The academy grounds lay quiet under the shroud of midnight. Torches flickered dimly along the outer walls, their flames barely keeping the dark at bay. Kael's boots crunched softly against the gravel as he made his way toward the northern courtyard, the crumpled note still burning in his pocket.
Each step felt heavier than the last. His instincts screamed caution, but curiosity gnawed at him. Who would send a message like this? And why him, of all people?
He paused at the edge of the courtyard. The moonlight cast silver patterns across the stone floor, the fountain at its center trickling softly. Shadows pooled beneath the arches, and silence hung thick in the air.
Kael's hand drifted toward the dagger hidden under his cloak. The Genesis whispered faintly in his veins, a restless hum eager for what might come.
"Danger. Blood. Power."
"Ardyn."
The voice was calm, measured, yet cold enough to send a chill through him. A figure emerged from the shadows of the northern archway, tall, cloaked in academy robes, though the hood concealed most of his face.
Kael stiffened, dagger half-drawn. "Who are you?"
The figure raised a hand. "Not your enemy. Not yet."
The hood shifted just enough for moonlight to catch the lower part of his face. A sharp jawline, pale lips curved into the faintest smile.
Kael's pulse quickened. An instructor? A senior?
The man took a step closer, his voice low but firm. "You should not have survived the Awakening Ritual. And yet… here you are. Winning against Joren. Drawing eyes you do not want."
Kael's throat tightened. His hand gripped the dagger harder. "If you called me here to threaten me..."
"Threaten?" The man chuckled softly, though there was no warmth in it. "No. I came to offer you clarity."
He stopped near the fountain, his shadow stretching long across the stones. "The academy isn't what you think it is. It isn't simply a place to mold soldiers and scholars. It is a sieve. A filter. The strong rise. The weak vanish. And those who are… different, those who carry forbidden traces…" His eyes gleamed faintly under the hood. "They are erased."
Kael's chest tightened. He swallowed hard. "So you know."
"I suspect," the man corrected smoothly. "But I am not the only one. Darius's family, Elder Veylan, the council beyond these walls, they are watching. Waiting for you to slip. If you lose control, even for an instant, they will destroy you."
Kael's mind raced. This was confirmation of everything he feared. But why tell him? Why not just report him?
"Why are you telling me this?" he asked cautiously.
The man tilted his head, regarding him in silence for a long moment. Then he spoke, quieter now. "Because power like yours is not a curse, it is opportunity. With the right guidance, you could survive. Thrive. Perhaps even change the game entirely."
The whispers inside Kael surged, echoing the man's words.
"Opportunity. Growth. Destiny."
His chest burned as if the Genesis itself yearned for this path. But Kael clenched his jaw, suspicion gnawing at him. "And if I refuse your… guidance?"
The man smiled faintly. "Then you will die. Maybe tomorrow, maybe years from now. But make no mistake, the Genesis cannot remain hidden forever. Someone will force your hand, and when they do, you'll either be a weapon… or a corpse."
The air between them was thick, charged. Kael's heartbeat thundered in his ears. This man knew too much. Trusted too little. But every word rang with truth.
Before Kael could answer, movement stirred in the shadows. A rustle of boots, a flash of steel. Figures emerged from the far end of the courtyard, three men dressed in black, their faces masked, blades glinting under the moonlight.
Assassins. Again.
Kael's blood turned to ice. The cloaked man cursed under his breath. "They moved faster than I thought."
The assassins fanned out, circling. One pointed a blade at Kael. "Orders are clear. Kill the boy."
Kael's pulse roared. His hand trembled on his dagger, the Genesis surging within him, hungry, eager. The whispers became a chorus.
"Fight. Spill blood. Survive."
The cloaked man's eyes flicked to him, sharp and commanding. "This is your moment, Ardyn. Show me. Will you cower? Or will you embrace what you are?"
Kael's chest heaved. Three assassins, armed and trained. He couldn't dodge them all. He couldn't fight them alone. Unless… unless he gave in to the power whispering in his veins.
He swallowed hard, forcing himself steady. His eyes burned crimson in the moonlight, faint but undeniable.
The assassins lunged.
Kael moved.
His dagger flashed, faster than he thought possible. His blood surged, his senses sharpened, every heartbeat around him ringing clear. He sidestepped the first strike, driving his blade across the assassin's arm. Blood spilled. The Genesis roared, drinking it in, fueling him.
The second came from behind, but Kael spun, ducking low, and slammed his palm against the man's chest. Crimson light flickered as their heartbeats aligned, Kael's strength surged, his muscles tightening as if the assassin's vitality had flowed into him.
The man staggered, gasping in shock.
Kael's body trembled with exhilaration. So this is what it feels like…
But even as the Genesis exulted, Kael's stomach twisted in fear. If anyone else saw this, if the wrong eyes noticed, his fate was sealed.
The cloaked man hadn't moved. He simply watched, his expression unreadable.
"Good," he murmured. "Very good."
The final assassin hesitated, eyes wide at Kael's unnatural speed. But Kael didn't give him time to recover. He lunged forward, striking with brutal precision, his dagger slicing across the man's thigh. The assassin collapsed, clutching the wound.
Kael stood over him, chest heaving, blood singing in his veins. For a terrifying moment, the whispers screamed at him to finish it, to take everything.
"Kill. Consume. Evolve."
His dagger trembled in his grip. His body screamed for the kill. But Kael clenched his teeth and forced himself to step back.
"No," he whispered, his voice hoarse. "Not like this."
The cloaked man's eyes narrowed, studying him in silence. Finally, he lowered his hood, just enough for Kael to glimpse the scar cutting across his left brow.
"You're stronger than I thought," the man said softly. "But restraint will be your undoing. Remember this night, Kael Ardyn. You have enemies everywhere. And soon, you'll have to choose what you value more, your humanity… or your survival."
With that, he vanished into the shadows, leaving Kael alone among the groaning assassins.
Kael dropped to his knees, gasping, sweat pouring down his face. His hands shook violently, the faint crimson glow fading from his skin.
He stared at the blood pooling across the stones. His breath came ragged.
What am I becoming?
The Genesis pulsed in answer.
"Becoming strong."