The Hidden Deal
A deep voice broke the silence.
Resonant. Commanding. Like iron striking stone.
"Candidate 121... Lei Shan. Follow me."
The sound rolled like thunder across the crystal floor.
From the far side of the chamber, a tall figure stepped out of the shadows-the very Head of the Dravania branch of W.N., Kunal himself. His boots struck the glowing floor with deliberate weight, each step echoing like a war drum. His sharp, predatory eyes locked onto Lei Shan with an unreadable mix of scrutiny, curiosity, and a flicker of unease.
Rosei's breath caught in her throat. Even she, the proud supervisor of trials, immediately bowed her head and stepped aside. Not even she dared question why Kunal himself-a man who commanded legions and whose word was law in this land-had appeared in person.
She thought bitterly: "I oversaw hundreds of candidates, yet never once has he appeared... What makes this boy different?"
Lei Shan glanced at Kunal, his expression unreadable. A faint smile curved his lips, though his eyes remained calm, steady as still water.
Without another word, Kunal turned, gesturing with his hand.
"Come."
The sound of his command was not a request-it was an edict.
And Lei Shan followed.
The path Kunal chose was not the usual exit. Instead, he pressed his palm against a concealed section of the wall.
Ancient runes flickered, unlocking a hidden corridor with a hiss of shifting stone. The air that poured out was colder, heavier, tinged with the scent of age and sealed power.
The two descended deeper and deeper, the light of the trial chamber vanishing behind them.
The passage was narrow, lined with walls covered in archaic runes. They glimmered faintly, whispering with energy that seemed older than the age of Noblesse itself. Some seals pulsed faintly like beating hearts; others shimmered in strange hues, remnants of forgotten techniques. The air grew colder with each step.
Whispers seemed to ride the air. Words not spoken, but remembered-echoes of laws too ancient for mortal comprehension.
Kunal: (thinking) "Even I hesitate to walk this corridor. Yet he follows me without fear... not even looking twice."
Lei Shan brushed his fingers lightly against the stone as they walked, his smile faint.
Lei Shan: "Ah... so even here, the echoes of that war remain."
Kunal's brow furrowed. Which war? Does he mean... But he held his tongue.
At last, they arrived at a sealed underground chamber.
Its twin doors groaned as they opened, releasing a wave of stale yet potent air. Inside, the walls glowed faintly with protective seals, each pulsing like a heartbeat. Runes crawled across the stone like veins of light.
The chamber beyond was wide, circular, its walls humming with wards layered upon wards. Golden seals twisted across the stone in interlocking spirals. The air carried a metallic tang, as if steeped in suppressed power.
At the center stood a lone chair. Nothing else.
Kunal entered first, boots heavy against the floor, and gestured toward the chair. His eyes never left Lei Shan.
Lei Shan stepped inside slowly, glancing at the glowing walls. A chuckle slipped from his lips.
Lei Shan: "Secret places like this are always interesting... Tell me, Senior. Is this where you test people... or where you hide your scars?"
The words landed like thunder.
Kunal froze mid-step. His gaze narrowed, sharp and cold.
Kunal: "...What do you mean by that?"
Lei Shan's smile remained faint, calm, yet his eyes gleamed with unsettling certainty. He lifted his hand and lazily pointed at Kunal's chest... then his left arm.
Lei Shan: "You carry injuries. Deep ones. They cut not only flesh, but spirit. That is why you never advanced beyond your current state. No matter how much you cultivate, your aura leaks like water from a cracked vessel."
_______
Kunal's eyes widened. His heart pounded.
For decades, that truth had been his shame.
He knows. This child knows.
Only a handful of S-Rank medics had ever known the truth of his wounds. All had tried. All had failed. And this boy-this mere candidate-had pierced his deepest secret after a single glance.
Kunal: "...Who are you really?"
Lei Shan's smile sharpened ever so slightly.
Lei Shan: "A traveler. Nothing more. But I can help you. And in return... you help me."
Kunal's breathing grew uneven. For a long moment, he said nothing, then barked a rough laugh.
Kunal: "Impossible. I've had the best medics, the rarest spells, the highest elixirs. Nothing could fix me. And you-after one trial-claim you can?"
Lei Shan didn't bother arguing. He simply raised his hand.
Threads of green and golden light wove together at his fingertips, rippling like divine silk. The aura wasn't merely healing-it was restoration itself. The Law of Reversal-the authority to return broken things to their original state.
The energy pulsed, brushing against Kunal's spirit. His eyes widened, for even that faint touch was enough to suppress the dull agony he had carried for decades.
Lei Shan: "Doubt if you want. Or... trust your own body."
Kunal clenched his fists. That old ache in his chest and arm-the curse of his battle long ago-began to fade merely by standing within Lei Shan's presence. His composure cracked.
Kunal: "...If... you really can... then what do you want?"
Lei Shan lowered his hand, letting the glow fade.
Lei Shan: "Simple. I won't waste years crawling up ranks. Give me direct entry as AA-Rank Noblesse. No one needs to know the details of this."
The silence stretched heavy. Kunal's pride screamed to refuse, but his instincts whispered that this boy was far beyond ordinary rules.
Finally, after a long silence, Kunal exhaled.
Kunal: Sigh "Fine. From today, you are AA-Rank Noblesse. But... You could have become one even without this deal. And the day you heal my injury, I will consider you personally an S-Rank Noblesse-or even something greater."
Lei Shan smiled faintly.
Lei Shan: "Why wait for that day? I can heal you completely... right now."
Kunal blinked, startled.
