all directions¡ªuntil Vivienne calmly flicked her hand, stopping them from turning the other sparring students into collateral damage. ''Yeah... this isn''t going great.'' Vivienne sighed, shaking her head as she watched Merlin flail against Elara. ''This is the worst possible matchup for him.'' Merlin barely avoided another wave of spears. Desperate, he attempted to lighten his body using his space affinity, hoping to increase his speed. It worked... a little too well. Merlin lost control of his footing and slipped. "..." Vivienne, Elara, and the entire audience watched in stunned silence. ''Kill me.'' Lying on the ground with his eyes shut, Merlin resigned himself to his fate. Elara calmly conjured another spear beside her and began walking toward him. ''Just a little closer...'' Merlin waited. For divine intervention, a miracle, something. Elara now stood over him, earth spear next to hear. "I win." She launched the spear toward his chest. [Trickster''s Reflex] Merlin lightened his body again, accelerating his movements, and barely dodged. "Again?!" Elara''s frustrated shout echoed as she instinctively retreated¡ªbut Merlin was already in front of her. He aimed a kick at her torso, and at the last second, increased the weight of his leg. However... A gigantic boulder hovered over his head. "...Oh, shit." Merlin''s voice died in his throat. Elara flew backward from his attack, while the boulder¡ªnow unsupported¡ªcrashed down on Merlin. CRACK. The rock shattered on impact. "..." Vivienne''s lips twitched as she struggled to process what she just witnessed. With a sigh, she shook her head and announced, "Elara Vaelith and Merlin Everhart... draw." Without another word, she turned back to the other students and resumed the matches. In their previous duels Merlin had won due to the fact that he was able to use a weapon, and because he was able to outsmart Elara. But now, he had lost due to dumb luck basically... Merlin and Elara both lay sprawled on the ground, looking as if they were peacefully napping. ¡ª Meanwhile... Nathan Nathan was locked in combat with Dorian. With his darkness affinity, Nathan conjured spears of shadow, launching them at Dorian, who swiftly raised an ice wall for defense. ''He''s good!'' Nathan grinned as their fight raged on, neither willing to back down. Attack after attack, counter after counter¡ªuntil, unfortunately for Dorian, the outcome was obvious. Nathan appeared behind him in an instant. Using his darkness, he pressed Dorian into the ground as if placing an unbearable weight on him. Who would have guessed... that the protagonist would win? Vivienne, watching from the sidelines, simply nodded in acknowledgment. "Nathaniel Varen vs. Dorian Graves... Nathaniel wins." Nathan extended a hand, helping Dorian up. "Good match." Dorian shook his head but smiled. "Yeah. You use your affinity well." ¡ª Back to Merlin... Merlin slowly regained consciousness, staring at the ceiling. Or at least, he would have¡ªif not for the grinning face hovering over him. Short black hair fell over the stranger''s face, and ocean-blue eyes twinkled with amusement. ''Nathan.'' Merlin sighed. Nathan extended a hand to help him up. Merlin ignored it, pushing himself up instead. "I can handle it." His voice was cold as he turned away¡ªonly to see Vivienne writing something down. "...What are you doing?" Nathan simply smiled and dusted off Merlin''s back. Merlin''s eye twitched. ''What the hell is he doing...?'' Shaking his head, he shuffled over to where the other students were lining up in front of Vivienne¡ªlike obedient ducklings. Elara suddenly appeared beside him. Merlin raised an eyebrow. ''What''s with everyone today? Am I the only sane person left?'' He sighed and focused on Vivienne, who cleared her throat before addressing them. "Some of you are learning to use your affinities well. And others... not so much." At the last part, she looked directly at Merlin. ''Ouch. That hurt.'' "You still have a long way to go," she continued. "But that''s normal. You have time." Vivienne let out a short sigh before continuing. "That''s all for today''s lesson. You''re dismissed." The students wasted no time rushing toward the exit, some chatting excitedly, others simply eager to escape. But just as Merlin took his first step to leave¡ª "Merlin Everhart, stay behind." Merlin froze mid-step. Several students glanced back, whispering amongst themselves. "Loser." "What did he screw up this time?" Merlin ignored them. Completely. As if their words had never existed in the first place. Once the last of the students had left, he whistled to himself and turned around¡ªonly to be met with Vivienne''s twitching smile. "Why are you holding yourself back?" she asked. "You have more than one affinity, but you refuse to use them." ''She wasn''t this dumb in the novel.'' Merlin shook his head. His voice was cold, unwavering. "Why would I waste all my cards on something so trivial?" Vivienne''s lips twitched. She stepped closer, placing a firm hand on his shoulder. "To win." Merlin answered without hesitation. "I''d rather lose now than lose when it actually matters." "..." For the first time in years, Vivienne was at a loss for words. Because she knew¡ªhe was right. "Fair point..." she finally muttered. Merlin smirked. "Sorry, what was that? I didn''t hear you." Vivienne''s eyes burned like molten fire. "...I was kidding!" Merlin laughed awkwardly and took a step back¡ªjust in case. "Go to your next class. I''ll see you this afternoon." She shook her head and shooed him away. ''What a strange woman.'' ¡ª Merlin stood outside the training facility, glancing at his schedule. His next class was in Training Facility One. [Mana Control & Efficiency] ''Not bad.'' He started walking at a leisurely pace, enjoying the rare moment of peace. But then¡ª He spotted familiar figures waiting near the entrance. Elara. Nathan. Dorian. Ethan. All of them. Just standing there. Merlin stopped dead in his tracks. ''...This is going to be absolute hell.'' With a long sigh, he trudged forward. Slowly. Painfully slowly. Luckily for Merlin, the instructor arrived just as he did, allowing him to slip past any unnecessary conversations. Her short brown hair danced in the wind, her amber eyes gleaming with an almost otherworldly radiance. And her smile¡ªthat damn smile¡ªwas so captivating, so effortlessly divine, that it could charm just about anyone. Even rocks. Even the gods. She was Sophia Ashford. Again. ''She really is a goddess...'' Merlin wasn''t the only one staring. Every single boy in the class¡ªand even some of the girls¡ªwere helplessly mesmerized as they followed her inside the facility. ¡ª "Alright, kids. Ready for today''s lesson?" Sophia''s powerful voice echoed through the training hall like an explosion. Yet despite its strength, there was something warm about it. Comforting. Like a mother''s embrace. Merlin quickly shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. The students all nodded, signaling their readiness. "Good," Sophia said with a bright smile. Then¡ªshe clapped her hands. "Let''s begin." The moment Sophia''s hands met, a wave of mana burst through the air, like an invisible shock wave washing over the students. Merlin felt a slight pressure on his skin¡ªnothing major¡ªbut some of the less experienced students stumbled back, gripping their chests as if their souls had just been slapped. ''She did that casually?'' He didn''t even want to imagine what would happen if she actually tried. Sophia clasped her hands behind her back, her gaze sweeping across the class with that same gentle yet commanding aura. "Before we begin actual training, let''s go over the basics. Mana Control and Efficiency¡ªtwo of the most fundamental aspects of fighting, yet the most frequently neglected." She started pacing, slow and deliberate, her presence filling the entire hall. Chapter 19 19: Big BOOM "Tell me," she continued, "what happens when you overuse mana without proper control?" Nathan raised his hand without hesitation whatsoever like the big ass nerd he was.. "Mana depletion" Sophia nodded. "Correct." She then turned on her heel so quickly that even Merlin felt an instinctive urge to straighten his posture. "And what happens when you use too much mana at once?" Silence. Then, reluctantly, Elara spoke up. "It becomes inefficient?" Sophia smiled. "Exactly." She raised her hand, and in an instant, a small sphere of blue water formed above her palm. "This is a basic mana construct using just mana and my affinity." she explained. "Simple, clean, and requiring minimal effort." ''The water affinity...'' Merlin''s eyes gawked at the sight. Then, without warning, she poured more mana into it. The sphere grew in size, its glow intensifying¡ªbut instead of becoming stronger, it trembled violently, distorting and cracking like overheated glass. A second later¡ª BOOM. A harmless shockwave erupted, sending a gust of wind rushing through the hall. Sophia lowered her hand, her smile never fading. "This is what happens when you fail to regulate your mana." ''Didn''t she just basically overload it with mana..?'' She looked at them all, but for some reason, Merlin felt her gaze linger on him just a bit longer. ''Why is she staring at me like that?'' Then, before he could react¡ª "Merlin Everhart." ''Fuck.'' Sophia gestured for him to step forward. "Let''s see, what was your affinity again?" She asked as she looked down on some notes. "I can''t demonstrate it..I have a space affinity." "..." Sophia smiled silently then cleared her throat moving onto another topic like nothing ever happened. "Can anyone tell me the difference between two affinities? Let''s say...Water and Space." ''It''s easy.'' Merlin thought as he looked at Sophia, he didn''t want to seem like a smartass though.. The room fell into an awkward silence. A few students exchanged glances like they were preparing to be executed. Finally, one brave soul, clearly not blessed with a filter, raised his hand. "Uh... Water is wet?" ''What the fuck is he talking about..'' Merlin looked at the dude whilst trying to hold back his laughter. Sophia didn''t flinch, but the way she pinched the bridge of her nose made it clear that for just a moment, she questioned her life choices. "Thank you, please don''t make comments like that," she said with a deep sigh. "Let''s try again." With a flick of her wrist, a sphere of shimmering water appeared in her palm, floating like a mini lake that had decided to vacation in the classroom. "Water," she explained, "is an elemental affinity. It''s physical. It exists in the world as we know it. If you have a Water Affinity, you can create, shape, and control water. Freeze it. Boil it. Bend it to your will. But," she said, eyes narrowing dangerously, "most of you will fail miserably at it." She let the water fall, watching it splatter on the floor with all the grace of a toddler''s first attempt at using a fork. "It follows the laws of nature. Drop it, and it obeys gravity. Simple. Clear. Understandable." Then her eyes flicked toward Merlin, locking onto him like a hawk spotting its prey. "Merlin," she said, voice smooth as silk but with an edge of challenge. "Would you care to demonstrate Space Affinity?" Merlin let out a long, exhausted sigh. ''Not this again.'' "Fine," he muttered, rising to his feet. He raised a hand, fingers curling slightly, and the air around them shimmered like heat rising off a road on a hot day. A deep crackle echoed as space itself seemed to crack a little. Sophia clapped once, satisfied. Thank the heavens. "Space isn''t something you create," she said, voice almost purring. "It''s something you manipulate. You can''t make space out of thin air. You can only twist it, bend it, fold it. It''s a much more... delicate art." She tapped a wooden spear that was leaning lazily against the wall. "If I wanted to, I could flood this room with enough water to drown you all. Tragic, but effective. But if I had Space Affinity..." She gestured towards Merlin. "Merlin, would you like to demonstrate with this spear?" Merlin, still reeling from his earlier role as the class''s favorite guinea pig, focused on the spear. A subtle pressure seemed to wrap around it, and with an ominous crack, the spear snapped in half as if an invisible hand had squeezed it like a stress ball. The class gasped. Some students instinctively scooted away from Merlin, eyeing him as if he might accidentally snap the space-time continuum next...which wouldn''t even be possible for him. Sophia smirked, her brown eyes gleaming with quiet amusement. "With Water, you manipulate something that exists, with water you create. With Space, you manipulate existence itself." She stood tall, arms crossed over her chest like she was about to deliver a sermon on the meaning of life. "Now, before any of you get bright ideas about using Space Affinity to skip your exams¡ªdon''t." Her golden eyes gleamed with a predatory intensity, like a lion sizing up its next meal. "You''re nowhere near that level, and even if you were... I''d know." Her smile was sharp and cold, the kind of smile that made students wonder if she''d once had a job as a mafia boss. "And believe me," she added, voice dripping with sarcasm "You don''t want to know what happens to students who try to cheat in my class." A tense silence fell over the room. The threat was clear, though unspoken. Then, as if nothing had happened, she clapped her hands together, the sound echoing through the classroom. "...Now, let''s see who has manifestation affinities. Any volunteers?" The students hesitated, as if volunteering would immediately be followed by a series of unfortunate events. Sophia flashed a sweet smile. "Elara Vaelith. You''re up first." Elara blinked, looking around in confusion. "...I didn''t even raise my hand." ''That''s what you get Princess..'' Merlin struggled to hold back his laugh at this point, he was going to burst like a balloon. Watching others suffer was just the best after all. Sophia''s smile widened like a cat who had just cornered a mouse. "I know." Elara walked slowly to Sophia''s side, her steps measured, the weight of her presence settling in the room. Sophia stepped back, giving her space. ''Let''s see what you''ve got, Ice Princess.'' Merlin thought as he watched the performance. It was almost like a TV show of some kind. Elara''s expression remained cool as she stretched her hand out. The earth beneath her feet rumbled slightly, and sharp, jagged spear-like shards of earth manifested in front of her, floating in perfect formation, ready to strike at a moment''s notice. Sophia clapped, her eyes gleaming with approval. "Impressive." With a wave of her hand, she sent Elara back to her place. The moment Elara turned, however, her usual composed face trembled slightly, her expression cracking like an unstable sculpture. Merlin watched the entire display, eyes wide, intrigued as he struggled to hold his laughter back. ''Her face...pf..'' "Let''s move on to someone else," Sophia said, her voice cutting through the air like a knife. Her bown eyes scanned the class, eyes stopping on one particular student¡ªa boy who stood out even among the others. His black hair rippled in the air, the strands moving as if they were caught in a breeze¡ªexcept there was no wind in the facility.. Merlin blinked in confusion, almost too stunned to believe it. ''What on earth...Why does the protagonist have to be such a weirdo..'' Then he saw it¡ªNathaniel''s eyes were glowing, faintly, like two oceans. Merlin''s first instinct was to gag. He hated that look, that innocence, that confidence¡ªit was weird to watch.. Sophia''s eyes locked onto Nathan, her voice sharp. "You, there." ''Good luck,'' Merlin silently mouthed to Nathan, unable to suppress a grin. Nathan''s gaze shifted toward Sophia, a smile tugging at his lips as he gave Merlin a small glance. Sophia''s voice held an edge of excitement as she pulled out a piece of parchment. "Nathaniel Varen, come here." Nathan''s lips curled into a small innocent smile as he slowly walked over to Sophia''s side. "Demonstrate, using your affinity!" she encouraged him with a smile. Merlin could practically hear the unspoken go on, impress me, in Sophia''s voice, but he knew that Nathan wasn''t the type to disappoint. ''Yeah, demonstrate...'' Merlin thought, rubbing his forehead as he tried to hide his amusement. This was going to be good. Nathan stood still for a moment, eyes darkening as he raised his hand. A faint pulse of energy rippled from his fingers. Slowly, the air around him grew heavier, darkened, until a swirling sphere of pure shadow began to form in his palm. The black orb pulsed ominously, as if it had a life of its own. "Very good¡ª" Sophia''s voice was cut off by a deafening explosion. The shadow sphere erupted, sending a wave of force through the room. Tables rattled, papers flew into the air, and the entire facility seemed to shake. The air crackled, and for a moment, the classroom was plunged into a disorienting chaos. Sophia''s eyes widened, her posture stiffening as she quickly raised a protective barrier around herself and the students. The explosion was contained, but only just. The room fell into stunned silence. Nathan stood, unfazed, his expression still as innocent as ever. "Well," he said softly, "I guess I went a bit overboard." Chapter 20 20: Heroic Quest The lesson ended quickly after Nathan''s little "demonstration," and they were dismissed for the day. ''Thank God he blew himself up...'' Merlin recalled watching the explosion of darkness with a straight face while desperately holding back laughter. As he was about to step out of the classroom, a familiar voice called out from behind him. "Merlin!" ''God, please save me.'' Merlin turned around, only to see Nathan running toward him. "?" He didn''t say anything¡ªjust stared at Nathan as if he were a ghost. "Did something happen while I was gone?" His voice had an odd nervousness to it, like he wasn''t sure if he should be asking. Also... why was he sneakily glancing sideways at nothing? ''He''s looking at a system window... wait¡ªtoday''s the day?!'' Merlin resisted the urge to smack himself in the forehead. Today was the day they''d try to kidnap Sera. ''How the hell did I forget that?'' "Hm?" Nathan tilted his head, confused, as Merlin stood frozen in thought. In the novel, shortly after Nathan finished his first training session, an organization attempted to kidnap Seraphine. Nathan''s forced smile was already twitching. ''Voidborne Circle...'' The Abyss King''s allies¡ªan ancient and mysterious group that had existed since the dawn of time, seeking dominion over the human world. Their origins lay in the deepest darkness, a forgotten age swallowed by the sands of time. ''Or so the author says.'' Their name was whispered in the shadows, and even the bravest shuddered at their mention. The organization''s goal was to reshape the world, destroying anything that stood in their way. Their ultimate mission? To bring the Abyss King into the mortal realm. And in the novel, they actually succeeded¡ªbecause Nathan failed. Merlin glanced at Nathan, who was still standing there, smiling cluelessly. "No. Nothing happened." His voice was cold and flat. Nathan tried to press further, but Merlin just shook his head. ''Let''s see...'' "Where were you, exactly?" Merlin''s voice echoed slightly, making Nathan''s smile twitch again. "I-I... well... um... I was at a r-relative''s place!" His voice cracked, and Merlin shut his eyes, trying to hold back his laughter. "..." Without another word, he turned around and walked toward the training facility, where he was supposed to meet Vivienne. ''This is going to be absolute torture.'' Nathan didn''t follow¡ªhe was probably worried about Sera. ''He definitely got the quest notification.'' A quest to save Seraphine. The Voidborne Circle was sending Nameless members after her. Nameless were the organization''s beginner-tier members¡ªlackeys who hadn''t passed enough trials to rise through the ranks but were still somewhat trusted. ''Basically just disposable mooks.'' Seraph''s parents were important people¡ªbig-time entrepreneurs in a major corporation later on. Influential figures. ''Or, well... according to the author.'' And that very same company? That was the one Merlin had invested in previously...Invoke.. The novel never explained why they wanted to kidnap Sera, but Merlin had a few guesses. ''Weapons. Money. Probably both.'' Arriving at the training facility, Merlin spotted Vivienne already waiting with her arms crossed. ''Does she not have any other classes? Training again today...'' Merlin felt a chill run down his spine as their eyes met. ''Someone, please kill me.'' Vivienne''s smile was anything but comforting as she stepped forward. "We can begin. I''ve been waiting for you." Even though she was smiling... she was still absolutely terrifying. ''...If she''s been waiting for me, then she really has nothing better to do.'' Merlin resisted the urge to smack his forehead again as they entered a reserved training room. The moment the door shut behind them, Vivienne got straight to the point. "Today, we''ll be focusing on your affinities." "Alright." Merlin let out a deep sigh and took his starting position, setting his sword down on the floor. He didn''t want to reach for it out of reflex¡ªhe was here to train his affinities, after all. ''This is fine... she''s only going to kick my ass a little... that''s not too bad.'' Vivienne stood there lazily, clearly not taking this seriously¡ªwhich wasn''t surprising. If she did take it seriously, she could probably burn the entire building down just for fun. Merlin took a deep breath and focused all his energy, locking eyes with Vivienne. ''Even her aura is terrifying...'' "You can start. You may only attack using your affinities and limbs." Her voice was casual, but her smile was still unsettling. Merlin kicked off the ground with Wind Affinity, channeling mana into his legs for extra speed. Vivienne didn''t move, simply watching as Merlin appeared in front of her. ''Here goes.'' [Courier''s Mark] A glowing symbol formed on the floor¡ªvisible only to Merlin. Vivienne sidestepped his strike effortlessly, and Merlin shot past her like a rocket. She reached out, trying to grab him¡ª But in an instant, Merlin vanished. "?!" Vivienne''s sharp gaze scanned the space where he should have been¡ª But there was no one there. ''What the¡ª?'' For the first time, her smile twitched. Merlin reappeared right at the Courier''s Mark as Vivienne turned her back. ''Everything is going according to plan.'' He gathered wind around his hand and reinforced it with spatial mana, increasing its density¡ª But it was all for nothing. Vivienne twisted like a lightning bolt, caught Merlin''s wrist, and launched him across the room. ''Of course she reacted in time.'' "Tch." Merlin clicked his tongue, landing on his feet before charging again. "You can teleport now? You never cease to amaze me!" Vivienne laughed, conjuring a fireball in her hand. ''Things are heating up... literally.'' Merlin snickered at his own terrible pun. Vivienne unleashed the fireball, and it spun in midair like a flaming disco ball. The room''s temperature skyrocketed. Sweat poured down Merlin''s face as the heat became unbearable. ''What the hell do I do?'' Vivienne just stood there, smiling, completely unaffected. ''If this keeps up, I''m gonna burn to a crisp.'' Merlin cleared his mind and focused all his mana into Wind Affinity. ''Overload... this has to work.'' A violent wind gathered around his hands, spiraling at insane speeds. He stretched his arms forward, unleashing a shockwave of wind aimed directly at the fireball. Vivienne''s smile widened. The wind blast swept through the fireball like a wave, dispersing the flames¡ªbefore continuing straight for Vivienne herself. She didn''t even flinch as it washed over her. ''...Aura farming.'' Merlin gritted his teeth and attacked again. Vivienne responded by manifesting swords made of pure fire. ''That''s not gonna work against me!'' [Trickster''s Reflex] Merlin weaved through the flaming blades, dashing toward Vivienne¡ª Only for her to casually sidestep his attack. Then she countered. Merlin watched as Vivienne''s fist approached in slow motion. Time itself seemed to crawl. He dodged¡ªwithout using any skills. "?!" Vivienne''s eyes widened as she registered Merlin''s movement. "Time Affinity?!" Her voice echoed through the room, her entire face twitching in shock. Merlin just nodded. Like it was no big deal. Merlin walked toward Vivienne at a slow, deliberate pace, watching as her expression started to twitch. ''Alright, think. Think. What''s the best move here?'' Countless scenarios flashed through his mind, and they all had one thing in common¡ªhe lost in every single one. ''Oh, for fuck''s sake.'' Gritting his teeth, he threw everything he had into his next move and propelled himself forward¡ª Only for Vivienne to appear right in front of him, like some kind of teleporting final boss. ''...Right. She''s a damn time affinity fanatic.'' Before he could even react, her kick landed square in his stomach. Merlin barely had time to close his eyes and accept his fate before he was sent flying like a ragdoll, tumbling across the floor. "Rest for a bit. Then we''ll continue." Vivienne''s voice echoed through the training hall as Merlin lay on his back, staring at the ceiling. ''Maybe getting burned alive would''ve been the better option. At least it''d be over faster.'' He took a deep breath, gathered what little mana he had left, and pushed himself up. And so, the training continued for hours, punctuated only by the moments he collapsed onto the ground like a complete idiot who refused to give up for some reason. After hours of training Vivienne has left Merlin alone in the training room...alone with his dumbass thoughts. When suddenly a piercing sound broke his mind apart. ¡ª¡ª[New Quest!]¡ª¡ª [Kill all the Nameless!] [Kill all five of the beginner Nameless members.] [Rewards] -Unlock an additional affinity. -Choose a new skill. -+3 Agility -+2 Endurance -+5 Intelligence [Penalty for failure: ??? ] [Do you wish to accept? Y/N] ¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª¡ª ''???'' Merlin''s eyes widened as he looked at the panel before him. Specifically the failure option. ''Can Nathan not save Sera? Did I somehow change the story or something?'' His thoughts ran wild as he tried to figure out a solution. ''I have to kill them if I want the quest completed..But according to the novel they run away..'' Merlin thought for a while whilst sitting on the ground. ''Fuck it. Yes, I accept.'' [Quest Started! Good luck Host!] ''This is going to be interesting.'' He exhaled slowly then pushed himself up from the ground. Chapter 21 21: Killing People Merlin left the training facility at a slow pace. There was no need to rush. In the novel, the attack wouldn''t happen until nightfall, so he still had time. As he stepped outside, he noticed the sky darkening. ''How long were we even training, damn it...'' He shook his head, resisting the urge to bury himself alive out of secondhand embarrassment. Taking out his phone, he checked his notifications. {0 new notifications.} "..." His grip on the phone tightened as his expression twitched. ''Wow. People really love me, huh? Not even a scam message or anything?'' Sighing, he rubbed his temples and recalled the events of the novel. ''They should be waiting in a sewer near a pizza place... but where the hell is that place?'' The Author never wrote the exact location..that lazy bum. ''Of course they didn''t. Guess I''ll just have to find it myself...'' Navigating the city was one thing. Sneaking into a sewer without looking like a lunatic? Whole different skill set. He left the academy and started looking for some hidden manhole covers. Merlin ducked into a narrow alleyway, brushing past overflowing dumpsters and stray cats. He crouched next to a rusted manhole cover, eyeing the grime-coated metal. ''Why... why the hell did I accept this quest?'' He glanced around, making sure no one was watching. Then, with a resigned sigh, he pried the cover open and climbed down into the darkness. The cold, stagnant air hit him like a wall. His boots splashed into ankle-deep filth. "...Fucking disgusting." His pants were already soaked in sewage water. Rats scurried around. Garbage floated past him. ''What kind of medieval-ass sewer system is this...?'' With each step, the dim light filtering through cracks in the ceiling faded. Merlin summoned mana to his legs, using the wind affinity to move faster. His phone''s GPS flickered in his hand as he followed the rough coordinates of nearby pizzerias. ''I need to move fast.'' ¡ª It took nearly half an hour before he heard it¡ªmuffled voices echoing through the tunnels. After hearing them, he slowed down and stopped moving, staying completely quiet. "Why do we even need this damn girl?" A gruff male voice questioned, making Merlin press himself against the filthy water, listening from around the corner. "Who cares? The boss said we need her, so we take her. End of story." A female voice cut in, interrupting his thoughts. ''Four of them...? Where''s the fifth one?'' Merlin peeked around the corner and saw only four people. His grip tightened around his sword as he waited. ''I... I have to kill them...'' The problem was¡ªhe had never killed a person before. Not even animals, really. Unless you counted mice and some bugs. But he had killed the monsters in his training of course...but that was something else. But people? That was different. His heart pounded against his ribs as adrenaline flooded his body. ''I can do this.'' "Two minutes until we move." The woman put down her weapon to adjust her clothes. ''Now.'' Merlin poured mana into his legs, using wind and space to accelerate¡ªblitzing past the corner and appearing before them in an instant. "You¡ªwho the hell¡ª?!" The woman''s question was cut short as her head was cut off, her blood spraying everywhere. THUD. The three remaining men froze, their eyes wide¡ªat least, that''s how it looked to Merlin in the dim lighting. "A deviant! He has multiple affinities!" the gruff man shouted, gripping his spear. ''They''re just characters, Merlin... just characters...'' Calming himself, he moved again. As the spearman lunged, an arrow shot toward him at the same time. Time slowed. Merlin effortlessly dodged both before dashing forward. The spearman''s eyes rolled back as his vision darkened¡ªMerlin''s sword had pierced straight through his skull. The third man stepped forward, his sword trembling in his grip. Another arrow flew at Merlin. [Trickster''s Reflex] He dodged, closing in on the archer instantly. "Unlucky for you... I''m your opponent." His cold voice echoed in the sewer as he slashed¡ªsevering the archer''s hands as he tried to retreat. ''Ugh.'' Merlin''s stomach churned as the man screamed in agony. "AUGHHHHH!" The swordsman moved, but¡ª [Trickster''s Reflex] Merlin dodged and decapitated him in a single motion. His body dropped like a sack of potatoes. Lifeless and dull, it was almost like a doll. THUD. The screaming archer bit his lips, trying to contain his pain. Flames started forming in his hands, but¡ª A gust of wind snuffed them out as Merlin reappeared in front of him. "Wait, wait! I''ll tell you everythi¡ª" His head flew into the air like a soccer ball kicked out of bounds. "I don''t need your information." Merlin''s voice was cold. Then he puked. The sheer amount of blood and corpses had scrambled his thoughts. ''Fuck.'' Before he could recover, a sudden pain tore through his side¡ª A stray arrow had sliced across his torso. ''Fucking hell...'' Gritting his teeth, he looked in the direction it came from. Footsteps. Someone was trying to escape. ''Like hell you are running away you fuck'' Dashing forward, he caught up to the woman just as she turned¡ªhis sword piercing through her skull before she could react. THUD. A loud ringing suddenly echoed in his mind. [Quest Complete!] [Quest: Kill all the Nameless!] [Rewards] ? Choose a new affinity ? Choose a skill ? Unlock training opportunities ? +3 Agility ? +2 Endurance ? +5 Intelligence [Please select an affinity!] ? Fire ? Water ? Lightning ? Ice ''...'' Merlin collapsed into the filth. His clothes were covered in blood. His wound was still bleeding. ''God fucking damn it...'' Shaking his head, he sighed. ''I choose water.'' [Please select a skill!] ? Blink Step (Teleport up to 5 meters in any direction.) ? #$%#$''s Whisper (Passive: Enhances persuasion, deception, and negotiation skills. Grants the ability to speak and understand all languages. Can send short-range telepathic messages. Strong-willed individuals or those with mental defenses may resist influence.) ? Keen Insight (Briefly slows perception of time when analyzing an opponent''s movements. Allows detection of lies, deception, and hidden dangers. Increased chance to predict an enemy''s next attack based on body language.) ? Mana Veil (Slightly reduces incoming damage. Enhances resistance against mental intrusions and illusions.) ''They''re all too fucking good...'' Merlin leaned back, staring at the options. One caught his eye. ''#$%#$''s Whisper? Yeah, no thanks. I might get fucking cursed or some bullshit with my luck.'' He hesitated before making his choice. ''Keen Insight.'' [Keen Insight unlocked.] Merlin exhaled deeply, still catching his breath. ''...Now how the hell do I get out of here?'' He thought as he looked down on his wound, bloody and dirty clothes.. Merlin exhaled sharply then stood up. ''I don''t want to catch some fucking infection..'' He gathered some water in his hand and then used it to clean the wound...that was one stupid fucking idea. It hurt like hell. ''Kill me.'' Chapter 22 22: Excuses Merlin stood in the sewer... or more precisely, in the disgustingly contaminated water. Holding his side with his left hand, he used his right to clean off his clothes before drying them with wind magic. They weren''t as fresh as new, but at least they were wearable. "Not bad, I could start a laundry business at this rate." Taking out his phone, he used GPS to find the nearest manhole cover to the academy. Yeah. No way in hell was he going home to his sister with a bleeding wound. Vivienne was the better option. "Hope she''s still there..." ¡ª After struggling through the sewer like a rat in a maze, Merlin finally climbed out near the academy. He ripped off a part of his shirt and wrapped it around his wound to hide it. ''Alright... let''s move.'' The guards let him in without a problem. Some students did live on campus, after all. ''Faster... this is starting to really hurt.'' Holding his side, he made his way toward Vivienne''s office. The novel had a detailed description of it¡ªmostly because Nathan kept going there to... train, of course. Nothing else. As he reached the door, he heard voices inside. A man? "I''m training the damn brat tomorrow! No excuses!" A loud voice boomed, mana leaking from inside. ''Ah. So it''s Reinhardt.'' Merlin shook his head and pushed the door open without knocking¡ªbetter than listening to their nonsense any longer. "Good even¡ª" A book flew at his face before he could even react. "Do you not know how to knock¡ª" Vivienne, who had thrown the book, stopped mid-rant when she saw who it was. She cleared her throat and exchanged glances with Reinhardt... Who was currently struggling not to laugh. "Hilarious, isn''t it?" Rubbing his forehead where the book had hit him straight up, Merlin stepped forward. "What the hell are you¡ª" Reinhardt started to ask but stopped as Merlin lifted his shirt, revealing the wound. "..." Vivienne and Reinhardt met eyes. Then, they both stared at Merlin. Their eyes spread wide open in surpriseY ''...What do I even say here?'' "I... tripped while holding my sword and accidentally ended up cutting myself." Their blank stares told him they weren''t buying it. It was a bad excuse. "...A robber slashed me in the streets." Still no reaction. They just kept staring...again. Merlin sighed and shook his head. "Alright, fine. Five guys jumped me and I ended up getting shot by an arrow." "!!!" Their expressions instantly shifted¡ªlike volcanoes on the verge of erupting. Vivienne stepped to her desk and pulled out a pre-written piece of paper? No... a rune. She channeled mana into it and pressed it against Merlin''s wound. ''Oh, a healing rune...'' The wound closed almost instantly. Since it wasn''t too deep, it healed fast¡ªand the rune seemed high-level too. With his injury gone, Merlin awkwardly cleared his throat. "Well, thanks! I''ll be going now¡ª" Before he could turn, a massive hand landed on his shoulder. Reinhardt. "Talk." His voice boomed like a cannon, while Vivienne simply nodded beside him. Merlin''s smile twitched. ''Yeah... I''m screwed.'' ¡ª "So." Merlin sat on a chair, hands resting on his lap like some schoolboy in detention. The office was simple, with a desk, two chairs, and a few decorative plants. "I was taking a stroll when I heard voices coming from a sewer." Yep. That was the best he could come up with. "Go on." Vivienne leaned back, while Reinhardt stood beside her, arms crossed. "I looked down the manhole and saw five guys... wearing matching black clothes with weird symbols." Vivienne and Reinhardt exchanged glances. "Black uniforms?" Reinhardt raised an eyebrow at Vivienne. "Nameless?" "Probably," Vivienne muttered. "I''ve seen their outfits in the news before, they did seem like Nameless..I''m not sure though." Merlin said as he stared at the two of them. Of course, Merlin was lying. He already knew they were from Nameless¡ªthe system literally gave him a quest to kill them. "Did you kill them?" Vivienne''s tone dropped¡ªher usual smile gone. ''Okay, that''s creepy as hell.'' "Yes." At his answer, both of them relaxed slightly and nodded. "And I also found out what they were after." Reinhardt''s eyes narrowed. "What were they after, brat? And how the hell did you even take down five¡ª" She stopped, looked at Merlin, then sighed. "Right. Almost forgot you have three affinities." "They were trying to kidnap Seraphina Alden." Merlin expected some kind of reaction. But instead... "...Who?" Reinhardt asked, looking at Vivienne. ''...Is this guy serious?'' Merlin felt his brain short-circuit. Vivienne sighed, folding her hands. "And did you find out why they wanted her?" Her tone was softer now. "No clue." He shook his head casually. Vivienne let out another sigh, then grabbed her phone. "Here. My personal number, not the academy one." She scribbled it onto a piece of paper and handed it to him. "If anything like this happens again, call me." "Got it." Reinhardt and Vivienne nodded in perfect sync. "You can leave now. You have class tomorrow." Vivienne shooed him off like some annoying pest. ''Well... that''s that.'' Shaking his head, Merlin left the academy without any issues. Pulling out his phone, he called his sister. He had no money, no ID, nothing. Just his phone. He asked her to pick him up. ''Finally... going home.'' ¡ª Victoria arrived quickly and drove him home. Merlin sat in the passenger seat, completely drained, feeling like a piece of chewed-up gum trampled by fifteen people. The moment they reached home, Merlin didn''t even bother with small talk. He just rushed to his room, slammed the door shut, and left Victoria standing there. A gentle knock followed. "If you need to talk, I''m here. But for now, just rest." He heard her soft footsteps fade away. ''Yeah, no way in hell I''m telling her I killed five people.'' Merlin collapsed onto his bed, burying his face into the pillow. And the best part? The day still wasn''t over! Amazing, right? ''I still need to train...'' Rolling onto his back, he stared at the ceiling. ''System. Training Menu.'' [Training (Daily) Currently available.] [Would you like to proceed with the training? Y/N] Time to get it over with. ''Yes.'' The moment he confirmed, his vision went black. His head hit the pillow, and the world faded away. Then, he found himself in the familiar training field. The crisp scent of grass filled his nose, the wind brushing against his skin. Everything was clear¡ªbut there was one difference. Instead of his usual rapier, he now held his new sword. ''At least that''s an improvement...'' Shaking his head, Merlin pushed himself up. A black portal swirled before him, radiating an eerie presence. It felt... different from the others. Almost unnerving. ''Stronger?'' [Wave 3] As the creature stepped out, Merlin''s eyes widened in pure disbelief. ''What the hell is THAT?!'' The creature had long, flowing white hair and clutched a gnarled staff in one hand. Its skin was a sickly greenish-black, and it wore tattered robes that gave off a distinct sorcerer-like vibe. ''A fucking shaman? This is going to be way more difficult..'' Merlin vaguely recognized it from the novel''s monster descriptions, but he wasn''t entirely sure yet. The shaman stared at him with unblinking eyes, tracking his every tiny movement. Meanwhile, Merlin tightened his grip on his sword, stepping forward slowly. ''Time to kill... again.'' Chapter 23 23: Wave 3 The shaman raised his staff and started muttering something incomprehensible. ''I have no fucking clue what he''s saying, but it doesn''t sound good.'' Suddenly, small portals flickered into existence beside him, spitting out goblins... and ogres? Maybe? ''Ah. Yeah. Probably should''ve stopped him before he finished that chant...'' Merlin buried his face in his hands for a second, sighing before continuing his slow march toward the monsters. ''Seriously... I have to kill all these little shits now?'' A goblin lunged at him¡ªunexpectedly fast. ''Oh, that fucking shaman.'' A black aura wrapped around the goblin, clearly some kind of buff. ''That''s just fantastic...'' Keryx trembled in Merlin''s grip, buzzing with excitement. ''Funny. Didn''t get this worked up when I was killing humans.'' With a single slash, Merlin bisected the goblin, wind magic amplifying his speed. ''Not stronger... just tougher? Or am I imagining things?'' Blood sprayed everywhere as the goblin''s two halves thudded to the ground like sacks of meat. THUD. The other goblins and ogres hesitated. Their movements slowed. "Scared?" Merlin asked, plastering on a fake look of pity, like he was mocking them. The shaman''s chanting picked up again, his staff waving wildly. ''He''s yelling at them...'' Right now, he looked like an office boss screaming at his employees for filing paperwork in the wrong folder. ''Bad memories. Feels like my old teachers.'' A faint smirk crossed Merlin''s otherwise blank face. He dashed forward with a burst of wind and spatial magic, closing in on an ogre staring dumbly at the shaman. "You''re just sending your team to die." Leaping into the air, he plunged his sword straight into the ogre''s skull. "This is going to give you a mild headache." The shaman shrieked as the ogre''s massive body crashed into the ground like a meteor. BOOM. Even the goblins trembled at the impact. Not that he was body-shaming. Everyone loved everyone. Sometimes, though, lives just had to end. ''...What the hell?'' Merlin''s gaze shifted back to the shaman, who was conjuring a fireball above his staff. ''...Compared to Vivienne, this is like a matchstick versus a meteor.'' He gathered wind in his palm and casually blew the fireball out with a gust. "..." The monsters and the shaman froze. Processing. ''I''m starting to feel bad for them. Oh well. Time to test something new.'' Shrugging, Merlin activated his water affinity, slowly forming a whip in his hand. ''Let''s see...'' The shaman''s eyes bulged as the water whip began to spin. He screeched something, and the goblins and ogres erupted in dark flames. Not literally burning¡ªmore like... flaring? ''How thoughtful of them to make this easier for me.'' Merlin shook his head and lashed out with the whip. It was a slaughter. The goblins were cut clean in half. The ogres fared slightly better¡ªdeep wounds, but still alive. ''That buff is better than I thought...'' The whip dissipated, vanishing as if it had never existed. Keryx hummed in his grip, and Merlin launched forward, wind and space magic pushing him faster. ''Alright, let''s see...'' One ogre swung its massive club at him. Slow. Sluggish. ''Bro, really? I don''t even need a skill for this.'' Merlin sidestepped the attack like a kid dodging a thrown candy. His sword flashed upward, slicing clean through the ogre''s arm. THUD. The severed limb hit the ground like a tree log. The ogre howled in agony. ''Relax. I''ll put you out of your misery.'' Merlin dashed forward to finish it¡ª A flaming sword whizzed past, nearly singeing his hair. ''Oh, fuck off.'' He spun toward the source. The shaman was still muttering under his breath, conjuring more of those damn swords. Meanwhile, the remaining ogre decided it was his turn to charge, club raised high like this was some fun game. "Oh, fuck. You both at the same time?!" Merlin yelled, weaving between the flaming swords. And of course, the ogre wasn''t just standing around either¡ªbecause why the hell would he? [Trickster''s Reflex] Merlin twisted away from the incoming club, launching himself upward with wind magic before bringing his sword down in one clean stroke. The ogre''s head separated from its body. Keryx started shaking from the happiness. Or at least that''s what it seemed like to Merlin. The happiness of being able to slay monsters maybe. ''It''s a little creepy to be honest.'' Blood drenched him like he was some butcher or slaughterhouse worker. The last ogre, still clutching his missing arm, roared in desperation, grabbing his club with his remaining hand. "RAAAHHH!!" It charged. Merlin, dodging flaming swords left and right, sighed. ''You guys are getting boring.'' With a snap of spatial magic, he crushed the air around the ogre, knocking it off balance. It toppled over like a felled tree. THUD. "..." Merlin said nothing as he dashed forward and drove his sword through its skull. "Just you left." His golden eyes locked onto the shaman, glowing like molten fire. In a blink, he appeared right in front of him. The shaman tried to conjure another flaming sword. Too late. A single slash. Merlin landed behind him. "You''re nothing without your minions." The shaman''s body crumpled to the ground. THUD. "Well, that was slightly harder than the last batch." [Training Completed!] [Rewards] +1 Strength +2 Agility [Hidden Quest Completed ¨C Don''t get hit at all!] +1 Selectable Passive Skill ''Oh? A passive skill choice? Finally, something good.'' Everything around him darkened. When the world refocused, he was back in his bed. Keryx lay beside him, resting. ''Alright, let''s see what options I got...'' Four choices popped up before him. ''...These are fucking insane.'' [Please choose a passive skill.] ? Windborne Stride (User''s movements are naturally swift and efficient, reducing stamina consumption when sprinting, dodging, or maneuvering mid-air.) ? Silver-Tongued (User''s words naturally carry weight, making him more persuasive in conversations and better at deceiving or outwitting opponents.) ? Seer''s Instinct (Occasionally grants User a subtle sense of danger or hidden opportunities, allowing User to react a split second faster without conscious thought.) ? Endless Flow (User''s mana recovery slightly increases when User is in motion, encouraging a faster combat style.) ''...Which one should I even choose?'' He buried his head in his pillow as he actually used his brain to think about it. ''All of them are so fucking useful..'' Merlin thought about it for a while. ''Endless flow.'' [Endless Flow Selected!] Merlin kept his head buried in the pillow as he just kept thinking about it. ''Did I make the right choice?'' His thoughts faded after a while as he drifted off to sleep, his body was consumed by the fatigue of the day as he laid in his bed peacefully like a toddler. Chapter 24 24: School Event The next morning, Merlin''s day started with the usual bullshit. The usual shitty taxi ride... ''I swear, I''m moving into the dorms.'' Luckily, he arrived at school quickly. ''Hm? What''s this?'' He checked his schedule. ''Nothing. Not a single class.'' For a moment, Merlin almost teared up. He didn''t know whether to cry or break into a victory dance. But something felt off... a few students were walking around with popcorn and candy, looking way too excited. ''Did I miss something?'' Everyone was heading toward the academy''s arena. ''Weird.'' Inside the massive arena, only one thing was displayed: the giant screen used to broadcast tournament events. ''Wait... there''s an event today?'' Then it hit him. Merlin wanted to punch himself. ''The First-Years'' Battle Royale is today...'' He started walking toward the arena at a leisurely pace, unbothered. Which was a mistake. A thin hand suddenly grabbed his shoulder from behind. ''This can''t be good.'' Merlin slowly turned around, like a character in a horror movie, and saw his worst nightmare¡ª Vivienne. Smiling. A vein visibly throbbing on her forehead. "Shouldn''t you be at the simulation pods?" Her smile was twitching now. The sheer intensity in her voice sent a shiver down Merlin''s spine. "Well, technically, yes, but I forgo¡ª" Vivienne cut him off before he could even begin to make excuses. "Then why aren''t you moving faster?" Steam might as well have been rising from her head. Or was that just her affinity? Merlin had no idea... which was ironic. "I''m going! I''m going!" Merlin spun around, ready to make his grand escape¡ª And was interrupted again. "You''d better place in the top rankings. I heard about your deal with Lady Morgana." Vivienne''s tone suddenly changed when she mentioned Lady Morgana. Like a crazed fanatic whispering their god''s name. ''Seriously?'' Merlin simply nodded and rushed toward the arena like his life depended on it. It might, honestly. Weaving through the crowd, he moved effortlessly, like a swift little bird cutting through the wind. Soon, he reached the arena''s underground levels, where a guard¡ªbuilt like a two-door refrigerator¡ªstood waiting. "Phone." The guard''s voice was dull and lifeless, as if he hated his job. "Here." Merlin showed his academy ID. The system scanned it, and the gate opened without issue. "Your capsule is labeled." The guard barely looked at him before waving him through. ''Jesus Christ.'' The underground hall was massive, packed with hundreds of capsules and exactly 100 students. Merlin knew it was 100 because the academy always admitted that many first-years. ''And I have to eliminate ten of them at least... that''s 1/10 of the people here.'' Merlin nearly burst into laughter. Not because it was funny, but because it was depressing. Instead, he started searching for his capsule. Which was a lot harder than it should have been. At this point, he found almost everyone else''s capsule except his own. "It''s right here, Melrin." An all-too-familiar voice sent a chill down his spine. ''Nathan.'' Merlin didn''t even have to turn around to know who it was. The protagonist''s aura was enough. Still, he faced Nathan, his expression unreadable, then glanced at the capsule Nathan was pointing at. His name was written on it in bold letters. ''...I walked right past it.'' With a slow nod of thanks, he moved toward the capsule. Nathan gave him a small, knowing smirk. "Good luck." Then, he turned and headed toward his own capsule. "You too. You''ll need it." Merlin''s voice was cold and flat, yet it echoed through the hall. A few students turned to look at him. Then¡ªheavy footsteps. Loud. Commanding. Like a giant had entered the room. Merlin turned. Vivienne had arrived, holding a clipboard. ''That''s even worse than a giant.'' Merlin shook his head and focused. "As soon as you enter your capsule, put on the visor," Vivienne announced. "Pain will be simulated, but you won''t receive real injuries. If you take a fatal hit, you''ll be eliminated and become a spectator. Once everyone is ready, a short countdown will begin, and then¡ª" She paused for effect. "The Battle Royale starts." Some students cheered. Others, like Merlin, would rather be anywhere else. Like an all-expenses-paid vacation in hell. Merlin had no choice, though. His deal with Morgana made sure of that. "Take your positions," Vivienne finished. "Good luck." She pressed a button on the wall. All the capsules hissed open simultaneously. It was eerie. Like a scene from a horror movie. ''Feels like we''re crawling into alien pods.'' Suppressing a shiver, Merlin stepped inside his capsule and pulled the visor over his eyes. The capsule door sealed shut. ''Alright... time to go all out. Every affinity, no holding back.'' A countdown appeared. [ 10 ] [ 9 ] [ 8 ] [ 7 ] [ 6 ] ''Hurry up already...'' [ 5 ] [ 4 ] [ 3 ] [ 2 ] ''Finally, dear god¡ª'' [ 1 ] White. Blinding white. Like he had been sent straight to heaven. ''This looks familiar...'' {Welcome to the simulation, student Merlin Everhart. Please select your weapon.} "Rapier." A rapier materialized before him. And then¡ªnothing happened. {The Battle Royale will begin once all students have chosen their weapons.} ''...Great. So now I wait.'' Merlin stood in the empty void for what felt like forever. He even started practicing his sword moves out of sheer boredom. Then, at long last¡ª {Battle Royale start! Good luck!} Merlin suddenly fell. Like he had been dropped from the sky. He crashed onto solid ground. And saw trees. Endless trees. ''...Why am I in a damn forest? This is the worst place to start..'' Brushing himself off, he took in his surroundings. Nothing. Just more trees. ''Screw it. I''ll just start moving.'' With slow, careful steps, he picked a random direction and began walking. ¡ª Meanwhile, the massive arena was packed. Students, parents, all sat watching. Among them, a familiar girl had just arrived, phone in hand. Victoria. She came in secret, just to watch her little brother. Everyone could watch every person in the Battle Royale on their phones. She could have watched Merlin at home, but she wanted to come to see it on the giant screen as well. ''Good luck brother..'' Adorable, really. Her phone streamed Merlin''s personal feed, while the giant screen focused on Nathan standing on a hill, deep in thought. ¡ª In a private room, the academy''s teachers were gathered. "So, who do you think will win this year?" A blond elf¡ªAldric¡ªgrinned at Vivienne. "You already know my answer," she said smoothly. "Hahahaha." Aldric laughed, tossing his head back. His long blond hair covered his pointed ears, his green eyes locked onto the screen displaying Elara. "I bet on Elara." Sophia, sitting beside Vivienne, chimed in. "Nathaniel Varen is a strong contender too." Aldric clicked his tongue. Meanwhile, Reinhardt watched Merlin sprinting through the forest. ''Show me what you''ve got, kid.'' Then, the door creaked open. Every teacher stiffened. Heavy, chilling footsteps echoed. More faculty members entered, following behind a single woman. Morgana. "Let''s see what the boy can do." Her voice was a whisper, yet it sent a shiver through the room. She stepped forward, licking her lower lip slightly as her gaze locked onto Merlin''s feed. Right as he ran straight into another competitor. Chapter 25 25: Battle Royale (1) Merlin sprinted through the forest when a girl suddenly appeared in front of him. Her black hair flowed in the wind, and her blue eyes glowed like the endless ocean. "Hey, what if we¡ª" Before she could finish, Merlin dashed forward, using space to accelerate. His rapier flashed. The girl instinctively raised her sword to block. ''Too slow.'' Merlin''s blade sliced across her hand. She flinched, stumbling backward. A strange crack formed on her skin¡ªlike glass about to shatter. "Agh¡ª!" She groaned and looked at Merlin with a glare. "You bastard!" ''...I''m the bastard?'' "?...This is literally the whole point of a battle royale." Merlin took slow, deliberate steps forward. The girl glanced at her wounded hand, watching the cracks spread further. "But we could''ve been teammates¡ª" Before she could finish, Merlin used space magic to appear right in front of her. ''Fast¡ª!'' Her thoughts stopped¡ªlike a bankrupt business running out of money. It was over. Merlin''s rapier stabbed through her head. Her body shattered, disappearing in an instant. ''Weak.'' Shaking his head, Merlin continued through the forest. ¡ª A massive display lit up in the sky for all to see. [Eliminated: 1] ''He''s that strong already?'' Victoria smiled as she watched her brother''s performance. She didn''t know that Merlin wasn''t even using half his strength. No, he was practically holding back. The arena filled with whispers, but Victoria remained focused on the screen... and her phone, where she had the feed of Merlin''s battle. ''You''ve got this, little bro...'' ¡ª Morgana watched with a not-so-innocent smile as Merlin effortlessly defeated the girl. ''Ahhh... I like this one.'' She bit her lip, following Merlin''s every move. Other instructors raised their eyebrows at her reaction. Meanwhile, Reinhardt shook his head, and Vivienne clapped with a smile as she watched Merlin''s performance. ¡ª Two daggers cut through the air, clashing against a sword. "Not bad..." Nathan grinned at his opponent¡ªthen disappeared. An instant later, he reappeared behind the boy and drove his dagger into his back. [Backstab] ''Tonight, I''m going all out. Every affinity. The quest says I have to win.'' Nathan had received a quest. If he won, he could unlock a new affinity to add to his collection of three. ''The only real challenge is Merlin...'' He recalled Merlin''s parting words before they entered the game. ''I''ll need luck?'' Nathan smirked, dodging an incoming arrow. A flicker of darkness¡ªhe reappeared behind the archer and plunged his daggers into her head. "Sorry... but I want to win." The girl shattered into nothing. Nathan turned and headed toward an open field. ¡ª Merlin reached the edge of the forest, stepping into a vast, open field covered in tall grass. ''If I didn''t need more kills, I''d just camp in the trees.'' Clicking his tongue, he stepped forward. Then, in the distance¡ªsomeone was running. ''Who''s that?'' They weren''t just running. They were fleeing. Merlin crouched low, creeping through the grass like a predator. Well, he wasn''t really a predator. ...Okay, maybe a little. He moved closer, step by step. Then¡ª The runner suddenly stopped. ''Did he sense me?'' Now, Merlin got a good look at him. Blond hair, shining like gold. Amber eyes, glowing with a fiery brilliance. ''Adrian? Why is he running?'' Two other boys appeared behind him. Merlin had no idea who they were. Probably not even worth calling extras. ''Seriously? He can''t handle two nobodies?'' His cold expression twitched slightly. He kept moving. "You won''t win against me!" Adrian shouted, gripping a battle-axe larger than his own head. ''...Cringe.'' Merlin circled around them. If he killed Adrian now, he''d have to fight both boys. But if he took out one first and wounded the other... Adrian, already injured, wouldn''t get far. Using space magic to lighten his footsteps, Merlin slipped behind the two enemies. "Adrian, it''s over! You don''t stand a chance!" The dark-haired boy smirked, flames forming in his palm. "You can''t run forever." The white-haired one raised a stone pillar, pinning Adrian slightly in place. ''Now.'' Before they could combine their attacks¡ª Merlin struck. His rapier cut straight through the white-haired boy''s throat. He disappeared instantly. "You¡ª!" The fire mage turned toward Merlin, a fireball burning in his hand. Merlin gripped his sword. "I''m the executioner." ''...That was fucking cringe.'' He blinked, then laughed at himself. Adrian bolted. ''Like a scared rabbit.'' Merlin sighed, dashed forward, and pinned the fire mage to the ground using space. The guy struggled, but his legs started cracking like glass. ''Huh? Can he resist?'' Before he could resist further, Merlin stabbed him through the head. He shattered instantly. ''Guess not.'' LNow¡ª" Merlin turned to Adrian, who hadn''t gotten far. ''Where are you hopping off to, little bunny?'' Wind surged beneath Merlin''s feet, launching him forward. ''Well, the cat''s out of the bag now.'' Everyone watching would realize he had more than one affinity. Oh well. They would''ve found out eventually anyways. Merlin did care. But it was better for himself this way. They would find out sooner or later. He couldn''t hold back forever. In seconds, he caught up to Adrian, who gasped as Merlin kicked him down. "H-How?!" He hit the ground with a thud. THUD. "I thought we were friends!" Adrian shouted, trying to summon water in his hands. Merlin distorted space, pressing him into the ground. ''Friends? Where did he get that idea?'' He said nothing, simply raising his sword¡ª Then¡ª An ice blade crashed into his rapier, forcing him back. CLANG. ''Seriously...?'' Not far away, a girl stood with her arm outstretched. Seraphina. Merlin clicked his tongue as he dashed backward, glancing at the massive ice blade embedded in the ground where he had just been. ''Annoying.'' She stood with her hand still outstretched, her expression calm yet firm. Frost lingered around her fingertips, shimmering under the artificial sky. Adrian gasped for breath, scrambling to his feet. His wide eyes darted between Seraphina and Merlin like a kid caught between divorced parents. "You''re too reckless, Adrian." she said, her voice carrying a quiet authority. "You could''ve shown up sooner." Adrian muttered, shaking his hands to clear the numbness from Merlin''s space magic. Merlin tilted his head, raising an eyebrow. ''Was she... watching?'' It wasn''t a wild guess. She could''ve easily interfered before he killed the two extras. But she didn''t. ''Maybe I''m overthinking.'' "We can''t take him alone." Adrian muttered as he stepped closer to her. Seraphina said nothing. She simply gave a small nod, her expression unreadable, but her fingers twitched ever so slightly. Frost began to gather around her palm. ''What''s he planning?'' Her thoughts swirled like a blizzard, but she kept her eyes locked on Merlin. And yet, he just stood there. Calm. Unbothered. As if they weren''t even worth his attention. "...He''s a Deviant." Seraphina''s voice was barely above a whisper, but Adrian stiffened beside her. He swallowed hard before nodding. "Yeah." The word lingered between them like an unspoken warning. Then¡ª "Well?" Merlin''s voice cut through their thoughts like a hammer shattering glass. "If you''re not attacking¡ª" He disappeared. The wind howled. "Then I will." Chapter 26 26: Battle Royale (2) A sharp crack echoed through the air as Merlin vanished from his spot. Seraphina''s breath hitched. ''Fast¡ª!'' Before she could react, a sudden gust of wind howled past her. Her instincts screamed at her, but it was already too late¡ª CLANG! Adrian barely managed to block. His axe trembled as it met Merlin''s rapier, the impact forcing him to skid backward. ''Shit¡ª!'' Ice exploded beneath Seraphina''s feet as she launched herself forward, her body twisting mid-air. She conjured a jagged ice spear in her hand and hurled it at Merlin''s head. Merlin didn''t even turn to look. He tilted his head slightly, letting the spear graze past his cheek before it embedded itself into the ground behind him. Then he spoke. "...That''s all?" Adrian clenched his teeth. ''He''s toying with us.'' Without hesitation, he swung his axe downward, a burst of water surging behind the attack. BANG! The ground shattered under the force¡ª But Merlin was already gone. A blur of movement¡ªthen Adrian felt something cold press against his throat. Merlin''s rapier. "...Too slow," Merlin muttered. Adrian barely had time to react before¡ª CRACK! A massive ice wall erupted between them. Merlin clicked his tongue as he dashed backward, watching the thick barrier form. Seraphina landed beside Adrian, her hands outstretched as cold mist billowed from her fingers. "Stay sharp," she murmured. Adrian exhaled, steadying himself. "Like I have a choice." On the other side of the ice wall, Merlin exhaled slowly, gripping his rapier. Then, ever so slightly¡ª He smiled. ''Not bad. They are better than I had anticipated. I guess this much is expected from the team of the protagonist huh?'' Looks like things were finally getting interesting. The ice wall cracked slightly, mist curling along its edges as Seraphina reinforced it with another layer of frost. Adrian exhaled sharply. "That was way too close." Seraphina didn''t respond. Her eyes remained locked on the barrier, waiting for movement. Then¡ª CRACK. The entire wall seemed to be cracking down like a glass wall. Adrian''s eyes widened. "Wait, did you¡ª?" Seraphina''s expression darkened. "That''s not my doing.." SHATTER! A chunk of the ice collapsed, revealing nothing but an empty field. Adrian and Seraphina both tensed. ''Where is he¡ª?!'' A gust of wind roared from behind them. Adrian turned just in time to see Merlin¡ªstanding directly behind Seraphina. His rapier was already moving. CLANG! ''W-What the hell is that speed¡ª'' Seraphina barely managed to raise an ice blade in time, blocking the thrust at the last second. Her arm numbed from the impact, but she grit her teeth and retaliated¡ªforming jagged ice spikes beneath Merlin''s feet. "Too slow." Merlin''s voice was calm¡ªalmost lazy. His foot flickered out of existence for a split second, his body twisting unnaturally as he avoided the ice spikes with minimal movement. [Trickster''s Reflex.] A skill designed for unpredictable dodging¡ªhis body automatically adjusted to avoid lethal strikes. Adrian lunged, swinging his axe in a wide arc. Merlin leaned back at an impossible angle, the axe barely missing his chest as he subtly brushed his hand against Adrian. [Courier''s Mark.] A subtle pulse of mana spread outward as Merlin left a mark on Adrian. Adrian had no idea. Seraphina, however, was already moving¡ªher eyes narrowing as she summoned a sharp, spear-like icicle and thrust it toward Merlin''s head. Merlin smirked. FWOOSH! His body warped, disappearing in an instant as he used both his wind and space affinity to boost his speed even further. He reappeared midair, several meters away. Adrian froze. "Wait¡ªhow the hell¡ªis he so fast?!" Seraphina''s gaze snapped toward Merlin''s new position. "What the hell is with that speed...?" Merlin casually spun his rapier, landing lightly on the frozen ground. "I''m just that guy," he said, flashing a grin. Seraphina''s mind raced. ''Space magic... but not high-tier...it can''t be that high...That means¡ªhe''s using some kind of tricks¡ª'' To her, Merlin wasn''t just teleporting¡ªit seemed like he was jumping to locations. However, she was pretty wrong. Her blood ran cold as she felt a sudden uneasiness. "...Adrian, move!" But Adrian had already felt it. Merlin had activated the skill to teleport back to Adrian. Adrian felt a sharp pull¡ªan invisible force yanking his body forward. Like he was fighting against space itself. He spun right into Merlin''s waiting blade. CRACK. Merlin''s rapier pierced through Adrian''s side. Making it appear like a shattered glass panel. Adrian''s breath hitched as pain flared through his torso. He barely managed to stumble backward, trying to clutch the imaginary wound like a dumbass... Seraphina lashed out, sending a wave of ice shards toward Merlin. Merlin vanished again using his affinities. This time, he reappeared above her. He was moving so fast it was nearly impossible for them to follow. His foot slammed down. BAM! Seraphina barely managed to block with an ice barrier, but the force sent her skidding across the frozen ground. Merlin landed smoothly, stretching his neck. "Man," he sighed. "I was expecting a bit more." Seraphina slowly stood, her breathing uneven. Adrian coughed, gripping his axe. "I don''t know what the hell you are using...but it''s bullshit." Merlin grinned. "Thanks." ¡ª The arena erupted into chaos. "Did you see that?! He has multiple affinities?! A deviant?!" "Holy shit, that''s fucking aura... he''s playing with them like it''s nothing...!" "Who the fuck is this Merlin Everhart?! Is he a genius?!" Victoria sat back, an amused smile on her lips as she listened to the crowd''s frantic shouts. Her eyes, however, never left the massive screen broadcasting the battle. Her brother was still fighting. Still winning. ''Just how many secrets are you hiding, little brother?'' ¡ª The teacher''s room was silent. Or at least, it should have been. "Bahahahaha!" Morgana nearly doubled over, gripping her stomach as laughter shook her entire body. "He''s toying with them!" She wiped away an imaginary tear, her grin widening. "..." The rest of the instructors watched in silence. The fight was reaching its climax¡ªbut then, something new happened. Someone else had appeared. "Who the hell is that?" Aldric''s voice cut through the quiet as the screen zoomed in on a black-haired figure approaching Merlin''s battle. ¡ª ''...Hm?'' A chill ran down Merlin''s spine. It wasn''t fear. More like... that strange sensation of being watched. ''Whatever. I need to finish this first.'' He raised his hand. A whip of water formed, twisting and curling as it stretched outward. Adrian stiffened. "W-Water too?! Are you kidding me?!" Seraphina''s breath hitched, her ice-cold composure shaking for the first time. Adrian, meanwhile, stood there¡ªfrozen like a lake in midwinter. His lips trembled, curving into a hollow smile. Merlin''s voice was calm. Too calm. "Let''s end this." CRACK. The whip lashed forward. Seraphina reacted instantly, summoning a wall of ice¡ªbut she was too slow. The attack was mere inches from striking when¡ª CLANG! Merlin''s water whip collided with two daggers mid-air. He clicked his tongue. "Ah, seriously?" His gaze shifted to the newcomer¡ªa figure standing at the end of his whip, darkness seeping from his very being. ''Average entrance for a main character.'' Nathan stood firm, twin daggers gleaming in his hands. Seraphina and Adrian were behind him now¡ªAdrian still trembling, Seraphina gripping her sword tighter. Nathan took a slow breath. "Merlin," he started, his voice shaking. "Please. Just give up. We don''t have to fight." His daggers lowered slightly, his stance loosening. Merlin? He just smiled. Chapter 27 27: Battle Royale (3) Merlin tilted his head, a smirk tugging at his lips. "Give up?" His tone was light, almost amused. "That''s a strange thing to ask... in a battle royale." Nathan didn''t move. His daggers were still lowered¡ªhis body relaxed, yet his presence was sharp, like a coiled predator waiting for the right moment. Seraphina and Adrian stood behind him, their breathing uneven. Adrian still looked like he was processing the fact that he was still alive. Merlin''s gaze flickered over the three. His mind worked quickly. ''Adrian''s already shaken. If I move now, he won''t be able to react.'' ''Seraphina is still cautious, but her reaction speed is lacking.'' ''Nathan...'' Merlin''s smirk faded slightly. ''Nathan is the only one I need to watch out for.'' The guy was fast. Really fast. As expected the fucking overpowered protagonist, his reflexes were sharp enough to counter mid-air magic attacks. Merlin sighed dramatically. "Well, I suppose we could all just hold hands and be friends, but..." He vanished. ¡ª!! Nathan''s eyes widened. Merlin dashed forward, appearing right in front of Adrian, his rapier already swinging in a clean horizontal arc. "¡ªAdrian, move!" Seraphina shouted. Adrian barely had time to register the words before Nathan reacted. [Shadow Step] Nathan blurred, his body melting into the shadows of the tall grass. The sharp clash of steel rang out as Nathan''s daggers met Merlin''s rapier mid-swing, deflecting the lethal strike. Merlin grinned. Nathan countered immediately, twisting his body in a fluid motion as he brought his knee up¡ªaiming for Merlin''s ribs. Merlin''s instincts flared. [Trickster''s Reflex] His body adjusted automatically, tilting just enough to let Nathan''s knee graze past him. Merlin ducked¡ªhis rapier flicking forward like a serpent toward Nathan''s exposed neck. Nathan saw it. But he wasn''t fast enough. SLASH¡ª! A small crack appeared on Nathan''s face as he barely managed to shift his head, the tip of Merlin''s blade slicing across his cheek. Merlin didn''t stop. He twisted his wrist, aiming to drive the rapier through Nathan''s shoulder¡ª FWOOSH! A sudden blast of cold erupted between them. Merlin''s sword arm froze, a thick layer of ice wrapping around it in an instant. His expression darkened. Seraphina stood a few feet away, her hand outstretched. "...You''re really annoying," Merlin muttered. Seraphina''s breathing was heavy. That attack wasn''t easy for her to pull off so quickly considering the fact that her mana was already exhausted. Nathan took the opportunity to backstep, putting some distance between them. Adrian, still pale, gritted his teeth and forced himself to move¡ªhis hands tightening around his axe. The three of them stood together now. ''The protagonist and his little team. God, how annoying.'' Merlin looked down at his arm. The ice was spreading quickly. ''Tch. If I let this continue, it''ll restrict my movement even further.'' He flexed his fingers. And then¡ª A faint ripple distorted the air around him, and the ice suddenly shattered, breaking apart like fragile glass. Seraphina''s eyes widened. Nathan narrowed his gaze. "...This guy." Merlin smiled. "Alright. I was holding back a little, but since you''re being this persistent..." A gust of wind suddenly exploded from his feet, lifting the dust and grass into a chaotic swirl. Merlin''s entire body blurred. Nathan barely had time to process it before¡ª BANG! Merlin appeared right in front of him, rapier thrusting forward at full force. Nathan''s body moved on instinct¡ª CLANG! The daggers barely managed to deflect it, but the impact sent him flying back, his boots skidding across the dirt. "Shit¡ª" Merlin didn''t stop. He shifted his weight, his body twisting mid-motion as he redirected his attack¡ªthis time toward Seraphina. Seraph''s pupils shrunk. She raised her sword to block, but Merlin''s speed was overwhelming. His rapier sliced downward¡ª And then¡ª BOOM! A massive pillar of earth erupted between them. Merlin''s sword struck it, stopping his attack. His eyes flicked to the side. Nathan stood there, his arms outstretched s he lowered his hand. "...Not bad, revealing all your cards now huh?" Merlin asked with a smirk. Nathan was sweating profusely. His earth magic wasn''t precise, but it was powerful enough to disrupt Merlin''s movements. Nathan, Seraphina, and Adrian stood together once more¡ªpanting, but holding firm. Merlin exhaled, his expression calm. Then, he smiled. "Alright then..." His aura fluctuated. The ground beneath him quivered. "Let''s make this more fun." Merlin''s body moved before his mind even registered it. His instincts took over as he twisted to the side, Nathan''s daggers slicing through the air where his ribs had been a second ago. Nathan didn''t stop. The moment his blades missed, he flickered again, vanishing into the shadows and reappearing behind Merlin, his dagger already descending toward the back of Merlin''s neck. ''Predictable.'' Merlin activated his skill. [Trickster''s Reflex] His body jerked in an unnatural movement, bending mid-motion like a puppet with cut strings, narrowly avoiding the strike. In the same breath, he twisted his wrist and lashed out with his rapier¡ªonly for it to meet nothing but air. Nathan had already vanished again. Merlin let out a slow sigh. "You really love doing this disappearing act, huh?" Nathan''s voice echoed from the shifting shadows. "It''s called strategy." "Uh-huh." Merlin''s fingers twitched, subtle distortions in the air forming around him. Nathan flickered back into existence directly above, aiming to drive his daggers into Merlin''s shoulders¡ªonly to feel the world around him shift. Instead of hitting his target, Nathan found himself sliding sideways in mid-air, as if gravity itself had been confused. "What the¡ª?!" Merlin didn''t waste time. He raised a hand, and a powerful gust of Wind sent Nathan flying back, forcing him to land awkwardly on the ground. Nathan groaned. "Oh, come on." Merlin shrugged. "You keep using shadow tricks, I keep messing with space. Feels fair to me." Nathan''s brow twitched. "Fair my ass." But even as he said that, a smirk pulled at his lips. Lightning started to crackle at his fingertips. He was just getting started. ''So he''s finally starting to take me seriously...fuck.'' Merlin narrowed his eyes as Nathan''s smirk widened. Lightning crackled around him, sparks dancing along his daggers as if barely contained. ''Ah, shit. He''s gonna do something stupid, isn''t he?'' Merlin barely had time to process before Nathan vanished again¡ªthis time, not with shadow but with lightning. A sharp crack split the air, and in an instant, Nathan reappeared right in front of him, his daggers coated in pure electricity. Merlin''s reflexes kicked in. He raised his rapier just in time to block¡ª CLANG! The force behind the strike sent a sharp vibration through Merlin''s arm, nearly numbing his fingers. Lightning danced across his blade, the static prickling his skin. Nathan grinned the corner of his lips slightly trembling "Not so cocky now, are you?" Merlin''s eyes twitched. "Cocky? I believe the right word would be confident." Chapter 28 28: Battle Royale (4) The spectators were staring at the screen with wide eyes, while Victoria stood frozen, watching in disbelief. "Two deviants?!" "One against three and still winning?!" "Come on, Merlin! You can do it!" Victoria yelled, cheering for her brother, while the crowd continued to chant Merlin''s name. ¡ª ''Time to finish this for fuck''s sake..'' Merlin knew Nathan had his quest. But frankly, Merlin didn''t care. He hadn''t forgotten for a second why he was here. To be better than Nathan. Because Nathan was a loser. A big ol'' loser who lost, and ruined everything. ''I don''t care what I have to do...'' Merlin gripped his rapier, as if he''d just had an epiphany. [Wind Affinity leveled up!] ''...What?'' Merlin''s lips trembled as Nathan vanished from his sight. ''Seriously?! Now?!'' Lightning zigzagged in front of his eyes, as a figure appeared in front of him. ''Great...'' [Trickster''s Reflex] Merlin''s hands shot up, using his skill and now-enhanced wind power to speed up his movements. Just before Nathan could stab him, Merlin caught both daggers with his bare hands. "..." Adrian and Seraph stared with wide eyes as Nathan''s face started to twitch. This battle had no meaning. It wasn''t some epic final showdown. Not a life-or-death fight...just a school battle royale. Still...it meant something to Merlin. It meant he could beat Nathan. It meant he could be better than the main character...it meant he was more than just an extra. This was...The Old Protagonist vs The New Protagonist. Suddenly, blades started materializing out of thin air...literally. They were wind blades swirling around Merlin, and speeding toward Seraph and Adrian. Nathan''s eyes snapped back to reality just as he started pulling his hand away, but Merlin made a quick move, aiming a kick straight at Nathan''s stomach, sending him flying backward like a ragdoll. Seraph, in the nick of time, raised an ice wall, blocking the blades. Nathan groggily picked himself up, glaring at Merlin. "I''m not losing... no... I can''t lose..." Nathan muttered under his breath, while Merlin raised an eyebrow and dashed toward him. His speed was way faster now. ''I''m not giving him a second to breathe.'' Nathan suddenly enveloped himself in a purple aura, and the water around Merlin slammed into him, freezing him in place. ''What the hell...?'' Merlin''s hair stood on end as he stared at Nathan, who seemed to have gotten some random power-up. ''Seriously?! Does he this have this much fucking plot armor?!'' Merlin took a step back, just as Nathan appeared in front of him, only to be blocked by a stone wall that exploded on impact. ''What now?'' Merlin dashed backward, his eyes scanning for the source of the mana, where a spear-wielding girl stood, her arms outstretched toward them both. Her silver-blonde hair fluttered in the breeze as her violet eyes practically glowed. ''Elara!'' [Trickster''s Reflex] Merlin dodged Nathan''s attacks just in time. Nathan''s eyes were completely purple, as though he''d been possessed by something... but that couldn''t be right...right? They weren''t in the real world...it was just a simulation... "You''re welcome!" Elara dashed forward just as a water whip lashed toward her, and Adrian moved closer to Seraph. ''Even they¡ª'' As Merlin looked over, Nathan managed to land a blow on his side with his hands, sending him flying back. ''Crap...'' Elara easily dodged the attack and stepped back. ''System... say something...'' Merlin thought, wanting help. He wasn''t sure what was behind Nathan''s sudden power surge... well, he had a few ideas. But he had no clue why the gods would intervene in such a petty matter. Nathan gripped his blades as his eyes glowed violet. "You can still give up." He wasn''t even paying attention to Elara, who was holding her spear. His words were directed at Merlin. "Elara, hold off the other two." Merlin''s cold voice echoed across the field as he gripped his rapier. "Tch, you can''t order me around, you know?" Despite her protests, Elara turned and faced Seraph and Adrian, who were struggling but managing to keep their positions. "Phew..." Merlin took a deep breath, and then he and Nathan dashed forward at the same time. ¡ª The spectators fell into a hushed silence. It was like an epic battle was unfolding, but really, it was just two kids fighting on a screen. The air was thick with excitement, almost palpable, as Nathan and Merlin clashed, and everyone erupted with cheers. ¡ª Merlin could barely keep up as Nathan started using all of his affinities... even his ice affinity, shooting ice swords straight at Merlin. [Trickster''s Reflex] ''I can''t lose...'' Cracks started appearing on Merlin''s body as he couldn''t dodge every attack. Nathan slashed forward with his dagger, and Merlin blocked it flawlessly. But the lightning that followed threw him back. ''...'' Merlin looked up at the sky as he hit the ground. ''I want to win...'' [#%#%$% wants to help you win.] ''What the fuck...?'' [Do you accept? Y/N] Merlin slowly picked himself up, staring at Nathan, who looked like he was just waiting for him to rise... like he was having fun. ''I reject... I don''t want to win with someone else''s power...'' [Offer rejected.] [#%#%$% laughs at your decision.] ''Who is this...?'' Merlin didn''t have time to think about it now...he had to move. He channeled his mana through his body and lunged forward, as Nathan stood motionless. "You should have given up." Nathan''s cold voice echoed as his blade appeared just inches from Merlin''s throat. "Merlin!" Elara yelled, having just taken down Adrian, who turned to vapor. ''Ah... I''m going to lose...?'' Everything around him started to slow down... Nathan''s blade was right in front of him. Time... time that Merlin couldn''t fully control, was working now. Merlin dodged the strike just as his mana surged, speeding up his movements. He thrust his rapier into Nathan''s side. Nathan dashed back, clutching his side. "..." Silence. Utter silence. ''What was that?!'' Elara''s thoughts spun as she stared at the panting Merlin while attacking Seraph, who was starting to give up. "Merlin, now!" Elara''s voice snapped Merlin out of his shock. He was running low on mana... Nathan''s aura was starting to fade, and his eyes were returning to normal. ''Now... I have to win...'' Merlin moved like a slug, using only his remaining speed... then thrust his sword into Nathan''s motionless chest, who could only stare in wide-eyed shock. "A-ah..." Nathan looked down at the hole in his chest as his body began to shatter like glass. "Next time, try harder with your own strength you lucky bastard.." Nathan turned to vapor as Elara''s spear pierced Seraph''s head. ''...That woman''s brutal...'' Merlin collapsed to the ground as Seraph shattered like a piece of glass. ''I won... I beat the protagonist...'' Chapter 29 29: Battle Royale (5) Merlin gasped for air as he lay on the ground, like a newborn experiencing life for the first time... though, honestly, he wouldn''t have been surprised if that were the case. Elara marched toward him at a brisk pace, looking every bit like a worried mother¡ªthough she clearly didn''t want to show it. ''At least I won...'' Merlin''s thoughts drifted as Elara lazily kicked his side. "Ugh..." Grimacing, he clutched his ribs and forced himself up. The cracks on his body slowly began to mend. ''Looks like they recover over time.'' "Hurry up and move." Elara''s impatient voice snapped him out of his thoughts. She was practically stomping beside him. She was just worried about me... kinda. And she has no reaction to my multiple affinities? It was as if she couldn''t care less¡ªlike winning was all that mattered. "You do know this isn''t a team game, right? Either way¡ª" "Shut it. I want to fight you when you''re at your best. Not now. That wouldn''t be fitting for a warrior. The final battle will be ours!" Elara''s ridiculous declaration cut Merlin off mid-sentence, making him want to bury his head in the middle of the field. ''Seriously? That''s her thought process?'' He blinked at her in disbelief. She just stood there, leaning on her spear like she hadn''t just said the most absurd thing ever. "...Let''s just go." Merlin''s kill count had reached four. Six more to go. And who knew how many were still alive after their fight... or more accurately, how many had already died? Shaking his head, Merlin turned toward the forest without another word. ''We need to move faster.'' And with that, they broke into a sprint like a pair of lunatics, unaware of how much time they had left. One thing was certain, though¡ªMerlin still had plenty of killing to do. ¡ª Meanwhile, in the arena the crowd erupted into a frenzy as the screens displayed Merlin''s victory. "YES! MERLIN AND ELARA!!" "ELARA, THE TRUE SAVIOR!!" "THEY WON!!!" Truthfully, most people were cheering for Merlin... something that filled Victoria''s heart with pride as she watched him on her phone screen. ''I''m proud of you.'' ¡ª In the Instructor''s Office the room was dead silent after the battle, every pair of eyes glued to the screen. "...W-What was that thing around the boy...?" Sophia''s voice finally broke the silence. Even Morgana, arms crossed, silently replayed Nathan''s little trick on the monitor. ''Would they really intervene over something like this? No, impossible.'' Morgana knew what it was, but the idea of them interfering over such a trivial matter was laughable. And why him of all people? Her expression was unreadable as Sophia''s question lingered in the air, unanswered. "..." Reinhardt''s fists clenched as the scene replayed again. ''Just what the hell was that...?'' ¡ª Back in the Simulation Merlin drove his sword through a boy''s chest, only for a strange shiver to crawl down his spine. ''Hm?'' He glanced at Elara, who stood nonchalantly beside him as the boy''s body shattered like a fragile glass figurine. ''That makes six.'' He had managed to take down two more since they set off. Not the most impressive count, but progress was progress. ¡ª As they moved deeper into the forest, they encountered more and more enemies. Their teamwork wasn''t anything extraordinary, but their individual strength more than made up for it. No team, no single fighter, stood a chance against them. They fought almost flawlessly. "That''s another team down." Elara sighed, tightening her grip on her spear. Merlin was mid-stretch when a booming voice echoed throughout the simulation. {Two players remain!} ''...Wait, everyone else is dead? Even Dorian...?'' Merlin had killed fourteen people in total, meaning the last pair had just been eliminated. Meaning the rest of the side cast were eliminated...by random extras. He and Elara locked eyes. Then, without hesitation, she dashed backward. ''...At least she doesn''t waste time.'' Merlin''s expression remained unchanged as he watched her grip her spear tighter. "Come on! Attack me!" Elara shouted with a manic grin. Merlin sighed. Then, using his wind and space affinities, he dashed forward. He appeared before Elara at a speed she shouldn''t have been able to react to¡ªbut she was already prepared. She blocked the kick with her spear, though the impact sent her skidding backward, her legs trembling. "Your fighting style is too predictable, Merlin! You always rely on your speed!" Her voice echoed through the forest, laced with excitement. The scent of flowers filled the air, birds chirped overhead... and Merlin just stared. ''She''s right.'' Elara launched earthen blades toward him, but he dodged them all with ease, his mind still lingering on her words. ''Then how am I supposed to fight...?'' His thoughts were cut short as a massive rock sphere hurtled toward him. Using the wind, he propelled himself upward, flipping over the boulder effortlessly. "Tch." Elara clicked her tongue like an irritated snake before lunging forward with her spear. ''Hmm.'' No. Experimenting mid-battle wasn''t fair when Elara was giving it her all. That would be disrespectful. Shaking his head, Merlin marked the ground beneath him. [Courier''s Mark] Then he dashed forward at full speed. Elara abruptly halted her charge and thrust her spear forward. [Trickster''s Reflex] Merlin dodged in an instant, landing a strike that sent Elara flying. ''She can''t fully use her affinity yet...I mean, neither can I. But still..'' He approached her with slow, deliberate steps as she pushed herself up, then dashed at him again. This time, she fired earth blades mid-charge¡ªMerlin dodged them as easily as dodging Nathan''s dumb questions. ''Haaa... fighting Seraph and Adrian was way harder than this for some reason...'' Ever since his wind affinity had leveled up, he felt noticeably stronger and faster. ''Whatever.'' Spear and sword clashed. CLANG! Merlin knocked the spear aside and drove his sword into Elara''s chest. She stood motionless, her spear slipping from her grasp. "You did well, Elara." Merlin gave her a small smile at her dumbfounded expression. She coughed and raised an eyebrow. "...Screw you¡ª" Before she could finish, she shattered like a delicate antique plate. ''I won.'' ¡ª Back at the Arena the entire thing exploded with cheers as Merlin defeated Elara. "MERLIN! MERLIN! MERLIN! MERLIN!" It was almost like some cult was chanting his name. A message appeared on the massive screens, accompanied by an all-encompassing voice: {The winner is... Merlin Everhart!} The audience erupted¡ªclapping, whistling, roaring his name. Meanwhile, Victoria wiped away a single tear as she watched Merlin raise his fist in victory. ''You did it...'' Chapter 30 30: Aftermath of Victory Everything went dark for Merlin. Then, with a mechanical hiss, the simulation capsule released him. ''Finally, it''s over.'' He pulled off the headgear, blinking as the pod door slid open. The moment he stepped out, a wave of muffled shouting hit his ears from above. It was distant, almost distorted¡ªlike someone had shoved an entire crowd into a pillow and told them to scream. Weird. Unpleasant. Would not recommend. As Merlin glanced around, he saw that all the other students were stepping out of their pods at the same time, faces ranging from exhausted to utterly devastated. "Congratulations on your placements, everyone." A familiar voice rang out, instantly drawing all eyes toward the front of the room. Vivienne strode in, slow and deliberate, her heels clicking against the floor. She clapped her hands together, a bright smile on her face. "You all deserve an applause." No one moved. They just stared, waiting for the inevitable but that usually followed those words....which didn''t come surprisingly. Vivienne''s gaze swept over the crowd, assessing. Her smile didn''t waver. And then¡ªjust for a second¡ªher eyes locked onto Merlin. And her smile grew. Merlin''s stomach dropped. ''Am I hallucinating?'' He shook his head. Nope. That was definitely happening. And he definitely did not like it. "Now," Vivienne continued, "I''d like the winner to step forward." A beat of silence. Then, as if by some tragic cosmic joke¡ª Every single person turned to look at him. ''Fhuuu... seriously?'' Merlin sighed, dragging his feet forward. A few students mumbled in his direction, some even managing forced smiles. "Congrats, man!" "Great job, Merlin!" Very convincing. If you ignored the fact that their expressions were screaming I want to strangle you in your sleep. He didn''t even need to try and read them. It was all there¡ªjealousy, resentment, frustration. One kid looked like he was about to pass out. Then there was Nathan. Their eyes met for a fraction of a second. Nathan stood straight, shoulders squared, his face unreadable. But his eyes¡ªthose empty, hollow eyes¡ªtold Merlin everything. ''This is the first quest he lost I''m pretty sure, he''s probably gonna be sulking for a while.'' Merlin wasn''t surprised. But Nathan''s whole loss wasn''t his problem. He walked past Nathan without a word, and Nathan didn''t turn to follow him. As soon as he reached Vivienne, she rested a hand on his shoulder, her grip light but firm. "Nicely done, Merlin," she said, voice as smooth as ever. Then, turning to the rest of the students, she added, "The rest of you may now leave." It was as if she had cut a leash. The students practically ran for the exit, talking amongst themselves, relieved that they were free. Merlin shook his head. He almost envied them. Almost. Because now? He was getting dragged along to whatever was waiting for him upstairs. ¡ª "You did well," Vivienne said as they ascended the stairs. "Not that it was unexpected." Merlin stayed silent. Compliments from her made him nervous. The academy guard at the entrance nodded as they passed. Vivienne led him up further, toward a massive set of double doors. "Reinhardt was so excited he nearly started dancing," she added, a small smirk playing at her lips. Merlin faltered. ''Wait.'' Reinhardt. Dancing. His brain tried not to process that image¡ªtried to not imagine Reinhardt, the massive, gruff instructor, doing some sort of ridiculous jig. He failed. His smile twitched. His soul suffered. "Now then," Vivienne said, stopping in front of the doors. "Time to introduce you to the audience. They''ve been waiting." Merlin blinked. "Wait, what¡ª" Vivienne winked, then pushed the doors open. The roar of the crowd hit him like a spell to the face. The arena was massive, filled with spectators who immediately erupted into cheers. The noise was deafening. "MERLIN! MERLIN! MERLIN!" "YOU DID IT, MERLIN!!" "SIGN MY FOREHEAD!!" ''Is this for real?'' Merlin''s face twitched as he followed Vivienne onto the stage, feeling completely out of place. At the center stood a microphone. A single, ominous microphone. Vivienne stepped up to it, clearing her throat. The crowd immediately fell silent. It was almost unnatural, like someone had flipped a switch. "Ladies and gentlemen," Vivienne''s voice rang out, clear and authoritative. "Students of the academy, and those watching from home¡ª" ''Ah. Right. The broadcast.'' Merlin resisted the urge to groan. This was so much worse. Vivienne continued, "The first-year Battle Royale has officially concluded. And our champion¡ª" She turned to him, clapping. "Merlin Everhart." The crowd went wild. Cheers, whistles, applause. Merlin stared blankly. ''Yeah. This is going to be a long day.'' Merlin stood there, absolutely done with everything, while the crowd lost their collective minds. They were chanting his name, screaming like he''d just saved the kingdom from a dragon instead of... well, playing a glorified school game. Vivienne, ever the composed orchestrator of this madness, continued clapping, her gaze flickering toward him with amusement. The microphone in front of him felt like a loaded weapon. No. ''No, no, no.'' Surely, they weren''t expecting him to speak, right? Vivienne turned to him expectantly. ''Oh, for the love of¡ª'' Merlin swallowed down the sheer pain of existing in this moment, then took a step toward the mic. The entire arena hushed. Thousands of eyes locked onto him, waiting. He exhaled. "...Thanks everyone." A pause. Then the arena erupted. "WOOOOOOO!!" "HE''S SO COOL!!!" "ICONIC!!" "I''M GOING TO NAME MY FIRST BORN AFTER YOU!!" "I WANT HIM TO PUNCH ME IN THE FACE!!" Merlin nearly choked. ''What the hell is wrong with these people?!'' Vivienne smirked beside him, eyes twinkling with mirth as she whispered. "Short and to the point. Very you." "I don''t want to be here," Merlin muttered under his breath so that the microphone wouldn''t catch it up. Vivienne just pretended not to hear that. Instead, she turned back to the crowd. "With this victory, Merlin Everhart has secured an advantage in his academic ranking, proving himself among the best of his peers." ''Wait. What?'' Merlin blinked, his head snapping toward her. ''What ''advantage''?'' Vivienne ignored his look, continuing, "Of course, such talent is expected of a student of our Academy! We look forward to seeing what he accomplishes next!" Merlin''s stomach dropped. No. ''No, no, no, no, no.'' She did not just casually set expectations for him in front of a massive crowd of students, instructors, and¡ªworst of all¡ªhuge important families.. Merlin resisted the urge to rub his temples. Great. It was just amazing... The target on his back had just quadrupled in size...due to him being a deviant as well... He let out a slow breath through his nose. ''She really enjoys making my life harder, doesn''t she?'' Vivienne smiled. "Now let''s let our champion rest!" She nodded signaling for Merlin to leave. ''Finally..'' He bowed slightly then started walking towards the door as he heard Vivienne continue. "Now then," Vivienne said smoothly, "With that, we conclude the opening tournament for this year''s first-years. Thank you all for joining us." The crowd gave one last deafening cheer before the announcer signaled the end of the event. Merlin barely managed to hold back a sigh of relief as he walked through the double door. Chapter 31 31: Training (1) "So, you were here." A familiar, sultry voice greeted Merlin from the side just as he stepped through the door. ''Oh, come on...seriously her..?'' Turning toward the voice, he found Morgana leaning casually against the wall, hands stuffed in the pockets of her hoodie. Except... she looked younger? Had she shrunk? "That was amazing, Merlin!" Grinning, she pushed off the wall, shutting the doors behind Merlin before pulling out a lollipop and slipping it between her lips. "..." Merlin''s smile twitched as he took in the sight before him. Morgana, the feared and respected headmistress, was standing there in nothing but an oversized hoodie and a pair of gray sweatpants. ''...Real professional look for a headmistress.'' Shaking off the thought, he met her gaze. "How can I help you, Headmistress?" Morgana stepped closer, her lollipop lazily shifting from one side of her mouth to the other. Now face to face, her eyes locked onto his. ''...?'' "We had an agreement. I plan to hold my part of the deal." Without warning, she grabbed Merlin''s wrist firmly and started dragging him away from the arena. "Wait¡ª" "Yes." She cut him off before he could even finish protesting. And just like that, they teleported. ¡ª Merlin''s stomach flipped as they suddenly reappeared inside the headmistress''s office. ''Was that seriously necessary?'' Morgana casually tossed her lollipop stick into a bin before snapping her fingers again¡ª And in the blink of an eye, they were standing in the middle of a vast, open field. The scent of freshly cut grass filled the air. Which should have been impossible...since no one should be cutting grass there... Merlin hit the ground. ''...Oh, great. We are in the domain again.'' "We''re starting your training today," Morgana announced, tying her long hair into a ponytail. As she did, a long sword materialized in her hand, gleaming in the sunlight. "From now on, I''ll be handling it personally. Reinhardt and Vivienne are off the case." "...Wait, what? Off the case..? "And we can train for as long as we want," she continued, completely ignoring Merlin''s question as her lips curled into a mischievous grin. "Time moves slower here." She stepped toward him, licking her lips...almost seductively..? "Slower...?" Merlin echoed warily. Morgana giggled at his confusion before letting out a full-blown laugh. "One hour here equals one minute in the real world." "..." Merlin''s face twitched. His brain short-circuited. ''What the fuck?'' His thoughts raced¡ªthen froze¡ªwhen he noticed Morgana whistling as she approached him. "I said I''d train you," she cooed, raising her sword. "I just never told you how." She lunged. "If you don''t fight, you die." ''Wait¡ª'' Before he could finish the thought¡ª [Trickster''s Reflex] He used his skill quickly, barely being able to dodge the incoming strike. But then¡ª The sword changed direction at the last second. Merlin''s eyes widened. His head went flying. Darkness. ¡ª "...Whoops. Guess I overestimated you." Morgana covered her mouth with her hand, as if she hadn''t just beheaded him, then snapped her fingers. ¡ª Merlin gasped, suddenly alive again, kneeling on the grass. His hands shot up to his neck. No blood. No wound. But he knew what had just happened. His stomach swirled from the thought alone... ''Did I just¡ª?'' He looked up to see Morgana casually whistling like nothing had happened. "You died," she said flatly. "But thanks to my domain and time magic, I can just rewind things and bring you back. Sorry darling, I overestimated you a little...tiny bit." ''...I died?'' Merlin''s brain shut down for a second. Then, finally¡ª "You''re actually insane...." Merlin was still kneeling on the ground, his brain frozen as he tried to process what had just happened. Meanwhile, Morgana casually whistled, as if she had just brewed a cup of tea instead of decapitating her own student. "You..." Merlin finally managed to speak, his voice shaky. "You just killed me." Morgana tilted her head, sucking on another lollipop she had seemingly conjured from thin air. "Mhm." Merlin''s eyes twitched. "And you''re acting like it''s nothing?" "Well, it is nothing," she said with a smirk. "I told you¡ªthis domain allows me to rewind time. No harm done." "No harm¡ª?!" Merlin nearly lost his mind. "That''s not how this works! I felt that! My head¡ªmy whole body¡ªjust¡ª" He clutched his neck, the phantom sensation of the blade still lingering. Morgana crouched down to his level, meeting his eyes with an amused glint. "Well, congratulations. Now you know what it''s like to die. So you''ll get used to it, and the good news is, you can do it over and over again without actually staying dead." Merlin paled. "That is not good news." "Oh, don''t be such a baby." Morgana stood up, stretching her arms. "Now, let''s get back to training." Merlin scooted back instinctively. "No...is this seriously even needed? Can''t you train me another way..?" Morgana cracked her neck and rolled her shoulders as she kept licking the lollipop. "Oh? But I thought you wanted to get stronger?" "I do, but preferably without losing my head again¡ª" Before he could finish, Morgana had already disappeared. ''Shit¡ª!'' [Trickster''s Reflex] He activated the skill just in time, and narrowly dodged a sweeping slash. However, just like before, the sword abruptly changed direction mid-swing. ''Not again¡ª!'' A sharp pain flared in his chest. Merlin looked down. A sword had pierced straight through him. "Ah¡ª" His vision blurred. His knees buckled. And then¡ª ¡ªDarkness. ¡ª "Whoopsies~" Morgana clicked her tongue and twirled her sword, then snapped her fingers. ¡ª Merlin gasped, suddenly back on the ground, perfectly intact. His hands instinctively flew to his chest. No wound. No blood. He was fine. But he had definitely just died. Again. "Alright, lesson two." Morgana casually tapped the flat of her blade against her shoulder. "You''re gonna have to dodge better than that." Merlin''s eye twitched again. "You are secretly enjoying this aren''t you..?" Morgana took another lick of her lollipop, smiling. "A little..No, I''m enjoying this a lot actually." As soon as she finished her sentence she disappeared instantly again. ''Fuck my life.'' Chapter 32 32: Training (2) Merlin''s instincts screamed at him. [Trickster''s Reflex] His body reacted before his brain did, throwing him backward just as Morgana''s sword whistled past where his torso had been. ''Holy shit, she''s fast..'' His boots skidded across the grass as he barely regained his footing. "Oh?" Morgana mused, tapping a finger against her chin. "You actually dodged that one. Almost impressive." Merlin barely had a second to glare at her before she disappeared again. ''Shit¡ª!'' His instincts flared¡ª But too late. Pain exploded in his chest. He looked down. Her sword was inside him. "Oh." And then¡ªdarkness. ¡ª "Whoopsies~" Snap. ¡ª Merlin gasped, suddenly alive again. He immediately clutched his chest. No wound. No blood. No sword sticking through his ribs. But the pain had been real. The sensation of dying had been real. He slowly lifted his head. Morgana was standing there, tapping her foot, a lazy smirk on her lips. "Lesson three," she continued, as if nothing had happened. "Expect the unexpected." Merlin clenched his jaw. "You¡ª" He took a deep breath. "You''re actually a sadistic psychopath aren''t you...? "Thanks." "That wasn''t a compliment.'' Morgana twirled her sword. "C''mon, we''re just getting started." Merlin''s eyes twitched. ''She''s enjoying this. She''s definitely enjoying this way too fucking much.'''' "...You''re not going to stop until I land a hit, are you?" Morgana smiled. "Now you''re getting it." Merlin exhaled sharply, his fingers tightening around the handle of his rapier. His body still trembled from the phantom sensation of Morgana''s blade piercing through him. ''Alright. Calm down. It''s fine. I''m fine. It''s just... extreme training. With an absolute lunatic.'' He took a slow step back, eyes never leaving Morgana as she lazily spun her sword between her fingers. The wind tugged at her long, tied-up hair, and her smirk was as infuriating as ever. "Go on, then," she said, tapping the blade against her shoulder. "Hit me." Merlin swallowed. Hard. ''She says it so casually, like she hasn''t already killed me twice in under five minutes.'' But fine. If this was the game she wanted to play, he''d play. His fingers flicked ever so slightly. A small, near-invisible rune marked the ground beneath his feet. [Courier''s Mark] Morgana''s eyes seemed to flicker for a moment as she smirked. ''There is no way she can see that righ...?Right?'''' No use hesitating now. With a sharp inhale, Merlin darted forward, rapier poised to strike. The blade shimmered with a thin layer of wind magic, amplifying its speed as he thrust toward Morgana''s shoulder¡ª Only for her to vanish the instant his sword reached her. [Trickster''s Reflex] His instincts flared again, warning him just in time. Merlin immediately teleported back to his mark. A gust of wind slammed into the space he had just occupied, Morgana''s sword slicing cleanly through the air. He exhaled shakily. ''She''s fast. Too fast. And her movement doesn''t make sense. It''s like she''s predicting me before I even move.'' "Smart," Morgana said, straightening. "Some kind of teleportation skill, I''m assuming." Merlin gritted his teeth. "Glad to see I''ve earned the basic right to live." Morgana let out a chuckle. "For now." And then she was gone again. ''SHIT¡ª'' [Trickster''s Reflex] Merlin barely twisted out of the way as her sword whooshed past his ribs. A shallow cut opened along his side. "Better," Morgana hummed, her sword lazily resting on her shoulder. "But you''re hesitating." "Of course I''m hesitating!" Merlin snapped, wincing as he pressed a hand against the cut. "I''m fighting a lunatic who literally just killed me!" "And?" Merlin stared at her. ''She''s right...why am I even hesitant still?'' Morgana tilted her head. "You should fight back properly now." Fine. If she wanted him to actually fight, then he''d actually fight. He tightened his grip on his rapier. The wind around him began to swirl, kicking up dust and loose grass. ''Speed. I need speed. She''s faster than me, but I can close the gap if I push my affinity hard enough.'' Morgana''s eyes gleamed as she felt the shift in the air. "Now this is more like it." Merlin didn''t respond. Instead, he vanished. ¡ª For a split second, he was right in front of her, rapier already mid-thrust. Morgana''s sword barely managed to parry the strike, sparks flying as metal met metal. Then Merlin was gone again. He reappeared behind her, his blade slashing toward her back¡ª Only for Morgana to twist midair, somehow redirecting her momentum to block him again. ''What the fuck did I expect, of course she''s moving like a fucking squirrel..'' "Not bad," she admitted, her sword grinding against his rapier. "But it feels like you''re still holding back." Merlin''s eyes narrowed. She thought he was holding back? Fine. A sudden gust of wind exploded beneath his feet, launching him backward¡ª At the same time, a sphere of compressed water materialized right in front of Morgana''s face. She blinked. Then the sphere exploded. Water blasted in all directions, drenching Morgana from head to toe. Merlin landed a few feet away, panting slightly. Morgana slowly turned to face him, water dripping from her now-soaked hoodie. "...You drenched me? Aren''t you just such a naughty boy?" Merlin''s grin trembled at Morgana''s words as her clothes were completely drenched. ''I''m fucked aren''t I?'' Morgana was silent for a moment. Then¡ª She laughed. Loudly. Merlin frowned. "What''s so funny?" Morgana wiped a tear from her eye. "Oh, nothing. I just really like playing with naughty boys." ''This doesn''t seem good'' [Courier''s Mark] Merlin thought as he activated his skill whilst she raised a hand¡ª And snapped her fingers. The entire field around them shifted. Merlin felt the fabric of space distort as he was dragged through the domain''s magic. His surroundings blurred. And then¡ª He was in the air. ''Oh, shit¡ª'' Gravity kicked in. Merlin plummeted, panic flooding his mind. He reached out and activated Courier''s Mark to teleport back. His body instantly snapped back to his mark on the ground¡ª Only for Morgana''s sword to be waiting for him. ''OH, COME ON¡ª'' ¡ªDarkness. ¡ª Snap. ¡ª Merlin gasped, alive again. He groaned, clutching his head. "I hate this training." Morgana grinned down at him. "You love this training." "I hate this training," he repeated, glaring. Morgana