The ground still trembled beneath Kyle's feet as the echoes of the explosion rippled through the academy.
Panic bloomed across the classroom. Students rushed toward the door, calling for instructors, grabbing their satchels—eyes wide with confusion and terror. Professor Gellar was already barking orders for evacuation, her wand drawn, glyphs of shielding trailing her steps like dying fireflies.
But Kyle didn't move.
He couldn't.
The voice in his mind lingered, deep and vibrating through his bones like the pluck of a heavy chord.
"I told you."
He clutched the edge of the desk as the vision faded. It hadn't just been words. It was a pressure, like being yanked toward something. Like a door had opened in the dark—and something on the other side had seen him.
And smiled.
"Kyle!"
Mirai grabbed his arm as she passed by, eyes wild. Orin was behind her, scanning for threats.
"What are you doing? Let's go!"
He blinked hard, then nodded. "Y-Yeah. Right."
They sprinted with the others, pouring out of the classroom and into the twisting halls of Sanctum Magna. The academy's wards were now fully active—walls pulsing faintly with golden lines, runes of defense shimmering as faculty and guardians raced toward the East Wing.
Where the explosion had come from.
Where the phenomenon had once appeared.
They hadn't even made it halfway through the main atrium before three robed figures stepped into their path—two male, one female. All masked. All dangerous. Kyle didn't need to see their House insignias to know who they followed.
Luwen.
The woman in front raised her hand. "Kyle, you've been requested. Please follow us quietly."
Huh? Requested? After all this damage? he thought.
Orin immediately stepped in front of him, wand half-raised. "Nope. Not happening."
Mirai's staff was already in hand, elegant and glowing faintly.
Kyle stared at the three.
They wore violet cloaks with no House crests. Only a single eye set in a palm—the alchemy mark.
This wasn't a request.
Kyle stepped forward slowly. "Given your blatant disregard for the academy, I assume your 'request' is an order. So, if I don't go with you…?"
The tallest one laughed. "You'll regret it. Think of it this way—the sooner you come with us, the safer everyone else will be."
Before Kyle could respond, a surge of wind and arcane pressure struck the ground between them—so sharp it cracked the stone beneath their feet.
Vera landed in a flash of silver light, wand drawn, expression cold. Cynric emerged from the upper balcony above, hands glowing with raw mana.
"You'll regret it more if you even think of touching him," Vera said flatly.
The three cloaked students hesitated—then retreated without a word. No fight. No blood. Just a message sent.
And one received.
After the encounter, Kyle and the others regrouped in an empty classroom. The academy was under attack, and it was clear their primary—if not only—objective was Kyle.
Two more towers had been blown up since their escape, raising the sense of urgency and doom—especially in Kyle.
That voice is unusually quiet for all this chaos, he thought.
Mirai sat beside him, arms folded. Orin paced nearby like a restless animal.
"They're escalating," she muttered. "Whatever this is... it's not just about you anymore."
Kyle nodded. "I know. I also think—no, I know—why they want me." He sighed, defeated.
Feeling the weight of guilt, Kyle finally told the others about his meeting with Luwen.
"Professor Iskra said he could help me. That he had experiences similar to mine—from the Flame of Intent to his reaction to a phenomenon. Luwen was supposed to watch me, but it seems he had his own intentions. A couple days ago, I was followed. They meant to kidnap me. I hid... though I don't know how."
He lied about the last part, but the look of betrayal on Mirai's face cut deeper than any truth could.
"I know I couldn't have stopped you if a professor told you to go, but I warned you about getting involved with him." She sighed, already resigned.
Cynric and Vera joined the conversation. Vera tossed Kyle a wrapped bun from the kitchen. He caught it with a grateful nod.
"You got involved in Tepes' ideas," she said softly.
Kyle looked up. "What?"
"Tepes is an alchemy professor. He's known for his inorganic life experiments—that's what made him famous," Cynric said.
"And there've been rumors. He was researching something forbidden, so the school revoked his access. Some say they stole his work," Vera added.
"And now," she said grimly, "it seems what you're capable of... is what he's after. He's got loyal followers—especially among the second-years obsessed with alchemy. As well as some third years."
Kyle's jaw tightened. "…Luwen?"
"Exactly."
"We need to find someone who can help. Professor Owl or Professor Iskra are our best options, combat-wise," Cynric added.
