Chapter 21: A Warning in the Night
The night was still and thick with tension as Quinn stood at the edge of the campus, staring up at the sky. The battle in the mines had shaken him—not just the revelation about the House of Virdan but the power that surged through him, wild and untamed. The drones that patrolled the city's outskirts had started their evening rounds, their ominous whirring filling the air.
He turned to the group—Rhea, Anais, Jaren, and Isla—who stood nearby, equally on edge. "We've done enough for tonight," Quinn said firmly, his voice low. "The drones are out, and we don't need any more attention on us. Let's head back before we're spotted."
They all nodded in agreement, fatigue visible in their postures. The battle had been draining, both physically and mentally, and the last thing they needed was a run-in with the academy's security forces. As they split off in different directions to return to their dorms, Quinn felt a weight settle on his shoulders. The mark on his hand pulsed faintly, a constant reminder of the journal's growing influence.
Quinn made his way back to his room, the quiet of the academy pressing in around him. His mind buzzed with everything that had happened—Isla joining them, the truth about Joseph Calderon, and most of all, the terrifying power he had unleashed in the mines. It was unlike anything he had ever felt before, and deep down, he knew it was only the beginning.
When he opened the door to his room, he was greeted by an unexpected sight.
Lazarus sat at the small study desk near Quinn's bed, facing the wall, his figure bathed in the dim moonlight filtering through the window. He didn't move when Quinn entered, but Quinn could sense the tension in the air. It was as if Lazarus had been waiting for him, knowing exactly when he would return.
Without turning around, Lazarus spoke, his voice calm but sharp. "You've gotten stronger."
Quinn paused, the weight of Lazarus's words hanging in the air. "I unlocked something," he admitted, his eyes narrowing as he approached the desk. "In the heat of the fight, something clicked. I think… I think I unlocked the first stage of the journal's power."
Lazarus turned to face him now, his expression unreadable but his eyes gleaming with understanding. "The journal has many secrets," he said slowly. "And unlocking its power comes with consequences."
Quinn nodded, his gaze shifting to the journal that now lay on the desk. The four runes etched into its cover seemed to hum with energy, though only the first one glowed faintly, as if still responding to the power he had accessed earlier. "I know I haven't unlocked all of it," Quinn continued. "There are four runes, and I've only managed to activate the first. But whatever this power is, it's… overwhelming."
Lazarus stood, moving toward the journal. His fingers grazed the surface of the book, his face serious. "The journal's power is ancient, Quinn. And powerful. But you must be careful. This kind of strength doesn't come without a cost. The journal may try to bend you to its will, to control you."
Quinn frowned, his hand unconsciously rubbing the mark that now pulsed faintly on his palm. "Control me? What do you mean?"
Lazarus sighed, stepping away from the desk. "The power you've unlocked isn't entirely your own. It's tied to the journal, and as you grow stronger, so too will its influence over you. You must always be on guard, always in control. If you let it, the journal will consume you."
Quinn's heart pounded in his chest, the weight of Lazarus's warning sinking in. He had felt the raw energy coursing through him earlier, but he hadn't considered the possibility that it might not be fully his to wield. The thought of being controlled by the journal sent a chill down his spine.
"I understand," Quinn said quietly. "I'll be careful."
Lazarus's gaze softened, though the concern in his eyes remained. "I know you will. You've already shown incredible strength and will. But just remember—power like this can be a double-edged sword."
Quinn nodded, and with that, Lazarus turned to leave. "Rest," he said over his shoulder as he stepped toward the door. "You'll need your strength for whatever comes next."
As the door clicked shut behind him, Quinn exhaled, feeling the tension in the room lessen. He sat on the edge of his bed, his eyes drifting back to the journal on the desk. Lazarus's words echoed in his mind, a warning that he couldn't afford to ignore.
With a heavy sigh, Quinn lay back, his body sinking into the bed as exhaustion finally caught up with him. His thoughts swirled with images of the fight in the mines, of the enforcers falling under his newfound power, of Rhea's calculating gaze as she had watched him unlock that strength.
But before sleep could fully claim him, something stirred in the room.
The mark on Quinn's hand began to glow, a soft but prominent blue light that pulsed steadily. He opened his eyes and sat up, his gaze falling on the journal across the room.
The runes on the journal were glowing too, the same vibrant blue, brighter now than they had been before. The energy from the journal seemed to hum through the air, filling the room with a quiet but undeniable presence.
Quinn's heart raced as he stared at the journal, its glow almost hypnotic. He could feel the power pulsing through him again, the connection between the journal and the mark on his hand stronger than ever.
He reached for the journal, his fingers brushing against its surface, and in that moment, he whispered, barely audible in the stillness of the night, "What are you trying to show me?"
But the journal remained silent, its glow steady but mysterious, as if it was waiting for something—something only Quinn could unlock.