rolled her eyes. "Look, you''re improving." "I just died. Again." "And yet, you keep getting back up. See? That''s progress." Merlin let out a strangled groan. Then, after a long moment of silence, he exhaled slowly and pushed himself to his feet. "...One hit." Morgana quirked an eyebrow. "Hm?" "One hit," Merlin repeated, eyes hardening. "That''s all I need. Just one." Morgana''s smirk widened. "Oh? Finally getting competitive?" Merlin tightened his grip on his rapier. "If I land one hit on you, you stop killing me." Morgana chuckled. "Deal." The wind around Merlin intensified. Water swirled around his rapier. The air hummed with energy as he focused everything into his next move. Morgana tilted her head, intrigued. "Well then¡ª" She raised her sword. "Come and get me." Chapter 33 33: Training (3) Merlin stood still, rapier in hand, wind and water swirling lightly around him as he caught his breath. His side still ached from where Morgana had cut him earlier, and the phantom sensation of dying twice in the past few minutes still lingered in his nerves. He inhaled deeply, steadying his mind. ''Focus.'' Across from him, Morgana leaned on her sword casually, an infuriating smirk tugging at her lips. She was still drenched from his earlier water explosion, but she didn''t seem to care. If anything, she looked amused. "So, you really think you can land a hit on me?" she mused, tilting her head. "Brave of you." Merlin tightened his grip on his rapier. "Not think. Will." Morgana chuckled. "Confidence is cute. Let''s see if you can back it up." Merlin didn''t hesitate. [Courier''s Mark] A subtle pulse of magic left his body as he marked a spot on the grass a few meters away. Not too close, not too far¡ªjust the right distance for an escape. Then, with a burst of wind, he moved. His rapier shot forward, enhanced by wind magic to increase its speed. The blade shimmered with a thin layer of water, maximizing its cutting power. Morgana didn''t dodge. She vanished. [Trickster''s Reflex] Merlin''s mind screamed at him, warning him of the exact direction she would reappear from. He twisted mid-step, narrowly avoiding the sharp whistle of her sword slicing through the air where his head had been. He kicked off the ground, using wind magic to propel himself backward¡ª But the moment his boots touched the grass¡ª Time stopped. Merlin''s body froze. His mind was still active, but his body refused to move. ''What the fuck?'' And then, an instant later, Morgana stepped into his frozen vision, lifted a single finger¡ª And flicked his forehead. Time resumed. Merlin flew. He skidded across the ground, tumbling like a ragdoll before finally rolling to a stop. "Ow¡ªwhat the hell?!" he wheezed, clutching his forehead. "Did you just flick me?!" Morgana grinned. "Yep." "You can stop time, and you seriously chose to flick me?" "Seemed funny at the time," she said, shrugging. "Also, I wanted to prove a point." Merlin groaned, pushing himself up. "And that would be...?" Morgana twirled her sword whilst she licked her lips. "You''re predictable." His jaw tightened. ''She''s right.'' The problem wasn''t just her speed. It wasn''t even her reflexes. It was her time affinity. No matter how fast he moved, no matter how well he timed his attacks, she could just stop time and reposition herself however she wanted. Merlin exhaled sharply. ''Fine. If normal attacks don''t work, I''ll just have to make an attack that doesn''t make sense.'' He took a stance. [Courier''s Mark] Morgana quirked an eyebrow. "Oh? That''s a different look." Merlin didn''t answer. Instead, he lunged forward, faster than before, his rapier aimed straight for her chest. Morgana smirked. "Didn''t learn, huh?" She flicked her fingers. Time stopped. Morgana sighed, stepping lazily to the side, fully expecting Merlin''s attack to pass harmlessly through the empty space where she had been. And then¡ª She felt it. The moment she moved, her eyes narrowed. Her smirk faded completely. The second she broke out of stopped time, her entire body snapped backward. Merlin wasn''t where she left him. Instead, he was behind her using Courier''s Mark. He had predicted exactly where she would move. He knew she would stop time the moment he got too close, so he marked the only spot she''d be able to move to¡ª And then teleported right there. His rapier was already swinging. Morgana barely had time to react. For the first time¡ªhe made her smirk disappear. And then¡ª Her fingers twitched. Time froze. Merlin''s vision blurred. And then¡ª He was on the ground again. Blinking. Dazed. His rapier was gone¡ªstuck halfway across the field. Morgana stood a few steps away, her breathing slightly heavier than before. Her gaze flickered to her shoulder. A single, faint cut ran across her sleeve. No blood, no scar. Just a single cut. Almost like she was accidentally grazed by a wooden stick. Silence. Then¡ª Morgana grinned and started laughing like a maniac. ''Is she completely crazy..?'' "Well, well," she mused, stretching lazily. "Looks like you can learn." Merlin groaned, rubbing his face. "I hate this." Morgana crouched down, resting her chin in her hands. "You love me." "I hate this," he repeated, glaring. Morgana chuckled. Then she extended a hand toward him. Merlin hesitated before grabbing it, letting her pull him up. "You won," she admitted, glancing at the faint cut on her sleeve. "One hit, just like we said." Merlin sighed. "Finally." Morgana smirked. "So... ready for round two?" Merlin stared at her. "We had a deal." Morgana stretched her arms above her head, rolling her shoulders as if she hadn''t just been cut for the first time. "Well alright, that was fun." Merlin, still rubbing his aching forehead, shot her a flat look. "Fun isn''t the word I''d use." Morgana chuckled. "Aw, don''t be like that. You learned something, didn''t you?" Merlin exhaled through his nose. He had learned something. He''d figured out how to work around her time magic, even if just barely. But that didn''t mean he wanted to keep going. "A deal''s a deal," he muttered. "One hit." Morgana hummed thoughtfully, eyeing him. For a moment, he thought she was about to challenge him again. Then she shrugged. "Alright, fair enough. Training''s over for today." She snapped her fingers. The world around them shattered. It wasn''t like teleportation, where space folded and bent. It wasn''t even like a time rewind. One second, they were standing in a vast, open field with endless sky above them. The next, reality cracked like a broken mirror, shards of the domain peeling away and dissolving into nothingness. And then¡ª Merlin blinked. They were back. The familiar walls of Morgana''s office surrounded them once again, an oversized desk cluttered with papers. The scent of lollipops and parchment replaced the crisp, fresh air of the domain. Merlin swayed slightly, his body still adjusting from the abrupt shift. Morgana, on the other hand, flopped onto her chair with zero care, stretching out like a cat. "Well, that was productive. You didn''t completely embarrass yourself." Merlin rolled his eyes, rubbing his temples. "Glad to hear I met your very high standards." Morgana smirked, pulling another lollipop from somewhere before popping it into her mouth. "So," she said, twirling the stick between her fingers. "Same time tomorrow." Merlin''s eyes twitched. "Fantastic." Chapter 34 34: Wave 4 (1) Merlin groaned, pinching the bridge of his nose. "No. No more killing me today. No more ''training'' where I end up headless. No more surprise teleportation. I am going home for today. I''m tired." Morgana grinned around her lollipop. "Aww. You sure? I could throw in a bonus lesson. Maybe something like ''How to survive a beheading twice in a row''? Or maybe we could try something else¡ª" Merlin shot her a deadpan look, cutting her off. "You enjoy this, don''t you headmistress?" Morgana didn''t even hesitate as she licked her lips. "Immensely." Merlin sighed. There was no arguing with her. He turned on his heel and started walking toward the door. "I''m leaving, have a good night headmistress." "Don''t forget your rapier," Morgana called lazily with a distant sighz Merlin frowned, patting his hip¡ªhis sword wasn''t there. Right. He''d lost it in the domain when she froze time. Morgana snapped her fingers, and in an instant, his rapier materialized mid-air in front of him. ''Could I have called it back or anything?'' Merlin caught it out of reflex, frowning. "You could''ve just handed it to me." Morgana winked. "Where''s the fun in that?" Merlin shook his head and stormed out the door before she could find another excuse to keep him there. ¡ª After leaving the academy grounds, Merlin made his way back to his home...suspiciously he didn''t struggle with finding a taxi this time. The sun had already started setting, casting a warm golden glow over the rooftops. Merlin pushed open the front door, already feeling exhaustion creeping over him, yet his day wasn''t even close to finished yet. "I''m home¡ª" A pillow flew at his face. "Ow¡ªwhat the hell?!" Merlin staggered back, rubbing his nose. Victoria stood in the living room, arms crossed, tapping her foot. "Do you ever come home not looking like you got run over by a wyvern or something?" Merlin sighed, tossing his coat onto a chair. "I had training..." Victoria raised an eyebrow as she walked towards Merlin. "Training or attempted murder?" Merlin opened his mouth, then closed it. "...Bit of both." Victoria smiled innocently as she hugged him. "I''m proud of you, congratulations on your win." ''So she was watching as well..'' "Thank you, sis." Her voice was soft and her embrace was unusually warm. Like the hug of a mother. "But, why didn''t you tell me about your affinities?" She said as she hit Merlin with a pillow again...who at this point didn''t even flinch. "I''m sorry for not telling you. But it was way better this way. It was safer." ''To the both of us.'' Merlin''s voice was soft as he held the pillow in his hands. Victoria sighed as she shook her head. "Just go and rest, we''ll talk about it tomorrow..and we will. Do NOT try to rush out early." Merlin eagerly nodded at her words then rushed to take a shower first, after that he headed towards his bedroom. Slumping down on the bed, his day was far from being finished yet. ''System. Training Menu.'' [Training (Daily) Currently available.] [Would you like to proceed with the training? Y/N] It was time to get it over with and rest for today. ''Yes.'' The moment he finished his thoughts his vision went dark as the world slowly faded away completely. He was in the familiar training field again, which was unusually clean this time. The fresh air was similar to that of the domain earlier. The scent of freshly cut grass lingered in the air. [Wave 4] ''Not even going to give me any time huh..?'' As soon as he finished his thoughts an ominous energy descended upon the entire field. ''What is this feeling?'' A low hum filled the air. A portal split open a few meters ahead, shadows bleeding out from its jagged edges. The temperature around him plummeted as a figure stepped through, its silhouette tall, lean, and exuding an unmistakable predatory presence. He bore his fangs at Merlin, his eyes gleaming red. ''Is that a god damn vampire?'' Merlin''s grip on Keryx tightened. "Of course it''s a vampire," he muttered. "The system really wants me dead this time huh?" The creature was clad in dark, regal attire¡ªdeep crimson and black robes, lined with gold embroidery. Its pale skin contrasted sharply with the flowing silver hair draped over its shoulders. Blood-red eyes locked onto Merlin, gleaming with amusement. The vampire smirked. "How unfortunate for you," it mused, its voice smooth like silk. "You look delicious." ''It can talk?'' Merlin exhaled sharply, dropping into a fighting stance. "You can talk?" [Courier''s Mark] The vampire''s smirk widened but it didn''t say anything else. Instead, it vanished. [Trickster''s Reflex] Merlin''s instincts screamed. He barely twisted aside as cold fingers brushed against his throat¡ªa near miss. ''Fast¡ª! Too fast!'' He whirled, Keryx slashing outward¡ªonly for the vampire to catch the blade between two fingers. "A rapier huh?" the vampire murmured, tilting its head. "How rude." ''Why would it be rude...'' Merlin grinned. "Guess I''m a rude guy." His free hand snapped up, water magic coalescing into a high-pressure blast aimed directly at the vampire''s face¡ª The vampire dodged easily, almost effortlessly. Then he suddenly appeared behind Merlin. Merlin barely had time to react before a clawed hand raked toward his back. He flicked his wrist¡ª He teleported mid-swing using Courier''s Mark, appearing back at his original position. The vampire''s attack missed, claws slicing through empty air. Merlin didn''t hesitate. He lunged forward, Keryx glowing with wind magic, aiming straight for the vampire''s heart. "Better," the vampire admitted. Then it smiled¡ªrevealing its sharp fangs again¡ª And the real fight began. Merlin''s rapier pierced forward, a complete blur as with wind magic he aimed straight for the vampire''s heart. A simple, perfect thrust¡ªfast, precise, lethal. But the vampire only smirked. A single drop of blood suddenly floated between them, suspended in midair. ''What the hell¡ª'' Merlin''s blade never reached its target. Instead¡ª The drop expanded, twisting unnaturally as it solidified into a crimson shield, blocking his rapier with an unnatural clang. Merlin''s eyes widened. ''Blood affinity? What the fuck?'' Before he could react, the shield liquefied, turning into dozens of razor-sharp blood spikes that shot toward him at impossible speed. [Trickster''s Reflex] Merlin twisted and turned multiple times mid-air, narrowly avoiding the first volley as dodged out of the way of the spikes. The spikes embedded into the ground, sizzling as they melted through solid ground. ''Those aren''t just projectiles,'' Merlin realized. ''They can melt things..?'' He barely had a second to think before the vampire was on him again, moving like a shadow. Claws flashed. Merlin brought Keryx up just in time, the blade clashing against blood-infused nails with a screech of metal. The vampire grinned, fangs gleaming. "You react well." Merlin gritted his teeth, pushing against the strike. "And you talk too much." His free hand snapped up¡ª A compressed blast of water exploded point-blank into the vampire''s chest. For the first time, it staggered back. Merlin didn''t hesitate. He lunged again¡ªKeryx becoming a blur again¡ªaiming for the vampire''s throat. The vampire clicked its tongue. The blood spikes embedded in the ground earlier suddenly detonated, erupting into a crimson mist that engulfed the entire battlefield. The mist completely filled Merlin''s nostrils as it seeped into his entire body. Merlin skidded to a halt, barely stopping himself. ''Shit. A fucking trap¡ª'' A hand burst out of the mist, gripping his wrist like an iron handcuff. Merlin''s stomach dropped. He tried to move away. But nothing happened. His entire body seemed frozen in place. Merlin''s blood ran cold. The vampire smiled. "Don''t you know?" it purred, leaning closer. "Blood magic can affect the blood inside you as well..with a couple tweaks of course....HAHAHAHAHAHAAHA!" Merlin''s veins burned. ''Shit¡ªhe''s interfering with my entire damned body!'' "The great me has won you fool! HAHAHAHA!" The vampire''s grip tightened as his words echoed across the field. Then¡ª Pain. Merlin barely had time to scream as the vampire''s fangs sank into his neck. Chapter 35 35: Wave 4 (2) Agony exploded in Merlin''s neck. A sharp, piercing heat, like molten iron searing through his veins. His body froze. His limbs twitched violently as something unnatural crawled through his bloodstream¡ªthick, foreign magic latching onto his mana circuits like a parasite. His breath hitched. ''He''s¡ªdraining¡ª!'' The vampire sighed, eyes fluttering half-shut in bliss. "Delicious," it murmured against his skin. "I should savor this." Merlin''s vision blurred. His mana¡ªhis strength¡ªwas being ripped away by the second. If he didn''t break free now, he was dead. He forced his trembling fingers to move. His grip tightened around Kyrix. ''Come on¡ªCOME ON¡ª'' A surge of wind magic erupted around him¡ª Merlin twisted¡ª And rammed the pommel of his rapier into the vampire''s ribs with all his strength. CRACK. The vampire hissed, staggering back as a sharp gust of wind detonated between them. Merlin stumbled away, gasping for breath, one hand clutching his bleeding neck. His heart was racing, beating too fast¡ªhis head spun¡ªhis mana was dropping too quickly¡ª The vampire''s eyes gleamed. "Not bad," it purred, licking the blood from its lips. "But not enough." Merlin barely had a second to recover before the vampire snapped its fingers. The blood mist around them thickened, swirling unnaturally, closing in like a cage. Merlin''s instincts screamed. ''If I don''t do something then¡ªI''ll die.'' His mind raced¡ª He couldn''t run away¡ª So he had to end this. NOW. He exhaled sharply, gripping Kyrix tightly. Water and wind coiled around the blade, the air humming with power. The vampire''s smirk widened. "Desperation?" Merlin''s gaze hardened. "No, I will win.." He lunged forward and the battlefield shook. Merlin lunged, Kyrix humming excitedly as wind and water surged along its razor-thin edge. The vampire''s crimson mist spiraled inward, tendrils of blood magic reaching for him like grasping hands. Merlin''s mind raced. He hadn''t placed Courier''s Mark yet¡ªmeaning no instant escape. If he miscalculated, he was dead. No mistakes. The vampire smirked, standing its ground. "Come now, boy. You already know¡ª" It flicked its wrist. Blood spikes erupted from the mist, aiming straight for Merlin''s chest. Merlin twisted mid-air, wind magic coiling around his body to redirect his momentum. The spikes missed by inches, but he felt the heat of their corrosive energy as they shot past. He landed¡ª [Courier''s Mark] A pulse of spatial energy left him, marking the ground a few meters behind the vampire. A perfect escape route. The vampire just stared at him without a clue. Its smirk widened. "Are you going to attack me properly?" Merlin ignored the taunt. Instead, he exhaled sharply¡ªand he tried to reach for time. ''Come on now!'' The world slowed. The vampire''s smirk froze in place. Merlin moved. His rapier became a blur, stabbing forward faster than the eye could follow. One hit¡ªstraight to the heart. Except¡ª The vampire''s blood pulsed unnaturally, shifting instantly to form a barrier in front of its chest. Merlin''s rapier collided with the blood shield¡ª The impact sent a shockwave through the battlefield, wind and water exploding outward. Time resumed. The vampire clicked its tongue. "Tsk. That was impressive." Merlin cursed. It reacts instinctively with its blood¡ªeven if I speed up, it adapts. The vampire''s hand flicked. The mist twisted, solidifying into hundreds of blood tendrils that lashed out at him from all directions. Merlin vanished using Courier''s Mark. He reappeared at his marked point, immediately launching a jet of water at the vampire''s back. The vampire spun, summoning a wall of blood to block the attack. ''He''s fast, but he''s relying on that blood magic too much.'' Merlin narrowed his eyes. He just needed to force an opening. Wind swirled around him as he charged again, his sword flashing in the dim light. The vampire''s eyes gleamed. It lunged forward, meeting his attack head-on. Their clash echoed throughout the entire field. ¡ª The final exchange began. Sparks erupted as his rapier clashed against the vampire''s crimson-forged blade. The force of the impact sent shockwaves through the battlefield, wind howling around them. Merlin gritted his teeth. The vampire was stronger than him¡ªphysically, at least. Every strike carried unnatural weight, pushing him back inch by inch. But that was fine. Because strength wasn''t what he needed to win. The vampire smirked, its blood-forged sword twisting to lock his rapier in place. "You''re running out of tricks, boy." Merlin exhaled as he tried to use his time affinity. The world slowed to a crawl for a couple of seconds. The vampire''s smug expression froze mid-sentence as Merlin moved first. He let go of Kyrix with one hand, gathering water magic in his palm. The air chilled instantly as he compressed it into a hyper-pressurized spear¡ªone strong enough to pierce solid steel. He thrust it straight at the vampire''s stomach. Time resumed properly. The vampire barely had a fraction of a second to react. Its instincts flared¡ªblood magic rushed to defend¡ª But it was too slow. Merlin''s water spear pierced through its barrier like paper. A dull crack echoed as it sank into the vampire''s stomach. The vampire gasped, its smirk shattering into wide-eyed shock. "¡ªWhat?" Merlin didn''t give it time to process. With a flick of his fingers¡ª The spear detonated. A torrent of high-pressure water erupted from inside the vampire, shredding its torso open. Blood and mist sprayed across the battlefield as the vampire was blasted backward, crashing against the stone ground. Merlin panted, wiping blood from his chin. ''Not done yet.'' He rushed forward using his space and wind affinity, appearing over the fallen vampire. His blade flashed downward, wind-infused steel aimed directly at its neck. The vampire growled, eyes burning with rage. Its blood magic pulsed, desperately trying to form a defense¡ª Too late. It sliced clean through. A final spray of crimson mist. The vampire''s head hit the ground. And silence took over the entire battlefield. Merlin exhaled, pulling his rapier back. His body screamed with exhaustion, but he refused to let himself collapse. The system''s voice echoed in his mind. [Host has leveled up to the Second Star!] [Congratulations on achieving your Second Star host!] [Congratulations on defeating a warrior of blood.] Chapter 36 36: Explanation ''Already a second star...?'' Merlin''s body collapsed like a ragdoll, landing flat on the grass. ''For fuck''s sake...'' He rolled onto his back, staring blankly at the sky above. ¡ª [Training Boss Completed!] [Rewards] ? +3 Strength ? +2 Agility ? +2 Intelligence ? +Choose One New Affinity [Please select an affinity:] ? Lightning ? Blood ? Darkness ? Fire ¡ª Before Merlin could even process his choices, another bright panel flashed in front of his face. ¡ª [Reward for Achieving the Second Star.] ? 1 Active Skill (Not Choosable) ''Not choosable?!'' ¡ª [Stride Unlocked.] [Description: The Blessings of the Messenger flow through the user. Upon activation, the user''s speed and agility surge beyond mortal limits, allowing them to move with impossible fluidity. Acceleration doubles, and the user can shift directions mid-dash as if gliding on the wind. While active, footsteps become soundless, and presence is slightly obscured, making it harder for enemies to react.] [Duration: 20 seconds] [Cooldown: 10 seconds] ¡ª ''What the hell..? Isn''t this way too overpowered?!'' Merlin blinked at the screen, his mind struggling to keep up. Not only did he just get a free skill¡ªwhich he didn''t even get to choose¡ªbut the affinities he could select from were all insanely powerful. Before he could think any further, the world around him faded into darkness. ¡ª When his vision returned, he was back in his room, lying on his bed, staring up at the ceiling. "...Blessings of the Messenger?" He had no idea what that meant, but one thing was clear¡ªthis skill was broken. Still, no point in overthinking it. Merlin sat up and focused on the other notification still lingering in his interface. [Choose an Affinity.] His eyes scanned the options. Every single one was powerful, but one of them fit his combat style perfectly. ''Lightning.'' [Lightning Affinity Unlocked!] A sharp jolt ran through his body. Merlin stretched out his fingers, and a tiny spark crackled at his fingertips. It buzzed with energy, sending small static waves across his hand before vanishing. He grinned. "Oh yeah. This is gonna be fun." Yawning, he collapsed back onto his bed, letting exhaustion finally take over. ¡ª [ Status Window ] Name: Merlin Everhart Age: 14 Class: Mage, Swordsman Affinities: Space (1), Wind (2), Time (1), Water (1), Lightning (1) Class: Ascendant Talent: (12-Stars) Stars: ¡ï ¡ï [ Attributes ] Strength: ¡ï ¡ï ¡ï Agility: ¡ï ¡ï Vitality: ¡ï Endurance: ¡ï Intelligence: ¡ï ¡ï Free Stat Points: 2 ¡ª [Skills] [Active Skills] ? Trickster''s Reflex ? Courier''s Mark ? Stride ? Strike [Passive Skills] ? Endless Flow ? Keen Insight ¡ª ''Can''t believe I reached two stars this fast...and my stats are lowkey insane..'' Merlin clenched his fists, feeling his magic hum beneath his skin. Some people spent years just trying to reach their second star. Yet, here he was, achieving it in days. Then again... he wasn''t exactly normal. His eyes fluttered shut, and within seconds, he passed out from sheer exhaustion. ¡ª Merlin woke up to his alarm, groggily sitting up and rubbing his eyes. He threw on his usual outfit, ran a quick hand through his messy hair, and was ready to leave in seconds. Then¡ª A throat cleared behind him. He froze. ''...Oh no.'' Slowly, he turned around, only to see Victoria standing in the doorway. His sister looked half-awake, fresh out of the bathroom, holding a steaming cup of coffee in one hand. Her eyes narrowed. "I told you we were gonna talk today." Merlin swallowed. ''...Shit.'' Victoria slowly sipped her coffee, eyes never leaving him. "Sit." Merlin sighed, already accepting defeat. Merlin sank into the couch, tapping his fingers against his knee as Victoria sat across from him, her coffee steaming in her hands. Her eyes bore into him, a mix of irritation and expectation clear on her face. She took a slow sip. Then another. Merlin shifted uncomfortably. "...So?" Victoria set her mug down with a quiet clink. "So... when were you going to tell me?" Merlin blinked. "Tell you what?" Victoria''s eye twitched. "Don''t play dumb." "Victoria, you''re gonna have to be a bit more specific," he said, leaning back. "I have a long list of things I should probably tell you, and I need to know which one you''re mad about today." Victoria crossed her arms. "Let''s start with the fact that you have three affinities." ''Oh. That.'' Merlin exhaled through his nose. "...Yeah?" Victoria narrowed her eyes. "Yeah? That''s it? Just ''yeah''?" He shrugged. "I mean, it''s not a secret. The whole world knows now, probably after the Battle Royale." "Yeah, they know." She leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. "But when exactly were you going to tell me?" Merlin scratched his cheek. "...I figured you''d hear about it eventually?" Victoria inhaled slowly, pinching the bridge of her nose. "Merlin. You have multiple affinities." "I am aware." "Space, wind, and water...right?" "Yep." "That''s already way more than what nearly everyone has...having multiple affinities is rarely ever a thing..." "Uh-huh." She leaned forward more, voice dropping. "You don''t think that''s worth mentioning to your older sister?" Merlin opened his mouth¡ªthen closed it. ''Okay. Fair point.'' "Would it help if I said ''I love you''?" "Not even a little." Merlin grinned. "Damn. Worth a shot." Victoria groaned, rubbing her temples. "Unbelievable. You''re running around with multiple affinities, and I''m just supposed to be okay with the fact that I found out at the same time as half the damn world?" Merlin exhaled, leaning his head against the couch. "Look, I did hide it from you but it was better that way...it''s not that big of a deal anyways.." Victoria stared at him. "Not a big deal?" "Okay, it''s kind of a big deal." Victoria crossed her arms. "Merlin. Do you understand how many people would kill to have just one of those affinities?" "I mean, yeah, but¡ª" "And do you realize that every big family, every faction, and every organization is watching you like a damn hawk right now?" Merlin hesitated. "...That part, yeah." Victoria exhaled sharply, shaking her head. "You''re lucky the academy''s keeping you safe." Merlin grimaced. "Yeah, lucky. That''s exactly how I''d describe being personally watched by the crazy professors in the academy." Victoria smirked. "Aw, do they make you nervous?" "They torture me with the brutal training..." "Yeah, but you get better every time, don''t you?" "That is not the point." Victoria chuckled, sipping her coffee. "Relax, idiot. I''m not mad, just... frustrated." Merlin frowned. "Why?" She sighed, setting her cup down. "Because I''m your sister, Merlin. I don''t give a shit about what the academy thinks, or what those families are whispering. I just..." She crossed her arms. "I want to know what''s happening with you." Merlin blinked. His fingers tightened slightly against his knee. For a brief moment, guilt settled in his chest. He... hadn''t really thought about how Victoria felt in all this. She wasn''t part of the academy. She wasn''t there every day watching him grow stronger. She just had to hear about it secondhand, like some random bystander. "...Yeah," he muttered. "I get that." Victoria huffed. "Damn right you do." Merlin sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "Alright. Fine. You want me to keep you updated on big things?" She raised an eyebrow. "You mean there''s more?" Merlin froze. ''Ah. Shit.'' Victoria''s eyes narrowed. "Merlin." "...No?" "Merlin." "...Maybe?" Victoria leaned forward, gaze sharp. "Spit it out." Merlin licked his lips, trying to think of a way to change the subject¡ª "Fine!" he blurted, hands raised in surrender. "I have more affinities, okay?!" Victoria froze. "...What." Merlin shifted under her stare. "...I got lightning affinity. It just randomly awakened for me, I don''t know how" Victoria just kept repeating her word. "...What." Merlin coughed. "Yeah, uh. Surprise?" Victoria sighed violently, pressing a hand against her forehead. "Merlin, I swear to god¡ª" "Look, it just happened last night!" Merlin defended. "I was gonna tell you¡ª" Victoria pointed a finger at him. "Oh, now you were gonna tell me?" "Yes! I mean, technically, I just did¡ª" Victoria threw a pillow at his face. "Ow! Hey!" "That''s for making me find out twice just randomly and not telling me straight up!" Merlin groaned, pulling the pillow off his head. "Look, does it really matter that much? I mean, it''s just¡ª" Victoria threw a second pillow. "It matters because I''m your sister, dumbass!" she snapped. "And because you''re collecting affinities like they''re snacks at a festival! They aren''t goddamn snacks, Merlin!" Merlin sputtered. "That is¡ªokay, that''s fair." Victoria sighed, rubbing her face. "God, at this rate, you''re gonna tell me you have time affinity next." Merlin laughed nervously scratching his cheeks as he started to slowly stand up. "Haha... yeah. That''d be crazy, right?" Victoria''s head snapped up immediately. Her eyes narrowed dangerously. "...Merlin?" Merlin moved in a swift motion towards. "Alright! Great talk, Vic! Love you! Gotta go to school now, bye!" "MERLIN." He ran away before she could strangle him. Making his way down the apartment instantly. ''God damn it, at least she didn''t kill me...Morgana probably will kill me today countless times either way...'' Merlin clutched his neck remembering his own decapitated head as he walked towards the street to get a taxi. Chapter 37 37: Our World After arriving at the academy he made his way towards their homeroom as it would be the start of today''s adventures... The classroom was quiet, save for the occasional rustle of papers and the soft hum of the digital board displaying today''s lesson. Merlin sat near the back of the classroom, arms crossed, staring at the glowing text on the board without much interest as Elara sat down next to him. ''Isn''t that Nathan''s seat...?'' To be honest he couldn''t be bothered to say anything as Nathan just walked in the classroom, smiling awkwardly as he noticed Elara and instead he moved somewhere else. ''At least he''s not going to bother me, thank god.'' Anyways, he wasn''t exactly excited about this lecture¡ªhe had read about all of the information before, but a refresher wouldn''t hurt him. To be honest Vivienne was one of the few teachers he actually liked, so skipping wasn''t really an option. Vivienne stood at the front with a warm, patient smile, tapping through slides on her tablet. "Today''s homeroom lesson will be a refresher on the Four Major Continents and how our world functions." A few students groaned. Vivienne smiled awkwardly. "I know, I know. Not everyone finds world history interesting, but trust me, this knowledge is essential. The world is constantly shifting, and understanding its power structures will help you navigate it¡ªespecially once you graduate." She swiped her tablet, and a massive digital map projected onto the board. ¡ª Four massive landmasses appeared, outlined in glowing blue, with various cities, transportation hubs, and megacorporation zones highlighted. ''So this is how they actually look, there never was art provided for the world..'' Merlin thought as Vivienne pointed to the largest one, positioned at the center. "Avalion. The Central Continent¡ªthe technological and economic hub of the world." ''Our continent.'' A soft pulse of light highlighted the dense megacities, expansive rail networks, and towering corporate skyscrapers covering its landscape. "This is where most of the world''s major nations and corporate states are located. It''s home to the largest economies, the most advanced technology, and, of course, the top-ranking academies." Merlin barely glanced at the map after a few seconds. Because he already knew everything. Avalion was the heart of innovation¡ªwhere the most powerful industries controlled everything from energy production to military-grade weapons. It was also home to Eldoria, the city where their academy stood. A place where students trained to become part of the global elite¡ªwhether as combat specialists, researchers, or enforcers. It could be either honestly. Vivienne''s hand shifted east, where a landmass covered in dense mountains and sprawling neon-lit districts was displayed. "Next, we have Ryugawa. The Eastern Continent, ruled by a mix of traditionalist states and corporate-backed governments." ''It''s a corrupted place, or at least it was shown that way in the novel. Nathan didn''t venture that deeply into Ryugawa honestly.'' The map highlighted floating cities, urban centers built into cliffs, and large-scale manufacturing hubs where some of the world''s most high-end weapons and vehicles were produced. "Ryugawa is known for its cutting-edge robotics, military innovations, and, of course, its combat academies. Some of the best melee combatants in the world come from Ryugawa''s sword schools, blending cybernetics with old-world martial arts." Vivienne''s pointer moved downward, stopping at a darker landmass, where the city lights were dimmer, and the borders were marked with red hazard warnings. "Noctara. The Southern Continent¡ªhome to black-market industries, rogue factions, and decentralized city-states." Unlike Avalion and Ryugawa, Noctara wasn''t run by governments or megacorporations. It was a place where underground organizations, cyber-terrorist groups, and criminal syndicates thrived. ''This is where Nathan spent most of his time later on in the story, as it was the home of many organizations.'' "This is where the world''s most dangerous mercenaries, rogue mages, and assassins operate. It''s a place where laws are negotiable, and contracts determine who lives and who disappears." Merlin glanced at the map. However had no interest in Noctara. At least not yet. It was a place for people who had nowhere else to go¡ªor for those who didn''t care about the rules of society. Vivienne''s finger moved west, stopping at the coldest region of the map. "And then we have Titanos. The Western Continent¡ªa land of extreme climates and extreme people." Unlike the rest of the world, Titanos wasn''t covered in megacities or automated industries. Instead, it was a land of fortress-states, military zones, and untamed wilderness, where only the strongest organizations survived. "The people of Titanos value strength above all else. Whether it''s in military power, cybernetic enhancement, or magical ability¡ªif you can''t fight, you don''t belong." Vivienne paused, letting the weight of her words settle. Then, she pointed to a smaller region, nestled between Avalion and Noctara. "And lastly¡ªthe Elven territories." Elara seemed to twitch as he heard the name as a couple eyes turned toward her. But she wasn''t bothered by them. Not in the least. ''They wanted to kill Nathan when he was there, they weren''t too friendly that''s for sure...'' Unlike the other continents, this landmass was marked with minimal city lights and large patches of unclaimed land, covered in dense forests and restricted zones. "The Elves exist outside the global power structure. They do not belong to any major government or corporation, choosing to remain independent. Their lands are protected by natural barriers and advanced magical technology, keeping outsiders from interfering with their affairs." Elves were a mystery to most of the world of course. While they had access to the same technology as everyone else, they rarely exported their innovations, keeping their society self-contained. Some believed they were hiding something. Others simply saw them as another force to be reckoned with. Vivienne finally lowered her hand, stepping back from the digital board. "This is the world we live in. A place where power dictates survival¡ªwhether that power comes from technology, magic, or influence." Merlin sat quietly, absorbing the information. It was nothing new. But it was a great reminder to be honest. At least he had all of the continents down again. ¡ª Vivienne flipped the slide, revealing a list of major organizations. "The world isn''t ruled by just governments. Power is split between different forces, such as Academies, Corporations, and Independent Factions such as guilds, it''s also split between the large families. Some families even serve as a faction themselves." ¡ª She then switched to a completely different screen. "These are the three great academies." Vivienne pointed to a list that was visible to every student in the entire classroom. - Star Power Academy: The leading school in Avalion, known for its magical research. Combat training, scholars, and the list just goes on. - Astralis Academy: Ryugawa''s elite combat institution. - Noxus Academy: Noctara''s dark arts training ground. "All of these academies specialize in different things." ''These are going to be important in the future, well...for Nathan at least.'' Merlin chuckled by himself as Vivienne kept tapping the screen as she switched to a different topic. "Academies train the next generation of mages, tacticians, and enforcers. They shape the future by ensuring those in power remain in power." She moved to the next section. "These are the current five huge corporations of our city." - Zenith Technologies: The leading cybernetics company. - Eclipse Biotech: The most advanced research lab in human augmentation. - Titan Arms Industries: The current largest producer of military weapons. - Skyhaven Energy: The company controlling 30% of the world''s mana resources. - NexusNet: The global intelligence and surveillance network. "Corporations operate outside of government control. They dictate the flow of technology, control resource distribution, and influence global conflicts behind the scenes." Finally, Vivienne moved to the last section. "These are just some of the independent factions to show some examples. These are not all of them." She pointed to a screen listing three important names. - The Free Mercenaries: A neutral force operating worldwide. - The Shadow Consortium: A powerful network of assassins. - The Elven Sovereignty: The autonomous force of the Elven Territories. ¡ª Vivienne set her tablet down, looking across the room. "Regardless of where you go after graduation, you will become part of this world¡ªwhether as an academy graduate, a corporate asset, or something else entirely. It all depends on what you can accomplish and how strong and successful you can become." Her voice was calm, yet firm. "Choose wisely." The room remained silent. Merlin leaned back, tapping his fingers against the desk. The world was far bigger than the academy. And sooner or later, he''d have to pick a side as well even if he didn''t want to. Elara seemed to be lost in thoughts just like the other students as Vivienne cleared her throat. "This was all the information for today. I hope this served as a helpful reminder for all of you." ''It did kind of.'' Merlin shook his head as he looked at Vivienne who met his gaze with a smile. "We are done for today, but...today is a special day!" ''What..?'' Merlin''s thoughts churred as some of the students started whispering amongst themselves. "We will be going on a field trip today!" Vivienne''s voice echoed in the classroom as everyone remained silent. Chapter 38 38: Trip (1) "We''ll be visiting the Military Training Center today," Vivienne announced. "It''s an important site where many of the city''s elite soldiers, combat specialists, and enforcers receive even more training." Now that was interesting. Merlin leaned back in his seat, fingers tapping against his desk. ''In the original novel, there was no class trip to the military center...'' Which meant this was a deviation¡ªsomething that wasn''t supposed to happen. Whether it was a minor change or a major shift, Merlin didn''t know yet. ''I guess my presence did change a couple of things.'' Soon he would find out what exactly changed. Vivienne glanced at her watch. "We leave in ten minutes. Everyone, grab your things and meet at the transport gates." With that, she dismissed the class. Merlin stood up slowly, his expression unreadable as he processed this new development. ¡ª Ten minutes later, the class gathered at the academy''s transportation hub, where a large military transport vehicle was waiting for them. The sleek black transport had the Military''s emblem engraved on its side, and its reinforced frame suggested it was designed to withstand combat conditions. Vivienne stood near the entrance, speaking with a uniformed officer while the students filed in one by one. Nathaniel climbed in first, his movements stiff and awkward as he avoided eye contact with anyone. Adrian followed, grinning as he lightly shoved Nathan''s shoulder. "Relax, man. It''s just a tour, not a battlefield." Nathan mumbled something in response. Merlin stepped in next, his gaze scanning the interior of the vehicle. The seats were arranged in two long rows, military-style, facing each other. He took a seat near the back, leaning against the wall while the rest of the class filled in. Liliana sat gracefully, adjusting her uniform. Ethan slumped into a seat across from her, arms crossed, looking like he''d rather be anywhere else. Seraphina, as expected, sat perfectly straight, her silver eyes watching their surroundings carefully. Dorian and Elara took seats toward the front, both silent, both uninterested in small talk. Once everyone was inside, the doors sealed shut, and the vehicle hummed to life. Vivienne stepped in last, taking a seat near the front. "Alright, everyone. This will take about twenty minutes, so sit tight." The transport lifted off the ground, hovering smoothly before shooting forward, merging into the city''s aerial traffic lanes. Merlin closed his eyes, his mind already running calculations. ''This trip wasn''t in the novel. That means something is going to happen.'' The question was¡ª What exactly will it be? ¡ª The transport hummed softly as it sped through the aerial lanes, weaving between the towering mega buildings and sprawling corporate districts. Below, the city was alive with movement¡ªendless streams of autonomous vehicles, floating billboards, and military patrol drones maintaining order. Merlin sat near the back of the transport, his posture relaxed, but his mind sharp and calculating. This trip wasn''t supposed to happen. Which meant something was going to change. He was still wondering about what exactly would happen to them. His eyes flickered across the interior of the vehicle. Nathaniel, sat stiffly near the front, his eyes fixed on the floor, deep in thought. Adrian, ever the optimist, nudged him. "Dude, you look like we''re being sent to a war zone." Nathan sighed. "We''re visiting a military center. Isn''t that basically the same thing?" Adrian chuckled. "Relax. What''s the worst that could happen?" Merlin resisted the urge to roll his eyes. ''Never ever say that shit again..'' Liliana, sitting across from them, smiled slightly. "I think it''ll be interesting. It''s not every day civilians get to tour the military''s main training facility." Ethan, beside her, let out a bored sigh. "Yeah, because watching soldiers jog in formation is so exciting." Seraphina shot him a disapproving look. "This is an important experience. The military plays a crucial role in maintaining Eldoria''s security." Ethan didn''t even look at her. "Yeah, yeah. Security, law, order, blah blah blah. Just wake me up if something actually happens." Dorian, sitting further ahead, remained silent, his red eyes fixed on the window. Elara, sat with a neutral expression, barely acknowledging the conversation. Vivienne, sitting near the front, finally spoke up. "Alright, settle down. We''re almost there." The transport shifted course, lowering its altitude as a massive fortified structure came into view. The Eldorian Military Training Center. One of the most advanced combat facilities in Avalion. Merlin''s eyes narrowed. ''The home to powerful people.'' He just needed to be ready for them. ¡ª The transport landed smoothly on a designated platform, the doors hissing open as the students filed out. The military center was massive¡ªa sprawling complex of reinforced steel buildings, drone patrol stations, and advanced training arenas equipped with the latest combat technology. Soldiers moved in organized formations, their uniforms pristine, their expressions unreadable. Towering combat mechs stood in designated zones, their heavy frames lined with mana-infused plating. This wasn''t just a training center. This was a preparation site for war. Merlin''s gaze flickered across the facility, analyzing every detail. Then, his eyes landed on a group of military officers approaching them. The man in the lead had short silver hair, piercing gray eyes, and a uniform lined with command insignias. A high-ranking officer. Vivienne stepped forward, greeting them with a polite smile. "Commander Alden, thank you for allowing us to visit." Alden. Merlin immediately recognized the name. ''He died a dreadful death in the novel as a commander.'' The commander gave a small nod, his gaze sweeping across the students with strict precision before resting momentarily on someone among the students. ''Who''s he looking at..?'' Seraphina stood at full attention, her expression unreadable. Alden''s focus shifted back to Vivienne. "We''re honored to host the academy''s students. Follow me." Without another word, he turned, leading them deeper into the facility. Merlin followed with the rest of the class, but his mind was already working through possibilities. Commander Alden walked ahead, his posture stiff, movements precise. His gray eyes scanned the students occasionally, assessing them with the same clinical sharpness he applied to his soldiers. Merlin watched him carefully. ''Exactly as the author described him.'' He was as cold as he remembered from the novel. A man who valued order, discipline, and results above all else. Someone who saw weakness as a liability. And someone who wouldn''t have agreed to this visit unless there was a reason. Vivienne followed beside him, maintaining her usual warm demeanor despite the heavy atmosphere. "Commander, if I may ask, what made the military extend an invitation to the academy?" Alden didn''t stop walking. "A shift in protocol. The government is strengthening its ties with the academy, ensuring that students are prepared for real-world applications of their skills." Merlin''s gaze remained sharp as he processed Commander Alden''s words. ''A shift in protocol? Strengthening ties with the academy? What the fuck is he talking about?'' That wasn''t part of the original novel. In the original story, the academy and military operated separately¡ªacknowledging each other but rarely overlapping. The government had strict control over military personnel, while the academy focused on training independent combatants, researchers, and enforcers. Yet now, they were being directly invited into a military training facility. Something had changed. And Merlin didn''t like not knowing why. He wanted to know. Alden led them through a wide corridor, passing by soldiers engaged in various training exercises. Some were practicing in hand-to-hand combat rings, others were in firing ranges, testing out mana-infused weaponry. "These are our standard training routines," Alden said, his voice measured and precise. "We emphasize discipline, physical enhancement, and magic integration for modern warfare." Merlin scanned the facility as they walked. The military presence here was stronger than he remembered. More soldiers. More security measures. More... preparation. It felt less like a training facility and more like a base preparing for conflict. His thoughts were interrupted as a massive reinforced door slid open ahead of them, revealing a large observation deck overlooking a combat arena. Vivienne stepped forward, clasping her hands together with interest. "Oh? Are we going to see a demonstration?" Alden nodded. "Yes. A controlled spar between one of our elite trainees and a selected student from the academy." The classroom stirred at that. ''A sparring match? Between an academy student and an elite military trainee? Is he fucking stupid?'' Merlin''s fingers tapped against his arm. This wasn''t in the novel either. Vivienne chuckled embarrassingly. "Well, that''s certainly an interesting addition to our visit..." Alden''s gray eyes scanned the students before settling on one person. "You." Nathaniel Varen. Merlin''s eyes narrowed slightly. The entire room went quiet as Nathan stiffened, his dark blue eyes wide in shock. Alden continued, his tone leaving no room for argument. "You will represent the academy in this match." Nathan swallowed, standing up straight. "I¡ªunderstood, sir." Merlin leaned back slightly, watching the scene unfold. In the novel, Nathan would always accept a challenge, no matter what. He wasn''t the kind of protagonist to back down. But this match... This match was never supposed to happen. Merlin''s fingers curled into a fist. ''He''s just going to be embarrassing us..No way he can win against any of them. Even if he is the protagonist.'' Chapter 39 39: Trip (2) Before Nathan could step forward, Merlin casually raised his hand. "If we''re doing a demonstration, shouldn''t we send someone more qualified?" Alden''s gaze snapped to him, along with everyone else in the room. Merlin stood up slowly, expression calm, tone controlled. "I''ll fight instead. As the rank one of the first years, it''s my responsibility to fight.'' Nathan turned, his expression mixed between relief and confusion. ''Responsibility my ass...what am I even saying.'' Merlin didn''t acknowledge Nathan''s expression at all. His cold gaze remained locked on Commander Alden. This wasn''t about Nathan. This was about proving that he was the better choice. That he could take control of the story. Alden stared at him for a long moment. Then, with a slight nod, he gestured to the arena. "Very well." Merlin smirked. ''I''ll do my best to win..No that''s wrong..I will not lose.'' The observation deck overlooked a large, reinforced combat arena, its walls lined with barrier generators designed to withstand high-impact magic. The floor was a mixture of metal plating and mana-absorbing stone, built specifically for intensive combat training. Merlin stepped forward, his movements calm and deliberate, as he made his way toward the arena. Nathaniel hesitated before finally sitting back down, his expression uncertain. The other students whispered among themselves. "He just volunteered? Against a military trainee?" "Is he serious?" "Did he lose his mind or something?" "Why would he even do that?" Vivienne watched with mild concern, but she didn''t stop him, in her mind, she actually wanted to see Merlin fight against the trainee. Commander Alden simply observed him with an unreadable expression before turning to a nearby soldier. "Bring in the trainee." A door on the far end of the arena slid open, and a soldier stepped inside. Merlin''s eyes flicked toward his opponent. The man was tall, broad-shouldered, with a scar running down his left cheek. His short-cropped black hair and piercing gray eyes screamed discipline and experience. His military-grade combat uniform was reinforced with mana-resistant plating, and a standard-issue high-frequency blade rested on his hip. A rookie. But an experienced combatant. Merlin analyzed him instantly. He had a way stronger physique. Definitely way more combat experience. And to top it off with a cherry he was trained to kill, not just spar. A bad matchup for any normal student. But Merlin wasn''t normal. He had already killed people before, he had multiple affinities. Way beyond a normal student, and he was a second star already. The soldier stepped forward, standing opposite him. His expression was calm¡ªnot arrogant, not dismissive, just assessing. "Cadet Elias Voss," the man introduced himself. His voice was leveled, free of unnecessary hostility. "I will be your opponent." Merlin gave him a slight nod. "Merlin Everhart. I will be in your care I guess." The trainee''s eyes seemed to twitch as soon as he heard the name. ''So he knows who I am, that''s interesting.'' Commander Alden raised a hand interrupting Merlin''s thoughts and Vivienne threw them wooden swords. "This is a controlled spar. No lethal intent, no excessive force. Rookie Elias isn''t allowed to use affinities. You will fight until one of you is unable to continue or surrenders." The barrier generators activated, locking them inside the combat ring. Vivienne''s voice came through the intercom above them. "Ready?" Merlin exhaled slowly. This wasn''t just a spar. This was a statement. To Nathan. To Alden. To everyone watching. This world doesn''t belong to Nathan anymore. Merlin is the real protagonist of this world. Vivienne''s voice rang out "Begin." Elias moved first. His body blurred forward in a burst of speed, closing the gap between them in an instant. His sword flashed, a clean diagonal slash aimed at Merlin''s torso¡ªfast, controlled, efficient. Merlin didn''t dodge instantly. [Trickster''s Reflex.] His body moved, shifting slightly at the last possible moment. The blade passed within centimeters of his ribs. He countered immediately. Wind gathered around his sword, as he lashed out with a lightning-fast thrust aimed at Elias'' exposed side. Elias reacted with impressive reflexes, twisting his body to redirect the attack, his blade coming up to parry. Wood clashed against wood. The impact sent a sharp shockwave through the air, the force rippling against the barrier walls. Elias'' expression shifted slightly. Merlin however didn''t let up. [Stride.] A pulse of mana rushed through Merlin''s body, and suddenly, his movements became unnatural¡ªfaster, smoother, impossible to predict. He disappeared from Elias'' vision, his acceleration doubling in an instant. Elias barely had time to react before Merlin was already behind him. A sharp gust of wind followed his movement, his rapier aiming for Elias'' exposed back. Elias whirled trying to react, his blade slashing in a counterattack¡ª Merlin wasn''t there. He had already shifted directions mid-dash, sliding to Elias'' left flank instead. His sword struck. ''It''s over for him. A precise, controlled hit¡ªthe tip stopping just inches from Elias'' throat. A perfect kill strike. Silence. The match had lasted less than twenty seconds. Elias blinked. Then slowly, he lowered his blade. Alden''s voice rang through the arena. "Match over. Merlin Everhart, victory." The barriers deactivated, and Merlin took a slow step back, exhaling as he let the mana from Stride settle. Elias turned to face him fully, his gray eyes unreadable. Then, with a slight movement, he gave a respectful nod. "That was impressive," he admitted. ''In all honesty, he was held back with not being able to use his affinity.'' Merlin simply put down his sword, his expression calm. "You weren''t bad either." The soldier''s lips tugged slightly in what might have been amusement before he turned and walked back toward the exit. Merlin glanced up at the observation deck. Nathan was staring at him, his expression unreadable. Adrian looked shocked. Liliana covered her mouth slightly, her blue eyes wide. Ethan''s usual bored expression was gone. Seraphina''s silver eyes sharpened, analyzing every movement. Dorian as expected, remained silent. What''s wrong with her? Is she my fan or what..?'' Elara....had her mouth covered as her eyes were wide open looking at Merlin. Vivienne, however, simply smiled. Commander Alden, for the first time, looked at Merlin with genuine interest. Chapter 40 40: Trip (3) "Impressive," he said. "Your combat technique is highly refined. Who trained you?" Merlin met his gaze calmly. "The teachers at the academy," he said simply, obviously lying a little. He wasn''t going to admit that he was the disciple of two of the best teachers and is currently the disciple of the headmistress... "But I mostly trained myself." Alden studied him for a moment longer. Then, finally, he spoke. "We might have use for you in the future." Merlin''s lips curled slightly. "I understand." Commander Alden''s words lingered in the air, carrying more weight than a simple compliment. We might have use for you in the future. Merlin had expected something along those lines. The military didn''t invite academy students for a casual tour. They were here to assess talent, recruit, and gauge potential threats. And now, Alden had taken notice of him. Exactly as he had planned. The other students were still staring, some whispering among themselves as the tension in the observation deck gradually faded. Nathaniel''s blue eyes held something close to frustration. Not anger¡ªbut a feeling of not being good enough. Merlin could already see it happening. Nathan was the protagonist, but this was his story now. And he would keep proving it, over and over again. Vivienne, still wearing that same soft smile, clapped her hands lightly. "Well, that was certainly a shorter match than expected. I suppose we still have plenty of time left in the schedule." Alden nodded. "We''ll continue the tour. But first¡ª" He turned to Merlin. "Merlin Everhart, follow me for a bit." Merlin remained silent as he stepped out of the arena, following the commander down a long corridor. The others stayed behind, but he could feel their eyes on his back. ¡ª The corridor led to a private meeting room, reinforced walls lined with mana-resistant plating¡ªa place designed to keep conversations from being overheard. Alden sat down at the head of the table, motioning for Merlin to take a seat across from him. Merlin complied, his movements calm and measured. For a few moments, Alden simply studied him, fingers steepled together, his sharp gray eyes unreadable. Then, finally, he spoke. "You''re different from the others." Merlin remained silent. "You didn''t hesitate to step forward. You weren''t surprised. You are a deviant with multiple affiliates. You weren''t nervous at all before the spar. That means either you''ve fought opponents of a higher caliber before, or..." Alden leaned slightly forward. "You knew exactly what would happen before the fight even started...which wouldn''t even make sense." Merlin''s gaze remained steady. "Does it matter?" Alden smirked faintly. "No. But I like to understand the people I take interest in." Merlin didn''t respond. Alden continued. "I assume you''re aware that this trip was not planned by the academy." "I figured as much," Merlin said simply. "The academy and the military don''t usually mix like this." Alden nodded. "Good. You''re paying attention." Merlin didn''t ask why they were invited¡ªbecause he already had a good idea. ''The balance of power is shifting.'' Something was happening behind the scenes¡ªsomething big. And if the military was taking an interest in academy students, it meant they were preparing for a future conflict. Merlin tapped his fingers against the armrest of his chair. "So, what happens now?" Alden''s smirk returned slightly. "That depends on you." He leaned back. "We are always looking for talent. The military has its share of gifted combatants, but we also value independent forces¡ªpeople who don''t just follow orders, but who know how to act on their own initiative." Merlin understood immediately. They wanted to keep an eye on him. This wasn''t a direct recruitment offer¡ªnot yet. It was an evaluation. If he agreed to anything here, he would be tying himself to military interests. He had no intention of being a pawn. But he also had no reason to reject them outright. "I''ll consider it," Merlin said. Alden''s smirk grew slightly. "Good answer." He stood up. "For now, we''ll return to the tour. But I''ll be watching your progress, Merlin Everhart." Merlin simply nodded, standing as well. Let him watch. When the time came, Merlin would make sure everyone in this world knew his name for the strength he holds. ¡ª When Merlin returned to the observation deck, the atmosphere had shifted slightly. The students had mostly calmed down, but there was a clear change in how they looked at him. Nathaniel was stiff, his hands clenched into fists. Adrian, always quick to brush things off, grinned as Merlin stepped in. "Well, that didn''t take long. Thought they were gonna offer you a job on the spot." Merlin gave a neutral shrug. "Not interested in military work." Ethan smirked. "That''s what they all say... until the paycheck comes in." Liliana, however, simply smiled softly. "It was an impressive match." Seraphina remained silent, but her silver eyes were locked onto him, analyzing every move he made. Vivienne clapped her hands together. "Well, now that that''s settled, let''s move on, shall we?" Alden returned as well, motioning for them to continue down the corridor. "The next section of the tour will cover our combat simulation chambers¡ªyou''ll see how real battles are prepared for." Merlin fell in step with the others, his mind still processing the implications of everything that had just happened. ¡ª The group continued down a reinforced corridor, the hum of security drones and distant machinery filling the space with a low, mechanical rhythm. The deeper they moved into the facility, the more militarized the environment became¡ªrows of automated turrets along the ceilings, biometric scanners at every entry point, and walls lined with mana-resistant plating. This wasn''t just a training center. ''It''s like a damned war machine in progress.'' Commander Alden led them through a heavy set of blast doors, which slid open with a pressurized hiss. The room beyond was massive, lined with rows of simulation pods, each connected to a sprawling holographic command center suspended in the air above them. Several officers and technicians worked at various stations, adjusting combat algorithms, managing AI-driven training programs, and monitoring real-time battle simulations. "This," Alden said, stepping forward, "is the Combat Simulation Chamber. The most advanced virtual war environment in Eldoria." A large holographic display lit up behind him, showcasing a three-dimensional battlefield reconstruction¡ªcomplete with real-time soldier movements, spell trajectories, and AI-generated strategic assessments. ''This is fucking insane..'' Chapter 41 41: Simulation (1) Vivienne tilted her head slightly, intrigued. "These aren''t just theoretical simulations, are they?" Alden glanced at her. "No. These scenarios are based on real military engagements. Every battle we analyze here has either already happened, is happening now, or is predicted to happen in the far future..However the predictions aren''t exactly accurate." That got the class''s attention. Ethan let out a low whistle. "So this is where they predict wars before they start?" "More or less," Alden replied. Merlin remained silent, scanning the displays. He recognized some of the locations being analyzed. They were battlefields from later in the novel¡ªconflicts that hadn''t happened yet but were going to. That meant the military already had some degree of foresight. The question was¡ªhow much did they know? And how far had the story''s timeline already diverged? Alden turned back to the students. "For today''s exercise, you will experience a live combat simulation firsthand." Several students stiffened. Nathan frowned slightly. "A simulation of what, exactly?" Alden didn''t answer immediately. Instead, he gestured to a nearby officer, who tapped a few commands into his terminal. The massive holographic display shifted, revealing a city in ruins. Tall skyscrapers collapsed into dust, streets were torn apart by craters and wreckage, and smoke billowed into the sky. A field of destruction. "This," Alden said, "is a classified simulation. A scenario that has not happened yet¡ªbut may happen in the far future." Merlin''s breath stilled for a moment. Because he knew this place. It was Eldoria. The city they were standing in. Burned to the ground. ¡ª The room fell into silence as the students took in the sight. Liliana''s hand tightened on her notebook. Seraphina''s silver eyes narrowed slightly. Dorian remained expressionless, while Elara''s gaze lingered on the ruins longer than the others. Nathan took a step forward. "This... is a prediction?" Alden nodded. "A low-probability outcome based on current intelligence reports. The conditions leading to this scenario are still developing, but if certain events continue on their current path, then yes¡ªthis could happen. Of course, this would only happen if all of our military forces fail, there is less than a 0.1% chance of this happening. So there isn''t a reason for panic." "Who attacks?" Ethan asked, his usual boredom replaced with sharp interest. Alden glanced at the display. "Unknown. The simulation accounts for multiple possible aggressors¡ªrogue factions, external military forces, terrorist groups. We''re still refining the projections." That was a half-truth. Merlin knew who would attack. Because in the novel, Eldoria was destroyed and everyone was killed. By sheer destruction.. Merlin exhaled quietly. ''So the military knows something is coming. But they don''t know what...and they can''t predict it. I''m guessing Morgana has a play in this with her time affinity as well.'' That meant he still had time. And he was going to use every second of it. Alden turned back to the students. "We won''t be explaining further. Instead, you''ll be entering the simulation yourselves." Several students tensed. "You will be divided into three-person squads," Alden continued. "Your objective: survive for thirty minutes while gathering intel on enemy movements. The difficulty is set to real combat levels¡ªinjuries sustained in the simulation will not carry over, but the pain response will be fully active." Merlin''s expression didn''t change. Nathan, however, stiffened. Adrian grinned, nudging him. "Guess we''ll see what you''re made of, huh?" Liliana pursed her lips. "So we''re supposed to be... soldiers?" "Think of it as a stress test," Alden said. "If you intend to operate in the real world, you should understand what real warfare feels like." One by one, students were called to different simulation pods¡ªhigh-tech capsules that connected directly to the combat system. Vivienne, despite her usual warm demeanor, wasn''t arguing against it. Merlin wasn''t surprised. Vivienne was kind, but she wasn''t weak¡ªshe understood that reality wouldn''t give them safety nets. Alden glanced at his tablet, reading off names. "Squad Three¡ªNathaniel Varen, Adrian Kain, and Liliana Astralis." Nathan took a breath, nodding slightly as he stepped toward the pods. Merlin leaned back, waiting for his name. Alden continued. "Squad Five¡ªMerlin Everhart, Seraphina Alden, and Dorian Graves." Merlin''s fingers tapped against his arm. ''Interesting group. We''ll have to use what we''ve got I guess.'' Seraphina was a tactical thinker, methodical in execution. Dorian was a lone wolf, cold and efficient. Merlin? He was the wild card. Alden''s gaze lingered on him for a brief moment before moving on. "You''ll have five minutes to prepare. Enter the pods when ready." Merlin turned toward his squadmates. Seraphina was already analyzing the simulation parameters. "We should establish a plan before deployment," she said, her tone clipped. Dorian simply exhaled sharply, arms crossed. "Plans won''t matter. The simulation adjusts dynamically." Merlin smirked slightly. "Then I guess we improvise." Neither of them argued. Without another word, the three of them stepped into their pods. The moment the metal hatch sealed, a digital voice echoed [Initiating Combat Simulation.] A bright flash consumed his vision. Then¡ª Merlin opened his eyes to fire, smoke, and gunfire. The city of Eldoria was burning. And this time, he was inside the ending.. Where it all came to a stop. ¡ª The sky burned red. Smoke billowed from the ruined skyscrapers, the once-thriving streets of Eldoria now littered with debris. Automated streetlights flickered erratically, their neon-blue glow barely cutting through the chaos unfolding around them. Gunfire rattled through the air, mixed with the distant roar of explosions. Merlin stood on what used to be a high-rise avenue, now reduced to rubble. The air was thick with the scent of burning metal, scorched concrete, and something far worse¡ªblood. This wasn''t just a training simulation. It was a war zone. A voice crackled in his earpiece, bringing him back to focus. [Squad Five ¨C Deployment Successful.] [Survive for 30 minutes.] [Intel Collection Objective: Ongoing.] Merlin exhaled sharply, his senses adjusting to the battlefield environment. A flicker of movement to his left. Seraphina Alden, already crouched behind cover, her silver eyes scanning the surroundings with sharp efficiency. To his right, Dorian Graves stood calmly amidst the destruction, his white hair untouched by dust, his crimson-red eyes glowing faintly as he assessed the battlefield with a cold, unreadable gaze. Seraphina''s voice was the first to break the silence. "We don''t have time to stand around. We need to move." Merlin didn''t argue. Dorian, however, exhaled sharply, his arms still crossed. "And where exactly do you suggest we go?" Seraphina ignored his tone. "The simulation''s objective is intel collection. That means there''s something the military wants us to find. Our best bet is locating a command post or enemy outpost¡ªsomething that holds strategic information." Seraphina''s voice remained calm and composed, but Merlin could already tell¡ªthis was new for her. For both of them. Seraphina and Dorian were talented, undeniably skilled, but they had never been on a real battlefield before. Merlin had. He had seen blood spill. He had seen people die. And he had killed..of course only a couple. But it counts. So when Seraphina and Dorian crouched behind cover, strategizing like this was just another academy exercise¡ªMerlin knew it wasn''t. This was a turning point. Because at some point, they would have to make a choice. Hesitate and die...well they obviously wouldn''t die. But the paint would be there. Or fight and live. Merlin adjusted his grip on Kyrix, his rapier gleaming faintly under the ruined city''s burning light. "Intel or not," he said, scanning the surroundings, "we won''t be alone for long." And he was right. Because seconds later, they weren''t. A sharp clatter of boots against pavement echoed through the ruined streets. Merlin''s eyes narrowed as three figures emerged from the shadows of a collapsed metro station¡ªdressed in tactical gear, their faces hidden behind reinforced combat masks. Black-market weapons rested in their hands, their movements sharp, precise. To them they weren''t just random enemies generated by the simulation. They seemed to move like trained fighters. And they had already locked onto them. [Hostile Entities Identified ¨C Armed Combatants.] [Threat Level: Moderate.] Seraphina''s grip tightened on her crystalline wand, her silver eyes sharp. Dorian exhaled slowly, his red gaze unreadable as his fingers flexed near his knives. Neither of them had ever killed before. Merlin had. So he waited. Because this moment mattered. Would they hesitate? Or would they fight and kill them? One of the armed men moved first, raising his weapon¡ªa mana-powered assault rifle aimed directly at Seraphina. She reacted instantly, her hands flashing blue as a wall of ice erupted between them, the bullets slamming into the frozen barricade. "Move," she ordered. Dorian was already in motion, flickering between the shadows, his mana wrapping around him. He appeared behind the second gunman, his twin knives lashing out¡ª The blades connected¡ªbut it wasn''t deep enough. Not even close. The man whirled around unnaturally fast, slamming the butt of his rifle into Dorian''s stomach. Dorian staggered, his breath hitching. The enemy aimed his weapon at Dorian''s head. ''Do I deadass always have to save everyone..?'' Merlin sighed as he vanished from his spot. Chapter 42 42: Simulation (2) In the blink of an eye, Merlin was there. His rapier pierced through the enemy''s ribs before the man even realized what had happened. The soldier''s breath hitched¡ªhis body jerking violently before he collapsed, blood spilling onto the pavement. Dorian froze, his crimson eyes flickering toward Merlin. Merlin didn''t look at him. He stepped past the body, his expression cold, unreadable. "Too slow," he murmured. Dorian''s jaw clenched. But there was no time to argue. The third soldier adjusted his trajectory, turning his sights on Seraphina. She was breathing heavily, her ice magic cracking under the sustained pressure of gunfire. She had the skill, but not the instinct to kill. Merlin did. His free hand flicked up, and suddenly¡ª The air shimmered. The gunman''s targeting system malfunctioned instantly, his perception warping completely due to Merlin''s space affinity. The man hesitated for a second. However, that was all Merlin needed. Keryx pierced his throat, a clean, precise strike. The man collapsed, choking on his own blood. Silence. Seraphina lowered her hands, her ice-blue magic fading. Her breath was unsteady. Her fingers trembled slightly. Dorian remained silent, his eyes locked onto the bodies at their feet. His grip on his knives was tight enough to shake. They were strong. They were skilled. But this was their first kill. Merlin watched them carefully. This was the difference. Between someone who had killed before¡ªand someone who was killing for the first time. He turned away, flicking Keryx once to let the blood splatter onto the pavement. "Get used to it," he said simply. ''That was so corny...'' Merlin shook his head, but he was right. Because this wasn''t the end. It was just the beginning. For a long moment, nothing moved. Seraphina stood frozen, her silver eyes locked onto the corpse at her feet. Her ice magic flickered faintly in her hands, but it was unstable, wavering like her unsteady breath. Dorian, meanwhile, simply stared down at the man he had wounded but failed to finish. His grip on his knives was tight, his knuckles white. Merlin could already tell. Neither of them had fully processed it yet. The first kill was always the hardest. It was a line that, once crossed, could never be undone. He had seen it before¡ªin the real world...and in the novel as well. Some people hesitated and got themselves killed. Some people broke under the weight of it. And some people... learned. Merlin flicked the blood off Keryx with a clean motion, his expression unreadable. If you freeze up now," Merlin said, his voice calm and measured, "you''ll be dead before the next fight even starts." Seraphina tensed, her fingers twitching slightly as the last remnants of ice magic flickered and died from her hands. Dorian exhaled slowly, his grip on his knives still too tight, his red eyes locked onto the cooling corpses. They were still processing it. The first kill. Merlin had no patience for hesitation¡ªnot in this world, and especially not in this moment. "Get used to it," he said bluntly. Seraphina''s silver eyes snapped toward him, a flicker of something sharp in her gaze. "You say that like it''s easy," she murmured. Merlin tilted his head slightly, his tone as cold as the bodies on the ground. "It''s not. It''s the hardest." Seraphina''s lips pressed into a thin line. Dorian, still silent, finally spoke. "...How many times have you killed? It''s obvious this isn''t your first time..." Merlin met his crimson gaze, unfazed. He could lie. Could say this was his first time too, pretend he was just as shaken, just as new to it as they were. But that wasn''t who he was. So he didn''t hesitate. "Let''s just say, it''s not a concerning amount." Seraphina inhaled sharply. Dorian''s expression didn''t change, but his eyes darkened slightly. That was the difference between them. They were both one-star combatants, prodigies in their own right, but still students. People who had trained to fight, but never truly fought. Merlin was a different. Not just in skill, not just in magic. But in experience. He had already crossed the line they were only just stepping over. A long silence settled between them. Dorian was the first to move. He crouched down, wiping his knives against the dead man''s jacket, cleaning off the blood with a steady hand. He didn''t say anything¡ªjust adjusted his grip and stood up, his posture more controlled this time. Seraphina, however, was still stiff. Her hands flexed, like she was still trying to shake off the feeling of battle. She was struggling with it. Merlin watched her carefully. If she couldn''t push past this moment¡ªif she let the weight of it slow her down¡ªshe wouldn''t make it to the end. And he wasn''t going to carry dead weight. "The first time is the hardest," he said, not unkindly, but not gently either. "But you don''t get time to dwell on it." Seraphina swallowed, her jaw tightening. "I know that." Merlin arched a brow. "Then prove it." She held his gaze for a long moment. Then, slowly, her breathing steadied. She took a step forward, kneeling beside one of the bodies. Her fingers curled around the hilt of a discarded combat knife, pulling it free with a soft clutter of metal against leather. She turned it over in her palm, feeling the weight of it. And then, without another word, she stood. The hesitation in her stance was still there. But it was fading. ''Good..she''s getting better.'' Because the entire thing wasn''t over yet. ¡ª The ruined streets stretched ahead, filled with abandoned vehicles, collapsed buildings, and flickering street signs that barely functioned. The air was thick with smoke and dust, reducing visibility. Merlin moved at the front, navigating through the debris with quick, measured steps. Dorian followed behind him, his movements silent, almost unnaturally so. Seraphina was the only one who still felt out of place, her posture too rigid, her breathing just a little too controlled¡ªlike she was trying not to think about what they had just done. Merlin didn''t say anything about it. She would either figure it out or she wouldn''t. As they passed by a wrecked civilian checkpoint, Merlin spotted something ahead¡ª A group of three more hostiles, positioned near a partially destroyed patrol station. Unlike the last group, these ones weren''t advancing. They were waiting. Guarding something. Merlin motioned for the others to stop, lowering himself behind the remains of a burned-out vehicle. Dorian crouched next to him without question. Seraphina hesitated before doing the same. "Three enemies," Merlin murmured, his voice barely above a whisper. "Guarding something." Dorian''s red eyes flickered toward the patrol station. "Could be a communications hub. Tactical advantage if we take it." Seraphina frowned. "We just killed people less than five minutes ago. Now we''re going after more?" Merlin gave her a flat look. "If we don''t take them out, they''ll call for reinforcements. Which do you prefer?" Seraphina didn''t answer immediately. Dorian glanced at her, then back at Merlin. "What''s the plan?" Merlin exhaled. "I''ll take the one on the left. You take the one on the right. Seraphina, you lock down the center with ice magic so he doesn''t escape." Seraphina hesitated. "And if he does?" "Then you kill him," Merlin said simply. Seraphina tensed slightly, but she gave a short nod. Merlin turned his gaze back to the targets, his mind already calculating. Then, without another word¡ª They moved. Merlin vanished in a blur of movement. [Stride] His acceleration doubled. The leftmost soldier barely had time to register his presence before Keryx pierced through his throat, clean and precise. Dorian struck from the behind, his knives flashing as they buried themselves into the right soldier''s spine. Before the third enemy could react¡ª Seraphina raised her hands. Ice erupted from the ground, encasing the last soldier''s legs and arms instantly, locking him in place. The man struggled violently, trying to break free. Seraphina''s silver eyes flickered with hesitation. The man opened his mouth to shout for backup¡ª Merlin moved first. Keryx flashed, and the soldier collapsed. Dead. Seraphina inhaled sharply, her hands falling back to her sides. Merlin turned to her, his expression unreadable. "You hesitated." Seraphina looked away. Dorian, wiping the blood from his knives, glanced at her. "Hesitation could get us killed in the future...even if this is just a simulation we must take it seriously.." She didn''t respond. Merlin didn''t push further. She would either understand, or she wouldn''t. Instead, he walked past them and entered the patrol station, searching for what the enemies had been guarding. A moment later, he found it. A communication terminal, still active. The screen displayed a map of Eldoria, covered in red markers. Merlin''s gaze darkened. Because those markers weren''t just enemy positions. They were planned attack points. And one of them was directly over their academy. Seraphina and Dorian entered behind him, both noticing the screen. "What the hell is this?" Seraphina murmured. Dorian frowned. "They were preparing to hit the academy?" Merlin didn''t answer immediately. Because he wasn''t looking at the academy''s marker. He was looking at the one farther out, near the city''s outskirts. And right next to it¡ª The name Nathaniel Varen. Merlin''s grip on the terminal tightened slightly. "Change of plans," Merlin said, his voice calm but sharp. "We''re going there." Seraphina''s brow furrowed. "Why? The academy is¡ª" "The academy will hold, and nothing will actually happen to it. We should aim to help the other students..." Merlin interrupted. "Nathan''s squad is walking into a trap." Chapter 43 43: Simulation (3) [Time Remaining: 14:37] Merlin''s eyes flicked to the countdown. They were running out of time. They had to move now. He turned away from the screen, his grip still firm on Keryx. The familiar weight of his rapier grounded him, its sleek silver blade reflecting the dim city lights of the simulation. "We don''t have time to argue," he said coldly. "We head there now." Dorian gave a sharp nod. "Understood." Seraphina hesitated, then exhaled through her nose. "Fine." Merlin didn''t waste another second. He pushed out of the patrol station, scanning the streets ahead. The route to the marker wasn''t too far, but with how this simulation was going, there was no way they''d make it without another fight. The city was hostile territory. And Nathan''s squad had no idea what they were walking into. Merlin clicked his tongue, already moving. "Keep close and don''t waste energy. We engage only if necessary." Dorian adjusted his stance, his crimson eyes scanning their surroundings. "That won''t be an option for long." The streets were eerily silent as they moved, the distant hum of simulation-generated activity echoing through the dark alleys. Merlin kept his rapier, Keryx, at the ready, his senses sharp. Dorian walked a step behind him, his pale white hair barely illuminated under the streetlights. Seraphina, in contrast, kept to his right, her ice affinity making the air around her feel slightly colder than the rest of the street. [Time Remaining: 12:04] Merlin''s eyes narrowed. ''Damn it, we''re cutting it too close. We haven''t gathered any intel at all...'' The plan was simple: regroup with Nathan''s squad and finish the mission before time ran out and try to get some information. Merlin knew it wouldn''t be that simple though, this simulation wasn''t easy. Not even remotely close. Their team wasted too much time with the remorse for the kills.. He had already killed once in this place..and outside of it. The others hadn''t. And it showed. Seraphina''s fingers twitched near the hilt of her sword, her stance slightly too rigid. Dorian wasn''t much better¡ªcalm, but calculating, as if still trying to justify what they were doing. Merlin didn''t have that problem. Not anymore. A noise. He stopped instantly, his hand raising. The others froze. From the next alley, footsteps. Fast. Approaching. Then, from the darkness¡ª Men. Armed. Not with simulation drones. Real, human opponents. Their faces were hidden under combat visors, their movements disciplined, practiced¡ªmercenaries, maybe. There were five of them. Merlin''s grip on Keryx tightened. They hadn''t noticed them yet. Seraphina inhaled sharply, but Merlin didn''t hesitate. He turned his head slightly. "Dorian. Take the left one. Seraphina, slow down the center." A beat of silence. Then¡ª He moved. [Stride] His movements started flowing like water. The world blurred as he closed the gap in an instant, Keryx flashing. The first soldier barely had time to react before Merlin''s blade pierced his shoulder, disabling his weapon arm. A choked gasp¡ªthen a kick to the stomach sent him sprawling. Dorian was next, his ice surging, piercing the alley in shadows. One soldier screamed as ice wrapped around his ankles, yanking him down. Seraphina raised her hand. A gust of freezing wind tore through the air, and suddenly, ice coated the ground, throwing the remaining soldiers off balance. Merlin didn''t waste the opportunity. One step¡ªtwo¡ªKeryx found its mark again. This time, he aimed to disable, not kill. A slash across the leg, a downward thrust to pin their weapon. Efficient. Precise. The fight was over in seconds. The last soldier tried to crawl away. Merlin stepped on his back, forcing him down. His blade hovered near his neck. "Who sent you?" The soldier coughed, visor cracked from the impact. "I¡ª I don''t¡ª" Merlin''s foot pressed down harder. "Don''t waste my time." A pause. A faint chuckle. "You think this is the end?" Merlin''s eyes narrowed. Then¡ª [Time Remaining: 9:42] His heart clenched. They were running out of time. No choice. He stepped back and knocked the soldier out with the blunt side of his blade. "We need to move. Now." Merlin crouched over one of the unconscious soldiers, his sharp gaze scanning the man''s uniform. It was standard military gear¡ªpractical, lightweight, reinforced at the joints¡ªbut something was off. There were no insignias, no identifying markers. That''s strange. "Seraphina, check their pockets," he ordered, not looking up. Seraphina exhaled sharply but obeyed, kneeling beside another unconscious man. She moved quickly, searching through pouches and compartments. Dorian remained silent, his red eyes watching the surroundings like a predator waiting for prey. Merlin turned the soldier''s wrist, noting a black band fastened tightly around it. A communication device, sleek and modern. Academy-issued? No, the design was too clean, too advanced. He pried it off and tapped the small interface, but the screen stayed locked. "Tch." He tossed it to Dorian. "See if you can do something with this." Dorian caught it with one hand and sat back, fingers working over the device. "Give me a minute." [Time Remaining: 7:50] Seraphina let out a small noise of surprise. "Here." Merlin turned as she held up a folded document. He snatched it and unfolded the paper, his eyes quickly scanning its contents. It was a map. A detailed map of the simulation zone¡ªbut not just any version. This one had additional markings. Routes. Checkpoints. Dorian, still working on the communication device, suddenly spoke. "I got access to some data." Merlin''s attention snapped back to him. "What kind of data?" Dorian turned the device''s screen toward them. He had bypassed the lock, revealing a list of coordinates. They weren''t random. They matched the markings on the map. Seraphina inhaled sharply. "This was all pre-planned?" Merlin''s mind worked fast. The simulation was supposed to be a controlled combat scenario. But this map suggested that someone¡ªeither the academy or an external force¡ªhad set up additional objectives. Dorian narrowed his eyes. "The academy might have programmed this in without telling us. They might be testing something..." "Or someone else is running their own test inside the simulation," Merlin added. Seraphina clenched her fists. "So what do we do?" Merlin didn''t hesitate. "We take the intel and get out." [Time Remaining: 3:20] They moved quickly. Merlin stuffed the map into his jacket while Dorian pocketed the device and they started running. Then after a while. A low hum resonated through the air. The simulation was shutting down. Merlin''s vision blurred. His senses faded. Then¡ª A sharp hissing sound filled the air as the simulation pods unlocked one by one, releasing bursts of cold mist. The fluorescent lights overhead buzzed faintly, bringing them back to reality. Merlin''s vision adjusted quickly, his breath steady as he stepped out. His muscles still carried the faint echo of battle, his mind sharpening as he took in his surroundings. To his right, Nathaniel stumbled slightly before catching himself, shaking his head as if trying to clear it. Adrian cracked his neck with a wince, muttering something under his breath. Liliana brushed nonexistent dust off her uniform, keeping her usual poised composure, though there was a slight crease between her brows. Seraphina was silent, her silver eyes flickering toward the others with a calculative gaze. Dorian said nothing, his red eyes glinting faintly under the light as he leaned against the pod, his face unreadable. Then¡ª A loud clap echoed through the room. "Well, well." The unmistakable voice of Alden filled the space. The military instructor stood a few feet away, arms crossed over his broad chest, grinning like he had just watched a bunch of kids barely survive their first real fight. "You''re all still standing. None if you got eliminated." Merlin kept his face neutral, but Adrian coughed awkwardly. Liliana gave Alden a flat stare. "We would have just gotten eliminated. Not killed." Alden snorted. "So what? You all should have taken it seriously even if it was just a simulation." Liliana pressed her lips together but didn''t argue. The captain clapped his hands together again. "Alright, let''s hear it. What''d you learn?" Silence. Alden sighed. "Come on, don''t make me do all the talking. Someone give me the basics." Nathaniel hesitated before speaking, his voice quieter than usual. "The mission was successful. We found the intel." Alden tilted his head. "Yeah? And?" Seraphina straightened. "Minimal casualties. We managed to adapt to the situation and complete the objective." "Right, right." Alden nodded, his expression unreadable. "And what about the real lesson?" "...Real lesson?" Adrian asked cautiously. Alden''s grin widened. "Let me spell it out for you." He took a step forward, his presence suddenly heavier. "You got lucky." The words hung in the air. Alden continued, his tone shifting. "That simulation was one mission. One fight. A controlled environment. And you still made mistakes." His gaze swept over them, sharp and assessing. "You relied on each other, but you hesitated. You made calls without thinking ahead. You fought like people who thought they had a way out." No one spoke. Merlin remained still, watching the others'' reactions. Alden let the silence stretch before continuing, his voice lower. "You had the luxury of knowing this wasn''t real." His eyes darkened. "Out there, in the real world, that luxury doesn''t exist." Nathaniel clenched his jaw. Liliana''s fingers twitched. Adrian looked away. Dorian and Seraphina didn''t react outwardly, but Merlin could tell. They all understood what Alden was saying. It was different for him, though. Alden exhaled, rubbing his neck. "But hey, you got the intel. You didn''t get eliminated. That''s a start." His grin returned, though it didn''t reach his eyes. "For now, take it as a win." He turned toward the exit. "Alright, debrief''s over. Get moving." The group hesitated before following after him. Vivienne was silent the whole time smiling awkwardly as they followed after Aldren. As they walked out, Merlin cast one last glance at the simulation pods. Chapter 44 44: Outing (1) The hum of the military transport filled the air as the academy students sat in relative silence. The atmosphere was noticeably heavier than when they first left. A mission, even a simulated one, had a way of shifting perspectives. Merlin leaned against the cold metal wall of the transport, arms crossed, his gaze fixed on the scenery blurring past the window. The others weren''t taking the experience lightly. Nathan sat stiffly, his hands clasped together, eyes darkened with thought. Seraphina''s fingers lightly tapped against her arm, her mind clearly running through every detail of the mission. Elara sat still, her sharp elven features unreadable. But the way her fingers gripped the edge of her seat gave her away. Vivienne, seated across from them, had been watching in silence. Unlike her usual bright and warm demeanor, she was quieter this time, taking in their reactions. Finally, she spoke. "You all did well." Adrian let out a forced chuckle. "Would''ve been awkward if we didn''t." No one laughed. Vivienne sighed, leaning back in her seat. "It''s normal to feel uneasy after something like that. Even if it was a simulation, the weight of it doesn''t disappear just because it wasn''t ''real.''" ''Well, this definitely didn''t help them.'' Merlin glanced at her. He had no such discomfort. But the others¡ªhe could see it clearly. "There''s no right answer," Vivienne continued, her brown eyes drifting to the window. "Some of you will move past it quickly. Some of you will hold onto it for weeks. Both are fine." She didn''t say ''You''ll get used to it''. But the implication was there. The transport moved steadily through the city, the towering skyline of modern architecture rising around them. Streets were filled with pedestrians, holographic advertisements flickered above them, and the hum of vehicles filled the air. When they finally reached the academy grounds, the students exited in quiet movements, some still lost in thought. "No more lectures for today, everyone can go to their respectful places to rest. Lectures continue tomorrow." Vivienne announced as the students were still silent but they didn''t complain as everyone made their way in different directions. Merlin stretched slightly, ready to head back home. He had no interest in lingering around with the others, especially after the mission. But before he could take a step¡ª "Merlin," Nathan called. He turned, raising a brow. Nathan, standing beside Elara and Seraphina, looked oddly hesitant. "We were thinking of heading into the city for a bit. You should come with us." Merlin immediately shook his head. "Pass." Seraphina sighed. "Figured you''d say that." Elara, however, was having none of it. She stepped forward, her sharp violet eyes locking onto his. "Come on, you can''t just disappear like usual. You barely do anything outside of class." "I do plenty." Elara crossed her arms. "Really? Name one social thing you''ve done in the past week." Merlin opened his mouth, then closed it. "...Exactly," she said smugly. "I don''t see why I need to go. Shouldn''t you guys be contemplating about today''s events instead?" The group seemed to tense at Merlin''s words. ''Maybe that was too much..'' "This is the best way to turn our brains off..." Seraph answered as she looked at the floor. "And not about ''need,'' Merlin." Elara huffed. "We''re just going out to get some things. You should come. You don''t have any friends at all." He still wasn''t convinced. Nathan sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "Look, it''s just a quick trip. If you hate it, you can leave." ''Why am I always so bitter anyways...it''s not that big of a deal. I haven''t done anything outside of training ever since I came to this world..'' Merlin narrowed his eyes slightly as his thoughts spun. Seraphina glanced at him. "If you don''t come, she won''t stop bothering you, you know." Elara nodded with far too much satisfaction. Merlin exhaled. "...Fine." Elara grinned. "Great. Let''s go." Merlin had the sinking feeling he had just been expertly manipulated. But at this point, resistance was useless, and a little break wouldn''t hurt. ''What could possibly go wrong?'' ¡ª Merlin regretted his decision almost immediately. The streets of the city were as crowded as ever, a sea of people moving in every direction, neon signs flashing overhead, and vehicles moved loudly along the roads. Compared to the controlled and structured environment of the academy, the inside of the city was overwhelming in a different way. ''I''ve never been here before..'' He had never enjoyed these types of outings¡ªtoo many people, too much noise, and absolutely no personal space. He never did these types of things in his past. He was always locked inside his room, reading his books and novels trying to escape reality. ''Who would have thought it would actually become my reality.'' It was one of the reasons why he was bullied for so long, people called him all kinds of names, geek and nerd were the most common. He was always the loner, the unpopular kid that no one wanted to interact with. Yet now here he was, walking beside Nathan, Seraphina, and Elara, who had practically dragged him into this...inside of a novel that became his reality. "Where are we even going?" Merlin finally asked, stuffing his hands into his pockets. "Just some general shopping," Elara replied casually, leading the way. "I need some supplies for alchemy, and Nathan wanted to check out the weapons market." ''He''s going to find a good sword soon either way if the story didn''t change too much.'' Merlin shook his head as Seraphina glanced at Nathan. "Didn''t you just get your gear checked at the academy?" "I did," Nathan admitted, running a hand through his dark hair. "But I want to see if there''s anything better." Merlin gave him a sideways glance. "Better, or flashier?" Nathan scowled. "I''m not that shallow." ''You are.'' Merlin wasn''t convinced, clearly knowing the nature of Nathan. He used to make rash decisions in the novel just to seem flashy and farm aura...he was the cringiest protagonist ever but he still loved the novel..not because of Nathan though. They made their way through the market district, where stalls and shops displayed everything from enchanted trinkets to combat gear. It was a mix of high-tech and magic, an odd blend of old traditions and modern advancements. Holographic advertisements floated above some stores, showcasing the latest magical weapons or cutting-edge armor modifications. ''I don''t really need any of these things.'' Merlin wasn''t interested in any of it though. Elara, however, stopped at nearly every shop, inspecting materials, asking about potions, and occasionally dragging Nathan into arguments over the best enchantments. Seraphina followed at a more relaxed pace, occasionally commenting but never engaging too much. Merlin just stood in the background, waiting for it all to be over. "You know," Seraphina said suddenly, looking at him, "you''re really bad at blending in." Merlin raised an eyebrow. "What''s that supposed to mean?" "You''re standing like you''re planning an escape," she pointed out. "And you keep scanning the area like you''re expecting to be ambushed." ''I''m with a person that naturally carries disaster with him. Of course I''m scanning the area.'' "...Force of habit." Seraphina gave him a knowing look but didn''t press further. Nathan, meanwhile, was busy debating a store clerk over the efficiency of different sword materials. "This one is lighter," the clerk argued, holding up a sleek, black-metal blade. "It allows for faster swings and is reinforced with mana absorption." ''Mana absorption..what kind of scam artist is this?'' Merlin and Nathan both frowned as Nathan replied "But the impact force is weaker, isn''t it?" "It depends on the user''s strength and technique¡ª" Elara sighed, rubbing her temples. "We are not going to be here for an hour debating swords, Nathan." Nathan hesitated before sighing. "Fine. I''ll think about it." They continued wandering through the market, stopping occasionally but never for too long. The only person enjoying this was Elara. Eventually, they ended up at a small outdoor cafe?. Nathan stretched, flopping into a chair. "That was exhausting." "You''re the one who wanted to go to the weapons market," Seraphina pointed out. "Yeah, but I wasn''t expecting to get lectured by a store clerk." ''Why did he even bother with that clerk. At least I can rest now.'' Merlin sat down without a word, relieved that they had finally stopped moving. Elara ordered drinks for everyone before sitting down with a satisfied smile. "See? This wasn''t so bad, was it?" Merlin stared at her. "...You dragged me into this against my will. Particularly, I just watched all of you guys look through useless things that¡ª" "And yet, here you are, enjoying a nice break with friends," she said smugly, cutting Merlin off. Merlin narrowed his eyes but said nothing. Elara leaned back, sipping her drink. "You don''t have to act like you hate it so much, you know." ''Whatever.'' Merlin rolled his eyes. Seraphina chuckled slightly. "Just let him be, Elara. You already won. He did end up coming with us...even if it was kind of against his will." Elara grinned, clearly pleased with herself. Merlin sighed. He had definitely lost this battle against Elara. Completely defeated. But at the very least, he had survived the outing without any major problems or some kind of disaster occurring in the city. It was peaceful. For now. Chapter 45 45: Outing (2) Merlin stirred his drink absentmindedly, watching the light reflect off the surface. The cafe? was quiet, at least compared to the crowded streets. The hum of conversation from nearby tables, the occasional clinking of glasses, the distant sounds of vehicles passing by¡ªit all blended into a dull background noise. It wasn''t terrible, but he still wished he were somewhere else. Nathan and Seraphina were casually discussing their training schedules, while Elara was preoccupied with her holopad, scrolling through some list of materials she still needed to buy. Merlin didn''t bother joining the conversation. He exhaled, leaning back in his chair. ''This really isn''t my thing..'' His gaze drifted across the street. Pedestrians moved in waves, their figures blending together under the artificial lights of the city. Most were ordinary¡ªstudents, workers, the occasional adventurer with a weapon strapped to their back. Then his eyes landed on someone different. A man, standing perfectly still amidst the moving crowd. White coat. White hair. Pale skin. And dark eyes. Glasses that reflected the city lights. Merlin''s fingers tensed around his cup. The man''s expression was unreadable, his face almost devoid of emotion. But his eyes¡ªMerlin could feel them, sharp and unwavering, locked onto him with a level of intent that set off alarms in his mind. ''Who...the hell?'' The moment stretched. The crowd moved around him, yet the man remained as if he were detached from the world around him. Then¡ª He turned. And disappeared. Not in a sudden burst of speed. Not in a flash of magic. He simply stepped into the crowd, and within seconds, he was gone. He remembered the villains of the novel, the antagonists, but none of them looked like the guy he had just seen. Merlin shot up from his seat, eyes scanning the streets. His heart wasn''t racing, but there was a deep, gnawing instinct telling him to move. ''What the hell was that?'' Something wasn''t right. "...Merlin?" He barely registered Elara''s voice. His focus remained on the spot where the man had stood. Nothing. "Merlin!" A hand touched his arm. His body tensed before he recognized the voice of Elara. He turned slightly, catching her narrowed silver eyes. She had noticed. "You saw something?" she stated rather than asked. Merlin let out a slow breath and sat back down. "...It''s nothing." Elara didn''t look convinced. But she didn''t push. Seraph frowned. "You''re acting weird. What happened?" "Nothing," Merlin repeated. "Just thought I saw someone I knew." Nathan, who had been mid-sip of his drink, raised an eyebrow. "You have friends outside of us?" ''Is he serious?'' Merlin shot him a deadpan look. Nathan grinned. "Kidding. Mostly." Elara waved a hand. "Alright, alright, if it''s nothing, let''s just enjoy the rest of our food." Merlin gave one last glance toward the street. But whoever that man was¡ªhe was long gone. ¡ª They left the cafe? after another half hour of wandering conversation. The city night was alive with artificial neon lights, transports, and the steady hum of mana-infused technology powering everything around them. The streets were still full, people moving in and out of shops, bars, and entertainment hubs. It felt normal. And yet, Merlin kept glancing over his shoulder. Just in case. Elara, walking beside him, nudged his arm. "You''re acting weird again." "I always act weird." "Yeah, but now it''s extra weird." Merlin sighed. "I told you, it''s nothing." Elara narrowed her eyes, then suddenly smirked. "Ohhh, I get it now." "...Get what?" "You were staring off into the crowd earlier." She leaned in with a grin. "Did you see someone interesting? Perhaps a girl you fancy?" Merlin gave her a blank look. "If by ''interesting'' you mean ''probably a threat,'' then sure." Elara scoffed. "Okay, mister paranoia." He didn''t bother arguing. Seraphina, walking just ahead of them, glanced back. "You don''t seem like the type to react like that over nothing. Who did you see?" ''I have no fucking idea. That''s the problem..'' Merlin hesitated. He didn''t know who the man was. That was the problem. He had read the novel before, knew every major character, every key event. But the man in the white coat wasn''t in the story. Which meant he was either a minor nobody¡ªunlikely, given the way he acted¡ªor something else entirely. "...I don''t know," Merlin admitted. Seraphina''s expression didn''t change, but she didn''t press further. Nathan stretched his arms behind his head as he walked. "Well, if it''s someone who looked at you funny, that''s their problem. You probably just scared them off with your charming personality." Merlin ignored him. Nathan grinned. "Besides, what''s the worst that could happen?" ''Do not ever say that again..'' Merlin didn''t answer as his gaze flicked to Nathan who looked away. ¡ª Merlin wasn''t entirely sure how it happened. One moment, they were walking through the streets, the conversation drifting from idle chatter to vague discussions about their next assignments. The next, Elara had latched onto his arm with a determined grip. "Come on," she whined. "We''ve been walking for a while. Let''s do something fun before we head back!" Merlin cast her a wary glance. "Define fun." Nathan, standing beside them with his hands in his pockets, smirked. "That''s never a good question." Seraphina, walking slightly ahead, didn''t even turn around. "If this is about drinking¡ª" "We can''t drink," Elara huffed. "And it''s way better than that." Merlin already had a bad feeling. Then, with a far-too-excited look, Elara turned to Nathan. "Karaoke?" Nathan chuckled. "Yeah, alright. Sounds fun." Seraphina, to no one''s surprise, sighed. "I''m not singing." Merlin crossed his arms. "Neither am I." Elara pouted. "Oh, come on, don''t be boring!" "Not being boring and actively humiliating myself are two different things," Merlin replied. Nathan nudged him. "What, scared you''ll be bad at it?" Merlin gave him a blank look. "I know I''ll be bad at it." Elara was already dragging him forward. "Great! Let''s go." ''What''s the point of even trying.'' Merlin sighed in defeat. ¡ª The karaoke lounge was a private room¡ªdim neon lighting, a plush couch, and a holo-screen displaying the song choices. Drinks and snacks were already on the table, which meant Elara had somehow arranged everything before Merlin could even think about escaping. Nathan grabbed the song selection tablet and leaned back on the couch. "Alright, who''s first?" Elara already had a mic in her hands. "Obviously me." Merlin sank into the seat, sipping his drink as the inevitable chaos unfolded. ¡ª Elara, to no one''s surprise, was actually good at singing. She picked an upbeat pop song, and by the time she hit the chorus, Nathan had jumped in, turning it into an off-key but enthusiastic duet. Seraphina, true to her word, remained seated with her arms crossed, looking as unimpressed as ever. Merlin? He sat there, quietly sipping his drink, pretending this wasn''t happening. At least, until Nathan turned to him with a wide grin. "Alright, Merlin. Your turn." Merlin didn''t even look up. "Pass." "Nope," Nathan said, handing him the mic. "Not how it works. Everyone sings at least one song." "That was never a rule." "It is now." Elara leaned in, smirking. "Are you scared?" Merlin met her gaze, deadpan. "No." "Then pick a song," she said sweetly, shoving the mic closer. Merlin exhaled sharply. "This is pointless." Nathan grinned. "That''s what makes it fun." Seraphina finally glanced at him. "Just get it over with." Merlin sighed, reached for the song tablet, and scrolled through the options. If they were going to force him into this, he might as well pick something easy. The moment he selected a song, Nathan burst out laughing. "A ballad? Seriously?" Merlin ignored him, took the mic, and started singing. And¡ªto the visible shock of everyone in the room¡ªhe was actually good. Elara''s mouth fell open. Nathan looked like he''d been personally betrayed. Even Seraphina, who had barely reacted to anything all night, looked slightly surprised. Merlin finished the last note, set the mic down, and took another sip of his drink as if nothing happened. Nathan blinked. "What the hell?" Elara stared. "Why didn''t you say you could sing?" "I didn''t know," Merlin replied simply. Seraphina shook her head. "You didn''t know? Unbelievable." Merlin shrugged. "Can we leave now?" "Nope, it''s my turn!" Nathan got up and grabbed the tablet. Chapter 46 46: Outing (3) "Wait." Seraphina''s cold voice cut through the casual atmosphere. She sat stiffly beside Elara, arms folded over her chest. "You''re going to sing?" Nathan scoffed, flipping his dark bangs with unnecessary flair. "Of course. I''ve been practicing." "That''s exactly what I''m worried about," Merlin muttered under his breath. Elara giggled beside him, clearly amused. "Oh, come on, let him have his moment." Merlin shot her a deadpan look. "Are you trying to get us all killed?" Nathan ignored them, confidently pressing the selection button. The room dimmed slightly as the karaoke machine began its countdown. 