Kai's heart pounded in his chest as he stared at the assassin's lifeless body. The dark, shadowy mark that spread across the man's skin was unmistakable—an echo of the very same power that coursed through Kai. It seemed to pulse with an unnatural energy, as if alive, crawling under the skin like a parasite.
Lysandra knelt beside the body, her face tight with concern. "*He didn't die from the fight…*" she muttered, her fingers tracing the edges of the mark but not touching it. "*This is something else.*"
"*It's the shadows,*" Kai replied, his voice low, barely containing the shock that threatened to overwhelm him. "*It's the same mark that I have.*"
He pulled back his sleeve, exposing the faint shadow that had been etched into his skin ever since he first wielded the forbidden powers. But this—this mark on the assassin—was far more pronounced, as if the shadows had fully taken over, leaving nothing of the man behind.
"*But why him?*" Lysandra asked, standing and wiping her hands on her cloak. "*This wasn't just a random assassin; someone sent him after us. Could it be the rebellion?*"
Kai's eyes narrowed, thinking back to the figure in the clearing, the entity that had spoken to him. "*The rebellion may be involved, but I don't think they're behind this mark. That thing we saw—it wanted me. My powers.*"
"*Then why does he have the same mark?*" Lysandra pressed, her gaze intense. "*Could he have been connected to whatever that entity was? Maybe the shadows chose him… just like they chose you.*"
Kai felt a chill run down his spine. The idea that the shadows might be choosing others—twisting them, corrupting them—was a terrifying thought. If that was true, then the assassin wasn't the first, and he certainly wouldn't be the last.
But then, why had the assassin died? Had the shadows consumed him because he couldn't control them?
"*I don't know,*" Kai admitted, shaking his head. "*But if these shadows are spreading… we're in more danger than we thought.*"
Lysandra glanced around the forest, as if expecting more shadow-marked enemies to emerge from the trees. "*We should head back to the academy. We need to warn the others about what's happening.*"
Kai hesitated, looking down at the assassin one last time. The mark, though eerily similar to his own, felt like a warning—a sign that he wasn't as in control of his powers as he thought. If the shadows had claimed this man, could they do the same to him?
But there was no time to dwell on it. The rebellion was still out there, likely planning something far worse, and now they had this dark power to contend with.
"*Let's go,*" Kai finally said, turning away from the body. "*We need answers.*"
They moved quickly, keeping to the shadows as they made their way back toward the academy. The air was thick with tension, the quiet hum of the forest doing little to ease their nerves. Kai could feel the mark on his arm tingling, a constant reminder of the danger lurking just beyond their reach.
As they approached the academy gates, the familiar walls came into view, towering above the forest like a fortress. Normally, it would have been a welcome sight, a place of refuge and strength. But now, as the shadows loomed over them, the academy felt less like a sanctuary and more like a prison.
"*We have to find Professor Albright,*" Lysandra said, glancing at Kai. "*If anyone knows about the shadows and how to deal with them, it's him.*"
Kai nodded in agreement, but there was a gnawing feeling in the pit of his stomach. Something told him that even Albright might not have the answers they needed. The shadows, this power—they were beyond anything the academy had ever dealt with.
They slipped through the gates, unnoticed in the dead of night, and made their way toward the professor's quarters. The academy grounds were eerily silent, the usual chatter and activity absent. The tension in the air had settled into every corner of the place, as if everyone inside was holding their breath, waiting for something to happen.
When they reached Professor Albright's quarters, Lysandra knocked on the door, her hand trembling slightly. Kai stood behind her, his senses on high alert, every shadow now a potential threat.
A moment later, the door creaked open, and Professor Albright appeared, his brow furrowed in concern. "*What's going on?*" he asked, his voice low. "*It's late. You two shouldn't be out at this hour.*"
Lysandra wasted no time. "*We found something,*" she said quickly, glancing at Kai. "*Something dangerous.*"
Professor Albright's eyes shifted to Kai, noticing the serious expression on his face. "*Come in,*" he said, stepping aside to let them in.
Inside, the professor's quarters were cluttered with books and scrolls, strange magical artifacts strewn across the shelves. The scent of herbs and old parchment filled the air.
Kai wasted no time explaining what had happened in the forest—the artifact, the explosion, the entity that had emerged, and the assassin with the shadow mark. Professor Albright listened intently, his expression growing darker with each word.
When Kai finished, the professor leaned back in his chair, his fingers steepled in front of his face. "*This is worse than I thought,*" he said grimly. "*The shadows you wield, Kai, they aren't just a tool. They're connected to something ancient, something far beyond our understanding.*"
Kai frowned. "*What do you mean?*"
Professor Albright stood and walked over to a shelf, pulling down a dusty old tome. He flipped through the pages until he found what he was looking for. "*The shadows you wield are part of an ancient power known as the Void.*"
"*The Void?*" Lysandra asked, her brow furrowing. "*What does that mean?*"
"*The Void is a force older than magic itself,*" Albright explained. "*It is the source of all darkness, the space between life and death, creation and destruction. Those who wield its power are marked, bound to it in ways that go beyond simple control.*"
Kai's stomach twisted. "*So… the mark I have… it's from the Void?*"
Professor Albright nodded gravely. "*Yes. And it seems the Void has chosen others as well, like the assassin you encountered. But unlike you, they were not able to contain its power. The Void consumed them.*"
Lysandra crossed her arms, her expression growing darker. "*If this Void is spreading, then the rebellion could use it as a weapon. They could mark their followers, turning them into vessels for this power.*"
Albright sighed. "*That's a possibility. But there's something more troubling.*"
Kai's heart sank. "*What?*"
The professor's gaze hardened. "*The Void doesn't just choose anyone. It seeks out those who have the potential to change everything—those who will shape the future of this world.*"
Kai felt the weight of the professor's words settle over him like a heavy cloak. He had always known his shadow powers were dangerous, but this was different. This was a responsibility he hadn't asked for, a fate that seemed to be spiraling out of his control.
"*What do I do?*" Kai asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Before Albright could answer, there was a loud crash from outside. The ground trembled beneath their feet, and a chorus of panicked shouts erupted from the academy grounds.
Lysandra was already moving toward the door, her eyes wide with fear. "*What's happening?*"
Kai followed, his heart racing. As they stepped outside, the night sky above the academy was lit up by streaks of dark energy, swirling like a storm. Shadows crept up the walls, moving like living creatures, and in the distance, Kai saw it—a massive shadowy figure, much like the one they had encountered in the forest, looming over the academy's towers.
And it was coming for him.