Kunal: "What, now? Without medicine or Elixir, without talismans? You'd need supplies, rare herbs-"
Lei Shan: "No herbs. No talismans. Just sit in meditation, close your eyes... and trust me."
Kunal's eyes narrowed.
Kunal: "But hear me-if you lie to me, if you try to trick me-I'll end you myself."
Lei Shan chuckled softly, tilting his head.
Lei Shan: "I don't lie. And I don't trick. Shall we begin?"
Kunal reluctantly sat cross-legged, assuming a meditative pose. His massive frame trembled slightly with hesitation, yet his instincts pushed him to obey as though Lei Shan were the teacher and he the student.
The runes carved into the chamber walls flared alive, reacting to Lei Shan's power.
Lei Shan pressed his glowing golden finger against Kunal's left arm. After a few seconds, he shifted, pressing another point below the chest. Golden light surged from his fingertips, weaving into Kunal's veins like threads of law.
When Lei Shan placed his palm over Kunal's chest, the aura erupted-emerald green intertwined with golden strands, flooding into Kunal's broken and cracked meridians.
Kunal's body convulsed. Pain flared like fire ripping through his bones. Sweat poured down his brow as scarred veins, shattered spirit lines, and blocked energy pathways tore open and were reforged anew.
Then-calm. Strength. A flow of Qi smoother than he had ever known.
Lei Shan: "Senior Kunal, you can open your eyes now. You are completely healed."
Kunal's eyes snapped open. He leapt to his feet. For the first time in too many decades, his Qi surged like a river breaking a dam. His body absorbed energy greedily, like parched earth drinking stormwater.
Fire and ice tore through his soul, but then clarity struck. His aura roared upward, golden flames licking at the edges of his form.
Kunal: "...By the heavens... it's true. I have strong feeling... I could... I could become S-Rank at any moment! I need to enter seclusion at once..."
Lei Shan: "Two of your meridians-Heart and Liver-were blocked. Qi couldn't circulate, and your spirit power weakened. That's why you were stuck at AA-Rank, decaying day by day."
Kunal froze. His eyes widened at words he had never heard.
Kunal: "...Meridians? What are these? This is the first time I've ever heard such a thing."
Lei Shan scratched his head lightly, an almost playful expression crossing his face.
(I think I said too much. It seems these people don't know anything yet.)
Lei Shan: "Stop thinking about it. You are healed. Just never tell anyone how. And no one must know the details of this trial."
Tears welled in Kunal's eyes. Yes, I would die but this secret will never be revealed." Saying this, he bows down"
Kunal: "I had given up hope... waiting for death. And today, you gave me life again. Master!"
Lei Shan quickly helped him up.
Lei Shan: "Don't call me master. I've done my part. Now it's your turn."
Kunal trembled, emotions colliding violently within him.
Kunal: "You can't be ordinary. Who are you, truly?"
Lei Shan smiled faintly, his calm expression unchanging.
Lei Shan: "I told you already. A traveler."
Kunal steadied himself, golden flames flickering faintly around him.
Kunal: "From this moment, you are registered as AA-Rank Noblesse under the Dravania branch but which category will you choose?"
Lei Shan: "AA-Rank, Wizard Category."
Kunal blinked.
Kunal: "In truth, your powers... are far beyond even S-Rank. Why stop there? Why not S-Rank?"
Lei Shan: "Because the time for that hasn't come yet."
Kunal exhaled, shaking his head.
Kunal: "It feels like I'm dreaming... Come with me."
Together, they left the sealed chamber, ascending back toward the branch's upper halls.
In Kunal's office, the atmosphere shifted back to mundane. He fetched a crystal orb and recording quill, taking Lei Shan's details and capturing his image for registration.
Kunal: "Would you like something to eat or drink?"
Lei Shan hesitated. He thought briefly of dishes long forgotten by this changed world. Better not to risk it.
Lei Shan: "Yes, you can order whatever you like."
Kunal: "Then I shall order Sunfire Nectar for you. A Dravanian specialty, brewed from fruits ripened under Solarys' twin suns. Its taste carries both warmth and clarity-it awakens the spirit without burdening the body. And later, you will have dinner at my home. Meanwhile, I'll send your data to W.N. Headquarters."
A few minutes later, an attendant entered carrying a tall crystal goblet filled with radiant golden liquid that shimmered like liquid sunlight. The fragrance was sweet and sharp, as though distilled from pure dawn.
Lei Shan lifted the goblet, swirling the liquid lightly. He took a sip.
Lei Shan: "Hmmm... it's rich. The warmth spreads instantly. Refreshing."
Kunal nodded.
Kunal: "Only fruits from the Solarys orchards, blooming under Ozythra's twin suns, can be harvested for this. Even the G.P.F. reserves it for council members. For a candidate to drink this... unheard of."
But Lei Shan only smiled faintly. To him, it was nothing compared to the Celestial Springs he once commanded.
Kunal rose, straightening his robes. Lei Shan raised a brow silently.
Kunal: "I must oversee the trials of the other three candidates. Will you come?"
Lei Shan considered, then nodded. Together, they walked to the observation hall, where crystal mirrors projected the tests of Aakash, Mohit, and Priya.
Each mirror flickered with battles-candidates struggling against trials Lei Shan had crushed effortlessly.
But Lei Shan's eyes narrowed slightly. In Priya's aura, he sensed a hidden spark... a resonance faintly connected to laws he once knew. Something that might one day awaken.
Kunal, however, was too focused on Lei Shan to notice.
"If this boy truly stays here... Dravania's branch will rise above all others. No... the entire balance of the five continents may shift."
To Be Continued...