3... 2... 1... And then it began. Merlin physically flinched as Nathan''s voice exploded through the speakers, just slightly¡ªno, completely off-key. He wasn''t sure what he expected, but it wasn''t this. The sheer force of Nathan''s voice made the table vibrate slightly. Seraphina, who had looked unimpressed before, now had a single hand raised to her temple, as if fighting off an impending migraine. Elara was barely holding in her laughter, shoulders shaking violently. Merlin let out a slow exhale, pressing his fingers against his forehead. "I should''ve known." Nathan, however, was oblivious to the destruction he was causing. He was completely immersed, gripping the mic with the passion of a performer at a sold-out stadium. His voice wavered dramatically on high notes, but his confidence never faltered. Merlin exchanged a glance with Elara, who looked like she was about to burst into tears from holding back laughter. Nathan finished his song with an overdramatic flourish, gripping the mic like a performer at the peak of his career. The moment the music faded, he turned to the group expectantly, awaiting praise. The silence that followed was deafening. Merlin, seated with his arms crossed, stared at Nathan with an unreadable expression. Elara looked like she was barely holding in her laughter, while Seraphina simply rubbed her temples as if fighting off a headache. Nathan coughed. "So?" Elara smiled a little too sweetly. "You... certainly sang." Merlin sighed, pushing himself up from the couch. "Alright. We''re done here." Elara groaned. "Already?" "Yes." Seraphina, who had clearly been waiting for someone to make that decision, stood up immediately. "Finally." Nathan frowned. "You guys are acting like that was painful." Merlin gave him a look. "Because it was." Elara giggled. "Oh, don''t be mean. It was entertaining." "That''s a kind way to put it," Seraphina muttered under her breath. Nathan sighed but didn''t argue, gathering his things as they all headed for the exit. As they stepped out of the karaoke building, the cool evening air greeted them, washing away the warmth of the enclosed space. "Where to now?" Elara asked, stretching her arms. Merlin checked the time. It was getting late. "We should head back." Nathan clicked his tongue. "Boring." Seraphina crossed her arms. "We have classes tomorrow. Going back is the logical choice." Elara pouted. "You guys are no fun." Merlin ignored them, his gaze drifting across the street. The city lights flickered softly in the distance, and the streets were still lively with people going about their night. That''s when he saw him again. ''What the fuck..'' The man in the white coat..he was adjusting his glasses. Standing across the street, partially obscured by the passing crowd, his gaze was locked onto Merlin. Merlin felt something cold settle in his stomach. Then, as quickly as he had appeared, the man turned and disappeared into the moving crowd. Merlin straightened slightly, scanning the area, but the man was gone. "Merlin?" He turned back to see Elara watching him curiously. "Something wrong?" Merlin hesitated for half a second before shaking his head. "...No. Let''s go." Even as they walked away, he couldn''t shake the feeling that something had changed. The walk back to the dorms was quiet, save for the occasional comment from Elara about how the night ended too soon and Nathan complaining about how no one appreciated his musical talent. Merlin barely listened. His mind was elsewhere, replaying the image of the man in the white coat. Something about him felt... off. The way he had stared. The way he had disappeared so seamlessly into the crowd. It wasn''t normal. Merlin''s instincts weren''t screaming at him, but there was a lingering unease in the back of his mind. He made a mental note to stay alert in the coming days. Eventually, they reached the academy ntrance. Nathan let out a loud yawn, stretching his arms behind his head. "Well, this was fun." Seraphina gave him a blank look. "You call that fun?" "You have no taste." Seraphina rolled her eyes. Elara, meanwhile, was focused on her phone, tapping away with a concentrated expression. Then, as if remembering something, she gasped. "Wait, do we even have each other''s numbers?" Nathan blinked. "Huh?" "Like, for texting." Elara looked up. "We don''t, do we?" Seraphina frowned slightly. "I suppose we never exchanged them." Elara beamed. "Then let''s do it now!" Nathan shrugged. "Sure, whatever." Seraphina sighed but didn''t argue. Merlin, however, didn''t immediately react. He never really needed to exchange numbers with them. If anything, it was better to keep a certain distance¡ª "Elara, I''ll send you mine first," Nathan said, pulling out his phone. "Seraphina, yours too!" "Merlin, come on." Merlin exhaled through his nose. "Do I have to?" "Yes," Elara said without hesitation. "Not really," Seraphina muttered. "But we''re friends," Elara insisted, looking directly at Merlin. "Right?" Merlin hesitated. ''Friends...huh?'' It wasn''t like he saw them that way. They were the main cast¡ªthe ones he needed to keep alive. He wasn''t here to make attachments. He wasn''t here to¡ª "Merlin." Elara was still staring at him expectantly, her phone open in her hand as she cut her thoughts off. "...Fine." Elara grinned as if she had won a battle. Merlin reluctantly pulled out his phone, adding their contacts one by one. {Nathan Varen ¨C Shy egoist} {Seraphina Alden ¨C Rule-obsessed ice queen} {Elara Vaelith ¨C Elf who doesn''t take no for an answer} Nathan leaned over his shoulder and immediately made a face. "Dude." "What?" "You could at least put something normal." "No." Elara giggled. "What did you name me?" Merlin pocketed his phone. "Nothing important." "I wanna see!" "No." Elara pouted, but before she could protest further, Seraphina closed her own phone with a sigh. "We''re done here. I''m leaving." Nathan yawned again. "Yeah, yeah. See you guys tomorrow." Elara waved. "Night!" Merlin turned without another word, heading toward the streets. He ignored the feeling in his chest. It was just phone numbers. Nothing more. ¡ª Merlin stepped toward the curb, raising a hand to stop a taxi. Just as one slowed down, a voice sounded beside him. "I''ll come with you." Merlin turned his head, eyes narrowing. "What?" Nathan stood there, hands shoved into his pockets, his dark blue eyes calm as if what he said was completely normal. "I''ll come with you," he repeated. Merlin stared. "Why the hell would you do that?" Nathan blinked. "Why not?" Merlin sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose as a vein throbbed on his forehead. "Nathan. You''ve never been to my place before. You don''t even know where I live." Nathan shrugged. "Then this is a perfect chance to find out." ''Does he have mental damage from the simulation or some shit..?'' Merlin looked him up and down. "...You don''t even have a real reason, do you?" Nathan tilted his head, pretending to think. "I do." Merlin crossed his arms. "And?" Nathan gave the most unconvincing excuse possible. "I left something at your place." ''What.'' Merlin stared. "You''ve never been to my place." Nathan met his gaze without hesitation. "Exactly." Silence. ''Could it be he has some kind of quest to do with me?'' Merlin sighed as his eyes scanned Nathan. "That doesn''t even make sense." Nathan smirked. "Didn''t say it had to." The taxi pulled up beside them, and before Merlin could argue further, Nathan opened the door and slid inside. Merlin clenched his jaw. "Are you serious¡ª?" Nathan patted the seat next to him. "You coming or what?" Merlin exhaled slowly. ''This is unbelievable.'' With a sharp click, he opened the door and got in. "Where to?" the driver asked. Merlin shot Nathan one last glare before giving his address. The taxi pulled away from the curb, merging into the traffic. Nathan leaned back, looking completely at ease. "You have snacks at your place, right?" Merlin didn''t answer. Nathan grinned. "I''ll take that as a yes." Merlin closed his eyes, regretting every decision that led him to this moment. ¡ª The taxi ride had been mercifully quiet¡ªmostly because Merlin had refused to entertain Nathan''s comments about what kind of snacks he might have. ''Please god save me.'' When they finally arrived at the apartment complex, Merlin was the first to step out, slamming the door shut before Nathan could say anything else. Nathan followed after him, hands still in his pockets, looking completely unbothered. "Nice place." "You haven''t even seen it yet," Merlin muttered, walking toward the entrance. "Still a nice place," Nathan shot back. Merlin chose to ignore that. He pushed the door open and stepped inside the building, taking the elevator up to his floor. As soon as they reached his apartment door, he hesitated. Nathan raised an eyebrow. "You forgot your keys?" Merlin sighed and unlocked the door. "No, I just¡ª" Before he could finish, the door swung open from the inside. Victoria stood in the doorway, arms crossed. ''I''m doomed.'' Merlin blinked. "You''re home late." Victoria''s eyes flicked to Nathan. Then back to Merlin. "You brought someone home?" Her tone was somewhere between surprised and suspicious. Nathan, ever the smooth talker, smiled. "Nathaniel Varen. Nice to meet you." Victoria gave him a once-over nod before turning to Merlin. "You don''t bring people home." Merlin ran a hand through his hair. "It wasn''t my choice." Nathan nudged him. "Come on, you''re making it sound like I forced you." Merlin gave him a deadpan stare. "You did." Nathan grinned. "Exactly." Victoria sighed, stepping aside. "Well, don''t just stand there. Get inside." Merlin walked in first, slipping off his shoes. Nathan followed, looking around curiously. "Cozy," he commented. Victoria closed the door and turned to Merlin. "So? What''s the occasion?" "No occasion," Merlin said. "He just decided he was coming over." Victoria raised an eyebrow at Nathan. "And you just let him?" Nathan smirked. "He had no choice." Victoria stared at him, then turned to Merlin. "...He''s your friend?" Merlin hesitated. "I don''t know if I''d call him that." Nathan gasped dramatically. "That hurts, Merlin." Victoria ignored their back-and-forth, shaking her head. "Alright. You boys want something to eat?" Nathan lit up. "See? This is hospitality." Merlin shot him a look. "No, we''re fine." Victoria shrugged then patted Merlin''s shoulder. "Suit yourself..and we''ll continue our talk another time." ''Right...I fled..'' She smiled devilishly as she walked off, Nathan nudged Merlin again. "Your sister''s nice..but what was that about..?" Merlin sighed. "She''s too nice, and it''s not your concern." Nathan grinned. "Alright, I''ll take what I can get." Merlin sat on the couch, rubbing his temples. He already regretted letting this happen. Chapter 47 47: Sleepover The room fell into a comfortable lull, the only sounds being the occasional hum of a car passing outside and the soft ticking of the clock on the wall. Nathan, now fully settled in, draped an arm over the back of the couch, shifting slightly to face Merlin. "You know," Nathan mused, "This is the first time I''ve ever been in your space, and you haven''t tried to run away yet." Merlin didn''t look up from his phone. "Yet." Nathan chuckled. "You''re seriously allergic to social interaction, aren''t you?" Merlin didn''t respond, still scrolling through his screen with an expression so blank it was almost impressive. Nathan sighed dramatically, leaning his head back against the couch. "You should talk to people more," Nathan continued, tapping his fingers against the fabric. "I mean, I get that you''re all broody and mysterious or whatever, but I''m telling you, it''s gonna be a problem someday." Merlin finally glanced at him, his expression unreadable. "And why''s that?" Nathan grinned, as if he had been waiting for the question. "Because, my dear Merlin, one day you''re going to be stuck in a life-or-death situation, and you''ll realize you have no one to rely on." Merlin let out a quiet breath through his nose. "I don''t need anyone to rely on. I have myself and I''ll be strong enough to protect myself. I don''t drag others into my own trouble." Nathan just stared at him for a moment before shaking his head, his smile dimming slightly. "That''s a terrible way to live." ''How is that even terrible?'' Merlin didn''t argue. Nathan sighed again, stretching out his legs. "Alright, fine, I won''t lecture you. But at least let me come over sometimes. It''s not like I''m gonna wreck the place." Merlin raised a brow. "That''s debatable." Nathan laughed. "Come on, you think I''m that bad?" ''Yes, you failed at saving your own world, dumbass. You are the worst.'' Merlin just looked at him. Nathan put a hand over his heart in mock offense. "Wow. You wound me." Merlin set his phone down on the coffee table, rubbing his temple. "You talk too much." "Yeah, yeah, I''ve been told." Nathan waved a hand dismissively. "Anyway, you''re lucky I''m not one of those friends who takes things personally." "I told you. We''re not friends." Nathan gasped dramatically. "How dare you." Merlin pinched the bridge of his nose, but there was no real malice in the action. He was getting used to Nathan''s energy, for better or worse. The room fell quiet again, and for a moment, neither of them spoke. Nathan stared up at the ceiling, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. "...You know, you really are different from the others," he murmured. Merlin glanced at him. "What?" Nathan turned his head slightly, meeting Merlin''s gaze. "I don''t know. It''s hard to explain. But you feel... different." Merlin held his gaze, his expression unreadable. "That''s because I am different." Nathan snorted. "See, it''s stuff like that. Normal people don''t say things like that." ''I am different, I literally don''t belong in this world.'' Merlin leaned back, closing his eyes. "Maybe I''m just not normal." Nathan hummed in agreement. "Yeah, no argument there." Silence stretched between them again. This time, it wasn''t uncomfortable, it was something else. Merlin exhaled, rubbing his temple as Nathan stretched lazily on the couch, looking far too comfortable for someone who wasn''t even supposed to be there. "Why don''t you just go home?" Merlin asked, standing up. Nathan made no effort to move. "Ehh, it''s late." "Exactly." Nathan grinned. "Which is why I should stay the night instead of wasting money on a taxi." "Not my problem." "I mean, it kind of is, since I''m already here." Merlin sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "I don''t have a guest room." "The couch is fine." Merlin narrowed his eyes. "You planned this, didn''t you?" Nathan grinned. "I would never." Merlin stared at him, weighing his options. Kicking him out at this hour was more trouble than it was worth, and knowing Nathan, he''d probably find a way to stay regardless. "...Fine. But if you snore, I''m throwing you out the window." Nathan beamed. "Got it, got it. You''re the best, Merlin." Merlin rolled his eyes, already regretting his decision. Merlin sighed, rubbing his temple before turning away. "Suit yourself." Nathan took that as full permission and immediately sprawled out on the couch like he owned the place. He stretched his arms behind his head, grinning like a satisfied cat. "Man, your couch is actually pretty comfortable. You sure you don''t wanna trade?" ''He cannot be fucking serious.'' Merlin shot him a deadpan look. "I''d rather sleep on the floor." Nathan laughed. "Your loss." Ignoring him, Merlin turned toward the hallway. "I''ll get you a blanket. Don''t touch anything." "I''d never," Nathan said, way too quickly. Merlin didn''t trust that at all. He disappeared into his room, grabbing a spare blanket from his closet. His room was just as sparse as the rest of the apartment¡ªminimalist, with only a bed, a desk, and a single bookshelf tucked against the wall. There were no decorations, no unnecessary belongings. Nothing that hinted at personality. When he returned to the living room, Nathan had already made himself at home. His jacket was draped over the armrest, and he was casually flipping through his phone, looking completely at ease. Merlin tossed the blanket at his face. "Here." Nathan yelped, pulling it off his head with a glare. "Rude." "Then leave." Nathan grinned. "Nah." Merlin sighed and walked past him toward the kitchen. He wasn''t tired yet, so he poured himself a glass of water. Behind him, Nathan shifted on the couch. "Hey, Merlin." Merlin didn''t turn around. "What." Nathan hesitated for a second before continuing. "Do you always live like this?" Merlin took a slow sip of his water. "Like what." "I don''t know. Just... you don''t have anything personal here." Nathan waved vaguely at the room. "It feels kind of empty." Merlin placed his glass down with a quiet clink. "I don''t need anything else." Nathan studied him for a moment before exhaling. "You''re really bad at this, you know?" Merlin frowned. "At what?" "Being human." ''What the hell is he even saying?'' Merlin turned his head slightly, meeting Nathan''s gaze. Nathan wasn''t mocking him, wasn''t teasing¡ªhis expression was lighthearted, but there was something genuine beneath it. Merlin looked away. "And you''re bad at shutting up." Nathan laughed. "Yeah, yeah. I''ll shut up now." Merlin finished his drink and left the glass in the sink before heading back to his room. "Good. Go to sleep." "Night, roomie..Oh could you brung me a pillow..?" Merlin closed the door behind him without even bothering to answer. He stood there for a moment in the dim light, letting out a quiet breath. Nathan was an idiot. But for some reason, Merlin hadn''t kicked him out. He sat down on the edge of his bed, running a hand through his hair. The apartment was quiet now, save for the occasional shifting sounds from the living room where Nathan had settled in. He exhaled. He wasn''t tired. He rarely was. Instead, he pulled up his system. ''System. Training Menu.'' [Training (Daily) Currently available] [Would you like to proceed with the training? Y/N] It appeared in front of his vision, its familiar interface glowing faintly in the dark. ''Yes.'' The interface flickered for a second. Merlin frowned. That was new. Then¡ª [ERROR.] [Training Mode Unavailable.] [System Malfunction Detected.] Merlin''s fingers tightened around the edge of his bed. "...What?" He tried again, resetting the system, navigating back to the training function. [ERROR.] A cold sense of unease settled in his chest. The system had never failed him before. It was one of the few things he could rely on, one of the few advantages he had over this world''s natural order. Yet now¡ª Merlin closed his eyes, inhaling deeply. ''What the hell?'' Something was wrong. Merlin stared at the glowing error message for a few more seconds before closing the interface with a flick of his hand. ''It''s not like I can do anything..'' Whatever the problem was, he wasn''t going to solve it now. If the system was malfunctioning, it would either fix itself or he''d have to figure out an alternative later. Worrying about it wouldn''t change anything. ''Oh..the pillow.'' With a quiet sigh, he stood up and grabbed a spare pillow from his closet. He walked back into the living room, where Nathan was sprawled out on the couch, already half-asleep. "Here." Merlin tossed the pillow onto Nathan''s face. Nathan let out a muffled noise before grabbing it and glaring up at him. "You could''ve just handed it to me." Merlin ignored the complaint and turned back toward his room. "Don''t touch anything." Nathan huffed. "Yeah, yeah. Goodnight to you too, ice prince." Merlin didn''t dignify that with a response. He shut his bedroom door behind him, climbed into bed, and closed his eyes. For now, he''d sleep. Tomorrow, he''d deal with whatever was coming next. Chapter 48 48: Loss When Merlin woke, the first thing he noticed was the faint sound of something sizzling in the kitchen. His eyes flickered open, unfocused for a moment as he stared at the ceiling. Soft light filtered through the curtains, casting shifting patterns against the walls. His body ached¡ªnot from exhaustion, but from something more insidious. A tension that never truly faded, an awareness that never dulled. He exhaled, pressing a hand against his face. ''So he''s still here.'' Merlin sighed and rolled out of bed, methodically moving through his morning routine. His uniform was neatly pressed, the Star Power Academy emblem stitched cleanly onto the chest of his navy blazer. He adjusted his collar, smoothing out any imperfections before stepping into the common area. The scent of something... edible? drifted toward him. Nathan stood by the stove, sleeves rolled up, humming to himself as he flipped something in a pan. He moved with casual ease, like he belonged there. Like he had any right to make himself at home. Merlin watched for a moment before speaking. "...What are you doing?" Nathan glanced over his shoulder with an easy grin. "Making breakfast. Obviously." Merlin''s gaze flickered toward the stove, then back to Nathan. "Since when can you cook?" Nathan scoffed, dramatically placing a hand over his heart. "Excuse you, I''m not completely useless." He gestured toward the plates on the counter. "I kept it simple so I wouldn''t burn your kitchen down¡ªeggs and toast. Even you can''t complain about that." Merlin didn''t respond, but he did grab a plate. Nathan slid into the seat across from him, already digging in. "Victoria left early. Told me to remind you not to be late." Merlin took a bite of toast. "I wasn''t planning to be." Nathan smirked. "Yeah, yeah. Perfect student and all." Merlin ignored him. Breakfast passed without much conversation¡ªNathan occasionally filling the silence with half-hearted complaints about morning classes, Merlin answering in single-word responses. It was familiar. Unchanging. By the time they finished, Nathan stretched with a satisfied sigh. "Alright, ready to go?" Merlin grabbed his bag. "We''ll take a taxi." Nathan raised a brow. "What, too lazy to take the train?" Merlin didn''t acknowledge the comment, already heading toward the door. "Oi, wait for me!" Nathan scrambled after him. ¡ª The taxi ride was uneventful. The city blurred past the window, towering skyscrapers and digital billboards flickering with advertisements. The morning rush had already begun, the streets filled with pedestrians and vehicles moving in their orchestrated chaos. Nathan leaned back, watching the city roll by. "Man, I always forget how big this place is." Merlin didn''t look at him. "You live here." "Yeah, but I don''t pay attention to it," Nathan shot back. He tilted his head, expression turning vaguely thoughtful. "You ever think about how much Lunar it takes to keep a city like this running?" Merlin didn''t answer. He had thought about it before, but the mechanics of the economy weren''t his concern. His focus was elsewhere. The academy. The people within it. The story he had been thrown into. The system''s error last night still lingered in the back of his mind, an unresolved thread that tugged at him. But for now, it could wait. The taxi pulled up to Star Power Academy, and they stepped out, passing through the academy gates into the familiar energy of the campus. Students milled about in small groups, some engaged in idle conversation, others already practicing their magic in the designated training areas. Nathan stretched, adjusting his bag. "Alright, time to survive another day." Merlin didn''t respond. He just walked forward. ¡ª The academy corridors were as busy as ever, filled with students chatting, hurrying to class, or showing off their affinities in controlled bursts of magic. Nathan walked beside Merlin with an easy stride. "Applied Combat Magic first thing in the morning? Rough start." Merlin didn''t bother answering. Applied Combat Magic was one of the most important courses at the Academy¡ªone of the few that actually mattered. It wasn''t about theory. It was about survival. Real combat, real applications. The training hall was already filled with students when they arrived. The facility itself was state-of-the-art¡ªpolished floors embedded with magical circuits, reinforced walls designed to withstand high-impact spells, and an array of automated training dummies standing by. Among the gathered students, familiar faces stood out. Seraphina, standing with her usual composed air, arms crossed as she observed the others. Dorian, leaning against the far wall, crimson eyes half-lidded in disinterest. Elara, standing apart, silver hair falling perfectly into place. At the front of the room, Vivienne waited, her ever-present warm smile in place. "Alright, settle down!" she called, clapping her hands together. "I know it''s early, but that just means we get to wake up with some sparring." A few students groaned. Nathan included. Vivienne ignored them. "Before we start, let''s go over the basics again. Combat magic isn''t just about power¡ªit''s about efficiency, control, and timing. If you can''t land a hit or defend yourself, it doesn''t matter how strong you are." Her gaze swept the room before settling on Merlin. "We''ll start with basic mana reinforcement drills. Merlin, demonstrate." Merlin didn''t hesitate. He raised his arm, and silver-blue mana flared to life around him, coating his limbs in a seamless layer of reinforcement. Smooth. Controlled. No excess, no flickering. Vivienne''s eyes glinted with approval. "Good. Nathan, you too." Nathan grinned, stepping forward as his own bright azure mana wrapped around him. Vivienne turned back to the rest of the class. "See? It''s not impossible. I expect you all to reach at least this level by the end of the session." As the students partnered up, Vivienne turned back to Merlin. "You''ll be sparring with me today." Silence settled over the room. A few students exchanged glances. Nathan blinked. "Wait, what?" Seraphina raised an eyebrow. Even Dorian looked vaguely interested. Vivienne tilted her head, smiling. "It''s been a while since I''ve seen you fight seriously. I want to assess your progress firsthand." There was no real reason to refuse. Merlin simply nodded. Vivienne''s smile widened. "Good. Everyone else, continue your drills. Merlin, center stage." Nathan gave Merlin a look that said good luck, but Merlin ignored him, stepping forward. Vivienne loosened her stance, rolling her shoulders. "No affinities. Just reinforcement. Understood?" Merlin nodded. Vivienne smiled. "Begin." She vanished. ''Fast.'' Merlin barely shifted to the side before her fist grazed past him, the air bending around her strike. She was already moving again. Relentless. A kick¡ªhe blocked, but the impact rattled through his bones. He countered instantly, striking for her ribs, but she tilted¡ªjust slightly¡ªenough to slip past it. Merlin adjusted. Analyzing, adapting. But so was she. Her next attack slipped through his guard¡ªher palm striking his ribs in a precise, controlled hit. Merlin exhaled sharply but didn''t stagger. Vivienne tilted her head. "Not bad. But you''re still too rigid." Merlin didn''t respond. He had already moved. A sharp twist, a feint, then¡ªcontact. His strike landed, but Vivienne absorbed the impact effortlessly, countering before he could press the advantage. The exchange continued, a brutal back-and-forth of reinforced blows¡ªeach one precise, refined, and lethal in intent. Then¡ª Vivienne stepped in. Too close. Merlin''s eyes widened as her reinforced palm stopped just inches from his throat. Vivienne grinned. "Checkmate." The training hall was silent. Then, she stepped back, nodding. "You''ve improved. But you''re still predictable." Merlin exhaled, lowering his stance. "Alright," Vivienne said, turning to the rest of the class. "Next pair." Merlin barely heard her. He was already replaying the fight in his head. Analyzing the entire fight in his mind. The murmurs in the training hall grew louder as the tension slowly faded. Students whispered among themselves, casting sideways glances at Merlin. Some looked impressed. Others... pitying. Merlin clenched his jaw, ignoring them. His body ached. His breath came unevenly. But that wasn''t what bothered him. It was the simple, irrefutable fact¡ªhe lost. Vivienne watched him carefully, arms crossed. "You don''t fight like someone used to losing," she mused. Merlin wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, forcing himself to meet her gaze. "I didn''t lose in a while." Vivienne smirked. "Well, you just did." A few chuckles rippled through the watching students. Merlin''s fingers curled at his sides. He wasn''t used to this. He wasn''t used to failing. Nathan stepped up, hands in his pockets. "Damn, man. She wiped the floor with you." Merlin shot him a look. "I noticed." Nathan grinned. "I mean, I knew she was gonna win, but I thought you''d last a little longer." Merlin exhaled sharply. His mind was still running through the fight¡ªwhere he misstepped, where he hesitated. He hated how easily she read him. He hated how slow he felt. He hated that she barely tried. Vivienne studied him for a moment longer, then shook her head. "You''re talented. No question about that." Merlin frowned. "But?" "But," she continued, "you''re too rigid. Too controlled." He frowned deeper. "That''s a flaw?" Vivienne smirked. "It is when you rely on calculation over instinct. You''re always trying to predict your opponent, to break them down into patterns." Merlin didn''t deny it. That was how he fought. "And it works," he said. Vivienne lifted a brow. "Does it?" Merlin inhaled slowly. He knew the answer. If he had been fighting anyone else, maybe. Chapter 49 49: Watching Dieties She turned away, stretching out her arms. "We''ll work on it. Everyone is dismissed, class is over." The watching students hesitated, then began murmuring among themselves as they dispersed. Some stole glances at Merlin¡ªhalf impressed, half pitying. He ignored them. Nathan nudged him. "You alive?" Merlin let out a slow breath, straightening despite the throbbing pain in his limbs. "Unfortunately." Nathan grinned. "You sure? Because from over there, it kinda looked like you died three times." Merlin shot him a flat look. "Thanks for the support." "Hey, I''m just saying¡ªyou lasted longer than I expected. I mean, not by much, but still." Merlin sighed and pressed a hand against his side. Bruised, not broken. He''d had worse. But that didn''t matter. What mattered was the fact that he''d barely even touched her. No¡ªhe hadn''t touched her at all. The realization dug under his skin like a splinter. Elara stepped up beside them, her brow furrowed. "Are you okay?" "I''m fine." Nathan snorted. "He''s lying." Merlin ignored him. Elara hesitated. "You don''t have to push yourself this hard, you know. Losing to someone like Vivienne¡ªit''s not a failure. No one expected you to win." That was exactly the problem. Merlin clenched his fists. "I didn''t expect to win either..." Nathan''s grin faded slightly. He exchanged a glance with Elara, but neither of them said anything. Merlin turned away, already heading toward the exit. ¡ª The hallway stretched quiet before him, the distant murmurs of students fading behind as Merlin walked toward his next class¡ªRunes and Arcane Theory. ''Some peace and quiet finally.'' His ribs ached with every step, but he ignored it. The pain wasn''t important. What mattered was the lingering weight of his own inadequacy. He hadn''t just lost¡ªhe had been overwhelmed. He could still hear Vivienne''s voice in his head. ''I hesitate too much..'' Merlin clenched his jaw. He already knew that. Knowing again didn''t help. He turned a corner. The classroom wasn''t far now. And then¡ª [A being beyond mortal comprehension has taken interest in you.] ''What the fuck?'' Merlin stopped. The message hung in his vision, weightless yet suffocating. Then another appeared. [The Messenger stirs.] ''...gods didn''t appear until later in the story...and they only took interest in those that entertained them..but, there seems to be two watching me...'' His breath slowed. His surroundings remained unchanged, the hallway still empty, still quiet¡ªbut something unseen had just acknowledged him. The air felt heavier. [The god of silent endings watching.] Merlin''s fingers twitched. ''This isn''t normal.'' [The Messenger warns The god of silent endings.] ''What..?'' Merlin was flabbergasted...as the two gods seemed to be arguing? Another message flickered into existence. [The god of silent endings is displeased.] [The god of silent endings gazes at you with mild irritation.] ''Displeased?'' Then¡ª [The god of silent endings scoffs at you and The Messenger.] Merlin''s heart pounded. Before he could even process that, another message followed. [The nameless one hums in amusement.] A chill ran down his spine. Something else was watching. Something without a name. A final message appeared. [The god of silent endings withdraws.] The weight lifted. The air returned to normal. The hallway was still empty. But the feeling remained. Merlin exhaled, forcing his hands to relax. [The Messenger smiles proudly.] ''This is too much for my brain right now..'' Merlin inhaled slowly, exhaling through his nose as he forced himself to keep walking. The classroom was just ahead. A few more steps and he''d be sitting down, focusing on something tangible¡ªsomething that didn''t involve unseen deities watching his every move. ''Okay. Let''s think about this rationally. The gods didn''t take interest in people this early. In the novel, they only started paying attention after the first major arc. So why the hell are they looking at me now?'' He didn''t have an answer. But the more disturbing part wasn''t just that he was being watched¡ªit was that there were multiple entities, and they weren''t on the same side. ''The Messenger. The god of silent endings...'' His fingers curled slightly. ''One of them has already claimed me. Another was trying to interfere. And the last one... just observed. Like a spectator waiting to see what happens next.'' It wasn''t a comforting thought. [A presence lingers.] Merlin''s steps didn''t falter, but his shoulders tensed. ''...Still?'' [The Messenger hums in satisfaction.] He resisted the urge to sigh. ''So it''s still here.'' If nothing else, that confirmed one thing¡ªThe Messenger was the first to take notice of him. And whatever its intentions were, it had enough influence to drive the other god away. ''Does that mean it''s on my side? Or am I just entertainment to it?'' There was no answer. Just the quiet hum of mana in the academy halls, the faint chatter of students passing in the distance. [The Messenger watches patiently.] Merlin resisted the urge to roll his eyes. ''Great. Fantastic. That''s not ominous at all.'' At least nothing was actively trying to smite him. Yet. He finally reached the door to the classroom. Runes and Arcane Theory. A normal class. A break from whatever this was. Merlin exhaled once, schooling his expression before pushing the door open. The classroom was already half-full when Merlin stepped inside. Students sat at long, curved desks arranged in a semicircle around the front, where intricate rune diagrams were inscribed on a massive blackboard. The scent of old parchment and ink lingered in the air, mingling with the faint crackle of ambient mana. Sophia Ashford, the instructor, stood at the front with her arms crossed. She had the sharpest and prettiest brown eyes and neatly cropped hair, dressed in some kind of robe that had the academy''s marking on it. ''As pretty as ever.'' Despite her unimposing stature, her presence was enough to make students straighten in their seats. Merlin ignored the glances thrown his way as he made his way toward the back. He didn''t care what they were whispering about¡ªwhether it was the spar with Vivienne or something else entirely. He just needed to sit down and focus. Nathan, already seated, waved him over with a grin. "Oh look, the dead walk among us. How was your funeral?" Merlin dropped into the seat beside him without comment. Nathan nudged him. "C''mon, you have to admit it''s impressive that you''re still moving after that beating. Vivienne basically turned you into a training dummy." Merlin propped an elbow on the desk, resting his chin on his hand. "If you''re trying to cheer me up, it''s not working." "I''m not. I''m just stating facts." Nathan smirked. "I mean, I''d be devastated if that happened to me, but hey, I''m not you." Merlin gave him a flat look. "I''ll remember this the next time you need saving." "That''s if you can save me," Nathan shot back, grinning. Before Merlin could retort, Sophia clapped her hands, silencing the room. "Alright, settle down." The students quickly turned their attention to the front. Merlin straightened, shoving everything else to the back of his mind. Sophia gestured to the diagrams behind her. "Today, we''ll be covering advanced rune structures and their applications in arcane reinforcement. For those of you who actually read the assigned material¡ª" her eyes flicked toward a few students who immediately looked away, "¡ªyou''ll already know the fundamental differences between fixed and dynamic runes." A few students nodded. Sophia continued, tapping the board. "Fixed runes are inscribed onto surfaces, meant for long-term enchantments. Dynamic runes, on the other hand, are woven into mana itself, allowing for real-time modification." Merlin''s gaze traced the diagrams. Runes were complex, structured magic¡ªdifferent from raw spellcasting. It required precision. Sophia turned, scanning the room. "Who can tell me one of the main weaknesses of dynamic runes?" A few hands went up. ''Gods, make her not pick me..'' Sophia pointed to Elara, who sat a few seats ahead of them. Merlin exhaled relaxing in his chair. Elara answered smoothly, "They''re unstable. Because they rely on continuous mana input, they can degrade or collapse if the caster loses focus." "Correct," Sophia nodded. "That''s why dynamic runes are mostly used in short-term reinforcement rather than permanent enchantments." She paced slowly, then glanced at the class again. "Now, let''s test your comprehension. Suppose you''re in battle and need to reinforce your weapon mid-fight. Would a fixed or dynamic rune be the better choice?" Merlin knew the answer. So did Nathan, apparently, because he whispered, "A dynamic rune, obviously." Sophia''s gaze snapped toward them. "Nathaniel." Nathan immediately sat up straight, clearing his throat. "Uh. A dynamic rune, Professor." Sophia gave him a long look before sighing. "At least pretend to pay attention." Nathan grinned. "I''m always paying attention. Just in my own way." Sophia didn''t look impressed. "Right. Then you won''t have any issues demonstrating for the class, will you?" Nathan''s grin faltered. "...Wait, what?" A few students snickered. Merlin just exhaled, shaking his head. Sophia waved toward the front. "Come on. Show us a proper dynamic rune reinforcement." Nathan hesitated, then muttered, "...I should''ve kept my mouth shut." Merlin smirked slightly as Nathan dragged himself to the front, already mentally preparing for whatever disaster was about to unfold. Chapter 50 50: Rune Structures Nathan stood at the front of the class, rolling his shoulders like a man walking to his execution. He glanced back at Merlin, eyes full of silent betrayal. Merlin ignored him. Sophia tapped her fingers against her desk. "Well? We''re waiting. Demonstrate it in the air whilst using Mana. Not on paper this time." Nathan exhaled, holding out his hand. Mana flared around his fingertips as he began tracing a rune in the air¡ªhis movements quick, but slightly messy. The symbols formed in glowing streaks of blue, crackling with unstable energy. ''He''s cooked.'' Merlin could already see the issue. ''He''s going too fast. The structure isn''t stable.'' Sophia clearly saw it too, because she crossed her arms, unimpressed. Nathan gritted his teeth, finishing the last stroke. The rune hovered for a second¡ªbefore flickering violently and shattering apart with a loud snap. The force sent a sharp gust of wind through the room, scattering loose papers off desks. A few students coughed as dust was kicked up. Sophia pinched the bridge of her nose. "Nathaniel," she said, voice heavy with exhaustion. "Do you ever practice?" Nathan scratched his head. "I mean¡ªdepends on your definition of practice." "The actual definition." "...Then no." Merlin exhaled slowly. Sophia closed her eyes, visibly restraining herself. "I suppose I should be glad it didn''t explode." "That can happen?" Nathan blinked. "Wait¡ªwhy didn''t you warn me?!" Sophia ignored him. "Merlin." Merlin tensed slightly. "...Yes?" "You do it." Nathan perked up immediately. "Oh, this I gotta see." He stepped aside, grinning. "No pressure, buddy." Merlin sighed, stepping forward. He held out his hand, letting mana flow to his fingertips. ''Slow. Controlled.'' He traced the rune carefully, each stroke deliberate. The glowing lines formed in precise arcs, locking together seamlessly. Energy pulsed through the symbols, stabilizing into a smooth, steady glow. Silence. Sophia nodded approvingly. "Good. That is what a proper dynamic reinforcement looks like." Nathan let out a low whistle. "Damn. Show-off." Merlin ignored him, dispersing the rune. Sophia turned back to the class. "This is the difference between understanding theory and actually practicing it." She shot Nathan a pointed look. Nathan raised his hands in surrender. "Alright, alright, I get it." Sophia exhaled. "Moving on. Open the textbooks that are on your tables on page 143. We''ll be covering multi-layered rune arrays next." As students shuffled through their books, Nathan leaned toward Merlin, whispering, "Seriously though. How the hell are you that precise?" Merlin didn''t answer immediately. ''Because I have to be better than you.'' He glanced down at his hand, flexing his fingers. The muscle memory was there¡ªengrained deeper than it should have been. A skill he hadn''t even known he had before coming here. The weight of unseen eyes lingered at the back of his mind. But he pushed the thought away. "It''s just practice," he muttered. Nathan squinted at him. "...I feel like you''re lying." Merlin didn''t respond. ''I am..'' ¡ª The lesson dragged on, Sophia''s voice steady as she explained the intricacies of multi-layered rune arrays. Most students followed along with varying degrees of success¡ªsome nodding in understanding, others furrowing their brows as they scribbled notes. Merlin, however, barely needed to listen. ''It''s the same as in the novel.'' His fingers idly traced symbols on the desk as Sophia spoke. Runes, formulas, mana pathways¡ªit was all information he had memorized long before coming here. It was strange, in a way. This knowledge belonged to Merlin Everhart, the character, but somehow, it had settled into him as though it had always been there. A quiet sigh from beside him drew his attention. Nathan was staring at his textbook with the expression of a man being personally victimized by academia. Merlin raised an eyebrow. "Struggling?" Nathan groaned, slumping forward. "This stuff makes no sense. How am I supposed to layer runes when I can barely make a single one?" Merlin considered pointing out that this wouldn''t be a problem if Nathan actually practiced¡ªbut decided against it. Instead, he grabbed a spare piece of parchment and began sketching. "Look," he muttered, drawing out a basic two-layer formation. "You''re overcomplicating it. The key is synchronization. If the first rune is stable, the second needs to align at matching mana intervals, or else the entire structure collapses." Nathan blinked. He glanced between the diagram and Merlin. "...Okay, that actually made more sense than the last twenty minutes of lecture." Merlin didn''t bother responding. From the front of the room, Sophia''s voice cut through the murmurs. "Since we''re short on time, we''ll test your understanding directly." She scanned the class, then pointed at Merlin and Nathan. "You two. Demonstrate a two-layered array." Nathan stiffened. "Uh¡ªwhat?" Merlin sighed, already raising his hand. He formed the first rune with ease, its glow steady and refined. "Just follow my lead." Nathan hesitated, then held up his own hand. Mana flared at his fingertips. He began tracing his rune, slower this time¡ªmore careful. His movements weren''t as fluid as Merlin''s, but at the very least, the structure wasn''t immediately collapsing. Merlin adjusted his output, synchronizing their flows. The runes hovered in the air, faint arcs of energy flickering between them. The layers locked into place¡ªunsteady, but functional. Sophia nodded. "Passable." Nathan deflated in relief. "Thank the gods¡ª" The array shattered. A small burst of static crackled between them, and Nathan yelped, shaking his hand. "Ow¡ªokay, what was that?!" Sophia sighed. "Mana instability. Your control still needs work." Nathan grumbled under his breath, rubbing his fingers. "I hate runes." Merlin simply shook his head. The class continued. ¡ª By the time the lesson ended, the ache in Merlin''s ribs had dulled into a manageable throb. The pain was easy to ignore¡ªhis body would recover. What lingered, however, was something far more frustrating. ''Not enough.'' Not enough strength. Not enough speed. Not enough skill. He clenched his fists. The memory of his fight with Vivienne replayed in his mind, over and over. The sheer gap between them was suffocating. He needed to close it. No¡ªhe needed to surpass it. [The Messenger watches with amusement.] Merlin exhaled sharply. ''Not now..god damn it.'' He pushed back his chair and stood. Nathan stretched his arms, yawning. "Alright, what''s next?" Merlin didn''t answer. His mind was already elsewhere. He needed to train again. ¡ª The halls were crowded as students filtered out from their respective classes, the steady hum of conversation filling the academy corridors. Some lingered in groups, discussing lecture material or upcoming assignments. Others were already making plans for the evening. ''No more classes for today anyways.'' Merlin walked past them without pause. Nathan, keeping stride beside him, gave a lazy sigh. "So? What now? You''re not seriously going to the training hall again, are you?" Merlin didn''t answer. Nathan groaned. "You are going to the training grounds aren''t you?" Merlin still didn''t answer. Nathan muttered something under his breath before speeding up to step in front of him. "Look, I get it, alright? You got your ass handed to you¡ªbadly, might I add¡ªbut maybe take a second to breathe before running yourself into the ground?" Merlin met his gaze, unwavering. "If I have time to breathe, I have time to train." Nathan looked vaguely offended. "That''s a terrible philosophy." "Then don''t follow it." Nathan scoffed. "Trust me, I won''t." He glanced over his shoulder, noting the direction Merlin was heading. "I was going to go grab food, but I guess I''ll stick around long enough to watch you throw yourself at a training dummy for two hours." Merlin frowned. "I don''t need a babysitter." "Yeah? Well, I don''t need to care, and yet, here we are." Merlin ignored him. ¡ª The open training grounds were quieter than earlier in the day. Most students had already left, save for a few lingering figures practicing on their own, and most people used the actual training hall..not the open grounds to train. The scent of scorched mana and sweat still clung to the air, remnants of prior combat drills. Merlin made his way to an open space and exhaled. Pain still simmered beneath his ribs, but he pushed it aside. He lifted his hand, silver-blue mana flickering to life at his fingertips. Nathan crossed his arms, watching from the side. "So? What''s the plan? Punch the air really hard until you magically get better?" Merlin ignored him, shifting into stance. Nathan sighed. "Of course." Merlin focused. The fight with Vivienne had exposed too many weaknesses¡ªhesitation, lack of speed, failure to reinforce correctly against heavier strikes. He needed to break past those limits. He moved. A strike. A pivot. A reinforced step. Again. Faster. Stronger. Each motion burned into muscle memory, forcing his body to move beyond instinct. Don''t think. React. Nathan''s voice drifted in lazily. "Y''know, normal people would start with light exercises instead of immediately attempting to kill themselves." ''Does he ever shut up..? Right..he doesn''t.'' Merlin didn''t slow. Nathan watched for another few moments before exhaling. "Fine. Knock yourself out¡ªliterally, probably. I''ll just sit here and enjoy the show." Merlin kept going. Again. And again. And again. Chapter 51 51: Desperate Training The steady pulse of mana flared against his skin as he moved, each motion sharper, more precise. The training ground had mostly emptied by now, the only sounds left were the occasional clash of weapons or the hum of distant affinity work. Merlin barely registered any of it. Again. Strike. Pivot. Reinforce. Nathan, still sprawled lazily on one of the benches, exhaled dramatically. "Alright, I''ll give you ten more minutes before you either pass out or burst into flames. Maybe both." Merlin ignored him. Then¡ª "Oh, great. He''s in that mode again." Merlin stilled mid-motion. He turned to see Adrian striding toward them, golden hair slightly tousled, his usual grin in place. Nathan perked up immediately. "Finally, someone else to suffer with me." Adrian snorted, stopping beside him. "You actually sat through this?" "I was promised entertainment." Nathan looked deeply betrayed. "Instead, I got two hours of aggressive self-loathing." Adrian crossed his arms, gaze flicking toward Merlin. "How long''s he been at it?" "Since class ended." Adrian let out a low whistle. "Damn, man. You do know rest exists, right?" Merlin exhaled through his nose, rolling his shoulders. "I don''t need rest." Adrian gave him a flat look. "Yeah, see, that''s exactly what people say before they collapse and make it everyone else''s problem." Before Merlin could argue, another voice cut in. "...Is he still at it?" Liliana approached, long brown hair tied back in a loose braid, arms crossed in mild exasperation. Adrian grinned. "You just missed his fifth dramatic training montage." Nathan nodded solemnly. "Truly inspiring. I nearly cried." Liliana ignored them, turning to Merlin. "You should let the healers check your ribs before pushing yourself like this." ''Is this supposed to be a comedic show for them or something?'' "I''m fine," Merlin said automatically. Liliana arched a brow. Nathan muttered, "He''s lying." ''I''m not.'' Merlin shot him a look. Before Liliana could argue, a sharp voice cut through the air. "What are you all doing here?" They didn''t need to turn to recognize the speaker. Seraphina stood at the entrance, arms crossed, silver eyes sharp with disapproval. Nathan groaned. "Great. The fun police is here." Seraphina ignored him. Her gaze locked onto Merlin. "Training after that defeat is pointless. You couldn''t have won to begin with." Merlin met her stare without flinching. "I can handle it, and I''m aware." Adrian muttered, "Why does he keep saying that like it means anything?" Liliana sighed. "Because he''s stubborn." Seraphina exhaled sharply. "Overworking yourself won''t make you stronger. You''ll just reinforce the same mistakes while exhausted." Nathan smirked. "Wow, that almost sounded like genuine concern." Seraphina didn''t dignify that with a response. Instead, her focus remained on Merlin. "...You should stop for tonight." ''Maybe they are right.'' Merlin hesitated. His ribs ached. His movements had slowed. If he kept going like this, his form would suffer. He clenched his fists¡ªthen, finally, stepped back from his stance. Nathan threw his hands up. "A miracle! He listened to reason." Merlin ignored him, rolling his shoulders. Adrian grinned. "Alright, if we''re finally done here, who''s up for food?" Nathan perked up immediately. "Now that''s an idea I can support." Liliana sighed but nodded. "Might as well." Seraphina glanced at Merlin. "...You should eat something too." ''She''s right.'' Merlin hesitated¡ªthen relented with a short nod. Nathan clapped a hand on his shoulder. "See? Progress. Now, let''s go before you change your mind." And just like that, they turned and headed toward the exit. For the first time since the fight with Vivienne, Merlin let himself breathe. ¡ª The dining hall was filled with the low hum of conversation, the clatter of plates and cups as students gathered at long wooden tables. Soft light filtered in from the high windows, casting a warm glow over the space. Merlin walked in with the others, trailing slightly behind as they moved toward an empty table. Nathan immediately threw himself into a seat. "Alright, let''s get one thing straight¡ªI deserve something good for suffering through that training session. Someone, be a good friend and bring me food." Adrian scoffed. "Bring it yourself, you absolute gremlin." Nathan shot him a deeply offended look. "How dare you." Liliana sighed. "You can come with me. I''ll grab something for Merlin too." Merlin opened his mouth to protest, but she gave him a look that shut it down immediately. "Sit," she said simply. "You''ve done enough today." He pressed his lips together but obeyed. Liliana and Adrian headed toward the food line, leaving Nathan, Merlin, and Seraphina at the table. For a moment, silence settled between them. Then¡ª Nathan leaned forward, eyes gleaming. "So. Since we''re all here, let''s talk about the real issue at hand." Merlin frowned. "Which is?" Nathan smirked. "The fact that you got absolutely obliterated by Vivienne." Merlin stared at him. Seraphina sighed. "Must you always be like this?" "Yes," Nathan said cheerfully. Merlin exhaled through his nose, picking up the nearest napkin and throwing it at Nathan''s face. Nathan gasped as if personally offended. "Unbelievable. The violence. The lack of remorse." Seraphina looked vaguely exhausted. "Can you be serious for five minutes?" "I can." Nathan grinned. "I just choose not to." Before Seraphina could respond, Adrian and Liliana returned, setting trays of food in front of them. Liliana sat beside Seraphina, giving Merlin a pointed look. "Eat." Merlin didn''t argue. Nathan, meanwhile, was already halfway through his plate. "So. What''s next on your self-destructive training plan?" Merlin paused. He hadn''t thought that far ahead yet. Adrian leaned back, stretching. "Well, whatever it is, at least take a day before throwing yourself into another beating." Seraphina nodded. "Pushing forward without a plan will get you nowhere." Merlin tapped his fingers against the table. The fight with Vivienne had exposed too many weaknesses. If he wanted to catch up, if he wanted to stand a chance later, he needed more than just training¡ªhe needed a strategy. Something was missing. Something he had to figure out. Nathan nudged him. "You''re thinking too hard again." Merlin shook off his thoughts and picked up his fork. "...Just eat," Liliana reminded him. For now, he would. But tomorrow¡ªtomorrow, he would start training again. ¡ª The next morning came quickly. Merlin still wasn''t able to complete his daily training yesterday due to the system error. Sunlight streamed through the tall windows of the academy halls, casting long streaks of gold across the polished floors. The usual morning bustle had already begun¡ªstudents moving between classes, voices overlapping in conversation, the rhythmic tapping of boots against stone. ''Such a busy place huh.'' Merlin walked through it all without pause. His body ached faintly from yesterday''s training, but it was a familiar sort of pain¡ªone he had long since learned to ignore. More importantly, he had a plan. Nathan, who had been walking beside him, noticed the look on his face and immediately groaned. "Oh no." ''Why is he here again?'' Merlin didn''t respond. Nathan grabbed his sleeve. "No. Absolutely not. Whatever''s going through your head right now, I refuse to be part of it." Merlin pulled his arm free. "Then don''t." Nathan narrowed his eyes. "Why do I feel like I''m going to end up involved anyway?" Merlin ignored him and kept walking. Nathan let out a long-suffering sigh before catching up. "Fine. At least tell me where we''re going." "The library." Nathan stopped walking. "The¡ªwhat?" ''Is he dumb?'' "The library," Merlin repeated. Nathan stared at him like he had grown a second head. "You¡ªyou actually plan to do research?" Merlin frowned. "Why is that surprising?" "Because your usual approach to problem-solving is to punch something until it stops being a problem." Merlin didn''t deny it. "This is different." Nathan narrowed his eyes. "How different?" Merlin didn''t answer. Nathan sighed. "You''re insufferable." Merlin kept walking. A few minutes later, the grand doors of the academy library loomed before them. The air inside was cool, the scent of parchment and ink lingering beneath the quiet hum of mana-infused lamps. Shelves stretched high into the vaulted ceilings, filled with countless tomes on combat theory, mana manipulation, and historical records of past champions. Merlin strode forward without hesitation. Nathan, who had reluctantly followed him in, groaned. "Alright, what exactly are we looking for?" Merlin scanned the rows of books. "Advanced reinforcement techniques. Maybe some insights into how top-ranked duelists handle speed-based opponents." Nathan raised a brow. "So, this is about Vivienne." ''Yes and no.'' Merlin didn''t respond. Nathan smirked. "Wow. She really got to you, huh?" ''Can he just shut up?'' Merlin shot him a look before pulling a thick tome off the shelf. Nathan leaned against one of the tables, watching as Merlin flipped through pages. "Y''know, normal people would just accept that they lost, move on, and try again later." "I''m not normal." Nathan snorted. "Yeah, no shit." Silence fell between them as Merlin continued scanning the book. The pages were filled with dense diagrams, mana circuit breakdowns, and theoretical applications of reinforcement layering. Merlin frowned. The principles were solid, but something felt... lacking. Nathan, growing bored, drummed his fingers against the table. "So, when are the others getting here?" Merlin barely glanced up. "I didn''t invite them." Nathan blinked. Then¡ª "Well, that''s unfortunate, because here they come." Merlin turned just in time to see Adrian, Liliana, and Seraphina entering the library. Adrian grinned. "See? I told you he''d be here." Liliana sighed, looking resigned. "Of course he is." Seraphina, arms crossed, arched a brow. "And what exactly are you doing?" Nathan gestured dramatically. "Trying to become a nerd." Adrian whistled. "Damn. Never thought I''d see the day." Merlin ignored them, focusing on Seraphina instead. "Research." Seraphina gave him a pointed look. "On?" "Reinforcement efficiency. Combat adaptability." She studied him for a long moment, then nodded. "Good." Nathan groaned. "Don''t encourage him." Adrian pulled out a chair and sat. "Alright, if we''re doing this, might as well help. What exactly are you struggling with?" Merlin exhaled, fingers drumming against the pages. "...Speed." Liliana frowned. "Vivienne''s movements?" ''Why are they acting so concerned?'' Merlin nodded. "She''s faster than me. And not just in raw agility¡ªher reactions, her adaptability, her ability to weave in and out of my range. If I can''t keep up, I can''t win." Seraphina leaned slightly forward, her expression thoughtful. "You''re reinforcing your body, but are you reinforcing the right way?" Merlin frowned. "What do you mean?" Seraphina reached for the book, flipping a few pages. "You''re treating reinforcement as just a boost to strength and durability. But reinforcement isn''t just about force¡ªit''s about optimization. If you refine your mana flow, adjust it to reduce wasted energy, you might be able to enhance your reaction speed instead of just brute-forcing strength." Liliana nodded. "She''s right. Speed isn''t just physical. It''s perception. If you can process movements faster, even a slight delay could be enough to react in time." ''I never thought of it like that..'' Merlin''s grip tightened on the book. That¡ª That made sense. Nathan watched him, then sighed. Chapter 52 52: New Way Nathan sighed, watching the gears turn in Merlin''s head. "Great. Now he''s thinking even harder. I hate when he does that." Adrian leaned back in his chair, arms crossed. "So, what''s the plan? Are we gonna throw a bunch of books at his head until he magically understands combat better?" Merlin ignored them, flipping through the pages with renewed focus. What Seraphina and Liliana had pointed out¡ªit wasn''t something he had truly considered before. Up until now, he had been reinforcing his body instinctively, prioritizing raw durability and brute strength. But speed¡ªreaction time, perception, efficiency¡ªthose were different aspects entirely. Seraphina tapped the page. "Start here. This passage discusses using reinforcement to heighten sensory input. If you can accelerate your perception, you might not need to match her speed completely¡ªjust predict her movements fast enough to counter." ''Fantastic. The author never actually explained how these things worked in the novel.'' Merlin absorbed the information, scanning the mana flow diagrams and application breakdowns. The principles were sound. If he could apply them properly, it might give him an edge. Liliana tilted her head. "Of course, overdoing it has risks. Increasing perception too much can cause a sensory overload¡ªyour brain processes more information than it can handle, which slows you down instead." Nathan perked up. "So you''re saying if Merlin screws this up, he might just stand there drooling while someone smacks him across the face?" Liliana sighed. "Not exactly how I''d put it, but... yes." Adrian grinned. "Suddenly, I support this experiment." Merlin shot them both a flat look before returning to the book. "I won''t mess it up." Seraphina nodded, satisfied. "Good. Then test it." Nathan blinked. "Wait¡ªtest it? Right now?" Seraphina was already standing. "Why not? The training grounds are still open. If he''s serious about improving, he should see if the application works in practice." Adrian groaned. "You people are relentless." Merlin was already closing the book. "Fine." Nathan threw his hands up. "And just like that, we''re doing this. Again." Liliana gave him a sympathetic pat on the shoulder. "You knew what you signed up for." Nathan muttered something under his breath as they all stood, leaving the quiet of the library behind. ¡ª The training grounds were mostly empty this late in the evening. A few students lingered, practicing individual drills or light sparring, but the space was otherwise clear. Merlin stepped onto the floor, rolling his shoulders. His body still ached faintly from yesterday''s exertion, but it didn''t matter. Seraphina watched him critically. "Use your reinforcement the way we discussed. Don''t focus on just speed¡ªfocus on processing speed. Keep your movements efficient." Merlin exhaled, focusing inward. He had already mastered standard reinforcement¡ªnow, he needed to shift his approach. He closed his eyes. Beneath his skin, mana pulsed. ''This feeling..'' Slowly, he adjusted the flow, guiding it toward his senses instead of his muscles. Enhancing¡ªnot just his body, but his mind''s ability to register and process movement. His heartbeat steadied. When he opened his eyes again¡ª The room felt sharper. ''It''s addicting.'' Every movement in his periphery was more distinct¡ªthe way Adrian absentmindedly shifted his stance, the way Liliana adjusted her footing, the way Nathan blinked just a fraction slower than before. It was working. Seraphina tossed him a training sword. "Let''s see how well." ''This feels insane.'' Merlin caught it without looking. Adrian smirked. "Alright. Let''s see if this stops you from getting your ass kicked." Merlin adjusted his grip. "It will." Nathan leaned back against the wall. "I''m taking bets." Liliana sighed. "Of course you are." Seraphina raised her own sword. "Whenever you''re ready." Merlin exhaled¡ª And moved. The air between them tensed. Merlin''s grip on the sword tightened, his stance shifting as he exhaled. Seraphina''s expression remained calm, her blade steady in her grasp. No wasted movement. No openings. The moment his foot touched the ground, he moved. Mana surged through his veins, sharpening his reflexes, reinforcing his body. His sword cut through the air in a clean arc, aimed directly at Seraphina''s open side. She reacted instantly. Her blade flicked up in a precise parry¡ªexcept this time, Merlin was already adjusting. The second he felt resistance, he twisted his wrist, letting her deflection guide his momentum rather than stopping it. His blade curved with the motion, seamlessly flowing into a follow-up strike. Seraphina''s brow furrowed. Her footwork adjusted¡ªbarely. She stepped back, angling her blade to counter¡ª Merlin pressed forward. A sharp feint to her left. A flicker of hesitation. There. He shifted directions in an instant, cutting toward her right instead. Seraphina''s eyes widened¡ªnot much, but enough. She barely brought her sword up in time. The force of the impact sent her skidding back a step. Adrian let out a low whistle. "Oh, that''s new." Nathan leaned forward. "Did he just¡ª" Merlin didn''t let up. His strikes came faster now, each one flowing seamlessly into the next. There was no overcorrection, no hesitation. Every movement was calculated. Seraphina''s defense, once flawless, was beginning to crack. She shifted to block¡ªbut her form was just slightly off-balance. Merlin saw it. He moved in, closing the gap before she could recover. A reinforced step¡ªhis sword angling upward¡ª Seraphina twisted¡ªtoo late. The flat of Merlin''s blade pressed against her collarbone. Silence. The training hall, once filled with the rhythmic clash of blades, was suddenly still. Nathan''s mouth fell open. "No fucking way." Adrian blinked. "Huh." Liliana, watching intently, slowly smiled. Seraphina stood frozen, silver eyes locked onto his. Then, after a long moment, she exhaled and lowered her blade, her mouth twitching. "...You won..again." Merlin pulled his sword back, breath steady. His muscles burned, but he barely noticed. Nathan finally snapped out of his shock, throwing his hands up. "Alright, that''s it. I''ve seen everything. Merlin won against Seraphina again." Adrian smirked. "I mean.." Liliana shook her head. "Another win for Mr.Merlin." Seraphina studied Merlin for another second before nodding slightly. "...Your movements were more refined. Less hesitation. You''re improving...way too quickly. Like a damn monster." Nathan gasped dramatically. "Is that actual praise? From Seraphina Alden?" Seraphina shot him a look. Nathan grinned. "Don''t worry, I''ll treasure this moment forever." ''It felt way better..I could have swept the floor with her if it was just raw strength. But this technique makes me...feel amazing.'' Merlin rolled his shoulder, letting his body relax. The fight had been close¡ªcloser than he would''ve liked. But he had won. And that was what mattered. Adrian stretched. "Alright, great. We''ve had our dramatic battle moment, now can we eat?" Nathan groaned. "Please, yes." Liliana chuckled. "I''ll admit, I''m hungry too." Seraphina sheathed her sword. "...Fine." Merlin exhaled and finally relented. As they left the training hall together, he flexed his fingers, recalling the feeling of that last exchange. It was just the first step. But it was progress. ¡ª The dining hall buzzed with energy, students scattered throughout the vast space, some deep in conversation, others hunched over their plates after a long day of training. The scent of roasted meat, fresh bread, and rich stews lingered in the air. Merlin and the others stepped inside, their presence barely drawing attention at this point¡ªexcept for a few passing glances. Nathan stretched his arms over his head. "Alright, I''m calling dibs on the best food before Merlin inhales everything like a starved beast." ''So annoying.'' Merlin gave him a flat look. Adrian smirked. "You say that like you don''t eat just as much." Nathan gasped, placing a hand over his chest. "How dare you? I am a refined eater." Seraphina ignored them entirely, already heading toward the line. Liliana followed with an amused shake of her head. Merlin rolled his shoulders, feeling the dull ache of fatigue settle in. He moved toward the counter, scanning the available options. Nathan, standing beside him, nudged his arm. "So. How''s it feel?" Merlin didn''t glance at him. "How''s what feel?" Nathan grinned. "Winning." Merlin paused slightly. His grip on the tray tightened, but his expression remained unreadable. "I expected to win." Nathan raised a brow. "Oh? No satisfaction? No smug sense of accomplishment?" Merlin grabbed a bowl of stew. "If I had lost, I would''ve trained more. Since I won, I''ll train more." Nathan stared at him for a long moment before sighing heavily. "I genuinely worry for your mental health sometimes." Adrian, grabbing a plate of roasted chicken, snorted. "That''s a lost cause." Liliana appeared beside them, balancing her tray effortlessly. "Honestly, I''m just relieved he''s actually eating again." Seraphina, already seated at a nearby table, barely spared them a glance as she cut into her meal. "If he passed out from overwork, it would only waste more time." Nathan smirked. "Ah, there it is. The classic ''I''m concerned, but I refuse to say it outright.''" Seraphina shot him a withering look. Nathan grinned. "I''m sorry." Merlin ignored their bickering and sat down, pulling his plate toward him. The warmth of the stew seeped into his fingers. He took a bite¡ªsavory, rich, filling. His body, despite its exhaustion, welcomed the sustenance. Across the table, Adrian propped his chin on his hand. "So, what''s next for our resident combat maniac?" Merlin didn''t pause. "Training." Nathan groaned. "You just won, can you at least pretend to relax for five minutes?" Merlin met his gaze. "If you have time to complain, you have time to train." Nathan looked genuinely offended. "That''s my own line thrown back at me, and I don''t appreciate it." Liliana chuckled. "You walked into that one." Adrian smirked. "Look on the bright side, at least he''s consistent." Seraphina took a sip of her tea. "It''s better than complacency." Nathan sighed dramatically, stabbing his fork into his food. "Fine, fine. But if you drop dead one of these days, don''t expect me to carry your body." Adrian grinned. "I''d loot his stuff first." ''I need to get stronger...a major event is approaching.'' Merlin ignored them. His mind was already elsewhere. Reciting the events of the novel. Today had been a step forward. But he wasn''t satisfied. Not even close. Chapter 53 53: Chaos (1) The dining hall buzzed with idle conversation, silverware clinking against porcelain, laughter rising in uneven waves. It should''ve been calming. Routine. But Merlin''s shoulders remained tense. He sat quietly, spoon hovering over his soup, eyes flicking across the hall like clockwork. Nothing was out of place. Not yet. "Elara, pass the bread," Nathan said, reaching across the table with zero grace. "You have arms," she replied flatly, shoving the basket toward him. "Yeah, but yours are longer," Nathan quipped. Adrian leaned back in his chair, tossing a grape up and catching it with lazy precision. "Gods, it''s been a long week. I swear if Sophia assigns us another theory essay I''m going to fake my own death." "I''d help you forge the documentation," Liliana said without missing a beat. Seraphina sipped her tea, as expressionless as ever. "None of you would last five minutes faking anything." It should''ve been comforting¡ªthis noise, this rhythm. A slice of normalcy. But Merlin''s eyes lingered on the window. The clouds were gathering too fast. A pressure in the air he recognized. Mana hanging too still. ''It''s happening earlier than in the book.'' He lowered his spoon. "...You okay?" Elara asked, voice just low enough that only he could hear it. Merlin didn''t look at her. "Fine." "Liar." He forced a casual shrug, eyes scanning the corners of the room. Nothing yet. No cracks in the barrier. No screams. But it was close. This was the arc where everything changed. The first true loss. The moment peace shattered. He couldn''t tell them. They wouldn''t believe him. And if they did, they''d only get in the way. Or worse¡ªdraw the attention of the wrong things. The cult didn''t exist officially, not yet. But they were watching. ''If I act too early, they''ll adjust. And then I won''t know what comes next.'' "...You''re frowning again," Nathan said through a mouthful of bread. "Thinking about Vivienne? Because I can set something on fire to help you cope." "No," Merlin said. "Don''t touch anything." Adrian raised an eyebrow. "Okay, now you sound like something''s about to explode." Liliana leaned forward slightly. "Are you sure you''re alright?" He needed an excuse. Something simple. Believable. "Just... something felt off in class earlier. That''s all." He poked at his food. "I''ll figure it out." Seraphina''s silver eyes flicked toward him briefly, studying. "If you sense anything specific, report it to an instructor." "I will." He wouldn''t. Because they wouldn''t do anything in time. Because even the strongest professors were caught off guard when it happened. And because this time... it didn''t have to go that way. Merlin stood, pushing his tray aside. "I''m heading to the library." Nathan blinked. "Now? You just sat down." "I won''t be long." Elara opened her mouth, then paused, letting it go. He turned and left without another word, slipping into the quieter halls, away from the warmth of candlelight and chatter. As the door shut behind him, his expression darkened. ''Barrier breach at 3rd bell. West wing, summoning chamber. First wave¡ªcontrolled aberrants. Second wave¡ªhumanoids.'' He adjusted his pace. ''Ten hours left.'' ¡ª Light from the sconces flickered across polished floors, casting shifting shadows across his path. Merlin walked them like a ghost, each step measured. Purposeful. But he wasn''t going to the library. And he wasn''t going to intervene. Not yet. He made his way up the side stairwell that overlooked the West Wing courtyard¡ªthe same one that would be gone by morning. Glass windows stretched wide from ceiling to floor, giving him a clear vantage point of the campus grounds. He stopped there. Leaned against the cold stone wall. And waited. He folded his arms, gaze locked on the horizon where the treeline met the storm-heavy sky. The clouds were darker now. Bruised gray, with edges frayed like old fabric. Mana was already coiling at the perimeter, subtle to anyone untrained¡ªbut to him, it was obvious. Threads pulling together. Interference patterns crawling in slow arcs. ''Ten hours left,'' he reminded himself. Again. He wasn''t going to move. That was the hardest part. Because he could. Because his instincts screamed to. But this early in the timeline, a misstep would mean everything unravels. There were too many variables. If he stopped the breach now, there wouldn''t be a second chance. If they adapted their strategy, if they realized someone knew... the next target wouldn''t be the academy. It would be the city. Too many civilians. Too much chaos. Too many unknowns. So he stayed where he was, jaw tense, fingers curled slightly as he fought the urge to pace. A slow rhythm of footsteps echoed from the corridor to his right. He didn''t move. A familiar voice followed, quiet but sharp. "You''re terrible at pretending you''re not doing something suspicious." Merlin didn''t turn. "Liliana." She came up beside him, arms folded, gaze following his toward the darkened sky. "You left your tray behind. Adrian tried to eat your soup, then choked on a crouton." He didn''t smile. She glanced sideways. "You''re not actually going to the library, are you?" "...No." "Are you going to tell me what''s actually going on?" "No." Silence stretched between them, brittle as glass. Then¡ªsoftly¡ªLiliana said, "You''re scared." That made him flinch, just slightly. "I''m not¡ª" "You are," she said, her voice quiet but firm. "You''re hiding something. Something bad." Merlin stared straight ahead. "If I told you, you''d only get hurt." "I can take care of myself." "I know," he said. "But it wouldn''t matter. Not with this." Liliana didn''t speak again for a long moment. Then, without looking at him, she leaned back against the same wall and murmured, "Then I''ll wait with you." "...What?" "You don''t want to move. That''s obvious. You''re watching for something. So I''ll watch with you." He opened his mouth, then closed it again. Liliana just tilted her head back, eyes half-lidded. "Don''t ask me to leave. I won''t." Merlin exhaled through his nose. He didn''t argue. Didn''t thank her either. They just stood together in silence, the storm drawing closer. Nine hours. ¡ª Merlin watched her from the corner of his eye. Most people underestimated her. They saw the elegance, the grace, the polite smile. They didn''t see the way her shoulders squared without effort, or how she didn''t flinch from silence. How she didn''t need explanations to understand something was wrong. He didn''t know what that said about him¡ªthat she''d come here anyway. "I hate waiting," she said suddenly. He didn''t answer. "But I hate not knowing more." Still, he stayed silent. Liliana''s gaze remained out on the horizon. "Do you ever feel like we''re all chess pieces and someone else is moving the board?" Merlin blinked. Slowly. "Every day." She hummed. "You look like the kind of person who''d tip the whole board just to win." "I wouldn''t win," he said. "Just make the right sacrifices." That finally made her turn to look at him. "You say that like it doesn''t bother you." "It doesn''t matter if it does." A pause. The weight of it settled between them. "You''re colder than I thought," she murmured, not unkindly. Just honest. Merlin said nothing. She didn''t move away. From below, faint echoes of laughter from distant hallways¡ªstudents returning to their dorms. Doors shutting. Conversations fading behind walls. The Academy had no idea what was coming. And still, Merlin didn''t look away from the treeline. The edge of the forest swam in subtle distortion now. Like the air was too thick. Like the world was holding its breath. "Liliana," he said, his voice low. Even. "If something happens tonight¡ª" "It will," she said. Calm. Certain. He turned sharply, surprised. She met his eyes. "You said it without saying it. I''m not stupid." "You shouldn''t be here." "I know." And then she smiled. Just barely. The kind of smile that didn''t reach the eyes, but still felt true. "I''m still not leaving." A flicker of something twisted behind his ribs. He looked away before it showed. Eight hours. ¡ª And the first thread in the barrier began to twitch. The first twitch was nothing. A shimmer in the distance, easy to mistake for heat distortion or a poorly anchored visibility charm. The wards¡ªdesigned to cloak the Academy from uninvited eyes¡ªrippled once, then went still again. But Merlin saw it. He knew what it meant. His hands tightened behind his back. Liliana tilted her head. "Did you see that?" He nodded once. She straightened slightly. "That wasn''t... normal." "No." A long silence followed. Then the second ripple hit. Stronger. More visible this time. Like someone had taken the world and brushed oil across its surface¡ªcolors bending, light slipping sideways. A low, keening vibration hummed in the walls. Too subtle for anyone else. But to a mage, it sounded like pressure against the teeth. Liliana turned toward him. "That''s the barrier." He didn''t deny it. Her voice dropped. "What the hell is happening, Merlin?" He stared straight ahead, eyes reflecting the distortions outside. "This is the part where the world starts to fall apart," he said. Liliana blinked. "That''s not cryptic at all." "I told you not to ask." "Too late." Merlin closed his eyes for half a second. He could feel the pulse now. Magic gathering at the perimeter. Building like a pressure valve forced shut too long. Someone¡ªor something¡ªwas pushing. Testing the barrier''s seams. Around seven hours, ahead of schedule. Chapter 54 54: Chaos (2) ''Some things seem to have changed.'' They were moving faster. He muttered under his breath, "Damn it..." Liliana stepped in front of him. "What are you not telling us?" He hesitated. She narrowed her eyes. "Is it a cult or something?!" He didn''t answer. Liliana didn''t back off. "Merlin. You''re clearly planning for something, and this¡ªwhatever this is¡ªit''s not supposed to happen! This place is supposed to be secure!" His eyes snapped open. She read the answer in his silence. "Shit," she whispered. The third wave hit. This one cracked. The very air around the West Wing shuddered like glass beneath too much weight. And then came the sound¡ªbarely audible, but wrong. Like something crawling between layers of the world. The way mana snapped when summoned violently. The way a soul fractured mid-ritual. Liliana flinched. Students below in the courtyard started to look up. Confused. Uneasy. One of them shouted. Then¡ªfinally¡ªalarms. The barrier lit up in jagged lines, runes flaring across the sky like lightning caught in glass. ''It officially begun.'' Merlin didn''t move. Liliana turned toward him again, voice low and firm. "Merlin. What do we do?" He exhaled once. Cold. Sharp. "...We wait thirty seconds." "What?" "And then we run." A crash echoed across the far end of the field. The sound of wood splintering. A scream. The breach had begun. ¡ª A scream cut through the courtyard like a blade. One second, everything was still. The next¡ªshadows peeled themselves from the air. Not metaphors. Not tricks of light. Real shadows. Living things that didn''t belong to anyone, uncoiling from the cobblestones like thick, oily smoke. One of them lunged. The student who screamed went down fast, a blur of movement and shriek and blood. The alarm bell roared. The wards turned crimson. "Liliana," Merlin said flatly. "I see it," she breathed. They moved. No more waiting. No more restraint. The stairwell turned into a blur beneath their feet as they raced down, Merlin''s coat snapping at his heels, Liliana right behind. He could feel her mana flaring, a quiet hum of defensive light building between her palms. Below, chaos began to spread. ¡ª Adrian just stepped outside, tray in hand, laughing at something, when the barrier screamed. That''s the only word for it. Like a metal scream across stone. He turned on instinct¡ªand dropped the tray mid-turn. His eyes locked on the distortion ahead. Figures¡ªwrong ones¡ªwere bleeding into the world through cracks in the light. He whispered, "What the fuck is happening..." He reached for the dagger at his belt. The grin on his face was gone. ¡ª Seraphina was with Ethan still in the dining hall. By the windows. She noticed the flicker before the bell rang. Her gaze shot up from her tea to the jagged rune lines flashing across the sky. Then the scream hit as She was on her feet in a breath, chair falling back with a thud. Calm, calculating, eyes already assessing. "Ethan," she called without turning. "Get the younger students into the south wing. Now." Ethan moved with a little bit of hesitation and concern on his face. ¡ª Dorian had been walking alone through the upper corridor, far from the noise. His steps halted the moment the mana pulse hit his skin¡ªlike walking through a wall of cold oil. His red eyes narrowed. The sky cracked open. He didn''t panic. Didn''t shout. Didn''t run. He just adjusted the gloves on his hands and whispered something. A thin layer of mana formed around his boots. "Something is definitely not right," he muttered, already moving. ¡ª Elara had been in the arboretum. Alone, as usual. When the barrier ruptured, the plants screamed. Not audibly¡ªbut to her, to an elf attuned to mana flow, it was deafening. The trees bent the wrong way. The flowers shriveled. She stood still. Staring at the sky. Then she turned, pale hair trailing behind her, and sprinted without a sound. ¡ª He was the last to register it. Or maybe the first. The moment the scream hit, his fork froze halfway to his mouth. Then he looked up. The window above him warped¡ªtwisted inward like the glass itself was afraid of what was coming through. "Oh." He rose slowly. The humor drained from his face. For once, he said nothing. His hand found the runemark under his sleeve. His pulse thrummed. He ran. ¡ª Merlin and Liliana hit the bottom stair as a summoned creature tore through the west gate. Tall, lanky, limbs too long. Its skin shimmered, translucent but thick, dripping like melting glass. Liliana''s eyes widened. "Controlled?" Merlin nodded once. "Barely. They''ll lose control within the hour." "Great." He flung his hand outward, a slicing sigil carving itself midair. "We hold the west stair." Liliana''s voice was quiet. "The others¡ª?" "They''ll come, soon." Merlin said, jaw clenched. He looked to the sky¡ªcrimson now. Cracking. He muttered under his breath. ¡ª The courtyard was firelight and screaming. A flare had gone up¡ªone of the red ones. Emergency. The kind that shouldn''t even exist inside the Academy walls. Merlin didn''t think. It''s time to fight.'' He moved. His boots hit the stone steps as he sprinted from the stairwell, Liliana behind him. They burst into the courtyard just as the first aberrant broke through the mana barrier¡ªan emaciated thing, half-born from summoning smoke, eyes like wet coals, limbs stretching as if remembering how to be human. But it wasn''t. Three students stood frozen before it. First-years. No more than children. One tried to cast, fumbled the sigil. Too slow. Merlin''s voice was sharp "Move!" He didn''t wait for them to obey. Space magic surged at his heels. He vanished. Reappeared in a blink between the aberrant and the children. ''Feels better now to use my affinities.'' The rapier was already drawn. His blade met the creature''s neck with an electric crack¡ªwind pressure burst outward from the strike, knocking the stunned students backward, giving them just enough distance. "Liliana!" She was already there¡ªno words, no hesitation. Water curved around her fingers in a spinning helix. She raised her hand and drove it forward¡ª "Drown you dirty bastards." The water spear struck the aberrant''s chest, solidifying at the last second. It howled¡ªgurgling and wet¡ªthen buckled. One down. But not nearly enough. Merlin turned just in time to see the summoning gate pulse again. A second aberrant dragged itself through the smoke¡ªthis one taller. Arms too long. Mouth sewn shut. It ran. Liliana grabbed the nearest first-year and shoved them behind her. "Get to the dorms. Go!" They didn''t argue. But most weren''t moving fast enough. More portals opened¡ªthree. Cracks in the air, stitched with sickly violet mana. "Damn it," Merlin hissed. A third aberrant burst through the south wall, dragging chain-links still glowing with summoning heat. Then the others arrived. ¡ª Adrian didn''t even slow as he entered the fray. He jumped down from the second-floor ledge, landing hard enough to send dust up around him. No fancy spells. Just a longsword already crackling with his mana¡ªraw physical enhancement. He swung upward in a brutal arc and cleaved the creature at the knees. "I told you all this week was cursed!" Adrian shouted. ¡ª Ethan wasn''t yelling. He never did. He walked in slow from the east wing, eyes half-lidded. Looked at the carnage like someone watching a play he''d already seen. He didn''t smile. "Yeah, yeah. Whatever''s happening, let''s just get it over with." ¡ª Seraphina Alden arrived on the heels of a second red flare. Her silver eyes locked instantly on Merlin¡ªthen the summoning gate¡ªthen the breach points. In that order. She didn''t speak. Didn''t need to. She raised her left hand, and summoned simultaneous ice walls protecting clusters of retreating students. Perfectly precise. She met Merlin''s eyes across the courtyard. "You knew," she said coldly. Merlin just replied, "Hold the middle." She did as Merlin said. ¡ª Dorian and Elara appeared next¡ªquiet as ghosts. Dorian''s expression was unreadable. His white hair caught the wind, red eyes glowing faintly. He drew a curved dagger but didn''t strike yet¡ªwatching. Measuring. Elara walked beside him like she belonged on another plane entirely. She lifted one elegant hand, and a veil of mana drifted across her shoulders. Her earth barrier slipped between students and the south flank without a sound. "Elara!" Liliana called. Elara nodded once, curt. "I''m here." ¡ª Nathaniel came in last. He wasn''t running. Just moving fast enough to arrive. His shirt was only half tucked in, his uniform jacket flapping open, and for a second it looked like he''d just wandered in from the wrong hallway. But when his eyes landed on the chaos¡ªthe summoning smoke, the blood, the way Merlin was in front of everyone¡ªhis expression shifted. That easygoing smirk faltered. "Shit," he muttered. Then, louder. "This isn''t a drill, is it." Merlin didn''t answer. He was already moving again¡ªmana lighting up around his legs, wind magic coiling under his boots for speed. He blurred forward, his rapier flashing¡ª The next aberrant had just turned toward a group of cowering students. ''Too slow.'' Merlin struck it low, then high¡ªblade singing as lightning laced through the steel. The aberrant spasmed and collapsed. He didn''t look back. ''Every one of the main cast is here now.'' Just called out loudly. "Form a line. Get them out." The battle had only just begun. Chapter 55 55: Lamb (1) They weren''t ready. The courtyard was already stained in the ink of mana. Purple-black clouds churned overhead where the sky had split, and from the rift, they poured out¡ªlimb-stretched aberrants with too many joints and no discernible eyes. Like marionettes carved from bone. And they were fast. Merlin stood at the front of the students, rapier drawn, the tip resting against the cobbled stone. A flicker of lightning whispered across its length. The other students were still hesitating. Shaking. One girl dropped her staff. Someone screamed. ''Too slow.'' A body slammed into the ground five meters from them¡ªburned, unconscious, still breathing. "...Fuck," Nathaniel muttered, stepping up beside him. His daggers were already unsheathed, one spinning lazily between his fingers. "They''re not waiting around, are they?" Merlin didn''t answer. ''Nine of them. Five heading toward the dorms. Four here.'' ''Nathan can handle two.'' ''Liliana... one, with support.'' ''The others¡ªscared. Not their fault.'' The barrier crackled overhead, and from the far south wall, a deep boom echoed. Somewhere else, far larger monsters were being dealt with. ''That''s where the professors are.'' ''They won''t come yet.'' ''It''s just us.'' He exhaled slowly, gold eyes narrowing. "Form up." "What?" "I said form up!" Merlin''s voice cracked through the chaos like a whip. The other first-years flinched. Adrian''s head snapped up from where he was dragging a frozen student away. "Wait, are we fighting?" "No shit, we''re fighting," Nathan muttered. He gave Merlin a sideways glance. "You gonna give them the rallying speech, General Everhart?" "Shut up," Merlin replied. "Just stay alive." Nathan laughed. "There he is." ''Always laughing.'' ''Always smiling.'' ''He makes it look easy.'' The first aberrant lunged, legs bent backward like a deer, mouth gaping where a chest should be. Merlin moved. His rapier left the stone and flickered with a crack of blue. He dashed forward¡ªnot fast enough to reveal his full speed, but enough to intercept. The blade pierced the aberrant''s skull with a snap of bone. The thing twitched once and collapsed. Behind him, Liliana raised her hands, mana spinning out in a surge of water. She aimed too high. The spell struck one of the monsters in the arm instead of the head. "Liliana," Merlin said, breath even, "breathe. Focus." "I¡ªI''m trying," she replied, shaking. Another aberrant rounded on Adrian. The boy barely got his axe up in time¡ªblades met with a crash, but the impact knocked him off his feet. ''If I go there, I''ll be too exposed.'' ''If I don''t, he dies.'' Merlin''s jaw clenched. Lightning cracked from his palm¡ªhe sent a short-range burst not directly at the creature, but into the ground behind it. The resulting shockwave disoriented it for just long enough for Adrian to recover and swing. Adrian buried his axe in its neck, panting hard. "Th-Thanks!" "Don''t talk," Merlin said. From his left, a scream. Ethan and Dorian were back-to-back, blades drawn. Ethan swung wildly, more panic than precision. Dorian, by contrast, moved coldly, ice coating his daggers in jagged formations. But they were being pushed back. Nathan slid past them in a blur. "Move!" He flipped over one of the aberrants, blades flashing. His daggers carved glowing arcs through the air¡ªlightning-enhanced slashes slicing clean through bone. The creature dropped. "Hey," he called back to them, grinning. "Wanna try stabbing next time instead of flailing?" Ethan looked like he might throw up. Merlin didn''t look at them. ''Eight left.'' ''No casualties yet.'' ''But the next wave is coming.'' Behind him, Liliana gathered another spell. This one was stronger. Sharper. The water coiled like a serpent, then lunged with precision into the mouth of a shrieking aberrant. It drowned from the inside. "...Nice," Nathan muttered beside Merlin, daggers dripping. Merlin didn''t answer. He scanned the field. Students struggling. Shouting. Elara had impaled one with her spear, expression blank as ever. Seraphina was holding up a half-frozen wall of protection. They were lasting. But barely. Nathan leaned a little closer, voice low. "You''re thinking too much." ''Too much? In a situation like this?'' "I''m calculating." "You''re blaming yourself for a fight we weren''t supposed to win to begin with." Merlin''s jaw flexed. "...They''ll die," he muttered. "Unless we control this." Nathan was silent a moment. Then¡ªquietly¡ªhe said, "And if you die doing it?" Merlin didn''t answer. Because he already knew. ''It doesn''t matter.'' ''As long as they live.'' ''This world isn''t supposed to survive. But I will make it survive at all costs.'' ''Even if I have to burn myself out to rewrite the ending.'' To his left, the rift in the sky expanded. A low howl echoed across the courtyard. The second wave was arriving. Merlin raised his rapier. "Position yourselves," he ordered. Liliana turned to him, eyes wide. "How many?" "...Doesn''t matter." Nathan exhaled, cracking his neck. "This is gonna suck." Merlin nodded. "Hold the line." ''Don''t break. Don''t waver. They''re watching. All of them. And if I fail now. We don''t get a second chance.'' ¡ª The storm cracked. Not just in the sky¡ªbut across the boundary of the world. The portal widened even further. ''It''s exactly like the one in my training..'' Not smooth like a spellgate, not even jagged like a summoning rupture¡ªit was splintered. A dozen threads of mana tearing at the seams, spilling smoke and whispering voices into the world that didn''t belong. The humanoids weren''t just crawling through now. They were sprinting through the damned gate like their lives depended on it. Three at a time. Five. Too many. And behind them, something bigger moved. Merlin didn''t hesitate. He knew the moment. He''d read it a hundred times. ''Chapter 44, I remember it as clear as day.'' The breach point accelerates. The main cast is overwhelmed. Reinforcements arrive after the first death. The timeline was a stone in his gut. The logic was cruel and perfect. ''But things have changed, what if one of the main cast dies here? I won''t be able to bring them back.'' Merlin''s eyes twitched. ''If someone dies, the professors will come.'' So someone had to die. Or at least make it look like they would die. Merlin spun, slicing through a shrieking creature¡ªhis rapier catching a flicker of mana before it could lunge at Liliana''s side. She turned to shout something¡ªbut he was already backing away. Wind surged beneath his feet. A step. Then two. The world blurred. Space folded. Nathan noticed first. "Merlin. What are you¡ª?" "I''ll stop the portal. I have a plan." "What?!" Merlin didn''t answer. He stepped onto the broken flagstones ahead of the rift¡ªhis silhouette framed in the raw glow of the breach. The pressure made his ears ring. The mana density clawed at his lungs. The runes spinning inside the portal turned faster. ''It''s a partial summoning gate. No anchor. If I reverse the flow¡ª'' Another crash of lightning. A creature lunged from the tear¡ªand Merlin caught it mid-air with a twist of space and wind, folding the air around its body until it imploded into itself. He staggered slightly. Too much mana. Not enough time. "Get back!" he shouted behind him. "NO!" Liliana''s voice cracked, but it was swallowed by the wind. "You can''t¡ª!" "NOW!" He raised his hand, drawing the last threads of lightning from above, threading it with wind¡ªthen water, pulling from the ambient moisture until the very air hissed. The ground shook. Another beast tried to crawl through. He met it halfway. A single thrust. Lightning-enhanced. Piercing. Absolute. The creature screeched¡ªand fell apart into static and smoke. Then Merlin stepped forward. Into the breach. "MERLIN!" Nathan screamed. Time slowed. ''This is the best option. If I can seal it from the other side, the rebound should trigger the failsafe ward. They''ll survive. That''s all that matters.'' Mana warped around him like a second skin. He could feel space bend, the current of the leyline raging beneath his boots like a river. The breach tried to pull him apart at the edges. But he held. He kept his mind clear. Focused. ''I have to do this in order to win. In order to keep them alive.'' He saw Nathan''s expression through the swirl of smoke¡ªeyes wide, hand reaching forward. ''Don''t look back. If you look back, you won''t go.'' Merlin smiled faintly. Then vanished into the portal. The breach screamed. Lightning slammed into its core from within. And then¡ª Silence. The portal collapsed inward completely disappearing. The monsters still alive shrieked once¡ªtwitched¡ªand dropped like marionettes with cut strings. The courtyard went still. Broken stone. Scorched grass. Nathan stood frozen in place. His hand was still reaching out towards the vanished portal. "...He¡ª" Liliana''s voice shook as tears prickled at the corners of her eyes. "He went in. He went in¡ª" Nathan didn''t answer. His throat worked around nothing. His voice didn''t come out. From the walls above, a wardstone flared. And at last, the professors arrived. Too late. Too late. They were too late so Merlin had to go in and sacrifice himself in order to save them. ''I...'' Nathan''s thoughts spun as he dropped to his knees clutching his daggers. Chapter 56 56: Lamb (2) Nathan''s knees hit the stone. Everything else blurred. His chest rose and fell in shallow jerks, like his lungs weren''t convinced they were needed anymore. The portal had vanished. And so had Merlin. No trace. No trail. No backlash of failed magic or scent of burnt mana. Just a hollow wound in the air, sealed shut like he''d never been there at all. ''He really went in...'' The battlefield around him was still dripping in blood and fear, but none of it mattered now. Not the broken tiles. Not the students catching their breath. Not the way Liliana''s voice cracked into sobs beside him. He just stared at the spot where Merlin had disappeared. And waited for time to start moving again. It didn''t. Not until they arrived. Boom. Wind curled across the ruined courtyard, carrying with it a pulse of mana so thick Nathan''s skin prickled. Vivienne landed first. She didn''t make a sound, a long cloak flowing like woven dusk behind her. Her steps were gentle. Quiet. Like she didn''t want to disturb the silence. And then¡ª Crash. Reinhardt hit the stone like a hammer. Dust jumped under his boots, his broad frame tensed as his gaze swept the area with military sharpness. His sword was strapped to his back, but his aura spoke enough¡ªhe was ready to cut down whatever did this. Neither of them said anything at first. They looked at the battlefield. Then at the students. Then¡ª At the empty space. Vivienne''s eyes narrowed. "...Where is he?" Nathan blinked. "...What?" "Merlin," she said, stepping forward, voice lined with something soft. Frantic under the surface. "Where''s Merlin?" Nathan didn''t answer. Liliana did. "He¡ªhe went in. The rift¡ªhe went in and sealed it and¡ª" She stopped. The tears choked her words out like broken glass. Reinhardt didn''t react. Not outwardly. He stared at the cracked flagstones like he was trying to see through them. Vivienne inhaled once, softly. "...Of course he did." Nathan''s eyes snapped to her. "You knew he''d do something like this?" Vivienne didn''t meet his gaze. "No. But I knew he could." She stepped to the center of the field¡ªwhere Merlin had vanished¡ªand crouched. Her fingers brushed the scorched stone. "...Too clean. He reversed the polarity of the surge. Absorbed the rupture instead of disrupting it." Her voice trembled at the edge. "He didn''t just stop it. He closed it." Reinhardt folded his arms tightly across his chest. "Taught him better than that." "Did you?" Nathan asked sharply. "Because it looks like this is exactly what you trained him for." Reinhardt''s jaw twitched. He didn''t answer right away. "He said... he had a plan," Nathan said, his voice cracking as he stood. "And then he went. And none of us could stop him." Vivienne looked at him now. Fully. And in her eyes¡ªthere was nothing but grief. The kind she didn''t know how to wear. "I taught him restraint," she whispered. "And I taught him to finish the job," Reinhardt said darkly. "Damn him, I didn''t expect him to make a sacrifice like this." Nathan stepped forward. "So what now?" "What now?" Reinhardt turned toward him. "You want to throw yourself in after him?" Nathan''s fists clenched. "If I could, I would." Vivienne reached out, touching Nathan''s shoulder. Her hand was warm. Steady. "Don''t," she said gently. "You''d only be wasting what he just gave you." Nathan''s voice dropped. "I didn''t want it." Vivienne''s smile was brittle. "Neither did he." The silence stretched. Reinhardt finally exhaled, slow and deep. "We''ll sweep the battlefield. Secure the perimeter. No more creatures are coming through." "No," Nathan said. "They''re not. He made sure of that." Vivienne''s hand dropped to her side. She looked older, suddenly. Not physically. Just...tired. Nathan looked up at the sky, still dark with smoke and fading mana. ''If Merlin''s alive, he''s alone. If he''s not...'' His fingers dug into his palms. ''I won''t believe that. Not until I see it.'' He turned to the others¡ªthe bloodied students, the rattled crowd, the professors, the smoldering battlefield. And then back to the empty space in the center of it all. "Merlin Everhart is not dead," Nathan said softly. Liliana sniffled beside him. Adrian looked down at his axe, then nodded once. Even Dorian, silent as ever, said nothing to disagree. Nathan stared ahead, into nothing. And smiled faintly. ''You better be alive, you bastard. You''re not allowed to leave me with these people. You hear me? I''m going to save you!'' ¡ª Darkness pressed against his eyelids like wet cloth. Then pain. Not sharp. Not fresh. Deep. Threaded into the bones, like something had chewed through the marrow and left the rest behind to rot. Merlin opened his eyes. And saw hell. The sky above him bled red. Not sunset. Not flame. Just red¡ªraw, unfiltered, and unnatural. Like the world had been flipped inside out and this was the bleeding underside. ''Where¡ª'' The first breath burned. Too much ambient mana. Too much corruption. His lungs spasmed. He rolled to his side and dry-heaved into the black dirt. ''Not dead.Not... too alive, either.'' He blinked, slowly. The ground beneath him shimmered faintly. Not stone, not soil¡ªsomething in between. Dark, porous, like volcanic ash fused with bone. It pulsed occasionally. Faint. Like a heartbeat. He coughed once. Then twice. His left arm didn''t respond. He looked down. Dislocated shoulder. Torn sleeve. Blood dried into his skin like paint. ''Still whole. Barely.'' He pushed himself upright, knees sinking slightly into the strange earth. Around him, the terrain stretched wide¡ªcracked ridges, jagged cliffs. Massive twisted trees in the distance, their leaves glowing faintly green like they drank poison. The portal was gone. No trace. No tear in the air. No shimmer of returning mana. Just a dead silence stretching to the horizon. ''No reinforcement here, I''m on my own.'' The thought landed heavier than expected. He clenched his jaw. No time for weakness. No time for emotion. First¡ªhe needed to know how his core was looking so he tried channeling his mana..which was a bad idea. Pain took over his entire body. ''Corruption...of course.'' After that he tried analyzing his injuries. ''Left shoulder dislocated, internal bruising, blood loss...my shoulder should be back in place soon.'' He already knew where he was currently based on the surroundings and his knowledge. The demonic continent. It could be nowhere else. A pocket plane born from negative mana overflow. The worst-case scenario. The only place a rift like that could connect to. Then he looked up. ''Okay.'' His fingers twitched. "Priorities," he muttered. "Secure shelter. Stop bleeding. Evaluate local threats." A soft screech echoed in the distance. Something was hunting. ''No food. No allies. No plan.'' He smiled faintly. ''Just like always, I''m alone again.'' Remembering his past life was always a bad battle in his mind, so he tried his best to avoid it at all costs. He stood¡ªslowly, painfully¡ªresetting his shoulder with a ragged gasp. The pop echoed louder than expected. "Come on, Everhart," he whispered. "You''re not done yet." Then he turned toward the sound. And walked. Step by step, into the unknown. ¡ª The land breathed. Not like wind, or rain. Not like nature. It breathed. Low and deep and wrong. Pulsing like a stomach digesting something still alive. Merlin pressed his hand against the side of his ribs, fingers slick with blood. The shoulder throbbed from the reset¡ªhe couldn''t lift his arm yet. His legs were moving. Sort of. One foot dragging more than stepping. Still, he didn''t stop. ''Don''t stop now Merlin..If you stop, it smells you.'' The thought wasn''t metaphorical. There were things here. He hadn''t seen them. But they''d seen him. The sky above shifted like skin, and in its folds, a flicker moved. ''Thirty seconds before they send a scout. I need to find cover.'' He scanned the landscape. Charred gullies. Twisted trees. A slope up ahead¡ªhalf-collapsed rock face with a shadow beneath. ''A cave?'' He pushed forward, heart hammering in rhythm with his steps. Every movement sent pain through his ribs. Each breath scraped. The corrupted mana here wasn''t just thick¡ªit had texture, like ash dissolved in ink. Breathing it in felt like drowning sideways. ''Ten meters..'' A screech echoed behind him. High-pitched. Curious. Too curious. Merlin didn''t look back. He stumbled into the mouth of the cave, nearly hitting the jagged arch above. The temperature dropped instantly, like the cave was chewing him into its throat. He paused¡ªthen ducked further in. It wasn''t a cave. It was a burrow. Bones lined the walls. Not arranged. Just pressed. Half-embedded in the rock like something had slept so long its victims fossilized around it. The air inside was even worse than outside¡ªdead, still, and heavy. But¡ª ''Stillness is good, it means nothing is living here.'' He collapsed to one knee near the wall. Hands shaking. Mana still dripping out of him like he''d been punctured. He reached into his coat¡ªfound the folded cloth-wrapped charm buried in the inside lining. Nathan had forced it on him. "It''s a handkerchief," Nathan had said at the time, bright-eyed. "For when you get dramatic and bleed all over the courtyard again." ''...Tch, you idiot.'' He unwrapped it. Tied the least-bloody corner around his upper arm to slow the mana leak. He didn''t have healing spells¡ªnever bothered to learn. But he had control. And control meant survival. The screech came again¡ªcloser now. He pressed his back to the curved wall of the burrow, letting the shadows swallow him whole. The red light from the sky didn''t reach here. ''Good.'' Silence stretched. Then¡ª A soft skitter at the entrance. Thin legs. Multi-jointed. Just one. It crept past the threshold. Paused. Sniffed. Merlin didn''t breathe. ''If it finds me like this¡ª'' The creature let out a wet clicking sound, limbs scraping the stone. It inched forward. Merlin''s fingers curled around the base of his rapier¡ªstill sheathed. He didn''t draw. Drawing would be way too loud. But if it moved any closer¡ª The creature paused. Then it hissed. Low and confused. Sniffed again. And¡ª Turned. It backed away, limbs clicking. Out of the burrow. Then gone. Merlin waited five more minutes before exhaling. His body slumped. ''Too close, far too close.'' He tilted his head back against the wall. Red light barely reached this far. Just enough to catch the glint of something above him¡ªscratched into the rock. Not natural. A symbol. Old. And humanoid. He stared. Then smiled, thin and humorless. Chapter 57 57: Demonic continent (1) The symbol was old. Worn into the stone by hand¡ªcarved with something jagged, likely clawed. Not magic. Not ritual. It was desperate. That was the only word for it. He reached up with his working hand, fingers brushing the etched grooves. It wasn''t a rune. Just...a mark. Something left behind by someone else who didn''t want to be forgotten. Merlin leaned back. The wall was cold, and he let it press into his shoulder until the ache dulled enough to think clearly. ''Someone survived here. Or at least tried.'' He took a deep breath. ''That''s good. That means I''m not the first.'' His eyes adjusted slowly. The interior of the burrow was tight, curved, like the ribcage of a beast that had fossilized mid-collapse. The bones in the walls weren''t arranged, but some had been moved. He could tell. Scrapes in the dust, little ridges of displaced ash. They formed a ring. A camp circle. And in the center, buried beneath dust and rot¡ª Cloth. He crawled toward it, slow and deliberate. Every joint protested. His breath burned his throat. He pulled back the edge of the cloth with two fingers and found what was underneath. A satchel. Old. Leather. Dried stiff with age. He dragged it toward him, exhaling through his teeth. ''Please don''t be empty.'' He opened it. Inside¡ªdried rations, fossilized but technically edible. A cracked glass mana crystal. A mana wire. One silver coin etched in an unfamiliar script. And... a notebook. He blinked. ''No way.'' It was a journal. Thin, leather-bound, the pages curled and yellowed. He flipped to the first one. The ink was smudged, but still legible. Barely. Day 13 Still alive. Storms quieter now. Mana doesn''t scream so loud at night anymore. I miss coffee. I''d kill for coffee. He stared. And turned the page. Day 19 Saw one of the red-skins again. Tall. Too many eyes. I think it''s watching the ridge for movement. Still haven''t found a stable leyline. Power''s low. Got one arrow left. Don''t want to waste it. A chill crept into Merlin''s spine. He glanced around the burrow again. Slowly. Carefully. Day 21 Ran into another survivor. Didn''t last. He screamed too loud. Drew them in. They dragged him away in pieces. I couldn''t move. I didn''t help him. He closed the notebook. Stared at the cover. ''They died here...all alone.'' He pressed the notebook against his chest and exhaled. "...Not me," he murmured. He wouldn''t die here. Not like that. And not alone. He was going to survive. And he was going to go back. Because people were waiting for him. Nathan''s face flickered behind his eyelids. ''You better be holding the academy together. Or I''m going to come back just to stab you.'' He reached into his satchel and pulled out the mana wire. Thin, silver-threaded. He wrapped it around his wrist, then looped it to the side wall where a bit of exposed bone stuck out from the burrow wall. It wasn''t a trap. Not yet. But it would become one. If anything entered the burrow while he slept, it would pull the thread. Snap the line. Wake him up. Hopefully. ''Better than nothing.'' He finally let his body rest, leaning back against the far wall, one hand still on the satchel. His rapier, Keryx, lay beside him. Point angled slightly outward. Just in case. The wind outside howled, dragging ash and distant screams across the dead soil of the continent. He closed his eyes. ''Just need... a few hours. After that I plan. Then I need to adapt..'' And then¡ª ''Then I go home.'' ¡ª The tea had gone cold on the table. Vivienne didn''t drink it. Her fingers curled around the porcelain cup anyway, needing to hold something. Something warm. But there was no warmth left in the room. Across from her, Morgana sat with her legs crossed, one hand resting lightly against her temple. Her expression was unreadable. Not amused. Just still. Her long blue hair fell across one shoulder in smooth, deliberate waves, perfectly undisturbed. Her white eyes¡ªlike frost on glass¡ªwatched the woman sitting between them. Victoria Everhart. She looked so small in the chair. Not physically. Just... too human. Just a person with an office job. Just a sister. She hadn''t said anything since sitting down. Not after Morgana told her Merlin was gone. Vivienne hadn''t said anything either. Not really. The silence stretched. Victoria finally blinked. Once. Slowly. "...You''re joking." Her voice cracked near the end. She laughed. Not a real laugh. The kind people do when the floor has vanished beneath them. Vivienne stood. "I wish we were." "No." Victoria shook her head. "We literally talked last night..he even brought home one of his friends. That''s normal, right?" Neither woman answered. Victoria looked between them, smile faltering. "And you said... gone. What does that mean? Did he run away?" Vivienne opened her mouth. But nothing came out. So Morgana said it. Calm. Icy. "Your brother sealed a rift above the west courtyard. Alone." Victoria blinked. "...He''s a student." "Yes." "He''s just fourteen." "Yes." Vivienne finally found her voice, and it came out raw. "He did it to protect the others. They were overwhelmed. The professors hadn''t arrived. If he hadn''t¡ª" "¡ªthen people would have died," Morgana finished, like it was simple arithmetic. "He chose the option that bought time." Victoria''s eyes darted between them. Her voice pitched up. "So where is he?" Silence. "Where is he?" she repeated, louder this time. Morgana''s voice was flat. "We don''t know." "You''re the headmistress¡ª" "And your brother walked into a collapsing gate tied to an unanchored summoning spell that reversed the mana flow of a demonic leyline," Morgana said, eyes glittering like snow beneath moonlight. "He didn''t leave a note. Or a body." Victoria''s voice fell out of her. Vivienne moved, quickly¡ªkneeling beside her, hands on her arms. "Victoria¡ª" But the woman didn''t break. She didn''t cry. She just sat there. And said, almost too quietly: "...Why would he do that?" Vivienne swallowed. "Because that''s who he is." "That''s not an answer!" Morgana''s nails tapped once against the armrest. "Your brother was exceptional. Quiet. Private. He never asked for attention. But he understood things most adults would never touch. He made a choice." Vivienne glanced at her. "You''re being cold." "I''m being honest." Victoria closed her eyes. Her hands were shaking. Vivienne whispered, "We''re going to bring him back." Morgana didn''t agree. She didn''t disagree either. She stood, smoothed her coat, and walked toward the window. Outside, the barrier shimmered. Repaired. Intact. But far too late. "I''ll try to assign watchers to the leyline drift," Morgana said. "If he re-emerges, we''ll know." Vivienne nodded, still holding onto Victoria''s sleeve. Victoria whispered, "He''s all I have." Vivienne''s heart cracked. The room fell quiet again. There were no more words for this. Just waiting. And a boy no one could find. ¡ª Merlin''s eyes snapped open. The silence was too perfect. The kind that only existed when something was listening. Merlin didn''t move. For ten full seconds, he lay motionless, letting his body rest and repair itself. His pain was manageable now. His mana was already recovering at an insane speed. The corruption was still slightly present inside of him. His right hand was already wrapped around the grip of Keryx. He didn''t remember reaching for it. The tension didn''t leave him until he confirmed¡ªno movement outside the burrow. No broken mana lines. No screeches. No watchers. Then, slowly, he exhaled. Still alive. Still alone. Still here. ''That makes two wins, I guess.'' He sat up. Everything ached. His shoulder was swollen, but functional. His ribs throbbed like something was trying to crawl out through them. He took it as a good sign. ''If it hurts, I''m not dead.'' The light filtering through the burrow entrance was a dim gray-red, like the sky itself had been filtered through blood and ash. He reached for the leather satchel from yesterday. Pulled out the hardened ration. It crumbled when he bit it¡ªdry as bone and twice as bitter. Still, it kept his hands moving. ''One meal. One weapon. No map. No allies. Seems like the odd aren''t in my favor.'' His eyes drifted to the journal he''d found. He flipped to the next page. Day 25. I stopped marking days. Time doesn''t matter here. The air''s wrong. I hear things in it now. Whispers. Sometimes they say my name. Merlin tapped his fingers against the page. ''So, the corruption has a voice. Or they were just breaking.'' He closed the book. It didn''t matter. He wasn''t staying long enough to start hearing things. He needed direction. He stood carefully, brushing dust from his uniform¡ªwhat was left of it¡ªand stepped to the mouth of the burrow. The world outside was still dying. Thick black cliffs loomed in the distance, fractured and unnatural, like they''d been cracked open by something massive long ago. The air was heavy. Twisted trees whispered as they moved, despite there being no wind. To the east, a rise in the ground. Slight. Barely visible. He focused. ''Anomaly...?'' He extended his space mana. Let it glide across the distance like thread on a loom. It snagged. It felt disturbed. There was something there. Not alive. Not mana-reactive. But built. Made. Stonework? Maybe. Maybe ruins. Maybe worse. He pulled his hood up over his head and adjusted his stance. The slope wasn''t far. He could reach it before the light shifted too far into dusk. ''If I don''t do it then I''ll freeze and die here.'' He started walking. One step at a time. The corrupted mana pulsed under his boots. Alive. But the steps just felt wrong. But he kept moving anyway. ''Because people back there is waiting. Because I promised I''d change the ending.'' Chapter 58 58: Demonic continent (2) The ground crunched beneath his boots. It wasn''t stone, not really. Something between sand and bone dust. Every step left an imprint that faded too fast, like the land refused to remember him. ''Good. That means it''ll forget my scent too.'' He kept his steps light. Even. Always watching the skyline. The east ridge wasn''t far¡ªbut distance lied on this continent. Nothing stayed still. The horizon tilted. Shapes twisted under shadow. What looked like fifty meters could stretch like chewing gum if the land decided it wanted to see you suffer. ''Anchor your mana Merlin..'' He pressed his palm lightly to the ground. A flicker of wind affinity surged down through the soil¡ªa soft pulse. It came back clean. No distortion underfoot. The space was real. For now. He kept moving. Twenty minutes in, the slope finally tilted steep enough to force him into a crouch. He reached up with his good arm and grabbed the edge of a broken pillar half-buried in the soil. Not natural. Stone, carved. Edged in runes. Ruins. He exhaled, slow. ''Something lived here. Or at least died here.'' He climbed the last few meters, boots slipping slightly on the cracked slope. The ridge flattened out into a plateau¡ªsmall, no more than twenty meters wide¡ªbut carved straight into the edge was a structure. Half-buried. Crumbling. Tower base, maybe. And surrounding it¡ªtwelve spires. Each no taller than his waist. Spread in a perfect circle. Some intact, others snapped in half like broken fingers. He stepped carefully between them. Every fiber in his body screamed not to breathe too loud. This wasn''t just a ruin. This was ritual space. Old. Dead. But heavy with residue. He crouched next to one of the standing spires. Ran his fingers over the surface. The glyphs weren''t in any known language. Not elven. Not ancient script. Something older. But the mana still lived in them. Corrupted. Dormant. Like a heartbeat under stone. He squinted at the base. A long crack split the foundation¡ªand just barely, beneath the rubble¡ª Steel. Or something like it. He shoved aside the loose stone. A hatch. He stared. ''Buried. Sealed. But it''s still here. This definitely isn''t natural.'' He hesitated. Then set both hands on it and began clearing more rubble. The stone fought him. The corrupted mana pulsed with each movement, like it didn''t want the hatch disturbed. He pushed through it. Finally, the hatch came loose with a grinding pop, kicking up a plume of black dust. He coughed once. Waved it aside. Beneath the hatch¡ªstairs. Descending into the dark. He stared into it for a long moment. ''This is a terrible idea. But everything is at this point.'' Then drew Keryx, blade humming faintly with wind-static. And stepped down. The darkness swallowed him. ¡ª His boots touched metal. Not stone. Not dirt. Cold, reinforced steel. The stairwell opened into a corridor barely wider than his shoulders, walls lined with ribbed paneling that clicked faintly under his steps. Long-dead lights ran across the ceiling¡ªglass tubes filled with darkened filaments. Some were cracked. Others sparked faintly. Something had powered this once. ''But not magic. Technology.'' It was wrong. The kind of wrong that gnawed at the edges of his instincts¡ªnot demonic, not arcane. Modern. Too modern. ''This doesn''t belong here. This doesn''t belong anywhere.'' He tightened his grip on Keryx, blade held low, body angled forward. The corridor opened into a large chamber. Merlin froze at the threshold. It was a lab. Rows of desks. Glass tanks. Console screens fused to the walls. And everything covered in dust. The tanks were mostly empty¡ªexcept for the broken ones. Inside those, the remnants of fluid had congealed into black sludge, staining the steel floors like oil slicks. A faint mechanical hum buzzed overhead. Some backup power source still lived in the walls. It cast a low blue glow across the entire room. Merlin stepped in, breath slow. The air didn''t move. No corrosion on the glass. No growths. No life. Just the echo of boots on the floor. ''Not recent. But doesn''t seem ncient either.'' He moved to one of the intact tanks. Wiped the glass with his sleeve. Inside¡ªscarring on the walls. Not from damage. From claws. Something had been in here. Contained. And it had not gone quietly. He moved to the console just beside it. Flicked a light thread of mana into the screen¡ªtesting. The interface blinked. Alive. [Facility: Unknown ID] [Access Level: ERROR] [Recovery Protocol: Fragmented] [Last Entry: 11,493 Days Ago] He tapped further. [Log Entry #198] Subject 07 failed adaptive calibration. Neural corruption at 62%. Hostility levels exceeded parameters. Containment breach probable. All staff relocated to Sector Gamma. Doorways sealed. Vaults locked. Do not enter East Wing. ¡ªEnd Entry He leaned back, expression unreadable. ''Staff? Relocated?'' Merlin''s eyes didn''t move. ''Then this wasn''t demon-made. This was human. Or something close enough.'' He stepped away from the console. Past the rows of desks. Some had personal items still scattered¡ªcups, half-melted pens, a single pair of cracked glasses. Someone had left in a hurry. He approached the back wall¡ªanother door. Double-sealed. Mechanical. No mana lock. But an emergency override slot. He crouched. Fingers brushed against the card-reader port. It had melted from the inside. Not from heat. From whatever was on the other side trying to get out. ''East Wing. They said not to go there.'' He stared at it a long time. Then turned away. ''No way.'' He moved back toward the center of the lab¡ªstopping at the main desk. Something had been carved into the metal surface. Messy. Uneven. Letters, scratched in by hand. STILL ALIVE Just those words. Nothing else. No name. No date. He stared at them until the hum in the walls seemed to pulse in rhythm with his heartbeat. Then finally, he sat down at the desk and breathed. Slowly. Just once. Then again. The lab didn''t speak. Didn''t move. Didn''t help. But it didn''t kill him either. ''That''s enough. For tonight... I don''t have any idea what to do..'' He let his eyes close for a second, Keryx still in his hand, blade resting flat against the desk beside him. He would sleep here. And tomorrow¡ª He''d find out what was locked behind that melted door. ¡ª The halls were too quiet. Not empty. Just... held together by something thin. Like a layer of frost stretched over a deep lake. Ready to break. Elara didn''t speak. Her boots tapped against the tile floors with rhythmic precision, the echo soft under the artificial lights. The healing stations had been overwhelmed after the breach. First-years, second-years...everyone even staff¡ªall shuffled in with burns, broken limbs, mana trauma. She hadn''t needed healing. Not technically. No visible wounds. No broken bones. Just... a weight under the skin. Dull. Settled somewhere between her chest and throat. ''He jumped into the portal...He''s not coming back...not soon..'' She exhaled through her nose. The hallway stretched on. She turned left at the familiar corner, passed the mural near the dorm stairwell. Everything was as it had always been. And none of it felt real. Up ahead, voices drifted. Liliana''s, soft but tense. Adrian''s, more animated¡ªhis volume rising with every word. Seraphina''s, calm and clipped like always. Too calm. The dorm lounge lights were on. Warm. Inviting. She paused at the doorframe. Adrian was pacing. "They said he chose to go in. Like he knew what would happen. That''s not a choice¡ªthat''s a setup." "He didn''t expect to die," Liliana said quietly, hugging her knees on the couch. "He said he had a plan." "And we''re supposed to believe that?" "I do believe it," Seraphina said. She stood by the window, arms crossed. "He''s not dead. If anyone could survive that¡ª" "¡ªit''s Merlin," Liliana whispered. Elara stepped inside. The room went still for a moment. She moved to the empty chair by the corner and sat down without a word. Adrian sighed. "You think he''s alive?" Elara looked at him. She didn''t answer right away. "...Yes." Liliana looked up, hopeful. "You do?" Elara nodded once. "He''s... deliberate. Every action. Everything. He doesn''t act unless the outcome is already calculated." Seraphina added, "He had something planned. He must''ve." Adrian ran a hand through his hair, frustrated. "Then why didn''t he tell us?" Elara''s eyes narrowed. "Because we would have tried to stop him." No one argued. Adrian dropped into a chair with a grunt. "He''s a pain in the ass." Liliana let out a breath that was almost a laugh. "He is." "He''s also the reason any of us are still breathing," Seraphina said, her voice steady. "Let''s not forget that." Silence again. Elara stared at the wall, unfocused. ''He always watched everything. Always thinking five steps ahead.'' He wasn''t warm. He wasn''t kind. He didn''t smile unless it meant something. But he listened. And he acted. Elara remembered the way he moved when the monsters attacked¡ªsurgical. Like the world around him was already slowing down, waiting for him to choose how it ended. And then he left. Without hesitation. Without a goodbye. Something in her chest twisted. She didn''t know what to name it. Nathan hadn''t said anything since the breach. He was still in his room. No jokes. No stupid questions. No laughter. That was the part Elara hated most. The silence. The kind that Merlin would''ve cut through with something blunt and cold. They all felt it. The absence. It settled in the corners of the room like dust that wouldn''t leave. "I''m going to find him," Liliana said suddenly, sitting up straighter. Everyone looked at her. Elara tilted her head. "How?" "I don''t know yet," Liliana said. "But I''m not just going to sit here." Seraphina nodded slightly. "Agreed." Adrian stood up. "Well, count me in. Someone''s gotta bring him back just so we can yell at him." Liliana smiled weakly. Elara didn''t. She just stared forward, arms folded. ''If he''s alive. He''s waiting. And if he''s not¡ª'' No. That wasn''t possible. He was alive. He had to be. Because she wasn''t ready for a world without him in it. None of them were. Chapter 59 59: Uninvited Specimen Nathan went to Merlin and Victoria''s apartment and Victoria actually let him inside... He stood just inside the door, one hand still on the knob of Merlin''s room. The room was exactly as it had been when Nathan peeked in earlier. Bed made. Desk cleared. Curtains half-drawn. Merlin had been neat. Not because he liked order, but because it was efficient. Everything had its place. Even chaos. Nathan stepped inside and closed the door behind him. Quiet. Too quiet. He''d tried to stay in his own room. Really, he had. But every corner of it felt too loud. The silence in this room? It was the kind that curled around his bones and whispered. The kind that didn''t lie. Nathan dropped onto the bed. It didn''t bounce. Of course it didn''t. Merlin had stiff sheets. Tight corners. Like the mattress had been taught discipline. He stared at the ceiling. "You dumbass," he muttered. The ceiling didn''t reply. The last thing Merlin had said to him was Hold the line. Like they were in a war film. Like he was supposed to salute or something. Nathan hadn''t even said goodbye. Just shouted his name and ran too slow to catch him. He pressed his palms to his face. ''You always acted like you didn''t care. Like everyone else was too slow. Too loud. Too soft. But you still jumped. You still protected them. You still protected me.'' Nathan sat up slowly. Rubbed the back of his neck. Everything hurt and nothing bled. He got up and crossed the room. His hand hovered above the desk drawer. He didn''t open it. He couldn''t bring himself to. He sat in Merlin''s chair and folded forward, arms on the desk. Just breathing. Just waiting. Like if he was quiet enough, maybe Merlin would come back. Maybe the door would open and he''d walk in, say something sarcastic, and tell Nathan to get out of his chair. Nothing happened. Time passed anyway. And Nathan left. He couldn''t just stay still whilst his friends was disappearing somewhere. ¡ª Nathan decided to make his way towards Elara''s room in the dormitory. The hallway curved gently to the right, past the stairwell and the training lounge. Elara''s door was three rooms down, fifth on the left. He stopped in front of it. Exhaled. Then knocked once. No answer. Of course. He knocked again, louder. Still no response. Nathan frowned and reached down, testing the handle. Unlocked. He pushed the door open. "Elara¡ª?" She was sitting on the floor, back against her bed, long silver hair unbound and trailing down over her shoulders. Her knees were drawn to her chest. Her spear leaned in the corner, untouched. The room was silent. Not in a peaceful way. The kind of silence you only got after the crying had already stopped. Nathan stepped inside. "You always leave your door unlocked for handsome guests?" he said gently. Elara didn''t move. Didn''t look at him. He took that as permission and sat down across from her, legs stretched out, head against the wall. They didn''t speak for a while. The quiet between them wasn''t awkward. It was honest. Finally, Elara asked, "Did you search around his place?" Nathan shook his head. "Didn''t want to find anything." "You might''ve." "Yeah." He exhaled. "Still didn''t want to." Another pause. Then she said, "They think we should wait." "The professors?" She nodded once. "Vivienne. Morgana. Everyone." Nathan rolled his eyes. "Of course they do." "They probably think he''s already dead." Nathan didn''t answer. He didn''t have to. Elara turned her head slightly, just enough to look at him. "You don''t." He snorted. "You don''t either." "No." "Then that makes two of us." A pause. Then she added, voice low: "Liliana wants to start planning. Adrian too." Nathan let his head fall back against the wall. "Figures. That dumbass would probably run into another portal just to prove a point." "She wouldn''t be alone." Nathan tilted his head. "You going too?" Elara looked back at the wall. "If it was you," she said quietly, "he''d go." Nathan was quiet a long time. ''He didn''t hesitate. Didn''t ask for help. Just made the decision for all of us.'' "I hate him for this," Nathan muttered. "Just a little." Elara didn''t disagree. They both sat in silence a while longer. Finally, Nathan stood. "Get dressed properly." Elara blinked. "Why?" "Because if we''re doing this¡ªfinding him, planning it, whatever¡ªwe need to make a proper plan with the others." He offered a hand. She stared at it. Then, slowly, she took it. He pulled her up, steadying her with one hand on her elbow. "I don''t know where he is," Nathan said. "I don''t even know where to start." "Doesn''t matter," Elara replied, brushing her hair behind her ear. Nathan grinned faintly. "That''s the spirit." They left the room together. With this the whole group had made a decision. And none of them were going to let him stay missing. ¡ª He didn''t sleep. He tried. But something in the walls hummed too loud. Not in volume¡ªjust in rhythm. Off-beat. Wrong. Like the place was breathing, and it had hiccups it didn''t want to explain. So Merlin sat. Back against the console. Keryx resting across his knees. Eyes open. Hours passed like frost forming on glass¡ªslow, fragile, and useless. When the lights finally dimmed further¡ªsome automated sleep cycle built into the lab¡ªhe stood. The vault door waited. Still melted. Still sealed. Still humming. ''Energy still alive. Meaning something still in there is functioning.'' He moved slowly. Not out of fear. Out of caution. Because fear came from not knowing. And he knew too much to be afraid. His fingers skimmed along the warped frame. The override slot had melted inward, like someone overloaded the internal circuits on purpose. A failsafe, probably. The emergency shut. ''Then how is the power still running?'' He traced the door''s edge with a wind-imbued fingertip, careful not to trigger a spark. The mana traces across the frame pulsed in response. Still reactive. Still connected. He closed his eyes. Reached inward. Let wind, lightning, and space spiral together¡ªnot for combat. But to read. To dissect the flow of mana¡ªnot as an attack, but as a language. The door didn''t resist. It whispered. Static filled his ears. Not sound. More like... feedback. Thought-form. A memory echoing off steel. Don''t let them open it. Don''t let them open it. Don''t let¡ª Merlin stepped back. His chest rose and fell¡ªonce, sharply. ''It''s not locked. It''s more like guarding something.'' The logic was simple. Something had been locked behind here not to trap it. But to stop it from being used. That didn''t stop him. He set one hand flat against the center of the vault. Focused. A pulse of space-cutting energy surged forward¡ªdisengaging melted joints without tripping the lock. The door groaned. Then hissed. And slowly¡ª It opened. Beyond it¡ªdarkness. Not the kind that waited. The kind that remembered. ''...I''m not even going to jinx it at this point.'' He stepped inside with a sigh. ¡ª The East Wing was not a lab, or at least it didn''t seem like one. It was more of a preservation chamber. Rows of cryogenic pods lined the walls¡ªdozens of them. Some shattered. Some flickering. Others intact. ''Holy shit.'' Inside the intact ones¡ªshapes. Humanoid creatures. One with horns. Another with feathers instead of hair. A third with wires embedded in its spine. All of them sleeping. All of them were alive. He stepped closer to one. The nearest pod''s display flickered erratically. Subject 03: Containment Stable Status: Biotype Unregistered Override Access: Restricted Last Neural Pulse Detected: 77 Hours Ago His pulse ticked upward slightly. ''They''re not dead. They''re dreaming. Or worse¡ªwaiting.'' He backed up slowly. Whatever this place had been, it wasn''t just a lab. It was like a vault. A vault of weapons. Deadly weapons. And someone had wanted them kept here. Indefinitely. He turned to leave. The door was still open. Still waiting. And he realized then¡ª He wasn''t the first to come in here. ''The hell?'' One pod near the far end had been opened from the inside. And it was empty. ¡ª He moved toward the empty pod. Not fast. Each step was deliberate, measured. The kind of movement that made no noise. [Don''t wake whatever the silence is hiding.] The door to the pod had been forced open¡ªhinges buckled, not disengaged. There were drag marks on the floor. Subtle. Like something had crawled out. Or been dragged out. But no blood. No mana distortion. It was just an absolute absence. ''Whoever¡ªor whatever¡ªit was, they knew how to leave no trace.'' He crouched beside the interface. Tapped once. The screen sparked. Barely functional. Subject 00 ¡ª Classification: Denied Name: [REDACTED] Status: Offline Last Movement Logged: 3 Days Ago Three days. He''d only been here one night. That meant it escaped before he arrived. But the facility hadn''t looked disturbed. And the other doors had remained sealed. So where did it go? ''Is it still inside?'' That was the only answer. Not above. Not through the breach. Still here. Somewhere in the deeper tunnels. Watching. Perhaps waiting for something. Merlin stood slowly, hand drifting toward the hilt of Keryx. Then¡ª A noise. It was faint. Too faint. But he heard it. The low scrape of something metallic dragging across tile. Not far. Down one of the dark auxiliary corridors branching off the East Wing. Merlin turned his head just slightly. Didn''t move his feet. Didn''t even breathe. No, he couldn''t. The sound came again. Closer. Scrape. A sudden stop. Then it continued. Scrape. The shadows pulsed slightly¡ªjust at the edge of his vision. He lifted his blade. Lightning hummed at the tip. ''Whatever''s down here it definitely isn''t here to make friends with me.'' His arms tensed. ''And it''s not asleep.'' Then¡ª From behind him¡ª A voice. Right behind his shoulder. He couldn''t even feel the presence until he heard the voice. It was soft, feminine. It felt completely wrong. "You''re not supposed to be here, you know." Chapter 60 60: Preparations (1) Elara''s room was too quiet. Nathan had never noticed before. Not really. But now, standing in the doorway with his hands shoved in his pockets, he realized just how silent it was inside. No music. No ventilation hum. No clutter. Just stillness. Neatly folded sheets. A desk with papers stacked in perfect symmetry. Her spear, leaned against the wall like a permanent shadow. He stepped in and said, "Okay, this is definitely where people go to die emotionally." Elara didn''t answer right away. She sat on the edge of her bed, arms crossed, back straight. Hair silver like frost and eyes even colder. Except... not really. Nathan could see it. The crack beneath the ice. "You said Liliana and Adrian are in," he said, keeping his tone light as he sat across from her. "That makes four." Elara nodded once. "I didn''t ask Ethan or Seraphina." "Yeah," he muttered, "I can''t decide if they''d join us or turn us in." "Elara," he said after a pause, "are we really doing this?" She looked up. That alone gave him his answer. Still¡ªhe needed to say it out loud. "We''re planning to sneak out of one of the most secure magical academies in the city, use a bunch of first-year level gear, and track down a guy who jumped into a dimensional rift that no one can even see anymore." "Yes." Nathan exhaled. "Great. Perfect. I''m on board. Just wanted to confirm the level of insanity before we started." He leaned back in the chair, staring at the ceiling. "I don''t know where to start." "You don''t have to," Elara said. "We will." Nathan let that sit for a moment. "I keep thinking about that last moment," he murmured. "He didn''t look back." Elara didn''t respond. "He always looked ahead. Even when it pissed everyone off. Even when the rest of us were still figuring out which way to hold our weapons, he already knew what came after the fight." Elara lowered her gaze. "He didn''t trust us to follow." "Yeah," Nathan said quietly. "But he also didn''t want us to die." He looked at her. "Do you think he planned to survive?" She didn''t answer. But her silence said everything. ¡ª They regrouped that night. The common room was quiet¡ªcurfew hour drawing close, the dorms dimmed. Liliana sat cross-legged on the floor, fingers tracing invisible patterns in the carpet. Adrian leaned against the wall, arms crossed but visibly fidgeting. Seraphina sat in the corner, book closed on her lap, gaze unreadable. "I figured we were doing this," she said without preamble. "You wouldn''t have dragged me here otherwise." Nathan gave her a half-smile. "Didn''t even need to blackmail you." "I considered getting you arrested for this," she replied dryly. "Still might." "Wouldn''t be our worst first-year memory," Adrian muttered. "Okay," Nathan said, straightening, "so here''s what we know. The rift is closed. The professors won''t say a thing. No funeral, no announcement. Which means either they don''t know where he is..." "Or they do," Liliana whispered, "and they''re hiding it." Nathan''s throat tightened. "Right." He glanced around. "I''m not pretending I have a map. I don''t. But we have to assume he''s alive. Because if he wasn''t..." he stopped. No one said anything. Nathan looked down at his hands. "I don''t want to just move on." The words were soft. Softer than he meant them to be. But honest. He looked up again. "I know he was cold. And difficult. And sometimes made me want to throw him out a window." A pause. "But he still saved all of us." Elara''s arms were folded across her chest, her back straight, but her eyes never left Nathan''s. Liliana wiped her cheek quickly. "He didn''t even say goodbye." "He didn''t think he''d need to," Adrian said, voice low. "He thought he''d be back." Nathan nodded slowly. "Then we''ll bring him back." It wasn''t a plan. Not really. But it was a start. ¡ª That night, he couldn''t sleep. He lay in his bed, staring up at the ceiling, one hand behind his head, the other resting on his chest like he was trying to keep his heart from cracking open. ''He didn''t look back.'' ''He always hated dramatics. Hated speeches. Hated attention.'' ''But he still jumped.'' Nathan had spent his whole life trying not to be the center of things. He was background noise. Comic relief. The support character with a one-liner for every crisis. He wasn''t supposed to lead anything. But now? Now there was a hole in the group where Merlin used to stand. And it wasn''t shrinking. Nathan sat up in bed. Outside, the city glowed in soft blues and yellows¡ªlunar signs blinking across the skyline. Traffic. Haze. Magical rails gliding by in the distance like veins of light. He missed him. Not that he''d say it out loud. But he missed him. And he was going to find him. Even if it meant tearing through every restricted archive in Star Power Academy. Even if it meant breaking rules. Even if it meant finding a way through a broken portal that wasn''t supposed to exist anymore. Even if it meant becoming the kind of person who could lead others there. He rubbed his eyes, then grabbed his jacket and left the room. He wasn''t sure what tomorrow would look like. But it wasn''t going to be quiet. And it wasn''t going to be a world without Merlin. Not if Nathan had anything to say about it. ¡ª The common room was dimly lit, the soft hum of the academy''s energy systems providing a constant background noise. Nathan sat at the center table, surrounded by Elara, Liliana, Adrian, and Seraphina. Maps, notes, and magical artifacts were spread out before them. "We need to be smart about this," Nathan began, his voice steady. "The professors won''t help us, and the rift is closed. But Merlin is out there, and we''re going to find him." Elara nodded, her eyes scanning the materials on the table. "We should start by researching any records of similar rifts. There might be clues in the restricted section of the library." Liliana leaned forward, her fingers tracing a path on the map. "I can try to access the library''s archives. I have a few connections that might help us get in unnoticed." Adrian crossed his arms, his brow furrowed. "We''ll need supplies. If we''re going to venture into unknown territory, we have to be prepared for anything." Seraphina, silent until now, spoke up. "I can help with that. I have some contacts who can provide us with what we need, no questions asked." Nathan looked around at his friends, their determination evident. "Alright, let''s divide the tasks. Elara and Liliana, focus on the research. Adrian and Seraphina, handle the supplies. I''ll coordinate and keep an eye out for any changes in the academy''s routines that could affect our plans." The group nodded in agreement, each member understanding their role. They knew the risks, but their resolve was unwavering. As they began to gather their materials and prepare for the tasks ahead, Nathan felt a renewed sense of purpose. They were no longer just students; they were a team, united by a common goal. "Let''s bring Merlin back," Nathan said, his voice firm. The others echoed his sentiment, their voices blending into a chorus of determination. With their plan set, the group dispersed to begin their preparations, each step bringing them closer to their goal. ¡ª The academy didn''t slow down. Even after everything. Classes resumed. Assignments were handed out. Students gossiped about the breach like it had already passed into history. Merlin''s name wasn''t spoken. Not in lectures. Not in halls. Not even in the official report. As if he''d never existed. But the group remembered. And they moved. Elara and Liliana were aiming for something. The restricted section of the library wasn''t locked, well, not exactly. It was monitored. With enough subtlety to make most students think twice. Runes scrawled across doorframes. Enchantments that flared when unauthorized access was attempted. Librarians that moved like ghosts, appearing exactly when you didn''t want them to. Elara and Liliana didn''t speak as they approached the double doors. Elara tapped the runic overlay with her knuckle. Liliana leaned closer, breath fogging against the glass. "We''ll need two layers. One to mask our presence. One to scramble the runes." Elara pulled a thin charm from her coat¡ªwoven silver threads looped around an opal bead. "Give me ten seconds." She pressed it to the ward. A low hum filled the corridor. Then silence. The lock shimmered¡ªonce¡ªthen faded. The door clicked open. Liliana gave a small, proud smile. "Nice." They slipped inside. The archive air was dry and heavy, filled with the scent of dust and mana-soaked parchment. Rows of tomes stretched into the shadows, far too many for even an advanced curriculum. Elara scanned the spines. "Rift studies. Leyline distortions. Sealing arts." Liliana added, "Dimensional bleed. Riftwalkers. Transplanar anomalies." They split. Neither spoke for almost twenty minutes. Then¡ª "Found something," Elara called, voice low. Liliana crossed the aisle. The book was ancient. Frayed. The cover read: Containment Protocols: East Wing Archive ¨C Internal Use Only. It had been stamped with a date nearly two decades old. Liliana''s smile faltered. Elara met her gaze. "This isn''t about normal rifts." "No," Liliana agreed softly. "This is about what happens after." They opened the book. And started reading. ¡ª Seraphina wasn''t used to sneaking. She followed rules. Protocols. Order. So the fact that she was actively forging instructor clearance to access the alchemical vault made her want to grind her teeth. Adrian, on the other hand, seemed way too comfortable. "I''m not saying I''ve done this before," he said as he pried open the storage unit''s second lock, "but hypothetically, if someone had, they''d say the explosives are usually kept under the frost runes." Seraphina raised a brow. "We''re not taking explosives." "Right, right," Adrian muttered. "Just, you know. Medium-level alchemical force multipliers. In tiny vials." She sighed and set the portable storage sigil on the table, expanding it with a flick of her wrist. Inside, rations, minor-grade healing salves, a signal flare, rope, enchanted thread, two smoke grenades, and a flask of anti-possession ward water. "Everything packed," she said. Adrian leaned on the edge of the table. "You ever think we''re in over our heads?" "No," Seraphina said without hesitation. He blinked. "Huh." "I think we were always in over our heads," she added. "We''re just admitting it now." "...That''s surprisingly inspiring." "I wasn''t trying to be." Adrian chuckled and clapped her on the shoulder. "Let''s get this to Nathan." ¡ª Nathan wasn''t used to waiting. He talked. He moved. He deflected. His whole personality revolved around keeping things in motion. But now? Now he was still. He sat on the rooftop of the East Dorm building, legs dangling over the edge, wind whipping his hair across his eyes. Below, the academy looked normal. Too normal. ''They forgot you already, Merlin.'' He frowned. Picked at the edge of his sleeve. He still hadn''t deleted Merlin''s number from his phone. Nathan smiled faintly. "I know you''re alive." He pulled his hood tighter. And waited for the others. ¡ª The common room was empty when they reconvened. Elara laid out the book on the central table. Liliana added a second she''d swiped from a nearby shelf. Seraphina passed out supplies in careful stacks, and Adrian tossed everyone a ration bar with a grin. Nathan leaned over the documents. "Anything on Merlin?" Elara shook her head. "No. But this..." She tapped a specific diagram. "...This is the structure of the portal that appeared." Nathan leaned in. The shape wasn''t smooth or circular like most spellgates. It was jagged. Fractured. It was anchored to something. "A stabilizer," Seraphina said. "Built into somewhere near the Academy itself. If we can track its signature, we might find something out." "And we might find some information about where Merlin is," Elara added. Nathan''s throat went dry. It wasn''t much. Not yet. But it was something. He looked around at the others. Liliana, fidgeting with her braid. Elara, arms folded. Seraphina, sitting perfectly still. Adrian, bouncing his knee without realizing it. "Alright," he said. "Let''s save a guy who didn''t ask to be saved." No one smiled. But no one disagreed. Chapter 61 61: Preparations (2) No one smiled. But no one disagreed. That was enough. For now. Nathan looked down at the frayed page again¡ªthe rough, ink-stained diagram, the way the portal was drawn not as a circle, but a wound. Like the page itself had bled to record it. ''A stabilizer.'' It explained how it stayed open so long. Explained why it hadn''t collapsed in on itself when Merlin passed through. But not where it led. Not yet. Nathan rubbed the back of his neck, exhaling through his nose. "Okay. Next steps." Elara''s eyes narrowed slightly, already in planning mode. "Tracking mana signatures from a closed rift isn''t simple. Even with the stabilizer''s imprint, it would''ve degraded." "Unless it was tethered somewhere," Seraphina added. "We need to find where it anchored." Nathan looked up. "We still have access to the Barrier Management Tower, right?" Liliana tilted her head. "That''s... high-level security." "Which is why we''re not going through the front door," Nathan said with a grin that didn''t quite reach his eyes. "There''s a maintenance route under the arboretum. Leads up to the lower levels." Seraphina arched a brow. "And you know this how?" "I know things." Adrian, chewing on half a ration bar, snorted. "He fell while trying to sneak around after curfew a couple days ago." "Don''t ruin the mystique, Adrian." Elara gave a nod. "If we''re careful, we can tap into the mana tracking interface. It''ll be outdated, but the residual trail might still linger." "Then it''s settled," Nathan said. "Tomorrow night." Silence again. Heavy, this time. Elara traced the edge of the book with her finger, not looking at him when she said, "You don''t have to be the one going in." Nathan shrugged. "I do." "Why?" He didn''t answer right away. Not because he didn''t know, but because saying it aloud would make it real. "...Because he would''ve done it for me." Elara''s gaze flicked up to meet his. She didn''t nod. Didn''t speak. But she didn''t argue either. And that was enough. ¡ª That night, Nathan didn''t sleep. The dorm was too quiet again. He sat at the windowsill, hoodie wrapped around his shoulders, knees tucked to his chest, staring out at the Academy''s lights. Nathan smiled faintly. "...Jerk." Then he tapped his phone and opened a message window. It was blank. A new one. He didn''t know who he was writing to. Merlin, maybe. Or himself. Or something in between. He typed slowly. {One step closer. Don''t go dying on us yet.} Then closed the tab and got to work. ¡ª The next day Star Power Academy looked normal. That was the worst part. Students filled the halls. Professors carried on lectures. The sky overhead was clear, without even a whisper of the rift that had nearly torn everything open. No one talked about it anymore. Merlin was a ghost they didn''t name. Nathan kept his head down and moved fast. He slipped through the training annex under the excuse of late-hour maintenance drills, ducked around the upper greenhouse where Elara had silently disabled one of the perimeter glyphs, and dropped into the tunnel system through the arboretum hatch. Cold stone. Cramped crawlspace. And then, up into the base level of the Barrier Tower. The hum of mana was louder here. Alive. He found the relay panel behind the storage shelving. ''This is it.'' The stabilizer output was still pulsing. Faint. Flickering. But still there. Nathan pressed his tab to the interface. Glyphs bloomed across the screen in light blue. "Come on, come on..." he whispered, watching the lines flicker. One by one, mana traces began to compile. Direction. Pressure. Arc length. Anchoring vector. Nathan stared at the last variable. Rotation: Unknown. Classified. "...Shit." The last trace locked behind an admin clearance wall. ''Of course it is.'' He hovered his finger over the bypass protocol. He''d lifted a dummy code from Seraphina just in case. But before he could run it¡ª A voice echoed down the hallway outside. "Who''s in there?" Nathan froze. His heartbeat climbed. Footsteps approached. Steady. No panic¡ªbut too confident to be a student. ''Security detail. Damn it.'' He tapped the crystal interface one last time. Copy. Download. Eject. The trace saved. He dropped low and rolled beneath the shelving just as the door hissed open. A flashlight swept across the room once. Paused. Then moved on. Nathan didn''t move until the door closed again. When he finally slipped back out through the tunnel, the crystal was still warm in his hand. He didn''t smile. He didn''t speak. But in his chest, something began to burn. A pressure he hadn''t felt before. Not when Merlin vanished. Not when the rift closed. But now. Now that they were getting close. He tightened his grip and ran. ¡ª The cold night air bit at his skin as he slipped out from the tunnel beneath the arboretum, hood pulled low, breath shallow. His hand gripped the mana trace crystal in his pocket like it was some fragile truth waiting to shatter. The run back to the dorms was clean. No eyes. No alarms. Almost too clean. He pushed open the side door of East Dorm, footsteps silent on the tile. The halls were quiet, the hum of barrier wards steady overhead. He made it five steps toward the stairwell¡ª "Late for curfew, Nathan." He froze. Voice familiar. Warm. Too warm. Like sunlight you only notice when it burns. Vivienne Dorne stood in the hallway, her arms folded, blonde hair tied in a long braid over one shoulder. Her instructor''s jacket was half-unbuttoned, like she hadn''t even bothered to pretend she wasn''t waiting for him. "...Hey, Professor," Nathan said, already shifting into damage control. "Just went for a walk." Her eyes moved over him. "In the basement tunnel?" Damn it. Vivienne''s gaze drifted to his hand. He shoved the crystal deeper into his coat pocket. She didn''t press. She didn''t need to. Instead, she exhaled softly. "Come with me." Nathan didn''t argue. She led him down the empty corridor, not toward the staff offices¡ªbut to the observation balcony overlooking the West Courtyard. Where the breach had happened. Where Merlin had vanished. The stone tiles glowed faintly with wardlight. Vivienne leaned on the railing. "You''re not the type to sneak around alone." Nathan stayed silent. She looked at him. "But you''re not alone, are you?" His jaw tightened. Vivienne''s voice didn''t change, but something behind it did. "I know what you''re planning." He didn''t move. She went on. "You, Elara, Seraphina. Liliana. Adrian. You''ve all been moving in circles too clean for coincidence." Nathan finally met her eyes. "Then why haven''t you stopped us?" Vivienne tilted her head. "Would you have listened?" "No." "Exactly." The silence stretched. Vivienne looked back out at the night. "You think you''re the only ones looking for him?" Nathan blinked. She smiled, faintly. Not warm this time. Just tired. "You''re not." Nathan''s pulse picked up. "Then why¡ªwhy hasn''t anyone said anything?" "Because it''s political now," she said. "Because Morgana''s keeping it quiet. Because if the wrong people find out a first-year jumped through an unstable Class-D rift and might still be alive, it stops being about him." She didn''t need to finish. Nathan could see it. Experiments. Cover-ups. Seals and silence. He swallowed hard. "He''s still alive." Vivienne didn''t look surprised. "I know." She turned to face him, finally stepping close enough for her voice to drop lower. "But listen, Nathan. You''re not ready." "I don''t care." "I know you don''t. That''s what makes this harder." Nathan didn''t flinch. "Then help us." Vivienne was quiet. Wind stirred her braid slightly, mana humming at the edge of her presence. "I can''t openly support what you''re doing," she said finally. "But I can make sure no one gets in your way for a little while." Nathan blinked. "You''re covering for us?" "I''m not helping," she said quickly. "I''m just choosing not to see everything I should." He almost laughed. "That''s basically the same thing." "No, it''s not." Her expression darkened. "It means if you''re caught, I won''t be able to stop the consequences." Nathan nodded once. Vivienne reached into her coat and pulled out something small¡ªa worn, half-scorched token. "This belonged to someone who did something equally stupid once." He took it silently. "Don''t die," she said, voice quiet now. "You''re all idiots. But you''re my idiots." He looked at her, really looked¡ªand for a moment, he understood why Merlin had trusted her, even if he never said it. "...Thanks," Nathan murmured. Vivienne turned away. "Go. Before I change my mind." Nathan didn''t run this time. He walked. Back to the dorms. Back to the plan. Back to the others waiting. With one more person¡ªmaybe two¡ªquietly behind them. And just enough time left to change something. ¡ª Vivienne felt something¡ªthe same way you feel the drop in temperature before a storm, or the pressure just before lightning splits the sky. Vivienne didn''t look over her shoulder. Not right away. She simply kept her hands resting on the stone balcony rail, eyes cast toward the place Merlin had vanished. "You let them move." The voice was smooth. Too smooth. Velvet over steel. Vivienne didn''t flinch. "You always show up when the guilt sets in, huh?" Behind her, the air shimmered¡ªspace folding in on itself like a mirror turned backward. When she turned, Morgana was already there. Chapter 62 62: Subject 0 "You''re not supposed to be here, you know." The voice hit like a knife to the spine. Not loud. Not gentle. Just there. Right behind him, where no one should be. Merlin didn''t breathe. ''Too close.'' His fingers tightened on Keryx''s hilt. Lightning laced faintly across the blade''s edge, but he didn''t turn. Not yet. ''Something got that close without tripping my perception field.'' ''Something old.'' The silence behind him stretched¡ªnot dead silence, but watching silence. Waiting. Then a breath. A whisper of air, too cold, too sharp. He spun. Keryx rose in a clean arc, the blade a shimmer of light in the dark. And stopped. Because there was someone standing there. Barely. A girl¡ªif you could call it that. Small frame. Long hair that hung like it had been dragged through oil. Skin pale but veined with something too dark, as if her blood had forgotten how to flow properly. And her eyes¡ªher eyes¡ª Merlin''s grip tightened. ''Not eyes.'' Just sockets filled with thin light. Like something tried to mimic being alive and didn''t quite get it right. She tilted her head. Not like a person. Like an insect. Slow. Deliberate. Dissecting. "Not one of them," she whispered. Her voice echoed off the metal like it didn''t belong in air. "Too slow. Too... loud." "I don''t know what you''re talking about," Merlin said. His voice was calm, but inside his chest, his ribs pulled tight. The thing stepped forward. One bare foot. No sound. "Not staff," she said again. "Not test. Not mine." Merlin didn''t move. "You''re Subject Zero." A flicker passed through her face¡ªlike a glitch in a projection. "No," she said. Then smiled. "Not anymore." ''She doesn''t know about the rift.'' ''She thinks I''m another intruder.'' "I don''t want to fight you," he said. She smiled wider. "That''s good." The smile didn''t reach her eyes. Because there were no eyes. "Because you wouldn''t win." Keryx pulsed once with mana. Merlin kept the blade low, non-threatening. "You were in the pod. Three days ago, you left." "I didn''t leave." Her tone shifted. It grew... flat. "They left. They tried to bury me again." Her feet moved. No real steps¡ªshe just was closer. Ten meters. Then five. Merlin didn''t step back. ''Don''t show weakness. Predators notice.'' "I''m not with them," he said, eyes sharp. She studied him. Then her head jerked sideways. A shudder passed through her frame. A ripple beneath her skin. She sniffed once. "Something followed you here." Merlin''s heart skipped. "What?" She turned slightly¡ªjust enough to face the shadowed corridor. And smiled. "Noisy thing. Angry. Wrong." Merlin twisted, eyes narrowing. The auxiliary hallway was empty. Still. But¡ª Then he felt it. A shift in the mana. A wrinkle in the air. Something was moving in the walls. He looked back at the girl. She was gone. No sound. No flicker. Just vanished¡ªlike she''d melted out of the frame of the world itself. ''No time to process that.'' The scraping started. Close. And heavy. Something else was in the facility. Not Subject Zero. Something worse. Merlin backed toward the main desk, blade raised, breathing steady. The lights overhead flickered. One popped. A low whine built in the walls. Keryx vibrated in his hand. ''No cover. No traps. Just open space. I''m fucked.'' The scraping grew louder. Whatever was coming, it wasn''t trying to hide. Merlin inhaled. ''Alright.'' He braced himself. ''Let''s see what this place buried.'' ¡ª The sound was almost slow at first. Scrape. Drag. Scrape. Then a thud. Then silence. Merlin exhaled through his nose. Keryx was steady in his grip. The lights overhead sputtered, casting jagged shadows against the curved metal walls. Then it came. Crawling. No, not quite¡ªpouring. The creature unfolded from the corridor like a liquid nightmare. Limbs first¡ªtoo many of them, jagged and slick. No eyes. No face. Just a maw in the middle of a chitin-covered torso, opening sideways like it didn''t understand how mouths were supposed to work. Merlin''s breath caught. ''What the hell is even that thing?'' It hissed. Steam poured off its back as it dragged itself out of the corridor fully¡ªtwice the size of Merlin, bristling with what looked like malformed armor. Bones jutted from the flesh like blades. Its head¡ªor what passed for one¡ªtwitched once toward Merlin. And then¡ª There was no sound. No movement. Just a blur. Subject 0 appeared in front of it. Like the world forgot where she had been a moment ago. She was silent. Still barefoot. Still smiling. The creature paused. Then charged. Too fast. Faster than it should''ve been. Merlin tensed¡ªKeryx raised instinctively. But she moved first. Not dodging. Not blocking. She let the thing hit her. And then¡ª She grabbed it. With one hand. The impact should''ve torn her apart, but it didn''t. The creature''s momentum stopped like it had slammed into a wall. Her fingers were wrapped around one of its extended arms¡ªthose jagged, bladed limbs¡ªand she twisted. Once. There was a sound like wet rope being torn in half. Then came the screaming. Not from her. The creature shrieked¡ªan awful, choked, inhuman sound¡ªas she tore its arm off in a clean wrenching motion. Black ichor sprayed across the wall. The lights flashed. The next moment¡ª Her hand was inside its chest. Not a strike. Just a plunge. Her arm went straight through the armor, into the ribs, out the back. Merlin''s stomach twisted. ''...That''s not strength. That''s something else entirely.'' She tilted her head¡ªexpression still peaceful¡ªas she spread her fingers. And the creature convulsed. Its torso split down the middle like overripe fruit. Flesh hit the walls in wet, meat-thick slaps. Bone shattered. Fluid boiled. Then silence. She stood over what remained. Covered in black. Expression calm. Hands dripping. And slowly¡ªso slowly¡ªshe looked over her shoulder. Right at him. "Still watching?" she asked. Merlin didn''t answer. Couldn''t. She stepped toward him¡ªbare feet silent on the slick floor. Black ichor clung to her like paint. "I thought you''d run." Merlin met her eyes. "I don''t run." She smiled again. "Neither do I." He watched her carefully. No mana signature. No aura. Just wrongness in the shape of a person. "What are you?" he asked, voice low. Her head tilted. "...Lonely." Then she walked past him. Toward the corridor he hadn''t entered yet. The one marked EAST WING ¨C SEALED. She didn''t touch the melted lock. She just stood in front of it. And the door opened. Metal groaned. Steam hissed. She glanced back once. "You coming?" Merlin didn''t move. ''I don''t think I have much of a choice.'' Didn''t speak. But he followed. Because whatever was behind that door¡ª Was worse than anything he''d seen yet. And somehow, she wanted him to see it. The door yawned open like a mouth left too long in rigor mortis¡ªgutted hinges groaning as steam curled around his boots. Merlin stepped in behind her. One foot, then the other. Keryx still drawn. Mana low but steady. He kept his eyes sharp, blade sharper. The light didn''t reach here. The emergency backup from the lab stopped at the threshold. Only blackness ahead. Subject 0 didn''t hesitate. She walked as if she knew every inch of the space¡ªbare feet landing silent against the steel floor. Her white coat, now soaked in thick ribbons of blood and ichor, trailed behind her like a war banner. ''She''s not cautious. Not reckless. She just... doesn''t care.'' It was colder here. Not temperature-wise. Not physically. It was spiritual. Whatever this place was¡ªit hated being remembered. The air shivered. The walls were smooth¡ªno consoles, no control panels. Just a long hallway, gently sloped, descending into whatever was buried beneath the lab. It felt like a bunker. Or a tomb. "How far does this go?" Merlin asked. She didn''t turn. "Far enough." "...Far enough for what?" She paused. "Do you want the honest answer?" He blinked. "Try me." She glanced over her shoulder, expression still calm. Her irises gleamed silver in the dark. "It leads to what''s left of me." Then she kept walking. Merlin didn''t reply. He couldn''t. Because every instinct in him screamed to stop following. But he kept going. ¡ª Dozens of shattered tanks were half-buried in the ground. Glass glittered like bone fragments in the dark. The corpses were gone, but the absence of them wasn''t. "They were like me," she said. "Early tests. Variants." Merlin''s eyes narrowed. "And you survived." She shrugged. "Define ''survived.''" He didn''t ask what happened to the others. He already knew. There were scratch marks along the walls here, too. Deeper. Not wild. Deliberate. Like someone had been carving their way out one inch at a time. But what caught his eye was the far end of the room. A throne. Or maybe just a slab. Made of the same blackened bone-glass as the rest of the facility. But it had runes carved into it. Runes that pulsed with the same rhythm as the corrupted mana in the air. She stopped just in front of it. Placed a hand on the side. "I come here when I want to remember." He tilted his head. "Remember what?" Her voice lowered. "What I was made for." "And what''s that?" She looked over her shoulder. "Worse things than you can imagine." Merlin''s fingers curled at his side. His mana stirred. But she didn''t move toward him. She sat. On the slab. One leg crossed over the other. Her hair¡ªlong, white, tangled with dried blood¡ªcurled over her shoulder like mist. Merlin didn''t lower his guard. "What was that thing in the hallway?" he asked. "The thing. The one you... tore apart." Her gaze flicked upward. "Just a scout." "For what?" She smiled. "Something hungry." He didn''t like that answer. At all. "Is it still here?" "Not yet." ''Not yet?'' He exhaled slowly, trying to suppress the chill at the base of his neck. "And what are you, then?" She tilted her head as she smiled. "Something hungrier." Chapter 63 63: Plan Morgana didn''t even make footsteps. Just her presence. Hair the color of shattered sapphire spilled in cascading waves over her shoulders. Her pale skin practically glowed under the moonlight, too white to be natural. Her eyes¡ªclear, crystalline, and devoid of warmth¡ªrested calmly on Vivienne. But her gaze burned colder than any reprimand. "You''re interfering." Vivienne didn''t answer. Morgana stepped closer, the heels of her boots silent against the stone, like even sound knew better than to get in her way. "You know what could happen," she said, voice quieter now. Not soft. Just... sharper. Just like a scalpel. "I do." "And you did it anyway." Vivienne met her eyes. "They''re trying to bring him back." "They''re children." "They''re his friends." Morgana''s expression didn''t change, but the air did¡ªheavier now. Time didn''t slow, but it strained. Vivienne felt the subtle drag at the edges of her thoughts. The slight fracture in cause and effect. A pressure that came not from mana, but from the concept of waiting being rewritten around them. Time affinity. Subtle. Terrifying. "You think you''re the first person who''s tried to outrun inevitability?" Morgana asked. "Do you think he is?" Vivienne said nothing. Morgana tilted her head slightly. "I warned you. At the start of the year. You were never good at keeping your distance." Vivienne''s mouth twisted. "Neither were you." For the first time, something flickered in Morgana''s gaze. Just for a moment. The mask cracked. Then it was gone. "This isn''t a story where you get to play the mentor and they get to win because they want to," Morgana said. "That portal didn''t just take him somewhere. It marked him." Vivienne''s fingers curled around the stone railing. Morgana went on. "Even if the brat survives, he won''t be the same." "We''re not here to keep them unchanged," Vivienne said. "We''re here to keep them alive." "And what happens when you can''t?" "...Then at least I''ll know they weren''t alone." Silence. Not stillness. Not peace. Just silence. Measured and cold. Morgana didn''t blink. "Do what you must. But understand this. If they become liabilities¡ªif they threaten the city or the balance we''re trying to maintain¡ªI will erase every trace of them myself." Vivienne''s shoulders straightened. "Then I''ll stop you." There was no posturing in her voice. No bravado. Just quiet promise. Morgana studied her for another long moment. Then smiled. But it didn''t reach her eyes. "Let''s hope it doesn''t come to that. Because you would die yourself." With no sound, no flash, no spell-circle¡ªshe vanished. Gone the way she came. Folded into nothing. Vivienne stood alone. The wind returned a few seconds later, brushing past her like breath. She looked out toward the night again. Toward the place Merlin had vanished. And she whispered, barely audible, "You better not make me choose." ¡ª The hallway outside the common room felt narrower than usual. Nathan stood against the wall, hands buried deep in his pockets, breathing in silence like it was a punishment. His heart hadn''t stopped pacing since Vivienne caught him slipping out of the east wing archive access corridor earlier. She didn''t say much. But her look said everything. She knew. Not the whole thing¡ªmaybe not the rift, maybe not Merlin¡ªbut enough. Enough to make this harder. ''Even if she didn''t intervene now, she''s not going to let this go.'' Nathan closed his eyes for a second and leaned his head back against the wall. He could still feel the warmth of her gaze, the weight of her disappointment. She wasn''t angry. She was afraid. ''She definitely thinks we''ll get ourselves killed.'' She might be right. The common room door creaked open behind him. He didn''t move until the steps crossed the floor and stopped just behind his shoulder. "I saw the look on your face," Elara said quietly. "What happened?" Nathan didn''t turn. "Vivienne." "...Did she say anything?" He exhaled slowly. "She didn''t have to." Elara didn''t speak, just waited. That was her way¡ªpatient, quiet, and somehow more commanding than yelling. He pushed off the wall and turned to face her. "She knows. Or enough of it." Her expression didn''t change, but the tension in her shoulders tightened. Nathan stepped past her into the room. The others were already gathered. Liliana sat cross-legged on the couch, fingers twitching like she wanted to ask a hundred questions but didn''t know where to start. Adrian leaned over the table, flipping through pages with that same crease between his brows. Seraphina stood near the window, arms folded, gaze distant. They all looked up when Nathan entered. "She knows," he said. "Vivienne caught me earlier." Liliana blinked. "Are we... are we screwed?" "No." He hesitated. "But she''s going to get in the way soon if we don''t move fast." Adrian ran a hand through his hair. "I mean, it''s not like she''s wrong. This plan is¡ªinsane." "Do you want to stop?" Nathan asked. "No," Adrian replied instantly. "Just... acknowledging the level of chaos." Nathan nodded once. He got that. He really did. He stepped toward the map they''d spread out on the table. "We''ve traced the stabilizer signature to a sealed chamber under the central leyline tower. Supposedly off-limits. But if we want to find the exact frequency of the original portal''s distortion¡ªwe need to go there." "That part of the building is warded," Seraphina said, tone crisp. "Three layers. If we trip any of them, every instructor on campus will know." ''How does she even know this? Nevermind that...better off not asking.'' "Then we don''t trip them," Nathan replied. "We''re going in tonight." The room fell into tense silence. Liliana looked up. "Tonight?" "I''d rather not give Vivienne the chance to double the security just in case she''s feeling suspicious." Elara stepped forward. "We''ll need a distraction." Nathan''s lips twitched into a faint, tired smile. "That''s the easy part." Adrian leaned in. "Please tell me it involves fire." "No fire," Seraphina said flatly. "...Sparks?" "No." "Smoke?" "No." Nathan sighed and cut them off. "We''re not burning the academy down, thanks. But a disturbance during rotation patrol shift? That we can manage." He looked to Elara. "You and I will handle the approach. Seraphina and Liliana¡ªfind a way to spoof the detection sigils. Adrian, you''re our eyes. If anyone so much as breathes near that tower, you send the flare." The group exchanged glances. Then nodded. It was happening. Tonight. Nathan felt something tighten in his chest. Not panic. Not even dread. Just weight. Like gravity had remembered he was supposed to stay small. Like the world was reminding him that people like him weren''t meant to lead anything. "Get ready," he said. "We break into the leyline tower at midnight." They moved. No more questions. No more hesitation. And as the hour ticked closer, Nathan watched the sky darken from the rooftop again, the lights of the city too bright against the kind of silence that meant something was coming. He didn''t know what they''d find under that tower. But if there was even the smallest chance of finding Merlin¡ª He''d face it. Even if it tore the world apart. ¡ª The hallway leading to the leyline tower smelled like copper and chalk dust. Magic residue. Old enchantments layered deep enough to taste on the back of his tongue. Nathan moved in silence, hood drawn low, footsteps light. Elara was a shadow just behind him¡ªsilent as always, her spear wrapped tight in cloth and mana so she didn''t trip any proximity wards. They''d passed two of the rotating patrols already. No sign of Vivienne. No sign of anyone, which somehow made it worse. Too quiet. "Third ward is ahead," Elara murmured. Her voice was soft, but it cut through his thoughts like a blade. Nathan nodded once. "Liliana and Sera should have started already." If the distraction went off¡ªjust enough of a spike to draw the academy''s attention away from the leyline pulse¡ªthe rest of the operation could move forward. If it didn''t¡ª They were going to be very screwed, very fast. He exhaled slowly and crouched behind the bend of the hallway, just in sight of the third ward shimmer. It wasn''t visible to the naked eye¡ªnot unless you were looking at it sideways, like it was a ghost walking through light. Runes layered like a spiderweb across the hall, delicate and humming faintly with heat. He tapped his comm tab once, twice. A soft static flickered in his ear. "...diverted aether channeling... sigil pattern stable... give me fifteen more seconds," Liliana''s voice crackled. He tilted his head. "You sound like you''re doing surgery." "She is," came Seraphina''s clipped voice in the background. "Just make sure you don''t rupture the signature," Elara added coolly. There was a pause. "...Okay, it''s unlocked," Liliana finally whispered. "Move now." Nathan didn''t wait. He stepped through. The air snapped against his skin like walking through a waterfall of static. The ward shimmered, then flickered¡ªand then fell silent. He didn''t breathe until Elara passed behind him. "...One left," he said. They reached the base of the leyline tower¡ªan obsidian-spined spire buried into the rock beneath the academy, its foundation older than the current structure by at least two eras. The main entrance had been locked down since the rift. Nathan tapped the seal¡ªjust once, lightly. No response. Not until Elara pulled something from her coat. A narrow rod etched in precise elven script. "...You stole a clearance key," Nathan said. "Borrowed," she corrected. From who, he didn''t ask. The doors parted with a low, pressurized hiss. Cold air swept over them. The leyline chamber opened like a throat¡ªvaulted ceilings, arched stone beams, and a crystal node at the center humming with visible power. Runes danced along the ground like embers trapped in a windless world. It was beautiful. And wrong. Nathan took one step forward¡ªand froze. A shape stood on the far side of the room. Dark coat. Arms crossed. Vivienne. She didn''t move. Didn''t call for backup. Just waited. "...Took you long enough," she said, voice calm. Nathan swallowed. "How long have you been standing there?" "Long enough to change my mind and drag all of you back by your collars." Elara stepped beside him, silent and still. Vivienne''s eyes softened¡ªbarely. "You shouldn''t be here Nathan, all of you should go back and let the adults handle things." Nathan didn''t look away. "Neither should he be in that situation." The silence thickened around them again. Chapter 64 64: Helping (1) Vivienne finally exhaled. "You don''t even know where he went." "We know enough to try." "And if you die?" Nathan smiled faintly. "That''d be really inconvenient." "Don''t be cute." "I''m not," he said. "I''m serious. I know this is reckless. I know it''s dangerous. But I also know one thing." He stepped closer. "He would''ve done the same for any of us." That stopped her. Just for a moment. Vivienne looked away. Her arms dropped to her sides. The hum of the leyline crystal filled the room again. "...There''s a rift echo," she said finally. "Buried in the leyline signature. Faint. But someone used it to jump through a tether without the system stabilizing first." "Can we trace it?" Elara asked. "Yes," Vivienne said. "But if you open that echo again... it won''t be like before. The gate won''t protect you. It''ll spit you out wherever the tether stretched last. And you''ll be alone." Nathan''s heart stilled. Then he grinned. "Good," he said. "I''m used to starting at a disadvantage." Vivienne stared at him. "...You''re just like him." "No," Nathan said. "He''s cold steel. I''m the idiot who keeps smiling through it." Then he turned to the crystal. "Let''s open a gate." ¡ª The leyline screamed when it opened. Not audibly¡ªno crackling lightning or thunderous magic bursts. Just pressure. A weight behind the ribs that grew until it felt like the tower itself was going to split down the middle. Nathan stood in the glow of the arcane circle, shoulder-to-shoulder with Elara. Her fingers wrapped tighter around her spear as the spell formation lit the floor beneath them, runes spinning faster, overlapping like gears in a machine no one had touched in centuries. Vivienne stood at the edge of the circle, arms folded. Her face was set, but her eyes weren''t cold. They were... worried. Not for herself. Not even for the spell. For them. "You have ten seconds once it stabilizes," she said. "That''s all I can give you. You miss the window, and the rift will collapse again. If it does¡ªyou''ll be stranded in dead mana space." "Sounds romantic," Nathan muttered. Elara didn''t blink. Nathan''s eyes lingered on Vivienne. "You knew we''d come here from the beginning didn''t you?." "I trained him. Of course I did," Vivienne replied. "And I knew you''d follow." "...Aren''t you going to try to stop us again?" Vivienne hesitated¡ªthen stepped back. "I already did," she said. "You''re just too stubborn to listen." Nathan grinned. Elara didn''t smile, but her posture eased by a fraction. The circle flared white. Wind, or something like it, tore through the chamber, pulling at their coats and hair. Mana rippled around them like a rising tide, the air thick with ozone and static. Nathan felt his teeth buzz. ''So this is what a leyline echo feels like...'' There was no anchor. No destination. Just a thread. And they were going to follow it. Vivienne''s voice came again, just above the hum of the spell. "You find him... you don''t die trying to save him. You bring him back." Nathan''s grin flickered¡ªthen steadied. "Yeah. That''s the plan." The circle flashed¡ªbright, blinding. Elara didn''t hesitate. She stepped forward. And Nathan went with her. ¡ª He wasn''t falling. He wasn''t flying either. He was just¡ªdrifting. Like time forgot how to hold him in place. The world was smeared around the edges, bleeding color and memory like water on ink. No sound. No ground. Just Elara beside him, her silhouette barely visible through the blur, her eyes sharp even in the chaos. Then¡ª Pain. Sharp. Sudden. Real. Like getting punched through his spine. He gasped¡ªand the world snapped back into shape. ¡ª Nathan landed hard. Shoulder-first into something jagged. His breath left him in a painful wheeze, lungs clawing for air like he''d been underwater for too long. "Elara¡ª!" he choked. "I''m here." Her voice was distant, but steady. He blinked the light from his eyes. The sky was red. Not the gentle kind. Not even violent. Just... wrong. Like someone had peeled a wound open in the clouds and left it to bleed. The ground beneath him was dry. Dead. Dust that didn''t cling. Air that didn''t move. He rolled onto his back. Elara stood not far, spear drawn, her body already half-crouched as her gaze swept the alien landscape. "Is this it?" he asked, voice hoarse. She didn''t answer. Because they both knew. It was. They were here. Where Merlin had gone. Where the portal had led. And he wasn''t waiting on the edge to welcome them. "Now what?" he muttered, forcing himself upright. Elara stepped forward, crouched down, and dragged her fingers across the cracked ground. Then she released a wisp of mana into the air. It spun¡ªdrifted east. "He left a trail," she said. "Faint. But it''s recent." Nathan stood beside her. He flexed his hands¡ªsummoning mana to his fingertips. Lightning flickered against his skin like a nervous heartbeat. "I hope he''s not too mad," he said. Elara raised an eyebrow. "That we came after him." "You know he''ll be mad." Nathan sighed. "Yeah. But he''ll be alive." And that''s all that mattered. ¡ª The sky above Morgana didn''t move. It pulsed. Like a rotting lung trying to breathe through thick blood, the clouds clung to the broken sky in ribbons of dark red. The ground beneath Morgana''s heels shifted with each step¡ªbut never enough to betray her. Not to the ones ahead. Not to the things below. Her coat brushed no dust. Her boots left no mark. Her presence didn''t belong in this plane, and the plane knew better than to challenge her. She watched them. Two figures. Small. Too loud. Too alive. Nathaniel and Elara stood before the shattered crest of a plateau, near the edge of a ruin older than most planes of existence. Their mana signatures wavered with each breath¡ªunaware of what they''d stepped into. Elara''s spear was drawn, knuckles white. Nathan''s shoulders were tense, his usual sarcasm crushed under the weight of proximity to something ancient. They didn''t know where they were. Not really. They saw twisted pillars. Broken spires. The faint echo of Merlin''s mana trail. But Morgana saw it for what it was. The wound. Not a structure. Not a ruin. A sealed fracture in the world. Like bone that hadn''t healed right, buried in spires to keep it from remembering what it used to be. And now? Someone had opened it. Merlin. Of course it was him. ''He seems to find the places that should never be found.'' She kept her distance. Not because she had to. But because watching was easier than explaining. She''d sealed this place once. Centuries ago. Before this iteration of the Academy even existed. When the world was still in negotiation with its own darkness. She thought it had forgotten itself. She''d been wrong. Nathan knelt beside a patch of scorched soil. "Still warm. There''s a mana trace here." Elara didn''t reply. Her gaze was locked on the circle of shattered spires. She stepped past them without hesitation, eyes flicking down. "A hatch," she murmured. Nathan leaned in. "Okay. Creepy underground entrance in a dead zone. We''re really just following all the horror novel rules now, huh?" Elara ignored him. Nathan exhaled slowly. "He went in." Elara didn''t look at him. "So will we." Morgana watched the hatch as they pried it open. She could stop them. Should stop them. They weren''t ready. Not for what lay beneath. Not for what had woken. But then she felt it¡ªfaint, echoing. A pulse of mana from deep inside the sealed corridor. Merlin. Still alive. ''Of course he is.'' Not because he was lucky. Because the world didn''t kill him the way it killed others. It made him prove himself instead. She stepped closer now, boots brushing the edge of the ritual circle¡ªan old boundary that hadn''t been walked in generations. The spires hissed as she crossed them, reacting to her presence like they remembered her. They did. She was the one who closed this place last time. Now, she would see what had been released. Elara and Nathan had already disappeared below. Fools. Brave, stupid, loyal fools. She followed. ¡ª The stairs twisted down into breathless dark. No light. No hum. Just pressure. The air was corrupted in layers, folded over itself in negative space. Every inch of the descent pressed inward like descending through the throat of a god that had long since choked to death. Morgana didn''t flinch. Her presence was completely masked. She stepped into the metal corridor below, the warped remnants of technology buzzing faintly against the soles of her boots. Lights sparked weakly in the distance. She could already hear Nathan''s voice. "Are we sure this place was ever actually... I don''t know, livable?" "Stop talking," Elara hissed. "Something''s close." Morgana''s gaze slid to the side. There. A bloodless handprint on the wall. Smudged. Fresh. Too fresh. ''Is that yours, Merlin?'' She passed the hallway where Subject 07 had once been contained. The tank was cracked. Console sparking. Logs corrupted. But that wasn''t the danger anymore. Ahead, the melted door to the East Wing had been breached. She felt it. The same thing she had sealed here long ago. The one they had labeled "Subject 00." It was awake. ''Of course it is. You never stay quiet forever.'' Something brushed against the back of her mind. A memory. A whisper that did not belong to her. A name that didn''t exist in any recorded plane. Her fingers flexed slightly. And without drawing attention to herself, Morgana stepped through the breach. Deeper into the East Wing. The shadows did not touch her. They parted. Because even they knew. She was not here to study. She was here to destroy. Chapter 65 65: Helping (2) The words echoed. Not in the room¡ªbut in his head. Merlin didn''t flinch. Didn''t move. But his pulse had already begun to change. ''She means it.'' She wasn''t lying. She didn''t even sound proud of it. Just... stating a fact. Like the sky was red. Like the floor was steel. Like she was a wound stitched into the shape of a girl. Merlin kept his stance loose. Keryx at his side. The tip hovered an inch above the floor. Subject 0 sat quietly, watching him with those hollow sockets full of silver light. The throne beneath her pulsed in time with her presence. Not mana¡ªwronger than mana. Something buried and poisoned. He tried to speak. "If you''re not with the thing that sent the scout, then¡ª" "I''m not with anything," she cut in. Sharp. Simple. A truth that weighed more than it sounded. He hesitated. "But you knew it was coming." "I heard it." Her voice softened slightly. "They''re never quiet when they''re close." Merlin frowned. "So there''s more?" She smiled faintly. "Of course." She tapped a bloodstained finger against the slab beneath her. "This place is a scar. It calls things. Hungry things. Curious things. And now it''s calling them louder." "Because of me?" A shrug. "Because something changed. You. The portal. The mana. Doesn''t matter." Merlin''s jaw clenched. "You''ve been here a long time." Another nod. He studied her face. Or tried to. But there wasn''t much to read. Her features stayed smooth. Not emotionless. Just... distant. Like she''d once known how to feel and forgot. "And what happens," he said carefully, "when the others come?" She tilted her head again. "When they come," she said slowly, "they''ll try to eat this place from the inside out. Tear through the walls. Consume the energy. Rebirth through violence." He waited. "And you?" She smiled. "I''ll kill them." Not defiant. Not proud. Just the truth. Merlin exhaled slowly, fingers tightening just slightly on Keryx''s grip. He didn''t ask what would happen after that. Didn''t ask what she''d do once the threats were gone. Because he already knew. She was a threat in herself. A weapon with no leash. She leaned back slightly, resting her blood-soaked hands behind her. Her hair draped down the edge of the slab. "You''re thinking too loud," she said. "I''m thinking carefully," he replied. "Same thing." Silence settled between them again. Heavy. But not hostile. Not yet. Then¡ª "Why haven''t you tried to kill me?" he asked. She smiled again. "Because, I''m waiting." That hit harder than it should''ve. ''Waiting?'' He didn''t answer. Didn''t give her the satisfaction. Then she looked past him. Toward the wall. Her smile faded. "...You brought more." Merlin blinked. "What?" Her expression shifted. Just a little. "They''re far. But they''re coming." She looked at him again. And this time, something cold flickered across her face. "I hope they were worth waiting for." Merlin''s heart dropped. He didn''t need to ask who. Because he knew. Nathan. Elara. The others. They were coming. He stepped forward instinctively. "I didn''t ask them to follow me¡ª" She didn''t move. But her tone changed. "I didn''t say you did." Another pause. Her smile returned, but it was thin now. Brittle at the edges. "If they''re smart, they''ll turn around." "And if they don''t?" She stood. Slowly. All the blood on her cracked like dried paint. "Then we''ll find out what kind of thing I am." Merlin didn''t back away. He met her eyes. Or what was left of them. "You''re not killing them." She stared. Something deep in the room pulsed. The throne behind her flickered once, the runes dimming. "You don''t get to make that choice." Merlin''s mana surged. Lightning crackled along Keryx. "I do now." She tilted her head again. Then laughed. A low, breathless sound. Not mocking. Not cruel. Just amused. And something else beneath it. Something that sounded almost¡ª Excited. "Then let''s see," she whispered. The lights above them went out. And the room descended into black. ¡ª Dark. Too fast. Merlin''s breath caught. ''She moved.'' He didn''t hear it. Didn''t feel it. Just knew¡ªby instinct¡ªthat the space in front of him was no longer empty. Keryx snapped up, point-first, lightning whispering along the edge. But it was too late. A hand clamped around his throat. Cold. Not like ice. Like stone soaked in formaldehyde. And then¡ª Fangs sank into the side of his neck. Merlin''s mind short-circuited. Pain lanced through him¡ªsharp, then dull, then numb, like his entire nervous system was being rewritten. His body jerked, legs scraping against the metal floor as he was lifted off the ground like a ragdoll. "Ghh¡ª!" No sound escaped. Her grip was too tight. He saw nothing. Just black. But he could feel her breath against his skin¡ªeach inhalation deeper than the last. Not like a vampire. Not like a predator. Like something trying to drink his essence and his memory in one go. ''Move¡ª'' He couldn''t. His limbs twitched, but his mana¡ª It wasn''t responding. No, it was leaking. Spilling from the punctures in his neck like steam under pressure. She was draining it. ''Keryx¡ª'' The blade in his hand trembled. But it was pinned between them, useless. Then he did the only thing left. He let go. Dropped Keryx. And with his one good hand, summoned everything. Wind. Water. Lightning. Space. The convergence wasn''t neat. It wasn''t stable. But it was violent. Mana detonated around him in a sudden burst of raw backlash. She reeled. Just barely. Enough. His body crashed to the floor, gasping¡ªcoughing, blood and saliva catching in his throat. The gash on his neck steamed from residual energy. His vision blurred. He staggered upright, dragging himself to one knee, then two. She stood on the far side of the room. Lips wet with his blood. Expression still¡ªcalm. But her eyes¡ª No longer hollow. Now bright. Alive. She tilted her head. Licked her fingers absently, as if tasting something rare. "You''re delicious," she said. Merlin spat blood onto the floor. "Glad I could be a gourmet fucking snack." His voice was rough. Shaky. But steady. Keryx quivered on the floor nearby¡ªbuzzing faintly with residual energy. He called to it with a thread of mana, but¡ª The hilt didn''t respond. ''She took too much.'' She stepped forward. "Why didn''t you strike me?" she asked, almost curiously. Merlin didn''t answer. She kept walking. "You could''ve tried to kill me. You had the chance." Still, he didn''t speak. Because he didn''t have to. She smiled again, just slightly. "...You really are like the others," she said. "Always trying to save something." Her next step cracked the tile. Not because she was heavy. Because the world strained around her. Merlin reached for Keryx again¡ªthis time not with magic, but with fingers scraped raw on steel. The moment his hand wrapped around the hilt¡ª She was there. Not walking. Just¡ª There. Her bare foot landed silently in front of him, toes brushing the edge of his boot. She leaned down. "You''re interesting now," she whispered. "Finally." And this time¡ª Her smile reached her eyes. Because they were burning. Silver fire. Not mana. Not magic. Something else. Something older. Merlin pushed off the floor, Keryx flashing upward. But she caught it. Two fingers. Like it was nothing. And then¡ª She vanished again. No movement. Just absence. Merlin staggered forward, blade still raised, his breath ragged. The room was empty. The blood on the floor was his. The silence returned. He stood there. Alone. Neck bleeding. Mana drained. And still alive. Barely. ''She didn''t kill me.'' ''Why?'' His hand trembled. Not from fear. From fury. From helplessness. He sheathed Keryx. Slowly. Then fell to one knee and vomited. The slab was still glowing in the corner. Still pulsing with that same, awful rhythm. He looked at it. And whispered. "...What the fuck is this place?" ¡ª The air in this place felt fake. Like it was pretending to be breathable. Nathan exhaled slowly through his nose, but the taste didn''t change. Ash and rust. Like the world had been bleeding for too long and forgot how to clot. He adjusted his grip on the dagger in his right hand¡ªlight enough to feel familiar, sharp enough to matter. Elara moved just ahead of him, steps precise and deadly quiet, her spear tilted diagonally across her back. Her expression hadn''t changed since they crossed the last threshold, but he could read the tightness in her shoulders. ''She''s worried too.'' The hallway twisted. Warped. Like the stone didn''t know how to stay in one shape. Sometimes it bent, sometimes it pulsed. At one point he swore it was breathing. They didn''t speak. Because something had changed. It started about two turns back¡ªwhen the old tech gave way to something colder. When the broken floor stopped creaking and just... stopped. Like the facility had frozen in its last breath. The faint trail of mana they''d been tracking had flickered out here¡ªthinned like smoke against the wind. But it had been enough. Barely. Then¡ª A flicker. Elara''s hand went up. Nathan stopped. He followed her gaze. Down the corridor. Past the melted doors. Through the cracked metal where the ceiling drooped like wilted skin. Someone was there. On the ground. Lying in the middle of a small pool of blood and broken glass. Not moving. Nathan''s lungs stopped. "...Merlin?" He didn''t wait. He moved before Elara could grab his shoulder. Boots skidding against the slick floor. He dropped to his knees beside the body¡ªno, not a body¡ªplease not a body¡ª It was him. Merlin Everhart. Pale skin drained further by exhaustion, blood matted into his black hair, uniform half-torn and soaked with mana residue. His rapier¡ªKeryx¡ªlay beside his hand, still crackling faintly with the ghost of wind-static. Nathan reached out, fingers trembling, and pressed two fingers to the side of Merlin''s throat. A beat. Then another. Chapter 66 66: Helping (3) "Alive," he whispered. Relief punched through his lungs like a fist. "He''s alive¡ªhe''s fucking alive." Elara crouched beside him, already scanning the wound. "...Mana overdraw," she said. "Deep laceration. Some kind of puncture along the collarbone¡ªbitten?" Nathan flinched. "By what?" She didn''t answer. Because they both felt it. A lingering pressure. Something had been here. Something stronger than Merlin. Something strong enough to leave him like this. Nathan carefully slid an arm under Merlin''s back, trying not to jostle the wounds. "Hey," he said, voice low. "C''mon. You''re not allowed to pass out dramatically before we yell at you." Merlin didn''t stir. Elara''s fingers brushed across Keryx. She stared at the blade. "...It''s not cracked and not bloody at all. Nathan looked at her. "So?" "That sword wasn''t used or didn''t work against whatever Merlin faced." He blinked. Slowly. "...You think he beat whatever did this to him?" "I think," she said, standing, "that he survived something he shouldn''t have. I''m not sure if he beat it.." Nathan looked down at Merlin''s face. There was blood at the corner of his mouth. His expression was tight even in unconsciousness¡ªjaw clenched, brow furrowed like he was still fighting something in a dream. ''You idiot,'' Nathan thought. He pulled Merlin''s arm over his shoulder, hoisting him with slow care. "Let''s get him out of here." Elara nodded, already moving ahead to scout. Nathan took one last look at the dark corridor behind them. Something else was still here. Watching. Waiting. But they had Merlin now. And Nathan wasn''t leaving him behind again. Not ever. ¡ª The only sound was the drag of their boots over warped steel. Nathan adjusted Merlin''s weight on his shoulder again. The bastard wasn''t light, and unconscious dead-weight didn''t help his slipping grip. But he didn''t complain. Not when Merlin looked like this. "...He''s burning mana in his sleep," Nathan muttered, eyes darting toward the faint flickers pulsing under Merlin''s skin. "What the hell happened to you down here?" No answer, obviously. Elara was ahead of him, scanning the tunnel with short, efficient glances. Spear in hand, tension coiled in her posture like a spring. Her pace wasn''t rushed, but it wasn''t slow either. Just fast enough to say we are not safe. And they weren''t. The air here was wrong. Too dense. Saturated with old, corrupted mana that felt like it had grown teeth. "...Where did you even wander off to?" Nathan muttered again. "Did you find a demon? Make a deal? Start a cult?" He kept walking. Half out of breath. The tunnel was winding now¡ªcurving, sloping upward at odd angles. The emergency lighting that had once blinked along the ceiling was completely dead here. Only the faint shimmer of Elara''s wardstone gave them vision. Until they weren''t alone. The corridor shifted. The space in front of them folded. Not violently. Not like an attack. Just... rewrote itself. One second, the hallway was empty. The next, she was standing there. Barefoot. Drenched in shadows. Hair so pale it could''ve been white¡ªif it wasn''t soaked through with something dark. Her face was unreadable. Empty. Not hostile. Not exactly. But not human, either. Nathan froze mid-step. His stomach flipped. His fingers instinctively twitched toward his daggers but didn''t reach. "...Elara?" he said, voice barely above a whisper. "I see her," Elara murmured back. Her spear snapped up without hesitation, mana coiling at the edge of the blade. The girl didn''t move. Didn''t blink. She simply stood there¡ªwatching. Quiet. Too quiet. Nathan''s voice came again, low, cautious. "Who¡ª?" But he didn''t finish. Because something dripped from her fingers. Not blood. Not quite. More like a fluid that wanted to be blood, but had given up halfway through the process. Her skin was too pale. Her eyes¡ªif they were eyes¡ªwere like mist condensed into sockets. A glow just barely contained. And behind her... nothing. No presence. No mana signature. Like she was never part of the system at all. Elara''s voice didn''t waver. "Identify yourself." Still nothing. The girl stepped forward. Elara shifted, blocking Nathan and Merlin with her stance. "No further," she warned. The girl tilted her head. Not aggressive. Just studying. Then¡ªfinally¡ªa voice. Soft. Off-pitch. Like it had been borrowed from someone who''d never spoken before. "He''s broken." Nathan flinched. "What?" Her gaze stayed on Merlin. "He came in alone. Walked too deep. Touched things that shouldn''t be touched." Her head tilted further, unnatural. Birdlike. "And now he''s... quiet." Nathan''s heart slammed once in his chest. Elara''s grip on her spear tightened. "Did you do this to him?" The girl didn''t answer. She just stepped aside. One small shift of bare feet on steel. Elara didn''t move. Nathan hesitated. "You''re letting us go?" Silence. Then¡ª "You won''t get far. But you should try. You people aren''t interesting anymore. I found someone else." That was it. She turned. Not walked. Not stepped. Just turned. And vanished. Like she''d never been there at all. Elara didn''t lower her weapon. Not for a long time. Nathan swallowed hard. "Okay. That was terrifying." "She wasn''t breathing," Elara whispered. "Not even once." They didn''t speak again after that. Just moved. Faster now. Whatever that was¡ªwhoever she was¡ªthey didn''t want a second encounter. And Merlin? Merlin was still out cold. Faint traces of corrupted mana clung to his skin like burn marks. His pulse flickered under Nathan''s fingers. But he was alive. At least, for now. ¡ª The air burned cold. Not natural cold. Not weather. Not magic. It was the cold that followed something hollow¡ªlike the silence after a scream that was never meant to stop. Morgana stepped into the hall with a grace that made no sound, her heels barely brushing the scorched steel beneath her. Her coat fluttered behind her like a drifting shadow, and her clear white eyes cut through the dark like knives through frost. Subject 0 stood at the far end of the corridor. Her hair hung loose, white and clotted with drying ichor. Her bare feet were slick with the blood of the creature she''d torn apart minutes earlier. Her smile was small. Not amused¡ªknowing. "You finally came, I felt your energy. You seem strong." Subject 0 said. Morgana didn''t answer. Instead, she stepped forward¡ªjust once. The steel groaned beneath her foot as if in warning. Mana laced the air like humidity before a storm. Subject 0 tilted her head. "I wondered how long you''d wait before interfering." "You touched something that was under my protection," Morgana said. Her voice was quiet. Velvet threaded with iron. Subject 0 blinked. "The boy?" She smiled faintly. "He walked in on his own." "You bit into his soul," Morgana replied, tone still calm. "I''m not fond of parasites." Subject 0 chuckled softly. "He survived." "No," Morgana said. "He endured it." There was a pause. Then Subject 0''s smile widened. "I wanted to see what he was made of." "And I want to see what you''re made of." The words weren''t loud. But they struck like thunder. Subject 0''s posture shifted. Her limbs relaxed. Her stance changed¡ªlower, sharper, like an animal preparing to strike. "You think I''m afraid of you?" she asked. "No," Morgana said. "I think you''ve got no idea how strong I actually am." And then¡ª She vanished. Not blinked. Not teleported. Vanished. Subject 0 had just enough time to flinch¡ª When a heel crashed into her side. The impact hurled her across the corridor like a thrown puppet, her body slamming into the wall with enough force to dent steel. She crumpled. Twitched. Then stood. Flesh already knitting back together, bones rearranging with sickening pops. "You''re fast," she said, spitting black blood. "Not enough to kill me." "Hah," Morgana laughed. "You are merely a candle holder compared to me." She raised one hand. The corridor trembled. Not from power. From refusal. The walls groaned like they were trying to run. The air warped, and runes lit beneath her boots¡ªancient ones, etched in languages no one remembered. A circle bloomed at her feet. Subject 0''s smile faltered. "...You''re not human." "I am," Morgana said. The light surged. "Just better." Subject 0 lunged. She moved like a whisper¡ªno sound, no telegraphing. Her arms split at the forearms, fingers branching into claws, jaw unhinging as a second row of teeth slid into view. Morgana met her with a hand. And stopped her mid-lunge. There was a crack. Then silence enveloped everything. Subject 0 froze¡ªbody locked in the air¡ªher limbs trembling violently as she hovered, suspended by a grip around her throat. Morgana''s fingers flexed. Mana surged through Subject 0''s body¡ªburning white, sharp as frostbite and twice as cruel. She screamed. The walls shook. Morgana didn''t blink. "You are not the worst thing that crawled out of this place," she said softly. "But you are the definitely the ugliest." With a flick of her wrist, she hurled Subject 0 backward¡ªthis time through the far wall. Steel buckled. Sparks flew. Subject 0 landed, tumbling like a broken doll. She coughed once. Black liquid splattered the ground. Her smile had cracked. "You''ll... kill me?" she asked, voice rasping. Morgana stepped through the hole in the wall. "No," she said. "I''ll remind you who the strongest is." Subject 0 screamed and launched forward again. Faster this time. Her claws met air. Because Morgana had already moved. A palm slammed into Subject 0''s chest¡ªflat, open, casual. And her entire torso caved inward. The scream died in her throat. She crumpled again. Not regenerating this time. Not rising. Just twitching¡ªsoft, small, confused. Morgana leaned down beside her. "I told you," she whispered. "You picked the wrong one to bite." Subject 0 tried to speak. But Morgana''s fingers brushed her forehead¡ªsoftly. And the world around them froze. Not literally. But mana stopped moving. The walls stopped creaking. The light stopped flickering. Everything¡ªeverything¡ªheld its breath. "I changed my mind, I don''t want you making a mistake like this again" Morgana said. "Die." The air trembled as Subject 0''s body began to twist and turn unnaturally after Morgana snapped her fingers. After a while the corridor was silent. Not the silence of absence. The silence of aftermath. Morgana stood over the broken remains of Subject 0. The creature''s body was twisted, limbs bent at unnatural angles, ichor pooling beneath her. Her once-smiling face was now frozen in a final expression of shock and pain. Morgana''s eyes, cold and unblinking, surveyed the scene. She had given no quarter. Subject 0 had been a threat¡ªa parasite that had dared to touch what was hers. And Morgana did not tolerate threats. She turned away, her cloak billowing behind her as she walked down the corridor, leaving the shattered corpse behind. There was no satisfaction in her stride. Only purpose. She had done what needed to be done. And she would do it again. Because in this world, power was the only truth. And Morgana was its embodiment. Chapter 67 67: Helping (4) Merlin was heavy. Not physically¡ªthough dragging a half-conscious body across cracked bone-glass terrain wasn''t exactly light work¡ªbut emotionally. It was the weight of silence. Of unanswered questions. Of fear wrapped in the shape of someone who was never supposed to fall. Nathan gritted his teeth and pulled harder. Elara walked ahead, scouting every shadow, spear drawn and gleaming. Her expression hadn''t changed once since they found him collapsed on the ground¡ªblood on his neck, eyes half-lidded, mumbling nonsense. He hadn''t woken up yet. Not really. Just brief flickers of awareness¡ªeyes fluttering, mouth twitching like he wanted to speak. But nothing coherent. Not even his mana was responding right. It pulsed wrong under his skin, like it wasn''t just depleted, but poisoned. ''What the hell happened to you...?'' Nathan crouched for a moment and adjusted Merlin''s arm over his shoulder. "Hey. You''re supposed to be the one who knows what''s going on," he muttered. "Remember?" No answer. Elara glanced back. "We need to move faster." "Right," Nathan said. "I''ll just summon a flying chariot real quick." She didn''t respond. Because she wasn''t joking. Because they were still in the unknown. Nathan could feel it now. Not just the corrupted mana. The way the land breathed, pulsing like a lung under their feet. The way distances shifted when you blinked. The way the shadows whispered if you stared too long. And now? Now they were being watched. They''d been watched since they found Merlin. Elara said nothing, but Nathan knew. She moved differently¡ªmore tightly coiled. Her stance was ready to strike at anything, even the wind. "I think," he said softly, "we should stop pretending we''re not screwed." Elara didn''t disagree. Ahead of them, the terrain dipped. A shallow ravine¡ªbroken pipes and ancient machinery half-buried in the dust. Nathan crouched again, setting Merlin down against a piece of rusted steel. His friend didn''t stir. He exhaled, wiping his forehead with a sleeve. Elara kept her eyes on the path. "...He''s not stable," Nathan said, quieter now. "His mana''s wrong. Whatever did this to him¡ª" "He''s alive," Elara cut in. "Barely." "That''s enough for now." Nathan looked at her. She didn''t blink. And that was how he knew she was scared too. "...Okay," he said. "Then what''s the plan?" Elara hesitated. And then¡ª A sound. Barely audible. Footsteps. Too light to be natural. Nathan spun, hand going to his dagger. Elara was already in front of Merlin, spear lowered. But nothing was there. The ravine was still. Dead quiet. Except¡ª "...Did you feel that?" Nathan asked. Elara didn''t move. Then she whispered, "We''re not alone." A shadow flickered at the edge of the ruined slope. Something pale. Barefoot. Nathan''s blood ran cold. For a moment, just a moment¡ªhe thought he saw something. Long white hair. A thin frame. Too thin. Then it was gone. Not faded. Gone. Nathan''s throat tightened. "That... was a girl, wasn''t it?" Elara didn''t answer. But her grip tightened on her spear. Merlin stirred behind them. Nathan turned. "...Hey. Merlin? You with us?" Merlin''s eyes cracked open. Just barely. His lips parted. Then¡ª "Run," he croaked. Nathan blinked. "What?" Merlin''s hand twitched toward Keryx. His eyes were still unfocused. But his voice came clearer. "Too late..." And that''s when the ravine shook. Not from mana. Not from movement. From power. A presence¡ªmassive, overwhelming¡ªdescended like a curtain pulled across the sky. Nathan''s heart slammed into his ribs. A shimmer of gold light burst across the field. And then¡ª She landed. Morgana. Hair like flowing starlight, blue as crushed sapphires, eyes white and cold as death. No seduction. No mischief. Just quiet, absolute power. She stood between them and whatever else was in the dark. And behind her¡ª Ash drifted through the air. Just ash. Nothing else. Nathan swallowed hard. Elara didn''t move. Merlin was still slumped, unmoving again. Morgana didn''t look at them. She stared into the void where the pale girl had vanished. "...Handled," she said simply. Then turned her gaze to Nathan. And smiled. But there was no warmth in it. Only precision. Only calculation. "You children," she said, "have no idea what you''ve stepped into." ''The hell is she even doing here?'' Nathan''s mouth went dry. And for once, he didn''t have a joke. ¡ª The winds here weren''t real. They whispered like they were, howling across the ridge, weaving between stone and ruin. But Morgana knew better. This wasn''t air¡ªit was mana, dying slowly, groaning through the bones of a world that should''ve never been born. She exhaled. And the breath turned into a pulse. A wave of warding magic, rippling out from her boots and brushing away the ambient filth. Behind her, the children watched in silence. Elara stood poised, but her hands trembled. Nathan, for once, wasn''t grinning. He crouched protectively beside the collapsed boy¡ªMerlin Everhart, pale and bleeding, his mana frayed like splinters jammed under skin. Morgana stepped toward them, heels crunching bone-dust. "Don''t speak," she said. "Not yet." Nathan opened his mouth anyway. "You¡ª" She flicked two fingers. The sound left his throat, but no words followed. His eyes widened. He pointed at his throat, panicked. Morgana didn''t flinch. "You''ll get it back. I just need one minute of silence." Elara didn''t argue. Smart girl. Morgana knelt beside Merlin, her eyes tracing over the burns, the neck wound, the tangled mana like spiderwebs stitched with static. ''She fed on him.'' But ishe hadn''t finished. That was the problem. This wasn''t just damage. It was marking. A predator''s signature. She pressed her palm lightly to Merlin''s sternum. Her magic seeped inward¡ªdelicate, surgical. She traced the pathways of his core without disturbing them. He groaned faintly but didn''t wake. ''Good. Let him sleep.'' His mana was stable¡ªbarely. The signature that clung to him, however, made her expression tighten. It wasn''t Subject 0. Not fully. She''d killed the girl earlier. And yet¡ªsomething remained. Like a breath in the back of the throat. A shadow behind closed eyes. Morgana stood. The sealing charm she whispered next had not been spoken in over a century. It bloomed across Merlin''s chest in a slow-spinning web of runes¡ªbinding, purifying, anchoring. He would live. But he would never be the same. She turned to Nathan and Elara. Lifted her hand, and the silence melted. Nathan immediately coughed. "Okay¡ªwhat the fuck?" "You''re welcome," she said. Elara stepped forward. "Is he¡ª?" "He''ll live." Nathan looked down at Merlin. "...That''s it?" "No," Morgana said. "That''s everything. And that''s why you two are leaving. Now." "We''re not leaving without him," Elara said sharply. "I never said you would." She lifted her hand. Space folded. A portal tore open in the air like silk being sliced. Gold light shimmered at its edges, humming with layered magic¡ªa multidimensional weave, bound with leyline anchors and continent-bypass stabilization. Nathan''s jaw dropped. "That''s not something they teach first-years..." Morgana gave him a look. "They don''t teach stuff like this at all." He muttered, "Right. Of course." The air behind them was already starting to shift. The corruption didn''t like what she''d done. The demon continent knew she didn''t belong¡ªand it was trying to adapt. She stepped back from the portal. "Pick him up," she said. "Take him through." Nathan hesitated. "And you?" Morgana tilted her head. "I stay." Elara''s brow furrowed. "Why?" "Because something worse is still watching," she murmured. "And it''ll crawl out the moment my back is turned." Nathan crouched, slipping his arm under Merlin''s and lifting him slowly. "Careful," Elara said quietly. "I got him," Nathan muttered. "He''s heavier than he looks, though." "He always is." Morgana stood at the edge of the gate as they crossed. Just before they stepped through, Nathan turned his head. "Hey," he said, voice low. "That thing... Subject 0. What was she?" Morgana looked him in the eyes. "A mistake." He didn''t ask again. The portal swallowed them whole. Gone. Morgana turned, cloak shifting behind her, gaze locking onto the ruins where something still trembled beneath the surface. The air warped¡ªtwisting slightly, like something was trying to decide if it wanted to re-enter the world. She smiled coldly. "Try me." And stepped forward. ¡ª The portal snapped open again in the middle of a locked chamber. Nathan stumbled through, dragging Merlin''s limp form with Elara following close behind. The moment they stepped onto the tiled floor, the ambient hum of the Academy''s barrier returned¡ªfamiliar, soft, too clean. Nathan dropped to his knees, easing Merlin onto the nearest bed. Instructors rushed in seconds later, likely alerted by the spell signature. Sophia was the first to arrive, coat