The evening sky above Aetherion Academy was painted in bruised purples and molten oranges, casting long, jagged shadows across the courtyards. The whispers of the day's trials had not faded; if anything, they had grown louder, more vicious, like the scent of blood calling predators from the dark.
Kaelith walked beside Lyra, each step silent but deliberate, his eyes scanning every shadow, every flicker of movement. Students had begun to openly scorn them, the commoner siblings who dared survive against the elite, who dared to excel without noble blood. Every look of disgust, every hissed insult, became fuel. The system pulsed with anticipation.
> [System Status – Nyxion Active]
Nyxion's voice slithered through his mind:
> "Delicious… the hatred of so many, all focused on you. Every glance, every sneer… it nourishes me. Let them watch. Let them despair. Their own poison makes you stronger."
Kaelith's jaw tightened. Let them.
Lyra's small hand brushed against his sleeve. Her heartbeat was steady, yet he could feel the faint pulse of the Heart within her — agitated, restless, whispering of power she did not yet control.
> [System Alert: Heart Influence Rising – Passive Effect Active]
He gritted his teeth. Soon, very soon, he would have to address it.
---
An Unexpected Invitation
By nightfall, a message arrived: a rare sealed invitation delivered personally by a silver-haired messenger, cloaked in the insignia of the Academy's secretive Elders' Circle. Kaelith broke the seal and read silently:
> "Kaelith Veyr, your talents have drawn attention beyond the Academy. You are invited to the Midnight Council. Attendance is mandatory. Failure to appear will be noted in your permanent records."
Lyra's eyes widened. "Brother… Midnight Council? Isn't that for nobles?"
Kaelith's eyes narrowed. "Exactly why we go. If they see me, I can learn… and perhaps manipulate a few hearts along the way."
> [System Notification: New Quest – Attend Midnight Council; Reward: Unknown; Risk: High]
The system's warnings shimmered in his vision. This was a dangerous opportunity, but Kaelith thrived on calculated risks.
---
Shadows in the Halls
They navigated the Academy corridors at night, the moonlight glinting off the polished floors. Kaelith's Shadow Veil allowed him to move unseen, slipping past patrolling nobles who might question or ambush them. Even as whispers of "the commoner dares" followed them, Kaelith absorbed their negative emotions, feeding his system further.
> [NP Earned: 120]
A figure stepped from a shadowed alcove — silver hair glinting faintly under the moonlight. "Kaelith Veyr," she said, her voice low and melodic. "You move boldly for a commoner."
Kaelith's eyes narrowed. It was Selene Ravenn, her golden eyes sharp and calculating.
"I attend only because it benefits me," Kaelith replied flatly. "Move aside."
Selene smirked. "Bold. Perhaps too bold. But I admire precision. I will watch."
> [NP Earned: 35]
Her presence lingered, a silent observation that Kaelith noted but did not confront further. Trust, as always, was a luxury.
---
The Midnight Council Chamber
The Council Chamber was hidden within the Academy's oldest spire. Candles flickered against walls engraved with sigils older than most nations. Shadows danced like predators across the vaulted ceilings. At the center, seated in circular formation, were nobles of the highest caliber — some godborn, some elite magic-users — all eyes fixed on Kaelith as he entered.
A hush fell. Whispers, sharp as knives, ran through the chamber:
> "The commoner dares?"
"How bold… and naive."
"He survives, but for how long?"
Kaelith stepped forward with measured calm, Lyra trailing quietly behind him. The Heart within her pulsed faintly, sensing tension, sensing danger.
> [System Alert: Heart Influence – Elevated. NP Boost +20]
Varik Drel's voice broke the silence. "Kaelith Veyr. You are here by invitation… but also by test. Tonight, you will navigate politics, deception, and threats unlike any you have faced in the Academy. Fail, and consequences may reach far beyond your standing here."
Kaelith bowed slightly. "Understood."
> [NP Earned: 75]
---
Web of Lies Begins
The Council's first exercise was subtle: a simple discussion. But each word carried potential traps, hidden tests of allegiance and cunning. Students whispered false information, proposed manipulative deals, and tested Kaelith's knowledge of alliances.
Kaelith observed quietly, letting the system feed on the envy, fear, and arrogance around him. Every pause, every glance, every unspoken threat became fuel.
> [NP Earned: 180]
A young noble, gilded and arrogant, tried to bait him into revealing strategy. Kaelith countered with silence and a pointed glance, letting the youth's frustration flare.
> [System Alert: Anger 65/100 – Potential Berserk Threshold Approaching]
Kaelith's lips curved into a faint, unreadable smile. Silence was his weapon as much as his dagger or Shadow Veil.
---
Lyra's Moment
Midway through the council, a subtle attack on Lyra emerged. A spell designed to manipulate hearts, to force loyalty or fear. Kaelith noticed instantly.
> [System Notification: Sister Targeted – Passive Ability Activated]
He stepped between the caster and Lyra, letting Shadow Sigil flare. Tendrils of dark energy licked around him, not harming the target, but creating a barrier that absorbed the spell and the caster's intent.
> [NP Earned: 200]
[Skill Activated: Shadow Bind – Partial Control]
Lyra's wide eyes reflected awe and relief. "Brother… you're incredible."
Kaelith's expression remained calm. "Control, Lyra. Always control. Not anger… not yet."
---
Betrayal Surfaces
As the exercise progressed, Kaelith detected a more dangerous undercurrent. One of the nobles had been whispering to another, planning to betray their own team in exchange for an artifact. Kaelith maneuvered subtly, planting misinformation that caused them to clash at precisely the wrong moment.
The system thrummed.
> [NP Earned: 300]
Every deceit he orchestrated fed him further. The room became a dance of hidden daggers, whispered lies, and subtle manipulations. And Kaelith moved like a shadow through it all, unnoticed, untouchable.
---
Final Test: The Heart Challenge
Finally, the Elders' Circle presented the climax: a direct challenge to Kaelith.
> "The commoner survives, but can he withstand truth?"
"Can he protect what is dearest to him while resisting temptation, deceit, and the hunger for power?"
The final trial was a psychic projection — a manifestation of Kaelith's fears, failures, and anger. Shadowed duplicates of himself confronted him, each taunting him, whispering threats, and attacking with the skills he had used before.
> [System Alert: Berserk Threshold 90/100]
Lyra's small voice pierced the mental chaos: "Brother… we can do this. Together."
Kaelith drew in a breath, focusing. The Heart within Lyra pulsed again, faintly syncing with his own Shadow Sigil. He drew on the Negative Points, the accumulated anger, envy, and hostility around him.
> [NP Earned: 450]
[Skill Ready: Negative Surge – Optional Activation]
He didn't use it. Not yet. Instead, he let his skill Shadow Bind immobilize the duplicates, then systematically dismantled their attacks using precision and timing — every strike calculated, every movement feeding Lyra's safety and his own growing strength.
---
Resolution
When the projection faded, silence fell across the chamber. Even the Elders looked impressed. Kaelith had not only survived, but he had turned their test into a demonstration of intelligence, restraint, and raw potential.
> [System Notification: Skill Upgrade – Shadow Bind Enhanced. NP Bonus +50]
Lyra ran to him, breathless. "Brother… you're amazing! But… it was so dangerous!"
Kaelith's hand brushed her hair, calm and protective. "Every risk is calculated. Every move matters. The moment we act blindly, we lose everything. Remember that."
Outside the chamber, molten-colored portals shimmered faintly, distant but visible — observers beyond the Academy, watching, waiting. Kaelith felt their gaze, a weight that pressed against his system but did not break him.
Nyxion purred darkly in his mind:
> "The webs grow, little pawn.