The academy grounds were quiet, but Kael's instincts screamed otherwise. The faint metallic scent lingered on the breeze, sharper now, almost intoxicating. His heart pounded as he scanned the darkness.
He wasn't alone.
The whispers thrummed inside him, pulsing in rhythm with his heartbeat.
"Danger… prey… evolve."
A figure slipped from the shadows, a man cloaked in black, his face hidden beneath a hood. His movements were deliberate, soundless, like a predator stalking its meal. The torchlight barely touched him, yet his presence was suffocating.
Kael swallowed hard. An assassin? Why would one be here… for me?
The man's voice was cold, detached.
"You weren't supposed to survive the Ritual, boy. Orders are orders."
Kael's stomach twisted. So that's it… someone wants me gone already.
The man moved swiftly, a dagger flashing in his hand. Kael barely dodged, the blade grazing his shoulder. Pain flared, sharp and real, but so did the whispers.
"Blood spilled. Absorb… adapt."
Crimson light sparked where the cut had been. Kael stumbled back, clutching his wound, but instead of weakness, a surge of energy exploded through him. His vision sharpened, the assassin's movements suddenly clearer, slower, easier to track.
The man lunged again, blade aimed for Kael's throat. This time Kael ducked, his body moving faster than it should have. His hand shot out on instinct, catching the man's wrist. The assassin's eyes widened in surprise.
Kael's palm burned as a droplet of his own blood smeared across the man's skin. The whispers roared in his mind.
"Absorb essence. Take strength."
A jolt coursed through him. His muscles tightened, his grip grew stronger. For a heartbeat, Kael felt the man's pulse inside his own body, as if their life forces were momentarily entwined.
The assassin wrenched free, retreating a step, glaring. "What are you?"
Kael's chest heaved. He didn't have an answer. He only knew one thing: he wasn't powerless anymore.
The man struck again, faster this time, blade slicing through the air. Kael moved on instinct, sidestepping and driving his fist into the man's ribs. A sickening crack echoed. The assassin staggered, eyes wide with shock at the boy's unnatural strength.
Kael's knuckles throbbed, but adrenaline drowned out the pain. He could feel the Blood Genesis humming inside him, urging him forward. Each drop of blood spilled in the fight seemed to fuel him, heightening his senses, sharpening his reactions.
The assassin cursed under his breath, retreating farther into the shadows. "This… was not in the report."
Kael's breathing steadied as he raised his fists. He was terrified, yes, but beneath the fear was something new. A hunger. The Blood Genesis whispered promises of strength, of survival, if only he embraced it fully.
"Tell whoever sent you," Kael said through clenched teeth, his voice steadier than he expected, "that I'm not so easy to kill."
The assassin hesitated, then melted back into the darkness, retreating rather than risk more. Within seconds, the courtyard was empty once more.
Kael dropped to his knees, gasping. His hands shook violently. He had survived, not by luck, but by power.
Slowly, he looked at his palms. The faint crimson glow pulsed faintly, responding to his thoughts. He knew, deep down, that the assassin would return. Others would come. And when they did, he couldn't afford to be weak.
The whispers echoed louder now, a promise and a warning entwined.
"Blood is life. Blood is power. Blood is Genesis."
Kael clenched his fists, eyes burning with determination.
If they want me gone… then I'll become strong enough that no one can erase me.