half-on, eyes blazing. "What the hell¡ª" "Later," Elara snapped. Nathan looked down at Merlin, still unconscious. Still breathing. Barely. He didn''t let go of his arm. Not for a long time. ¡ª There was no sky. No ground. No body. Only dark. Not the kind that wrapped around you like a blanket, but the kind that settled inside. That coiled between your ribs, burrowed into your lungs, and replaced your blood with ink. Merlin floated in it alone. Chapter 68 68: Loss Not drifting¡ªsuspended. Like something was holding him here. Not cruel. Not kind. Just... absolute. Time didn''t pass. Or if it did, it passed in spirals. Sometimes he heard things. Sometimes he remembered voices. "You''re not supposed to be here, you know." "You wouldn''t win." "Something hungrier." And then¡ª Silence. He didn''t know how long he stayed there. Minutes. Hours. Years. All of it. None of it. He tried to move. Nothing answered. No muscles. No limbs. Just a sense of self caught in a web of void. ''Where am I?'' The question echoed. It didn''t come back. Nothing came back. Even the voices were gone now. Even her voice. Subject 0. ''Did I die then?'' No answer. Just the dark. He''d died before, technically. Back on Earth. If that can be counted as a death. Who knows. Not dramatically. Not painfully. Just¡ªblink. Over. This felt worse. Because he hadn''t died. Not yet. He knew that instinctively. Like some part of him still recognized the edge between this and true oblivion. This wasn''t death. This was between. A pause. A breath before the sentence finishes. And then¡ª He felt something. A ripple through the void. Small. Distant. Like a string tugged across a canyon. But it was there. He latched onto it. Mana. His mana. Weak. Ragged. Half-broken. But it hadn''t abandoned him. He followed it¡ªno body, no eyes, just will. Pushing through the dark like a swimmer clawing through oil. And something gave way. Not loudly. Just... a shift. Light. Not bright. Not warm. Just gray. His first breath came back like it had been stored in someone else''s lungs. His ribs stung. His skin burned. His body screamed¡ªbut it was there. He was in it again. Pain was good. Pain meant alive. He choked once. Coughed twice. His eyes opened. The ceiling was white. Familiar. The infirmary. He blinked slowly. Still here. Still alive. He turned his head slightly. The sheets were too clean. The light was too soft. Everything smelled faintly of sterile magic and alchemy herbs. He recognized the mana threads woven into the beds¡ªhealing circuits, mana stabilization, emergency bind-runes. They''d used all of them on him. He looked down. His left arm was bound. His ribs were braced. His chest ached like something had caved it in. But he was alive. His voice came out in a rasp. "...I''m back." He closed his eyes. ''So why doesn''t it feel like it?'' ¡ª The white ceiling stared back at him. Still. Cold. Perfectly smooth. Merlin didn''t move. His body ached like something had peeled it apart and stitched it back wrong. Not all at once¡ªbut in layers. The bruises were deeper than skin. The kind that didn''t show but lived somewhere beneath the soul. He inhaled slowly. Then¡ª A blink. White light flickered faintly across his vision. He froze. Then focused. A familiar interface, warped at the edges like a cracked mirror, hovered before his eyes. But it was different this time. Damaged. Torn. Lines of text stuttered before resolving into something legible. [SYSTEM NOTIFICATION] Core Stability: 13% Mana Circuits: Partially Disrupted Soul Integrity: Compromised Status: Critical Recovery Mode Engaged Merlin''s breath caught. [WARNING: Affinity Access Temporarily Sealed] [Wind ¡ª Inaccessible] [Lightning ¡ª Inaccessible] [Water ¡ª Inaccessible] [Space ¡ª Inaccessible] [Time ¡ª Inaccessible] [WARNING: All Combat Skills Suspended] [Mana Regulation: Severely Limited] His fingers twitched. No mana answered. It felt like touching an empty socket¡ªlike the connection was there, but nothing flowed. "...No," he whispered, voice barely audible. Not fear. Just disbelief. He tried again. Just a trickle of lightning. Just one spark. Nothing. He reached deeper, tried pulling from his core¡ªonly to feel a stabbing jolt tear through his spine like static overload. His hand spasmed. [WARNING: Further Attempts May Result in Irreversible Damage] "...You''ve got to be kidding me." He gritted his teeth. ''I was fine. I was FINE. I walked. I fought. I survived.'' The memory clawed back. Subject 0. Her smile. Her teeth. Her fingers curled around his throat. That last whisper against his neck before the world went black. ''You''re not made for this...'' His hands curled into the bedsheets. "...She did something to me." Not a wound. Not a spell. Deeper than that. Soul damage. The words weren''t just theory anymore. He''d read about it¡ªfringe texts, banned rituals, ancient demonic arts. Injuries so deep they bypassed the physical and tore into the very structure of who you were. And now? He had it. Merlin lay still for a long moment. Then, slowly, he pulled his arm free from the binding. Every movement hurt¡ªbut the pain felt distant. Secondary. He sat up. Or tried to. His body shook. Cold sweat clung to his back. ''Thirteen percent core stability...'' No power. No affinities. Not even a single defensive thread of mana to shape around his skin. He was¡ª "No better than a civilian," he muttered. The words tasted like rust. He let himself lean back again. Head against the pillow. Eyes on the ceiling. Thoughts spiraling. [System Recovery Estimated: Unknown] [Condition: Unstable] [Recommended: Absolute Rest] He scoffed. "...Yeah. Like that''s ever worked out for me." But deep down, a quiet knot of fear twisted in his chest. Not from the pain. Not even from the loss of power. But from what came next. ''If I can''t use my powers... I can''t protect them.'' Elara. Nathan. The others. The entire world. He hadn''t just fought for survival. He fought to change things. To reshape a story that had always been too cruel. And now? He couldn''t even light a candle with his mana. His hand twitched against the blanket. But his eyes didn''t close. Not yet. Because even powerless¡ª He needed a plan. Even broken¡ª He wasn''t done. Not by a long shot. ¡ª The infirmary doors weren''t locked. Which meant Elara didn''t need to kick them open. But she did anyway. The sound echoed like a war drum through the pristine white hall. Nathan was two steps behind her, holding a half-crushed paper cup of some weird academy vending machine tea he never got to drink. The scent of artificial lemon and regret followed him in. Behind them, Adrian and Liliana trailed, less dramatic but no less determined. The healer on duty blinked up from their desk, startled. "Excuse me¡ª!" "Later," Elara said, not even slowing. Nathan gave the healer an apologetic two-finger wave. "She''s emotional. Let her have this." They rounded the corner and¡ª Stopped. He was awake. Merlin sat upright on the cot, one arm resting across his lap. His posture was stiff, more statue than human, but his eyes were open¡ªsharp gold cutting through the dim light like twin blades. "...Merlin?" Liliana whispered, stepping forward. He didn''t respond. Not at first. Just watched them like he wasn''t sure they were real. Nathan felt his breath catch for a second. Then he grinned. "Holy shit. You look like hell." Merlin blinked. "Thanks." Elara moved first. No hesitation. No words. She walked straight across the room, leaned down, and slapped him across the chest. Hard. It wasn''t a punch. But it wasn''t gentle, either. "You idiot," she said, voice steady, quiet, and furious. "You absolute, reckless, self-sacrificing idiot." Merlin didn''t flinch. "I know." "That''s not an excuse." "I didn''t say it was." Liliana moved to the other side of the bed, fingers curled into her sleeves. "You just vanished. You jumped into a rift." Adrian crossed his arms from the doorway. "We thought you were dead." Merlin looked at them. All of them. "...Sorry," he said finally. That was all. No explanation. No heroic justification. Just two syllables, raw and dry like a splinter. Nathan flopped onto the nearest stool and spun it around to sit backward. "So. On a scale of one to completely doomed, how bad is it?" Merlin''s gaze shifted. "You don''t want the answer." "Wrong," Nathan said. "I want all the answers. Preferably with dramatic lighting and ominous music in the background." Adrian grinned. "I can hum menacingly." "I''m serious," Nathan said, voice softening. "We were ready to go looking for you. Actually¡ªwe did go looking. Found the rift again." Merlin''s eyes twitched¡ªbarely¡ªbut it was there. "You what?" ''I don''t even remember anything that happened after I passed out...'' "Long story. Vivienne''s not mad. Morgana might be. But Seraphina probably scared the headmaster into letting us off with a warning." "We weren''t going to leave you behind," Elara said. Merlin didn''t answer. Because he couldn''t. The system messages still hovered in the corner of his vision. [WARNING: Soul State Critically Unstable] His jaw tightened. Nathan must''ve noticed the shift because he leaned forward, elbows on his knees. "You''re not okay." Merlin looked at him. "No." "But you''re alive." Merlin hesitated. Then nodded. "That''s enough for now," Nathan said. A beat passed. Then another. Adrian finally clapped his hands. "Alright. Let''s not crowd him. Guy looks like he fought a war with his face." "I won the war," Merlin said flatly. Liliana smiled. The air in the room thinned just enough to feel real again. "Can I stay?" Nathan asked, quieter now. Merlin blinked. "Why?" Nathan shrugged. "Because you''re my friend, dumbass." That was enough. Merlin leaned back against the pillow. His ribs screamed, his head spun, and the system whispered warnings behind his eyes like a heartbeat too close. But for now¡ª For just a moment¡ª He wasn''t alone. Chapter 69 69: Visitors The room was quiet again. Liliana lingered the longest, casting one last glance over her shoulder as Elara gently pulled her toward the door. Adrian followed, hands stuffed in his pockets, shoulders tense in a way that said he wasn''t done talking to Merlin, just postponing it. The door clicked shut behind them with a muted thud. Nathan didn''t move from the stool. Merlin hadn''t looked at him since they left. He was sitting half-upright, head tipped against the wall, golden eyes dull with something Nathan didn''t recognize. Not pain. Not exhaustion. Something quieter. Something colder. Nathan rested his chin on the stool''s backrest, folding his arms over it. "You didn''t think we''d come." It wasn''t a question. Merlin didn''t answer. Not right away. Then¡ªwithout turning his head¡ªhe said, "No." Nathan exhaled through his nose. "Cool. Rude, but cool." Silence stretched between them. Nathan let it. Because something about Merlin felt... brittle. Not breakable. Just already broken. Like every word would have to tiptoe around the fractures. He spun the stool slightly with his heel. Just enough to keep the movement going. "So. Wanna tell me what the hell actually happened down there?" Merlin''s fingers twitched¡ªsubtle. But there. Nathan watched him for a moment longer. Then leaned back and looked up at the ceiling. "Or... don''t. I mean, it''s not like I ever accidentally broke into a death dimension. Well, not that you can prove, anyway." Still no response. But the tension in the room shifted by a hair. "You weren''t gone for a long time," Nathan said softly. "But it was long enough to make everyone start thinking the worst." "I know." "We almost got expelled trying to find you. I think Morgana smiled. It was terrifying." "...You should''ve stayed." "Yeah, well." Nathan shrugged. "That''s never really been my thing." The silence that followed wasn''t heavy this time. Just real. Nathan tilted his head, looking over at Merlin again. "You were planning to die." Merlin''s jaw clenched. Just once. Nathan''s voice stayed quiet. "You didn''t expect to come back." "No." Nathan nodded slowly. "You told me not to follow." Merlin finally looked at him. "But you did." "You hate being the only one who knows what to do," Nathan said. "You keep trying to take the weight alone. Like that makes the rest of us safer." His eyes narrowed. "It doesn''t." Merlin looked away. Nathan leaned forward, tapping the back of the stool. "You can say thank you, y''know." "...You didn''t have to." "Yeah," Nathan said. "And you didn''t have to jump through a collapsing rift like a dramatic idiot either, but here we are." Something like a breath of laughter escaped Merlin¡ªquiet. Half-broken. Nathan stood up. Walked across the room. And sat on the edge of the bed like it was the most natural thing in the world. "You''re not alone, you know," he said. "Even if you think it''s better that way. Even if you think dragging us into whatever nightmare this is would just get us killed." He didn''t touch Merlin. Didn''t force eye contact. Just sat there. Solid. Steady. "You''re not alone anymore." Merlin didn''t speak. But he didn''t move away either. And that was enough. ¡ª The room stayed quiet long after Nathan left. No footsteps. No echoes. Just the soft click of the door closing and the distant murmur of the Academy outside the infirmary walls. Merlin didn''t move. He sat the same way¡ªspine slightly curled, shoulders tense, golden eyes fixed on nothing. Not the door. Not the ceiling. Just... air. [System functions suspended.] The message hadn''t left his vision since he woke. No matter how long he stared at it. No matter how hard he wished it would disappear. He''d tried¡ªright after Nathan left. Just to check. Just to feel. Lightning. Wind. Even a flicker of water. Nothing answered. His mana core felt hollow. Not broken. Not drained. Just unreachable. Like something had severed the bridge between who he was and what he could do. ''Damned soul damage..'' He shook his head subtly. ''What did Subject 0...do to me, and how did she damage my soul..?'' No answers. Just static in the back of his head and the sense that something had come back with him. Or maybe hadn''t let go. Merlin closed his eyes. Let his head rest against the infirmary wall. And for the first time in what felt like days, allowed himself to feel tired. Not from battle. Not from running. Not even from thinking. Just tired. Down to the marrow. The door creaked open. He didn''t open his eyes. But he knew who it was before she said anything. The scent of scorched ozone. The faint warmth of fire-aspected mana brushing against the edges of the room. "...You''re awake," Vivienne said softly. He opened his eyes. She stood just inside the doorway, not in armor, not in her usual field-instructor gear. Just plain clothes. Unassuming. A coat draped over one arm like she''d been waiting to bring it. And her eyes¡ªbrown, tired¡ªsearched his face like she hadn''t seen him in years. Merlin didn''t say anything. Vivienne shut the door behind her. Walked forward. Sat in the chair Nathan had dragged over earlier and folded her hands across her lap. Her movements were quiet. Deliberate. Nothing like the firestorm she usually was. She looked at him for a long time. Then¡ªquietly¡ª"You didn''t think I''d come, did you?" He didn''t answer. "You thought if you disappeared, that''d be the end of it." Still nothing. Vivienne let out a slow breath. "When I got the report, I thought Morgana was lying." That got a twitch from him. She continued, voice calm, but clipped. "She said you jumped into a collapsing rift. Said you knew what was on the other side. That you chose to go." "I did." The words left his mouth flat. Final. Vivienne''s jaw tightened. "You idiot." He looked away. "I taught you better than that," she said. "Reinhardt taught you better than that. You don''t get to decide your life has less value than anyone else''s just because you know more than the rest of us." "You weren''t there." "No, I wasn''t. Because I trusted you to survive the battle like everyone else." "I did survive." "Barely." Silence. Vivienne leaned forward slightly. "You think it was noble? Running off to shoulder it alone? You think that makes you strong?" He didn''t reply. She reached into her coat. Pulled something out. Tossed it onto the bed beside him. A shard of crystal¡ªcracked down the middle. Humming faintly with silver fire. "Do you know what that is?" He stared at it. Then nodded. "A core fragment." "Yours," she said. "From the breach site." His hand hovered just above it. Didn''t touch. "It shouldn''t be intact," she murmured. "Not after that much backlash. The fact that even a sliver of your soul left it behind means you were trying to come back." Merlin swallowed. Vivienne''s voice dropped. "So why didn''t you?" "...I couldn''t." His voice cracked. "I couldn''t find the way." The words slipped out before he could stop them. Vivienne didn''t move. Just stared at him. And nodded. Slowly. "I believe you." That was worse somehow. Because for the first time¡ª It felt like she understood. The silence that followed wasn''t heavy. It was just... quiet. She leaned back in the chair, arms crossing again. "You''re not getting out of recovery until I say so." He smirked faintly. "Figured." "And you''re going to tell me everything. Eventually." He didn''t answer. But she didn''t press. Because she didn''t need to. Vivienne had always been the kind of person who waited with fire in her hands and patience behind her teeth. She could wait. For now. She stood. Walked to the door. Then paused. "...I''m glad you came back," she said. And left. The door shut behind her with a soft click. Merlin stared at the core shard on the bed. ''Still unstable.'' ''Still not healed.'' But not forgotten. He leaned his head back against the wall again. And closed his eyes. ¡ª The infirmary ceiling was dull stone, carved with faint constellations. Some ancient warding formation. Decorative more than functional. He''d counted the stars twelve times already. It didn''t help. Silence pressed like cotton against his skull. It was the same silence that filled every second since he woke up. Not the silence of safety. The silence of being alive after something should''ve killed you. He hadn''t spoken much. Not to Nathan. Not to Elara. Not even to Vivienne. And now¡ª The air thinned. His breath slowed. A ripple of pressure bent the room in half for just an instant. Then, in the space where light should''ve lived, Morgana appeared. Blue hair trailing like silk through water, her clear-white eyes catching none of the lanternlight, yet glowing brighter than any of it. Her presence bent the temperature of the room without changing it. She didn''t knock. She didn''t speak. She just seemed to appear in the room. Merlin didn''t flinch. Didn''t sit up. He watched her. She watched him. "You lasted longer than I expected," she said. Her voice was soft¡ªbut not kind. "Guess I''m hard to kill," he replied. "You''re not," she said plainly. "You''re just too angry to die properly." Merlin didn''t deny it. Morgana stepped closer. Each movement felt rehearsed. As if she walked through a script only she could read. "I''ve scanned your body twice," she said. "There''s no trace of any external entity. No possession. No foreign mana. No... contamination." Merlin blinked once. She held his gaze. "Whatever happened over there¡ªit stayed over there." His chest loosened just slightly. "...Good." "I''m not sure you think so," she added. He didn''t respond. "You were gone for two days," she said. "When Nathan and Elara found you, you were unconscious. They didn''t recognize the terrain. But I did." Merlin met her eyes. Quiet. Still. "The Demonic Continent is not a place first-years survive," Morgana said. "Not even for ten minutes. And yet..." Her gaze narrowed just slightly. "You came back with not many wounds. Mana collapse. Internal fragmentation. Soul instability." She folded her arms. "Explain that to me." "I''m alive," he said. "That''s not an answer." "It''s the only one I have," Merlin replied. Because it was true. Chapter 70 70: Recover The light was softer this time. Not the cold, sterile glow of the infirmary''s wards. Not even the morning sun filtered through enchanted glass. It was quieter than that¡ªgentler. Like something living had pushed its way through the cracks of this building and sat quietly beside him. He opened his eyes slowly. No pain. Not right now. Just the dull ache of disconnection¡ªmana still absent, like his body had forgotten it ever held power. His limbs were heavier than they should be, skin too still. But his mind was awake. And someone was in the room. He turned his head slightly, blinking against the haze. Then stopped breathing for half a second. She was there. Sitting beside his bed, hands clasped tight in her lap, shoulders trembling with restraint. Long black hair fell over her shoulders, tucked behind one ear the way she always used to when she was nervous. Her coat was too thin for the morning chill. She hadn''t noticed. Her eyes¡ªgold, just like his¡ªwere rimmed red. "...Victoria." The name came out quieter than he meant it to. But it was enough. Her head jerked up. For a heartbeat, she didn''t move. Then¡ª She launched forward and wrapped her arms around him. Not careful. Not measured. Just full-force, warm, real. He froze. Her face pressed into his shoulder. Her breath hitched. And then the sob broke out of her chest, sharp and small and shaking. "You absolute bastard," she whispered. He closed his eyes. His throat was tight. She gripped the back of his hospital tunic, fingers trembling. "I thought you were dead, Merlin. I thought¡ªI thought¡ª" "I know." "No, you don''t. You don''t get to know. You don''t get to vanish and then come back like this. Like it''s nothing. Like I''m not supposed to fall apart every time someone says your name." He didn''t know what to say. He never did, when it came to her. But his arms moved. One slowly lifted and curled around her back¡ªweakly, but enough to hold her in place. "...I''m sorry," he whispered. Victoria laughed against his shoulder, raw and tear-choked. "You always are." He felt the way she trembled¡ªshoulders shuddering, breath catching. Her hands clung to him like he''d disappear again if she let go. "I missed you," she said. He nodded once, eyes still closed. "I missed you too." Her fingers tightened. "I don''t care where you went. I don''t care what happened. You''re here. You''re alive. That''s enough." He wanted to tell her it wasn''t. That he wasn''t whole. That whatever came back wasn''t the same person who left. But he didn''t. Because right now, her arms were around him. And for the first time since he opened his eyes in that bleeding sky¡ª He felt like something tethered him to the world. They stayed like that for a long time. She cried until she couldn''t anymore. And he held her, even when he didn''t have the strength. Because if she was here¡ª Then maybe some part of him still was, too. ¡ª The courtyard was quiet. Not silent, but quiet. Wind scraped low against the stone tiles, dry leaves curling in circles. The fountain in the center of the training square gurgled like it didn''t know anything had changed. Nathan leaned against the wall just beneath the overhang, arms folded, hood pulled over his head. He was trying not to think too hard. That was dangerous these days. ''He''s alive at least.'' That should''ve been enough. It wasn''t. Not when Merlin looked like that. Not when he didn''t talk. Not when his eyes barely moved. Not when Nathan had watched him jump through a portal like it meant nothing¡ªand come back like he wished it had stayed that way. He heard the footsteps before he saw her. He didn''t need to look. Vivienne Dorne was impossible to mistake. She didn''t walk like a professor. She walked like a soldier who''d learned to slow her steps only out of respect. Boots clicking gently against stone. Arms folded. That long braid swaying slightly down her back. She stopped next to him. Didn''t speak. Nathan broke first. "How long have you been lurking?" Vivienne exhaled, just short of a laugh. "You''re getting better at noticing." "Bad habit. Blame him." She didn''t ask who him was. She didn''t have to. Nathan glanced at her sideways. "You were there right?" Vivienne nodded once. "Morgana brought him straight to the medical ward." "And what did she say?" She looked at him. Her brown eyes were tired. Not physically. Not even magically. But somewhere behind the gaze¡ªsomewhere in the cracks where people didn''t usually look. "Obviously he''s alive," she said. "That''s not what I asked." A beat passed. Then she leaned against the same wall, just a few feet away, gaze flicking toward the fountain. "He''s... breathing. Moving. Aware." "Obviously....but?" Vivienne didn''t answer immediately. Then¡ªquietly¡ªshe said, "His mana''s gone." Nathan''s heart skipped. "Gone?" "Not sealed. Not blocked. Not even suppressed. Just... missing. Like it burned itself out trying to stay together." Nathan looked down at his hands. "He jumped in to save us." Vivienne nodded. "He did." "Do you know what he saw in there?" "No." Her voice was sharp. "And if he remembers, he hasn''t said." Nathan swallowed. "Will he get it back? The mana, I mean." Vivienne didn''t answer for a long time. Then¡ªsoftly¡ª"I don''t know." That hurt more than he wanted it to. She turned to look at him properly then. "You care about him." "Yeah. Shocking." "I''m not making fun." Nathan offered her a tired smile. "Wouldn''t matter if you were." Vivienne studied him a little longer. "You remind me of him sometimes," she said. That got his attention. "...Me?" She nodded. "Not the power. Not the way you fight. But the way you follow." Nathan tilted his head. "That''s not exactly flattering." "It wasn''t meant to be." He snorted. Vivienne looked back at the fountain. Her tone shifted¡ªsofter now, harder to read. "He was my student too, you know." "I know." "I trained him to be faster. Smarter. I thought... maybe that would be enough." Nathan didn''t speak. "He never stopped fighting, even when he should''ve. Even when he couldn''t win." Nathan turned to her, brows furrowed. "Then why does he look like he lost?" Vivienne didn''t answer right away. Then she said, almost too quietly¡ª "Because sometimes surviving costs more than dying." Nathan looked away. The words stuck in his ribs. He hated that they were true. "...Do you think he''s still him?" he asked, voice lower. Vivienne hesitated. Then¡ª "I think Merlin''s still in there. But I think he left a piece of himself behind." That was the worst part. Nathan knew exactly what she meant. Because when he looked into Merlin''s eyes now¡ª He didn''t see anger. Or bitterness. He saw nothing. And that scared him more than anything else. Vivienne pushed off the wall. Her boots scraped lightly against the ground. "He''ll need you," she said. "Sooner or later." Nathan looked up at her. "Yeah?" he said, quietly. "He won''t ask." "He never does." She offered him a faint smile. Then left. ¡ª Nathan stayed a little longer. Watching the fountain. Listening to the wind. His hand drifted to his side. Where his dagger sat. Still warm. Still humming. He whispered, mostly to himself¡ª "I''ll stay, Merlin." A pause. "Even if you don''t." ¡ª The common room was too small. Not literally. Physically, it had space. Enough chairs. Enough light. A window cracked open just enough to let in a breeze. But emotionally? It was choking. Liliana sat with her legs pulled up into the armchair, chin resting on her knees. Adrian paced¡ªagain¡ªback and forth near the table, jaw clenched. Elara stood with her arms folded, eyes distant. Seraphina sat perfectly upright, spine like a steel rod, lips pressed into a line. Nathan was the last to arrive. He stepped in. Closed the door. Leaned against it for a second longer than he meant to. Adrian stopped pacing. "So?" Five eyes turned to him. Nathan didn''t smile. He just shoved his hands in his pockets. "It''s gone." "What''s gone?" Liliana asked, already frowning. "His mana." Silence. For a second, no one breathed. Then Elara said, "What do you mean ''gone''?" "I mean he can''t use any of it. No lightning. No wind. Nothing." "That''s not possible," Seraphina said immediately. "Unless someone forcibly sealed his core¡ª" "It''s not sealed," Nathan said. "It''s just not... there." He looked at each of them, slowly. "Vivienne said it''s like it burned itself out holding him together. That it didn''t shut down¡ªit emptied." Liliana''s mouth opened, then closed again. Adrian ran a hand through his hair. "Can he recover it?" Nathan didn''t answer. "Can he?" Adrian pressed. "I don''t know," Nathan said. Quiet. Steady. Liliana''s voice cracked. "But he''s okay, right? I mean, he''s awake." "Yeah," Nathan murmured. "He''s awake obviously." But they all heard what he didn''t say. Adrian sat down hard in the nearest chair, running both hands over his face. "Shit," he muttered. Elara didn''t speak. She stared at the table. At nothing. Seraphina exhaled slowly. "If his core is gone, the Academy might¡ª" Nathan''s eyes flicked up. "Don''t say it." "They might discharge him." "I said don''t." Her expression didn''t change, but she said nothing else. Nathan moved to the center of the room. Looked at them, each in turn. "He didn''t ask for any of this. Not saving us. Not jumping into a portal. Not coming back like this." Adrian muttered, "But he did it anyway." "Exactly," Nathan said. "So we''re not going to sit around waiting for him to vanish again. If the professors try to shove him off the roster, we push back." Seraphina raised an eyebrow. "With what?" "Each other." That made her pause. Elara finally spoke, voice flat. "What does he need?" Nathan looked toward the door. Toward the hallway Merlin was still recovering in. "Time." Liliana blinked. "That''s all?" He nodded. "Time. Space. And us. That''s it." They didn''t agree out loud. They didn''t have to. The air shifted. The team had been broken once. They wouldn''t let it break again. Chapter 71 71: Paparazzi After Victoria left Merlin was left alone for a while. His body ached. Not the sharp, screaming kind of pain. Just dull, endless. His bones felt like they''d been hollowed out and filled with something too heavy. ''Still here...'' His throat was dry. His limbs heavier than he remembered. And still¡ªno mana. Not even a flicker. He reached inward again, slowly, searching for the edge of the familiar current. Nothing. His breath caught. ''Gone. Still gone...'' The knock was soft. Then the door creaked open. Elara stepped in without waiting for an answer. She didn''t speak at first. She just paused in the doorway, violet eyes scanning him like she was memorizing every inch of him. Like she wasn''t sure if he''d vanish again. Merlin met her gaze. Didn''t say anything. She crossed the room. "Can you stand?" she asked, voice low. He shifted slightly under the blanket. The motion pulled at something deep in his back. "I can try." Elara didn''t answer. She just offered her hand. Merlin hesitated. Then took it. Her grip was steady. He swung his legs over the edge of the bed. His feet touched the floor¡ªcold against his skin. For a second, nothing happened. Then his knees buckled. Elara caught him before he could fall. Her arm looped around his back, just under his shoulders. She didn''t ask permission. "You''re an idiot," she said softly. Merlin didn''t argue. He braced himself against her side as they moved. Step by step. It felt humiliating. But the weight of it wasn''t just his body¡ªit was the loss. The absence. The silence in his veins where magic should have been. They didn''t talk as she guided him down the corridor. The Academy halls were quiet at this hour. Empty. Just the soft padding of her boots and the uneven drag of his steps. At one point, Merlin muttered, "You don''t have to carry me." "I''m not," she said. "I''m making sure you don''t break something again." He exhaled, a short sound that might''ve been a laugh if it had more strength behind it. They rounded a corner. Ahead¡ªthe courtyard. Elara slowed. Merlin lifted his head. The sun had just begun to rise past the towers. The grass was soaked in morning dew. A faint breeze passed through the archways, lifting strands of Elara''s hair. He hadn''t seen this place from the outside since the night of the breach. Since before. They stepped out into the open. His body tensed instinctively, like he was bracing for an attack. Nothing came. Just warmth. Birdsong. The scent of wet stone and early flowers. Elara kept her arm steady around him. Merlin let her. For once. They didn''t speak. They didn''t need to. Because right now¡ªhe was breathing. And that was enough. Elara had helped him to the edge of a marble bench near the east garden, its surface still damp with morning condensation. He sat stiffly, resting his forearms on his knees. Breath slow. Controlled. His legs were shaking a little. He hated that. Elara stood nearby, arms crossed, eyes on the horizon. Guarding him without saying it out loud. Then¡ª Footsteps. Too smooth. Too confident for a first-year. He didn''t need to look up. He already knew who it was. ''Elowen Caelith.'' Merlin sighed. ''Second-year. Council member. One of the youngest appointed in recent cycles. Exceptional at strategic-type magic and barrier control. Charismatic, sharp. She was ridiculously popular in the fanbase of the novel...'' Her voice was warm, but clipped. "Merlin Everhart, I presume?" He raised his head slowly. She stood there in full uniform¡ªimmaculate despite the early hour. Long golden hair, tied back in a braided tail that fell between her shoulder blades. Green eyes¡ªbright, analytical, but tempered with calm. She smiled faintly. "I was hoping to speak with you before the others started crowding." ''Others?'' Merlin said nothing. Elara looked at her. "Student Council?" Elowen inclined her head politely. "Elowen Caelith. Strategic Officer. I''m here unofficially." She turned her attention back to Merlin. "I wanted to say thank you." Merlin raised a brow. "For what?" "For saving our campus. For keeping the breach from spreading. For keeping my little brother alive." That caught him off guard. "...Your brother?" Elowen''s smile tilted. "First-year. Red hair. Horrible at combat classes. Terrified of Vivienne." Merlin sifted through names. Then¡ª ''Caelith... Reian Caelith..I think? I didn''t even have an idea he was there...'''' "I know what you did," Elowen said, softer now. "The professors aren''t talking about it, but I saw the aftermath. You shouldn''t have survived. And yet..." She studied him. Not like she was impressed¡ªmore like she was trying to make sense of something impossible. "You were reckless," she added. "Stupidly so." "I''m aware." "But brave," she said. "And more than that¡ªdeliberate. Which makes you dangerous." Elara stiffened beside him. Merlin didn''t react. Elowen''s expression didn''t change. "I''m not here to warn you. Or interrogate you. I just wanted you to know I saw it. And I won''t forget." She extended a hand. "For what it''s worth... I hope we fight on the same side." Merlin looked at her hand. Then took it. Briefly. "Likewise." Elowen smiled again. It didn''t quite reach her eyes. Then she turned and walked away, her boots silent against the stone. Elara watched her disappear around the corridor, then muttered, "She creeps me out." "She''s better than most of them," Merlin said, settling back against the bench. "Mm." Elara glanced at him. "You know her?" "No." He paused. "Just a guess." Elara didn''t push. But she didn''t believe him either. "I have to go and do something...I''ll be back soon. Don''t...move?" She looked at Merlin sitting still with a cold expression. ''I''m not sure I can properly...'' "Okay." With that she just left without saying another word. Merlin didn''t move. He sat exactly where Elara had left him¡ªa bench in the east courtyard, half-shadowed, half-lit, arms crossed over his chest. His body ached in ways he hadn''t expected. Like his soul had been scoured out and stapled back into his bones. His breath came steady. But not deep. Not strong enough yet. Then¡ª Voices. Too many. He heard them before he saw them. Footsteps crunching over gravel. A sudden swell of excited whispers. Someone gasping. A sharp "There he is!" followed by an all-too-familiar chorus of rapidly approaching chaos. Merlin''s fingers twitched against the fabric of his sleeve. ''Oh no.'' The first student rounded the hedge corner. Then four more. Then ten. A whole crowd spilled into the courtyard like floodwater breaking past a dam. First-years, second-years¡ªhe even spotted a few upper-year combat track students peeking around the edge like they''d been dared. "Elara said he was here¡ª" "He''s the one who went into the portal¡ª" "Did you see what he did with the lightning spell¡ª?" "They say he killed a rift-born with a single strike¡ª" "Shh, shut up, he can hear us¡ª!" Then they were surrounding him. Half a dozen faces too close. Eyes wide. Mouths faster than their brains. "Merlin, is it true you fought alone for three hours?" "What was inside the rift?" "Did you see any demons? Real ones?" "Did the professors train you in secret?" "Are you part of some hidden mage family?" "Did you lose your powers? You don''t look like you have mana right now." "Do you remember everything?" "Can you do it again?" He didn''t speak. Not because he couldn''t. But because if he answered once, he''d never get them to stop. The questions kept coming. Like a hailstorm made of curiosity and rumors. "Was it a sacrifice spell?" "I heard you collapsed the portal with a forbidden technique." "I heard you were actually a spirit contractor¡ª" "I heard you died and came back!" Merlin exhaled slowly through his nose. ''Why does every academy story end with becoming a rumor ghost?'' One of the braver first-years stepped forward¡ªa short girl with her sleeves rolled past her elbows. "Merlin, is it true you''re not human?" He blinked. Finally. Looked at her. "...What?" She flushed. "N-not like¡ªlike that! I meant...! Uh... people said you walked through corrupted mana like it was nothing, and only monsters can¡ª" "I''m human," he said flatly. "R-Right! I didn''t mean to offend you¡ª!" Too late. That opened a fresh wave of voices. "Wait, does that mean he really lost all his mana?" "Then how is he even walking around?" "Should he be walking around?" "Are they going to make him a professor now?" ''What the fuck?'' Merlin stood. Just once. A single motion. The crowd stepped back instinctively. Even without power. Even drained. He still radiated presence. Not like a hero. Not like a commander. Like something sharp that you shouldn''t touch twice. "I''m not answering questions," he said, voice even. "And I''m not going to explain myself." Someone in the back mumbled, "Wow. Cold." "Yes," he replied without blinking. "Now leave." The silence that followed was surprisingly respectful. Then slowly, the students began to scatter. Muttering. Whispering. Some still looking back over their shoulders like they expected him to collapse again just for drama. He sat back down with a quiet sigh. Elara reappeared a few seconds later, carrying a small bundle of wrapped food. She blinked at the now-empty courtyard. "...What happened here?" Merlin didn''t look at her. "A natural disaster." She raised a brow. "Paparazzi," he muttered. "...Right." She handed him the bundle. "Eat. You look like a corpse." He didn''t argue. Chapter 72 72: Paperwork The food tasted like nothing. Bread. Something wrapped in roasted root. A sliver of dried fruit tucked near the corner of the cloth. It was warm, but Merlin barely registered the heat. He chewed in silence. Elara sat beside him, legs crossed, gaze turned toward the far end of the courtyard. She didn''t press. Didn''t comment. Just sat there with the quiet, patient stillness of someone who understood what it meant to wait. Halfway through the meal, he paused, fingers tightening slightly on the cloth. No mana. Still nothing. The food went down. Slowly. Mechanically. He hated how his body still accepted it. How the world hadn''t collapsed around him the moment his mana vanished. It felt like it should''ve. Like something as important as that should''ve triggered a ripple. A crack. A fracture in the sky. But no. Just birdsong and half-warm rations. Merlin rubbed his temple once. The headache hadn''t faded since morning. It just pulsed behind his left eye like a stubborn drumbeat. "Are you going to tell them?" Elara asked quietly. ''She knows too much..'' He didn''t answer. "You know they''ll figure it out eventually." "I know." She looked at him sideways. "Nathan already suspects. You know that too." "I know." Another pause. "...You''re not going to lie, are you?" He didn''t speak. Didn''t nod. But that was enough. Elara let out a soft sigh, barely audible. "I''ll cover for you." He looked at her then. Fully. "Why?" She didn''t flinch. "Because you''d do the same for us. Even if you wouldn''t admit it." A long beat passed. Merlin turned back to the empty courtyard. He didn''t thank her. But she didn''t expect him to. A shadow passed overhead. A bird, maybe. Maybe not. He leaned back against the bench, head tilted toward the sky. The ache in his bones hadn''t eased. But it was duller now. Muted. Something in the quiet started to resemble peace. Then¡ª A voice. Sharp. Firm. Familiar. "There you are." Merlin opened his eyes. Vivienne Dorne stood just past the archway, hands on her hips. Her hair was golden, braided back. She looked annoyed. But not at him. Not fully. "Should''ve known you''d be out here brooding instead of resting," she muttered as she approached. "You know, normal people stay in bed after dying." He didn''t sit up. Just looked at her. "I got bored." Vivienne raised a brow. "And decided a walk with your emotional support elf was a better alternative?" "I''m not an emotional support anything," Elara said flatly. "I''m not dead," Merlin added. "Barely," Vivienne shot back. "You''re lucky Morgana didn''t turn you into a cautionary tale." Merlin''s gaze narrowed slightly. "What does she know?" Vivienne folded her arms. Her tone shifted, serious now. "Enough to be watching." He didn''t respond. She looked between the two of them. "Headmistress wants to speak with you. Officially." Merlin blinked once. "Now?" "Now." Her expression softened, just barely. "You can lean on me. Just this once." Elara stood without a word, stepping aside. Merlin hesitated. Then slowly pushed himself up. Vivienne was beside him before he could fully straighten. Her arm braced under his, careful, steady. He didn''t resist. Didn''t complain. He just walked. Together, they moved toward the north wing, footsteps slow against the stone. Elara watched them go. But she didn''t follow. She didn''t need to. Not this time. ¡ª The walk was quiet. Vivienne didn''t fill the silence with words. Just kept her pace slow, steady, calibrated to match his uneven steps. The northern wing was empty this time of morning. Most of the students were in class. Merlin was glad for that. He didn''t want to be looked at. Not like this. They turned a corner. The sun shifted through the high arches, casting slats of pale gold across the floor. Vivienne didn''t glance at him. But she didn''t let go either. By the time they reached Morgana''s office, he was already tired. The door opened without a knock. Morgana sat at her desk. Today, she looked less like a myth and more like a verdict. Her long blue hair was braided and pinned high, and her eyes were clear, colorless, cut from ice, they tracked Merlin the second he stepped inside. "Vivienne," Morgana said, voice smooth. "Wait outside." Vivienne didn''t argue. She gave Merlin one last glance, then turned and shut the door behind her. Morgana gestured to the seat across from her desk. Merlin sat. She didn''t speak right away. She slid a stack of parchment toward him instead. "Standard recovery discharge forms," she said. "Authorization of restricted leave, temporary academic suspension, waiver of attendance policy." He raised a brow. "You''re letting me take time off?" "You''re lucky I''m not chaining you to a warded bed." Merlin said nothing. Her gaze sharpened. "You''re not here because I need answers. We''ve already had that conversation. You''re here because I need you to understand this¡ª" She tapped the papers. "This? This is the last favor I give you for free." His fingers curled around the edge of the parchment. "You stepped off the edge of a very specific line," Morgana said. "And survived." Barely. "We don''t have the luxury of pretending anymore," she continued. "You''ve been noticed." Merlin''s jaw tightened. "By who." She smiled. Not kindly. "The kind of people who only look down when something moves too fast for them to ignore." He signed the first page. "I don''t have anything left." "You''re wrong," she said, too quickly. He paused. "You''re not a sword anymore," she said quietly. "But that doesn''t mean you aren''t dangerous." Merlin didn''t answer. He signed the second form. Then the third. When it was done, he looked up. "I''m going back to class tomorrow." Morgana''s brow arched. "You can''t channel." "I can walk." "That''s not the same." "I don''t care." Her fingers steepled under her chin. For a moment, the office was still. Then without breaking eye contact, she nodded. "Then walk carefully," she said. "Because you''re not invisible anymore kid." Merlin stood. The pain flared in his ribs, but he ignored it. She didn''t rise. He turned for the door. "Oh, and Merlin." He paused. "If you break something again," she said smoothly, "try not to bleed on my marble." He smiled. But didn''t respond. The door closed behind him just a little softer than before. Vivienne was already waiting in the hall. She straightened as Merlin stepped out of Morgana''s office, scanning his face in a quick, habitual sweep. Noticing the stiffness in his shoulders. The drag in his gait. She didn''t ask what was said. Didn''t need to. Instead, she fell into step beside him, hands tucked behind her back like a soldier guiding a prisoner who refused to act like one. "Come on," she said quietly. He didn''t ask where. He followed. The northern wing was quieter than the others. Less traffic. Fewer students. The air here always felt a little more still. Like the walls were listening. Vivienne didn''t speak until they passed the last lecture hall. "Your old place is too far from the academy," she said. "And I''m not carrying you every time you decide to collapse." "I never collapsed.." Merlin muttered. "You vanished into a hell dimension, came back without your magic, and walked halfway across campus like a haunted broomstick," she shot back. "I''m not arguing semantics." He didn''t have the energy to argue. Not really. They turned another corner, descending a narrow stairwell tucked behind one of the older lecture halls. The stone here was older. Uneven. More runework etched into the corners¡ªwards for sound, for privacy. The kind the staff used. It wasn''t a student dormitory. Vivienne stopped in front of a reinforced wooden door. Brass handle. Polished plate with no name. "This used to be a faculty room," she said. "It''s unused. Close to everything. Quiet." Merlin raised a brow. "You bribed the quartermaster?" "I threatened to burn his shoes down." "...Did it work?" "Yes." She opened the door. The room wasn''t large. Just enough space for a single bed, a desk, and a narrow armoire. But the walls were clean. The window overlooked the eastern garden. A small rune-etched lantern hung from the ceiling, humming faintly with contained firelight. Merlin stepped inside. He ran a hand over the desk surface. Smooth. Untouched. "You''re not staying here forever," Vivienne said from the doorway. "Just until you can walk more than ten meters without looking like someone stabbed you in the liver." "Feels more like the spine," Merlin murmured. "Then we''ll compromise and say both." She leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed again. Watching him without pressing. "You good here?" He nodded once. She didn''t leave yet. Her voice softened. Just slightly. "You don''t have to prove anything, you know." Merlin sat down on the edge of the bed, legs stiff. His fingers curled against his knee. "I do," he said. Vivienne didn''t argue. Didn''t try to change his mind. "Rest, Everhart," she said, straightening. "Classes start again tomorrow." He didn''t ask how she managed to get him excused from today. He just listened as her footsteps faded down the corridor. And for a while, he sat in silence. Alone. No system message. No pulse of mana. Just the quiet. And the wind brushing through the garden outside. Chapter 73 73: Dreams The room felt too still. Merlin sat there a moment longer, elbows on his knees, eyes fixed on nothing in particular. The hum of the rune-light above cast soft shadows across the walls. Warm, steady, artificial. Eventually, he moved. Not because he wanted to, but because the exhaustion coiled behind his eyes was beginning to press inward, too dense to ignore. His limbs didn''t ache as badly as they had that morning, but they still felt like they belonged to someone else. Someone heavier. Slower. Emptier. He shifted carefully onto the bed. The mattress dipped beneath him, firmer than what he was used to, but clean. The pillow smelled like nothing. The blanket was light, made of spell-woven fabric designed to regulate temperature. He lay back. Exhaled. The ceiling above him stretched plain and white. One hairline crack ran along the left edge near the corner. No runes. No enchantments. Just stone and plaster. He stared at it until the tension in his chest stopped building. No noise. No urgent messages. No system chiming. No hidden gods bickering in his ear. And no magic. That last one settled differently. Like a missing limb. Not pain. Just... wrongness. He reached inward again, because he couldn''t help it. Still nothing. Still silence. His fingers curled around the edge of the blanket. ''I don''t know what''s worse. Losing it, or being able to feel what''s missing.'' He closed his eyes. The weight of his body felt distant. Detached. Like the room wasn''t real. Like his skin wasn''t his. Images flickered behind his eyelids. The dark corridors of the lab. Subject 0''s eyes. Blood on tile. Nathan''s voice, yelling. Elara''s hand around his ribs. Vivienne''s steadiness, anchoring him when he couldn''t walk alone. He didn''t want to dream. But he didn''t want to be awake either. So he let the exhaustion pull him under, not gently. His last conscious thought before sleep took him was bitter. ''If this is what surviving feels like, maybe I preferred dying.'' Then, at last, he slept. ¡ª The dream was wrong. Not because it was vivid. Not because it made sense. Just because it didn''t. There was no sound. No weight. No edge to anything. Just a slow, endless pull. White light stretched out in every direction. Not warm. Not cold. Just blank. Merlin stood at the center of it. Clothes clung to him like wet cloth. His skin felt too thin. Like if he touched anything too hard, it would split open. There was no wind. No scent. No shadow beneath his feet. Just him. And the knowing. [System notification: Core Signature ¨C Missing.] [System notification: Affinity Channels ¨C Inactive.] [System notification: Spiritual Root ¨C Compromised.] [Estimated restoration: Unknown.] He didn''t react. Not outwardly. But inside¡ªsomething cracked. Quietly. [User state: Stabilized.] [Magic flow: Sealed.] [Soul resonance: Fractured.] Fractured. Not severed. Not shattered. But damaged. Like a mirror dropped once and glued back together. Fine from a distance. But if you looked too close, you''d see every split. He raised a hand to his chest. Fingers hovering just over where his mana should''ve burned brightest. Nothing. Not even a flicker of heat. He didn''t speak. There was no one to hear it if he did. No wind. No breath. No voice. Just that endless white. The system said nothing more. He didn''t ask. Because he already knew. This wasn''t recovery. This was limbo. And when he opened his eyes the entire world was gray. Not hell. Not blood. Just the faint hush of rain against the window. He lay in a different bed. Fresh linens. A heavy quilt tucked around his legs. The scent of lavender faint in the air, probably from whatever Vivienne insisted be placed nearby. The room was dark, save for the thin line of silver slicing past the closed curtains. It danced slightly as the wind shifted. He moved. Slowly. The motion pulled at something behind his ribs, but not enough to stop him. He sat up. Each joint creaked. His legs were cold. The floor colder. His feet touched the wood, and for a moment, just a moment, he didn''t feel like he belonged in his own body. Like something had replaced him, and left behind this imitation. He exhaled through his nose. No mana. Still nothing. The system didn''t whisper. Didn''t glow. Didn''t pulse at the edges of his vision. It was just quiet. Like it, too, was waiting to see what he would do. Merlin pushed himself to his feet. He stood. Wobbled. Didn''t fall. He made his way to the window, each step silent against the floorboards. Pulled the curtain aside. The courtyard below shimmered in rain. No people. No sound. Just the stone path, slick and empty, and the tall black trees swaying gently in the wind. He stared out at it all. Not thinking. Not hoping. Just... existing. Because right now, that was the only thing he still knew how to do. ¡ª The rain continued. Soft. Constant. A steady rhythm that dulled the edges of his thoughts. Merlin didn''t move from the window. His fingers rested lightly against the glass, but he didn''t feel the cold. Not really. Just a vague impression of it. Like his body registered sensation a few seconds too late. He blinked slowly. Each breath came with effort, not because it hurt, but because it felt unnecessary. There was no mana stirring beneath his skin. No pressure behind his heartbeat. Just quiet. Dead quiet. A knock came at the door. Not urgent. Not polite. Just there. He turned, slowly, joints stiff. "Come in," he said. His voice sounded thin in the room. Like it didn''t quite belong to him. The door opened, creaking faintly. Nathan stepped in. He didn''t speak at first. Just stared. His hair was damp. His coat half-buttoned. One of his sleeves had been rolled to the elbow like he forgot halfway through putting himself together. "You look like shit," Nathan said. Merlin gave a slow nod. "Accurate." Nathan shut the door behind him and crossed the room. He stopped beside the desk and leaned back against it, arms folded. "You slept through half the day. I told Vivienne that you still won''t be attending lectures yet." "I needed it.." "You need a blood transfusion and a mana injection," Nathan muttered. "And possibly a new soul." Merlin didn''t smile. Nathan didn''t expect him to. They sat in silence for a while. The only sound came from the rain outside and the occasional distant crack of a spell shield shifting in the Academy''s outer layers. Then Nathan spoke again. "You''re really not alright, are you." It wasn''t a question. Merlin didn''t respond. Nathan looked down at the floor, then back up. "I saw you, back in the courtyard. The way you moved. The way you looked at them." "I didn''t look at them." "Exactly," Nathan said. Another silence. "You didn''t tell me," Nathan said quietly. "You were planning to die back there." Merlin closed his eyes for a moment. "I wasn''t planning anything." "Don''t lie." "I thought it was the only way," Merlin said. "At the time." "And now?" Merlin opened his eyes again. "I''m still here." Nathan stared at him for a long moment. "You are." He pushed off the desk and walked to the side of the bed, grabbing the chair and dragging it closer. He sat down without ceremony, back slouched, hands folded in front of him. "You don''t have to talk," he said. "I''ll just sit here. You can pretend you''re alone. You''re good at that." Merlin didn''t respond. The rain outside thickened slightly. Nathan didn''t move. And for a long time, neither of them said anything. Not because they didn''t have things to say. But because sometimes silence said enough. Merlin stared out the window. Nathan stayed exactly where he was. It wasn''t peace. Not yet. But it was a beginning. The light shifted. Somewhere behind the clouds, the sun must have moved, but it didn''t matter. The room stayed dim. Washed in gray. Rain patterned against the window, soft and steady. Almost like a lullaby. Merlin leaned back against the headboard, eyes half-lidded. Nathan hadn''t moved. He was still slouched in the chair by the bed, one foot tapping lightly against the leg, arms crossed now, jacket draped over the side. "Did Vivienne yell at you?" Merlin asked, voice dry. Nathan snorted. "She always yells at me. Today wasn''t special." "...What about Morgana?" Nathan hesitated. Then, "We don''t usually see her anyways. It wasn''t different today." That told Merlin more than any lecture would have. He shifted slightly under the covers. Not from discomfort. Just to feel something. Anything. His body was slow. Weighed down. But not from injury. From absence. "No news yet?" he asked. Nathan didn''t look at him. "About what." "You know what." "...No." The silence stretched again. Merlin closed his eyes. Not asleep. Not yet. Just resting. A different kind of resting. He could still hear it. The echo of the rift. The sound of the corrupted mana crawling against his skin. The heavy pulse of something watching from the other side. The way space had bent broken when he stepped through. The way the system had screamed. Then gone silent. He didn''t tell Nathan about the silence. Or the messages. Or the static that sometimes lingered at the edge of his hearing, like someone had forgotten to shut off an old radio in another room. Some things weren''t meant to be shared. Not yet. "Liliana and Adrian want to visit later," Nathan said, breaking the stillness. "Seraphina, too. She didn''t say it out loud, but you know her. She''s probably already scheduled the meeting and checked if you''re allowed solid food." "I am, I already ate solid food." "Cool. I''ll still tell her to bring soup though." Merlin cracked one eye open. Nathan''s expression was completely unreadable. "Why are you still here," Merlin asked. "You''re the one who looks like a corpse," Nathan said. "I''m the emotional support human, remember?" Merlin didn''t respond. But he didn''t tell him to leave either. Nathan leaned his head back against the wall. Closed his eyes. Neither of them said anything after that. Not for a long time. Because some moments didn''t need words. Some silences didn''t need to be broken. Chapter 74 74: Weapon The morning didn''t arrive with sunlight. Just pale gray pressing against the curtains, the kind that made it hard to tell whether it was dawn or some stretched-out version of night refusing to leave. Rain still whispered against the windows. The wind scraped along the frame in thin, dragging breaths. Merlin stirred. Slow. Eyes open but unfocused. He blinked once. Then again. The ceiling above him didn''t change. Still the same stonework. Still the same shallow patterns carved into the support beams¡ªcommon in the faculty housing. Meant to stabilize mana flow, prevent atmospheric distortion. ''Pointless for now I guess.'' His body didn''t ache like before. It felt worse. Not pain. Not sharp. Just... hollow. Like someone had carved out the core of him and replaced it with static. He sat up slowly. One hand braced against the bedframe. His arm trembled. Muscles not used to carrying his own weight anymore. The blankets slid down his shoulders. There was a thin glass of water on the table. Covered with a folded cloth. A note beneath it. Merlin didn''t reach for it. He didn''t need to. He already knew the handwriting. Nathan had scrawled something at the bottom. Something dumb. Probably a joke. Definitely not going to read it for now...'' Merlin didn''t want to see it. Not yet. He slid his legs over the edge. Feet touched cold stone. He let them. He didn''t reach for Keryx. Because Keryx wasn''t there. ''Where is it..'' No blade at his side. No mana in his veins. Just a body that barely felt like it belonged to him anymore. A knock broke the stillness. Three short taps. Crisp. Elara wouldn''t knock. Vivienne would barge in. That left one option. Merlin didn''t answer. But the door opened anyway. Morgana stepped into the room like she''d always belonged in it. Hair tied back today. Robes not as elaborate as usual. Her white eyes swept across the space once, then landed on him. "You''re awake." Merlin didn''t nod. She stepped forward, folding her arms behind her back. "Good. I was starting to worry you''d become decoration." He looked at her. Quietly. She returned the gaze, equally silent. Then, with the faintest tilt of her head¡ª "Walk with me." He blinked once. Morgana waited. No explanation. No clarification. Just an invitation phrased like a command. Merlin stood. Slow. Careful. He didn''t hide the way his legs shook when he took the first step. Morgana didn''t comment. He followed her out into the hall. No one else was there. Just quiet. And her footsteps leading the way. They didn''t speak. Not until they reached the stairs descending into the archival wing¡ªan area closed off to most students, tucked beneath the Headmistress''s quarters. Lined with old enchantments. Residual echoes. Sealed doors. Then, softly¡ª "There''s something I need you to sign again." Merlin frowned. "That''s it?" Morgana gave him a sharp look. "You thought I dragged you out of bed for tea, little boy?" He didn''t answer. She opened a side door. Inside¡ªan empty table. A single scroll. Ink and pen laid out beside it. She gestured for him to sit. He did. She unrolled the scroll and pushed it forward. "Medical documentation again," she said. "Proof of recovery. Also outlines your temporary withdrawal from practical lessons." Merlin stared at it. His name. Inked in perfect cursive. A few lines of vague wording. No mention of the portal. No mention of the breach. It was an official lie. He picked up the pen. Signed without comment. Morgana rolled it back up. "You''ll be cleared for observation after two weeks." "I don''t need¡ª" "Yes," she said, interrupting. "You do." He didn''t argue again. She studied him a moment longer. Then said, "You''ll need to decide soon." "About what." "Whether you''re going to pretend nothing happened, or start preparing for the next time it does." Merlin didn''t reply. Because he already knew the answer. But saying it out loud meant committing. And he wasn''t ready for that yet. Morgana turned toward the door. Just before stepping out, she added, "Some of the students are already back in class, however you have two days before all of the students return to full class rotation. Spend them wisely." Then she was gone. Leaving Merlin alone again. In a room that hummed faintly with memory. He stood there for a while. Not thinking. Just existing. Then finally, he turned. And walked back into the quiet. ¡ª The hallway outside Merlin''s temporary room creaked under a heavier step. Not boots meant for silence. Not the soft-soled tread of a mage or the polished click of an instructor. This was weight. Presence. Armor set aside but not forgotten. The sound of someone who didn''t need stealth to be dangerous. Merlin looked up from the chair by the window. Rain still tapped against the glass, slower now. Distant thunder curled beneath the clouds like a warning no one had listened to. Then the knock came. Once. And the door opened. Reinhardt filled the frame like a wall had come to visit. ''What''s he doing here?'' Broad shoulders. Thick scarred hands. A cloak too worn to be official but too deliberate to be accidental. His black hair was tied low behind his back, a few streaks of grey threading the edges now. And in his hand¡ª Keryx. Merlin sat up. Reinhardt stepped in without invitation. He never waited for those. The door clicked shut behind him. Keryx was wrapped in black cloth. The kind used to bind relics, to muffle signature readings. As if someone had been afraid of the weapon doing something on its own. He set it gently across the small table near Merlin''s bed. His movements were careful. Too careful for a man known for splitting boulders. "I took a look at your toothpick," Reinhardt said dryly. Merlin didn''t speak. Just reached out and unwrapped the blade. The rapier looked the same. Thin. Straight. Silver-edged steel. The hilt still fit perfectly in his hand. ''It''s good..but..'' But he felt nothing from it now. No response. No pulse. Just cold metal. Still, he held it like it mattered. Reinhardt leaned against the wall. Arms crossed. Watching him. Then he finally spoke up. "Why a rapier?" Merlin didn''t answer. Reinhardt raised a brow. "I''ve seen you fight. And survive fights you shouldn''t. But that weapon doesn''t make sense for how you move. For what you''ve been through." Still no response. Reinhardt''s voice softened, just slightly. "It''s not practical. Not with your affinities. Not with your instincts." Merlin ran his thumb along the flat of the blade. It didn''t hum. Didn''t crackle. He spoke, quiet. "It was never supposed to be practical." Reinhardt frowned. "Then what?" Merlin looked up. And for a second, Reinhardt saw it. The same expression from the reports. From the battlefield. From the night they thought he died. Something cold. Something deliberate. "It was supposed to be precise." Reinhardt studied him. "Precision doesn''t win wars." "No," Merlin said. "But it stops the wrong people from dying." The silence stretched. Rain ticked once against the glass. Then Reinhardt exhaled, slow. He pushed off the wall and turned toward the door. Just before he opened it, he paused. "If you ever decide to switch," he said without looking back, "I''ll get you something that matches your madness." Merlin''s grip tightened around Keryx. "I''ll keep that in mind." Reinhardt left. Merlin sat alone with the blade across his knees. Still silent. Still empty. But somehow... heavier than before. ''Should I get keryx to...switch? It''s a chosen weapon after all..'' Merlin stared at the blade in his hands wide eyed, without a single thought behind his eyes. The room seemed to grow smaller. Or maybe it was just his world that felt like it was closing in. He had known this moment would come, this reckoning, but the weight of it, of the choice ahead of him, was far heavier than he anticipated. He glanced down at the blade again. The silver edge gleamed under the dim light, but the familiar shimmer that used to respond to his will, to his magic, was gone. And with it, a sense of him was lost. "Precision..." he muttered to himself. He could hear Reinhardt''s voice echoing in his mind. ''It''s not practical...?'' Merlin''s fingers flexed around the hilt. ''Was it practical? Was it ever?'' Or had it just been a weapon tied to an ideal, to a version of him that no longer existed? ''Not practical... but precise.'' It was an ideal, a way of life. But now, with his magic fractured, his affinities scattered like leaves in the wind, he felt like he was running out of options. He stared out the window, his gaze unfocused. The rain was no longer tapping. It was pounding now, almost as though it was trying to drown the thoughts inside his head. "Why did it have to be this way?" Merlin whispered to himself. His eyes slowly wandered back to Keryx. The blade felt heavier, almost accusing him of things. Chapter 75 75: Healing (1) Merlin let his eyes close for a moment. Just a moment. Then opened them again. He stood. Slow. Controlled. His legs didn''t shake this time. But only just. He crossed to the desk in the corner, pulled open the top drawer, and retrieved the folded parchment waiting inside. The paperwork Vivienne had mentioned. Academy logistics. Formal reassignments. Medical reports stamped with seals he didn''t recognize. ''Dorm reassigned. Course deferments filed. Mana access reviewed. All very official. All very meaningless.'' He set the forms down without signing. Instead, he turned back to Keryx. The blade rested across the chair now, gleaming faintly in the overcast light. He reached out. Gripped the hilt. Nothing. He tried again. Slower. Focused. He reached inside himself. Not into the system. Not into mana. Just... into the place where it used to be. Nothing. It was like screaming into a vacuum. No echo. No resistance. Just empty. His fingers curled tighter around the hilt. The sword didn''t move. Didn''t fight him. Didn''t recognize him. "...I''m still here," he said aloud, voice flat. The room didn''t answer. The blade didn''t answer. He let go. Turned away. Walked to the window again, leaning against the frame. The glass was cold beneath his fingertips. Below, the academy grounds stretched quiet in the grey morning. Students moved between buildings. Laughter rose in short bursts. A spell misfired somewhere in the distance¡ªan instructor barked a correction. Normal. Everything continued like nothing had happened. Like he hadn''t been swallowed by a rift, torn apart, left to rot in the dark. He closed his eyes. His voice, when it came, was a whisper. "...Why the hell did I come back?" And still¡ªno one answered. Just the sound of rain against glass. And a sword that no longer remembered its wielder. He sat at the edge of the bed, fingers laced together, head bowed slightly like he was praying. But there were no gods left to hear him. Not in the kind of story he was living. Not after what he''d seen. The sword remained where he''d left it, untouched on the chair. The silence stretched. Too long. Too loud. His body still ached¡ªfaint pulses under the skin where mana used to gather. He could still feel the shape of his affinities like ghost limbs. Lightning. Wind. Water. Space. Now just names. Empty titles. He stood. Not to walk. Not to leave. He just needed to move. He paced once across the room. Then again. Three steps one way. Three steps back. The rhythm was clean. Predictable. His footsteps didn''t echo. That made it worse. ''This body isn''t mine anymore. I''m just... borrowing the shell.'' He stopped in front of the mirror. The face staring back was familiar. Not perfect. Pale from blood loss. Eyes duller than they''d ever been. There was something missing behind the gold. Not madness. Not grief. Something quieter. Something worse. Certainty. He pressed a palm flat against the mirror. His reflection did the same. "...You survived again." He hated the tone in his voice. It sounded like disappointment. The knock came just as he pulled away. Sharp. Measured. Not student cadence. Staff. He opened the door without speaking. Seraph stood in the hall, coat damp from the rain, clipboard tucked under one arm. Black hair tied in a neat twist. Eyes sharper than any scalpel in the medical wing. "I was told to check on you," she said. Merlin nodded once. "You''ve seen me. You can leave." She ignored that. Stepped inside. Let the door shut quietly behind her. "Sit." He didn''t move. Seraph glanced at the untouched papers on the desk. At the sword on the chair. Then back at him. "You haven''t signed the reports." "No." "Why?" He paused. Then shrugged. "They won''t change anything." Her expression didn''t shift. But she stepped closer. "You don''t have mana." "I''m aware." "You should be screaming." "I''m tired." Seraph watched him. Not with pity. Not with scorn. Just silence. Then she said, "It''s definitely not permanent." His gaze flicked to her. Sharp. Dangerous. "You don''t know that." She met his look without blinking. "No. But I know mana scars. I''ve studied them. And I''ve seen something like this before." Merlin''s hands clenched. She walked to the desk. Set down her clipboard. Pulled a small glass vial from her pocket. Mana thread gleamed inside¡ªfaint, unstable. "Your core isn''t gone," she said. "It''s fractured. The damage is deep, but not total. With time, with rest¡ª" "I don''t have time." Her voice didn''t rise. "Then make it." A pause. Then softer, almost kind: "If you want it back, you need to act like you deserve it." Merlin didn''t answer. He just stared at the vial as the mana shimmered faintly. She left it on the desk. Then walked to the door. "Rest. Sign the forms. Come to class. Pretend, if you have to." She glanced over her shoulder. "But don''t give up." The door clicked behind her. Silence returned. Merlin looked at the vial. Mana, flickering. Like a promise. Or a lie. He didn''t reach for it. Not yet. But for the first time since waking up¡ª He didn''t look away either. ¡ª The room held its breath. Not literally, but that''s what it felt like. Like the walls themselves were waiting. Seraph stood near the doorway, back straight, hands folded loosely in front of her. She didn''t pace. Didn''t fidget. She just watched them. Elara sat with her arms crossed, chin tilted ever so slightly¡ªguarded, but listening. Nathan leaned forward on the edge of the couch, hands clasped between his knees, legs bouncing in place. Seraph let the silence linger one more second. Then she spoke. "It''s worse than I expected." Nathan''s leg stopped bouncing. "His mana system isn''t just overtaxed. It''s fractured." She glanced at each of them in turn. "Parts of it are still active. The threads are there. But the core itself¡ª" "Damaged?" Elara asked, voice quiet. "Wounded," Seraph said. "Unstable. His soul took a hit through the rift. And from what I''ve seen, it hasn''t repaired itself." "So what happens next?" Nathan asked. "He... just can''t cast anymore?" "No affinity channeling. No reinforcement. His body''s working on pure instinct right now." She hesitated. "Even walking probably feels like holding up an avalanche." That landed heavier than it should have. Because they knew him. And they knew he''d never admit it. Nathan looked down at his hands. "He''s not going to tell us." "No," Seraph said. "He isn''t." Adrian''s voice cut in. "But you are." Seraph''s gaze didn''t flinch. "Yes." A pause. Not out of doubt. But recalculation. Nathan''s voice was too quiet. "Can it be fixed?" Seraph didn''t answer at first. "I don''t know." Elara stood slowly. "Then we''ll find a way." Seraph''s expression didn''t change, but there was something in her eyes¡ªapproval, maybe. Or agreement. She stepped back toward the door. "He won''t ask for help." "But we''ll make sure he gets it anyway." The door clicked shut behind her. None of them spoke for a long time. Because it wasn''t just about magic. It was about what it meant to lose it. And Merlin had always been the one walking ten steps ahead of everyone else. Now they''d have to catch up. And carry him, whether he wanted it or not. ¡ª The breeze hit him like a ghost''s breath. Cold. Thin. Too clean. Merlin leaned against the outer wall of the dormitory, one hand braced against the stone, the other curled loosely at his side. His boots scraped lightly across gravel as he took a slow step forward. Then another. No one was around. Just rows of empty benches lining the perimeter path and the soft hiss of leaves curling in the morning wind. His legs ached. Not sharp pain. Just deep. Like his muscles still remembered how much they''d failed him. He forced another step. The weight of Keryx was light at his hip. Familiar. But foreign now too. Like a memory worn too thin to feel real. He hadn''t touched it since Reinhardt set it down. Just strapped it to his side and moved. Out of reflex. Out of ritual. ''Just walk. See how far you make it.'' The Academy grounds spread wide beneath the pale light. No students here. No voices. No expectations. He preferred it this way. The sun hadn''t fully risen yet. Just enough to cast long shadows between the tower spires. The windows caught the light wrong. Too bright. Too sharp. Merlin''s breath fogged faintly. His pulse stayed slow. But still, no mana. Not a flicker. Not even a false spark beneath the skin. He reached inward again anyway. Just to check. And again, he found nothing. The void wasn''t as surprising as it used to be. But it still carved out a hollow behind his ribs. He exhaled. The path curved near the outer garden, flanked by hedges that hadn''t been trimmed yet. He paused beside a low stone bench, let his fingers skim the surface. Cool with dew. Earthy. He lowered himself onto the bench, elbows resting on his knees. The sky above had gone soft with color. Not red. Not like the continent. Just pale blue, tinged with the promise of heat later. Nothing dangerous. Nothing bleeding. It almost felt fake. Merlin glanced down at his hands. Still pale. Still human. No burns. No frost. No blood. Just still. Like the world didn''t know what to do with him now. ''No mana. No system access. No status window. I''m just...'' He flexed his fingers once. ''A sword with no edge.'' The grass rustled behind him. He didn''t look. Didn''t need to. The footsteps stopped just a few paces back. Then a pause. Then they left again. He didn''t turn to see who it was. Just closed his eyes for a second, letting the silence fold back in. Maybe today was just walking. Maybe tomorrow would be standing. He didn''t know yet. But he wasn''t in a coffin. Chapter 76 76: Healing (2) The stone beneath him stayed cold, no matter how long he sat. Merlin leaned forward a little, elbows braced on his knees, fingers laced loosely together. His head hung low, gaze blank. The air smelled faintly of morning fog and the metallic edge of mana drift from distant practice fields. He didn''t move. Not even when a pair of birds kicked up from a tree nearby, wings snapping sharp through the stillness. ''Maybe I should be grateful.'' The thought scraped along the inside of his mind. ''Alive. Breathing. Whole.'' But it did not feel like living. It felt like something else. Like standing in the ruins of a burned house, knowing the fire was gone but smelling the smoke anyway. He shifted his weight, testing the strength in his legs again. Still weak. Still unreliable. The walk from the dorm to here had felt like dragging iron chains behind his heels. His body remembered how to move but not how to thrive. He hated it. A soft clatter echoed from the far end of the path. Merlin''s head rose slightly. No one. Just a few loose stones knocked by the breeze. Still, his hand dropped instinctively to Keryx''s hilt. The familiar leather grip met his palm, even if the strength to use it properly was nothing but a memory. He stayed like that a while. Listening. Watching. Nothing came. No threats. No monsters. No portals bleeding corruption across the sky. Just silence. The sun edged higher. Its light caught on the academy towers, turning the windows to sheets of burning gold. Somewhere deeper inside the grounds, bells rang. A soft, chiming sound calling students to their first lessons. Merlin did not move. He wasn''t a student anymore. Not fully. Not like them. Not with the way he was now. He turned his head slightly, studying the side gardens through half-lidded eyes. No movement there either. No Nathan sneaking snacks from the greenhouse. No Adrian waving an axe too close to terrified bystanders. No Liliana lecturing anyone within earshot on water spell efficiency. Just Merlin. And the emptiness he carried with him now. He shifted his hand away from the blade and rested it against his thigh. The ache in his bones flared again. A deep pulse that wasn''t quite physical. Not quite spiritual either. Like his body itself was rejecting its own memory. ''Broken.'' The word sat bitter on his tongue. He inhaled once through his nose. The breath scraped. Thin. Unsatisfying. Then he stood. Slowly. Carefully. The ground wobbled slightly beneath him, but he found his balance before it could topple him. One step forward. Another. Toward the main training fields. Toward the part of himself that still remembered what it meant to fight. He did not have a destination. Only momentum. And right now, that was enough. ¡ª The training fields stretched open under a pale, overcast sky. Merlin''s boots crunched lightly over the gravel, his steps slow, measured. The air smelled faintly of dust and mana residue, the remnants of yesterday''s sparring sessions clinging to the ground like smoke that had forgotten how to rise. He did not have a destination. Only the vague impulse to move. To keep his body going, even if the rest of him felt hollow. The morning classes had ended a while ago. Most of the students had already retreated to the shade of the main halls or their dorms. Only a few lingered near the weapon racks. And among them, trouble. Merlin noticed the group without looking directly at them. First-years. Loud. Restless. A cluster of three boys and a girl, their uniforms wrinkled and their mana signatures raw and undisciplined. He kept walking. That was his first mistake. "Oi." The voice snapped across the empty field, cutting through the quiet. Merlin''s steps slowed. He turned his head slightly, enough to catch the speaker in the corner of his vision. A tall boy, broad-shouldered, standing just apart from his group like he thought it made him important. His hair was cut too short, his mouth twisted into a grin too wide to be real. "You''re the cripple, right?" the boy said, voice carrying. "The one who jumped into the rift like an idiot." Merlin stared at him. ''Who the fuck is this guy?'' The boy mistook silence for weakness. "I heard you lost your mana." He laughed, a short, ugly sound. "Bet you wish you stayed dead, huh?" Behind him, his friends chuckled, nudging each other. ''News really do travel fast in this place.'' Merlin adjusted his grip on the cloth-wrapped bread still tucked in his hand. He thought, briefly, about walking away. It would have been smarter. Instead, he changed direction. Each step deliberate. Unhurried. The space between them shrank. The boy''s grin faltered slightly. Only a little. Merlin stopped two paces away. The boy squared his shoulders, puffing up like a crow trying to scare a wolf. "You gonna cry?" he sneered. "Or maybe beg for some pity points?" Merlin said nothing. He dropped the half-eaten bread onto the gravel. The boy opened his mouth to say something else. He never got the chance. Merlin moved. His right hand shot out, grabbed the front of the boy''s collar, and yanked. Momentum did the rest. The boy stumbled forward, off-balance, arms flailing. Merlin stepped into him, pivoted smoothly, and threw him into the dirt with a clean, practiced motion. The ground shook slightly with the impact. The boy gasped, breath knocked out of him. Merlin did not hesitate. He knelt beside the boy, grabbed a fistful of the jacket again, and drove his fist into the boy''s stomach. Once. Short. Brutal. The boy choked, curling instinctively, body shuddering with the effort to breathe. Merlin let go. The boy hit the dirt again, coughing. The others stared. Wide-eyed. Frozen. Merlin stood. He adjusted the cuff of his sleeve, slow, casual. "If you have something to say," Merlin said, voice flat, "say it while you still have teeth." The boy whimpered. No words. Only pain. Merlin''s gaze swept across the others. None of them met his eyes. Good. He turned. Picked up the crumpled piece of bread from the ground. Brushed the dust from it with careful fingers. And kept walking. No one followed. No one spoke. The field returned to silence, broken only by the boy''s shallow, ragged breathing against the dirt. Merlin did not look back. Because it was not worth it. Not anymore. Not when he had bigger wars to fight. ¡ª The gravel gave way to worn flagstones as he crossed the threshold back toward the inner courtyard. Merlin''s fingers itched faintly where they had touched the boy''s jacket. Not from injury. From memory. His body still remembered the rhythm of violence, even if his mana did not. Each step felt heavier than it should have. Not from exhaustion. Not even from the lingering weight of the fight. It was the silence inside him. The silence where there should have been mana roaring in his veins. He pulled the courtyard door open with his good arm, shoulder stiff from the strain. The breeze that met him was thin and dry, carrying the faint metallic tang of the academy wards overhead. He did not stop. The Academy was beginning to stir properly now. More students moving between classes. More conversations spilling from the dorm halls and lecture towers. Everywhere he turned, faces. Half-recognized, half-avoided. Whispers following him in slow ripples that caught the edge of his hearing. "That''s him." "He survived the breach, right?" "Did you hear? His magic''s gone." Merlin kept walking. Not faster. Not slower. He refused to give them the satisfaction of seeing a reaction. The east corridor opened ahead, framed by high marble arches and shaded with creeping ivy. He veered toward it. Quieter there. Less crowded. A place to breathe without being dissected by a hundred curious stares. The stone walls closed in around him, cool and solid. His boots clicked faintly against the floor. Every sound magnified here, tucked beneath the weight of the building. Merlin reached an alcove halfway down the hall. A small bench tucked beneath a narrow window that barely let in the gray light. He sat heavily. Leaning forward. Elbows on knees. Head bowed. A long, slow breath. In. Out. His hands curled loosely between his knees, knuckles bruised faintly from the earlier impact. He stared at them for a long time. ''This body is still mine. Even if the power inside it isn''t.'' Another breath. Shakier this time. He let his back press against the cold stone wall behind him. The ache in his ribs pulsed with each beat of his heart. It was not pain he feared. Pain was simple. Pain was familiar. It was the emptiness that gnawed at him. The gnawing question of what he was supposed to be now. A swordsman without mana. A mage without spells. A survivor without a future. He closed his eyes. And for just a moment, he let the weight settle fully onto his shoulders. Let himself feel it. No more running. No more pretending. No more lies to Elara, to Nathan, to anyone else. Just the truth. Crushing and absolute. He was broken. And no one could fix it. Not even him. The air shifted faintly. A distant door opened somewhere deeper in the hallways. Footsteps echoed down the stone passage, light and unhurried. Merlin opened his eyes. The walls were still gray. The world still cold. He pushed himself to his feet, slowly, feeling every inch of the movement in his bones. His hand brushed Keryx''s hilt automatically. The sword remained silent at his side. A promise. Or maybe a memory. He did not know which yet. Straightening his shoulders, Merlin started walking again. One step at a time. The same way he always had. Even if the path ahead was darker than anything he had faced before. Especially because of that. Chapter 77 77: Healing (3) The hall stretched long and empty ahead. His boots barely made a sound now. A ghost moving through stone veins. Merlin made it to the next archway before the footsteps caught up to him. Not fast. Not urgent. Just persistent. He turned his head slightly. A figure approached from the side corridor. Not a professor. Not a council member. A student. Older than him by a few years at least. Combat track uniform. Sleeves rolled to the elbows. An armband that marked him as a squad leader in the second-year dueling groups. Sword slung casually at his hip. The boy smiled as he drew closer. Too wide. Too easy. Merlin''s fingers twitched near Keryx''s hilt. Reflex. Nothing more. "Everhart, right?" the boy said, stopping a few meters away. His tone was light. Almost friendly. But the eyes were wrong. Sizing. Measuring. Waiting for a crack to show. Merlin said nothing. The boy didn''t seem bothered. He shifted his weight lazily, thumb hooking under his belt. "They said you were impressive during the breach," he continued. "Rumor is you took down half the creatures alone." Merlin tilted his head slightly. Not agreement. Not denial. Just... listening. The boy grinned wider. "But rumor also says you''re a cripple now." The words hit the stone like stones themselves. No one else was around. The halls swallowed the sound. Still, Merlin did not speak. He watched. Waited. The boy''s grin sharpened. "You don''t look like much without your magic," he said. "Just another weakling playing hero." ''Seriously? Again..?'' A slow step forward. Deliberate. Testing. Seeing how far he could push. "You know," the boy mused, tapping his sword hilt lightly, "some of the others are wondering if you''re still worth respecting. Or if you''re just a charity case now." Merlin''s knuckles cracked faintly as his hand closed into a loose fist. Not a battle stance. Not yet. But the boy noticed. He laughed. "Relax. I''m just saying what everyone''s thinking." Another step. "Maybe you should go back to wherever you crawled out from. Leave the real fighting to the rest of us." ''I''ll just finish this.'' Merlin''s head tilted slightly. Not a flinch. Not an angered snap. Something colder. The boy didn''t see it in time. Merlin moved. Not fast. Not explosive. Just efficient. Precise. A hand caught the boy''s collar. Dragged him forward into a brutal knee strike to the gut. The air left the boy''s lungs with a choked sound. Before he could double over, Merlin stepped forward again, planting a palm into his shoulder and slamming him back against the nearest wall. The stone cracked faintly under the impact. The boy gasped, coughing. His hand scrabbled weakly at his sword hilt. Merlin did not draw Keryx. He didn''t need to. He leaned in, voice low and steady against the boy''s ear. "I survived inside the breach," he said. "Do you really think you''ll be the one to beat me?" The boy froze. Merlin stepped back, letting the boy slide down the wall to sit, wheezing, on the ground. "You''re not worth the blade," Merlin said quietly. Then turned. And kept walking. No mana. No flash of power. Just presence. He left the boy slumped in the corridor behind him. The academy moved on as if nothing had happened. Students passed by. Professors glimpsed him from afar. No one stopped him. No one dared. ¡ª The corridors thinned out. Merlin kept walking, past the gardens, past the north wing archways, past the study halls buzzing faintly behind thick doors. His fists still ached. Not from damage. From restraint. He was halfway across the outer courtyard when someone fell into step beside him. Not loudly. Not cautiously either. Just... naturally. "Was that you, back there?" Nathan asked, voice low. ''He''s here again..'' Merlin didn''t look at him. He didn''t need to. Nathan shoved his hands into his pockets, keeping pace easily. "Kid had it coming," he said after a moment. "Still, you could''ve been a little less dramatic." Merlin exhaled through his nose. Nathan grinned, tilting his head slightly as he glanced over. "You know," he continued, conversational, "when I heard there was a brawl in the east corridor, I figured some idiots finally tried to pick a fight with Adrian again. Imagine my surprise when someone said it was you." Merlin said nothing. Nathan''s smile didn''t fade. But it dulled a little. "You''re worse at hiding it than you think," he said, softer. "The way you move now." Merlin''s jaw tensed. But still he didn''t answer. Nathan kicked a loose pebble ahead of them. It clattered against the courtyard stones. "You''re not okay," Nathan said. "You''re pretending real hard. I get it." Silence. The wind caught the edge of Merlin''s coat, snapping it lightly against his legs. Nathan kept walking beside him anyway. Like he had nowhere else to be. Finally, Merlin spoke. Voice quiet. Flat. "Are you going to make me talk about it?" Nathan gave a short laugh. "No. I figured I''d just annoy you with my company until you either snap or realize you like having me around." Merlin gave him a sideways look. Nathan shrugged. "Worked before." It had. Merlin remembered. The way Nathan never pushed, never demanded, just stayed. Just enough to be felt. Not enough to be overwhelming. They passed under the outer gate. The Academy''s high walls rose around them, golden in the sinking afternoon light. Nathan jammed his hands deeper into his pockets. "By the way," he added, voice deliberately casual, "if you ever decide to beat up another idiot, let me know first. I want front row seats next time." Merlin huffed a breath that might have been a laugh if he wasn''t so tired. Nathan grinned, victorious. He bumped Merlin lightly with his shoulder. "See? Still human after all." Merlin let the contact happen. Didn''t shove him away. The sun dipped lower. Their shadows stretched long behind them. For now, that was enough. They didn''t need to talk about missing mana. Or lost strength. Or what was waiting in the cracks of Merlin''s mind. They just walked. Two figures against the dying light. And for a little while, Merlin almost remembered what peace tasted like. ¡ª The courtyard blurred into deep blues and muted silver as the sun finished sinking. The faint glow of the fountain behind them made the air cooler, sharper. Merlin sat with his arms braced loosely against his knees. Still. Silent. Nathan sprawled beside him, humming tunelessly under his breath. Like they were not sitting on the fragile edge of something they could not name. Elara was opposite them now, back straight, one hand resting lightly on her spear. Eyes steady. Quiet. Watching everything. Merlin''s fingers flexed slightly. ''Still too weak.'' The silence stretched longer this time. But it was a different kind of silence. Less like a wound. More like a promise. Nathan finally cracked it, voice light. "So. When are you going to admit you''re dying inside?" Merlin didn''t bother looking at him. ''He''s such an idiot.'' "I''m fine," he said aloud. Nathan snorted. "Yeah. And I''m a celestial dragon in disguise." Merlin exhaled once, a short sharp breath through his nose. Not a laugh. Not quite. He leaned back slightly, letting the chill of the stone bite into his spine. ''At least he is still the same.'' Elara shifted, just enough for her shadow to stretch over the fountain''s rippling edge. She said nothing. But she did not look away from him either. ''They just aren''t forcing me to say it.'' For now. Nathan tilted his head back, looking up at the stars beginning to bleed into the indigo sky. "Y''know," he said lazily, "I bet if we stacked all your issues together, they could build a second tower for the Academy." Merlin let his eyes drift half-closed. ''Maybe they could. Maybe they already have.'' He did not answer. He did not need to. Nathan''s grin widened anyway, bright and easy and infuriating. A breeze kicked through the courtyard. It stirred Elara''s hair and fluttered the ends of Merlin''s shirt against his ribs. For a long while, none of them spoke. They just breathed. Listened to the sound of water gurgling against ancient stone. Let the night close in. It should have felt heavy. Crushing. But somehow, it didn''t. Merlin tilted his head back, staring up at the sky where the stars burned quietly overhead. ''Still so far away.'' Nathan shifted, tapping the side of his boot against the stone rhythmically. "So," he said again, voice lighter than it should be, "what now?" Merlin''s jaw tensed. He thought about it. Really thought. The broken mana. The things still hiding at the edge of this world. The rot he could feel seeping through the cracks no one else noticed. ''There is never peace. Not really. There is only the space between disasters in this world..'' Finally, he spoke. Low. Steady. "Now we wait." Nathan gave a low whistle. "Fantastic plan. Very detailed." Elara''s voice drifted across the space between them, soft but firm. "It is enough." Merlin lowered his head again, staring at the worn cracks in the fountain''s marble. Chapter 78 78: Healing (4) Nathan was still talking. Something about stealing pie. Something about getting caught by Sophia and forced to write a three-page apology letter. Merlin only caught pieces of it. ''He never shuts up when he''s nervous and right now, he seems terrified.'' Elara said nothing. She walked beside them quietly, hands tucked into her sleeves. Her expression was harder to read than usual. Merlin caught her watching him from the corner of her eye more than once. ''They are worrying for no reason.'' He barely believed the thought himself. Then a new voice cut in. "Found you." Seraphina stood at the base of the garden steps, arms folded neatly across her chest. Hair pinned back, uniform immaculate, silver eyes sharp enough to cut glass. Merlin slowed. Nathan immediately fell silent. Even Elara straightened slightly. Seraphina''s gaze locked onto Merlin. "You are coming with me." It was not a question. Not a suggestion. Nathan opened his mouth, then closed it. Elara looked between them but did not interfere. Merlin stared at her for a moment longer. Then he sighed. ''No rest, even now.'' Without a word, he moved. His legs ached. His ribs protested. But he followed her. Nathan and Elara stayed behind. They did not follow. They trusted her. Or at least trusted that she would not let him collapse in a hallway somewhere. Seraphina led him through the quieter wings of the Academy, past gardens, stone corridors, and long-forgotten courtyards swallowed by ivy. She did not speak. Neither did he. Merlin''s mind wandered. ''Where is she taking me?'' Finally, they stopped in front of an old building nestled behind the lecture halls. The door was half-rotted, hanging slightly crooked. Merlin arched a brow. Seraphina ignored it. She rapped her knuckles once against the wood. Nothing happened. Then slowly, a series of enchantments flared to life across the frame. Subtle. Elegant. Old magic. The door clicked open. Seraphina stepped inside. Merlin followed. The room smelled of burnt herbs and copper. The walls were lined with shelves stuffed with faded books, strange relics, and glass jars filled with preserved flowers and teeth. At the center of the room sat a woman. Older than most of the professors, but with the kind of agelessness that made it hard to guess. Her hair was streaked silver. Her robes were stitched with sigils too faint to read. She looked up from a thin scroll she had been studying. Her eyes pinned Merlin to the floor. "Finally," she said. Her voice was rough, like sand over steel. "Bring him here." Seraphina moved aside. Merlin stayed still. The woman raised a brow. "You came all this way. Now you hesitate?" He scowled faintly but stepped forward. ''This better not be some useless ritual.'' The woman motioned for him to sit on a low stool near the firepit. Merlin did. Slowly. Carefully. Every movement scraped against the ache in his bones. The woman leaned forward, studying him. Her fingers hovered near his chest but never touched. She frowned. Deep. "The soul is torn," she murmured. "Frayed. Unstable." Merlin stiffened. Seraphina''s face was unreadable behind him. "No mana circulation. No natural recovery. No wonder you look half-dead," the woman said bluntly. Merlin exhaled quietly. The woman studied him a moment longer. Then she reached into a pouch at her waist. Pulled out a shard of crystal¡ªpale blue, humming faintly. She pressed it lightly against the side of his neck. A jolt ran through him. Not painful. Not pleasant. Just deep. Like something in his soul twitched in its sleep. The woman watched him. "Half a year," she said finally. Merlin blinked. "Half a year of focused treatment. No training. No mana strain. Absolute rest. If you are lucky, your soul might stabilize." Silence stretched thick between them. Merlin stared at the crystal in her hand. At the faint flicker of something still alive inside him. ''Half a year? Seriously?'' He closed his eyes once. Briefly. Then opened them again. Calm. Sharp. "I do not have six months," he said. The woman smiled slightly. Not kindly. Not cruelly. Just knowingly. "Then you had better find another way to live, boy," she said. "Because the way you are now... one good fight, and you will tear apart what is left of you." Merlin said nothing. He stood. Slow. Measured. Seraphina''s eyes flickered with something almost like concern. The woman did not stop him. She just leaned back into her chair and resumed reading her scroll. As if he had already made his choice before he ever walked through the door. He had. Of course he had. Merlin turned. Left the room. The door swung shut behind him with a heavy finality. The cold air outside scraped against his skin. He welcomed it. ''Half a year of rest...or die fighting before then.'' His hand tightened into a fist. There was no choice. Not for him. Not for the people he had sworn to protect. Even if they did not know it. Even if they never would. ''I will find another way.'' He walked back toward the main courtyard. Each step heavier than the last. And in the distance, the bells of the Academy tolled for the noon hour, sharp and clear against the brittle blue sky. ¡ª Merlin did not look back. He moved slowly, deliberately, steps measured against the quiet stone. Past the main building. Past the lecture halls. Past the gates that marked the student training fields. His body protested every motion. His ribs pulled tight. His legs dragged slightly. But he kept going. Toward the far wing of the Academy. Toward the old facility most first-years were not supposed to use. The reinforced training rooms. He knew the way by heart. He found the access door without hesitation. It was heavier than he remembered. He pressed his hand to the rune panel. The lock clicked reluctantly. The door groaned inward. Inside, the hallways were colder. Darker. Echoes lived here, tucked into the cracks between stone and steel. Merlin''s footsteps rang in the emptiness. He did not choose the largest chamber. Or the best-lit one. He chose a side room. Small. Unused. The kind reserved for private drills or weapon testing. No windows. One door. Bare stone walls. He stepped inside. The door swung shut behind him. Silence swallowed the space whole. Merlin crossed to the center of the room. His shadow stretched long and thin beneath the sparse overhead light. He shrugged out of his uniform jacket, letting it fall across a bench. His undershirt clung to the sharp lines of his ribs, the worn edges of his recovery bruises. He reached for Keryx, still sheathed at his side. His fingers brushed the hilt. Paused. He closed his eyes. "I cannot even channel mana through you anymore. You are just a piece of sharpened steel now. Just like me. Broken. Hollow. Waiting." He drew the rapier. The sound of steel whispering free was too loud in the empty room. He turned the blade once in his hand. It caught the light weakly. A breath. Then another. He lifted the sword into guard position. And began to move. Slowly at first. Footwork. Angles. Repetition. No amplification. No flash of lightning to reinforce his strikes. Just the body. Just the blade. The form was sharp. Precise. Brutal in its simplicity. Again. Step. Thrust. Parry. Again. The muscles in his shoulder burned. His side screamed in protest. He ignored it. ''I will fight with my body. If I cannot wield magic. I will wield steel. If I cannot be what I was, I will be what is needed.'' He moved through the drills with mechanical precision. Sweat gathered at his temples. His breathing grew harsher. But he did not stop. Not when his ribs protested. Not when his vision blurred. Not when his knees buckled slightly between sets. He forced his body to remember. Even if it wanted to forget. He pivoted sharply on his heel. The blade flicked through the air in a clean arc. A feint. A parry. A thrust. Again. Over and over, until the clock in the wall ticked another hour past. Until the faint ache in his soul was drowned out by the raw ache of muscle and bone. Until thought itself dimmed into motion. He stopped only when his hands shook so badly he could no longer hold the rapier steady. Merlin stood there, breathing harshly, sweat dripping down his back, shoulders heaving. He stared at the blade in his hand. It trembled. Pathetic. Weak. But still standing. "I will not shatter." His voice was a rasp. "I will not." He let the tip of Keryx lower. The swordpoint kissed the stone floor. And there, alone in the dark training room, Merlin gritted his teeth against the trembling of his own body. He would find a way back. Or he would die trying. ¡ª The blade touched the stone and stayed there. Merlin kept his weight forward, resting against it, breathing sharp and shallow through his teeth. The ache had moved from his ribs into his spine, threading itself into every joint and tendon. Still, he did not fall. The air inside the room was heavy. Stale. Every breath tasted like dust and old mana residue. A space forgotten by most students, ignored by most instructors. Which was exactly why he had come here. No witnesses. No pity. Just work. He closed his eyes. "I cannot rely on force. Not anymore. I cannot simply outmana an opponent. I cannot overwhelm them with speed or brute elemental pressure. I must adapt. Strip away everything unnecessary until only what matters remains." He straightened slowly, dragging the tip of the rapier back up. No lightning sparked at the edge. No gust of wind coiled around the blade. It was just steel. Just muscle and instinct and technique. He inhaled again, slower this time, and reached inside himself carefully. Not for power. But for presence. A tiny pulse. Like dipping fingers into a half-frozen river. Nothing answered. No water affinity stirring against his call. No wind brushing his skin. No flicker of lightning beneath the surface of his blood. No slip of folded space humming at the edge of thought. Dead. Silent. Empty. His hand tightened on the hilt. "Then I fight without it. I do not need the world to bend for me. I will bend myself." He set his stance again. One foot braced. Body lowered. Blade steady. And moved. This time, the forms were different. Not drills for polished duels or academy tournaments. These were killing techniques. Blade angles that existed to open arteries. Footwork built for surviving uneven ground and broken terrain. Movements designed not to impress, but to kill quickly, efficiently, without a sound. He slipped into the rhythm. Thrust. Cut. Pivot. Drop. Half-steps. Quarter-turns. Breathing in through the nose, out through gritted teeth. His body protested with every shift of weight. Pain screamed from his battered core, from the memory of the rift tearing at his soul. But he moved. Each cycle faster than the last. Each strike sharper. Each breath slower. Until he was nothing but motion and will. Until he forgot the ache. The loss. The emptiness gnawing at the hollow of his chest. The facility''s faint lights flickered once, unnoticed. The world narrowed to the circle of space around him, to the pattern carved into the stone by the edges of his movements. Another strike. Another pivot. Another refusal to fall. Merlin moved until he could not lift his arm anymore. Until his muscles betrayed him and the blade slipped from his hand, clattering against the stone with a dull, final sound. He staggered two steps back and sat down hard against the wall, head falling back with a soft thud. Silence filled the room again. The sound of his own heartbeat slowing, returning to something almost normal. He stared at the ceiling without seeing it. "I am not strong yet. But I am alive. And while I am alive, I will not be useless." The stone beneath him was cold. The air scratched at his lungs. But his hands¡ªbloody-knuckled, trembling¡ªwere still his. Still moving. Merlin exhaled through his nose. A low, controlled breath. His head tilted forward, chin brushing against his chest. He closed his eyes. Not to sleep. But to rebuild. From the inside out. He would learn what it meant to fight without magic. Without affinity. Without the world answering his call. He would learn what it meant to fight as a human. As Merlin Everhart. No more. No less. Chapter 79 79: Healing (5) He did not know how long he sat there. The walls never changed. The lights didn''t dim or brighten. Time in the old training room passed like a heartbeat suspended underwater ¡ª slow, muffled, uncertain. It was the kind of space that existed between hours. Merlin leaned forward eventually, elbows braced against his knees, fingers still curled slightly like they were gripping a blade that was no longer there. His breath was steady. Too steady. It felt wrong. Like the body was trying to convince him it could go on when everything inside had already fractured. He flexed his fingers. Then again. Still trembling. Not from exhaustion anymore. From something else. "A week ago I was using lightning. Shaping wind. Using space like a pressure machine. Now I have to count every breath, pace every movement, because I can''t afford to burn out. This isn''t weakness. This is what''s left after the strength is gone." His eyes opened, unfocused. The ceiling above him was just stone. Not a divine trial. Not a curse. Just a room with bad lighting and a cracked tile near the left support beam. He looked at the cracks for a long time. They didn''t mean anything. But they were real. His hand drifted toward the scar at his side ¡ª the place where the rift had split through him. It had been closed. Cauterized. Repaired by hands not his own. But beneath the skin, something still howled. Not pain. Not anymore. Just emptiness. "I''m not afraid of dying. I never was. But living like this... powerless, after everything I''ve built, after everything I remember, that''s the part I don''t know how to swallow. It tastes like failure. It tastes like watching someone else wear your name." He tilted his head back again. Let it rest against the wall. His throat felt dry. Not from thirst. From disuse. There was no one to speak to. And he had no words left anyway. He didn''t close his eyes. He didn''t sleep. He just breathed. Let the silence press down on him like water in a trench. Let it crush every trace of the boy he had been. And made room for whatever came next. Something small moved in the rafters. Maybe a rodent. Maybe not. He didn''t look up. If it was danger, it would show itself. If it wasn''t, it didn''t matter. Time passed like ash in wind. No one came. No voice called for him from the hallway. No footsteps echoed down the corridor. No instructor interrupted him with a lecture on proper rest. He had vanished. And for now ¡ª he preferred it that way. "I''ll come out of this stronger. Or not at all." The room was cold. But he stayed. Alone. Still. Waiting. Not for help. But for the moment he could stand again without shaking. ¡ª He didn''t remember standing. One moment he was seated on the cold stone, shoulder pressed to the wall, breath low. The next, he was upright. His balance was off. His knees stiff. Something in his right ankle clicked when he moved. But he moved. The training hall lights buzzed faintly overhead, dust caught in the beams. The floor was marked with scuffs and divots, evidence of a hundred past spars. Faint burns. Cracks. Dents. He stepped to the center. Slowly. Deliberately. The center was always the best place to fall. ''If I collapse again, at least I