Kyle exhaled. "It's getting louder. More convincing. I felt the explosion before it happened—like it was calling to me."
Vera nodded. "You're sensitive to these things. Let's go. We'll fight our way through, burn down anyone who gets in our way. I doubt they have many agents to begin with."
"You think it'll stop?" Orin asked quietly.
"It will," Kyle said. "I won't let them burn this school because of me."
They agreed. Then they ran for the combat arenas.
Vera opened her slate and created a shared communication channel.
"In case we get separated, stay in touch using this," she said.
Everyone nodded. They moved through the academy, clearing masked agents with practiced coordination.
Kyle, for the first time since arriving, saw the result of Orin's work over the first term. Flashbangs, compressed nets, arcane gadgets—everything crafted from class knowledge.
"You're not the only one growing," Orin said with a grin.
Kyle nodded, feeling something stir inside. A quiet resolve.
But as they progressed, the devastation grew.
Some students hadn't made it. The towers had collapsed with people inside.
"These bastards," Mirai said through clenched teeth. "So many died."
Kyle looked around with wide, empty eyes.
All of this… for me? They died because someone wants me?
In the middle of the central hall—the place where they'd once been welcomed—he saw a cracked mirror, dark and humming with unnatural stillness.
He could feel it. The shadow watching. Waiting.
He reached for a dagger he'd picked up earlier. Then froze.
Two people were tied to pillars on the stage.
Chris? he thought, recognizing the blond hair. The other was unrecognisable
"Welcome! You've finally arrived, my most valuable guest," a voice boomed from the podium.
"And now... the real plan begins."
Tepes stood in the center, cloak falling from his shoulders.
"Tch. It's Tepes," Vera spat. "He's in a manic state. That look isn't normal."
"You're not wrong. He's boosted—enhancement drugs," a voice added from behind.
Luwen.
"I'm afraid this is where we part ways," he said, casting a fog of magic.
In a blink, Mirai, Orin, Vera, and Cynric vanished.
"You—" Kyle shouted. "What did you do!?"
"I saved them from torture. Sent them back to the Noctis dorms. Unconscious, of course," Luwen said matter-of-factly. Then grabbed Kyle by the throat.
"You've been resisting the entity within. I'm tired of waiting," he said, dragging Kyle to the podium.
"You must understand—your rage, your anger... they are the key to cleansing this academy. You are the true key," Tepes said, smiling as he drew a bloody circle around Kyle.
Kyle struggled.
Why can't I move?
"Don't bother. My magic negates all but my own, I simply applied it to you." Luwen said. "You're powerless."
They chained him to the stage. Blood flowed around him. Fire burned in the distance. He saw everything.
"This is your fault, right?" Tepes said, smiling. "No need to hide it."
"This circle will awaken your full potential. And when it does—you can kill the Malloran boy, a gift from me to you. I've noticed the sister isn't your target."
Sister?
"I don't know any daughter of the Malloran family," Kyle rasped.
"He's talking about Mirai," Luwen cut in. "She's his sister. It was a school secret. But someone let it slip."
Kyle's eyes widened.
It explained her silence whenever he cursed the Malloran name.
A knot twisted in his chest. Painful. Unfamiliar.
"No... I won't kill anyone. Not even Chris!" he shouted, straining.
Tepes sighed. "Bring the girl." He said in a bored tone.
With a wave, Luwen summoned Mirai—unconscious, hovering.
Tepes approached her with Kyle's dagger, intention evident on his crazed face.
Kyle's face drained of color.
"N-No, stop this!" he begged.
"This is all because of you," Tepes said. He trailed the dagger along Mirai's neck, drawing a thin line of blood.
"No, please... I'll do anything. Just stop."
"Are you finally ready?" the voice echoed in his mind. "I told you—I wouldn't beg. But if you want the power to save her… grovel."
Damn it... fine. I'm begging. Merge with me. Just help me save her! Kyle screamed internally, tears streaming down his face.
The magic circle ignited.
Runes crawled across his skin as he screamed in agony.
His hair turned white at the tips. His right eye—its sclera turned black, iris glowing blue.
Tepes laughed madly. "Yes! Accept it! Become my perfect tool of destruction!"
But from the circle came another voice—layered, distorted, ancient.
It was menacing, forcing even Luwen and Tepes to step back. Not out of outright fear, but an instinct to survive.
"I begged once. Never again."
A line had been crossed.
And whatever came next...
There would be no mercy.