The Academy's mess hall was a cacophony of clinking trays and chattering voices, the air thick with the scent of synthetic stew and mana-charged crystal lights. Caelen sat alone at a corner table, his tray untouched, his mind racing. Five days into the Explorers Guild Academy, and the label "weakest" clung to him like damp rot. Every snicker, every glance from the other students, felt like a blade at his throat. Worse, the Guild's rumors about the ruin explosion were growing, and Master Torv's cold stares in history class made Caelen's scar—the faint Vanta black mark on his arm—itch with paranoia.
Zorak's spectral form hovered in his vision, unseen by others, his tattered robes rippling with Lotus pink and Vanta black energies. *"You're doing well to hide,"* the ancestor said, his voice a low rumble. *"But the boy with fire seeks to break you. Stay Ascended. The Fallen's rage is not yet yours to wield."*
Caelen glanced at his system stats, the glowing text a secret only he could see:
*Nephalem System: Status*
- *Zorak: "Control your heart, Caelen. Anger feeds the Fallen."*
- Ascended: 9
- Fallen: 6
- Balance: 57% (Ascended-Leaning)
- Mana: 23
- Strength: 4
- Agility: 5
- Endurance: 4
- Ascended Skills: *Divine Spark* (Lv. 3, +3 Ascended), *Sacred Ward* (Lv. 1, +1 Ascended)
- Fallen Skills: *Shadow Slash* (Lv. 1, +1 Fallen)
- Skill: *Mana Channeling (Basic)* (Lv. 1, +1 Mana efficiency)
His Ascended tree was progressing faster, thanks to secret practice with *Divine Spark*. Its Lotus pink glow, flecked with golden motes like scattered stars, felt safe, comforting. The Fallen's *Shadow Slash*, with its Vanta black blade and crimson embers, stirred something darker—a pulse of anger he didn't trust. Zorak had explained the system's evolutions: when a tree's total skill levels (Ascended or Fallen) hit 10, a new, stronger ability would unlock. Caelen was close with Ascended (3+1=4), but Fallen lagged at 1, and he was fine keeping it that way for now.
A shadow fell over his table, and Caelen tensed. Kael stood there, flanked by two cronies, his red hair glinting under the crystal lights. His fire magic flickered in his palm, a tiny flame dancing with orange heat. "Still moping, Gemless?" Kael said, smirking. "Thought you'd run home by now. Or maybe faint again, like in the ruin."
Caelen's jaw tightened, the Fallen energy stirring—Vanta black wisps curling in his mind, urging him to strike. He forced them down, focusing on the Lotus pink calm of his Ascended side. "I'm staying," he said, his voice steady. "Deal with it."
Kael's smirk faltered, his eyes narrowing. "Big talk for a nobody. Let's see if you can back it up." He flicked his wrist, and a spark shot toward Caelen's tray, igniting the stew with a hiss. The mess hall went quiet, students turning to watch.
*"Don't,"* Zorak warned. *"He wants you to reveal the system. Use your training, not my power."*
Caelen stood, his practice blade sheathed at his hip. Korrin's lessons had taught him to channel mana, but without magic, he was outmatched. Still, he couldn't back down—not with every eye on him. "You want a fight?" he said, stepping closer. "Pick a time and place."
Kael laughed, but there was no humor in it. "Training yard, tonight. No teachers, no rules. Just you and me." He leaned in, his voice low. "Let's see if the 'weakest' can stand up."
As Kael sauntered off, Mira slid into the seat across from Caelen, her tools clinking in her satchel. "That was stupid," she said, frowning. "Kael's top of our class for a reason. His fire magic's Rank 2 already. You sure about this?"
"No," Caelen admitted, his stomach twisting. "But I can't keep running."
Mira sighed, pulling out a Rank 1 Heart Gem—a blue shard from a shadow rat. "Take this. I infused it into a dagger last night. It's not much, but it'll help." She pushed the blade across the table, its hilt etched with faint mana runes.
Caelen took it, grateful. "Thanks, Mira. You didn't have to."
"You're not as weak as they think," she said, her eyes serious. "I saw you in the Gem class. You've got… something. Just don't get yourself killed."
As Mira left, Caelen noticed Lysa at a nearby table, her blonde hair catching the light. Her winged star pendant gleamed, marking her as a celestial devotee. She met his gaze, her expression unreadable but soft, like she saw something in him others didn't. Caelen looked away, his scar itching. Her faith might clash with the Fallen energy inside him, and he couldn't risk her noticing.