won''t break anything important.'' He exhaled through his nose and reached for the pulse inside his chest. Nothing. He tried again. Still nothing. No wind. No lightning. No space. Just silence. His hand curled slowly into a fist. ''Then we go from the beginning.'' He shifted his stance. Footwork first. A simple line. Step, plant, pivot. Again. Step, plant, pivot. His balance was wrong. The ankle clicked again. His center of gravity leaned too far forward. His hip caught slightly in the twist. ''Shit. I''m slower than I thought. Coordination is gone. And without mana reinforcement, every mistake actually matters.'' He tried again. Again. And again. He lost count after thirty. The ache in his ribs returned, dull and constant. The pull in his shoulder flared with each turn. Sweat gathered beneath his collar, sticking the fabric to his spine. Still, he moved. ''Forget the affinities. Forget the core. Just the body. Rebuild that. One brick at a time.'' He took the stance again. This time he added a strike. A simple thrust. No blade. Just the motion. It pulled too hard on the upper back. His wrist bent wrong. Elbow lagged. All wrong. He stopped. Reset. Again. And again. The breathing helped. Even pace. In through the nose. Out through the mouth. That part he remembered. That part he could control. He tried the full sequence. Forward, strike, twist, reset. It felt like dragging himself through tar. But it moved. His body obeyed. ''Not much. But it''s something.'' The echoes of his steps filled the empty space. Hollow. Slow. Steady. He didn''t imagine applause. He didn''t dream of victory. He didn''t pretend this was noble. It was just movement. Repetition. Grinding out failure until there was nothing left but function. That was what recovery meant. Not healing. Just motion in the absence of collapse. His hand tightened. Again. Forward. Strike. Reset. He kept going. Not because it helped. But because stopping would mean listening. And silence was heavier than any blade. ¡ª She found him on his twenty-seventh failed form. Merlin didn''t hear her enter. The training room doors were old, heavier than the rest, and they didn''t creak. No warning. Just the low hush of boots across polished tile, then silence behind him. He didn''t turn. Not until her voice came, low and measured. "You''re supposed to be resting." Merlin straightened out of the stance slowly. His shoulders rolled back with the kind of weariness that didn''t come from exertion but from futility. He looked over his shoulder. Seraphina stood in full uniform, arms folded behind her back, silver eyes unreadable. Her presence was quiet. Cold. Not unkind. He turned fully, sweat clinging to his collarbone. His breath wasn''t ragged, but it was shallow. "I''m not good at resting," he said. She said nothing. Her gaze moved to his feet, then to his stance. She noted the tremble in his right hand. The unresponsive left. The way his weight tilted slightly off center. "You''re forcing it," she said. "I know." "Why?" He wiped his wrist across his brow. The sweat didn''t smear. It clung. "Because I don''t want to be useless." That gave her pause. A long one. Seraphina stepped further into the room, her boots echoing soft against the floor. She stopped a few paces away, leaving just enough distance to give him room, but close enough to see the way his hands shook when he lowered them. "I heard from Vivienne," she said. "You''re still cut off." Merlin didn''t respond. "Not temporary," she added, more quietly. Still nothing. "You''re trying to move like before," she said. "Like you haven''t lost anything." His jaw flexed. "...Have you come here to lecture me?" "No." Her voice didn''t change. "I came because I thought you might need help. Not a healer. Not a teacher. Just someone to stand nearby while you fall apart." Merlin looked at her sharply. Her expression didn''t flinch. ''No pity. Just facts. She''s always like this.'' He turned away, picked up the rapier that had been resting against the wall. His hand barely held it. No lightning curled around the blade. No wind steadied the grip. Just steel. Cold. Unforgiving. He faced the center again. Took a breath. Seraphina watched him from the edge of the room, her arms still folded, her presence like a statue of frost. He moved. Step, plant, pivot. His ankle clicked again. But this time, when he thrust, the blade hit true. It wasn''t fast. It wasn''t sharp. But it was stable. Seraphina exhaled once through her nose. Then she crossed the room and picked up a long practice staff from the rack. She turned it in her hands once, testing the weight. "I''ll spar with you," she said. Merlin blinked. "I thought you came to help me fall apart." "I did." She moved into position, feet set, staff low. "And now I''m helping you put it back together." He stared at her for a long second. Then raised Keryx. No mana. Just breath and bone and repetition. And the quiet sound of two broken people refusing to stay down. ¡ª The first blow wasn''t a blow at all. Just a step. A shuffle of boots on the polished floor. A twitch of fabric. The breath that comes before movement. Merlin moved first. His left leg slid forward. The blade dipped low, not for a strike, but to bait one. A test. He was watching her shoulders, her weight, the tension in her grip. Seraphina didn''t fall for it. She turned with a precision only years of drilled repetition could breed. Her staff snapped up and caught his guard, not enough to knock the blade aside, but enough to redirect the angle of his wrist. The next move was hers. A thrust. Center mass. Merlin stepped off-line. Just barely. Just enough. The butt of the staff skimmed past his ribs and rattled the edge of his coat. ''Too slow.'' He pivoted. The heel of his foot ground against the stone as he spun, blade arcing upward for her side. She dropped. No sound. Just a single motion, and her legs swept the floor under him. Merlin''s balance crumpled. The ground slapped his spine before he could catch himself. He didn''t stay down. His breath hitched. His chest was burning. His body was telling him no, not yet, not again, not now. But he moved anyway. He rolled to his knees. He stood. Seraphina didn''t help. She didn''t offer a hand. Didn''t speak. Just waited with her staff lowered. ''That''s fine.'' He raised the rapier again. His wrist ached. There was no mana stabilizing the tremble. His muscles were still pulling tight in strange places from the corrupted mana. But he kept moving. Again. Lunge. Counter. Block. Fall. Repeat. Each motion was jagged. Not fluid. Not what he remembered. He missed the breath that used to come with lightning. The weightless steps wind used to give him. The sharp control of space folding behind each thrust. Now there was only the drag of feet and the slap of skin on stone when he fell. But Seraphina never mocked. She struck when she should. Paused when she needed. Every time he slipped, she gave him just enough room to try again. And again. And again. Until finally¡ª He stopped. His legs shook beneath him. The sword dipped in his grip. His back felt like stone had replaced every muscle along the spine. Seraphina stood across from him, still in perfect stance. But her gaze softened. "That''s enough," she said. Merlin didn''t argue. He let Keryx fall to the floor with a quiet clatter and collapsed onto the mat beside it. Sweat soaked the back of his shirt. His breath came in short, sharp pulls. She knelt beside him. Said nothing. Just sat there in silence. Minutes passed. Merlin didn''t move. He wasn''t crying. But it felt close. That cracked, raw edge just under the ribs. The place grief builds when no one''s watching. He stared at the ceiling. The flickering overhead light. The stone. The silence. ''Why do I feel like I''m grieving my own body?'' Seraphina''s voice was calm. Even. "You fought harder today than most students do in a year." He didn''t answer. "You''re going to recover," she said. "Whether you believe it or not." He looked at her. Slowly. Carefully. "...And if I don''t?" She met his eyes. "Then we make a new version of you." Her tone wasn''t cruel. It was sure. Like there was no other possibility. He breathed in..and out. And nodded. Once. No more words were needed. He was broken. But not abandoned. Not this time. Not entirely. Chapter 80 80: Trying Weapon The room emptied after a while. Seraphina had left with a nod. Not a goodbye. Just a quiet understanding that he needed the rest of the silence to himself. Merlin sat on the floor long after she was gone. Back against the wall. Keryx resting against his shoulder. The blade had lost none of its weight. But something about holding it now felt strange. Like it didn''t quite belong to him anymore. He exhaled slowly. The ache was still there. Bone-deep. But duller now. Less like fire, more like a bruise left behind by something larger than it should have been. ''It''s still gone.'' No flicker. No current. No draw of mana humming beneath his skin like it used to. Just silence. He tilted his head back, letting it rest against the wall. His eyes closed. ''I don''t know who I''m supposed to be without it.'' ''All my decisions were built around power. My speed, my strategy. I survived on certainty, on calculation. I knew how strong I was at any moment of a fight.'' ''Now I''m guessing. Now I''m guessing every step I take.'' ''And every second I wait to get stronger is another second I can''t protect them and change the story this way..'' His hand twitched. He looked down at it. Still steady. He didn''t deserve that. Not yet. Outside the training room, he could hear the low hum of the academy coming back to life. The halls were beginning to stir again. It was almost noon. The rest of the students were probably filing into combat theory or magical reinforcement seminars. ''While I''m here. Sitting on the floor like I''m a ghost in my own life.'' A sharp pain bloomed behind his ribs. Not from the training. From the thought. He reached for Keryx. Pulled it into his lap. Rested both hands on the hilt. ''If I can''t channel mana, then I''ll fight without it. If I can''t bend the world around me anymore, then I''ll drag myself through it. If my body breaks again¡ª'' He inhaled. ''Then I''ll just get up.'' The silence inside him didn''t break. But it listened. That was enough. He stood. Carefully. Slowly. Not because it hurt. But because it reminded him how far he still had to go. He sheathed Keryx. And left the room. No one stopped him. He didn''t expect them to. Outside, the light had shifted. Afternoon now. Shadows a little longer. Heat curling faintly along the edges of the stone pathways. He walked toward the south wing. Toward the old sparring garden. He wasn''t planning to train. He just needed to breathe. ¡ª The south sparring garden had always been quieter than the central one. Less traffic. Fewer eyes. It was where students went when they wanted to be overlooked. Merlin sat near the edge of the circular stone ring, back to a sun-warmed wall. He didn''t draw attention. He didn''t need to. The second-years occupying the space didn''t even glance in his direction. Just a few duelists practicing footwork drills, another group running formation sweeps with wooden blades. Nothing flashy. Just repetition. Form. Discipline. ''It''s almost boring...'' He let his eyes drift half-closed. The scent of chalk dust and dried sweat lingered faintly in the air. The rhythmic slap of boots against stone kept time with their breathing. No shouting. No mana. Just motion. He watched one of them trip on a pivot. Another barked a correction. They reset. Again. Again. And again. Merlin''s fingers curled faintly against the ground. ''I used to think watching meant weakness. Standing still while others fought. But now...'' Now he felt every movement. Every slip in balance. Every breath mistimed. He could see the angles of failure before they played out, like the rhythm of a story half-finished. His body couldn''t follow. Not yet. But his mind still could. That was something. One of the duelists, a tall girl with short copper hair struck too wide on her lunge. Her partner clipped her ankle and sent her tumbling with a hard thud. She cursed. Laughed it off. Got back up. Merlin watched her shake out her arms and reset her stance without being told. He watched her land the next strike cleanly. Then again. He closed his eyes. ''I can''t fight strong like them. Not right now. But I can still watch. Learn. Steal the pieces until I''m whole again.'' His breathing slowed. Not from exhaustion, but from something quieter. More deliberate. He wasn''t calm. But the rage had cooled. He would get it back. His strength. His control. The shape of the weapon he''d made himself into. But for now... He watched the extras spar. And let the rhythm of their steps remind him what waiting was for. ¡ª The dull clang of training swords rang out across the gravel yard. Students circled in pairs, their footwork sloppy, grips too tight, shoulders too tense. It was sparring hour again. Everyone trying too hard to prove something. Or maybe just trying not to be last. Merlin stood at the edge of the ring, one hand resting loosely on Keryx''s hilt. The sword sat sheathed at his hip. Thin. Pale. Opalescent like a splinter of frozen starlight. It didn''t hum, not today. No mana to feed it. No pressure in the air. Just silence. He watched a younger student trip during a swing. His partner overcorrected and whacked him in the ribs. Both of them laughed. Merlin didn''t. He stepped back from the shade of the column and walked toward the weapons rack. They looked at him¡ªsome of the first-years. Some of the ones who knew who he was. What he had done. What he''d lost. None of them spoke. That was smart. He stopped in front of the rack. Rows of swords, dull from use. Axes, pitted from blunt edge drills. A staff or two leaned crooked near the back. Practice weapons, worn thin. Nothing like Keryx. And that was the point. He reached for a longsword. The balance was wrong. Too heavy in the pommel. He lifted it anyway. Let it rest across his palms. ''Reinhardt didn''t say I was weak. Just wrong..or something like that.'' The thought coiled behind his eyes. Keryx was still at his hip. But even the weight of it today felt... uncomfortable. Like it was watching him. Judging him. The sword didn''t breathe like other weapons. It expected things. Precision. Will. And right now, Merlin wasn''t sure he could give it either. He stepped onto an empty strip of sand and raised the longsword. The first swing dragged wide. He adjusted his footwork. The next cut came cleaner, but slower than it should''ve. The blade resisted his rhythm. Or maybe he just didn''t have one anymore. Another swing. A parry motion. Then again. No lightning followed his steps. No wind in his lungs. Just him, and the weight. A few students paused nearby, their sparring slowed. Watching. Merlin didn''t care. He pushed through the second form. Adjusted the grip. His wrist protested. That was good. He needed resistance. Not speed. Not grace. Just the feel of motion again. Of consequence. The sword clashed against the practice dummy. Too shallow. He tried again. This time the dummy jolted on its post. Dust kicked up. ''Keryx is cleaner. Faster. Easier to kill with. But that''s not always better.'' His breath was short now. Muscles tight from disuse. But the ache was familiar. Grounded. He returned the sword to the rack and pulled a heavier one next. A broadsword. Its edge was nicked, barely kept. It groaned in his grip like it knew it didn''t belong. He practiced anyway. A form. A cut. A stop. Again. The students had stopped watching. The ring was louder again. More sparring. More voices. Merlin didn''t look at them. He went through every sword on the rack. Each one pulled something different from him. A different rhythm. A different posture. None of them felt right. But none of them felt wrong either. When he finally stepped away, sweat clung to the back of his neck. His shirt stuck to his spine. His legs ached from hours of stillness turned movement. And still, he didn''t touch Keryx. It sat quiet at his side. Waiting. He didn''t draw it. Not yet. Instead, he turned back toward the courtyard path. His chest rose with a slow inhale. ''If I can''t master everything, I''ll master this. Even without mana. Even with a broken soul. I''ll keep moving. No matter how many times I have to start from nothing.'' He walked away from the ring. Keryx silent. The wind behind him soft. And for the first time in days, it didn''t feel like the sword was disappointed. ¡ª He didn''t look back. His grip on Keryx had loosened, the hilt still warm from his hands. There was no satisfaction in the weight. No clarity. Just a hollow sort of ache in his wrist and the quiet drag of fatigue coiled under his ribs. The walk back to the dorm was uneventful. Evening had settled in. The halls were quieter now. Students whispered in pockets of light. None of them looked at him. Maybe they knew better. Maybe they didn''t recognize him without the pressure of mana clinging to his frame like armor. ''Good.'' The stairs felt longer than before. Every step scraped against his knees like someone had tied bricks to his legs. The scarring inside hadn''t healed, not really. The body moved, but it moved like it had forgotten why. His door was unlocked. He stepped inside. The room was still too clean. The bed was made again, tucked with military precision. A cup sat on the nightstand. Steam had long since vanished. He didn''t touch it. He dropped Keryx on the desk with more care than he''d shown any of the practice weapons. The blade didn''t hum. It didn''t do anything at all. ''That''s fine.'' He sat at the edge of the bed. Not lying down. Just sitting. Hands on his knees. Spine straight. Eyes fixed on the wall across from him. There was no mana when he reached inward. No spark. No current. Just cold. Still. Like the world had moved on without him. ''How long will I have to take it?'' The worst part wasn''t the weakness. It was the silence. He pressed the heel of his hand into his temple, trying to shove back the pressure building behind his eyes. Not quite pain. Not quite thought. Something heavier. ''I should''ve died in there.'' ''I was supposed to die.'' He breathed out through his nose. Slow. Steady. His body was still here. That was enough. For now. Chapter 81 81: Test of Swords The window caught a bit of moonlight, pale streaks stretching across the floor. Somewhere in the distance, the training bells rang once. Then again. Someone sparring late. Probably chasing a ghost of someone better. He didn''t get up. He didn''t undress. He just pulled the blanket back, climbed under it, and closed his eyes. Not to sleep. Just to rest. No dreams came. Not yet. ¡ª Next Morning the practice all reeked of oil, sweat, and too many students trying too hard. First-years were scattered into loose lines across the sand-dusted floor. Half wore brand-new gear. The other half wore the kind of stiff nervousness that came with trying not to look like they belonged in a different class. Merlin stood at the edge, arms crossed, back straight, waiting. He hadn''t taken a formal sword lecture since before the breach. Since before everything. And yet, here he was. Still here. Still standing. Just... quieter now. He didn''t speak as Reinhardt entered. The man didn''t need to announce himself. He just stepped into the hall, black coat trailing behind him like a banner of discipline and old bloodshed. "Form a line," he said. They did. Merlin joined at the far end. Reinhardt''s eyes swept the room like he was already disappointed in everyone. "Today we will learning what you should have already known." Some students shifted awkwardly. Nathan elbowed Adrian. Adrian grinned. Merlin didn''t move. He didn''t need to. He was watching the rack of training weapons being rolled in by two assistants. Simple. Functional. Standard. He stepped forward and took the longsword before anyone else could reach for it. Not Keryx. Not this time. This blade felt unfamiliar in a way that made his skin itch. ''Weight''s off. No resonance. Just dead steel.'' That was fine. Reinhardt split them into pairs. Liliana and Elara went off to one side. Nathan paired with a twitchy-looking lightning affinity boy who kept muttering under his breath. Merlin found himself standing across from a girl with short-cut hair and sharp green eyes. She blinked. Then swallowed. "You''re the one who¡ª" "I''m not here for questions." She shut up. They raised their swords. "Begin," Reinhardt said, without looking. The girl lunged first. Eager. Too much momentum. Merlin sidestepped. The edge of her blade scraped the air in front of his chest, nowhere close to a hit. He let her follow through, watched her center fall out of balance. Then tapped the flat of his sword gently against her hip. "Point." She blinked again. Stunned. He stepped back. Reset. The next round she was slower. More focused. Good. It still wasn''t enough. Merlin''s body remembered the movements. Even if the strength hadn''t fully returned, the habits had. Pressure. Timing. Positioning. It wasn''t about force, it was about intent. He struck low this time. Hooked her blade with the guard. Stepped in and turned. Her sword clattered to the floor. "Again," he said. She picked it up. Across the room, he caught Nathan watching. He didn''t smile. Neither did Merlin. ''He''s gauging me. Wondering how much I''m holding back. Don''t look too strong. Don''t look too weak. Just enough.'' The rest of the class blurred. Different partners. Same result. He won every match. Never fast enough to draw suspicion. Never slow enough to let anyone land a hit. By the end of it, sweat clung to the back of his neck. His legs ached. His shoulder twinged. But he stood. And when Reinhardt made his rounds, he paused. Looked at Merlin''s stance. The sword. "You never use that kind of blade." Merlin didn''t flinch. "Trying something different." Reinhardt stared a second longer. Then grunted. "Next time, use something with weight. Stop pretending you don''t know what you''re doing." Then he moved on. Merlin exhaled quietly. ''So he noticed.'' He didn''t change weapons. Not yet. He stayed through the full class. Didn''t ask to leave early. Didn''t speak unless required. And when the bell rang and the students began to pack their gear, Merlin remained behind a little longer. Wiped the blade clean. Hung it back on the rack. The steel didn''t thank him. But it also hadn''t betrayed him. That was enough. ¡ª Reinhardt didn''t bark commands. He didn''t need to. His presence alone bent the room into shape. His voice, low and firm, echoed once across the stone walls. "Switch partners." No complaints. No hesitation. Just movement. Weapons sheathed. Eyes shifting. Merlin stepped back from the girl he''d just disarmed for the third time. She gave him a half-apology, half-bow. It didn''t matter. He didn''t remember her name. Nathan waved from across the hall, already locked into a bout with Seraphina. Elara was paired with some wide-shouldered boy who clearly thought footwork was a suggestion. Merlin made his way to the weapon rack again. His hand didn''t move toward the rapier. Not this time. Instead, he reached lower. Longer hilt. Broader crossguard. A heavier blade, it was single-edged, slightly curved, with an uneven temper line burned deep into the steel. A bastard sword. Not elegant. Not subtle. Just honest. He gripped the hilt. The weight pulled at his wrist in a way Keryx never did. Keryx sang. This blade practically dragged. ''Good. Let''s see if you''ve got anything to say.'' His new partner arrived. Male. Tall. Maybe from the northern provinces by his accent and the fur-trimmed uniform jacket. Confidence in the way he rolled his shoulders. "I was hoping to get you," the boy said. Merlin glanced at him. "Why." "You''re the Everhart, right? The one who jumped into the rift. Want to see if the rumors are true." Merlin tilted his head. "They''re not." The boy grinned. "We''ll see." Reinhardt''s voice again, from across the hall. "Begin." The boy moved first. Fast. Wind-affinity. He wasn''t subtle about it. His blade whistled, curved with air pressure, driving straight toward Merlin''s side. ''Not bad.'' Merlin didn''t sidestep. He stepped forward. The bastard sword wasn''t light enough to flick. It had to be pushed, driven, carried through each stroke like a piece of gravity. He twisted his core. Met the boy''s swing mid-arc. The impact sent a jolt up his arm. But the angle was perfect. Their blades slid apart, not clashing, but glancing. Friction bit at the steel. The boy''s stance broke half a step. Merlin followed. Two steps forward. One upward slash. The boy barely raised his sword to parry. Steel clanged. Wind cracked between them. Merlin spun the hilt in his palm and reversed the swing. Brought the edge down against the boy''s bracer and knocked him back two full paces. Not magic. Just movement. Just muscle. ''Feels like I''m dragging dead weight through molasses.'' But it worked. The boy coughed once. "You''re better than they say." Merlin didn''t respond. They went again. This time, the boy didn''t try to win. He tried to analyze. Changing rhythm. Changing footwork. Testing. Merlin let him. Let the weight teach him. The sword wasn''t a dance partner. It was a burden. And it only made sense if you bore it without complaint. He adjusted. Lowered his stance. Didn''t think of Keryx. Didn''t think of flow, or elegance, or how Reinhardt once said the wrong sword made your instincts lie to you. He let his instincts bleed out anyway. He swung with the body he had. The strength he had left. And slowly, the bastard sword stopped feeling foreign. It wasn''t his. But it wasn''t a stranger either. Across the hall, Adrian was watching now. So was Seraphina. Liliana had stopped mid-parry. ''Too visible.'' He broke off from his partner and turned to the rack again. No final exchange. No bow. Just silence. He hung the sword back. Didn''t say a word. The metal clinked softly as it settled against the other blades. His palms were raw, bleeding even. Calluses long since torn and rehealed were sore again. ''Not bad. But not right.'' He turned from the rack. Walked toward the far wall. Past the other students. Toward the exit. Reinhardt''s voice stopped him. "Everhart." He looked over his shoulder. "Not what you''re used to," Reinhardt said. Merlin nodded once. "No." "Didn''t look like it." Another pause. "But you made it work." Merlin didn''t smile. Didn''t speak. Just nodded again and walked out. The rest of the class watched him go. No fanfare. Just his back retreating down the corridor. And a lingering silence in the wake of something none of them could name. ¡ª The training hall doors shut behind him with a heavy echo. Too loud for how slow he moved. Merlin didn''t stop walking until the corridor curved away from the noise. Until the sound of footfalls faded and the thrum of practice vanished behind thick walls. There was an alcove near the old archive wing. Barely used anymore. An arched window looked out across the outer yard, cracked open just enough to let in air. Old stone. Crumbling bench. Dust. He sat there. Not because he wanted to. Because he needed to. His arms ached. The bastard sword had left a trail of tremors in his shoulders, like the weight still clung to his bones. A phantom heaviness. Merlin leaned forward. Elbows on his knees. Hands clasped. And for a while, he just stared at them. Pale. Scarred. Callused in all the wrong places now. ''It''s all slower.'' His mana still hadn''t returned. Not a flicker. Not a pulse. Just silence. He flexed his fingers once. Slowly. Like he expected something to hum beneath the skin. Nothing answered. He exhaled. The bastard sword had responded to force. That was the point of it. No elegance. No grace. Just power and timing and balance. You couldn''t finesse a weapon like that. You couldn''t cheat with it. You had to hold it like it mattered. ''I didn''t hate it.'' That was the strangest part. He didn''t hate the weight. The drag. The ugly, unrefined rhythm of it. He just hated that he had to consider it. Chapter 82 82: Investigation The training hall was mostly empty now. Only the distant clack of practice blades echoed faintly from a chamber down the hall, first years most likely, or overachievers without much else to do. Merlin stayed where he was, seated on the edge of the bench. His posture hadn''t moved in minutes. Just his fingers, curled loosely around the rim of the blunted longsword he''d chosen earlier. Still felt wrong. Still felt heavy in all the wrong places. He glanced at it again, expression unreadable. ''Keryx was made to feel like an extension. This...'' He shifted the blade a little on his thigh. Even after an hour of drills, he couldn''t decide if he hated it or not. ''No. I don''t hate it. I just... don''t know it. Not yet.'' A beat passed. His gaze slid to the scuffed stone floor. ''Reinhardt didn''t comment much. He saw, of course. But he didn''t say much.'' That silence had been the loudest part of the day. A few more seconds passed before footsteps reached him from the rear doors. Not rushed. Not cautious. Just steady, confident, familiar. Nathan was the first to appear. Shirt slung over one shoulder, towel around his neck. Hair still damp from washing off the sweat. "You always sit here alone after class?" Merlin didn''t answer right away. He looked up, caught Nathan''s raised brow, and offered something halfway to a shrug. Adrian came in next, followed by Liliana. Elara was with them too this time, a half-empty water flask in hand. She didn''t speak, just leaned against one of the old columns near the edge. Seraphina, noticeably, wasn''t with them. Adrian plopped down beside Merlin without hesitation, his usual grin somewhat subdued. "I saw you use a longsword today," he said. "Didn''t know you could." Merlin said nothing. He simply placed the longsword back onto the rack and exhaled. Nathan smirked. "Was good form. Not as flashy as you usually are with your sword, but solid." Liliana tilted her head. "So... what brought that on?" He glanced at her. There was no accusation in her voice. Just curiosity. ''Because I don''t know if I''ll ever move the same way again.'' "Trying something different," he said. "Nothing more." That was enough for most of them. Elara''s eyes lingered longer than the rest. Adrian stretched his arms behind his back. "Reinhardt looked like he approved, by the way. Didn''t say anything, but I swear he nodded at one point." Liliana chuckled. "You sure he wasn''t just adjusting his collar?" "No, no, it was a full nod. The ancient sign of professorly respect." Merlin let them talk. It was easier like this. Letting them fill the silence. Letting their voices cover the small, unspoken shift that had settled in since he picked up that sword. Nathan took a sip from his flask, then frowned slightly. "Anyone else notice the lights flickering in the hall near the lower dorm stairs?" Liliana made a face. "Again?" "They keep saying it''s a wiring thing," Adrian said. "But we use glyph conduction. There''s no wires to mess up." "Could be a mana well fluctuation," Elara murmured. Nathan looked at her. "That normal?" She shook her head. "Not this often." Merlin didn''t say anything. He was still watching the sword rack. Adrian added, "It''s probably nothing. But... yeah. Weird vibes lately. Like something''s just off. Not dangerous. Just... off." ''The air''s been heavier. Not always. Just in moments. Like walking through a room that someone left in a hurry.'' He pushed the thought away and stood. The others followed suit. As they made their way out of the training hall, Merlin let his pace lag just slightly behind the others. Their conversation shifted to dinner plans, rumors about the next mock duel evaluations, the usual things. But his eyes drifted up. There, near the arch of the western archway, a patch of old stone seemed darker than usual. Barely noticeable. A faint stain along the upper corner, shaped almost like branching veins. He stopped walking. Elara turned when she noticed he wasn''t beside them. "You coming?" He looked at her. Then back at the mark. It was gone now. Maybe it had never been there. Merlin''s eyes narrowed just slightly. "...Yeah," he said, and followed. ¡ª He waited until they drifted off. One by one. Nathan had something to deliver. Elara was pulled aside by one of the seniors. Liliana left without a word, her usual exit. Adrian was the last to stand, offering Merlin a nod. "Don''t sit too long. The stone eats warmth faster than a grave." Merlin gave a faint smirk. Just enough. Not too much. He stayed until the sky turned from deep blue to a muted iron, the kind of grey that swallowed sound. Then he stood and turned toward the east wing. Not the dorms. He moved slow. Intentional. Letting the steps take shape on their own. ''I need to see it.'' The corridors of the eastern halls were quieter after dinner. Most of the student body didn''t bother venturing out this far unless they had to. The administration wing connected here. Archive storage. Some of the older practice chambers that hadn''t been used in months. Or years. Merlin moved past them all. His hands were in his coat pockets. His back was straight. He turned down a hall that should''ve dead-ended at the records office. But it didn''t. Not now. His feet came to a stop. The corridor ahead extended farther than it should''ve. The light sconces here hadn''t been lit. It stretched past the point of what could be called architecture. Seamless walls. No doors. Only stone and silence. ''There it is.'' He didn''t walk forward. Not yet. He stared at it, quiet. ''It begins when people stop noticing. When something stretches a little longer than it used to. When a door that should lead to a classroom opens into stairs. When a hallway forgets where it ends.'' This wasn''t a gate. This wasn''t a dungeon. It wasn''t even alive in the way mana-afflicted places sometimes were. It was The Hollow Labyrinth. A wrong thing. A bad thing to be more precise. That was its only constant. Wrongness that didn''t scream. It seeped. ''How early is it. This shouldn''t be here yet. Unless... the timeline''s shifting faster than I thought.'' He leaned slightly closer, but didn''t cross the invisible line yet. He watched. There was no breeze. No sound. No distortion. But even still, the hairs on his arms lifted. ''The others wouldn''t understand. Not yet. They''d treat it like a curiosity. Like another training ground. They haven''t read what happens to the people who go in before it''s fully formed. The walls move. And when they come back, they don''t.'' A flicker. Not in the hall. In his head. A memory of lines from the novel. A side character lost for four chapters. Returned with new eyes. Except they weren''t new. They were someone else''s. Merlin took a breath. Backed away. Three steps. Then turned. He didn''t look again. His footsteps didn''t rush. That would draw attention. But his pulse quickened. ''Tomorrow. I''ll check for more. If the layout''s begun to bend, I''ll need to start mapping it now. Before it grows.'' He exited through the side door, stepped into the night air. Cool. Thin. Nothing in the wind. He didn''t speak to anyone on the walk back to the dorms. No thoughts wasted on small talk or food or lecture prep. Only the corridor. And the story he''d already read. Because this time, he wasn''t watching from the outside. This time, he was inside it. ¡ª The next day he left before first bell. No breakfast. No chatter. Not even a glance back at the dorm. Just a stolen piece of chalk. The door shutting behind him, soft and certain. The stone corridors of the eastern annex were silent again. Most students hadn''t even stirred from their rooms. Too early for lectures. Too late to be a morning run. Perfect. Merlin''s boots moved light over the floor. Not careful. Just practiced. He''d memorized the route last night, every turn and shadow, every alcove and hollow pillar. The sort of thing normal students wouldn''t even see, let alone remember. But he wasn''t a normal student. He turned down the final passage and it was still there. That impossible stretch of hallway, too long, too smooth. No seams in the walls. No scuff marks on the floor. It hadn''t collapsed back into the mundane like most unstable distortions did. It had grown. Only slightly. A meter, maybe less. But he could feel it. Something deeper. Something turning. ''It''s stabilizing.'' He stepped forward. This time, the air changed. Not cold. Not warm. Just off. Like a space missing something fundamental. Merlin crouched. Ran two fingers along the floor, pressing near the edge of where the normal corridor ended and the labyrinth began. Stone. But not the same stone. Too fine. No mortar between the bricks. No variation in color. Just that smooth, pale material that never reflected light the right way. ''This isn''t stone. Well not really. It just looks like it.'' He stood again and reached into his coat. Taking out the piece of chalk. He marked the left wall. A single dot at chest height. Then he moved forward. Five paces in. Silence. Stillness. The corridor behind him didn''t shift. Not yet. He marked the wall again. This time on the right. Another five paces. Mark. He did it again. And again. Eight marks in, he turned. Looked back. The first one was gone. He walked back. Carefully. Steps exact. But it was gone. Erased. Or never there. He touched the wall where it should''ve been. Nothing. Just cool smoothness. ''It''s begun. Phase two. It''s spatial manipulation.'' He stepped back. Didn''t go further. Not yet. This was just recon. Just confirmation. The Hollow Labyrinth had arrived early. And it had teeth. ''Still no door. Still no sounds. It''s not hunting yet. But it will. And when it does, it won''t stop.'' He exhaled once through his nose and turned on his heel. Back down the corridor. When he emerged into the eastern wing proper, the first class bell rang in the distance. Students would be up. Moving. Laughing. As if the school weren''t about to become a maze that ate people whole. ''Should I tell them?'' His pace didn''t change. ''No. Not yet. Not until I have something solid. They''d ask questions. Too many. And I can''t afford questions. Not when I''m the only one who knows how this ends.'' He reached the stairs, took them two at a time. No one saw him. Just the way he needed it. By the time he stepped into the courtyard, the sun had fully cleared the towers. His friends were waiting. But his eyes flicked once toward the eastern wing before he crossed over. Just once. Enough. Chapter 83 83: Strange Things The sound of a wooden blade hitting dirt cracked through the courtyard like a warning shot. Somewhere nearby, a few first-years groaned in frustration. One of them shouted something about footing. Another voice, sharper and older, barked a correction that got drowned out by laughter. Merlin stepped into the edge of it all, hands in his coat pockets. The breeze caught at the hem, tugging fabric against his legs. The sun was high enough to warm the stone path beneath his boots but not high enough to make him sweat. Nathan noticed him first. He blinked once, then raised a brow, still chewing on something. Meat skewer. Grease stained the corner of his paper napkin. "You''re walking so sickly," Nathan said around a bite, voice dry. "That''s unsettling." Merlin didn''t answer right away. His gaze wandered past Nathan to the bench under the tree. Elara sat cross-legged on the low wall beside it, sharpening a short knife slowly and without looking up. Nathan squinted at him. "Or is this the ghost of Merlin, back for unfinished essays and poor life choices?" Elara''s knife paused. "Don''t be stupid," she said. Her voice was quiet, even. "Ghosts don''t look that annoyed." Merlin stepped closer, then sat down without invitation. His legs felt stiff. Not sore. Just... slower. "I got bored," he said. Nathan shrugged, lips curling up. "Sure. That''s the healthiest reason I''ve heard for skipping medical supervision. You want some of this?" He offered what remained of the skewer. "Probably chicken. Might be something else though." "I''m good." Nathan popped the last piece into his mouth and chewed with exaggerated satisfaction. Elara didn''t say anything right away. Her eyes flicked up, just once, as if scanning him for signs of something he wouldn''t say out loud. She resumed her work on the blade, slow and steady, metal whispering against stone. "You missed this morning''s session," she said after a while. "I know." "Reinhardt let people pair up," Nathan added. "Then he let them break the rules just to see what stuck. It was kind of great. Kind of terrifying. I think someone sprained a rib." "He called it ''creative assessment,''" Elara muttered. "Which is teacher-speak for ''duel until I get bored.''" Merlin didn''t respond. Across the courtyard, two students were still circling each other near the practice ring. One held a short sword in a reverse grip, too flashy for his stance. The other had a longer blade, heavier, but his balance kept slipping. Merlin''s eyes narrowed slightly. The long sword user kept pulling to the left. He was overcompensating with his back foot. Too much weight on the wrong side. His gaze dropped to his own hand, fingers twitching slightly where they rested on his thigh. ''Keryx doesn''t feel wrong. But it''s like trying to fight with a whisper. No weight to push against. Nothing to slow me down or challenge the movement. I used to know how to move. Now I just follow what the sword wants instead of the other way around.'' Nathan leaned forward, elbows on knees, tone more careful this time. "You''ve been different." That pulled Elara''s attention back up. Merlin didn''t flinch. Didn''t deny it. Nathan hesitated, then ran a hand through his hair and let out a long sigh. "Not like, weird-different. Just... quieter. And you''re already the quiet one, so that''s saying something." Elara glanced between them but said nothing. "Training on your own?" Nathan asked. Merlin gave a short nod. "Trying things out." "What kind of things?" "Longer blades. Heavier grip." Nathan looked genuinely confused. "You? Using a longsword? You know that''s for people with wrists like siege weapons, right?" Merlin shrugged. ''Reinhardt wasn''t wrong. The rapier only works if I have the speed to push its limits. If my body''s changed, the weapon doesn''t compensate. It just exposes every weakness I don''t want to admit.'' "I need more control," he said simply. Elara tilted her head, knife finally lowered to her lap. "That''s not like you." "It wasn''t," he murmured. The words sat between them. Heavy. Not dramatic, just final. Off to the side, someone let out a sharp yelp. A training dummy had snapped backward into the dirt with a loud thump. A group of students scattered around it in laughter and groans. Nathan gave the chaos a glance, then looked back at Merlin. "Want to spar?" Merlin considered it. Then shook his head. "Not yet." Nathan didn''t push. They just sat there, three silhouettes against the afternoon sun, watching others fail with style while not saying the things that mattered. Eventually, Elara sheathed her knife. "You''ll tell us when it gets worse?" she asked. Merlin didn''t answer. That was enough for her. Behind them, the wind stirred the canopy. Someone near the ring called for water. Another voice yelled back that they could go find their own. Merlin leaned back against the wall, eyes half-lidded. He didn''t close them. ''Not yet.'' ¡ª The warmth had thinned. Not gone, but brittle around the edges. Merlin noticed it in the way the flagstones felt under his boots. Still sunlit, but duller. Like the heat was only clinging out of habit. He stayed seated for a while after Nathan and Elara left, watching the wind catch leaves in slow, spiraling lifts. Someone behind the west wing was hammering wood together, short, careless strikes, no rhythm at all. Two third-years passed behind him muttering about a fire affinity duel that got cut short. Something about a snapped practice staff and a scorched robe. None of it touched him. Not really. A blade cracked against a training dummy across the field. Over and over again. Same swing. Same follow-through. The dull thunk of impact repeated too perfectly. Merlin rose, letting his hands fall into his coat pockets. His fingers brushed the edge of Keryx, still sheathed inside, but he didn''t touch it. Not today. He walked slowly across the courtyard, letting the rhythm of his boots against stone drown out the sound of the swings. The boy at the training ring was still at it. Black hair. Short sleeves. Arms tense, too tense for how loose the grip was. The sword moved like it was being dragged through water. No break in breath. No adjustment. Just the same mechanical arc. "Hey," Merlin said. No answer. The boy didn''t blink. Just kept swinging. Closer now, Merlin saw it more clearly. The boy''s shoulders were trembling, but not from fatigue. His pupils were dilated. No tension in the jaw. Breathing too shallow. Merlin stepped forward and reached out, tapping two fingers to the kid''s wrist. The motion stopped. The boy froze in place, arm half-raised. Then his eyes twitched. He blinked. Looked around like he''d just been dropped into the middle of the field. "I..." His voice cracked. "I didn''t realize¡ªsorry. I was just practicing." He stepped back, one foot skidding on loose gravel. The practice sword clattered from his hand, and he stared at it like it wasn''t his. "You''re fine," Merlin said. "You should sit. And drink something." "Yeah. Yeah, right." The kid didn''t even pick the sword up. Just turned and walked quickly across the field, head low, almost stumbling when his foot caught the ring border. Merlin watched him go. He looked toward the hedge wall. A tall student had been there earlier. Same uniform. Short buzzed hair. His face wasn''t familiar. The kind of face your eyes slid past in a crowd. But he''d stopped. Turned. Stared straight at him. Then gone. No sound. No footprints. Nothing. ''That''s how it starts. You catch them out of the corner of your eye. Figures that don''t belong. Faces you can''t place. Patterns in behavior so subtle most people just move past it.'' Merlin rubbed his temple. The headache had started again, faint and pulsing at the center of his forehead. He turned back toward the courtyard. Empty now except for a few scattered bags and training gear. The wind tugged lightly at the canvas roof stretched over the archery platform. A few wooden arrows lay scattered underfoot, half-buried in dust. His eyes tracked across the stones automatically. Cracks. Small ones. Forming concentric arcs near the edge of the courtyard. ''Tension fractures.'' He crouched. Ran a hand lightly over the break. No heat. No frost. Just pressure. Like something had pressed up from beneath the surface and left it just barely split. A faint pressure built in the air. Not heavy, but hollow. A vacuum in sensation. The kind of silence you didn''t hear so much as feel behind your ears. He stood again. A group of students passed on the upper walkway behind him. One of them laughed, too loud. Another mimicked a teacher''s voice. Their footsteps echoed against stone, faded into the corridor beyond. None of them noticed the flicker at the corner of the courtyard. Not a movement. A blur. Like something stepped out of sync with everything else. Merlin didn''t follow it. Not yet. His thoughts were too loud. ''The boundary''s wearing thin. Not torn open. Not yet. But it''s like... wind leaking through the edges of a locked door. I read about this in the novel. When a gate fails to anchor, the space around it distorts first. People lose time. Get disoriented. Animals won''t go near it.'' He glanced at the old crow that usually perched near the bell tower. Gone. Even the insects seemed quieter now. He looked toward the path where Elara and Nathan had gone. Then down the corridor toward his dorm. He needed to think. Not rush. Not panic. Just prepare. Because the Hollow Labyrinth wasn''t here. Not fully. But it was starting to breathe. Chapter 84 84: Exploration (1) The courtyard had emptied faster than usual. Afternoon sessions were over, but no one lingered. No half-formed study groups. No clumps of students wasting time before dinner. Just abandoned gear and scattered footprints in the grit. Merlin stood still, letting the breeze pass through the gap between the west and north wings. The leaves from the hedge rustled dryly, twitching in odd pulses. Not rhythmic. Not natural. His boots scraped lightly as he moved again. No plan. Just instinct. A slow circle around the edge of the courtyard, eyes flicking across the ground. No new cracks. But the ones from earlier looked worse in shadow. More like veins now. Hairline fractures that branched off in directions stone shouldn''t break. He paused near a lamp post. Old brass. Lightly dented near the base. He ran a finger along its surface, feeling for heat. Cold. Too cold. It had been sitting in sunlight for hours. He didn''t look up. Didn''t want to. A familiar instinct whispered that if he turned fast enough he''d see it. The wrong thing. Standing just outside peripheral reach. Wearing a borrowed face. Breathing behind glass. He forced himself to breathe through his nose. ''It''s not full. Not stable. Not yet. If it were, the air would already be screaming. I''d taste metal. I''d see bloom patterns in the shadows. I wouldn''t have to look for it. It would already be bleeding through.'' Still. It was close. His foot brushed a broken arrow shaft half-buried in dust. He crouched, brushing dirt away from the point. The fracture wasn''t clean. Not a snap from pressure or mishandling. The wood looked splintered inward, like it had collapsed against resistance that wasn''t there. He straightened and turned slowly, eyes scanning the windows above. No one watching. No security posted. ''It''s not triggering alarms. It''s threading itself in quietly. Like a parasite that learned how to breathe with the host.'' His fingers twitched, brushing against Keryx beneath the coat. The weapon vibrated faintly at contact. Not a warning. A hum. Recognition. ''It knows. These types of weapons aren''t supposed to react like this unless they''re near domain-level pressure. Which shouldn''t be possible this deep inside the Academy. Unless something on the other side is pushing.'' A stone clicked under his heel. He turned, quickly this time. Nothing. Just a loose paving tile. Still, his breath didn''t quite settle. Across the field, a second-year girl was walking briskly with a wrapped bundle under her arm. She glanced at him once. Didn''t smile. Just kept walking with her head slightly down, like she didn''t want to catch reflections. He kept his pace steady. Casual. Calm. At the east end of the courtyard stood a rusted maintenance gate. Half-open. Padlock dangling unused from the side. He stepped toward it, pushing gently. Hinges creaked with a low metallic groan. Inside was storage. Nothing serious. Spare training dummies, torn sandbags, discarded weapons that hadn''t passed inspection. The scent of dried sweat and old leather hung close to the walls. But the air changed inside. Cooler. Heavier. Just slightly. He stepped through and let the gate ease shut behind him. The quiet clicked in instantly. No wind. No insects. No background clatter from the main field. It felt like he''d stepped through a sheet of gauze. He reached into his coat and drew Keryx, keeping the blade low. Just a precaution. His hand didn''t shake. He paced a slow circle around the storage crates, letting the tip of the sword trace the dirt. No reaction. No pull. Then he stopped. One section of floor had sagged. Just slightly. Enough to look like the boards had taken too much moisture. But this part of the academy was treated with spellless alchemy. It didn''t rot. Didn''t warp. And there were footprints in the dust. Not deep. Not clean. But off. Too symmetrical. Like someone had walked in perfect placement, heel to toe, no variation. Not even the slight lean people did when they turned. ''That''s not someone walking. That''s a trace. A repeat. A loop.'' He didn''t step on it. Just stood there. Breathing. Listening. There was something here. Something faint. Not anchored. Not finished. But it had eyes. And they were starting to open. ¡ª Something jabbed the middle of his back. Merlin straightened. Not fast. Just enough to look over his shoulder with that same flat stare he always used when caught off guard but trying to pretend he wasn''t. Elara stood behind him, one hand still raised. Her finger hovered like it might poke him again. "Seriously?" she said. He said nothing. She stepped around him, brushing past a crooked pile of wooden shields stacked against the outer wall of the old supply shed. There was dust in her hair, like she''d ducked under a few hanging cloths to get here. "Every time I turn around, you''re in some random corner of the campus looking like you''re about to break in." "I wasn''t breaking in," Merlin said. "Good, because if you were, you''d be bad at it. You''re standing in full view of the courtyard." She looked around the storage area without moving further inside. Her eyes skimmed over the cracked floor, the splintered broom handles near the edge of the racks, the faint dark streaks near the back wall. "You looking for something?" "No." "Right." Elara tilted her head slightly, studying him. "You''ve got that look again," she added. Merlin didn''t answer. "That ''if I stay quiet long enough, you''ll forget I exist'' look," she went on. "It only works on people who don''t know you. Which is basically no one anymore." "I was just checking something," Merlin said. "Like what?" He looked at her. His expression didn''t shift. His tone didn''t sharpen. Still even. Still plain. "I thought I heard something earlier. Just wanted to be sure." Elara didn''t blink. Her eyes narrowed just slightly, the corner of her mouth twitching. "You always carry your sword when you hear weird noises?" "Sometimes." She looked him up and down. Not suspicious. Just measuring. "Let me guess. You''re gonna say it was a rat." "Could''ve been." "Or a bird." He didn''t reply. There was a pause. Elara''s shoulders dropped the tiniest bit. She turned toward the door but didn''t leave. "You know," she said, voice lighter now, "you can just say you don''t want to talk about it. Saves us both time." Merlin''s fingers rested against the leather-wrapped hilt of Keryx. He didn''t draw it, but the weight of it was a presence at his side. "I don''t want to talk about it." "There we go." She stepped out first, pushing the loose door open with her boot. The hinges groaned again. Merlin followed a few seconds later. Sunlight hit the stone path outside, sharp and slanted. The afternoon had started to dip, and the air had cooled enough that the distant chatter from the field had faded. No training session. No drills. Just wind and the creak of distant shutters. Elara slowed her walk without saying anything. Just enough that Merlin caught up. "You''re not good at hiding things," she said. "I''m not trying to." "Even worse." He glanced over. She kept walking, hands tucked into her jacket pockets now. "Just don''t drag us into something without warning next time," she added. He didn''t promise anything. She didn''t ask again. Behind them, the door to the shed drifted closed. No pull. No glow. Just old hinges and a gust of wind. ¡ª The alleyway between the dorm arches smelled like bread crust and too much limestone. Merlin followed half a step behind Elara, who didn''t explain where they were going. She just walked with the kind of confidence that came from either knowing exactly what the plan was or knowing she''d make one up before anyone noticed. They turned past the north gate. Stone gave way to cobbles. The Academy fell behind in the corner of Merlin''s vision like a drawing slowly erased. Nathan stood at the corner of a shuttered drink stall. His jacket was half-unzipped and his hair was already doing that thing where it tried to curl at the edges when the wind picked up. "Look who finally showed," he said. "I didn''t know we were doing anything," Merlin said. "You never check your phone." Nathan flicked a small piece of dried fig at him. It missed by a wide margin. Elara stepped to the side, hands tucked into her coat pockets. "You''re the one who said you were bored Nathan" she said. Merlin looked past them. Lanes twisted out in three directions. Smoke from one of the roadside grills curled high and caught the light. A few students in civilian coats wandered past, laughing too loudly about something that didn''t matter. He didn''t walk away. Nathan gestured with a jerk of his head. "Come on. We''re getting skewers before the good ones are gone." ''Skewers?'' They walked and Merlin followed after. The market was open, but thin. Late enough in the day that some stalls had already started packing up, early enough that the lighting crystals hadn''t flared on. Foot traffic stayed light. Just enough chatter to feel like a crowd without being pulled into one. Merlin stayed slightly behind the others, watching as Elara stopped to eye a table of cheap silver pendants shaped like bird bones. She didn''t touch them. Just tilted her head and kept walking. Nathan bought two skewers from a cart shaped like a shield on wheels and handed one to Elara without asking. She took it, then turned it upside down to check how far the oil had soaked through. Merlin stopped beside them. "You didn''t get me one." "You''re a grown man," Nathan said. "Figure it out." ''Seriously?'' A few minutes later, Merlin walked back from the same cart, chewing something that might have been grilled pear or might have been something else pretending to be grilled pear. "You didn''t miss anything," Elara said, glancing at his stick. "They overcooked it." Merlin shrugged. They wandered past a games stall where rings had to be thrown onto old wine bottles. Nathan threw three and missed every time. "Rigged," he muttered. "You aim like a ghost with vertigo," Elara said. Merlin didn''t try. They found a low brick wall near the fountain square and sat for a while. The water had stopped running weeks ago, but someone had stuck a wind chime in the empty basin. It clinked quietly whenever a breeze cut the right way. Nathan leaned back on his hands. "You ever think about leaving after all this?" he asked, casually. "Leaving the Academy?" Elara asked. "Yeah." "Where would you go?" He shrugged. "Somewhere they don''t make you memorize fifteen types of sword grease." ''You''ll need them.'' Merlin let the skewer stick dangle between his fingers. "You''d be bored." "I''d be free." "You''d be unemployed," Elara said. Nathan grinned. Merlin looked across the square. A girl was arguing with a merchant over the price of dried berries. A pair of boys were trying to get a makeshift kite off the ground using twine and curse words. A dog with three legs and half a tail lay asleep beside a sandal shop''s entrance, twitching its ears now and then like it was dreaming of something fast. It was loud in a different way than the Academy. Not with shouting or fights. Just life. Elara was watching him. He noticed, but didn''t say anything. She didn''t either. They just sat there, letting the moment breathe. Chapter 85 85: Exploration (2) They didn''t walk in any real direction. Nathan kept pointing things out like a bored local pretending to be a guide. "That place has the worst flatbread on the continent," he said, nodding toward a faded orange awning. "I''m serious. They serve it with jam. Jam." "I like jam," said Elara. "On bread, sure. On tile grout, not so much." They passed under a vine-wrapped trellis where birds chirped from inside small bamboo cages. A merchant leaned against the post, sharpening a nail with his teeth. He didn''t look up. Elara veered off without a word. Something at a woven goods stall had caught her eye¡ªthin thread bracelets, dyed in metallic colors that shimmered faintly when the light tilted. "I''ll catch up," she said. Nathan didn''t stop. He shifted slightly to the left when they crossed a bridge, avoiding the creak in the boards. His hands stayed in his pockets, but his head kept turning. Merlin stayed beside him, one pace behind. They passed a fishmonger''s stall, then an open-front sweets shop with tiny jars stacked in pyramids. Two kids stood near the edge of the counter arguing over price. The shorter one waved two Lunars like they were worth more if he shook them fast enough. Nathan glanced back. "I always forget how loud this street gets. Doesn''t matter the time." "Some parts of the city don''t sleep," Merlin said. Nathan made a noise that might''ve been agreement, then cut right toward a stall pressed close to an alley mouth. It was narrow, but the shelves rose high, packed with tiny brass pieces and wire models that clicked when touched. "I''ll be here," he said, already crouching beside a clockwork sculpture that was trying to fold itself into a dragon. Merlin gave a small nod and kept walking. The road curved gently. Ahead, fabric stalls had spilled over their chalk boundaries. Bolts of cloth leaned at odd angles. Someone yelled about silk purity and got ignored. Merlin stopped at a table just past the corner. No sign. No canopy. Just a cracked table and a low stool behind it, half-covered in parchment and buckled books. The vendor didn''t speak. Didn''t even look up. He sat barefoot, hands working a thin roll of string between thumb and finger like it was more interesting than coin. Merlin picked up one of the smaller books. No title. The leather cover was rough, like it had seen more weather than shelves. He opened it carefully. Some kind of notes. Or something close. The handwriting drifted between proper mana usage form and short, broken margin scribbles. He flipped a page. Some diagrams. One of them reminded him of a core flow chart Reinhardt had shown once, but it was distorted. Like someone had copied it from memory and drawn through a haze. "How much," Merlin said. The man didn''t look up. "How much for the book?" Merlin tried again. The vendor finally lifted his eyes, blinked slowly, and shrugged. He held up three fingers. ''Three Lunars huh?'' Merlin reached into his coat, pulled the coins out without checking their shine, and placed them on the corner of the table. They made a quiet chime as they touched. The man pushed the book closer. Merlin took it, wrapped it loosely in the inside fold of his jacket, and turned to leave. A girl ran past, tripping over her own boots and catching herself on a rope line that held up a row of banners. Someone shouted at her. She didn''t stop. Merlin glanced back once. Nathan was still crouched by the mechanical stall, one hand poking at a set of wings that refused to open. Elara was nowhere in sight. He leaned against the edge of a low wall, book still tucked away, and let the sounds roll over him. Markets. Metal. Voices bargaining over fruit and thread. A toddler somewhere screaming about plum slices. Another voice called out that the price had changed since noon. Merlin didn''t move for a while. He just listened. ¡ª Elara rubbed a thumb against the inside of her wrist. Dust from the vendor''s table had left a streak. She wiped it on her coat and stepped sideways into the shade. The street narrowed here. Two rows of hanging rugs had turned the whole path into a tunnel of color. Deep reds. Gold threading. One with stitched fish that looked alive if you didn''t focus too hard. She reached up, touched the edge of a tassel. Soft. Thicker than it looked. "Good eye," a voice said near her shoulder. She didn''t turn. Just lowered her hand. "You have taste," the man added. She glanced sideways. Mid-forties. Polished boots. Smile already formed. "You know what I''ve got?" he asked. "An angle." The man laughed, a little too fast. "I like you." She still hadn''t looked directly at him. "You''ve got that born-knowing-things look," he went on. "Like you already spotted which pieces are dyed and which ones got fed through a glamour charm." "I don''t like illusions." "You like price tags?" "Depends." He pulled a strip of folded cloth from his coat. Unrolled it with two fingers. The fabric shimmered once, then settled. A deep blue-black with tiny pinpricks of thread so fine it looked like a sky caught mid-moonrise. "It''s not warded," he said. "But it feels like it should be." Elara looked at the pattern, not the man. She reached to touch it. He pulled it back an inch. "Price first," he said. She waited. He smiled again. Too wide. "Thirty Lunar." Elara blinked once. "You selling fabric or renting the building it was made in?" "You won''t find a better weave in this district." "I won''t find a worse liar either." He dropped the grin, just a little. "Fine. Twenty." "Ten." "Sixteen." "Ten," she said again. He paused. She walked. The rug tunnel ended at a corner where street dancers had formed a loose circle. Someone tapped rhythm on overturned buckets. A girl balanced on one foot with her arms out like wings. No applause. Just watching. Elara moved past the crowd and back toward the street where Nathan had wandered off. She found him squinting at a rack of small stone figures. "You buying something or judging their posture?" she asked. Nathan startled slightly. Then squinted again. "I think this one''s flipping me off." She looked. The tiny statue was either holding a scroll or giving a very delicate rude gesture. Hard to tell. Merlin stood ten paces away, watching a busker retune a bent stringed instrument. The tune had no rhythm, just scraping tone against tone until something stuck. Nathan pulled out a few coins. The vendor narrowed his eyes. "Five," Nathan said. "Eight." "They''re pocket-sized." "They''re not cursed." "I haven''t seen proof of that." "Six." Nathan hesitated, then handed over five. The vendor took them, then coughed loudly and dropped a sixth coin behind the table. "See?" Nathan muttered. "I win." Elara didn''t respond. They moved back toward Merlin. He hadn''t changed position. Just nodded slightly when they reached him. "Find anything?" he asked. "Almost," Elara said. "Definitely," Nathan added. He held up the statue. "This guy has something to say to you." Merlin looked once. Didn''t react. They walked on. The next street smelled like fried batter and spice. Someone nearby was slicing root vegetables so fast the blade barely flashed. Nathan''s stomach growled loud enough for a kid to look up. Elara raised one brow. "Don''t start," he said. "I skipped breakfast and the food earlier wasn''t too much." "Your fault for skipping breakfast," "Someone took all the jam." She didn''t look guilty. They followed the scent to a stall with a low canopy and a rotating spit that wasn''t cooking anything. Just spinning because it could. A sign said PASTRY POCKETS in crude chalk. Nathan stopped. "Yes." He pointed at the menu. "One of those. And one of those. And whatever that is." The vendor didn''t blink. Just took his coin and handed him three wax-wrapped triangles that steamed faintly. Elara picked one from his hand before he could argue. She bit into it. Raised her brows. He blinked. She took another bite. Merlin watched a young couple argue over the last green apple at the fruit stall across the path. The girl won. The boy pretended he didn''t care. He looked back to the others. Nathan was holding his last pastry like it might vanish if he looked away. Elara had already finished hers. The market stretched further east. More vendors. More shouting. A slow rhythm to the chaos now. They started walking again. ¡ª The giant mall''s front doors stood three stories tall. Frosted glass panels etched with thin lines of moving silver. Not glowing. Just shifting. Like a current underneath still water. Elara walked through first. The air changed instantly. Cooler. Drier. Too clean. A set of overhead vents pulsed once, then settled. The scent was faintly synthetic. Something floral with a metallic edge. Nathan whistled low. "Looks expensive," he said. "It is," Elara muttered. The first level spread out in a wide hexagon. Marble tile with thin black lines between the slabs. Not real marble. Printed pattern. Slightly off if you looked at it too long. Rows of storefronts curved around the walls. Seamless windows. No door handles. Just faint runes near the bottom edges. Clothing. Jewelry. Arcane equipment. Two cafe?s with no seating. One juice bar trying too hard. Merlin''s eyes scanned the corners first. Then the ceiling. Then the floor tiles near the central fountain. "Crowd''s thinner than I thought," he said. "Weekday," Elara replied. "Also," Nathan added, "we are literally in the overpriced part of town. Even the pickpockets dress better." He stepped ahead, then pivoted toward the nearest shop window. Inside robes on floating mannequins. Sleeves hanging like they''d been caught mid-spin. One shimmered faintly when he leaned in. The price tag blinked... Chapter 86 86: Exploration (3) "Eighty Lunar?" Nathan said. "For sleeves?" "Rune-threaded," Elara said. "They better make me invisible." "They don''t." Nathan''s fingers tapped the glass. It didn''t move. "You''re setting off the proximity charm," Elara added. "So?" "It logs contact." He paused. Pulled his hand back. Merlin looked across the central aisle. A stair column spiraled upward with floating stone steps. No railing. No visible support. Just slow rotation. Elara walked toward it. "You coming?" she asked. Merlin nodded once. Nathan sighed and peeled himself away from the mannequins. Second level. Wider arc. The floor here shifted underfoot, slightly springy. Thin cushioning under laminate that tricked the step. ''This is pretty good.'' This level had tech vendors. Arcane monitors. Portable casting rigs. Transcribers. Two booths with retinal glyph recorders and loud salespeople yelling about speed and clarity. Nathan gravitated immediately. Elara hung back. Merlin stepped toward the nearest display. A row of crystal nodes hovered above small stone platforms. Each glowed faintly when touched. "Target markers," the clerk said before Merlin asked. "Synced to casting gestures. Integrates with most standard duel rigs." Merlin didn''t reply. The clerk kept talking. Nathan was already being sold on a voice-controlled charm folder. "Just whisper and it reorders the page," the vendor said. "Takes eight languages. Even Old Hallic." "Even?" Nathan asked. "Especially." He didn''t buy it. They moved on. Third level. Less noise here. Less light. Bookstores. Paper supply. High-end charms for scholars and scribes. The lighting came from wall sconces enchanted to mimic candlelight. The illusion wasn''t perfect. No warmth. No smoke. Elara slowed near a section of glass cases filled with old tomes. Not first editions. Just old enough to pretend. One case was locked with a rotating rune dial. She leaned close. Studied the ward. "Don''t," Merlin said. "I''m just looking." "You''re testing." She didn''t argue. Nathan rejoined them with a paper cone full of cinnamon-glazed something. Half was already gone. ''Seriously? Why is he eating so much in a day.'' He offered it. Merlin passed. Elara took one. "Best part of the mall," Nathan said. "Food disguised as research." They passed a staircase with a velvet rope across the first step. Sign said Level Four closed for renovation. Nathan started to duck under it. Merlin grabbed his sleeve. Nathan frowned. "We''re not allowed?" "We''re not interested," Elara said. She nudged him toward the escalator instead. It groaned faintly under their weight. No steps. Just a flat platform that rose in slow jerks. Fifth level. Top floor. Quieter than the rest. Here the ceilings were lower. Lights recessed. No advertisements. Just one wide cafe? space overlooking the atrium. Nathan made a noise like a tired bird. "Coffee," he said. Elara waved him off. She crossed to the far railing, leaned her arms on the edge, and looked down. Five floors below, the fountain sprayed a lazy arc of light-infused water. The droplets never touched ground. Just vanished midair. Caught in loop. Merlin stopped beside her. "You''re quiet," she said. "So are you." He looked down at the fountain too. The water pulse reset every ten seconds. It never changed. No lag. No error. ''It''s working perfectly.'' "You think we missed something?" she asked. ''No..'' Merlin didn''t answer. Nathan returned with three drinks balanced between his arms. Set them down with mild ceremony. "Guess which one has sugar," he said. Elara picked the right one. Merlin took the plain one. Nathan drank the wrong one anyway. Below, the mall pulsed on. Color. Sound. Movement. But not life. Just the echo of money spent too quickly. ¡ª They finished the drinks without much conversation. The cups left faint rings on the tabletop. No coaster charms here. Just polished stone and the smell of roasted beans with too much syrup. Nathan stretched out first. His spine cracked loud enough that two students at the next table flinched. He didn''t notice. Or pretended not to. "Alright," he said. "That was level five. Where to next." ''Possibly back to the academy.'' Elara glanced at the railing again. "Back down," she said. "Back down," Nathan echoed with mock drama. "To the land of overpriced robes and charm folders." He headed for the elevator alcove. Not the main escalator. The smaller one hidden behind the pastry display. A wall of gold-tinted mirrors flanked the doors. Elara caught a glimpse of herself as she passed and they got inside. The elevator hummed as it moved. Soft light washed over their faces from the glowpanels above. The walls were smooth stone, polished to the point of reflection, but the images didn''t line up cleanly. Slight delays. Like water bending glass. No one mentioned it. When the doors opened, the scent changed. Less coffee. More metal and heat. A trace of perfumed incense. This level felt newer. The tiles underfoot were paler, clean but not as worn. Fewer people moved here, but the space was wide and tall, lit by high-reaching windows rimmed in enchanted vines. Nathan was the first to step out. He scanned the storefronts with a lazy grin. "Now we''re in it." Elara followed, arms folded loosely across her chest. Her eyes moved slower, taking in the bright signs, the moving mannequins in charmwear, the jewelry stands flanked by students with heavy bags and glazed expressions. Merlin came last. ''This place is built like a funnel. Each floor tries to drain you. The higher you go, the cleaner it looks, the more expensive it gets. Here, they want impulse. Movement. No room to think.'' He didn''t hate it. But he didn''t feel at ease either. Nathan veered left toward a stall selling adjustable cloaks. The merchant snapped to attention and began reciting features before Nathan could say anything. "Weight-shifting fabric. Weather resistant. Glamour threading along the trim. Made from genuine wyvern blend." Nathan raised a brow. "That''s illegal." The merchant grinned without blinking. "That''s why it''s on sale." Elara moved past them, drawn by a wall of charm pins stuck into a rotating board. Each charm buzzed lightly with stored magic, the surface etched with symbols that shimmered when touched. She brushed one with the back of her finger. "Boosts climbing," she said aloud. "For ninety Lunars." ''Ninety? Seriously?'' "You planning on scaling rooftops again?" Nathan asked from behind. "No. But you''re the reason I check now." A voice from the back of the stall muttered something about students breaking altitude rules. The merchant didn''t seem to care. He kept pitching cloaks to a girl holding a pet carrier wrapped in noise-cancelling sigils. Merlin wandered past the shop entirely. His steps were slow, but not aimless. ''None of this is for me. These kinds of places aren''t built for thinking. They''re built for thinning the line between want and have. There isn''t anything good or noteworthy here.'' He paused near a rack of short knives. Decorative. Not field-use. But one of them had a grip he recognized. Old Western mold. He turned it slightly and found the symbol stamped at the base. ''No sharp edge. Just a blade for posture. For looking like you know how to use one. Still costs seventy-five Lunars.'' Behind him, Nathan argued over the price of a scarf that changed color when spoken to. Elara tried on a ring that shrunk to match her knuckle. A group of first-years passed through laughing. Their bags were already full, bright ribbons trailing from one of the handles. One of them bumped into Merlin''s shoulder without noticing. He didn''t react. Just stepped aside. ''No fights here. No rules broken. Just people forgetting where their feet are.'' Farther down, the corridor split. One side went toward a plaza with food carts, spell candies, and a band playing slow jazz with illusory instruments. The other dipped slightly and vanished under a glass archway where a fountain spilled light instead of water. "Left or right," Nathan called. "Left," Elara said without hesitation. Merlin followed. They stepped into the plaza and were instantly surrounded by movement. Shouting vendors. Floating menus. Booths painted with illusion inks that shifted color with every angle. The scent of sweetbread and boiled sap oil drifted thick through the air. Nathan pointed at a tray of fried dumplings floating past. "Those. I want those." He jogged after it. Elara called after him. "Do not pay more than thirty Lunars for six. That''s robbery." "I''ll rob them back." Merlin drifted to the edge of the plaza. A small bench half-shadowed by a fruit cart gave him space to sit without being in the way. He rested his forearms on his knees and watched them move through the crowd. ''They know how to live here. I still feel like I''m visiting.'' He leaned back and let the noise carry over him. Laughter, haggling, the clang of a dropped utensil, the shiver of a windchime spell firing overhead. Nothing dangerous. No edge. Just life. He let it be. ¡ª They walked a slower pace now. ''This is just what I needed..'' The clothes district started where the scent of fried dough stopped. Music played in gentle loops overhead, strung between floating speakers set in flickering charm lamps. Most of the stores had wide glass fronts, mannequins frozen mid-step in clothes that shimmered like they moved even in still air. The first shop was called Specter and Stitch. Nathan dragged them in without asking. Two attendants greeted them from behind a silver counter. Their uniforms were mirror black. One had painted lips the same color as the trim on the wall, some deep shade of copper that caught in the light. Chapter 87 87: Exploration (4) "Looking for something custom?" they asked. "Yes," Nathan said without hesitation. "Something charming." The attendant smiled with practiced ease. Elara glanced at the price tags and did not smile. "Let''s not go bankrupt on the first floor," she said. "You only live once," Nathan muttered. He held up a coat and raised both eyebrows. It had pointed cuffs, folded high collar, and silver thread laced through in constellations. Merlin stayed near the entrance. His eyes skimmed the walls without focusing on any one item. ''Too much noise. Everything here is a conversation waiting to start. None of it is meant to last.'' Elara picked up a jacket lined with reversible scales. She ran her thumb across one panel. It shifted from forest green to a wine red, then back again. "This would survive your firework habit," she said to Nathan without looking up. "I don''t have a firework habit." "You do if it has a fuse and I have to yell at you to drop it." Nathan grinned and took the jacket from her. The attendant offered to fit them both. Elara waved it off. Nathan accepted. Merlin left them to it and stepped out again. The next store over was quieter. No music. Just wide floor space and one apprentice tailor threading a rune along the sleeve of a long coat. He walked through the open doorway, trailing fingers along the racks. The fabric here was simpler. Earth tones. Fewer enchantments. Mostly utility wear for long walks or low-threat missions. Still expensive. Still stitched for posture and presence. But less performative. He found a heavy brown cloak at the far end. Uncharmed. Double clasped. No insignia. Just thick wool and clean lines. He set it back without trying it on. ''It fits. That''s the problem. It fits too easily. Too quiet. It''s basically like iding from something I haven''t even met yet.'' A voice behind him. "Looking for travel wear?" The tailor had appeared without sound. Young. Not nervous. Just tired in a way that settled behind the eyes. "Not really," Merlin said. The tailor nodded like that was a good enough answer. Merlin stepped out again. A few minutes later, Elara caught up. She had changed jackets. The new one fit her tighter at the arms and moved better at the shoulders. "You didn''t buy anything," she said. He shook his head. Nathan jogged up behind them, spinning once to let the coat tails flare. "I look incredible," he said. Elara examined him for a beat too long. "You look slightly less ridiculous than usual." "Thank you. That means more than you think." They continued through the clothing lane, ducking in and out of stores. One focused entirely on enchanted boots. Another had cloaks that could fold into a coin-sized charm. One had no attendants at all, just illusion mirrors that spoke when garments were held up. Merlin tried on a coat in that one. Just once. No enchantments. Deep pockets. He didn''t buy it. ''Good fit. Good weight. I don''t need it. But I remembered the shape when I left.'' At a shop called Goldbone, Nathan made Elara try on something with metal threading at the seams. It sparked lightly at the cuffs when she moved. "Not a chance," she said. But she didn''t take it off right away. They stayed there a while. The clerk offered them something called a signature blend. It was a scent layer woven into the collar. Personalized to match wearer aura. Nathan declined. Elara said she didn''t want to smell like anything named after a gemstone. Merlin said nothing. They moved on. They found the weapon shop by accident. Past the designer boots and rotating mannequins, a narrow stairwell wound downward beside an atrium with hanging lights. The sign above was plain. Carved wood. Painted once, then scuffed by time and weather. Ash and Alloy. Nathan spotted it first. "Now we''re talking," he said. Elara tilted her head. "Not on your allowance." "I am window shopping," Nathan replied. "I am exploring the cultural heritage of bladed commerce." She snorted once, but followed him down the steps. Merlin came last. The staircase was steep. No enchantments. No music. The kind of stair that creaked wrong if you rushed. A small bell rang when the door opened. Not a charm. A real bell, strung from the top hinge with frayed ribbon. Inside, the temperature shifted. Cooler. Cleaner. Every surface was matte wood or soft cloth. No metal glint. No careless reflection. Every weapon sat nested in its own groove or case. Blades, staffs, bracers. A few rifles behind glass. Most items rested on long black cushions, gently tilted toward the viewer. One wall was reserved for forged Herald-class weapons. Not functional. Replicas. But close enough to wake memories if you had seen the real ones. Nathan walked the length of the aisle, hands clasped behind his back like he was trying to pass for a noble son. He stopped beside a short saber with curved runes set along the flat of the blade. "That one looks like yours," he said without turning. "It''s not," Merlin replied. "I said looks like." Merlin stepped closer to the case. The saber was silver-white. Thin. Designed for speed. Its balance looked off to him. Too front-weighted. The handle had been rewrapped twice. One layer was synthetic. The other looked like salvaged leather from something older. ''It''s a showpiece. A guess. Built by someone who''s never drawn a weapon under pressure.'' Elara was crouched near a different case. Her eyes followed the curve of a thick hunting blade, spine lined with sharpened hooks. "I hate these," she said. "Ugly?" Nathan asked. "Cruel." She stood and moved on. The clerk approached quietly. He wore a charcoal apron over plain robes. His sleeves were rolled to the elbows, arms inked with forge patterns. Not decorative. Tally marks. Heat scores. One burn scar across the forearm. He looked first at Merlin. "You carry weight," he said. "I''m not buying." "Still. You might like the third case down. Left side." Merlin hesitated, then followed the direction. The case was smaller than the others. No glass. Just a raised bed of black cloth. One blade. No sheath. Half-wrapped grip. Shorter than his current weapon. Straight. Functional. It was not enchanted. Chapter 88 88: Exploration (5) But it had been used. Cleaned often. Sharpened well. The edge bore a faint notch at the midpoint. The kind of flaw that came from striking something harder than bone or armor. ''Not for ceremony. Not for show. Just for finishing what someone else started.'' Elara joined him. Looked once. Looked again. "You like it?" "I respect it." She tapped a finger gently near the base of the hilt. "It''s ugly." "That''s why it works." Nathan reached their side, holding a sheathed dagger from another stand. "Look what I found." "It better not have a name." He grinned. "It''s called Starlacer." "No." He set it back without complaint. The clerk returned a minute later. He offered no pitch. No price. Just a simple nod toward the exit when they were done. Merlin looked back once, before the door shut behind them. ''Not everything sharp needs to be deadly. But everything deadly stays sharp.'' The weapon shop door closed behind them with a soft wooden click. Outside, the sound returned. Footsteps. Conversation. The clatter of utensils from a nearby food stall. A gust of warm air from the upper walkway sent the smell of grilled spice wafting down past them. But none of them spoke. Not at first. Nathan walked ahead a little, hands in his jacket pockets, his usual bounce subdued. He didn''t whistle this time. Didn''t turn to crack a joke. Elara drifted beside Merlin, her stride careful. Not hesitant. Just tuned to match his pace. She kept glancing at the shops they passed, but didn''t pause to look inside. Merlin said nothing. His eyes stayed forward. There was a weight in his chest that hadn''t moved since the blade in the case. ''Too many weapons in one place. Too many questions they don''t want to ask. I keep walking like something will feel right again, but it doesn''t. Everything feels two degrees off center. Like I''m waiting for a fight I can''t see yet.'' They passed a display window filled with old war relics, and his eyes caught on a set of armor. It wasn''t fancy. Half-dented, scuffed at the joints, no crest. But it had been real once. Worn into battle by someone who survived enough to take it off later. He stared at the helmet for a second longer than necessary. Elara stopped beside him. "You thinking of taking up heavy armor now?" "No." "Too bad. You''d look good in it." He glanced sideways. She didn''t smile. Her voice wasn''t teasing. She just said it like it was a fact, then kept walking. Nathan waited near the edge of the next intersection, tapping the base of a cracked vending machine with his boot. "You two get lost in the past again?" Merlin didn''t answer. Elara stepped ahead of him and pointed to the glowing directory built into the wall. "There''s a cafe? near the west end," she said. "Quiet. Real chairs. Not the floating crystal garbage they keep putting everywhere." Nathan squinted at the map. "Says it serves Lunarberry tea." "I''m not ordering that." "You will if I do." Elara ignored him and started walking. Nathan followed. Merlin hesitated, then moved to keep pace. They passed a section with glowing fountains, the water suspended mid-air by enchantments. Kids darted between the columns, laughing. Parents trailed after, half-smiling, half-tired. Merlin looked once. The tallest fountain had an orb of silver mana balanced at its peak. Decorative. Harmless. Just light and motion. But it made something in his gut shift. He looked away. The cafe? was quiet, just like Elara promised. A narrow place. One row of booths. One glass counter filled with mismatched pastries. The woman behind the bar barely looked up when they walked in. She just waved them toward a corner seat and went back to her crossword. They sat. Elara took the inside. Nathan sat across from her and immediately started picking apart the sugar packets left on the table. Merlin took the end seat, back to the wall. A soft clink echoed as someone dropped a spoon nearby. Another group laughed too loudly two booths down, but no one complained. Nathan tapped the laminated menu. "Alright. Who''s actually hungry again?" "Me," Elara said. ''Seriously?'' Merlin didn''t speak. Nathan glanced at him. Didn''t push. He just flagged the waitress over and ordered something with too much syrup and a side of whatever they had that could pass for protein. Elara ordered a sandwich. Blackbread. Thick-cut. Merlin stared out the window. The mall was alive again. But it felt like something else had crawled underneath it. Like the edges of the day weren''t clean anymore. ''I''ve been trying to move like nothing''s broken. But I can feel the crack every time I shift my weight. It''s not just the mana. It''s something in the shape of me. Off balance. Like I never came back properly.'' The drinks arrived first. Then the plates. Elara bit into her sandwich. Nathan poured half a sugar packet into his tea and stirred until it dissolved. Merlin didn''t touch his. Elara noticed. Her foot nudged his under the table. "Eat." "I''m not¡ª" "No. You''re not skipping this too." He looked at her. She didn''t blink. Nathan sighed. "You two are exhausting." "You love it," Elara muttered. Merlin finally reached for the sandwich. Took a bite. It was warm. Just bread and some kind of herb meat. Bland. But real. He chewed slowly. And for just a second, the ache in his chest felt a little quieter. "I''m going to the toilet," Merlin said flatly. Nathan raised an eyebrow. "Too much information." Elara gave a vague nod without looking up. Her fingers were still thumbing through the pockets of a leather jacket she had no intention of buying. Merlin turned before either of them could add something dumb, slipping between two aisles of decorative weapons and wall-length mirrors. The overhead lights flickered slightly. Every third one buzzed in a way that rubbed at his nerves. He found the restroom tucked in the corner behind a sign that looked like it hadn''t been cleaned in weeks. Inside, the shift in atmosphere was immediate. Colder. Still. Tiles underfoot gleamed like they''d been polished too recently, and the air had that faint sterilized sting that didn''t belong in public facilities. Merlin didn''t stop at the sinks. He made it two steps past the mirror before his instincts screamed. He spun. His fist rose with practiced speed. It didn''t land. His body locked. Not like a stun spell. Not a binding technique. Like his own nervous system had betrayed him. His breath caught halfway in his throat as his eyes registered the figure just behind him. White coat. Sharp shoulders. Not a crease out of place. Silver hair, neatly combed and cut short at the nape. Glasses that reflected the sterile light perfectly, but let nothing through. Merlin''s jaw tightened. ''I''ve seen you before.'' Perhaps weeks ago. On the far side of the city. Standing calmly in the traffic that didn''t seem to notice him. No aura. No presence. "You don''t listen," the man said calmly. "Even when the signs are obvious." Chapter 89 89: Exploration (6) Merlin tried to move. His hand wouldn''t lower. He couldn''t breathe properly. Couldn''t even tell if the rest of the world still existed outside this room. "Reflexes are adequate," the man said. "But you still lead with your right. Sloppy." "Who are you?" Merlin hissed. The words forced themselves out through clenched teeth. The man stepped closer. Not aggressive. Not fast. Two fingers extended. He tapped Merlin lightly on the forehead. Like knocking dust off a shelf. And something opened. White heat shot down the back of Merlin''s spine. He buckled, knees giving way. The tiles cracked faintly beneath one foot as he staggered back against the sink, catching the edge with a grunt. A flicker. Then a ping. [System Restart: In Progress] [Core Integration: Partial] [Soul Structure: Damaged, Stabilizing] [Affinities: Dormant] [User Access: Manual Override Required] Merlin gasped, pulling a hand to his chest. ''It''s back.'' Faint, flickering, but there. His system. His connection. The dead weight in his chest finally buzzed with something almost like life. He looked up, eyes wide, breathing hard. The man adjusted his glasses. "That''s the last time I''ll help." "You..." Merlin''s voice broke slightly. "You fixed it. Just like that." "I restarted what was already there. You''re the one that broke it. Don''t thank me for cleaning your mess." Merlin''s hands clenched against the sink. "I saw you. Weeks ago." "Yes." "You followed me." "No. I watched." "That''s the same thing." "It''s not." The man stepped back. One stride. Clean. Measured. "You''re going to ask me why. Then you''ll ask how. Then you''ll demand to know what I am." Merlin didn''t say anything. He just waited. "I''m none of those answers," the man said simply. Merlin''s hand reached under his coat. Not drawing Keryx. Just touching it. Grounding himself. "What do you want from me?" "I want you to stop wasting time pretending this is someone else''s story." Merlin''s chest tightened. ''What does that mean? That I''m supposed to do something? Lead something? Be something? No. No. That''s not how this works.'' "I didn''t exactly ask to be here." "You were chosen anyway." Merlin stared at him. The man tilted his head slightly. Then turned to leave. "The third opening will bleed soon," he said without looking back. "Don''t go alone." Merlin''s voice caught in his throat. He wanted to shout something. Anything. But the man was already gone. The door shut without sound. No echo. Merlin stood there for a long time. His arms trembled faintly. The system was back. But it wasn''t whole. His soul ached like something was stitched together with the wrong thread. He let out a long, slow breath. Then washed his face with cold water, like that would help. It didn''t. ¡ª The door creaked as it shut behind him. Merlin paused just inside the corridor, letting the cool mall air settle against his face. His collar still felt too tight, and there was a weight just under his skin that hadn''t been there before. Not panic. Not fear. Just pressure. He lifted one hand and touched his temple. The memory of fingers tapping the center of his forehead still lingered, cold and unreal. ''What even was that. System reset? No explanation. No warning. He just appeared, touched my head, and everything stopped.'' The pressure in his limbs had started to fade, but the feeling of being frozen in place still clung to the back of his neck. That man''s eyes were flat, pale, unreadable, like he hadn''t looked at him like he was a threat. Or even a person. More like a patient. Or a cracked tool. Merlin lowered his hand and stepped back into the corridor. Nathan stood a few meters down, balancing a paper drink cup on one hand and kicking his heel against the corner of a bench. He looked up at the sound of Merlin''s boots and raised his brows. "You didn''t fall in," he said. Merlin just gave him a look. Nathan offered the drink with a small shrug. "Thought I''d grab you one. Probably apple. Maybe cucumber. Honestly not sure." Elara stood off to the side, her back against a pillar. She didn''t say anything at first. Just looked at him. Her expression didn''t shift, but she leaned off the wall as he approached. "You were gone a while," she said. "Line," he replied. She didn''t believe him. But she didn''t press either. Nathan tilted his head. "You good?" Merlin nodded once. "Fine." They didn''t question it. The three of them stepped back into the main corridor of the mall. The noise of the crowd had dulled a bit now, thinning out as people headed home or drifted toward the late food stalls. Distant voices echoed off tile. Music played from somewhere too high to track. Nathan tapped the side of his cup. "You two ready to head back?" he asked. "Pretty sure the rail''s still running for another hour, but I''d rather not sprint the last five blocks." Elara nodded. "We''ve seen most of it." Her eyes lingered on Merlin for just a moment longer before she turned toward the exit escalator. Merlin followed without a word. They moved through the mall in steady silence, past the glowing storefronts and wide glass panels that reflected their images back in odd angles. A security bot floated by and scanned them with a blue pulse. Nathan waved lazily at it. Merlin walked near the back, eyes fixed on the metal panel next to them. His reflection stared back, faint and smudged. He didn''t speak. Neither did the others. Outside, the streetlights had come on. The station archway flickered slightly at the edges as the enchanted lattice powered up for the next round of transports. They crossed the lot in silence. Nathan took the lead this time, humming quietly under his breath as he stepped onto the platform. Elara walked beside Merlin, hands in her pockets, posture casual but her eyes never leaving the corners of their surroundings. Merlin noticed. But he didn''t comment. They boarded when the train slid to a halt, doors hissing open with a mechanical breath. Inside, the lighting was dim and blue. The kind that made everyone look a little too pale. They slid into a row near the back. Merlin sat by the window. Outside, the city slid by. He let his forehead rest lightly against the glass. ''Everything''s back. Or starting to come back. I can feel it, humming at the edge of my thoughts. My affinities aren''t gone. Just... paused. Like something pulled the fuse and left me in the dark until it decided I could handle the current again.'' He watched the lights streak past. The system hadn''t spoken since it flickered on. No messages. No updates. But something had changed. Nathan yawned beside him, feet propped up on the base of the opposite seat. "We should do this again," he said. "Maybe next time without walking for four hours." Elara snorted. Merlin didn''t reply. He was still thinking about the man in white. Still thinking about the way his entire body had locked up with a single gesture. No words. No aura. Just presence. ''He wasn''t using mana. So what was that. What kind of person can reset a system with a tap?'' The window glass rattled gently with the next turn. Elara''s voice cut in, low. "You''re quieter than usual." He glanced at her. "Just tired." "Mm." She didn''t press either. The ride continued in silence. Behind them, the train hummed. Ahead, the academy lights were just starting to glow. And Merlin, for now, said nothing. ¡ª The tram hissed to a stop against the outer station platform. Steam vented from the side ports with a low sigh, and the lights overhead flickered twice before stabilizing. It was always colder at the edge of campus. The kind of quiet cold that didn''t sting, just settled into your coat and made you aware of how far from the city you really were. Merlin stepped off first. The gravel beneath his boots crunched in soft, irregular patterns. The walkways had been redone over the break, but there were still pieces of old stone mixed in. Every few steps, the sound changed. Sharp. Then dull. Then sharp again. Nathan stretched as he stepped down after them, his arms up high and his back arching. A crack sounded somewhere in his spine. "Gods, that tram needs more padding. My tailbone is gonna file a complaint." Elara walked ahead, pulling her hood up as the wind caught her hair. She didn''t speak. Just matched Merlin''s pace with quiet ease. The path toward the west dorms sloped gently uphill. Lanterns lit the trail at wide intervals, casting long shadows that swayed in opposite directions. They passed a few students along the way. One nodded. Another looked up, hesitated, then quickly looked back down at her tablet. Nathan slowed for a second, watching that last student walk off. "People are still weird around you," he said without looking back. Merlin kept walking. "They think you''re going to explode or something," Nathan added, half under his breath. "I might," Merlin said. That shut him up. By the time they reached the main courtyard, the evening bells had already finished. The halls were mostly quiet. Just the muffled sounds of someone practicing footwork drills behind the gym. The scent of cut grass drifted faintly from the upper gardens. Merlin stopped near the edge of the fountain square. The lights reflected off the water in slow ripples. ''Home, technically. But it doesn''t feel like it. Not when the walls remember what happened more than I do. Not when the scars in the courtyard haven''t faded. Not when I still hear things sometimes, in the quiet.'' Nathan broke the silence with a soft groan. "I''m going to collapse. Elara, tell the teachers I died doing something noble." "You bought boots and ate a sandwich," she replied. "Exactly. Full life. Glorious end." Elara turned to Merlin, eyes catching his briefly. "You heading back to your room?" He nodded. "I''ll check on you later," she said. He nodded again. Didn''t look away. Nathan gave a loose salute and turned down the side path toward the east wing. Elara lingered a second longer. Then she followed, leaving him alone in the open square. The breeze had settled. He stood still in front of the fountain. Keryx rested at his side, silent, untouched all day. His fingers twitched once toward the hilt. Then stopped. ''Not yet.'' The academy walls loomed around him, steady and clean and old. Not haunted. Not dangerous. Just too familiar. He turned away from the water and made his way toward the newer dorm wing. The hallway lights flickered as he passed through, motion-triggered. His room wasn''t far. The same one Vivienne had arranged after his return. A little larger than the old one back at home. A little quieter. He stepped inside and shut the door with a soft click behind him. The walls didn''t creak. The lightstone above his desk pulsed once as it recognized him, then settled to a low, warm glow. He dropped his coat over the back of the chair and sat down slowly on the bed. Everything inside was the same. A folded blanket. A small stack of unopened books. He stared at it for a long time. Then leaned back against the wall, arms folded. ''It''s starting..soon.'' The wind rattled the window once. Distant. Just enough to remind him the world still moved. He closed his eyes. He didn''t sleep. But he didn''t move either. Chapter 90 90: Concern The knock was too soft to be anyone else. Merlin didn''t answer at first. He stayed seated, eyes on the edge of the desk, where a curl of parchment had peeled back under its own weight. The light overhead buzzed faintly, muted and warm, casting the room in shades of orange and shadow. Another knock. This one slower. Not urgent. Just... present. Then the door eased open. Elara stood in the doorway. She didn''t look surprised to see him sitting there, back half-turned toward the entrance. Her coat was slung over one shoulder, hair tied back loosely. A faint edge of fatigue sat under her eyes, but it didn''t dull them. "I said I''d come," she said simply. Merlin nodded, but it was slow. He didn''t stand. Elara stepped in and shut the door behind her. The soft click echoed louder than it should have. Her eyes moved across the room once. Desk. Bed. One cup half-filled with tea gone cold. Keryx resting against the wall within easy reach. She took it in without comment, then pulled out the chair across from him and sat down. "You''re not pretending to read that, are you?" she asked, nodding toward the open paper on the desk. Merlin''s voice was quiet. "No." "Good. Because it''s upside down." He blinked once. Looked at the page. It was. Elara leaned back a little, resting her hands in her lap. The silence wasn''t awkward. Just close. "You didn''t sleep," she said. Merlin''s mouth pulled tight. "I rested." Elara tilted her head. "You were up before dawn. Again. Nathan noticed." "I didn''t ask him to." "He tells me anyway." Merlin didn''t answer that. She didn''t push. A breeze passed against the outside windowpane. It rattled slightly in its frame. Merlin didn''t move to close it. Neither did she. After a moment, she shifted forward. Just enough to rest her elbows on the edge of the desk. Her fingers tapped once. Twice. "You''ve been even quieter," she said. "Since the accident." "I''m tired." "That''s not the kind of quiet I meant." Merlin looked at her now. Really looked. Her face wasn''t guarded. Not unreadable. Just calm in that way only Elara knew how to be. Like she was holding her breath just in case he finally said the thing he hadn''t let himself say. He didn''t. Instead, he sat back a little. Shoulders straight. Hands still. "You''re here for a reason." "Yes." "To ask questions you know I won''t answer?" "No." He watched her. "I just didn''t want to leave you alone again tonight," she said, simple as a fact. "You looked like someone who needed company but didn''t know how to ask for it." Merlin''s throat felt dry. He looked away. Back to the page. It hadn''t changed. Neither had the weight in his chest. Elara stood and walked to the edge of the bed, then sat. Not like she was claiming it. Just easing the distance between them. "I''m not asking you to explain anything," she said. "Not what happened. Not what you saw. Not even what''s coming." He didn''t turn toward her. She kept going. "But if you''re going to carry it, I''m not going to let you carry it alone." Merlin''s hand rested against the surface of the desk. His fingers curled slowly. ''If I let her stay, she''ll see more than I want. But if I tell her to go, she''ll know it anyway.'' He looked over his shoulder. Elara was already leaning back, hands behind her on the blanket. Her eyes had softened, just a little. Like she''d found a place to rest that didn''t ask anything of her either. Merlin turned back toward the desk. He reached for the edge of the parchment and flipped it over. "You''re staying?" "Obviously." "Fine." He left the second chair pulled out. Elara didn''t move to fill it again. They stayed like that. Quiet. Even. Present. ¡ª Elara leaned her head back against the wall. The window curtain fluttered again. Outside, the courtyard was empty. Just faint lamplight casting tired shadows across the grass. The kind of light that felt like it wasn''t supposed to reach this far inside. Merlin glanced at her from the edge of the desk. She hadn''t moved much. Just shifted her posture until her legs dangled loosely over the side of the bed, boot heels tapping lightly against the frame in a slow, off-beat rhythm. Neither of them had spoken in a few minutes. Then she broke the silence. "Do you ever think about what happens after all this?" He turned his head slightly. "After what?" "All of it. The academy. The rifts. The fighting. The... whatever it is we''ve been doing." Merlin looked back down at his hands. One knuckle still had a faint cut across it. He didn''t remember when that happened. Just that it never quite healed. Elara didn''t wait for him to answer. She shifted again and drew one leg up onto the bed, arms folded across her lap. "I used to want to join the Arc Vanguard," she said. Merlin blinked once. "They''re not the strongest or anything. But they protect outer territories. Take missions out in the deeper zones, where the rift stabilities are too weak for normal patrols." Her voice lowered. "I thought it sounded honest. Just... show up and do the work. Save people. No politics. No posturing." She glanced over at him. "That probably sounds stupid." "No." Merlin leaned back slightly. The chair creaked. He didn''t look at her directly. ''I used to know how this conversation went. When it came up in the novel, Elara was always the quiet one during these talks. The steady anchor. The one everyone leaned on. I don''t remember her saying any of this. Or maybe I skipped the chapter...No I would never do that.'' "What about you?" she asked. Merlin''s jaw shifted slightly. His gaze stayed low. "I don''t know," he said. "You''ve never thought about it?" ''I have. I''ve thought about everything. Every possible future. Every path that leads to dying a little smarter the next time. I just never thought I''d get far enough for any of it to matter.'' He rubbed his fingers together absently. They still felt cold. ''I need to say something though..'' "Before I came here," he said slowly, "I thought I''d end up in the research branch. Long hours. No field work. Just books and quiet. That kind of thing." "You''d hate that." "I know." There was a pause. "Do you still think that''s where you''re heading?" He closed his eyes for a second. Just one breath. In. Out. Then he opened them again. "No." Elara didn''t press. She nodded slightly. Like that was enough. ''I don''t think I have a future. Not one I believe in. Everything ahead of me is just fire. Steps toward things I already read and watched unfold. Things I need to change without making them worse. I can''t afford to want something that won''t survive the next arc.'' But he didn''t say any of that out loud. Elara glanced at the window. Her voice softened again. "Sometimes I think about disappearing. Just... leaving. Going off-grid. Living somewhere quiet. No missions. No towers. No rankings. Just sky and wind and no one keeping score." Merlin turned toward her. "You wouldn''t last three days." She smiled, just faintly. "I''d last five. Six if I brought snacks." The corners of his mouth twitched. Her eyes drifted back toward his. Steady. Calm. "You don''t have to figure it out now," she said. "But you should try. Eventually. Before it gets decided for you." He didn''t answer. A minute passed. Maybe more. The light from outside dimmed further, the last curve of evening pushing down behind the towers. Elara shifted again, lying back fully now, arms crossed behind her head on the pillow. She didn''t say she was staying. But she didn''t leave either. Merlin stayed seated, hands resting on the desk, posture quiet. He listened to the breath between her words. The way she didn''t ask for anything. The way her presence settled into the space without disrupting it. He looked at the edge of the desk again. Then finally, spoke. "I''ll try." Elara didn''t move. But her voice, when it came, was soft and real. "Good." The room had settled into that half-silence only late hours could bring. The kind that didn''t feel empty. Just low, even. Steady like breath in the dark. Merlin hadn''t moved in a while. His hands rested loosely over the edge of the desk. The warmth from the tea cup had vanished. He didn''t notice. Across