The silver moon hung high over Nocturne Academy, casting shadows that twisted like snakes across the courtyard. Alistair walked with slow, deliberate steps. The Architect's Grimoire pulsed at his side, invisible to others, but alive in his mind.
His first target had already presented himself.
Cassian Vale — heir of House Vale, one of the Twelve noble bloodlines.
Sharp-jawed, golden-haired, and arrogant beyond belief.
Cassian had insulted Alistair publicly a week ago. A slap across the face for a mistake that wasn't his. At the time, Alistair said nothing. He bowed his head and swallowed the insult.
But tonight?
Tonight, the Architect would draw his first line.
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The Confrontation
Cassian stood beneath the Tower of Light, surrounded by two of his friends. They laughed, not knowing the predator had arrived.
> "Alistair Grayson," Cassian scoffed. "Out past curfew? Lost your sense of fear?"
Alistair didn't respond. His eyes were calm. Calculating.
He walked forward until they were face-to-face.
> "I came to give you a gift," Alistair said.
> "A gift? From you?" Cassian laughed. "What could a worm like you possibly offer me?"
Alistair reached into his coat. Not for a wand. Not for a weapon.
For a blueprint.
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Blueprint No. 1: Mirror Prison
In his mind, Alistair activated the design. The lines of the spell drew themselves behind his eyes.
Name: Mirror Prison
Type: Psychological Construct
Effect: Traps the target in a world where they face only their own weaknesses — again and again.
Alistair whispered one word.
> "Reflect."
A shimmer passed over Cassian's eyes.
Suddenly, the courtyard faded around him.
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Inside the Prison
Cassian now stood alone in a dark hall of mirrors. Every reflection showed him failing—failing his father, losing his power, being laughed at by lower-born students. Every version of him was weak, broken, mocked.
> "What is this?!" he screamed, slamming his fists against the glass.
But each strike only revealed another failure. Another secret fear.
Outside, in the real world, Cassian had gone completely still. His eyes wide. His mouth frozen mid-word.
His friends looked at each other, confused.
> "Cass? Are you okay?"
Alistair stepped around them calmly, as if nothing had happened.
> "Don't worry," he said softly. "He's just... reflecting."
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The Aftermath
The spell lasted one minute.
When it ended, Cassian collapsed to his knees, gasping like he'd nearly drowned. His hands shook. His confidence — shattered.
He looked up at Alistair.
For the first time, afraid.
> "W-What... did you do to me?"
> "Nothing," Alistair replied coldly. "You just met yourself."
Then he turned and walked away, his coat catching the wind like wings of shadow.
---
Back in his dorm room, Alistair opened the grimoire again.
A new page had revealed itself.
Blueprint Unlocked: Voice of Command
Description: Let your words shape reality. If spoken with Willforce, even lies can become truth.
Alistair smiled.
> "One down," he whispered. "Eleven Houses to go."
And somewhere deep within the school, the Architect's Grimoire turned another page…
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