That afternoon, in the Gem Weapon Class, Caelen worked beside Mira, learning to infuse mana into Heart Gems. His new dagger hummed faintly, its blade sharper than his practice one. He focused on *Mana Channeling (Basic)*, letting mana flow into the Gem, but his thoughts were on Kael's challenge. The Fallen energy pulsed, tempting him to use *Shadow Slash* tonight, but Zorak's voice cut through: *"Ascended only. The Fallen will betray you to him."*
The history class followed, and Master Torv's lecture was sharper today, his electric mana crackling as he spoke of the Great Reset. "The ruins hold secrets," he said, his cold eyes sweeping the room. "Forbidden powers, locked away for a reason. Some say they're tied to the celestial and demonic forces that shattered our world." His gaze lingered on Caelen, and the system chimed:
*Quest Updated: Listen and Learn*
- *Zorak: "He knows more than he says. Dig deeper, but stay hidden."*
- Task: Find a clue about the Great Reset in the Academy.
- Reward: +3 Ascended, +1 Fallen
- Penalty: None
Caelen's eyes drifted to the carved tablet on Torv's desk, its winged figure and shadowed beast hauntingly familiar. It matched the runes from the ruin lab. As class ended, he lingered, pretending to adjust his satchel. Torv's back was turned, and Caelen brushed his fingers over the tablet. A faint pulse of mana sparked, and Zorak hissed: *"Careful. That's no mere relic. Leave it for now."*
Caelen pulled back, heart pounding. Torv turned, his eyes narrowing. "Still curious, boy?" he said, his voice laced with suspicion. "Curiosity gets explorers killed."
"I… just dropped something," Caelen mumbled, hurrying out. Torv's stare followed him, heavy as a blade.
That night, Caelen reached the training yard, the crystal lanterns dimmed to a faint glow. Kael was already there, his fire magic casting flickering shadows. His cronies stood at the edges, smirking. "No backing out now, Gemless," Kael said, conjuring a fireball that roared with orange heat.
Caelen gripped Mira's dagger, its Rank 1 Gem humming. He channeled mana, the blade glowing blue, but his low stats made him feel small. *"Ascended,"* Zorak urged. *"Use Divine Spark if you must, but sparingly."*
Kael attacked first, hurling a fireball. Caelen dodged, his agility barely keeping up, and swung the dagger. Kael parried with a flaming gauntlet, laughing. "Pathetic!" he taunted, unleashing a wave of fire. Caelen rolled, the heat singeing his uniform. The Fallen energy surged—Vanta black wisps, crimson embers flaring—but he forced it down, summoning *Divine Spark*.
A Lotus pink sphere formed, its golden motes swirling like a tiny galaxy. Caelen hurled it, and the sphere struck Kael's shoulder, burning through his sleeve with a flash of light. Kael staggered, shocked, but recovered, his fire flaring brighter. "What was that?" he snarled, advancing.
*"Enough!"* Zorak barked. *"You've shown too much!"*
Before Caelen could respond, a sharp voice cut through the yard. "Stop this nonsense!" Lysa stepped from the shadows, her winged star pendant glinting. Her eyes were fierce, but her voice held a plea. "Kael, back off. He's not worth your time."
Kael sneered but lowered his hand, the flames fading. "Fine. But this isn't over, Gemless." He stalked off, his cronies trailing.
Caelen panted, the Lotus pink energy fading. Lysa approached, her expression torn between concern and curiosity. "You're not like the others," she said softly. "That light… it wasn't normal mana."
Caelen's heart raced. *"She saw,"* Zorak said, his tone grim. *"Be careful with her."*
"It was just the dagger," Caelen lied, holding up Mira's blade. Lysa frowned but didn't press. She turned to leave, then paused. "Be careful, Caelen. The Guild's watching you."
As she vanished, the system chimed:
*Quest Progress: Shadows of Suspicion*
- *Zorak: "You've drawn eyes. The girl, the bully, the teacher—they all suspect. Hide better."*
- Task: Survive one week at the Academy without exposing the system (2 days remaining).
- Reward: +5 Ascended, New Skill: *Grace of Healing*
- Penalty: -15% Balance if detected
Caelen's hands shook. Lysa's words echoed the rumors he'd overheard: Rankers investigating the ruin, whispers of a "forbidden power." And now Kael had seen *Divine Spark*. The Academy was closing in, and Caelen wasn't sure he could keep his secret much longer.