from him, Elara stretched one leg out, toes flexing slightly as if testing the edge of sleep. Her hair had slipped loose from its earlier tie. A strand curved against her cheek, unmoved. "I should go," she murmured after a long pause. She didn''t move. Merlin''s head tilted slightly. "Then go." "I said should. I didn''t say would." He looked at her. Her eyes stayed closed for a few seconds longer, then opened. She didn''t lift her head. Just shifted onto her side, one arm tucked under the pillow she''d half claimed. "Do you mind if I stay?" He blinked once. Not confusion. Not surprise. Just... processing. There wasn''t a trace of embarrassment in her tone. No softness forced into the space to make it feel romantic. Just something calm. Real. "I can sleep on the floor," she added. "Not trying to make this weird." Merlin exhaled through his nose, quiet and dry. "I didn''t say you were." She watched him carefully. "You sure?" He nodded, then pushed his chair back an inch. The legs dragged softly across the stone tile. "There''s room," he said. Chapter 91 91: Useful Friend The ceiling in Merlin''s room was cracked near the left corner. Not a wide split. Just one of those old fault lines that had never been fixed, probably because the dorm magic kept the structure together. Elara stared at it for a while. The silence pressed gently at the edges of the room, thicker now that he was asleep. Not heavy. Not cold. Just settled. Like dust that had finally stopped drifting. She had never stayed in someone else''s room like this. Not since her younger years. Not since the silence in her own home had made her want to slip outside and never come back. This was different. There was quiet here too, but not the kind that hurt. Just quiet that wrapped itself around them like a pause. Merlin slept like someone who didn''t trust the sleep would last. Even now, he wasn''t fully still. His fingers twitched every few minutes, half-curled near the edge of the blanket like he expected something to wake him. Once, his brow furrowed. Brief. Gone. Then peace again. Or something close. Elara shifted on the mattress, propping herself up slightly to watch him more clearly. ''You shouldn''t need to look this tired. Not at your age. Not in a school like this where the worst thing we''re supposed to worry about is a duel with other students.'' But Merlin had seen something. Something he wouldn''t name. Wouldn''t explain. And Elara was good at many things. Pressing wasn''t one of them. She had learned early how useless it was to ask someone to open a wound just so you could look inside it. So she watched. Listened. Stayed. He had changed. She''d noticed it in the way he moved. The way he carried his sword now like it was a reminder instead of a weapon. The pause in his steps. The way his gaze didn''t follow noise anymore but watched corners instead. ''You walk like someone who''s seen death. Not once. Not in theory. But in a hallway. In a silence. In a place no one else returned from.'' Her eyes drifted across the room again. Desk, books, half-used ink bottle. No clutter, but not empty either. The kind of room that held purpose, not comfort. Which suited him. She looked back at him. His breathing had steadied again. Slower now. Deep. ''When did you start carrying that weight alone?'' She hated how familiar the thought was. Merlin didn''t talk about himself. Not really. She wasn''t even sure when he started being part of their group, only that he had been, and then somehow stayed. Like a shadow that decided it was easier to walk beside people than behind them. And now this. This silence. This ache. This edge in him that hadn''t been there before. She reached down and touched the edge of the blanket near his arm. Not him. Just the fabric. A small contact point. Nothing more. Her fingers stayed there a moment longer. Then she leaned back again. Closed her eyes. Didn''t sleep. Just rested them. ''You''re not fine. But you''re breathing. And that''s something. I''ll take care of you Merlin..'' The ceiling crack stayed unmoving above her. So did she. ¡ª The sky outside the window was still gray when he opened his eyes. Not quite morning. Not quite night. That washed-out, threadbare light that looked like it was borrowed from another place entirely. Merlin didn''t sit up. Just blinked once. Then again. The room felt the same. Faint scent of cold tea in the corner. The scratch of linen sheets that hadn''t been changed in too long. His coat still half-folded over the chair. The weight of Keryx leaned against the bedframe like it had been guarding him all night. And Elara. Curled just beside him. Still. Breathing slow. Eyes closed. Her hair was loose. Silver strands fanned across the blanket, catching what little light came through the window. One hand rested near her collarbone, fingers curled inward. Not clenched. Just soft. She wasn''t asleep. Not really. He could tell. Elves didn''t sleep like humans did. They drifted. Their minds stayed light. Quiet. But aware. So it wasn''t surprise that sank into his chest. It wasn''t even curiosity. ''She stayed. Of course she stayed. I thought she would leave early." That was who she was. No need to ask why. No need to make it into something more. But it still did something to him. He shifted his head slightly on the pillow. Just enough to watch her profile without moving too much. Her expression was calm. No furrow in her brow. No mask. ''She doesn''t let herself rest like this around others. Not really.'' The room was quiet. Birds hadn''t started yet. No footsteps in the hallway. Just breath and fabric and that soft pressure of someone who chose to remain when they didn''t have to. He watched the rise and fall of her chest once. Then looked toward the window again. His fingers twitched under the blanket. The mana hadn''t returned yet. Not even a flicker. But his limbs didn''t ache quite as much. Not yet strength, but less of a hollow. He didn''t know if that meant anything. He didn''t want to think about it. A shift beside him. Elara exhaled. Then opened her eyes. Not startled. Not sudden. Just clear. Focused. She looked at him like she already knew he''d been watching. Like she''d been awake longer than him but hadn''t moved because she didn''t need to. "You''re up," she said softly. He nodded once. "You didn''t sleep deeply did you?" "Not like you did." She sat up slowly, legs swinging over the edge of the bed in one practiced motion. Her hair spilled down her back in waves, catching the light like frost caught on metal. Merlin pushed himself upright, back stiff, shoulders tight. Elara didn''t look at him. "I didn''t wake you," she said. Not a question. "No." "Good." A beat of silence passed between them. Not tense. Not uncomfortable. Just quiet. Then she reached over and picked up the mug from the desk. Sniffed it. Made a face. Set it down again. "You need to stop pretending that stuff counts as tea." "It was warm." "That''s not a defense." Merlin leaned forward slightly, elbows resting on his knees. His eyes were still adjusting to the light. Or maybe to the shape of the day itself. Elara stood and stretched lightly, arms overhead. Her spine cracked once. She didn''t apologize. "We should head to class," she said. He blinked. "I thought today was a free period." "It is. But I know you. If I say that, you''ll find a broom closet to collapse in for six hours and call it training." He didn''t deny it. She turned toward him. Her expression softened. "I''ll wait outside." He watched her cross the room and open the door without hurry. She didn''t say anything else. She didn''t need to. The door clicked shut behind her. Merlin exhaled. He stared at the corner of the blanket where silver strands still lay curled. ''It''s easier with her around. Not better. Just... easier to keep breathing.'' He pulled on his boots slowly. Not because he was tired. Just because it gave him a few more seconds to feel like this morning didn''t have to become something else yet. Then he stood. And followed. ¡ª The corridor outside Merlin''s dorm still held the scent of damp stone and distant charcoal. Not unpleasant, just faint. A reminder of how old this wing was. The eastern hall curved slightly, leading into one of the central crossing points where the marble gave way to polished gray tile. Just ahead, Elara waited. She leaned back against the wall near the stairwell, arms folded. Her eyes flicked up when she heard him approach. "Still upright," she said. He nodded. "Didn''t collapse halfway?" "No." "You''ll forgive me if I keep watching anyway." She pushed off the wall with a light motion and fell into step beside him without needing direction. The courtyard wasn''t far. Past the old stair, across the open arch. The light had warmed since dawn, now a clean gold brushing the tops of hedges and columns. Somewhere nearby, a group of students jogged in formation. Their boots hit the stone path in a rhythm that was a little too proud for the time of day. They passed without comment. At the far edge of the yard, Nathan sat sprawled across the back of a bench like he didn''t believe in posture. His jacket was unzipped halfway, shirt wrinkled from either sleep or negligence. Probably both. He chewed on something that looked like it came from the commissary but had been mangled past identification. Liliana was perched on the arm of the same bench, braiding a small strand of her hair with practiced fingers. Her eyes darted between pages in a book propped up on her knees. Every so often she made a face, then scribbled something in the margin. Adrian was nearby, balancing on the edge of a planter with one foot while pretending it was part of his routine. He didn''t even look up until Elara and Merlin crossed into the square. Seraphina stood slightly apart from them all, back straight, hands tucked behind her. She watched them come closer with the same unreadable expression she always wore. Not cold. Just... still. Nathan spotted them first. "Look who lives," he said, waving a half-eaten pastry like a flag. "We were about to start a manhunt." "Speak for yourself," Liliana muttered. "I was about to bet on whether or not you were still asleep." "I''m not that predictable," Merlin said. Nathan squinted. "You are exactly that predictable. You disappear. Then when you show up again, your face says ''nothing happened'' which always means something happened." Elara crossed her arms. "He''s fine." Nathan tilted his head, clearly not convinced. Merlin stopped just short of the bench and looked around at them all. The others hadn''t moved much, but their attention was locked in. Watching. Measuring. Not with suspicion, but familiarity. ''They know me too well to ask directly. But not enough to stop wondering.'' Liliana set her book down. "We were thinking of heading to the lower wing later. There''s a new range setup Reinhardt mentioned. No mandatory class, but they''re letting students try out the reshaped combat halls." "I might pass," Merlin said. "No surprise," Adrian called from the planter. "You''ve been avoiding blades like they''re cursed." Nathan looked between them. "What do you mean? He sparred the other day." "With a longsword," Adrian pointed out. "Not his usual stick. Weirdest thing I''ve seen all month." Merlin didn''t respond. Elara did. "He''s adapting." "Which is code for?" Nathan asked. She shrugged. "Training." Merlin caught the look Nathan gave her. Not pressing. Just nudging. Testing the edges. ''He''s not going to ask me. Well, at least not here. Not with the others watching.'' Seraphina finally spoke. "There''s something going on. Not just with Merlin. The Academy feels tense." Everyone went quiet for a second. Not shocked. Just quiet. Merlin glanced at her. "What do you mean?" Chapter 92 92: Getting Better "I''ve seen patrols double near the north gate," she said. "Instructors posted where they usually aren''t. And three of the enchanted vaults in the east wing were checked twice this morning." Adrian hopped down from the planter. "You think they''re prepping for another breach?" "No," Seraphina said. "They''re not afraid. They''re expecting something." Nathan leaned back again. "That''s way worse." Liliana sighed and closed her book. "Do we even want to know what they''re expecting?" Merlin looked at the ground. ''No. You don''t.'' Elara bumped her shoulder against his, light but deliberate. "You okay?" she said quietly, voice just for him. He nodded once. She didn''t believe it. But she let it go. Nathan tossed the rest of his pastry into the nearby trash bin with a lazy arc. It bounced once off the rim and dropped inside. "Alright. No schedule today. We vote. Who wants to do something stupid and mildly dangerous before lunch?" "I''m in," Adrian said immediately. Liliana groaned. "If I get injured, I''m blaming you." Seraphina raised her hand. "I''m only coming to supervise." Elara looked at Merlin. Merlin exhaled. "Where are we going?" Nathan grinned. "That''s the spirit." Behind them, the training bells began to ring, slow and heavy, marking the shift to late morning. Merlin didn''t flinch. He just followed. Same pace. Same group. Same silence under his ribs. And for now, that was enough. ¡ª The hallway into the training wing felt colder than the rest of the building. Merlin wasn''t sure if it was the draft or just his skin acting wrong again. Nathan walked in front this time, arms swinging like they had nothing better to do. Elara moved beside him, one hand still in her jacket pocket. Merlin watched the way she kept glancing at him without making it obvious. Too trained to pretend it was casual. ''They''re trying not to crowd me. Which just makes it worse.'' He kept his hands at his sides. Behind them, Adrian made a noise that was probably a whistle. He was staring through the open arch into the training hall. "Alright. This actually looks kind of badass." The new space was wide. Real wide. Not just floor, but height. Someone had gutted the whole ceiling. Catwalks stretched like ribs across the upper levels. Enchanted lights glowed faint along the walls, not bright, just enough to keep the corners honest. Dozens of stations lined the main floor. Wooden poles, weighted sacks, steel limbs bolted to mounts. The air smelled like varnish and scorched padding. Nathan whistled low. "So this is where the tuition fees go." Adrian was already walking toward the weapons rack. "I see swords. This is my calling." Liliana followed slower. She looked like she was already tired, but her eyes didn''t miss anything. She paused by the sign-in board, scribbled something quick. Seraphina didn''t move from the entrance right away. Her gaze swept the whole space once, then twice, like she was memorizing the exits just in case. Elara leaned closer to Merlin as they stepped further inside. "Any preferences?" she asked. "Not really." "That''s a first." He didn''t respond. They reached the racks. Blades of every size rested in layered rows. Longswords, shortswords, bastard swords, twin daggers, hooked sabers, polearms. His fingers hovered over the hilt of a curved blade. Too light. Next one. Too heavy. The third caught his wrist just right. Standard longsword. Double-edged. Nothing fancy. He pulled it free and gave it a light test swing. Balance was front-heavy. Handle worn. But it didn''t rattle in his grip. Elara watched him. "Again?" He nodded. "Going to tell us why?" "No." "Didn''t think so." Adrian called from a few meters away. "You sparring?" Merlin shrugged. "Eventually." "Good. I''m betting on you over Nathan." "Hey," Nathan said. "You don''t even know the matchup." "That''s why I''m betting." Elara smirked once, then stepped away toward a dummy setup. Merlin turned the blade once in his grip. ''Still not natural. Not like Keryx. But at least this one fights back. At least I can feel the edge.'' He breathed in. The weight settled into his hands. The hall echoed with the clang of steel and scattered laughter. For a second, it felt like a normal morning. He let it stay that way. ¡ª The ring wasn''t marked with paint or enchantment. Just scuffed stone and the wary half-circle of students giving it space. That said enough. If you knew, you knew. Nathan rotated his shoulder once, stretching his arm across his chest. His grin wasn''t mocking, but it was lopsided enough to be annoying. "You sure?" he asked. "You''ve got that fainting prince vibe going today." "I''ll manage," Merlin said. His hand tightened once on the grip of the longsword. The handle was smooth. Too smooth. Someone had cleaned it recently, probably with the wrong kind of oil. It would slip if he got careless. ''Don''t get careless, then.'' Nathan raised his blade, it was shorter than Merlin''s but faster. Not enchanted. Just iron-forged and scarred with use. His stance wasn''t perfect, but it was solid. No wasted motion. No theatrical flair. Reinhardt''s training stuck. They circled. Boots scraped against stone. Not much sound. Just the distant hiss of other fights and the dull thuds of hits connecting from the nearby dummies. Elara stood just outside the ring, arms folded. Her eyes didn''t waver once. "Call it?" Nathan said. Merlin nodded. A beat. Then movement. Nathan struck first. Predictable. Forward slash, angled from the shoulder. Not lazy, but not committed either. A test. Merlin parried clean, but the jolt ran up his elbow and into his shoulder like a reminder. ''Body''s still slow.'' They exchanged three more strikes. Rhythm built fast. Nathan leaned into it now, pressing harder. Merlin''s blade caught the next swing lower on the edge. He stepped in close and turned, angling the flat to push against Nathan''s side. The deflection worked. Barely. They broke apart. Merlin exhaled through his nose. Breath steady. Legs braced. His grip felt steadier this time. There. A flicker. Low. Just under his ribs. That familiar pull. A thread of something he hadn''t felt since¡ª ''No way.. Not now. Focus.'' Nathan moved again. Faster this time. A low thrust aimed for the side. Merlin twisted. The borrowed longsword moved slower than Keryx would have. It clipped Nathan''s blade just enough to throw the angle off. Nathan shifted his weight. Merlin stepped forward. They clashed. Metal rang. Not loud. Not dramatic. Just contact. Clean. Honest. Elara didn''t speak. But her stance shifted. Like she wanted to move forward and didn''t. ''Good. Let her stay still.'' Nathan grinned again, backing off. "You''re keeping up." "Trying." "You''re going to break something, aren''t you?" "Hopefully not." They circled once more. This time, Merlin led. His step was off at first. Too cautious. But muscle memory reached out from somewhere under the fatigue. His foot pivoted right. Weight shifted. Blade came up into a rising arc. Nathan caught it with the edge of his sword but stumbled a step. Merlin pressed in. The momentum felt strange. Not wrong. Just unfamiliar. Each motion dragged a flicker of something behind it. Not power. Not yet. But warmth. Like a pulse returning to a limb that had been numb too long. He blocked another strike and twisted, his wrist rotating, blade locking Nathan''s weapon at the guard. Their hilts clacked. Nathan blinked. "That''s new." Merlin didn''t reply. He stepped back. The weight of the sword wasn''t fighting him anymore. It moved when he did. Not Keryx. But not bad. He felt it again. The flicker. A soft hum under his skin. Not strong. Not stable. But it was there. ''System''s starting to stir..I can feel it.'' Nathan called it first. "Enough?" Merlin nodded. They lowered their weapons. A soft clatter echoed nearby as another student dropped his blade against a dummy stand. Sweat rolled down the side of his face. He looked over, watching them both with quiet eyes. Merlin let his arm drop. The longsword felt heavier now. Realer. Adrian wandered over with a half-eaten fruit in his hand. "Well," he said, mouth full. "That was significantly less embarrassing than expected." Nathan shrugged. "He''s still scary when he wants to be." "I think the sword was scared," Adrian muttered. Merlin didn''t answer. Elara stepped forward. She didn''t say anything. Just looked at him, then at his hands. "You''re not shaking." "No." "That''s new." He nodded once. She didn''t press. Liliana called from the edge of the hall. "Are we still pretending this is for fun or should we all just enroll in the insanity track now?" Nathan raised his hand. "Fun. Definitely fun." Seraphina glanced at Merlin. "You recovered faster this time." Merlin met her eyes. "I''m working on it." She nodded once. The lights above flickered once. Then steadied. Merlin didn''t miss the way Elara''s posture shifted. Nor the way her eyes moved toward the upper catwalks. Someone was watching. He felt it too. But the presence didn''t linger. Whatever it was moved on. The moment passed. Nathan stretched both arms overhead. "Lunch?" "Please," Liliana said. "If I have to watch one more dramatic blade lock, I''m going to start narrating it." Adrian grinned. "I''d pay to hear that." Merlin watched the others gather their things. Elara walked beside him. "You''re still not fine," she said. "No." "But?" "I''m getting there." She gave the smallest smile. Then nodded. They followed. And this time, Merlin didn''t feel like he was dragging himself behind. Not fully. Not anymore. Chapter 93: Recovery (1) Lunch wasn''t urgent. No bells, no assignments. Just that slow drift of students toward the south wing where the food halls waited. The friend group moved in their usual tangle of too-close steps and half-formed conversations. Adrian walked ahead, gesturing with a training sword like it helped him explain a story better. Nathan was trying to steal Liliana''s book while she swatted him with increasing violence. Seraphina walked like she wasn''t part of it but somehow still kept their pace perfectly. Elara stayed beside Merlin. Merlin didn''t speak much. ''That pull is still there. That hum. Weak. Faint. But real.'' It sat under his ribs like a second heartbeat. No temperature. No pressure. Just a presence. And as he walked, it stayed with him. The system had been silent. Not broken anymore. Just seemed offline? However Now¡ª A flicker. [SYSTEM... REBOOTING] He paused mid-step. Not visibly. Not enough to draw eyes. But his breath caught. [CALIBRATING CORE THREADS] [INTEGRITY: 21%] [FUNCTIONALITY: 9%] [WARNING: ESSENTIAL AFFINITY NODES DISABLED] [RECOVERY IN PROGRESS... DO NOT FORCE INITIATION] [REMAIN STILL] ''Right. Because that''s something I can do.'' His knuckles curled slightly. Not clenched. Just reflex. Elara glanced at him. "Something wrong?" "No." She didn''t believe it. But she let it go. He walked slower after that. Not from fatigue. Just to listen. The system hadn''t given him a proper message in what felt like forever. It didn''t feel like a return. Not fully. But the language was familiar. The tone. The quiet coldness of it. Like a machine remembering its voice. [BEGINNING CORE STABILIZATION LOOP] [RECOMMENDED: LOW-PRESSURE ENVIRONMENT. STIMULI REDUCTION. BREATH CONTROL.] ''Not happening here.'' They passed a cluster of first-years on the edge of the stairwell. One of them recognized Merlin and elbowed their friend. He heard the whisper. Heard his name. Chose not to respond. Elara bumped her shoulder into his again. Not hard. "You''re zoning." "Just thinking." "About what?" "The sword." She glanced down at the blade he still carried. Not Keryx. Just a standard longsword hanging from his belt. "You''re keeping it?" "Not sure." That was honest, at least. His fingers twitched near the grip again. Not to draw it. Just a motion. A weight check. [THREAD PATHWAY SYNC... 12%] [ARCHIVE NODE: UNREACHABLE] [USER INTERFACE: LOCKED] [RECOMMENDED: CONTINUED PHYSICAL STIMULI AND PASSIVE MANA FLOW] ''So you''re saying keep fighting. Subtle.'' They rounded the corner toward the main stair. Stone banisters. Open railing with charm-warded glyphs faint along the edge. The scent of stew floated up from the dining wing below. A mix of herbs and something that might have been root meat. Not appetizing. Not disgusting. Just... there. Merlin exhaled slow. ''This isn''t normal recovery. The system''s repairing itself like it got torn out of sync. Like I wasn''t supposed to wake up at all.'' They reached the lower floor. Adrian was already halfway through a line for food, somehow bartering for an extra roll. Nathan and Liliana were arguing over chairs. Seraphina had chosen a seat near the corner where no one could sit behind her. Elara waited. She didn''t ask again. Just sat at his side when he did. The tray in front of him steamed faintly. He didn''t reach for it. The hum under his skin didn''t fade. It got clearer. [CORE SIGNAL RESTORATION: 17%] [ESTABLISHING LINK WITH HOST] [INITIALIZING STABILITY CHECK...] A pause. Then a faint buzz behind his eyes. He blinked once. ''That''s new.'' The system didn''t speak again. But the warmth stayed. Not strength. But the beginning of it. Elara reached forward and dropped a wrapped roll onto his plate. "You''re going to eat. And you''re going to chew. No brooding until the second course." He looked at her. Then picked it up. The bite tasted like slightly burned flour and stubborn company. The dining hall never got quiet. Even in the low lull between meal rushes, there was always something. Trays clattering. Forks scraping against tin. Someone laughing too loudly at the wrong table. A plate dropping somewhere behind the counter, followed by a half-muttered curse from the kitchen staff. Merlin stared at his plate. The bread sat half-eaten. A thin strip of boiled meat gone cold. The soup looked like it might have been made from whatever was left in the pantry and a vague wish for flavor. He wasn''t hungry. But he ate anyway. ''The system wants consistency. Baseline habits. Normal routines. This counts.'' Elara hadn''t moved much beside him. Her bowl was nearly finished, chopsticks balanced neatly across the rim. She sat like she wasn''t really eating for hunger either. Just passing time. Her eyes scanned the room once. Then again. He could tell she was counting. Not people. Paths. "She''s checking who''s paying attention," he muttered under his breath. Elara raised an eyebrow. "What?" "Nothing." He took another bite. Chewed. Swallowed. [CORE SIGNAL: STABLE (24%)] [LOW-LATENCY FEEDBACK CHANNEL RESTORED] [SYNAPTIC RECOGNITION LOOP ACTIVE] [SYSTEM RESPONSE SPEED: REDUCED BUT RECOVERING] [HOST NEURAL MAP: ACCEPTABLE RANGE] ''That''s a lot of words to say I''m no longer dying.'' The message lingered faintly in the corner of his vision. Not intrusive. Just there. He exhaled once through his nose. Short. Quiet. Elara didn''t look at him, but he saw her mouth tilt at the corner. Just barely. Nathan dropped into the seat across from them, tray already picked apart. His sleeves were rolled up, hair slightly damp like he''d either rinsed it or lost a bet. Probably both. "Food''s terrible today," he said, stabbing at the rubbery root in his bowl. "Think they''re punishing us for breathing too loud." "Or because you keep stealing from the fruit basket," Elara said. "Hey. Redistribution is a noble act." Merlin blinked slowly. Nathan was doing that thing again. The thing where he acted like nothing serious had happened and somehow everyone else followed along. Adrian arrived two seconds later with a bottle of something fizzy under one arm. He dropped it onto the table like it had personally offended him. "I saw someone pass out in line. Not kidding. They just folded." "From the food?" Nathan asked. "No. I think their mana cracked." "That''s worse." Merlin kept chewing. The warmth in his chest shifted again. Not like a flare. Not a pulse. Just a turn. A slow rotation in the shape of something he used to know well. [MANA-LINK POINTS: INACTIVE] [AFFINITY RESONANCE: NULL] [WARNING: USING EXTERNAL FORCE WILL HINDER REPAIR RATE] [RECOMMENDED ACTION: PATIENCE] ''I''ve been patient for a while.'' He hadn''t touched Keryx in hours. Not since the training hall. But he could feel it again. Not the weight. The pressure. The sword''s silence wasn''t absolute anymore. It was humming. Faint. Low. Not in his ear. Not in the air. Just in him. Elara passed him a second cup of water. Didn''t speak. Didn''t comment on how much he hadn''t touched the first one. Nathan was still talking. "So then she says to me, ''If you can''t take the duel seriously, don''t show up,'' and I said, ''I can''t take breakfast seriously either, but I still show up.''" Adrian looked impressed. "And she didn''t hit you?" "Not immediately." Liliana arrived late, book in hand, sliding into the seat next to Adrian like she didn''t even see the food. "Class announcement just went up," she said. "Two days from now. Full-scale simulated raid. Third and fourth years involved. Volunteers only." Nathan blinked. "Since when do they let first years into that?" "They don''t. But Reinhardt signed our names already." "What?" Elara looked up. "All of us?" Liliana nodded. "Said it was non-negotiable. Something about evaluation under pressure." Nathan groaned. "I''m going to die." "No you''re not," Merlin said quietly. Nathan gave him a look. "What makes you so sure?" Merlin sipped the water. ''I''ll be there.'' "Because I''ll be next to you," he said. It wasn''t loud. Or dramatic. Just said plainly. The table went quiet for a beat. Adrian stopped mid-drink. Liliana paused turning a page. Even Elara''s eyes flicked toward him, searching. Nathan tilted his head. "You sure you''re ready for that?" Merlin didn''t smile. Didn''t shrug. But he said, "Yeah." And this time, he meant it. The hum in his chest steadied. [SYSTEM CORE: STABILIZED AT 29%]] [SLOW RECOVERY IN PROGRESS] [STAY AWAKE] Merlin looked down at his plate. For once, the food didn''t taste like ash. ¡ª The last few bites disappeared slowly. Liliana nibbled at a strip of what might have been roasted squash, barely tasting it. Adrian tilted his chair back until it creaked, bottle still balanced between two fingers. Nathan shoved a hunk of bread into his mouth like he was doing it a favor. Merlin finished what was left on his tray. Not rushed. Not slow. Just deliberate. The warmth in his chest hadn''t left. If anything, it had grown clearer. Less fogged. ''Still not enough to use. Not yet. But the system''s back at least.'' He drank the last of the water. The cup clicked soft against the tray as he set it down. Elara reached across and took it without asking, stacking it with her own. "You never carry anything," she said quietly. "I carry enough." She rolled her eyes and stood. Chairs scraped. Trays clattered back into the return slot with uneven rhythm. The line near the commissary window had thinned out. Only a few students still lingered at the far tables, most too tired to care about who sat where or what conversations were being had. Chapter 94 94: Recovery (2) Nathan stretched like someone who had been asked to carry a mountain. He groaned, twisted, then muttered something under his breath about flexibility training and unrealistic academic expectations. Adrian wandered toward the exit first. He paused near the door, balancing the empty bottle on his head like it was some sacred relic. Liliana walked past him without a glance. "Drop it and I''m not helping clean it up." "It''s empty." "That won''t stop glass from existing." Elara moved beside Merlin again, her pace matching his like it always did. Not rushed. Not guided. Just... there. The walk to the exit felt quieter. Not because no one spoke. But because the space between them had shifted. They stepped out into the hall. The light from the courtyard filtered through the upper windows. Warm, sharp. Dust floated in it, spinning slow patterns above the staircase. Adrian let the bottle drop into a bin. The soft clunk was weirdly final. Nathan stopped beside him, arms crossed. "So. What now?" Liliana was already halfway toward the west wing corridor, book open again like the conversation had ended twenty lines ago. "Merlin?" Nathan asked, tone light but edged. "You still good?" "I''m not going to collapse if that''s what you mean." "That''s exactly what I mean." "I''m fine." Nathan didn''t believe him. Not fully. But he let it go. Elara leaned in a little. "You should rest." "I just ate." "That''s not the same." "I know." She didn''t press. Just walked. The group moved slowly. Not because they were tired. But because nothing was waiting. Not yet. Just training halls. A few new drills. More rumors about the raid. Merlin felt the shift again under his ribs. Not pressure. Just weight. Like something beginning to settle. [SYSTEM CORE: 31%] [CORE-BODY LINK: STABLE] [INTERNAL RESONANCE PULSE DETECTED] He inhaled. Then kept walking. ''Let it come back. Little by little. I''ll be ready when it does.'' ¡ª The west corridor always felt colder. Not by design. Just something about the stone. Or maybe the light. The windows here faced away from the sun this time of day, casting long shadows over the polished floor. Everything looked slower under that light. Duller. Like a place between moments. Boots tapped in no particular rhythm. Nathan had taken the lead without realizing. His hands were in his pockets, head tilted back slightly, eyes scanning the arched ceiling like he was trying to memorize it. Adrian walked beside him, still chewing something he''d pulled from his coat. Probably not food. Liliana trailed behind, nose deep in her book. She wasn''t reading anymore. Just staring through the words, fingers curled lightly against the binding. Seraphina brought up the rear. Quiet. Always watching. Merlin never knew if she walked like that because she wanted to or because she didn''t know another way. He walked near the center. Elara stayed close. Not close enough to touch. Just near enough that if he stumbled again, she''d catch him before anyone else noticed. The quiet dragged out. No one rushed to fill it. ''It''s easier like this. Easier when no one asks what I''m thinking. Because if they did, I don''t think I''d have anything good to say.'' His hand rested near his side, brushing occasionally against the fabric of his coat. Keryx sat quiet beneath it. No hum. No pulse. Just presence. Sleeping. But his body felt better. Not strong. Not sharp. Just... aligned. Like a door had been cracked open somewhere deep in his chest and light was finally starting to filter through. [SYSTEM CORE: 38%] [STABILIZATION PROCESS ONGOING] [COGNITIVE OVERLAP FUNCTIONAL] ''Still vague. Still slow. But it''s moving.'' He let the thought settle. Nathan''s voice cut through the air. "So we''re all just pretending this week''s been normal?" Liliana didn''t look up. "If I start thinking about it, I''m going to scream." "I''ll take that as a yes." Adrian snorted. "You''re the one who wanted to spar with the guy who used to dodge lightning spells for fun." "I thought he''d lost his edge." Merlin raised an eyebrow. "You thought wrong." Nathan shrugged. "Doesn''t mean I won''t try again." Elara smiled faintly. Not quite amusement. Not quite concern. Just something soft at the edges. They reached the central stairwell. Another group of students passed them going the opposite way. They were second-years, judging by the their uniform. Their chatter rose and fell like wind through cloth. One of them glanced at Merlin as they passed, then looked away quickly. ''They''re still watching me. Even when they don''t think I notice.'' He hated how used to that he was becoming. Elara nudged his arm lightly with her elbow. "Come on. You''re brooding again." "I don''t brood." "You sulk in silence while internally spiraling." "That''s not the same." "It''s worse." He didn''t argue. Nathan stopped near the base of the stair. "We splitting up or...?" Liliana closed her book and stretched. Her spine cracked. "I''ve got alchemy review in twenty minutes." Seraphina nodded. "I need to check something in the vault records." Adrian blinked. "You... can do that?" "I know where the keys are." He raised both hands in surrender. "Not asking." The group began to drift. No goodbyes. Just motion. Elara turned to Merlin. "You going to the upper deck?" He thought about it. "I might walk the perimeter." She gave a small nod. "I''ll come with." They moved toward the outer corridor, steps slower now. Behind them, the hall grew quieter as their friends vanished around corners and up stairs. Only the sound of their own footsteps remained. Merlin exhaled. ''I''m not healed. But I''m not breaking either. That''s something.'' Beside him, Elara didn''t say anything. She didn''t need to. ¡ª The upper walk behind the west towers was quieter than the rest of the academy. No shortcut paths. No open windows. Just carved stone and old banners that didn''t ripple unless the wind fought its way past the pillars. Elara walked with her hands in her coat. Every few steps, her gaze flicked to the left, then to him. Not full glances. Just small checks. Like a heartbeat. "You''re too quiet again," she said. "I thought you liked quiet." "I like useful quiet. You''re doing the other kind." Merlin looked straight ahead. "I''m just tired." "That''s not new." He didn''t answer. Their footsteps echoed in uneven rhythm. One of the tiles had come loose near the second arch. He stepped over it out of habit. Then the stone shifted. Not a crack. Not a crumble. A movement. Like something below them was breathing too shallow to be heard but deep enough to shake the floor. Merlin stopped. Elara felt it too. She froze mid-step, one hand moving slowly to the edge of her coat. Not drawing. Just aware. The vibrations were faint. But not random. Two pulses. Then a pause. Then one longer. ''Not natural. Not seismic. It''s not from here.'' She glanced at him. "Earth tremor?" "No," he said too fast. She raised a brow. He softened his tone. "I mean... the academy''s reinforced. Mana lattice runs deep enough that tremors don''t reach the upper halls." "So it''s what, then?" "I don''t know." That was technically true. Not a lie. But not the part that mattered. ''The Labyrinth. It''s close. Too close. And it''s shifting. Like it''s pressing against the edges of something thin.'' He stayed still. Let the pulse pass through his boots. It didn''t rattle his balance, but it sent that sharp curl of nausea through his stomach. The kind that only happened when the wrong kind of mana bled into the air. Elara was still watching him. Her stance hadn''t relaxed. She always noticed too much. "You feel it too?" he asked. Her eyes narrowed slightly. "I don''t like it." "You think we should tell someone?" She frowned. Looked around. Nothing in the hall moved. Not a breeze. Not a whisper. Then she shook her head. "We''re probably the only ones up here. Could be something under the labs. They''ve been expanding near the eastern border. Could just be a reaction to the rune mesh." "That''s optimistic," Merlin said. She shrugged. "I''m practicing." He nodded once and kept walking. Elara followed. But not as relaxed. Her steps had gone quieter. She was listening now. Another tremor came. Softer this time. More like a memory of movement than the thing itself. Merlin didn''t slow. ''It''s still shallow. That means it''s testing. Not open yet. But if it''s reaching the surface without a full breach, the seal''s cracking.'' The system didn''t chime. Not yet. But he felt something stir beneath his ribs again. That same thread of cold. The one that only pulled when something was wrong and getting closer. They turned the far arch and the wind hit stronger. A rush from the east tower caught both of them off guard, lifting Elara''s hair sideways. She cursed under her breath. "Okay. That''s weird." "It''s always windy here." "Not like that." Merlin didn''t respond. His hand brushed Keryx through the coat. Still cold. Still waiting. But not asleep. ''The Labyrinth is shifting. I just don''t know if it''s reaching out for something... or someone.'' They kept walking. No one else was in sight. And no one had screamed yet. So he didn''t say anything. Not yet. Not until he had to. Chapter 95: Mystery A scream echoed. But it ended too fast. Merlin didn''t wait. His boots were already moving, stone ringing underfoot as he crossed the narrow garden path. Elara followed a step behind. Her hand had gone to her belt, not her blade yet, but close. They rounded the hedge line, feet skimming over the uneven brick. The air felt thicker here. Not hot. Just slow. Like breath took longer to move through it. Then he saw the vines. Twisted across the gravel. Slick with moisture that hadn''t come from rain. They coiled along the ground and up the stone like they had been waiting for something. No origin point. No seedbed. Just... there. Elara halted beside him. "Those aren''t ornamental." "No." "Are they magical?" Merlin didn''t answer right away. ''They''re not supposed to be here. This isn''t the right terrain. These things look like they grew through the cracks in minutes, not months.'' A faint pulse stirred in his head. [SYSTEM CORE: 41%] [STABILIZATION PROCESS ONGOING] [ENVIRONMENTAL ANOMALY DETECTED ¡ª ANALYSIS INCOMPLETE] [WARNING: AFFINITY RESONANCE UNAVAILABLE] Merlin''s jaw tightened. He kept his hands still. ''Of course. It can sense it, but not enough to tell me what I''m looking at.'' Elara knelt beside the vines. Not touching. Just watching. The stems twitched. Not with the wind. There was no wind. Merlin crouched too, slower. He studied the edges where the vines met the stone. The way the texture of the bricks had started to flake away, like heat stress on old glass. "It''s pulling from something," he said. Elara looked at him. "From where?" He didn''t answer. He didn''t know. Another ping. [SYSTEM CORE: 43%] [INTERNAL LINKING RESTABILIZED] [MANA INTERFACE: LIMITED] [FUNCTION: PASSIVE SENSORY FILTER ¡ª ONLINE] The pressure in the air sharpened. Not from the vine. From underneath. From deep. ''There''s something under this floor.'' Merlin straightened slowly. The weight in his chest had shifted. No panic. Just a low, slow certainty building in the pit of his spine. Elara stood too. Her hand stayed near her knife. "There was a scream," she said. "I heard." "You think it came from this?" "I think it stopped because of this." She stepped around the edge of the vines, checking behind the column. Her voice was lower now. "There''s no body." "No sign of one either." No drag marks. No blood. No personal item left behind in a rush. Just a coil of vines, slick and slow, growing upward with too much purpose. Another pulse. [SYSTEM NOTE: EXTERNAL DOMAIN PRESSURE DETECTED] [CLASSIFICATION: CORRUPTED ROOT NETWORK] [RIFT BREACH UNCONFIRMED ¡ª OBSERVATION REQUIRED] Merlin stared at the message. ''It''s trying to map it. But it still can''t confirm. That means it''s small. Not a gate. Not yet. Just a hairline.'' "Merlin." Elara had moved to the edge of the grass. She looked over her shoulder at him. "You''re thinking too hard. What is it?" He shook his head once. "Nothing confirmed." "That''s not comforting." "Didn''t mean it to be." She stared for a second, then turned back to the vines. One of them had curled around the leg of a bench now, threading its way around the wood like a spine. From deeper in the corridor, a door creaked open. A second-year student stuck his head out, looked both ways, then stopped when he saw them. He blinked. "What... is that?" "Go back inside," Elara said sharply. The student hesitated. Merlin didn''t move. Just watched the vine as it twitched again. [SYSTEM CORE: 47%] [SUBSYSTEMS RETURNING TO MINIMUM STABILITY] [AFFINITY ACCESS: 4% RESTORED] [USER STATUS: SUBNORMAL FUNCTIONALITY ¡ª ACTIVE] The hum in his blood was still too faint to reach for. But it was there. Like the lowest string of an instrument finally being tuned again. Elara stepped closer. "You''re getting that look again," she said. "The one where you go quiet before something awful happens." He didn''t deny it. The vine curled tighter. He took one step back. "Elara," he said quietly. "Don''t touch it." She didn''t argue. Behind them, another tremor passed. This one stayed a little longer. And somewhere, further down the corridor, they heard another noise. Not a scream this time. A creak. Like something old being opened from the inside. Merlin didn''t look away from the vines. He didn''t speak. But in the back of his mind, the system whispered another message. [WARNING: DOMAIN SEEDING INITIATED ] [PRIMARY CONDITION: HOLLOW LABYRINTH ¡ª STAGE ONE] [RECOMMENDATION: OBSERVE AND WITHDRAW] He didn''t tell Elara. Not yet. They weren''t ready. No one was. ¡ª The vines didn''t move again. But the space they had come from still felt wrong. Elara didn''t say anything. She just stood there next to him, eyes still on the patch of overgrown wall like it had personally insulted her. The scream they''d heard hadn''t returned. No voice. No footstep. Nothing but the faint scent of morning leaves and stone dust. Merlin stepped back. Just one pace. His hand brushed against the inside of his coat. Inside his vision, pale letters pulsed softly. [SYSTEM CORE: 50%] [STABILIZATION PROCESS ONGOING] [MANA AFFINITY RECOVERY: 6%] [COGNITIVE OVERLAP FUNCTIONAL] [MOTOR-NERVE LINK STABLE] It didn''t feel like much. But it was more than before. The lines stayed visible this time. No flicker. No glitch. Just a quiet presence behind his sight, like a part of himself humming back online one limb at a time. He exhaled through his nose. "We should find Reinhardt." Elara''s head turned just enough to glance at him. She didn''t question it. Just nodded. They moved. Fast. Not a jog. But enough to pull them into sharper motion. Their boots hit stone with clean rhythm, echoing slightly as they cut through one of the unused archways near the northern wing. Two first-years passed them in the opposite direction. One of them looked up to say something, then thought better of it when he saw Merlin''s face. He didn''t stop walking. ''Keep it together. You don''t have answers yet. Don''t give them a reason to ask questions.'' As they reached the east hall, the air shifted again. Brighter windows. Light catching the edges of the tile. The echo of someone landing a clean hit from inside one of the open practice rooms. Reinhardt was at the far end. He stood with his arms folded across his chest, watching two students exchange sword forms without much enthusiasm. His blade was slung behind him in its usual half-scabbard, and his expression was unreadable as always. Elara stepped up first. "Reinhardt." He didn''t turn. Just raised an eyebrow. "I can tell by your tone this isn''t about missing class," he said. "No," Merlin said. That got his attention. The man turned slowly, arms dropping to his sides, eyes sharper now. Assessing. "Talk." "We were walking near the garden stair," Elara said. "We heard a scream. Clear. Human." "When we got there," Merlin added, "there was nothing. Just vines." Reinhardt stared at them. "No one else around?" "No," Merlin said. "Not a trace." Reinhardt didn''t look away. ''He''s reading our posture. Looking for hesitation.'' The instructor''s jaw ticked once. Then he turned toward the practice room and barked over his shoulder. "Class dismissed. Out. Quietly." Two confused students blinked at him. One dropped a practice sword. It clattered. Reinhardt ignored it. He looked at Merlin again. Closer this time. He stepped forward once, enough to close most of the distance between them. "You sure about what you heard?" "Yes," Merlin said. Voice flat. Even. Elara nodded. "Both of us." Reinhardt''s hand brushed the edge of his coat, checking the position of the hilt across his back. Not drawn. Just reflex. "All right," he said. "Show me." No dramatics. No raised alarm. But something in the way his posture changed said he wasn''t brushing it off. They turned. Walked again. Elara slightly ahead now. Reinhardt in stride beside Merlin. [SYSTEM CORE: 54%] [MANA AFFINITY RECOVERY: 9%] Merlin felt the heat build slowly near the base of his spine. Not strong enough to be usable. Just there. Like his body was remembering something his mind hadn''t allowed. He kept moving. Kept quiet. And didn''t mention the part where he felt the vines watching him back. ¡ª The hallway stretched back toward the courtyard like it had never been altered. Same steps. Same chill. Same slight drag in the air that shouldn''t have been there. Reinhardt didn''t ask questions as they walked. He didn''t need to. The tension had already settled. It wasn''t about whether Merlin and Elara were telling the truth. It was about how bad the truth was going to be. Merlin counted the paces. Fifteen past the old armory door. Nine more to the mosaic column with the chipped edge. Three more and¡ª He stopped. The vines were still there. But different. Now they had grown up the full leg of the bench and begun curling over the back. One thin strand reached into the stone crack beside it, splitting the line wider. Elara let out a slow breath. "They moved." Reinhardt didn''t speak. He just stared. Then he crouched, close enough to see where the vines had clawed at the earth below. His hand hovered, palm open. Not touching. Just close enough to test. The vine twitched. He pulled his hand back. "That''s not just residual mana," he muttered. "No," Merlin said. "It''s not." Reinhardt stood. Eyes narrowed. "Who else knows?" "No one," Elara said. "Not yet." "Keep it that way." He turned to Merlin. No humor. Just weight behind the look. "You''re recovering." It wasn''t a question. Merlin nodded once. Chapter 96 96: Strange Vines [SYSTEM CORE: 49%] [MANA AFFINITY RECOVERY: 6%] [USER STATUS: PARTIAL FUNCTIONALITY] [LOCAL DOMAIN STABILITY: DEGRADED] The system''s updates had stopped feeling foreign. They sat now like quiet facts behind his eyes, pulsing just under thought. "Good," Reinhardt said. "Because this isn''t staying hidden." He reached behind his shoulder and unclipped the hilt of his blade. Still sheathed, but ready. The motion was clean. Too clean. He looked at the vines again. Then at the cracks near the wall. "This is containment breach behavior. Slow growth. Subtle pressure. Classic first-stage corruption, but wrapped in native biology." "That mean it''s a gate?" Elara asked. "No," Merlin said before Reinhardt could. "It means the gate hasn''t opened yet. But it''s scratching the walls." Reinhardt didn''t argue. "Stay close to your group," he said. "And if this spreads¡ª" He didn''t finish the sentence. He didn''t need to. Merlin''s gaze dropped to the cracks. [DOMAIN PRESSURE: STAGE ONE CONFIRMED] [CLASSIFICATION: HOLLOW LABYRINTH] [INTERNAL CORE: NOT PRESENT] The last part stuck. ''Not present yet. Which means it''s coming.'' Reinhardt straightened. "I''ll contact the council," he said. "And quietly." He looked at them both. "You two say nothing. Not until I know where this leads." Elara didn''t nod. Just crossed her arms and stared at the vines like they owed her something. Merlin didn''t speak either. He already knew where it led. And it wasn''t quiet for much longer. The vines were still. For now. Reinhardt had gone, long coat trailing like a shadow down the corridor, his pace deceptively calm. Once he turned the corner, the faint echo of his boots faded into silence. Merlin didn''t move. The quiet here was heavier than before. Same patch of courtyard. Same cracked stone and low walls lined with dying moss. But something in the air had shifted. Not stronger. Just... thinner. Like the space was holding its breath. Elara''s arms were still crossed. Her weight leaned slightly to the left, foot planted firm, but her jaw had tightened the way it always did when her instincts were louder than her logic. Merlin glanced down at the ground again. The vine had pushed another inch forward. Just one. But enough. ''It''s not reacting to movement. It''s reacting to presence. To pressure.'' The system hadn''t said anything in the last minute. No new warnings. No recommendations. Just the last message still faint in the corner of his vision. [DOMAIN PRESSURE: STAGE ONE CONFIRMED] [CLASSIFICATION: HOLLOW LABYRINTH] [INTERNAL CORE: NOT PRESENT] He stared at those last words. ''Not present yet.'' "Elara," he said quietly. She looked at him without moving her body. Just her eyes. "I want to try something." The look she gave in return wasn''t quite disapproval, but it wasn''t far. "Try what, exactly?" He stepped forward. Slowly. Careful to avoid the main cluster of vines curling near the bench. His boot landed just short of a wet streak on the stone. "I need to check how deep the mana trace goes. If it''s just surface reaction, it means the breach hasn''t nested yet." "And if it''s not surface?" "Then it''s already seeded." A pause. Then she moved a half-step to his right, mirroring his angle. Watching the ground, not the vines. She didn''t argue. Merlin crouched again. His coat brushed the side of his boot. His palm hovered just above the fractured line in the brick. The sensation hit before he finished lowering it. Not pain. Cold. A hollow, slow drag along his nerves. Like something tugged from the inside, but hadn''t found the string it needed to pull yet. [SYSTEM CORE: 56%] [SENSORY INTERFACE: ACTIVE] [AFFINITY TRACE DETECTED ¡ª UNMATCHED SIGNATURE] [MANA RESPONSE: PARASITIC THREADING] [SEEDLING IDENTIFIED ¡ª STATUS: ACTIVE / DORMANT CYCLE] Merlin''s jaw clenched. ''Dormant cycle means it''s hiding. Or feeding. Waiting to shift into active state.'' The stone under his hand felt wrong. It wasn''t temperature. It was texture. The pressure of it had changed. Like the earth was no longer solid underneath. More like a lid. And something on the other side had noticed him. "Elara," he said again, lower this time. Her head turned slightly. Still calm. Still patient. "I don''t think the scream was bait." She frowned. "You mean it was real?" He nodded once. She didn''t speak. Just looked back at the vines. One of them had begun to pull backward now, slowly retracting into the wall like it had never been there. Merlin didn''t like that more than the twitching. ''It''s covering itself. That means it doesn''t want to be seen. Which means it''s not done yet.'' "Elara," he said again. "You should step back." "Why?" "Because I''m going to try and trigger it." She didn''t move. Just blinked at him, then spoke flatly. "You said you didn''t want to die." "I''m adjusting my schedule." A breath of silence passed. Then she stepped back. Not far. Just two steps behind his left shoulder. Not leaving, just repositioning. Merlin''s fingers curled slightly. Not touching the stone. Not yet. The heat in his spine had returned. Not strong. But close. He whispered it first. The word. "Keryx." The name of the sword didn''t summon anything. But the air shifted. Just a little. Like something across the veil turned to listen. And beneath his skin, something thin and sharp began to hum. [AFFINITY CORE: PRIMING ATTEMPT DETECTED] [FUNCTIONALITY BELOW USABLE THRESHOLD] [RECOMMENDATION: ABORT MANUAL CHANNELING] He ignored it. The stone beneath his hand pulsed once. Just faintly. Like a single, subtle heartbeat under the ground. Not his. Not alive. Just echo. ''It''s sensing affinity pressure.'' And it liked it. "Elara," he said again, sharper this time. "Yeah," she said, already moving forward. "We need to kill it. I think." Her hand went to her blade in a single motion. Quiet. Unhurried. But decisive. The vines didn''t flinch. They split. Not like retreat. Like invitation. The stone cracked wider, just half an inch. And a sound followed. Not a scream. Not a creak. A whisper. From below. The crack didn''t widen. It breathed. The whisper had faded, but the weight hadn''t. It stayed low and steady in Merlin''s chest like a second heartbeat that didn''t belong to him. The vines shifted again. Not toward Elara. Not toward him. They moved like dogs listening for a stranger''s footfall. And then they heard it. Bootsteps. Not rushing. Not hesitant either. Just... confident. The kind of walk you used when you thought the hallway belonged to you. Merlin didn''t turn. Just listened. Elara''s grip tightened on the spear. The figure appeared at the far end of the corridor. Perfect uniform. Black jacket tailored to show off his height. Auburn hair combed with absurd precision. A seven-pointed Council pin caught the light with just enough angle to make sure you noticed it. Upperclassman. Second or third year, judging by the badge color. Student Council. He stopped just short of the courtyard threshold. Didn''t step in. Yet. "Didn''t expect company," he said. His voice was smooth. Polished. The kind of tone that belonged in committee halls and rehearsed speeches. Neither Merlin nor Elara answered. He glanced down at the vines. Took his time studying the cracks. Then looked at Merlin. "You''re first years, yeah?" No response. The Council rep''s smile barely shifted. "Well, don''t worry. You''re not in trouble. Just need to know what I''m looking at." His tone was casual. But he was stalling. Gathering information. ''He thinks we''re bluffing. Or clueless.'' The student finally stepped forward. Not into the courtyard, just one step over the boundary stone. Just enough to claim ground. "I''m Cale Vanemir," he added. "Council. Third seat." Merlin''s expression didn''t move. Elara didn''t blink. Cale''s smile dipped a fraction. Only a fraction. Then he looked down again. "Vines," he said. "Odd choice for an aesthetic." "Back away from the crack," Merlin said. Cale blinked once. "Sorry?" "I said back away." The tone wasn''t hostile. It was worse. Indifferent. Cale straightened slightly. Shoulders pulled back. "I have clearance to observe Academy incidents. If this is a mana fluctuation, or a training accident, I''m required to file¡ª" Merlin shifted his stance. Just slightly. Enough to reposition between Cale and the vines. Enough to be seen. And that was the moment the ground pulsed again. The vines didn''t extend. They focused. One strand curled upward. Not aggressive. Just... curious. Toward Cale. He didn''t notice it. Yet. Elara took one step to the side. Her stance angled. Spear held low, non-threatening, but ready. Cale''s eyes flicked between them. Finally, a trace of doubt behind the polished surface. "Alright," he said slowly. "What exactly is this?" The vine twitched. Tilted. Merlin let his hand drop to the hilt. Not drawing. Just reminding the ground he was watching too. [SYSTEM CORE: 60%] [LOCAL THREAD ACTIVITY: ADAPTIVE] [EXTERNAL STIMULUS: NEW TARGET ACQUIRED] ''It''s picking him.'' The thing below didn''t like unknowns. "Step. Back," Merlin said again. Not louder. Just final. This time, Cale did. Half a step. Not surrender. Just caution. The vines didn''t follow. They waited. The ground beneath the crack began to change again. Texture shifting. Surface trembling in microscopic pulses. Breathing. And underneath it all, something cold turned toward them. Not fast. Just awake. Cale looked down again. Slowly. The smile had gone completely now. "This... isn''t Academy-standard magic," he said. "No," Merlin replied. "Is it a gate?" "No." "Should I call¡ª" "No." Cale flinched at the cut-off. Merlin''s gaze stayed on the vines. ''If he calls in more, the pressure escalates. The seed starts to feed.'' "This isn''t for the Student Council," Merlin said. "Not yet." Cale stared at him. "...Who are you?" Merlin didn''t answer. Didn''t blink. Elara''s spear clicked once as her grip adjusted. And beneath their feet, something shifted. Just an inch. But enough to tell them. The Labyrinth was listening. Chapter 97: Telling The Headmistress The crack didn''t speak. But it didn''t need to. Whatever was beneath the surface had already marked him. Merlin didn''t move. Just listened. Elara hadn''t lowered her spear. And Cale... had finally stopped trying to smile. His gaze dropped again to the vines. The edges of his shoes barely touched the line between courtyard tile and corrupted stone. He stepped back. Just one pace. Enough to break the line of sight. "I''m... going to pretend I didn''t see this," he said carefully. Merlin didn''t respond. Cale swallowed. His jaw worked once. He looked like he wanted to say something clever and then realized this wasn''t the right audience. Or the right terrain. "I wasn''t informed about anything like this," he muttered. Still trying to sound like someone who was in the loop. Someone who belonged here. Merlin''s eyes stayed on the ground. The vines hadn''t moved again. But they hadn''t stopped watching either. The subtle angle of the tips, the soft twitch in the fiber. It wasn''t idle. It was learning. [SYSTEM ALERT: THREAD NETWORK ANALYZING BEHAVIORAL PATTERNS] [USER PRESENCE: FLAGGED FOR RECOGNITION] [SYSTEM CORE: 61%] ''Recognition.'' That wasn''t standard for seed-stage domains. Which meant this wasn''t seed-stage anymore. It was adapting faster than it should. Cale took another half-step back. "You didn''t summon this," he said. It wasn''t a question. Merlin glanced at him once. Short. Cold. "No." Cale looked away again. Back at the crack. His hands had gone into his pockets. Not relaxed. Hiding the shake. "I should go," he said. Elara didn''t answer. Cale turned, more cautious now. His back wasn''t fully to them. His posture had changed. Less self-assured. Less entitled. He took two steps. Then three. The vines didn''t chase him. But they didn''t relax either. When Cale reached the archway, he hesitated. Turned back halfway. "You''re not normal students," he said. Still quiet. Still measured. But not arrogant anymore. Merlin didn''t answer. Because he wasn''t wrong. He didn''t have to be told to leave this time. He just did. The moment his figure vanished from the hall, the tension in the air dropped¡ªnot completely, but enough to feel the edge dull. Elara exhaled through her nose. Her stance relaxed slightly, but her weapon didn''t lower. "That was close." "Not close enough." Merlin turned back to the crack. The vines had stopped moving. Still. Flat. Like they were waiting for a new order. Or a better opportunity. [THREAD INTERFERENCE: PAUSED] [ENVIRONMENTAL PRESSURE: STABILIZED] [SEEDLING STATE: PASSIVE HOLD] ''It''s watching now. Not attacking. That means it got what it wanted.'' Information. Not a fight. He looked at the split stone again. The texture around the crack had changed. No longer brittle. More like hardened root bark. The color shift was almost invisible unless you were looking for it. It had disguised itself again. ''Smart.'' He didn''t like that. He crouched, slowly, and tapped one knuckle against the stone beside the split. No pulse. No sound. Still warm. Still waiting. He stood. "Elara." She looked over. "We contain this. Quietly. If anyone else shows up, we push them out." She gave the faintest nod. "And Reinhardt?" "He''ll handle the council." "And if he doesn''t?" Merlin didn''t answer. Not because he didn''t know. But because the real answer wasn''t something she needed to hear yet. ¡ª The door clicked shut behind him. Reinhardt didn''t bother waiting for an invitation. If she hadn''t wanted him here, the hallway would''ve bent itself closed. He stepped into the room. Same deep carpet. Same heavy scent of burnt herbs and polished oak. The windows were half-shuttered, and the fire wasn''t for warmth. It was for control. Morgana didn''t turn from her desk. She was leaned forward slightly, one arm resting along the edge, the other stirring a silver spoon through an untouched cup of tea. "I heard," she said. Voice even. Light, almost. "Something near the garden wing." "You didn''t hear it from me." "I didn''t say I did." He moved to the center of the room. Didn''t sit. "It''s real," he said. Morgana set the spoon down. A soft tap against ceramic. "How bad?" "Quiet. Subtle. Too early to measure. But it''s there." Now she turned. The light caught her just enough to show the edge of her expression. Not surprised. Just... adjusting. "Vines?" she asked. "Yes." "And the ground?" "Breathing." She picked up the teacup. Didn''t drink. "Do we have a name for it?" Reinhardt nodded once. "It''s some kind of a Hollow Labyrinth." That made her pause. Just for a second. Then she sat back slowly, like the name had weight and she needed to shift to carry it. "That''s not something that shows up on its own." "I know." "No host?" "Not yet." Morgana''s eyes drifted to the fire. It popped once, like it was listening. "You think it''s a bleed?" "No," he said. "Too focused. It''s reacting to attention, not ambient mana. Like it knows when it''s being watched." She didn''t answer right away. Then, after a moment: "Who found it?" "Two first-years." Her brow lifted slightly. "Which ones?" "Merlin and Elara." Now she turned her full attention on him. "Those names come up too often." "I know." "You trust Merlin?" "I don''t trust anyone." Morgana smiled faintly. Not amused. Just old. "And yet you brought this to me." "I didn''t have a choice." Her smile disappeared. "You think it followed him?" Reinhardt''s jaw shifted. Just barely. "I think it recognized him." Morgana leaned forward again. Her fingers drummed once on the desk, slow. "You think he''s a breach point?" "No." "Then what?" "I think he''s standing where something wants to be." The silence settled between them. No alarms. No panic. Just pressure. Eventually, Morgana stood. Her hands were steady. Her steps slower now. She moved toward the shelf near the wall, tracing her fingers along a row of locked scroll tubes without picking one. "We''ll keep this quiet," she said. "No notices. No council briefings." "I figured." "If it spreads?" "Then it spreads," he said. "And I kill whatever walks out." She turned back to him. For a moment, she looked younger. Not softer. Just sharper. "Watch the boy," she said. "I already am." "Good. Don''t let him know." "I don''t think he''d care if he did." That made her pause again. Then she smiled¡ªthin, tired, but real. "That''s what worries me." ¡ª The vines hadn''t moved in ten minutes. That was the part that bothered him. Not the growth. Not the pulse. The stillness. Like the thing beneath the floor had decided it didn''t need to stretch anymore. Like it had learned what it wanted to know. And now it was watching. Merlin crouched again. His fingers hovered near the edge of the cracked tile. Still warm. Still humming underneath. But the cadence had changed. No longer curious. Just patient. Elara hadn''t spoken since Cale left. She stood a few steps behind him, posture still in guard, but looser now. Not out of relief, just fatigue. Even tension had a time limit. "We should tell the others," she said quietly. "No." "You think this stays contained?" "No." She didn''t say anything else. She knew he wasn''t wrong. Merlin tapped the stone once. Nothing triggered. No new twitch. No pressure response. [SYSTEM CORE: 63%] [THREAD ACTIVITY: PASSIVE MONITORING MODE] [STABILIZATION LEVEL: HOLDING] ''It''s waiting for something. A signal. A host. A mistake.'' The problem was, he didn''t know which. And that meant staying near it was a risk. But leaving it alone was worse. He stood. The courtyard felt smaller than it had a moment ago. The space between the walls had started to fold in around the air, like the light couldn''t quite decide how to sit on the stone. Subtle. Not real yet. But getting closer. Elara shifted her grip. "So what now?" she asked. He looked at her. Then at the vine stump still curling near the bench leg. It hadn''t regrown. Just rested. "We mark it," he said. She raised an eyebrow. He pulled a strip of thin white thread from his coat. Standard field-issue ward line. Harmless unless charged. But visible. He crouched again, looped it once around the base of the crack, then tied it loose. If it shifted, the thread would snap. If someone stepped too close, they''d see it. He stood again. Adjusted his coat sleeve. Elara watched his hands. "No one''s going to believe a thread keeps this thing in place," she muttered. "They don''t need to believe it," he said. "They just need to hesitate long enough for us to know." A beat of silence passed between them. She looked back at the vines. "You think this was random?" "No." "You think it''s here for you?" He didn''t answer. Not because he didn''t want to. Because he didn''t know the answer yet. And that was worse. He stepped back once, toward the courtyard exit. "Let''s go." She didn''t argue. They left the vine behind. But it didn''t leave them. ''This is starting to get way too troublesome, we need to deal with it quickly before it spreads too much.'' Chapter 98: Disappearing The hallway stretched out ahead of them, quiet and clean. Too clean. No foot traffic. No late students. Just the sound of their boots on polished stone and the faint buzz of the upper hall lights. Merlin didn''t look back. Whatever was in that courtyard hadn''t followed them physically. But the feeling stayed. Right behind his ribs. A slow pull. Like something reaching through the ground with hands that hadn''t taken shape yet. Elara walked beside him, silent. She hadn''t sheathed her weapon. Not completely. They passed through the eastern arch. And stopped. Nathan stood in the middle of the hall. Shoulders slouched. Bag half-zipped. A rolled-up training mat in one hand and a stick of dried fruit in the other. He blinked. "You two look like hell," he said. Merlin didn''t say anything. Elara didn''t, either. Nathan raised an eyebrow. "Not even a sarcastic greeting? That bad?" His gaze swept over them. Elara''s stance. Merlin''s face. The way neither of them met his eyes. Then the snack disappeared into his pocket. "What happened?" he asked, quieter now. "We handled it," Elara said. "That''s not an answer." Merlin stepped past him. Nathan didn''t move. He followed. Faster this time. "Okay, slow down. What did I miss? Was there a fight?" "No," Merlin said. "Then why do you look like someone peeled your skin off and whispered at the muscle underneath?" Elara let out a slow breath. "It wasn''t a fight." "Then what?" Silence. Nathan glanced at Merlin again. His expression flattened. "You''re doing the thing again." "What thing." "The ''I already know what''s going on but I''m not going to tell you because I think it''s safer if you don''t know'' thing." Merlin didn''t deny it. Nathan stopped walking. "So you''re not gonna tell me." "No." A beat. Nathan stared at him. Then looked at Elara. Nothing. He sighed. "Fine," he muttered. "But if I die because I walked into some cursed hallway barefoot, I''m haunting you personally." Elara''s voice was soft. "Don''t go near the garden stair." Nathan''s jaw tensed. "Understood." They kept walking. No one said anything for the next minute. But Merlin could feel Nathan thinking. Could see it. The way he adjusted the strap on his shoulder. The small twitch in his fingers like he wanted to ask again but knew better. He wouldn''t push. Not here. But the questions were already forming behind his eyes. Merlin''s gaze drifted to the arch behind them. Still empty. But not quiet. Nothing about this felt quiet anymore. ¡ª Merlin turned left at the end of the corridor. Nathan followed without asking. Elara stayed close. Her steps were quieter now. No tension in the stride, but no trust in the silence either. The side hall they took was older. No windows. Just long stone walls and doorframes built before the current headmistress ever arrived. It led to an unused study room, one of the ones without enchantments or sound filters. No students liked it for that exact reason. ''Perfect.'' Merlin pushed open the door. Inside, a square table sat in the center. Dusty. Two broken chairs pushed to the side. A cracked chalkboard on the back wall with a half-erased rune diagram from last year. He stepped in. Elara followed. Nathan hesitated just long enough to be obvious. Then he stepped through and closed the door. No one said anything for a while. Merlin sat. Nathan leaned against the wall near the door, arms crossed, chewing at the edge of a hangnail. "You''re not going to tell me everything," he said. "No." "But you''re going to tell me something." Merlin looked at him. Not hard. Not cold. Just tired. Nathan sighed and dropped into the chair across from him. Elara didn''t sit. She stood by the door, spear still slung along her back, arms folded. Watching the hallway through the narrow slit in the wood. Nathan stared at the table. "Alright," he said. "No more jokes. No more questions you''re not going to answer." His tone shifted. "You''re both serious. Really serious. And whatever you walked into, it wasn''t just a weird magic anomaly." Merlin stayed quiet. Nathan tapped his fingers against the table. "You think it''s dangerous." "Yes," Merlin said. "You think it''s going to spread." He didn''t answer. Nathan leaned back in the chair. "That''s a yes." Elara looked over her shoulder. "He''s not wrong," she said. Nathan blinked. That was the first time she''d sided with him in weeks. He didn''t smile. "Okay," he said. "So it''s real. It''s serious. You two didn''t start it. But you were the first to see it." He looked at Merlin again. "You''re not surprised." Merlin didn''t speak. Because he wasn''t. Because he''d read this scene before. It had happened. In the book. He hadn''t thought it would happen. Not this soon. Nathan was still watching him. "I''m not asking you to tell me what it is," he said. "But I need to know how bad it can get." Merlin looked at the cracked chalkboard. Then back at him. "If it opens," he said. "No one in our year survives." Silence. Nathan didn''t flinch. He just nodded. Once. Then stood. "Then we make sure it doesn''t open." Merlin didn''t answer. Elara didn''t move. Nathan adjusted the strap of his bag and looked at them both. "You''re not the only ones who can take things seriously," he muttered. Then he opened the door. And walked out. The silence he left behind wasn''t empty. It was waiting. ¡ª The door shut. Not loud. Just final. Merlin didn''t move. The sound of Nathan''s steps faded down the corridor, softer with each second until it disappeared completely. Still, Merlin didn''t move. Elara didn''t speak. She stood near the window now, what was left of the late afternoon pressing in through warped glass. The light hit the edge of her cheekbone, just enough to draw the sharpness of her expression into focus. She didn''t look away. Merlin ran a hand down his face, slow. His palm felt colder than it should have. Or maybe the room was colder. Hard to tell anymore. "You trust him," she said. He let the words hang in the air for a moment. "I trust his instinct." "That''s not the same." "No," he said. "It''s not." Elara turned back to the room. The light shifted with her, slipping off the wall and falling back into shadow. "He doesn''t know what it is," she said. "He doesn''t need to." "And when it spreads?" Merlin didn''t answer. She already knew. Elara exhaled once, barely a sound. Then she stepped away from the window and leaned back against the wall, arms crossed. "You''re quiet." "You''ve met me." "You''re more quiet." He glanced at her. Then looked at the table again. Not the dust. Not the scratches. The shape. Four chairs. One broken. He remembered the scene from the book. Different school. Different students. But the moment looked the same. Small room. Late light. Three people trying to act normal in the shadow of something they didn''t understand. In the book, the next day, two of them were gone. The third turned traitor. He remembered thinking the twist was obvious. But it didn''t feel obvious now. Not when he could still feel the breath of the crack under his skin like a second pulse that didn''t belong to him. [SYSTEM CORE: 64%] [AFFINITY STABILIZATION: UNLOCK PENDING] [DOMAIN PRESSURE: STATIC HOLD ¡ª INTERNAL ACTIVITY DETECTED] [CAUTION: SEEDING CYCLE NOT COMPLETE] ''So it''s not done.'' Whatever the vines were trying to anchor hadn''t finished growing. And that meant the time left was shrinking. He stood. Elara didn''t ask why. Just followed. They stepped out of the room, one after the other. The hallway was still empty. No voices. No footsteps. Just the old building breathing slow and shallow, like something underneath it had started listening. Merlin checked the thread in his coat pocket. Still coiled. Still unbroken. He didn''t need to look at the vines again. He knew they were still there. He could feel them. Waiting. ¡ª She didn''t like this hallway. She never had. Too narrow. Too quiet. One of those places that never quite felt like it belonged in the Academy. Seraphs boots clicked against the tile as she moved, faster than usual. ''Why is it always colder here?'' She glanced at the wall sconces. None of them were lit. No glowstone threads in the floor either. Just dark stone, rough edges, and silence. ''There''s supposed to be at least one source of light here.'' She slowed near the corner. The light ahead was too dim. Not gone. Just faded. ''That''s not normal.'' She adjusted the strap on her shoulder, fingers brushing the hilt of her dagger. Not drawn. Not nervous. Not yet. Just ready. A breeze touched her cheek. She stopped. There was no wind. Not indoors. Not here. ''Okay. No. That was real.'' Her eyes narrowed. She took one step forward. The stone under her boot felt soft. She stepped back immediately. Looked down. Cracks. Thin ones. Branching out from the base of the planter wall like something underneath had shifted. ''Nope. That wasn''t there this morning.'' She crouched slowly. Ran two fingers over the line. Dry. Cool. But not dead. It felt... stretched. ''Like skin before it splits.'' She stood again. Fast. One more step backward. Then the vine moved. It came from the planter. Silent. Fast. Wet. Wrapped around her ankle before she could react. "What¡ª" Her leg jerked. The vine pulled. She reached for her blade, yanked it free. Steel flashed in the dark. She slashed down. Hard. The vine cut loose with a slick, wet snap. Another one hit her wrist before she could breathe. "Let go¡ª!" She pulled again. Foot slipped. The floor beneath her flexed. Not broke. Not cracked. Flexed. Like it was breathing. ''This isn''t happening. This can''t be happening.'' She stabbed again. Missed. The ground opened under her. She didn''t fall. She was pulled. Downward. A third vine caught her around the waist. Her feet left the floor. Blade dropped from her fingers. The hilt hit stone with a loud metallic crack. "No¡ªno no no¡ª!" She clawed at the edge. Got a grip. Lost it. ''Someone''s gotta be nearby. Someone has to hear this.'' The darkness below opened wider. She screamed. Short. Cut off. Then silence. And the hallway sealed shut. Like nothing ever happened. Chapter 99: The Council They were halfway down the corridor when it passed through. No sound. No tremor. Just a sudden weight in the air. Like something big had moved somewhere deep below the floor, and the world was trying to pretend it hadn''t noticed. Merlin stopped walking. Elara stopped at the same time. Her stance shifted barely an inch, but he saw the change. Nathan kept going. One more step before he noticed they weren''t following. He turned, confused. "What now?" Neither of them answered. Merlin''s focus narrowed. He could feel it, like static in the air, except colder. Thinner. Like something had peeled a layer of the world back and let the silence stretch a little too far. Nathan frowned. "Okay. That was weird." Merlin didn''t look at him. His eyes stayed forward, tuned to the space between tiles and the quiet beneath the floor. The pulse was already fading, but it left a trail. Not physical. Just presence. Residue. It felt like a gap had opened and then closed just as fast. Something had been here. Something had taken. [SYSTEM CORE: 66%] [DOMAIN PRESSURE SPIKE DETECTED] [THREAD RESPONSE WINDOW: 2.7 SECONDS] [WARNING: ONE LIFE SIGN ¡ª LOST CONTACT] His chest tightened. ''That wasn''t just noise. That was someone being pulled under.'' He didn''t know who. The system hadn''t told him. But he could feel it. Somewhere, someone had vanished. Quietly. Completely. Nathan was still watching him. "Okay," he said slowly. "You both felt that, right? That pressure thing?" Elara nodded once. Her eyes hadn''t left the shadows near the junction up ahead. Nathan''s fingers twitched toward the side of his jacket. Not drawing. Just checking the weight of the daggers. "I''ve never felt anything like that before," he said. "Not even during combat trials." "It wasn''t mana," Merlin said. Nathan stared. "Then what was it?" Merlin didn''t answer right away. Because if he did, Nathan would ask more questions. And Merlin didn''t have answers that would make any of this easier to hear. He turned his head slightly, looking down the hall toward the older wing. Where the pressure had come from. Where the breath had dropped out of the world for those three long seconds. Nathan took a step closer. "You said nothing was happening yet." Merlin nodded once. Nathan''s eyes narrowed. "Then how does something that isn''t happening take someone?" Merlin''s jaw tightened. Elara finally spoke. "It''s starting." That made Nathan pause. He looked at her. Then at Merlin. No jokes this time. "Do we know who it was?" he asked. "No," Merlin said. "But it happened fast. Too fast for them to react." Nathan didn''t say anything for a few seconds. His face was hard to read. Not scared exactly, but unsettled. Like the ground didn''t feel quite stable anymore. "Right," he muttered. "Cool. Just going to casually add that to the growing list of horrifying things happening this week." He paused. Glanced toward the shadowed corridor again. "Are we going after it?" "No," Elara said. "Not until we know how far it spread." Merlin''s thoughts kept circling the same question. Not who had been taken. Not how. Why now. The seed hadn''t finished forming. There shouldn''t have been movement yet. It should''ve stayed quiet. Dormant. Hidden. But it didn''t. ''So something triggered it. Something new.'' And whatever it was, the Labyrinth didn''t wait this time. It took. And it would take again. ¡ª Morgana was standing at the far window of her office when it happened. She wasn''t focused on anything in particular. Just watching the afternoon light shift across the courtyard tiles far below. The hour was slow, the kind that usually passed unnoticed between council reports and budget reviews. Then it changed. She didn''t hear anything. She felt it. A weight settled against the glass. Not physical. Not mana. Something deeper. Older. It pressed against her senses like a ripple under the skin of the world, like a string pulled taut beneath the stone foundation. Her hand froze halfway toward her cup of tea. The porcelain didn''t clatter. She set it down carefully. Too carefully. ''What was that?'' Not a breach. Not an explosion. No sound of battle. No bells. But the space around her knew. Something had shifted. The runes lining the edge of her window flickered once. Dim. Faint. Like the magic inside them had just been rerouted for a second. She turned. One step from the window. Then two. She didn''t rush. Morgana didn''t rush for anything. But her thoughts were already moving faster than her steps. ''That wasn''t atmospheric. That was directed. Focused. Pinpointed.'' She walked to the desk. Her hand passed over the crystal node on the far end, activating a silent ward sweep. The reading came back clean. Too clean. Nothing changed on the surface. But the magic beneath it was still humming. Subtle. Low. Like it had finished doing something and was trying to return to sleep before anyone noticed. ''Not a surge. A pull.'' Her brow furrowed slightly. Something had been taken. She didn''t know what. Not yet. But she could feel the absence now, like a door had opened and shut somewhere in the building without anyone hearing it. She moved to the back cabinet. Unlocked it with two fingers. A small cluster of ancient binding scrolls rested inside, each one folded in thin black ribbon. She didn''t touch them. Just scanned the seals. None of them reacted. Good. But not good enough. She straightened and reached for the long, thin chalk tucked behind the lamp at her desk. It was old. Burnt white. Never used for teaching. She knelt beside the nearest stone tile and started drawing. A narrow spiral. Five marks around it. Each one precise. The instant she finished the fifth stroke, the rune pulsed. And cracked. Just once. Barely noticeable. She stared at it. ''So. It really did wake up.'' The line wasn''t strong enough to trigger the council network. Whatever this was, it slipped under the threshold. Intelligent. Measured. She stood. And for the first time in weeks, she whispered a ward phrase she hadn''t used since her student years. "Trace the pull." The chalk glowed once, then burned away into ash. The trail it left pointed east. Then down. Morgana''s expression didn''t change. But her next breath came slower. ''One student is already gone. Maybe two.'' She didn''t panic. But she didn''t sit back down either. The Labyrinth was moving. And it had just reminded her that even quiet things could choose when to stop being quiet. ¡ª The chalk trail burned clean through the floor. It left no smoke. No residue. Just a direction. East. Down. Farther than it should''ve reached. Morgana stared at the faint mark for a second longer, then stood and brushed off her hands. The magic still hummed at the edge of her senses, quiet and deep. Like a current in a well. Old. Focused. She didn''t wait. Her fingers shifted once. The rings on her left hand pulsed faintly, responding to the command. A fold of time opened just wide enough to fit her. No swirl of light. No thunderclap. Just a quiet twist in the air as the office blinked around her and the space dropped. She stepped out into polished marble. Chandelier glow. High walls. Nine banners of council authority. The City Council Hall. Three members sat at the crescent table. One standing in the back near the projection crystal. Two empty chairs. One open flame in the center hearth, flickering too clean to be natural. No one had time to react. Morgana''s coat didn''t rustle. Her heels clicked once on the marble and then stilled. The man closest to her flinched anyway. Councilor Veren Ghalt. Fire affinity. Old money. Thin smile. Always talking like he had something to prove. He leaned forward. "Morgana. You weren''t expected." "I don''t need an invitation," she said. The others turned. Councilor Ren Ivelle, air mage, sat furthest to the right. Calm. Strategic. Never liked her, but never said it aloud. Next to him, Orrin Valdeir, beast caller. Younger. Smarter than he acted. Raised one eyebrow. "Something happen?" he asked. Morgana looked at the central hearth. Its flame dipped lower as she stared at it. "Domain activity," she said. "South corridor. One confirmed disappearance. Possibly more." That silenced them. Ren folded his hands. "How contained?" "Not." "Is it Gate-class?" "Not yet." Orrin shifted in his seat. "And you''re sure this isn''t just another cursed object leak? The Arcane Vault''s been¡ª" "It''s not a cursed object." Her voice didn''t rise. It didn''t need to. The fire dimmed again. Veren cleared his throat. "You realize bringing this directly to us without alerting the safety command is¡ª" "I didn''t come here for permission." Veren paused. Then leaned back slightly in his seat. Morgana took another step forward. Her magic pulsed just beneath her skin, steady and precise. She didn''t show it. But they felt it. Ren exhaled slowly. "You''re serious." "Yes." "Which Domain?" She looked him in the eye. "Hollow Labyrinth." Silence. The kind that wrapped around a room and refused to breathe. Even the flame in the hearth flickered out. No one moved. Orrin sat straighter. No longer trying to play casual. "That''s supposed to be locked." "It was." Ren looked at her like he was trying to see through her skin. "You''re certain?" "Trace confirmed. Pattern matches. First-stage activation. Seed is responding to presence." "Host?" "No. But it''s feeding." The pause stretched longer this time. Then Veren stood. He walked to the back of the room, pulled down a scroll from the wall. "You want military protocol on this?" he asked. "Evacuation sweep? Seal the perimeter?" "No." "Then what?" Morgana''s eyes narrowed. "We watch who it chooses next." Ren stared at her. "That''s a dangerous line to walk." "It''s already walking it." Orrin drummed his fingers once against the table. "How many people know?" "Three students. One instructor. No alerts yet." "You plan to keep it that way?" "Yes." No one argued. They didn''t need to. Morgana was already the strongest mage in the room, and in this city, that meant her silence weighed more than anyone''s voice. She turned without waiting for dismissal. The air shifted again. Time folded as she vanished. Chapter 100: Realizing Morgana vanished without a sound. No flash. No ripple. Just absence. The kind that made the air feel thinner afterward, like even the oxygen wasn''t sure it should still be here. Orrin leaned back in his chair. He didn''t say anything right away. Neither did the others. Ren was staring at the spot where she''d stood, hands laced tight in front of him. Veren had gone stiff, fingers curled near the edge of the flame-control panel like he was deciding whether to re-light the hearth or leave it dead on principle. ''She didn''t come here to ask anything.'' Orrin rubbed his thumb against his ring, slow. The iron band hummed faintly with containment wards, passive, quiet. Not active. He hadn''t needed it. But something about the room felt off now. Like the wards woven into the Council Hall were still recovering from having her inside them. Veren finally broke the silence. "She should''ve gone through Safety Command." Ren didn''t look at him. "Would they have acted faster?" Veren scowled. "That isn''t the point." "It''s exactly the point." Orrin watched both of them, quiet. ''They''re afraid, but not of the Labyrinth. Not yet. Just of her.'' He didn''t blame them. He was afraid of her too. Not the power, everyone had power. It was the way she used it. Controlled. Measured. Like a scalpel. She''d walked in, said Hollow Labyrinth like it was just another lecture note, and stared down three high-ranking Council mages without blinking. And worse, she was right. Ren finally shifted, standing and walking to the edge of the room. His voice was lower now, more grounded. "She said it''s feeding." "Which means it''s already made contact," Orrin said. Veren turned. "You''re taking her word at face value?" "I''d take her silence over your full report." That earned him a glare. Orrin didn''t flinch. He stood too, slower than Ren, brushing the dust from his sleeves. He didn''t like council robes. Too stiff. Too heavy. But they got him in rooms like this, and sometimes that was worth it. "We''re not stopping this," he said. "She made that clear." "Then what do you propose?" Veren asked. "We don''t get in her way." "And if the Labyrinth opens?" Orrin looked at him. "If it opens, we''ll all be dead before we finish voting on protocol." Veren flinched. Just slightly. Ren didn''t move. Silence again. Orrin turned to the hearth. The flame hadn''t relit. He thought about igniting it just to prove a point. Then decided not to. ''Better to let them sit in the dark a while.'' He left without saying another word. ¡ª They had just started moving again when the air changed. Merlin felt it first. The subtle shift in weight. Like the hallway had dropped a few degrees without touching temperature. He stopped walking. Elara did too. Nathan looked up. "What now¡ª" He never finished the sentence. The space in front of them bent. Not violently. Not loud. Just enough. Enough to let someone step through like she had always been there. Morgana. She stood in the middle of the corridor like it belonged to her. Like time had decided to make space for her and nothing else. Black coat. Perfect posture. No escort. No smile. Just her eyes. And they were locked on him. Merlin didn''t move. His hands stayed loose at his sides. His heart didn''t race. But something behind his ribs felt like it had snapped to attention. She looked at Nathan. Then Elara. Then back to him. "I need a word," she said. Nathan didn''t speak. Elara didn''t either. Morgana''s voice wasn''t loud, but it left no room for discussion. Merlin nodded once. She turned, not waiting to see if he followed. Of course he did. They walked in silence. Past two empty classrooms. Down a side stair no one used. Through a door that wasn''t locked but somehow no student had ever gone through. It didn''t take long to reach the small room at the end. Old stone walls. No windows. One lamp hovering midair, casting low light. Morgana stopped. Merlin stepped inside. The door shut behind them without a sound. She didn''t turn around. Not at first. "You felt it," she said. He didn''t answer. She turned. There was nothing soft about her expression. No warmth. Just weight. "You know what it was." His jaw tensed. ''So we''re skipping the part where we pretend this is a conversation.'' "I know," he said. Morgana stepped closer. He didn''t step back. "You''ve seen the signs," she said. "You''ve known longer than anyone else. Probably before the staff. Before the council." She tilted her head slightly. "That''s interesting." ''Not really. I just read ahead.'' He stayed quiet. She studied him. "You''re not surprised." "No." "You''re not afraid." "I am," he said. "I just don''t have time to be." Her eyes flicked, just once, to the side of his coat. Where Keryx would normally be. Then back to his face. "You''re not fully recovered." He said nothing. She moved again, just one step closer. "You''ve seen it before somewhere haven''t you? But how?" That made him pause. Her voice lowered. "Not here. But you''ve definitely seen this play out.." His throat felt dry. She didn''t wait for a reply. "I don''t know how. I don''t know what you are. But I know what it looks like when someone isn''t surprised by the impossible." For a second, the room felt smaller. Quieter. Then she exhaled. "You''re not going to tell me." "No." "Good," she said. "I wouldn''t believe you anyway." She turned again. Not dismissing him. Just done asking. "It''s already taken someone," she said. He knew. "I don''t know who yet," she added. "But I will." Merlin nodded once. Morgana paused at the door. "We have time. Not much. But enough." She looked over her shoulder. "If you want to help keep this place standing, stay alive." Then she was gone. No flash. No light. Just absence. Merlin stood in the dim room, watching the space where she had been. And he didn''t move for a long time. ¡ª Nathan didn''t say anything until they were out of sight. Morgana and Merlin, both swallowed by a hallway that didn''t seem that long until they stepped into it. Then it just felt... quiet. Too quiet. He turned slightly toward Elara. "Should we be worried that she just snatched him like that?" Elara''s arms were still folded. She didn''t answer. Which wasn''t a yes. But it wasn''t a no either. Nathan looked down the hallway again. Then the other way. Then back to her. "I''ll just... walk a bit," he said. Still no response. Fine. He peeled off alone. Hands in his pockets. Mind running circles. ''That pressure thing¡ªwhatever it was¡ªit didn''t feel normal.'' It wasn''t like spell backlash. It wasn''t like residual magic from training grounds either. It had weight. Not the kind you carried. The kind that sat on the floor after everyone left the room. He didn''t like it. And the silence was getting worse. There should''ve been noise. Students passing through. Someone cracking open a door. The faint hum of an old mana torch left burning. But nothing. The farther he walked, the more obvious it became. He didn''t have a destination at first. Just moving. Until his feet took him toward the study wing. Seraphina''s usual haunt. He didn''t even think about it. Just turned the corner and expected to see her like she always was, reading something complicated, face neutral, barely glancing up when he annoyed her with dumb questions. But the hallway was empty. No footsteps. No murmur of turning pages. The bench was there. But she wasn''t. He slowed. Looked around. No sign of her bag. No scribbled notes stacked beside her. No boots tucked under the corner of the seat like she always did. Just a book. Closed. Spine facing out. He stared at it for a second longer than he meant to. Then walked over and picked it up. It was hers. That part was obvious. What wasn''t obvious was why she would leave it behind. She never did that. Not even once. She was careful. Methodical. Always had a plan. He held the book tighter. His throat felt dry. ''She wouldn''t just leave.'' He turned in place, scanned the corners again. Checked the shadows near the side column. Nothing. Just stone. Just hallway. Just air that felt like it was waiting for something. Then he moved. Fast. His boots echoed hard off the tile. No hesitation now. He didn''t have answers. But something was wrong. And he knew exactly who would know more than he was saying. ¡ª Elara hadn''t moved. She was still leaning against the same wall, arms crossed, eyes steady on the far end of the corridor. Like she was guarding something invisible. Nathan turned the corner fast, boots hitting the stone too hard to be casual. She looked at him the second he appeared. And straightened. "You''re alone," she said. He stopped a few steps from her, breathing a little harder than he meant to. His hand was still gripping the book. He held it up. "She''s gone." Elara''s eyes narrowed. "Who?" "Seraph." The word came out faster than he expected. "She''s not in the study wing. Not anywhere." Elara didn''t speak. He stepped closer. Shoved the book into her hands. "This was sitting on the bench. Just... left there. Not open. No bag. No note. Nothing." Elara looked at it. Nathan kept going. "She doesn''t just leave stuff behind. You know that. She''s the most obsessive planner in our entire group." Still no answer. Nathan''s voice dropped. "This doesn''t feel right." Elara''s grip tightened on the book. She flipped it open, checked the page, her fingers running over the spine like she needed to confirm it was real. "She was here." "Exactly," Nathan said. "Now she''s not." He paused. Looked at her harder. Chapter 101: Awake "You felt it earlier. That thing¡ªwhatever that pressure was. The timing lines up." Elara finally looked at him. And for once, she didn''t have something calm to say back. She just stared. Nathan took another breath, tried to lower his voice. "I don''t know what''s happening, El. But Merlin does. And I know you do too. At least more than me." Elara didn''t deny it. That was the worst part. Nathan''s jaw tensed. "Is she dead?" "No." The answer came fast. Sharp. Nathan blinked. "How do you know?" "Because I didn''t feel her die." He hesitated. Elara''s voice was quieter now. Steadier. But the edge was still there. "Whatever took her didn''t kill her. Not yet." Nathan looked down the hall, like he could see the spot where she''d vanished. Like it might give him something back if he stared long enough. "Then what did it do?" Elara didn''t answer. Not right away. "We need to wait for Merlin." Nathan stepped back. "Yeah," he muttered. "We do." But his fingers were still clenched. And something behind his chest kept telling him that waiting wasn''t going to be enough. ¡ª He felt the ache again before he saw them. It had crept up his spine halfway down the corridor. Not pain. Just pressure. Like his nerves were working harder than they were supposed to. Like his body was borrowing from something it hadn''t fully repaired yet. [SYSTEM CORE: 68%] [STABILIZATION: IN PROGRESS] [MANA INTERFACE: PARTIAL LINK ACTIV] [AFFINITY OUTPUT: 11%] [USER STATUS: LIMITED FUNCTIONALITY ¡ª ACTIVE] The numbers were climbing. Slowly. Steady like breath. But it still wasn''t enough. Not for this. He turned the corner and saw them. Nathan and Elara stood exactly where he''d left them, but something had shifted. Nathan''s stance was wrong. Not casual. Tight in the shoulders. Jaw set. Like he was waiting for someone to tell him it wasn''t as bad as it felt. Elara was holding a book. That was the first red flag. She wasn''t reading it. She was holding it like it weighed more than it should. Like it said something she didn''t want to explain. Merlin stopped walking. They looked up. Nathan''s voice came out rougher than usual. "She''s gone." The words didn''t register at first. Not fully. Then Elara stepped forward and offered him the book. He took it before he could think too hard. His fingers curled around the cover. Familiar leather. A faint crease near the bottom left corner. Seraphina''s mark. He flipped it open. Dog-eared page. Page seventy-two. Which meant she''d read most of it already. Probably re-reading that section again, like she always did when something bothered her and she didn''t want to talk about it out loud. He turned another page. Nothing. Another. Still nothing. Just absence. He shut the book slowly. "She wouldn''t leave this behind," he said. Nathan nodded. "I know." His voice was quieter now. Less certain. Like saying it confirmed something he didn''t want to believe. Merlin looked at the walls around them. The floor. The corners of the hallway. Everything looked the same. But the silence was different. It wasn''t just quiet. It was empty. ''Something scraped her out of the world. Clean.'' [THREAD ANOMALY: TRACED] [LOCALIZED DISPLACEMENT ¡ª NON-FATAL] [DOMAIN PRESSURE: STEADY GROWTH] [VITAL SIGN: SERAPHINA ALDEN ¡ª TEMPORARILY UNAVAILABLE] His grip on the book tightened. She wasn''t dead. But she wasn''t here. The system confirmed what he already felt in his chest, too much space, not enough presence. "I felt it when it happened," he said. Nathan stared. "That pressure spike?" Merlin nodded once. "It wasn''t just random." "She was taken," Elara said. Merlin looked at her. She wasn''t guessing. She was stating. And she was right. The domain had reached out. Measured something. And decided Seraphina was the first. Nathan was still standing there, holding nothing now, hands curled slightly like he didn''t know what to do with them. He was trying to keep calm. Trying not to spiral. Merlin understood that more than anyone. ''He''s waiting for me to tell him what happens next.'' But he didn''t have that kind of answer. Just the one that mattered. "We probably shouldn''t split up to explore." Nathan nodded. Immediately. No sarcasm. No second guess. Elara didn''t move, but he could feel her agreement in the way her stance shifted. The hallway stayed quiet around them. Still nothing from above. Still no alarm. Whatever was watching the school hadn''t finished what it started. And Merlin knew exactly what that meant. The system kept whispering behind his eyes. Warnings. Pressure readings. Status checks. But none of that changed the one thing he couldn''t ignore. ''I let this happen. I saw it coming. And I waited too long.'' He looked at the hallway again. There was no trace left. Just three of them now. And the quiet. Still growing. ¡ª The quiet had started to feel normal again. That was the worst part. They just stood there. Three of them now. One less than they should have been. Merlin glanced at Elara. Still steady. Still unreadable. But her hands were tense at her sides now. The kind of tension that didn''t come from fear. The kind that came from knowing something had slipped past her. He knew that feeling. Then he looked at Nathan. Nathan wasn''t shaking, but his hands hadn''t moved in a while. His jaw was clenched. Shoulders locked too high. Like he was waiting for someone to tell him it wasn''t real. Merlin took a breath. It didn''t help much. "We go back to the dorms," he said quietly. Nathan blinked. "What?" "We need to rest. Eat something. Sit down." Nathan just stared at him. Elara didn''t move. "I''m not joking," Merlin added. "If this gets worse, we need to be ready. Not worn out." "You think I can sleep right now?" Nathan asked. Merlin didn''t answer. Because it wasn''t a question. Not really. Nathan ran a hand through his hair. The motion was rough. Frustrated. But then he nodded. It wasn''t agreement. Just trust. "I''m coming back tomorrow," he muttered. "If you don''t let me help then, I swear to god¡ª" "I know." He didn''t say thank you. Nathan turned and walked off without another word. Elara stayed. Her eyes didn''t leave Merlin. He met them. "I''m not doing anything stupid," he said. "That''s not what I asked." "You didn''t ask anything." She held his stare for a second longer. Then finally looked away. He gave a small nod. Then she followed after Nathan, her steps silent as ever. And just like that, he was alone. Again. He waited until their footsteps had faded completely. Then he moved. Not fast. Not slow. Just steady. His hand brushed his coat. He checked the edge of the thread roll he''d packed earlier. Still there. Still unused. Good. [SYSTEM CORE: 69%] [AFFINITY RESONANCE: STABILIZING] [USER CONDITION: MODERATE] [WARNING: LOCAL DOMAIN STILL ACTIVE] He turned left, then right, cutting across a corridor that hadn''t been used in hours. No students here. No noise. The courtyard came back into view. The bench was still there. So was the crack in the ground. The vines hadn''t grown. But they hadn''t retracted either. Just resting. Waiting. He stepped closer. Carefully. Each footstep landed softer than the one before. No twitch. No motion. Just presence. ''You''re not done yet.'' The system didn''t ping him this time. But the pressure was back. Not loud. Not sharp. Just there. A quiet hum under the bricks. He crouched again, slow. The same way he had the first time. And this time, he didn''t pull away. He let his fingers rest gently on the edge of the stone. Not to provoke. Just to feel it. The warmth pulsed once. Subtle. Not natural. He closed his eyes. ''Seraphina''s still in there somewhere. I don''t care what it costs me. I''m pulling her back out.'' The vines didn''t answer. They didn''t need to. He already knew this wasn''t over. But this time, he wasn''t walking away from it. ¡ª Her eyes opened to stone. Rough, gray, uneven. Cold against her back. Seraphina blinked once. Then again. The air smelled stale. Dry. Like an old cellar that had been locked for years. Her heart was already beating too fast. She sat up too quickly and caught her breath halfway, shoulders tight, hands bracing against the floor. ''What¡ªwhat is this?'' The ground beneath her was solid. Stone blocks, uneven at the edges. Cracks between them. She looked up. The ceiling arched overhead. Also stone. A narrow vault. Built. Not a dream. Not magic. A hallway. A real one. She turned. The corridor stretched both ways. Narrow. Only wide enough for two people at most. The walls were the same, stone brick, aged and a little wet. No markings. No windows. No lights. But she could still see. Faintly. A dull glow, barely enough to color the air. She didn''t know where it was coming from. But it was enough to show her the truth. ''This is underground.'' She touched her chest. Then her sides. No satchel. No dagger. No belt. Just her school uniform. Her heartbeat spiked again. She stood slowly, bracing one hand against the wall. No dizziness. That surprised her. ''I''m not hurt. Just... moved?'' She tried to think. Last thing she remembered. She was near the hallway by the planter wall. Then something cold. Fast. A pull. Nothing after that. Then here. Wherever here was. She swallowed. The silence wasn''t total. Just empty. The kind of quiet that came after footsteps stopped. She called out. "Hello?" Her voice echoed. Faint. Damp. No answer. Chapter 102: Inside The Labyrinth She took a step forward. Her boot scraped against the stone. ''I have to move.'' Standing still felt worse than walking. At least moving meant she was doing something. She chose the left path. No real reason. Just instinct. The corridor narrowed. The glow got dimmer. She turned one corner, then another. Same walls. Same floor. Same awful quiet. Her breathing stayed shallow. Measured. She couldn''t afford to panic yet. ''You''re Seraphina Alden. You''ve trained for years. You''ve studied every terrain scenario the Academy offered. This is just another test.'' Another step. Her fingers grazed the side wall as she walked, counting turns. Left. Right. Right again. She didn''t look behind her. She didn''t want to. She stopped when the hallway opened into a square room. Four exits. No doorways. Just more passages. And in the center, a single stone slab. Low. Flat. No writing. No items. Just stone. She didn''t approach it. Not yet. Her gut told her to stay where she was. She took a breath. Then another. ''Okay. I need a plan. First, find an exit. Second, map what I can. Third... figure out if anyone else is here.'' Because if someone built this¡ª Then someone could be watching. ¡ª The courtyard hadn''t changed. Same cracked stone. Same silence. Same overachieving vines that had no business growing this fast without water or sunlight. Merlin crouched again, resting one hand on the edge of the bench. He stared at the vine nearest the crack. It hadn''t moved since last time. Which somehow made it worse. ''Cool. Still pretending to be a plant. I see how it is.'' He reached into his coat, fingers brushing the edge of the chalk he''d taken from the runes class storage without asking. He didn''t technically steal it. He just never returned it. Big difference. He drew a short circle near the edge of the crack. Nothing too fancy. Just a detection ring, the kind that should react if anything alive touched it. The second he finished the last stroke, the vine twitched. Just slightly. "Oh." He stood. Not fast. Not slow. Just enough to look like he hadn''t done anything. [SYSTEM CORE: 70%] [ENVIRONMENTAL REACTION: TRIGGERED] [THREAD MOVEMENT: ACTIVE RESPONSE] [WARNING: DOMAIN INTERFACE SHIFTING] Merlin took a small step back. Not because he was scared. Just because he believed in respecting personal space. Even if it belonged to an evil interdimensional parasite plant. He watched the vine curl toward the crack. Then stop. Then pulse. Just once. A ripple moved through the stone. Barely visible. But he felt it. Under his boots. In the air. ''Okay. So we''re doing this now.'' The vines surged upward. Fast. They didn''t snap. They didn''t whip. They grabbed. One around his ankle. Another near his calf. "Really?" He reached for his coat. Too slow. The ground opened before he could finish swearing. And that was how he got dragged into the Hollow Labyrinth by a bundle of overgrown spaghetti weeds. Smooth. Just like he planned. Sort of. ¡ª The world turned black for half a second. Not unconsciousness. Just transition. When he landed, it wasn''t hard. It was stone. Cold. Uneven. Familiar. He lay there for a second, flat on his back, staring up at the ceiling. Which, surprisingly, existed. ''Okay. Good. Not void. Actual architecture. That''s... somehow worse.'' He sat up. Same corridor layout as the book described. Narrow halls. Arched ceilings. Damp walls that never dried, no matter how many centuries passed. It smelled like old air and older problems. He stood slowly, checking his limbs. Everything was still attached. [SYSTEM CORE: 71%] [USER STATUS: STABLE] [DOMAIN ENTRY CONFIRMED ¡ª HOLLOW LABYRINTH] [WARNING: NAVIGATION DISABLED] [GOOD LUCK.] He