The morning after their encounter with the latent artifact, Kael and Lyra were summoned to the Headmaster's office. The request came as a formal notice, delivered by a somber-looking assistant who handed Kael a sealed scroll before vanishing into the crowd.
Kael held the parchment, his stomach knotting. "This can't be good."
Lyra leaned over his shoulder to read the summons. "After last night? I'd be surprised if they didn't notice something. That kind of energy surge doesn't just go unnoticed."
He sighed, rubbing his temples. "I was hoping for more time to figure things out."
Lyra smirked. "Don't worry, hero. If they throw you in a dungeon, I'll make sure to smuggle you some bread and water."
Kael rolled his eyes. "You're a real saint."
The Headmaster's office was an imposing space, dominated by floor-to-ceiling bookshelves crammed with tomes older than the academy itself. The air smelled of aged paper and ink, and the flickering glow of enchanted lamps cast long shadows across the room.
Headmaster Aldric sat behind an ornate oak desk, his piercing blue eyes fixed on the two students standing before him. Despite his advanced age, Aldric radiated an aura of power, his presence commanding respect.
"Kael Veynar. Lyra Wynstone." His voice was calm, yet it carried an undertone of authority that made Kael's skin prickle. "Do you know why you're here?"
Kael exchanged a glance with Lyra before nodding. "We were near the main tower last night. There was… an anomaly."
"An anomaly," Aldric repeated, leaning back in his chair. "What kind of anomaly?"
Kael hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "There was a cluster of unstable energy. We contained it before it could cause any harm."
Aldric's gaze sharpened. "Contained it? How?"
Kael swallowed hard, feeling the weight of the Headmaster's scrutiny. "I absorbed it into my Core. The system I awakened with—it allows me to interact with Rifts and their energy."
The room fell silent, the tension thick enough to cut with a blade. Aldric studied Kael for a long moment, his expression unreadable.
Finally, the Headmaster spoke. "You are aware that tampering with Rift energy is strictly forbidden, are you not?"
Kael's heart sank. "Yes, sir. But if we hadn't acted, it could've turned into a full Rift. We didn't have a choice."
Aldric's lips pressed into a thin line, but his eyes softened slightly. "Your intentions may have been noble, but your actions were reckless. Rift energy is volatile, unpredictable. Absorbing it into your Core is a dangerous gamble—not just for you, but for everyone around you."
Kael clenched his fists, frustration bubbling to the surface. "With all due respect, sir, the Rifts are getting worse. Waiting around for someone else to handle it isn't an option anymore."
Lyra placed a calming hand on his arm, but Aldric's expression didn't shift.
"Bold words," the Headmaster said, his tone cool. "But boldness without caution leads to ruin."
He rose from his chair, towering over them. "For now, I will not report this incident to the council. However, you will be placed under close supervision. Any further unauthorized actions will not be tolerated. Do I make myself clear?"
Kael nodded, relief and frustration warring within him. "Yes, sir."
Aldric's gaze lingered on him for a moment longer before he sat back down. "You are dismissed. And, Kael—be careful. The path you walk is fraught with peril."
As they left the office, Lyra let out a low whistle. "That went better than I expected."
Kael shook his head, still feeling the weight of Aldric's warning. "He's not wrong, though. What we're doing is dangerous. If I mess up…"
"Then don't mess up," Lyra said simply. "You've got a good head on your shoulders, Kael. Trust it."
He glanced at her, surprised by the confidence in her voice. "You really think I can handle this?"
Lyra smirked. "If I didn't, I wouldn't be sticking around."
That evening, Kael decided to test the system's new functionality. The Rift Anchoring ability intrigued him—if it worked as intended, it could provide a way to control the chaos rather than simply reacting to it.
He activated Nexus Vision, watching as the threads of energy illuminated the world around him. Moving to an isolated training field, Kael whispered the command to activate the Rift Anchoring ability.
[System Notification: Rift Anchoring Activated.]
Description: Stabilizes minor Rift anomalies, preventing them from fully forming while allowing safe observation and study.
A faint shimmer appeared in the air before him, a distortion barely visible to the naked eye. Kael focused, channeling energy from his Core into the anomaly.
The distortion solidified slightly, its chaotic edges smoothing into a steady pulse. Kael could feel the connection between his Core and the anchored Rift, a delicate balance that required constant focus.
"This… could actually work," he muttered, a spark of hope igniting within him.
[System Notification: Rift Anchor Stable. Duration: 10 minutes.]
"Not bad for a first try," Lyra's voice called out, startling him.
Kael turned to see her leaning against a nearby tree, her arms crossed.
"How long have you been watching?" he asked.
"Long enough to see you almost blow yourself up," she teased.
Kael rolled his eyes. "It's not perfect yet, but it's a start. If I can anchor Rifts like this, we might be able to study them without the risk of them expanding."
Lyra nodded, her expression thoughtful. "It's a good idea. But you'll need more practice—and probably some backup. You can't do this alone, Kael."
He smiled, appreciating her support. "I wouldn't want to."
As the anchored Rift faded, Kael felt a surge of determination. The path ahead was uncertain and dangerous, but for the first time, he felt like they were making progress.
And progress, he realized, was the first step toward hope.