stared at the last line. "Don''t get cute with me." No response. ''Of course.'' The system only developed a sense of humor when it was not helpful. He took two steps forward. The hallway stretched endlessly in both directions. He turned in a slow circle. No wind. No sound. ''Alright. Game face.'' ''I''m underground. Probably deep. Probably unstable. I have no idea where Seraphina is, I have no map, and if the domain progresses into stage two, the whole place might start shifting.'' He took a breath. Then muttered under it. "Ten out of ten field trip so far." ¡ª His step felt different. Lighter. Faster. Like something in his legs had decided to start pulling its weight again. He paused. Waited. Nothing changed in the air, but inside him¡ª [SYSTEM CORE: 73% ] [MANA CONDUITS: REACTIVATING ] [COGNITIVE OVERLAP: CLEAN] [STATUS: ACCELERATED RECOVERY ¡ª DOMAIN COMPATIBLE] He stared at the message for a full second. Then squinted at the words. ''Accelerated? That''s new.'' He flexed one hand, slow. The response was cleaner now. No lag. No numbness. The low hum in his spine was back too, like a thread of static pulling itself together. The domain was speeding it up. Of course it was. ''Why heal slowly when I can do it next to monsters with teeth for faces.'' He kept walking. The walls were tighter here. The corridor curved to the right in a slow slope, like the floor had been built by someone who hated symmetry. He passed three intersections. All identical. All wrong. The walls were etched. Light scratch marks, just barely visible. Not runes. Not decorative. Just scrapes. He knew what that meant. His breath came out steady. ''They''re nesting already.'' Another two steps. Then he heard it. Soft at first. A click. Then a scrape. Not near him. Above him. He stopped walking. Tilted his head back slowly. The ceiling arched at least ten feet high. He couldn''t see anything. Not with his eyes. But the system didn''t need light. [MOVEMENT DETECTED] [CLASS: CRYPT SPIDER ¡ª DRONE TYPE] [THREAT LEVEL: LOW-MODERATE{ [COUNT: 2] [RANGE: WITHIN 9 METERS] ''Of course it''s the spiders.'' He remembered this part. He really hoped the domain wasn''t sticking to the source material. He crouched slowly, resting one hand against the floor. ''If they''re still in drone formation, they won''t drop unless they detect direct movement in the open. Or if I breathe too loud. Or blink weird.'' He tapped the side of his boot gently. The echo bounced once. The scraping paused. Then started again. Faster. ''They heard that.'' [SYSTEM CORE: 75%] [MANA SPIKE AVAILABLE ¡ª TEMPORARY RELEASE WINDOW: 6.3 SECONDS] [WARNING: OVERUSE MAY HALT RECOVERY PROCESS] "Yeah, yeah," he muttered. "Noted. I hate this already." He reached into his coat, felt the grip of the training blade still latched to the inside hook. Not Keryx. But it would do. Probably. He stayed low. Let the silence stretch. The spiders were moving. But not toward him. Not yet. They were scouting. That meant something else was closer. ''She''s here. Somewhere near this nest. They wouldn''t be this active if it was just me.'' He exhaled once, through his nose. Steady. Then moved. Right foot forward. Slide. Left foot forward. Slide. Soft. Controlled. The scraping got louder. Not closer. Just bolder. Like they''d scented something. He turned the corner slowly. And saw it. A fresh trail of faint scuff marks. Boot treads. Small. Human. Still new. He smiled a little. Just barely. ''Got you.'' The spiders shrieked above him. And dropped. No warning. No sound until they were already moving. The first one landed on the far side of the hall. Eight legs. Armor-black shell. Mandibles twitching. About the size of a small table. The second hit closer. Left wall. Still in drone formation. Still scanning. Merlin didn''t move. Not yet. He counted three heartbeats. Then shifted his weight forward. The spiders clicked. And launched. He drew the blade in one motion. Not elegant. Not flashy. Just fast. The first one charged low, trying to clamp his ankle. He kicked off the wall instead, twisted midair, and dropped straight into its blind side. The blade pierced the top plate with a dull crunch. The spider shrieked, high and fast, then went still. One down. He yanked the blade free, turned just in time to duck under the second one''s lunge. It clipped his shoulder. Not deep. But enough to burn. He rolled. Came up on one knee. [SYSTEM CORE: 76%] [TEMPORARY OVERDRIVE ACTIVE ¡ª 4.7 SECONDS REMAINING] [TARGET ACQUISITION: LOCKED] The drone pivoted fast. Quicker than the book made it sound. Its legs clicked against the floor in a stuttered rhythm. Not just speed. Patterned movement. Evasive. ''They upgraded this one. Great.'' Merlin didn''t wait. He lunged forward. Feinted high. Slashed low. The spider tried to counter but exposed its underside for a half second too long. That was all he needed. The blade rammed straight under the carapace. The drone twitched once. Then collapsed. [HOSTILES NEUTRALIZED] [DOMAIN RESPONSE: PASSIVE STAGE RESTORED] [CORE EFFICIENCY: 77%] Merlin stepped back. Breathing steady. The blade dripped something green and thick. He wiped it against the side of his coat. Not ideal. But it worked. He glanced up. Nothing moved. For now. The corridor felt still again. But it wasn''t empty. He could feel it. A presence. Weak. Human. Close. He turned toward the far end of the hall, where the boot treads had continued. His voice came out low. Not loud enough to echo. "Seraphina." Silence. Then¡ª A faint breath. Barely there. But real. He tightened his grip on the blade. And kept walking. Chapter 103: Escape (1) The boot prints were getting clearer. Smudged near the heel. Left foot dragging a little. He knew what that meant. Injury. Likely leg or ankle. Maybe ribs. Hard to tell from just the stride pattern. He crouched for a second, fingertips brushing the edge of one print. Still damp. Recent. She wasn''t far. The air ahead curved again¡ªanother one of those twisted stone passages that looked like they looped but didn''t. Just a trick of the architecture. A favorite in this domain. He moved fast. Not running. Just clean. The kind of pace you used when your heartbeat started getting ideas, but your head refused to listen. [SYSTEM CORE: 78%] [COOLDOWN WINDOW: ACTIVE] [SUGGESTED ACTION: PROCEED WITH CAUTION] He ignored it. One more corner. Then he saw her. Seraphina. Sitting on the floor, back against the wall, legs drawn up, arms wrapped around herself. Her head was down. Shoulders shaking. He slowed. Quiet. Careful. Then she looked up. And everything in him stopped for half a second. Her face was streaked with tears. Eyes red. She didn''t speak. Just stared. Like her brain was still trying to confirm he was real. He took one step forward. She let out a breath that cracked halfway through. And before he could say anything¡ª "Merlin." His name. Barely louder than a whisper. But it hit harder than the fight. He blinked. ''She''s... happy to see me?'' Her voice cracked again. "You''re here." He stepped closer, crouching low to match her level. "Yeah. I''m here." She nodded. Fast. Like if she didn''t, she might break again. She wiped her eyes with her sleeve, angry at herself for it. He watched the motion. Didn''t say anything. Just looked down at her leg. Blood. Left side. Tear in the fabric. Not life-threatening, but deep enough to limit movement. "Spider?" he asked. She nodded again. Tried to speak. Failed. Tried again. "I¡ªI tried to fight. I didn''t have my dagger. I couldn''t cast anything. I¡ª" She cut herself off. Looked away like she was ashamed to be scared. Merlin exhaled slowly. Not annoyed. Just... ''She''s not supposed to cry. She''s always the calm one. The sharp one. The one who tells the rest of us to focus.'' Now she was trembling. And she was glad he was here. That part hadn''t stopped echoing yet. He reached into his coat. Pulled the gauze roll he''d pocketed before coming down. She didn''t argue when he reached for her leg. Didn''t flinch. She just watched his hands move. Still quiet. Still crying. But quieter now. "I thought I was going to die down here," she whispered. "You didn''t," he said. "Only because of you." He didn''t know what to say to that. Not really. So he didn''t say anything at all. Just tied the bandage tight. And stayed there beside her. Longer than he needed to. Because somehow, this part, her looking at him like that, was harder than fighting spiders in the dark. ¡ª The third knock was pointless. Nathan knew that. Still did it anyway. Little louder this time. Little more hope thrown in like it might change something. It didn''t. Nothing behind the door. No shuffling. No muttered insult about being annoying. No sarcastic stuff. Just silence. Which, on its own, wouldn''t have been weird. But this was Merlin. Merlin never left his door locked unless he was in the room. Or unless he didn''t want to be followed. Nathan leaned his forehead gently against the wood. "Come on, man." Still nothing. He stepped back, let out a slow breath, and stared at the handle like it had done something wrong. ''He told us to rest. That should''ve been the first sign something was off. Merlin doesn''t care if we sleep. He only says stuff like that when he''s about to do something reckless and doesn''t want us around to see it.'' He rocked back on his heels. ''Should''ve called it out right then. Should''ve pushed. Asked where he was going. But no. I just nodded like a dumbass and went back to my room like everything was fine.'' He ran a hand through his hair, rougher than necessary. ''Okay. Think. Where would he go?'' Training yard? No. Too obvious. Too exposed. Archives? No way. Not now. Then his eyes narrowed. The courtyard. ''The one with the weird air earlier. Where Elara got that look like something was watching her. Where Merlin went quiet and pretended like everything was normal.'' He frowned. It was a long shot. But it was something. And right now, he didn''t like the idea of doing nothing more than he didn''t like the idea of being wrong. He started moving. Fast. Boots against stone. Shoulders tense. Every part of his body already anticipating a problem even if his brain wasn''t sure what it looked like yet. ''Please be nothing. Please just be him standing there like an idiot, brooding at some leaves or poking a squirrel with a stick. I''d take that. I''d even take a lecture. Just let him be there.'' The halls felt too quiet. Not totally empty. Just... lacking. He turned down the side wing, passed the west archway, and stopped at the courtyard entrance. His breath caught slightly. Not because of what he saw. Because of what he didn''t. It looked the same. Same cracked bench. Same low wall near the garden bed. Same pathway with a thousand years of uneven bricks. But the space felt wrong. Not cursed. Not glowing. Not dramatic. Just, off. Nathan stepped out onto the stone. His boots echoed. Too loud. He crouched, touched the ground. Still damp. Cooler than it should''ve been. He looked at the cracks near the wall. Nothing obvious. But something had been here. He could feel it. The silence was different. Not natural. Like something had made a sound and the courtyard was pretending it hadn''t heard it. ''You were here.'' He stood slowly. Looked around again. Still nothing. But he wasn''t buying it. Not for a second. ''You came here. I know you did. And now you''re gone. Which means something pulled you out before I could stop it.'' He felt his jaw clench. ''And I''m not doing nothing again.'' He turned. Started walking. Faster now. Heading for the only other person who might know where the hell Merlin had gone. Because if Elara didn''t know either, then something had gone seriously wrong. And none of them were ready for it. ¡ª Elara wasn''t hard to find. She never was. She didn''t hide. She didn''t slink around corners or act suspicious in ways you could point at. She just... drifted. Quiet. Calm. Always exactly where she needed to be right when you realized you needed her. Nathan spotted her near the east stairwell. Alone. Leaning against the railing. Arms crossed. Head turned slightly like she was listening to something far away. He didn''t slow down. "Where is he." She looked at him. Didn''t flinch. Didn''t blink. Just tilted her head a fraction. "Merlin," he snapped. "Where is he." She held his stare. Didn''t answer. That was worse than anything. Nathan stopped a few feet from her, hands clenched at his sides. "You know something," he said. Still no response. "Elara." That got her to move. Just a little. Her eyes shifted to the side, then back. "I don''t know where he is," she said. Nathan let out a sharp breath. "Do you know what he was doing?" She hesitated. Too long. He stepped forward. "You do know." "I didn''t think he would do anything," she said quietly. That made his chest go cold. "You let him go." "He didn''t tell me." Nathan laughed once, but it came out sharp and bitter. "Of course he didn''t. And you didn''t say anything because that''s what you two do, right? You watch him walk into something awful and pretend it''s fine because he just didn''t say it." Her jaw tightened. He didn''t care. "He''s gone," Nathan said. "I went to his room. Nothing. I went to the courtyard. Nothing. Just this weird... feeling, like something was watching, but already done watching. You know what that means? It means whatever happened, already happened." Elara stayed silent. And for a second, Nathan just stared at her. He hated how calm she looked. He hated how calm he probably looked to everyone else. He hated that none of them knew what was happening. He sank down onto the steps without waiting for permission. His elbows hit his knees, head dropping slightly. "I''m not stupid," he said. "I know something''s wrong with the Academy. I know he knows more than he says. I know you do too. And I''ve been trying to be the guy who waits. The one who says ''trust him, he''s got it.''" He looked up again. "But he doesn''t have it this time." Elara sat down beside him. No response. No apology. No explanation. Just quiet. They sat there like that for a while. Nathan didn''t speak again for a long time. He just stared at the floor and wondered how far Merlin had gone. And how the hell he was supposed to reach him. Chapter 104: Escape (2) They sat there for a while. No one said anything. Which was kind of her thing. But Nathan hated it. His knee bounced without permission. His hands kept fidgeting like they wanted to hold something, fix something, break something. But there was nothing. Just stone steps. Distant voices from some dorm hallway he wasn''t in the mood to care about. And Elara, silent as always, like she could outwait the storm. He finally looked at her again. Still calm. Still unreadable. He hated that too. "El," he said quietly. "I''m not going to stop asking." She blinked once. That was it. Just one blink. But her posture shifted slightly. Less closed off. More... resigned. She didn''t look at him when she spoke. "Below the courtyard." His breath hitched. "What?" "That''s where he went." Nathan''s mouth opened. Then shut again. ''Below? The courtyard has a below? Since when?'' She continued, voice level. "There''s something under the garden. Something he noticed earlier. I did too." "And you didn''t think to tell me?" "I didn''t think he''d go alone." Nathan laughed once, bitter. "Have you met him?" She didn''t answer. He stood up, ran both hands through his hair. ''So that''s it. He left. Crawled... underground into who-knows-what while we were trying to get sleep like idiots.'' Nathan stared at the far wall, heart beating faster now. ''He''s probably halfway to hell by now. And I let it happen.'' He turned back to her. "You knew something was wrong earlier." "Yes." "You felt it." "I did." "And you said nothing." "I couldn''t stop him." "Did you try?" Elara looked at him then. Not angry. Just tired. "No." Nathan didn''t speak after that. He just stared at her. Then down the hallway again. His brain kept buzzing. All noise, no solutions. ''Okay. He''s underground. Great. Where? How deep? Is there a door? A stairwell? A hole? Do I just start digging?'' He sat back down, too fast, back hitting the railing harder than he meant. "Why does he do this?" Elara stayed quiet. "I''m serious," he said. "Why is it always him? Why does he always go alone? Why does he think that''s somehow better?" She looked ahead. Not at him. Not at anything really. And then she said¡ª "Because he doesn''t think he has time to wait for anyone else." Nathan let the words sit there. Heavy. Awful. True. He hated how much sense they made. ''He thinks we''ll slow him down. He thinks he''s the only one who can stop things. He thinks if he screws up, we''re the ones who''ll pay for it. And somewhere in that brilliant, messed-up head of his, he decided that meant we''re better off not knowing until it''s over.'' Nathan stood again. This time slower. This time with purpose. "Do you know how to follow him?" "No." "But you know where it starts." She nodded once. Nathan nodded back. His hands stopped shaking. Not because the fear was gone. But because now he had direction. ¡ª Seraphina had fallen asleep. Not fully. Not safe-sleep. Just the kind where your body gives up before your mind can argue. She was still sitting upright, back against the wall, head tilted slightly toward the corridor. Even unconscious, she was watching the exit. Merlin sat across from her, blade resting flat against his thigh. He wasn''t tired. Not yet. The system was running too clean for that. [SYSTEM CORE: 82%] [NERVOUS LINK: STABILIZED] [ lMANA RESONANCE: INACTIVE ¡ª THRESHOLD LOCKED] [USER CONDITION: BALANCED] He rolled his wrist once. The motion was sharp now. No drag. No delay. ''Good. I''ll need that.'' The fight had been easy. Too easy. Two spiders, drone class. He didn''t even break a sweat. That wasn''t the part that bothered him. It was the layout. The hallway he''d come through, was twenty meters shorter than it should''ve been. The angles were off. The stones weren''t repeating the right pattern anymore. ''The labyrinth''s shifting.'' He leaned his head back against the stone. Let his fingers tap the edge of his knee once, twice, quiet rhythm to keep his thoughts straight. ''Domain''s entered stage two. That means active rearrangement. Which means¡ª'' His eyes flicked to Seraphina. Still breathing steady. Her leg was braced. Bandages holding. But she''d used up her calm. He saw it earlier. The way her voice cracked when she said his name. The way she didn''t even try to act cold. No sarcasm. No side comments. Just, relief. It had surprised him more than it should''ve. He didn''t expect people to be happy when they saw him. Not like that. Not like he was safety. ''Get over it.'' He rubbed the bridge of his nose once. Focus. He stood slowly. Moved toward the corridor entrance. The air had changed again. Not colder. Just heavier. Like the stone was sinking, inch by inch, beneath something they couldn''t see yet. He reached into his coat. Pulled the folded map he''d drawn earlier. Useless now. Still, he held it. Because thinking mattered. Even if the walls cheated. [WARNING: DOMAIN SHIFT DETECTED] [PATH RETRACE ¡ª NOT POSSIBLE] [SUGGESTED ACTION: FORWARD MOVEMENT ONLY] He frowned. ''That''s how it''s going to be, huh.'' He looked over his shoulder. Still asleep. ''She can''t stay here.'' Not with the shift happening. The drones were only scouts. The real problem came after. He''d read the chapter. Two shifts in. One reorganization. Then the nest. He tucked the blade away. Stepped over quietly. Kneeled next to her. "Seraphina," he said, voice low. She blinked awake instantly. Trained response. She looked up at him, confused for half a second. Then focused. "Time to move," he said. She nodded. Didn''t argue. Didn''t ask where. Just braced her hands against the floor and let him help her up. Her leg shook slightly. He let her lean on him without comment. And together, they stepped into the moving labyrinth. One hallway at a time. ¡ª The corridors weren''t the same. They curved tighter now. Angled wrong. Some steps sloped downward without any clear decline. The labyrinth was active. He could feel it under his boots. Alive, not just in structure but in timing. Watching them. Rearranging. Seraphina leaned against him with careful weight, limping but steady. She hadn''t spoken since they left the alcove. She didn''t need to. Her silence said enough. They turned another corner. And stopped. The hallway was wider here. Almost circular. Like a broken wheel, hollowed out. There was something in the center. Merlin saw the shape before he registered the rest. A person. Slumped. Still. Face turned away. Not moving. His stomach didn''t turn. It just sank. He already knew. ''The scream.'' The one from earlier. The one the system flagged but couldn''t confirm. Seraphina stopped beside him. Her breath caught, just slightly. They moved closer. The girl was young. First-year, maybe. Her uniform jacket was torn, one sleeve missing. Her head leaned back against the wall like she''d been sitting, or trying to. Her eyes were open. Unfocused. Chest unmoving. A line of black-green fluid had dried near her mouth. Merlin crouched slowly. Not to touch. Just to look. No visible wounds. No blood. No obvious trauma. But he''d seen this kind of death before. Internal. Domain-triggered. [USER OBSERVATION CONFIRMED] [SUBJECT: STUDENT ¡ª ID MATCH FOUND] [CAUSE OF DEATH: SYSTEMIC MANA COLLAPSE] [TIME OF DEATH: APPROX. 2.1 HOURS AGO] ''The system actually provides new info now..kind of useful.'' He read the system message, then let it fade. "She''s dead," he said quietly. Seraphina didn''t respond. She just looked at the girl''s face. Not crying. Not frozen. Just... staring. Like she wanted to memorize it. He stood again. "She died alone." Still nothing. But her grip on his coat tightened. Just once. Then let go. Merlin didn''t say anything else. There was nothing to say. He turned. She followed. They left the body where it was. Because there was no bringing her back. And the deeper they went, the more Merlin knew¡ª this was only the first one they''d see. ¡ª The first thing he noticed was the smell. Stone. Old, damp, and stale. Like air that hadn''t moved in years. Maybe longer. Nathan stepped forward, one hand brushing the wall. Rough texture. Uneven brick. The corridor sloped gently down with no end in sight. Elara moved behind him, silent as ever. Neither of them spoke. ''This is real.'' He''d spent the last few hours convincing himself something was wrong. Now he didn''t need convincing. The moment they passed through the vine-covered threshold, it felt like the world had sealed shut behind them. Like the Academy was gone. And they''d stepped into something older. Something buried. The kind of place that didn''t care who you were, only if you were smart enough to get out. He took another step. Then another. The torchlight from above had long faded. Only a dim green glow lit the walls now, coming from somewhere he couldn''t name. He hated that most of all. Not the darkness. Not the silence. But the not-knowing. ''I''m walking through a hallway that wasn''t here yesterday, and I''m supposed to just... guess what''s next?'' His fingers hovered near the hilt of his dagger. Not drawn. Not yet. But close. The walls narrowed ahead. The floor dipped slightly. A bend turned sharp and fast. He slowed. "Stop," he said softly. Elara froze behind him. He crouched. Brushed his hand across the floor. A fine powder. White. Thin. Scattered in uneven trails. He lifted his fingers to his nose. Not dust. Ash. Burned cloth, maybe. Or something worse. ''That''s fresh.'' He stood again, eyes sweeping the walls. Nothing moved. But the hallway felt watched. He looked at Elara. "Do you feel that?" She nodded once. Didn''t say what it was. Didn''t have to. ''Something''s waiting.'' He took a slow breath. ''He''s down here somewhere. Merlin. I know it.'' Chapter 105 105: Escape (3) The hallway curved again. He counted twelve uneven steps before it flattened. Stone underfoot felt different now. Less like flooring, more like pressure. Like each block had been placed to hold something underneath. Seraphina stayed close. Her limp had steadied, but not gone. She hadn''t said anything since the last corner. Merlin didn''t ask. He was still watching the walls. Every ten meters, the design shifted. New carvings. Shallower grooves. Some of them circular. Some jagged. Some that didn''t look like patterns at all¡ªjust clawed scratches across the surface. [SYSTEM CORE: 94%] [RESONANCE PATHWAYS: COMPLETE] [MANA CHANNELS ¡ª RECONNECTED] [USER CONDITION: PRIME FUNCTIONALITY (LOCKED)] [WARNING: PULSE ZONE AHEAD] He slowed. ''Pulse zone.'' Not a trap. Worse. Living space. Chapter 106: Escape (4) None of them spoke right away. He didn''t either. Not because he was avoiding it. Just because he wanted to see how long they would wait. The mana was still moving under his skin. Faint, but stable. It had weight again. Control. No more flickers. No more pressure spikes behind his ribs. No more random pulses that hit the wrong limb. It was his again. Elara shifted slightly. Not toward him. Just... re-centering her stance. Like she was trying to get a better read. Her eyes were fixed on his face, but the way her fingers twitched near her side told him she was cataloging everything. His movement. His posture. How clean the cuts on the monsters had been. ''She''s recalculating something..'' Nathan stepped forward, boots scraping lightly over the stone. Then he pointed at the nearest corpse. "That was you?" Merlin looked at him. Nathan blinked. "Right. Dumb question." He scratched the back of his neck. "I just¡ªwhen did that happen? Your core was wrecked." "It was," Merlin said. "That doesn''t really answer¡ª" "It''s not wrecked anymore." Nathan stared at him. Then laughed once, too sharp to be relaxed. "That''s it? That''s the explanation?" "I didn''t realize I owed you one." Nathan opened his mouth. Then closed it again. Seraphina still hadn''t said anything. She was half-seated against the wall now, one knee drawn up, hand curled over her ribs. Her eyes didn''t move from him. She wasn''t studying him like Elara was. She just looked... different. He couldn''t place the expression. Not relief. Not admiration. Something quieter. ''Like she''s still processing.'' Her voice, when it came, was hoarse but clear. "You''re not supposed to be able to do that." Merlin glanced at her. "I know." "You were way too damaged." "I know that too." "Then how are you standing?" He exhaled once through his nose. Then crouched, carefully, blade still loose in his hand. He rested it against the ground beside him and looked over the monsters'' bodies. "They were easy," he said. Nathan made a choking sound behind him. "That''s not an answer either." "They were." "I saw them. One had three arms." Merlin raised an eyebrow at the nearest one. "Still easy." Nathan stared at him. Then looked at Elara like he expected backup. She didn''t respond. She hadn''t looked away from Merlin. Merlin sighed. "I''m not going to explain everything here," he said. "Because you don''t want to, or because you can''t?" He didn''t answer. ''Both.'' Elara finally stepped forward. Her shadow passed across his shoulder. She looked down at the corpse closest to her boot, then back at him. "Something''s changed." He met her gaze. "Yes." "You''re stronger." "Yes." "Are you done hiding it?" He paused. Only for a second. Then nodded once. "Yes." That, apparently, was enough. She stepped back. Seraphina let her head fall gently against the wall behind her. She didn''t close her eyes. Just rested. Silent. Nathan let out a slow breath, hands on his hips. "You know, I was kinda hoping I''d get to be the cool one eventually," he muttered. Merlin didn''t smile. Not quite. But close. He stood. Turned to the others. "We can''t stay here. The labyrinth''s shifting again." "How do you know?" Elara asked. He pointed at the ground behind her. A shallow ripple ran across the floor, just once. Like the entire hallway was breathing in slow motion. Nathan saw it too. "Okay. That''s not normal." "Not even close," Seraphina said. Merlin lifted his blade. Motioned toward the next corridor. "Come on," he said. "We move now, or we wait to get surrounded." Elara was already walking. Nathan groaned softly. "Yeah, alright, Mr. Enlightenment. Lead the way." And they followed him. No more questions. Not yet. But the silence was heavier than before. Not awkward. Just full. Full of everything they wanted to ask. And everything he wasn''t ready to say. ¡ª The hallway tightened again. It wasn''t just the walls. The air closed in too. Not hot. Not cold. Just weighted. Like every foot of space was trying to decide if it still wanted them inside it. Merlin led the way. Elara moved quietly at his left, maybe two steps behind. Nathan stayed toward the back, his boots landing just a little heavier than before. Seraphina was silent. None of them had spoken since they left the chamber. No one asked what to do with the body. There wasn''t anything to do. Merlin''s eyes stayed forward. He scanned the walls, the floor, the ceiling. Every few steps, the markings changed. The deeper they went, the more layered they got. ''It''s compressing the space again.'' Not physically. Not in a way most people would notice. But he could feel it in the geometry. The way the arches bent tighter. The curve of the floor sloped just enough to make balance strange. If anyone else was dizzy, they weren''t saying it. Nathan exhaled behind him, too loud. "This place sucks." No one disagreed. "You''d think for something ancient and deadly, it''d at least look cool. Give me some floating runes. Skeleton pile. A glowing obelisk or something." Silence. He coughed once. "No? Just me?" Merlin didn''t respond. He could feel the tension running through his back. Not from nerves. From pressure. Domain energy pressed inward now. Closer. Like it was watching them step by step and waiting for something specific. ''This place isn''t just shifting.'' ''It''s reacting. To us maybe?'' Elara finally spoke. Quiet. Just above a whisper. "I don''t like the walls." Nathan blinked. "I don''t like any of this, but sure. What about the walls?" "They''re too quiet." He glanced at them. Stone. Uneven. Carved. "Pretty sure walls don''t talk, El." "They echo." She ran a hand across one slowly. "This place haven''t echoed in five minutes." That shut him up. Seraphina''s voice came a little slower, more strained. "It''s like absorbing sound." Merlin nodded. "That''s not good, is it?" Nathan asked. "No," Elara said. "It means the domain''s preparing something for us." Merlin added. Nathan let out a long sigh. "Fantastic. I was worried we''d get bored." The air kept thickening. They passed under a broken arch. The shape of it looked melted, not shattered. Like the stone had turned soft for just a second and then froze mid-collapse. Ahead, the corridor sloped downward again. The green glow along the walls flickered. Just once. Merlin stopped walking. The others paused behind him. He crouched low and brushed his fingers along the floor. The stone felt warmer now. Barely. But wrong. ''Fresh pulse. Something moved down here recently.'' He stood and looked back at the others. "You need to be ready." "For what exactly?" Nathan asked. Merlin didn''t answer. Not because he didn''t know. Because putting it into words would make it too real. He turned again. Started walking. The others followed. After a couple of minutes a monster dropped through the ceiling like it had been waiting. Seven limbs. Bent the wrong way. A body built for speed, not balance. Its eyes were sealed shut, but its head turned toward sound. No vocal cords. Just breathing, too wet and too fast. Merlin stepped forward. No one stopped him this time. The creature charged. ''Let''s take care of it quickly.'' His mana moved before his feet did. Wind slipped around his shoulders, quiet and narrow, narrowing his frame by a half-step. He leaned into it, let it carry his weight out of reach. The claw hit empty air. Stone cracked behind him. He didn''t stop moving. A short pivot brought him to the creature''s side, and with it, a pressure shift under his skin. Space tilted, barely, just enough to drag his stance an inch forward without touching the ground. ''That''s new.'' The blade met bone. It didn''t bounce. Water coated the edge. Thin. Icy. Not enough to freeze, but enough to bite deeper than steel should''ve. The creature twitched. ''I''m way stronger now.'' Too slow. He ducked under its second strike. Its limb passed overhead. Missed by inches. A ripple passed through his spine. Time bent, not by seconds, just moments. He moved faster than the decision, not the action. His next cut landed behind the joint. The arm dropped. He rolled out from beneath it, low to the floor, the cold from his blade still trailing across the air. Dust kicked into his lungs. He exhaled through it, sharp and even. It spun to follow. Merlin was already behind it. He didn''t blink. One final step forward. His foot found the centerline of its shadow. The strike followed. It didn''t slice. It split. The creature''s head fell to the side. The body slumped after. No roar. No crash. Just the sound of weight hitting stone. He didn''t straighten immediately. He waited. Let the mana settle. Let the last traces of the wind drag off his coat. Let the tension drain back into silence. Then he stood. Turned. Elara hadn''t moved. Nathan had stopped mid-step, arms half-lifted like he couldn''t decide whether to run or help. Seraphina didn''t speak. Merlin sheathed the blade. Quietly. No need to look at it. He walked past them without a word. But behind him, he could hear Nathan whisper it anyway. "...what the hell was that." No one answered. They didn''t need to. Because the floor was still warm. And that wasn''t the last one. Chapter 107: Giant Trouble (1) The monster was dead. Probably. It hadn''t moved in twenty seconds. No last twitch. No cursed final breath. No dramatic explosion of acid. Which, in this place, basically counted as a miracle. Merlin didn''t look back. Mostly because he didn''t want to see Nathan''s face. There was a certain brand of expression that said he was both deeply impressed and increasingly suspicious of him, and Merlin had hit his quota for that today. Also, Elara''s stare had weight. He could feel it at the back of his head like she was trying to decide if he needed a conversation or an intervention. ''No, thank you,'' he thought. ''Not taking feedback at this time.'' The corridor sloped deeper. The green light kept changing, duller now. It used to glow like algae. Now it just looked sick. Sick and judging them. Dust shifted underfoot. The walls pulsed once. Nathan coughed. "Uh. Is it just me, or is the ground... breathing?" Merlin didn''t answer. Because yes. It was. Unfortunately. "You''d think a cursed hole in the earth would at least pick one vibe," Nathan continued. "Spooky? Slimy? Corpse-chic? But no, we get all three." "Quiet," Elara said. It wasn''t sharp. Just decisive. He shut up. Good choice. The air tightened. Merlin could feel it. A thick drag at the base of his neck. Like someone had looped invisible thread around his ribs and started pulling. That wasn''t metaphor. That was spatial pressure. ''More domain distortion. Layers are folding. Which means¡ª'' The floor cracked. Just a little. A seam opened across the next ten meters like the ground was splitting a grin. "Please tell me that''s cosmetic," Nathan muttered. It wasn''t. A shape pulled itself up from the gap. Wet. Shining. It looked like something sculpted out of a migraine. Limbs in the wrong places. Too tall. Too flexible. Eyes where there shouldn''t be eyes. Merlin drew his blade again. Nobody else moved. He was already walking forward. Seraphina exhaled behind him. "Are we just... letting him do this now?" "Yes," Elara said. Nathan nodded. "Yeah, no, this is his thing now. I''m not touching that. I''ve seen enough horror movies." Merlin stepped into the ripple of pressure curling off the creature''s skin. It saw him. It hissed, like steam escaping from a sentient sewer pipe. He didn''t flinch. Didn''t breathe. He just let mana slide back through his spine and out through his hands were quiet, smooth, like oil on metal. The creature moved. Merlin did too. He didn''t wait. No declarations. No stances. Just momentum. Wind pushed at his boots, nudging him faster than he should''ve gone. Not leaping, sliding. He ducked under the first swing, came up into its blind spot, and carved into its side. It roared. Or... tried to. Sound didn''t come out. Just pressure. Space shifted sideways with the backlash. He stepped through it. A short jump forward, angled. The distortion helped. His blade bit in again, this time lower. The thing reeled. Then it fell. Kind of. It melted first. Bones folded. Muscles twisted back into the floor. The crack sealed shut around it like the labyrinth was cleaning up after itself. Merlin didn''t say anything. He just kept walking. Behind him, Nathan made a soft noise. "...Okay. Seriously. How long have you been able to do that?" "I got better," Merlin said. "Better at what? Killing things by making reality sad?" Elara didn''t respond. She didn''t have to. Because the air had just gone still again. And still air never meant anything good down here. ¡ª The corridor didn''t widen. It just ended. One step and they were no longer underground. They were inside something bigger. The air shifted first. Pressure thinned. Cold drafted inward like they''d opened a gate into the spine of a mountain. The space ahead was black. Not shadowed, it was straight up black. Like light had given up trying. Merlin stepped in anyway. The others followed. Nathan''s voice was quiet. "This feels like the part of the video game where you walk into a room and music stops playing." No one responded. Mostly because he was right. The path dropped off ahead, and then rose again into a slope of jagged stone. Merlin moved up it, boots hitting a crunch of old debris, bones maybe. Or coral. Hard to tell in the dark. And then he saw it. The ceiling broke open. Or what passed for a ceiling. The rock above them arched hundreds of meters high. A dome. Ribbed. Etched with lines that glowed faintly between pulses of breath. Because the thing in the center was breathing. "...oh," Nathan said. That was it. Just oh. Merlin stopped walking. Not out of fear. Out of basic logic. You don''t just walk into a chamber and stumble across a dragon the size of a cathedral without checking if your reality was still on the right patch of rails. It slept. Its body coiled like a mountain that had lost interest in being a mountain. Silver-black scales shimmered along its back. Claws that looked capable of re-writing geography. Wings furled in against its sides, broad enough to block the wind. Its eyes were closed. Which was the only reason they weren''t dead. Merlin''s thoughts were fast. Tight. Clean. ''That shouldn''t be here.'' ''This domain isn''t a dragon-type biome.'' ''There are no quests involving a central wyrm at this level. Not in this arc.'' ''So what the hell is that.'' Sovereign Chain pulsed quietly. Not as a system window. Just in his bones. His breathing matched the rhythm of the chamber. The muscles in his arms mapped the dragon''s movements, slow, deep, natural. He could see it. Predict it. The way the weight of its body shifted. The pause in its breath where its third lung contracted. The slight twitch in the hind leg closest to the column. Every part of the dragon was still. But not dormant. If it opened its eyes, they''d have about three seconds to die creatively. Nathan took a step closer. Merlin''s arm blocked him without looking. "Don''t." "What?" "You breathe louder when you''re nervous. Stay still." "I''m not¡ªhow do you even¡ª" "Now is not the time to develop a personality." Nathan went still. Elara shifted forward instead, gaze locked. Not fear. Not awe. Just calculation. Merlin didn''t take his eyes off the dragon. He let the Sovereign Chain sync tighter. His perception filtered layers across the ground. Pressure points. Heat signatures. Stress marks in the stone where the creature''s weight rested unevenly. He didn''t know what this place was. But it was old. And this dragon wasn''t native. It had come here. And stayed. ''Is it trapped?'' ''Guarding something?'' ''Or worse... is it waiting for something to wake it up?'' The ground beneath them creaked. Just a little. The sound of dust shifting. That was all it took. The dragon''s nostrils flared once. Not open. Not alarmed. Just enough. One eye opened. A slit of gold cut the dark. And the entire room changed. Merlin whispered, flat as stone, "Run." They ran. There wasn''t a debate. No vote. No questions asked. Merlin said run. So they did. The dragon screamed behind them. It wasn''t a roar. Roars implied dignity. This thing screamed like someone had just stepped on the ancient physical embodiment of its patience. The walls shook. The ground buckled. Merlin caught his balance mid-stride and immediately regretted existing. ''Alright. Good news. We''re not dead yet. Bad news. That''s probably going to change in the next thirty seconds.'' Wind snapped past his ears as Elara sprinted beside him. Fast. Efficient. She wasn''t panicking, just prioritizing. Every step was angled toward whatever escape route her brain could fabricate on the fly. Nathan was less graceful. "I thought dragons were supposed to be rare!" he yelled, breathless, flailing slightly as the floor cracked under his boots. "They are!" Merlin snapped back. "That one''s rarer!" "Oh, cool! So we''re dying to a collectible!" Another roar. This one shook the ceiling. Something massive hit the stone behind them. Merlin didn''t look. The air told him everything he needed to know. Too close. Too loud. Too pissed. Sovereign Chain flared through his legs, mapping weight distribution, forward momentum, and slope angles faster than he could blink. He leaned right, planted his heel, and let the labyrinth take his inertia. He dropped into a slide, wind peeling at his coat. The claw behind him missed by a hand''s length. Stone shattered. He didn''t stop moving. The corridor ahead narrowed, good. The dragon''s body couldn''t fit through without dislocating something important. He surged to his feet mid-run, grabbed Seraphina''s arm, and yanked her forward. "Left!" She didn''t argue. They turned sharp. Hit the wall too hard. Momentum skidded. Behind them, the dragon howled. Not like a beast. Like a storm with lungs. Elara reached the next turn first. She didn''t slow. She just pushed off the wall with one hand and launched herself down the next hallway. Merlin followed. Nathan followed with significantly more screaming. Sovereign Chain filtered through Merlin''s spine again, throwing up a ghost-map of pressure behind them. The dragon wasn''t just moving. It was collapsing half the structure to do it. The walls were bending. Space shouldn''t do that. ''Okay. Not ideal. Everything here is trying to eat us. Also, reality is like melting. Awesome.'' A gate loomed ahead. Not locked. Not sealed. Just wide. Wide enough to mean something. Merlin sprinted through first. The moment his boots crossed the threshold, something shifted. Space warped. Not violently. Just wrong. Elara landed next to him. Seraphina hit the floor beside her, one hand braced on her knee. Nathan came in last and collapsed like a dying bird. The dragon didn''t follow. It tried. Merlin could hear the impact. But something in the stone snapped. The passage folded. Twisted. Closed. They were alone again. Just them. And the sound of everything they left behind screaming like it wasn''t finished. Nathan lay on his back, panting. "So that''s what actual, literal death smells like." Elara looked at the sealed passage. "...What was that." Merlin wiped blood from his brow. Not his. Probably. "That," he said, "was a problem for later." Chapter 108: Giant Trouble (2) The silence was awful. Not normal silence. Not tired silence. It was the kind of silence that came after a boss fight that ended too easily. The kind that made you suspicious of the floor. And the walls. And your teammates. And breathing. Merlin stared at the sealed stone gate behind them. It didn''t look like a wall. It looked like a scar. Welded shut by force, not design. Twisted in the middle like the labyrinth itself had flinched at the last second and slammed the door to save its own skin. "Okay," Nathan said, wheezing on the floor, "I vote we stay right here forever." "No," Merlin said. "I didn''t mean forever-forever," he amended. "I meant like, you know. Until it dies of old age." "It''s not going to die of old age," Seraphina said, still crouched, still pale. "It''ll die when we kill it," Elara added flatly. Nathan turned to her like she''d just said gravity was optional. "Are you volunteering?! Because I''m not even qualified to stab lizards!" Then the wall moved. Not a full shift. Just one line of stone, groaning. Merlin turned toward it. ''No.'' ''It can''t.'' A low scrape echoed through the chamber. It wasn''t behind them. It was inside the wall. Elara stepped back once. Nathan scrambled off the floor. "Nope. Nope. That''s illegal." The wall cracked. Just an inch. But enough. Merlin heard it. Not just sound. The vibration. The tension building in the seams. The dragon wasn''t gone. It had found the door. And now it was clawing through. A massive talon punched through the stone. Rock exploded outward. Dust hit them like a wave. Elara ducked to cover her eyes. Seraphina braced, mouth tight. Nathan screamed like someone losing a game of tag to a bulldozer. Merlin didn''t blink. Sovereign Chain activated again. It didn''t flash. It didn''t glow. It just tightened everything. Breath. Step. Vision. His whole world narrowed to a grid of motion paths and danger zones. The wall fractured further. A second claw tore downward. A roar bled through the cracks, distorted by the stone but not softened. If anything, it was angrier. Deeper. Personal. ''Of course it''s not letting us go. That would be sane.'' A chunk of wall collapsed. The dragon''s head appeared. Only the top half. One eye. Golden. Massive. Glaring at Merlin like it remembered the exact pattern of his footprints. Merlin stared back. He didn''t move. Not yet. Not until it finished testing the opening. Not until it made a decision. The dragon inhaled. The temperature dropped. Elara grabbed Merlin''s sleeve. "Move." The breath hit. The wall detonated. And the chase started again. ¡ª The wall was gone. The dragon wasn''t. Its eye locked on Merlin like it had been waiting for round two. No fire. No build-up. Just movement. Fast. Violent. Personal. He didn''t hesitate. Didn''t yell some noble one-liner. Didn''t make eye contact. He just threw out one hand and let wind explode from his palm like he''d slapped the air across the face. The blast caught Elara first. She stumbled back, boots sliding. Then Seraphina. Then Nathan. "Wait¡ªMerlin¡ª!" Too late. He shoved again. Harder. The wind roared like it was trying to erase them from the floor, sent all three flying down the next corridor like misfired arrows. Then he turned. And ran. ''Okay. Okay, cool. Solo death run. Been a while.'' The ground cracked behind him as the dragon lunged again. Not graceful. Not aerial. Just sheer weight, collapsing everything in its path like it hated architecture. Merlin didn''t look back. He dropped low, shifted left, pulled space sideways just enough to fold into a tunnel that technically didn''t exist a second ago. The walls bent. The ceiling shrieked. And Sovereign Chain kicked in hard¡ªhis limbs moved faster than thought, instincts dragged forward like the fight was already happening. Wind wrapped his steps. Not speed. Direction. He slid down a stone ramp that hadn''t existed thirty seconds ago, skipped the bottom, and landed in a tight hallway shaped like the inside of a cracked ribcage. Too narrow. Too sharp. Too alive. He ducked through anyway. Dust and light peeled past his coat as something thundered overhead. The dragon was still chasing. Not directly. It didn''t fit. But it was trying. And the walls were cooperating. He took another corner. Then two more. Everything blurred. Heat and stone and pressure and breath. Then a sudden dead end. He skidded to a stop. Not a wall. An altar. A raised platform of black stone, surrounded by crushed bones and carved glyphs that pulsed dim blue under the dust. ''Nope.'' ''Absolutely not.'' He turned. The hallway behind him... wasn''t a hallway anymore. It was a shadow. Wide. Tall. Heavy. The dragon''s face filled it slowly. One eye. Two. Its jaw curled just enough to show teeth that looked older than most cities. It exhaled. Merlin didn''t move. Couldn''t. There wasn''t room. Not to fight. Not to run. He tightened his grip on the blade anyway. ''Well. This was a dumb idea.'' The dragon stepped forward. And the stone behind him began to glow. ¡ª Silence. Except not really. Because the dragon was breathing. And breathing, in this case, sounded like a volcano about to give a TED Talk. Merlin didn''t lower his blade. He didn''t raise it either. Pointless. He could stab this thing straight in the eye and it''d probably sneeze him across the continent. He took half a step back. The altar behind him lit up, more symbols, more glowy nonsense. Still not helpful. ''Alright. Think. Dodge? No. Taunt it? Worse. Beg? Never.'' The dragon leaned in. Closer. The pressure in the air cracked. Not physically. Mentally. And then it spoke. Not with a mouth. With thought. You reek of distortion. Merlin''s spine locked. The voice was everywhere. In the stone. In the blood behind his ears. In his shoes, probably. It wasn''t a voice meant for people. It was a concept. Raw. Cold. Ancient. And very, very annoyed. ''Cool. Brain invasion. Definitely climbing the list of top three least favorite Fridays.'' He didn''t respond. The dragon didn''t wait. You do not belong in this vein of stone. This flesh of earth. You were not carved here. "I get that a lot," Merlin muttered. The eye narrowed. The pressure increased. You bend space like a child folds parchment. Sloppy. Loud. Wasteful. "I wasn''t trying to impress you." You succeeded. In irritation. The ground pulsed again. The altar behind him flared once, bright. Then died back down like it lost interest. Merlin didn''t take his eyes off the dragon. His grip on the blade tightened. Sovereign Chain wound through his nerves, coiled and tense. It wanted him to move. But he didn''t. Not yet. ''If it wanted me dead, it could''ve done it six paragraphs ago.'' The dragon exhaled again. Warmer this time. You are too young. Too broken. "Tell that to everything I''ve killed." You are not ready. "I didn''t come here for a performance review." Something cracked above them. The ceiling hadn''t liked that last line. Dust rained down. The dragon shifted again. Its head now blocked the entire entrance. There was nowhere left to run. No exit. No leverage. Just him, a glowing altar, and the ancient equivalent of a grumpy DMV boss with wings. And then it stopped. Just stared. A beat passed. Two. Then, quietly, the voice returned. The Gate watches you. Merlin froze. That phrase didn''t belong here. Not in this labyrinth. Not in this world. Not unless¡ª The dragon blinked. Once. And pulled back. Its claws slid from the stone. Its body retracted like it had only just remembered something better to do. And just like that, the corridor behind it was empty again. No roar. No breath. Just the quiet. Merlin stood alone. Blade still in hand. Sweat cold down his spine. ''What the hell is the Gate exactly.'' ¡ª The corridor was empty. The pressure had gone with it. No claw marks. No smoke. Not even a scorch on the stone. Just silence. And him. Merlin didn''t lower the sword. ''That''s the second time something ten times my size decided not to kill me.'' ''Either I''m lucky, or I''m someone''s science project.'' The altar behind him pulsed again. He turned to look at it. Just stone. Just runes. Nothing explained itself. Typical. His breath slowed. Body still coiled. Mana not fully settled. Sovereign Chain hovered in the back of his nerves, like it knew this wasn''t over. Then¡ª The air shifted again. Not physically. Like an update to reality had just been installed mid-step. And the text came. Not system text. Not his system. Brighter. Cleaner. Older. [The Messenger watches with interest.] [They liked the way you stood your ground.] [They wonder if you would have still spoken, had you known the dragon''s name.] [They chuckle.] [They find your fear entertaining.] Merlin blinked. Hard. ''Oh no. Not you again.'' He didn''t respond. The messages continued anyway. [The Messenger flips a coin.] [It lands on its edge.] [They say nothing.] The altar behind him glowed again. Different this time. More focused. As if it had just remembered it had a purpose. Merlin turned fully toward it, slowly, blade lowered but still ready. He didn''t know what this was. But something old was moving. And apparently, he had a fan now. Perfect. ''First a dragon. Now an audience. Next I''ll be hosting a divine Q&A in the death corridor.'' Another line appeared. [The Messenger offers you a path.] [Do you accept?] Merlin stared. Then looked around. Alone. Tired. And cornered by the plot like it owed him rent. "...fine," he muttered. "Let''s see where your damn path goes." The altar lit up like someone had flipped a switch on reality. And the floor dropped out. Chapter 109: Trial (1) There was no floor. That was the first problem. Merlin opened his eyes and was standing on nothing. Just a stretch of sky. Pale, overcast, too clean to be real. Below him, the world shimmered like heat rising from broken glass. He wasn''t falling. Which made it worse. ''Alright. Cool. Not terrifying at all.'' He looked down. Then up. Then around. No door. No edge. No sun. Just... space. And then a desk. Out of nowhere. A sleek black table appeared two meters in front of him. On top of it sat a stack of envelopes, a polished dagger, and a tiny glass of what looked like wine but absolutely radiated magical disappointment. Behind the desk sat a man. Thin. Sharp-featured. Wearing a perfectly tailored suit with gold stitching that moved when he blinked. His hair was perfect like it was made of gold, flowing perfectly. His smile said he could sell you to yourself and you''d say thank you. He didn''t speak at first. He just looked Merlin up and down like he was reading the synopsis of a book that might be worth skimming. Then he said, "Well." His voice was smooth. Annoyingly smooth. "Was nearly getting eaten by a dragon not exciting enough for you?" Merlin stared. "I didn''t ask for this." The man spread his hands. "No one ever does. Except the suicidal ones, and they never survive the onboarding." "...Hermes." The smile widened. "Ah. So you do read your system notifications." The desk vanished. So did the man. Then he was behind Merlin. Then in front again. Flickering. Not quite teleporting. Just moving wrong. Time didn''t stick to him. "Relax," Hermes said, walking a slow circle around him. "This isn''t judgment. This is interest. You''re interesting. And it''s so hard to find mortals who aren''t allergic to nuance." Merlin didn''t respond. He was too busy trying to guess how many laws of physics were being broken per second. Hermes continued anyway. "You made a dragon hesitate. You stood your ground in a dead god''s vein. You kept secrets from a system designed to know everything." ''Dead god''s vein?'' He stopped. Leaning slightly forward. "And you did it while half-dead, under pressure, and with that charming little habit of pretending none of it affects you." The wind changed direction. Upward. Merlin spoke carefully. "So what''s the point of this." Hermes clapped once. The sound echoed sideways. "The point," he said, "is that I''m offering you a trial. The kind mortals don''t survive unless they''re very fast, very clever, or very, very lucky." Merlin exhaled. ''Of course.'' [System Notification: Divine Trial Incoming] [Trial Sponsor: The Messenger] [Designation: Hermes] [Do you accept the invitation to ascend as an apostle?] [Y/N] He stared at the Y. Then at Hermes, who was now lounging on thin air, tossing a coin that spun way too slowly. "This test," Merlin said. "What is it." Hermes smiled without showing his teeth. "A delivery. One message. One path. Several people trying to kill you on the way. But if you make it¡ª" The coin stopped midair. "I make you faster than anyone else alive." Silence. Then Merlin said, "That''s your pitch?" Hermes leaned in. "It''s not a pitch, Merlin. It''s a challenge." [You have 10 seconds to decide.] Merlin stared at the system. Then at the sky. Then back at the smug god floating across from him. "...Fine," he said. "Let''s play." [Y confirmed.] [Trial initializing.] The sky cracked. And the test began. ¡ª He landed like a sack of regret. Face-first. Into sand. Which immediately got into his nose, eyes, and the very concept of personal dignity. Merlin pushed himself up slowly, spitting grit from his mouth. No landmarks. Just heat. Light. Dunes stretching endlessly in all directions like someone had tiled the world with the color beige and then tried to kill everything on it. Then the system chimed in, chipper as always. [Trial of the Errant Path ¡ª Commenced] [Objective: Deliver the scroll to the Tower of Glass] [Distance: 32 kilometers] [Time Limit: 3 hours] [Hostile Activity: Subsurface] [Prohibited Actions: Flying] [Note from the Divine Host: This rule is symbolic. We know you can''t fly.] Merlin stared at the last line. "Wow," he muttered. "Even your trial rules come with sarcasm." The scroll was already in his hand. Sealed. Glowing faintly. Warm like it had a heartbeat. He didn''t like that. He tucked it into his coat and turned toward the horizon. Heat shimmered over distant dunes. No sign of a tower. No shade. No path. Of course. He took one step forward. The ground under him... shifted. Not a lot. Just enough to say: Hey. I''m not solid. Also, something underneath me hates you. Merlin''s next steps were faster. No dramatic wind boost. No teleportation. Just good old-fashioned survival panic, backed by a deep spiritual awareness that something below was definitely alive. He crested the first dune. And that''s when the ripple came. Far behind him, one dune bulged. Then collapsed inward. A circle of sand sank into itself, spiraling like a drain. ''Sandworm.'' ''Of course it''s a sandworm.'' Then the roar hit. Not a monster scream. Not even vocal. Just the sound of everything else getting out of the way. He ran. Boots sliding. Sand giving underfoot. Heat crawling up his back like it was trying to slow him down. The scroll pulsed once, angrily, somehow as if it disapproved of his sprint form. Behind him, the dune exploded. He didn''t look. Didn''t need to. That wasn''t look territory. That was die while making eye contact territory. Sovereign Chain surged in his limbs, syncing rhythm, pressure, balance. He angled down the slope of the next rise, momentum carrying him faster. Wind slipped under his coat, not enough to fly, just enough to cheat friction. The worm followed. It moved like a thought: fast, irrational, enormous. He hit a flat stretch and sprinted, lungs burning. The sand behind him sank again. A roar rippled across the plain. [The Messenger is watching with amusement.] [They expected you to drop the scroll by now.] Merlin grit his teeth. "I drop this thing, and I''m making the delivery to your corpse." The system made no comment. The desert rolled ahead. No tower in sight. Just more dunes. More heat. And a predator the size of a cathedral hungry for his ankles. Merlin kept running. Not because he had a plan. Because it was the only direction that wasn''t straight down into teeth. ¡ª He cleared another dune by inches. Landed hard. Rolled. Sand went everywhere. Again. His knees were full of regret and heat exhaustion. The scroll was still in his coat, warm and humming like a smug heartbeat. Behind him? The worm. It wasn''t slowing down. Because apparently, giant monsters didn''t believe in stamina limits. Merlin pushed to his feet again. ''Twenty-something kilometers left.'' ''At this point I''d pay someone to kill me politely.'' Then the air changed. Not the heat. Not the smell. The instinct. Sovereign Chain flared in his spine, it was tight, cold, precise. Something was approaching. Not the worm. Something smaller. Faster. The sand just ahead to his right jumped. Not exploded. Jumped. Like something had flickered in from a step sideways through reality. And a figure appeared mid-run. Slim. Cloaked. Moving with speed that wasn''t human, way too balanced, too synced with the terrain. Their coat was lined with silver. Their boots barely left tracks. Their eyes when they turned were focused. On him. Merlin blinked once. ''You have got to be kidding me.'' The system pinged a beat too late. [Warning: Another Divine Trial has intersected this zone.] [Name: Redacted] [Affiliation: The Masked One Who Smiles Beneath Lies] [Objective: Seize the Messenger''s Scroll] Merlin shouted, "You''re kidding¡ªthis is a PvP map?!" The other trialer didn''t answer. They just smiled under their mask, pivoted, and dashed straight for him. Sand churned. Merlin dove left, wind kicking hard against his boots, redirecting momentum mid-slide. A narrow knife passed right where his ribs had been. "Okay," he growled, rolling back to his feet, "Hermes, you smug divine jackass¡ªthis is not a solo trial anymore!" The trialer didn''t respond. They came in again, short blade flashing, speed clean, breath even. Whoever trained them had trained to kill. Merlin blocked with the flat of his wrist, twisted, kicked down into the sand, and used wind to launch backward. Distance gained. Not safety. The scroll pulsed again. The system chimed again. [Reminder: If the scroll is lost or destroyed, trial ends.] [You die.] "Yeah," Merlin snapped. "Thanks. I didn''t think it was a party favor." The masked trialer didn''t slow. They weren''t trying to fight. They were trying to pressure. Break rhythm. Force a drop. He ran again, angled hard west, up the side of another dune. The sandworm screamed behind him. Closer. Closer. The trialer didn''t look back. Because they weren''t worried about the worm. Only the scroll. Merlin reached the top of the dune, half-turned, and finally shouted, "What kind of divine psycho gives you a quest to steal someone else''s trial objective?!" The masked figure paused just long enough to say, calm and clean. "My god told me to lie, cheat, and win." Then they lunged again. Chapter 110: Trial (2) The dune dropped away like a trapdoor to hell. Merlin didn''t jump. He slipped. Deliberate. Sand shifted under his boots and gravity took over. He let it. The trialer followed, his knife was low, balance perfect, cloak snapping like a flag of impending violence. Merlin twisted mid-slide, heel carving into the slope. The scroll buzzed under his coat like it knew it was being hunted. He reached. Not for his blade. For the air. Wind bent under his hand, curved behind him, and shoved him just enough to push his body sideways into a tighter line. The trialer''s slash skimmed past him by inches, throwing sparks off a hidden blade. ''That would''ve gone through a lung.'' [The Messenger is eating grapes.] [They like your form. Your enemy''s is better.] Merlin gritted his teeth. "Stop heckling me." The trialer flicked forward again, this time not a stab. A grab. Straight for the scroll. Merlin let go of wind and snapped time. Just a touch. The slide slowed briefly, only for him. Not for them. They lurched past him like gravity forgot they were invited to this fight. Merlin hooked a foot around their ankle mid-skid and twisted. Hard. The trialer went tumbling, rolled once, then snapped upright again like it was choreographed. Too fast. ''Space. Buy room.'' He reached left and cut the air. Just a ripple, no teleport. Not here. Just distortion. The sand folded, collapsing in on itself like it forgot how to dune. They had to redirect. A second to breathe. Merlin turned, hand behind his back, drew water from the condensation in the air, enough for a blade-thin whip and cracked it forward. It caught the edge of the trialer''s cloak. Pulled. They stumbled mid-slide. But recovered too fast. Their dagger cut the water in half, their boots hit rock under the slope, and they surged forward again with no wasted motion. ''They''re better on this terrain than I am.'' Then the worm roared. Again. Close. The whole dune shook. Sand shifted beneath both of them, more fall than slide now. They hit a slope of compacted earth just as the beast breached behind them. Its jaws cracked the sky, all teeth and hate. [The Messenger offers a wager.] ["Will you lose the scroll, or your pride?"] Merlin answered by grabbing time again, not to freeze it, he couldn''t do that. He just dulled the edges. Motion blurred. Perception sharpened. He saw the trialer pivot. Another reach for the scroll. He let them get close. Then, space. A blink. Not a full teleport. Not even a jump. Just a bend, half a meter of sideways reality to the left. Their hand passed through where he was. He was already past them. Slide slowed. Slope flattened. They hit the base of the dune. Dust cloud rose. Both still upright. The scroll, still intact. The worm shrieked from above. And the next dune shifted. Merlin didn''t speak. Didn''t taunt. He just looked up at the trialer, who stared back from behind their mask. Still poised. Still hungry. And this wasn''t over. Not by a long shot. ¡ª Merlin didn''t feel it at first. The fight had drained the noise from the world, just breath and heartbeat and pressure. Then came the shift. Not from behind. From above. He looked up. And the sky was gone. What replaced it wasn''t a cloud. It was a wall. A writhing curtain of sand miles wide, rolling forward like the atmosphere had decided visibility was overrated. The masked trialer turned too. Even they hesitated. Merlin muttered, "Tell me that''s not the weather." The system pinged. Late. As usual. [Environmental Shift: Level 5 Sandstorm Detected] [Visibility: Critical] [Breathability: Hostile] [Progress Delay: Likely] [The Messenger thinks this will be fun.] Of course he does. The wind screamed first. No slow buildup. Just violence. Merlin yanked his coat collar over his mouth, dropped to a crouch, and angled his body away from the incoming death. The masked trialer vanished. Not literally. Just gone from view. The dust hit like a wave of knives. Air became razor-thick. Vision dropped to zero. Breathing? Optional. And overrated. Merlin ducked low, dropped into a half-run, and pulled wind tight around his shoulders. Not to fly. Just to push. Push the storm''s edge away from his face long enough to move. The scroll pulsed against his chest. Still warm. Still whole. ''You''d better be worth this.'' Sand pelted his side. Particles moved like bullets. Every step was a guess. Sovereign Chain kicked in, movement prediction went dark. Too much noise. The storm was eating his patterns. No feedback. No clean motion. No rhythm. He slowed. Not stopped. Just slowed. Focus shifted. ''Use water. Humidity. Find pressure pockets.'' He exhaled. Slid one palm into the grit. Sensed the flow. The dunes moved like lungs, breathing too fast, too wide. He turned left. Ran again. Blind. Somewhere behind him, the worm shrieked again. Closer. Then farther. Then... nothing. Either it got buried. Or it started swimming. ''Neither''s good.'' [The Messenger offers a tip: "Try not to die."] [Their tone is... playful.] Merlin grit his teeth. "Next time I see you," he growled, "I''m delivering your own scroll back into your smug mouth." No reply. Of course. The wind rose again. This time with shape. Not sand. Not a worm. A figure. Moving ahead. No, toward him. Fast. No mask. No cloak. New. Another trialer. Fantastic. ¡ª He didn''t see the man. He heard him. A voice, clean and clear through the chaos, like it didn''t belong to this storm at all. "Hey," it called out. "You''re Merlin, right?" That was the first red flag. Not because of the name. Because of the tone. Calm. Friendly. Like someone casually asking if you dropped your wallet while holding a knife behind their back. Merlin didn''t stop moving. Didn''t answer. The storm was too thick to see far, but the man didn''t care. He walked straight into view. Tall. Hood half-up. Smile easy. Clothes too clean for this much sand. That was the second red flag. "Hold up," the guy said, lifting one hand in a nonthreatening wave. "I''m not your enemy." "Uh-huh." Merlin kept his hand near his belt. No blade drawn. Not yet. Wind wrapped around his wrist. Soft. Ready. The guy stepped closer, slow, as if sand wasn''t trying to flay them both alive. "I''m from your faction," he said. "Hermes sent me." Merlin blinked behind his makeshift scarf. ''Hermes sent me...huh.'' That was bold. Not technically impossible. Just... laughably stupid. "Did he now," Merlin said, dry as bone. "Yeah. Yeah. There''s been a shift in the route. He wanted you to pass the scroll to me¡ªsaid your odds would improve if you split off now." Merlin stared at him through a wall of dust. He even smiled a little. "Cool. What''s the name of the trial?" The man''s smile didn''t waver. He hesitated for half a second. Then said, "Errant Courier." Merlin''s grin sharpened. "Wrong." The man blinked. Merlin''s hand moved. Wind cracked sideways, slicing a burst of sand upward, right into the liar''s face. He stumbled. Merlin lunged. Boots dug into the dune. Left hand shot forward. Water condensed mid-air from the storm''s breath, dense, sharp, needle-thin. He sent it at the man''s thigh, forcing him to shift balance. The guy dodged. Barely. No panic. Too smooth. A blade flicked out from under his coat. "So," the man said, blinking through grit, "you''re not that easy." [The Messenger is grinning.] [They like when their apostle bites back.] Merlin didn''t respond. He circled once, fast. Then paused. "You''re not with Hermes," he said flatly. "Obviously," the man replied. "He doesn''t have taste." That did it. Merlin moved first. ¡ª The storm didn''t fade. It thickened. Grains of sand ground against his coat, hissing in every seam, dragging heat and pressure through his lungs like punishment. The trialer stood ten paces away. Too clean. Too still. Still smiling like this wasn''t a fight, like it was a ritual. Merlin didn''t move yet. His fingers twitched near the edge of the scroll, where divine hum pulsed like a second heartbeat. Then came the system. Not his system. Theirs. [The Messenger crosses one leg over the other.] [They hum a tune only ghosts remember.] [They are watching you very closely.] [The Spear in the Moonlight scowls.] [She disapproves of games.] [The Golden Flame scoffs.] [The Thread-Tenders pause.] [They do not cut. Yet.] [The Shadow That Judges offers nothing. But their gaze is heavy.] [The Tempest Father mutters.] [The Twin Mask laughs.] [The Whisper in the Depths leans in. Closer. Still closer.] Merlin inhaled slowly through grit. He didn''t scream. Didn''t react. Just muttered, "Great. Pantheon''s here. Hope someone brought snacks." The trialer stepped forward. Sand shifted under his boot like it knew he didn''t belong here. "You''re lucky," the man said, voice light. "Most don''t get a full audience. You''re entertaining for them." Merlin tilted his head. "What''s your god''s title?" The man smiled wider. "The Grin Beneath the Mask." Of course. A trickster. Not the trickster. But close enough to smell of bad deals and prettier lies. "I''m supposed to kill you," the man added, casual. "But if you just drop the scroll, we can call it a tie." "Sure," Merlin said. "And then I''ll walk into the sandstorm with a target on my back and a divine laugh track following me. Hard pass." The air bent slightly. Tension snapped into place like a drawn bow. [The Messenger lifts an eyebrow.] [They whisper to the wind. It does not carry your answer.] [The Hollow Flame makes a small wager: "He will flinch first."] [The Huntress does not wager. She just watches your stance.] The trialer rolled his wrist. A thin blade flicked into his fingers, dark, curved, stained at the hilt. "This is the part where we fight." "No," Merlin said, "this is the part where you lose." The storm answered. The gods leaned in. And both of them moved. Chapter 111: Trial (3) They moved at the same time. Merlin kicked off the sand first, wind curling around his boots like a second set of tendons. He didn''t leap. He redirected. Air bent, legs snapped forward, and momentum screamed sideways. The other trialer followed. Fast. Knife flashing once, then again, angles precise, posture effortless. Their blades met in the middle of the storm like punctuation. Not elegant. Just loud. The impact cracked across the dune. Sand exploded. Merlin shifted immediately, water condensed from the storm''s breath to slide under the next strike, pushing off it mid-swing. He twisted past the second blow, pulled space tight near his ribs, and ducked into a sidestep that shouldn''t have worked on shifting terrain. It worked anyway. Sovereign Chain mapped the motion for him. The blade skimmed past his collarbone. Close. Closer than he liked. He didn''t flinch. Wind shoved upward. He launched. Then twisted in midair and dropped low again, landing behind the man''s right side. His foot hit soft sand, then hard dune beneath. He struck once, a short jab, no waste. The trialer blocked it with his forearm. Didn''t even blink. Merlin exhaled through grit. ''Too fast. Too clean. This guy doesn''t just fight¡ªhe reads.'' Then the system pinged again. [The Messenger adjusts their grip on the unseen thread.] [The Grin Beneath the Mask raises the stakes.] [The Hollow Flame flickers brighter.] [The Chainbreaker opens one eye.] The other trialer smiled. "You''re not bad." Merlin didn''t answer. Just stepped into time, barely. A half-second stretch. A breath caught sideways in the second layer of movement. He vanished. Reappeared beside him, low. Blade snapped across the man''s side. A shallow cut. First blood. System ping. [Trial Update: Advantage Shifted.] [The Spear in the Moonlight inclines her head.] The man hissed and twisted, reversed his grip, and lunged again. Merlin blocked. Felt the edge press into the air between them like a warning. Used space, not to teleport, just to bend, shifted both of them ten feet apart. It made the storm collapse inward for a heartbeat. Just long enough to see each other clearly again. "You''re using your gifts too early," the trialer said, breathing light. "Are you worried?" "I''m annoyed." Wind pulled tight behind Merlin''s back. He let it push him forward again. Not into a charge. Into a rhythm. He hit once. Twice. Then folded low, let time hitch the edge of his dodge, and came back with a third strike before the last one finished. Sovereign Chain linked it all, movement, reaction, pressure. The trialer blocked two. Missed the third. More blood. The man fell back. Wiped his cheek. Smiled wider. Then said, "Your scroll''s shaking." Merlin paused. Felt it. The scroll didn''t want to be still anymore. Not humming. Buzzing. ''It''s reacting to divine tension.'' System ping. [Scroll Integrity: Unstable] [Multiple deities now tracking outcome simultaneously.] [The Thread-Tenders tighten their grip.] Merlin didn''t blink. He just adjusted his stance. And raised the blade again. ¡ª The scroll burned. Not metaphorically. Actually. Its edges glowed faint gold, pressed against the inside of his coat like a divine warning wrapped in wax and arrogance. Every god watching? They felt it too. So did his opponent. The trialer didn''t talk now. No more taunts. No more smiles. Just movement. He blurred forward, faster than before. Pressure behind every step. Sand cracking under his boots, knife already mid-swing. It didn''t arc. It pierced. Like a question made of steel. Merlin didn''t dodge. He folded time sideways. Just a slip. Just enough to drag the second between them into the next breath. The blade missed. He responded with three steps, tight as gears. A burst of wind curved behind his shoulder and redirected his weight into a full-speed lunge. He struck. The trialer blocked, barely. Then they both broke apart. Sand rose again. Thick. Hot. Blinding. Merlin lunged back in through the dust, kicked low with wind at his ankles, and cracked a thin arc of water across the ground. The storm caught it and turned it into steam. The heat exploded between them. They both moved again. This time, not like people. Like problems trying to cancel each other out. Sovereign Chain burned under Merlin''s skin, limb, weapon, footwork, memory, they were all feeding forward. The rhythm stopped being a pattern. It became instinct. The scroll pulsed harder. System pinged. [Scroll Status: Volatile] [Deliver within time limit or suffer divine consequence.] [The Messenger''s interest intensifies.] [The Grin Beneath the Mask prepares to intervene.] [The Bound Flame is disappointed. Someone should''ve died by now.] [The Mirror-Twin makes a silent note.] He ducked another strike. Felt the knife skim his shoulder, shallow cut, but clean. Merlin snapped space around him. Not a teleport. A fold. Bent the field of motion. Time hitching in the fold''s edge. The trialer struck again. Merlin wasn''t there. He dropped behind him and dragged the flat of the blade across the man''s back. Sparks. The man turned mid-pain. Stabbed back. Merlin blocked with his forearm. Blade cut leather. Cut skin. Didn''t stop him. He headbutted the trialer. Hard. They both stumbled. Blood now. His. Theirs. Didn''t matter. His lungs dragged heat. His body screamed. But he didn''t stop. Couldn''t. Because the scroll was starting to fracture. Not open. Fracture. A thin line of light spread down the side of the seal. System pinged again. [Warning: Divine Object Integrity 78%] [Stability faltering under multi-deity observation.] [Outcome required.] ''This ends now.'' Merlin didn''t think. He moved. Time slipped again. He angled into a flicker-step. Space bent in the motion. Wind kicked the sand into a curtain. He blurred past the trialer. One strike. Precise. Behind the knee. The man dropped. Merlin twisted. Second strike. Across the ribs. Wind-assisted. The man gasped in pain, breath, failure. Merlin spun once. Last motion. End. Flat of the blade cracked against the man''s skull. He went down. Hard. Didn''t get up. The scroll pulsed once. Strong. Then steady. System pinged. [Enemy incapacitated.] [Scroll status: Stable.] [Advantage secured.] [The Messenger exhales.] [The Thread-Tenders loosen their grip.] [The Grin Beneath the Mask says nothing.] Merlin stood still. Dust in his throat. Blood down his sleeve. But breathing. Still holding the scroll. Still walking. And the gods? They weren''t bored anymore. ¡ª His legs hurt. Not sharp pain. The kind that seeped into the bone. Slow. Inevitable. The kind that whispered, he''ll regret this if he survives. Which he wasn''t sure about yet. The storm had calmed. Not cleared. Just... pulled back. Like a curtain being drawn by something that wanted to watch the final act more clearly. The scroll pulsed quietly against his ribs. Not urgent. Just aware. He didn''t need the system to tell him he was close. But it did anyway. [Target Location: 2.3 km Ahead] [Direction: Northeast] [Stability of Divine Seal: 84%] [The Messenger waits.] He didn''t say anything. His throat was full of dust and dried blood, and there was no one to hear it anyway. The sand dragged underfoot. Too deep to walk easy. Too shallow to fall through. The wind didn''t howl anymore. It whispered. Every so often, he caught it. Voices. Not clear. Not his. A dozen gods, breathing in the same desert heat, watching through his eyes. No pressure, right? The tower came into view slowly. It wasn''t grand. It wasn''t shining. It looked like someone had stabbed a broken needle into the heart of the desert and walked away. Stone. No door. No windows. Just height. Sharp. Ancient. And one slot in the center. Scroll-sized. Of course. Merlin stopped ten paces from it. Breathing shallow. Hands shaking. The trialer behind him hadn''t moved. Either unconscious or smart enough to play dead. The system pinged. [Deliver the scroll.] [Touch only the seal.] [Do not speak.] He stepped forward. Pulled the scroll from his coat. It burned hotter now. Not dangerously. Just... final. He held it in both hands. Looked at it once. The wax shimmered. The sigil of The Messenger pulsed once, gold and silver. Then stilled. He pressed it into the slot. It clicked. Stone pulled inward like it was breathing. Then¡ª [Trial Complete.] [The Messenger has received your message.] [The other gods fall quiet.] He stood there. Not relieved. Just... Still. Then came the final ping. [You have earned the Favor of The Messenger.] [New Skill Unlocked: Pathless Step.] [Title Gained: Apostolic Courier (Dormant)] [Achievement: Through Flame, Dust, and Teeth.] Merlin didn''t smile. He couldn''t. But the pain in his legs felt a little lighter. And the sky above him? Just a little brighter. ¡ª The tower didn''t move again. No thunder. No flash. No congratulatory theme music. Just silence. Merlin exhaled once, slow and deep. His ribs ached. His coat stuck to his back with sweat and blood and divine judgment. Then someone cleared their throat. Behind him. Casual. Polite. Like a barista asking for your name on a cup. Merlin didn''t turn. He already knew. "You''re late," he said. Hermes stepped into view anyway. Not glowing. Not winged. Just there. Dark suit, open collar, no tie. Hair slicked back in that way that made it look like time avoided him out of respect. His eyes were sharp. Gold, or silver, or neither, depending on how annoyed you were. "You''re alive," Hermes said, gesturing vaguely at the trail of chaos behind him. "So I''ll call that punctual." Merlin turned. Only barely. "You watched the whole thing." "Of course. It''s my trial." "You dropped me in a sandbox with a death worm, a thief, and a melting scroll." Hermes smiled, wide. "You''re welcome." Merlin stared. Then, "You''re insufferable." Chapter 112 112: Trial (4) "Accurate." They stood in silence for a moment. Sand shifted. Wind picked up. Nothing else moved. Finally, Hermes sighed. "You did better than most," he said. "Didn''t panic. Didn''t fumble. You even punched someone in the soul. Very on brand." "You gave me no rules." "I gave you one rule: deliver." Merlin crossed his arms. Winced. Let them fall again. "I delivered. What now?" Hermes tilted his head. "Now?" he echoed. "Now, we test for weight." Merlin blinked. "That wasn''t the test?" "That was the delivery," Hermes said. "A message must reach the right place. But a messenger must survive what comes after." "...And what comes after?" Hermes smiled again. But this time, it didn''t reach his eyes. "You''ll find out." System ping. [New Quest Acquired: Echoes on the Threshold] [Objective: Await instructions.] [Reward: Favor. Or memory loss.] [Note: The Messenger is rarely direct.] Merlin didn''t speak. There wasn''t much left to say. Hermes stepped past him. Ran one finger along the tower''s edge. Then paused. "You should rest," he said, not looking back. "Your real problems haven''t started yet." Then he was gone. No sound. No step. Just not there anymore. Merlin stood alone. Again. Wind pushed the sand across his boots. The sun started rising behind the dunes. He exhaled. And waited for whatever came next. ¡ª He didn''t move for a while. Because the sand didn''t feel like sand anymore. It had weight. Like a thousand unseen eyes were stitched into every grain, and each one blinked at a different rhythm. The scroll was gone. The gods were gone. Hermes? Not a whisper. But the world hadn''t returned. No door opened. No system message followed. Just that one final line: [Await instructions.] Merlin waited. For three minutes. Then the wind stopped. Not slowed. Stopped. Air froze mid-current. His coat lifted and didn''t fall. The particles of dust hung in front of his face like someone had paused the weather mid-breath. Then the door opened. It hadn''t been there. Now it was. At the base of the tower, a seamless stone slid inward, revealing black beyond black. No torches. No glow. Just a hallway that didn''t make architectural sense. Merlin looked at it. Then the system whispered: [Trial: Echoes on the Threshold ¡ª Commencing] [Step inside. Alone.] [Objective: Interpret the Message.] [Constraints: No weapons. No lies. No exit until response is given.] He frowned. "No lies?" The system didn''t elaborate. Of course it didn''t. He pulled his coat tighter. Left the blade buried in the sand. And stepped in. The door closed behind him. The black wasn''t empty. It was loud. Not sound. Just pressure. Thoughts that didn''t belong to him pressing against the sides of his skull. Then came the voice. Not Hermes. Not any god he knew. Not sound, either. Just something that arrived straight between his eyes: "Why do you carry?" Merlin froze. "Why do you run?" "Why do you choose the weight of words over the edge of steel?" "Answer." He exhaled. Stepped forward once. The hallway shifted. Grew longer. No end in sight. Figures moved on the walls. Reflections. Not his. Not now. Not entirely. His younger self, standing in a burning hallway. Nathan, laughing with half his ribs bruised. Elara asleep at a table covered in notes she would never read out loud. All of it flickered. The voice returned. "Who are you when no one watches?" Merlin didn''t answer. Not yet. He walked farther. The system pulsed once. [Reminder: Falsehood will end the trial.] [Truth must be chosen. Not spoken.] [The gods are watching. Quietly this time.] He stopped walking. Not because the hall ended. Because it looped. He was back at the beginning. Standing in front of himself. Only¡ª It wasn''t him. It was the version of him that never got a system. That never saw the original story. That never died in a burning corridor with his name misspelled on the roster. The other Merlin looked at him. Tired. Unimpressed. And said¡ª "You don''t get to carry the message if you don''t understand what it''s for." Then everything broke. The floor vanished. The hallway collapsed into pages. Paper. Torn. Scattered. One floated up. Just one. He grabbed it. It read: Say the truth. The whole truth. Not just the version you survive. And the system asked: [What do you carry?] His mouth opened. This time? He had to answer. ¡ª The question didn''t echo. It settled. Like dust across his tongue. Merlin stood there, one page in his hand, surrounded by thousands of others drifting in still air. All blank. Except his. He looked down. Read the words again. Say the truth. The whole truth. Not just the version you survive. Cute. Very Hermes. He stared forward at the place where the hall used to be. It didn''t exist anymore. Just air. And pressure. And the system waiting like a clerk behind divine glass. He opened his mouth. No words came out. ''What do I carry.'' He almost said responsibility. Almost. It was clean. Noble. It would''ve passed in front of a crowd. But it wasn''t real. So he bit it back. He almost said the system. That was true. Objectively. But still wrong. Then came the answer. Not pulled. Dragged. Slow. Ugly. Heavy. "...Fear." It didn''t feel like enough. The system didn''t respond. He closed his eyes. Opened them again. "I carry fear." His voice was low. Dry. The kind of dry that came from talking too little and thinking too much. "Fear of being wrong." "Of being weak." "Of waking up one day and realizing I''m not actually ahead of anything. I just got lucky." The air thickened. Pages turned themselves. He kept going. "Fear that I missed a page." "That I let someone die because I hesitated for half a second." "That if I stop moving, even once, everything breaks." He swallowed hard. Didn''t blink. "And I carry guilt." "For lying." "For pretending." "For making everyone believe I''ve got it handled when I don''t." The system pulsed once. [Continue.] He breathed in. Slow. "I carry the memory of another world." "I carry a story I didn''t write but still got dropped into." "I carry the weight of being a name that shouldn''t exist, in a plot that doesn''t care." His fists clenched. The page in his hand folded without tearing. "I carry the version of me who should''ve died already." "And the version that wants to." Silence. One long beat. Then¡ª [Truth accepted.] [The Messenger smiles.] [The Thread-Tenders snip nothing.] [The Grin Beneath the Mask is very, very quiet.] [The Chainbreaker turns away.] A breeze returned. Just a soft one. A single page floated up in front of him. This one wasn''t blank. It had a new message. You passed. That wasn''t the end. It never is. And below it¡ª [Trial Complete: Echoes on the Threshold] [Title Updated: Apostolic Courier ¡ú One Who Bears the Hidden Letter] [Skill Unlocked: Veilstep (Passive ¨C Allows movement unseen between observation layers.)] [Favor with The Messenger increased.] [You may leave.] A door opened behind him. No light. Merlin stared at the page in his hand for a second longer. Then let it go. And walked out. ¡ª Nathan stared at the dust cloud. "...So. That''s fine." The corridor where Merlin had vanished still vibrated like the stone itself was trying to decide whether or not to scream. The dragon''s roar echoed once. Then twice. Then it faded behind the turn. Elara hadn''t moved. Seraphina looked like she might pass out, but even she didn''t blink. Nathan exhaled through his nose. Loud. "Right. Just to recap. A monster the size of a small mansion busted through the wall, Merlin decided the smart play was ''throw everyone like luggage and sprint into the death tunnel,'' and now we''re here." No response. "Cool. So we''re just... trusting the plan." Still nothing. He kicked a rock. It rolled exactly one and a half meters and died against a broken pillar. "This is stupid." Elara finally spoke. "He bought us time." "He''s buying himself trauma." "He''s not dead." "Yet." Seraphina shifted against the wall. Her breathing was shallow, but focused. "We should move." "To where?" Nathan spun around, arms wide. "In case you haven''t noticed, this place has the architectural logic of a drunk minotaur. For all we know, that hallway loops straight into the dragon''s mouth." Elara crouched beside a faint groove in the floor. Her fingers brushed it once. "No. The pressure changed." "That sounds like a sentence that belongs to people with vision quests and bird bones." She didn''t rise. "He''s leading it away from us. The wind hasn''t snapped back." Nathan opened his mouth. Closed it again. ''Of course she can read the wind now. Why not.'' Silence settled again. He hated it. Every second that ticked without a roar, a scream, a something felt like Merlin not existing anymore. Which was not a thing Nathan was emotionally prepared to deal with on a Tuesday. Elara stood finally. Turned to him. "If you''re going to panic, do it now." He blinked. "That was the non-panicking version of me." Her head tilted slightly. "Impressive." "Do I get a badge?" "No." "Then I want my panic back." She didn''t smile. Which was normal. But somehow, it still felt like she was trying not to. Nathan sighed again. "Okay. Fine. We move. But the second I see a claw, I''m kicking Merlin into a wall when he comes back." Seraphina pushed off the stone with a grunt. "He will." "Yeah. I know." Nathan turned, stared down the corridor. "He always does." But this time, the silence lasted a little too long. Chapter 113: The Others (1) The corridor curved again. Which made no sense, because it had just un-curved thirty steps ago. Nathan ran a hand along the wall as they moved. It wasn''t smooth. It felt like... ripple-stone. A design carved by something that didn''t care about geometry or sanity. Elara walked ahead, blade sheathed but loose in her grip. Always in front. Always silent. Seraphina followed behind him, slower than she wanted to be. Her limp was more of a rhythm now than a problem. Nathan didn''t ask how bad it was. She wouldn''t answer anyway. He kept his voice low. "Anyone want to guess what exactly this place is trying to be? A tomb? A dream? A collective fever hallucination from drinking the dorm tea?" No reply. Not unexpected. He tapped a cracked pillar with his knuckle. The echo came back wrong. Like something repeated it a second too late. He didn''t like that. At all. The air was stale. But not dead-stale. It was the kind of stale that meant something had breathed here recently, and that something was not done doing it. "Elara," he muttered, "any idea where we''re going?" She didn''t turn. "Forward." "Good. I love vague metaphors when I''m trapped in stone death puzzles." Still no turn. But she said, "He drew it off. The dragon. He made noise on purpose. Took pressure with him." Nathan blinked. "Okay, cool, but we have zero guarantee he''s still alive. Or that the dragon stayed drawn." "He is. It did." Seraphina spoke for the first time in ten minutes. "She''s right." Nathan turned slightly. "You''re both terrible at this whole ''easing anxiety'' thing." "I''m not trying to ease anything," Elara said. "Wow. Really? Could''ve fooled me with your emotionally nurturing tone." They rounded another bend. The light shifted again, stone glowing faintly, like it remembered torchlight once and was trying to fake it now. A stairwell loomed up ahead. It wasn''t steep. But it went down. Nathan stopped. "So, we''re doing the classic horror move and going deeper." Elara didn''t pause. Just started descending. He followed. Of course he did. The air got colder. Not ''cool breeze'' cold. Their footsteps echoed more now. Like the halls were listening again. Seraphina leaned a hand against the wall. Her breath hitched once, but she kept going. Nathan glanced back. Still three. Still breathing. But every instinct in his spine was screaming, "four left. One returned." He swallowed hard. ''Come on, Merlin. Show up. Say something cryptic. Be smug. Make a terrible joke. Anything.'' Nothing. Just stone. And their footsteps. And the quiet click of Elara drawing her blade again. Nathan exhaled. "We are never coming back down here again." ¡ª He opened his eyes to stone, cold, lined with vein-cracks that pulsed faintly blue, like mana that didn''t want to be touched. He was lying on his back. Alone. Again. Merlin exhaled slowly, sat up, and blinked once. "Okay," he muttered, "let''s check the checklist." Back hurts? Check. Coat intact? Mostly. Scroll? Gone. System? [SYSTEM CORE: 100%] [SOUL CONDITION: STABLE] [AFFINITIES: ACTIVE] [FAVOR STATUS: GRANTED (The Messenger)] [NEW TITLE: One Who Bears the Hidden Letter] [SKILL: Veilstep (Passive) ¡ª Active Layer Blending Enabled] [The Messenger is watching. Amused.] [The Hollow Flame is bored.] [The Huntress watches from the edge of stone.] [The Mirror-Twin licks their pen.] He winced. "Great. My trauma has an audience." The labyrinth was quiet. No dragon. No fire. Just the gentle, persistent hum of old magic and bad decisions baked into ancient architecture. He stood. Stretched once. Everything cracked. Loudly. Something above him flinched. Stone dust fell from the arch. He did not look up. He started walking instead. One corridor. Same endless tiling. Same half-lit walls with glyphs that pulsed like bored heartbeats. ''This isn''t where I left them.'' ''Elara. Nathan. Seraph. Still in here.'' The system pulsed. [Current Status: Labyrinth Reentry ¡ª Alternate Branch] [Proximity Warning: Unknown Signature Approaching] [The Thread-Tenders pause their loom.] He didn''t slow. His boots echoed softly. The air was heavier now. Like someone had turned the pressure up without touching the temperature. Behind his eyes, the gods said nothing. That was worse than when they talked. He rounded the next bend. Saw blood. Just a streak. Dried. Faint. Human. His muscles tensed. Then relaxed. It wasn''t recent. And not his. [The Shadow That Judges hums.] [The Messenger says nothing. But they lean forward.] He pressed his palm to the wall. Felt the magic ripple beneath it. Old. Passive. But deeper down? Movement. Something shifting through the layers of space, not footsteps, but weight. Sovereign Chain lit quietly under his skin. No alarm. Just readiness. He whispered, "Veilstep." Didn''t know what he expected. Didn''t get fanfare. Just the feeling that every cell in his body stopped casting a shadow. He moved. And the air didn''t react. No ripple. No pressure shift. ''Good. This... this is cheating. I like this.'' The sound came again, closer. Something sniffing the edge of reality like it knew he shouldn''t be here. Like he was walking on the wrong save file. Merlin stayed still. Not hiding. Just... shifted. And as it passed him, huge, white-eyed, stitched with too many legs and not enough logic¡ªhe watched it walk straight by. No pause. No reaction. Then the gods whispered through the system¡ª [The Messenger chuckles.] [The Bound Flame says, "Let''s raise the difficulty."] [The Huntress smiles. Just a little.] [Three new presences enter the field.] Merlin turned his head. Three pulses. Not monsters. People. Trialers? No. Worse. Witnesses. And one of them? Wore the same divine mark he did. "...Why the hell did you just drop me back into the labyrinth?" ¡ª He dropped Veilstep slowly. Didn''t fully exit. Just... thinned it. Enough to be seen if someone really looked. Enough to not be a ghost anymore. Ahead, the corridor widened. The walls pulsed blue-gold now, same divine echo he''d seen near the scroll, near Hermes'' tower, near things that wanted too much from him. ¡ª He walked toward them. Slow. Quiet. Veilstep still humming in the background like a heartbeat half-forgotten. The corridor widened. Stone walls pulsed with faint gold-blue veins, like the labyrinth itself was holding its breath. Then he saw them. Three figures. Each standing in a loose triangle, like they hadn''t planned to meet, but also didn''t need to question why they had. The first one moved forward. He had wavy dark brown hair, cropped at the sides, but messy on top, like he cared just enough to look like he didn''t. Warm tan skin. Wide shoulders. A jacket that looked expensive, stolen, or both. His smirk came easy, like it lived on his face full-time. Eyes? Hazel. Sharp. Tired. But way too awake. "Hey," the guy said. "You''re later than expected." Merlin didn''t answer. Just scanned the other two. The second figure stood a little farther back. Taller than both of them. Broad. Silent. Face obscured by a high black hood that cast half their features in shadow. What skin he could see was pale, almost too pale. Eyes were grey, but flat. Not dead. Just watching. Like the world wasn''t something to respond to, just something to calculate. She didn''t speak. Didn''t need to. Everything about her posture said: you''ll blink first. The third figure? A girl. Short. Thin. Maybe twelve, maybe thirteen. Barefoot. Her pale hair fell in straight lines down her back, silver with a lavender undertone, like moonlight bent wrong. She wore a ragged cloak stitched from fabrics that didn''t match, and her fingers were stained with what looked like charcoal or ink. Her eyes were light blue. No warmth. Just... tired. She looked at him, then away. Not rude. Just used to being ignored. [The Messenger hums softly.] [The Chainbreaker watches your expression.] [The Grin Beneath the Mask giggles.] Merlin stopped five steps short. Still close enough to strike. Still far enough to vanish. "You''re marked," he said. The boy nodded. "So are you." The girl just blinked slowly. The hooded one didn''t move. System pinged. [All Apostolic Signatures Confirmed.] [Trial Instanced: Concordance or Collapse] [Objective: Align or Overcome] [Multiple outcomes. Limited time.] Merlin exhaled through his teeth. "You''ve done trials before." The boy grinned. "Three. Survived two. Jury''s out on the last one." He stepped forward and offered a hand. "Dion," he said. "God''s title? The Grin Beneath the Mask. Don''t ask. It''s exactly what it sounds like." Merlin didn''t shake it. He turned to the girl. She tilted her head, hesitant. "Mae," she said, voice barely above the wind. "I don''t remember which god. Just that she watches... everything." The tall one finally spoke. Voice sharp. But low. "Call me Flint." That was it. No god mentioned. Just a name that didn''t sound like a name. Merlin''s fingers twitched at his side. The gods were quiet. But very present. [The Huntress marks Flint.] [The Silent Wing leans closer to Mae.] [The Messenger places a coin on your head. Figuratively.] "Right," Merlin said. "Three variables. No clear rules. And we''re all pretending this is a conversation." Dion laughed. Mae didn''t. Flint stayed still. Merlin crossed his arms. "Anyone actually want to work together?" Mae nodded. Dion shrugged. "I''m flexible." Flint didn''t answer. Merlin sighed. "Cool," he muttered. "I always wanted to be part of a trust exercise designed by a god with a gambling problem." Chapter 114: The Others (2) They walked. Not in formation. Not even in sync. Just four people with four gods whispering in their ears and no map. The corridor curved twice. Then straightened. Then sloped down. Again. Always down. Merlin walked at the edge of the group. Dion stayed near the front, talking like this was a hike and not a divine stress test. Mae hovered near the wall. Not hiding. Just... skimming the edge of everyone else''s orbit. Flint didn''t speak. Didn''t blink. Didn''t seem to breathe louder than he had to. Merlin hated that he was starting to like him. Dion broke the silence first. "So. If we''re all apostolic trialers, does that make us coworkers? Or cultists?" Mae said nothing. Flint did not blink. Merlin muttered, "Temporary meat shields." Dion grinned. "Oh, you''re fun." "No." He wasn''t. They turned a corner. The walls changed again, smoother now, less carved. Still glowing faintly from within. The light shifted from blue-gold to something closer to amber. It smelled like iron. Not blood. Just metal worn too long. Merlin''s eyes scanned the ceiling. Still no cracks. Still no monsters. Which meant something was building. Mae spoke, finally. Her voice was like chalk on cold tile. Soft. But brittle. "Do you think it''s testing our trust?" "No," Merlin said. She looked up. He kept walking. "It''s testing our expectations." Dion gave a little whistle. "Cryptic and hot. No wonder your god hasn''t smote you yet." "Try that line again when we''re not standing in a cursed tomb." "Noted." They kept walking. Another corridor. Then a junction. Flint stopped. His head turned left. No sound. Still, he stared. Merlin asked, "What?" "Dust flow changed." "You''re tracking airflow?" "Yes." Dion blinked. "This dude''s a vacuum cleaner with PTSD." No one laughed. Not even Dion. They turned left. System pinged. [Path Chosen: Insight Alignment] [Challenge Approaching: Discernment] [The Messenger leans in.] [The Huntress folds her arms.] [The Grin Beneath the Mask places a small bet.] [Proceed.] Mae touched the wall as they passed. Whispered something to it. Merlin caught part of it. Not a spell. Just a name. Not hers. Someone else''s. He didn''t ask. Just walked. Let the corridor get narrower. Let the stone breathe behind them. Let the gods stack their coins. Because soon? One of them would make a move. And this time? There wouldn''t be a warning. ¡ª They reached a circular chamber. No markings. Just smooth stone. A little too smooth. No torches. But still lit. Something about that felt personal. Merlin stepped in second. Dion first. Mae and Flint followed behind. The second they all passed the threshold¡ª [Seal Engaged] [Chamber Type: Closed Cycle] [Objective: Survive / Resolve / Reveal] [The Messenger smiles, but says nothing.] [The Huntress draws her bow. She does not fire.] Merlin''s foot hit the center of the room. The floor didn''t shake. The air didn''t pulse. Nothing moved. Then Flint did. No warning. No sound. He pivoted left. Arm flicked. Something flashed from his sleeve. Merlin stepped back just as the blade passed through the space his throat had been a half-second ago. Veilstep surged. He didn''t vanish. Didn''t run. He reappeared behind Flint. Pivoted. Kicked. The man rolled with it. Dion laughed. "Knew it." Mae didn''t move. Merlin dropped back three paces. "We doing this now?" Flint straightened. Still calm. "Needed to check." "Check what?" Merlin snapped. "If you''re worth killing." Merlin''s eyes narrowed. "And?" "Not yet." [The Grin Beneath the Mask claps politely.] [The Chainbreaker frowns. They expected more blood.] [The Messenger tilts their head.] Dion pulled a dagger from his belt. But didn''t lift it. "You know, you could''ve just asked," he said, gesturing toward Flint. "Instead of trying to turn him into a decorative torso." "I don''t trust silence," Flint replied. Mae stepped forward. Her voice didn''t rise. "Then stop expecting it from people like him." Merlin didn''t speak. He was still calculating. Not whether to strike back. But how fast he''d need to move if both Dion and Flint turned. The system pulsed once. [Chamber Objective Updated: Dynamic Resolution Engaged] [Decision must be made: Vote / Duel / Follow] [The room reacts to internal consensus.] Merlin blinked. ''...It''s sentient now?'' Mae finally looked at Merlin. "I vote follow." He met her eyes. They didn''t shake. She meant it. Dion raised his hand. "Sure. For now." Flint said nothing. But he stepped back. The room pulsed. The air shifted. [Consensus Reached: Follow] [Path Opens.] The wall to the right hissed. Stone melted sideways. New corridor. New trial. Merlin exhaled. No smile. No relief. Just one clean thought. ''He''ll try again later.'' And when he did? Merlin wouldn''t move second. ¡ª The wall opened like it regretted it. Stone folded sideways with a hiss, revealing another corridor lined in that same wrong-light glow. Amber. Then green. Then just shadow pretending to be color. Nobody spoke. Because now they had to pretend this was still cooperation. Merlin stepped through first this time. Dion followed. Mae walked close to the center, glancing at the edges like she expected the floor to whisper a secret. Flint came last. Still silent. Still carrying that casual posture of someone who''d rather stab than speak. Merlin didn''t relax. Not even a little. The corridor narrowed. Then expanded. The labyrinth didn''t care about symmetry. Or sanity. It just kept going. "Anyone else think this whole trial is being run by the god of bad roommates?" Dion asked. Mae didn''t look up. "This is still the trial?" "Isn''t everything?" Merlin muttered. They walked ten more paces. Then the room ahead opened. Large. Circular. Again. But this one had something in the middle. A platform. One pedestal. Two objects. A knife. And a key. System pinged. [Trial of Divergence: CHOICE] [Only one may be taken.] [One opens a door.] [One opens a throat.] [You cannot share.] Dion whistled low. "Well. That''s subtle." Mae looked between the key and the knife. "What happens if no one picks?" Merlin answered before the system could. "We all die." She didn''t flinch. Flint stepped closer to the pedestal. Didn''t reach. Just stared. "I choose the knife," he said calmly. "No," Merlin replied, already moving between him and the platform. "You already tried murder today. You don''t get a bonus round." Dion stepped up beside them. "I''d like to not be part of a stabbing sandwich." The system pinged again. [Timer: 30 seconds] [The gods grow impatient.] Mae stepped back. Flint didn''t. Merlin stayed where he was. Dion looked at both of them. Then stepped forward, grabbed the key, and tossed it to Mae. She caught it. Fumbled slightly. Held it. "Congratulations," Dion said brightly. "You''re in charge of doors now." Flint''s gaze didn''t move. Merlin didn''t either. Dion looked at him. "Relax. I pick the knife." He grabbed it. And laughed. "Huh. Not cursed. That''s refreshing." [Trial Passed: Path of Divergence] [The gods nod. Some in approval. Some in boredom.] [The Messenger adjusts his seat.] A door slid open at the far end of the room. No light. Just breath. From the other side. Something waiting. Merlin turned his head slightly. "Next time we let Flint pick first." Flint said nothing. But his hand didn''t leave his coat pocket. Merlin noticed. Mae looked at the key. Didn''t smile. Just walked forward. The rest followed. ¡ª The door opened without sound. Which was somehow worse. No screech. No thud. Just... open. Like it wanted to be found. Mae went in first. Not bravely. Just quietly. Dion followed, spinning the knife once on his finger like a coin he couldn''t spend. Merlin came third. Flint watched their backs like he was already planning to stab one. The room was cavernous. Stone ceiling. No light source. But still lit. Amber again. Mixed with deep rust-red, like someone had painted with dried blood and called it ambient design. The floor dipped slightly in the center. A pit? No. Not deep enough. Just depressed. Like something big liked to sit there. Merlin''s steps slowed. Mae stopped entirely. Dion stopped spinning the knife. Even Flint''s breath caught. Then they all saw it. At the far end of the room. Pressed halfway into the wall like it had grown from the stone itself. Not sleeping. Not waiting. Just still. It was huge. Eight feet tall, maybe more. Shoulders hunched under armor that wasn''t armor, just bone hardened into plates. Its back curled in slow, steady rhythm. Breathing. Barely. Its face was wrong. No eyes. Just a flat surface with hairline cracks that twitched every few seconds. Like something was trying to look out, but hadn''t decided how. Hands? Too long. Claws curved backward. Arms jointed wrong. Like a sketch that didn''t care about physics. Dion whispered. "...So. That''s not a dragon." Mae''s grip on the key tightened. Merlin''s pulse didn''t spike. It just hardened. Because he knew this thing. Not personally. But from the system. From the page he wasn''t supposed to read. From the story that hadn''t reached this chapter yet. [ENTITY: Faceless Retainer] [BEHAVIOR: Dormant until division is sensed] [RESPONSE TYPE: Reactive / Punitive / Adaptive] [NOTE: Combat initiates upon first sign of internal discord.] Merlin blinked. "...Great." Dion looked over. "What?" "Nothing," he said. "Just don''t argue." "Why?" The monster twitched. Mae took a step back. The room didn''t breathe. The monster did. A slow inhale. A crack appeared along its face. Small. Hairline. Flint exhaled. Merlin hissed, "Do not speak." The system pulsed again. [Stage Set: Retainer of Division ¡ª ACTIVE] [Trigger Mechanism: Disagreement, Doubt, or Violence] [Hint: Choose your words like you mean them.] Dion swallowed. Loudly. "Okay," he whispered. "So we''re playing charades with Satan''s bodyguard. Good. Love that." Mae just nodded. Flint''s hand hadn''t moved. But Merlin saw the shift in his shoulder. He whispered. "Flint. Don''t." Flint''s head turned. Slow. He looked right at Merlin. Didn''t blink. Didn''t speak. Then? The monster stood.