The Academy was alive with whispers the next morning. A high-ranking instructor had disappeared during the night, their quarters found in disarray. No one had seen or heard anything, yet the air was heavy with unease.
Eren sat in the library, poring over an old text on magical theory. The weight of the previous night lingered on him like a phantom, but he forced himself to focus. He had decided to join Aven's network, though cautiously. If the Grimoire truly was a test, then he needed all the knowledge he could gather to pass it—and survive.
But even as he studied, he couldn't ignore the tension in the air. Students passed by in hushed groups, their expressions a mixture of fear and curiosity. The news of the instructor's disappearance was spreading fast.
"Eren."
He looked up to see Liora standing nearby, her arms crossed and her face unreadable. She glanced at the pile of books in front of him before speaking again.
"Have you heard about Instructor Kael?"
Eren nodded. "Everyone's talking about it. Do they know what happened?"
She shook her head. "No. But it's strange, isn't it? Kael was one of the strongest here. If something could take him without a trace…" She trailed off, her gaze darkening.
Eren closed the book he was reading and leaned back in his chair. "Do you think it's connected to the council's warning? About the darkness?"
Liora hesitated, then nodded. "It has to be. Things are changing, Eren. The balance is shifting, and I don't think the Academy is prepared for what's coming."
Her words struck a chord in him. The Academy's pristine halls and strict order felt increasingly fragile, as though cracks were forming beneath the surface. And now, with the Grimoire in his possession, Eren couldn't shake the feeling that he was at the center of it all.
---
The Network's Call
Later that night, Eren returned to the southern wing. The abandoned section of the Academy was as desolate as before, but this time, he wasn't alone for long. Aven stepped out of the shadows, their hood drawn low.
"You've made your decision," Aven said without preamble.
Eren nodded. "I'll join you. But I'm not putting my trust in you blindly."
Aven chuckled. "Good. Blind trust gets you killed. Follow me."
They led Eren deeper into the ruins, through corridors that seemed to grow darker with every step. At last, they entered a large chamber lit by faintly glowing runes etched into the walls. A small group of figures stood waiting, their faces obscured by masks.
"This is the Nexus," Aven said, gesturing to the chamber. "It's where we gather, plan, and share knowledge. Every person here has faced the same choice you did. Some were chosen by relics like yours. Others sought us out to learn the truth about the world's shadows."
Eren's gaze swept over the group. Each of them exuded a quiet intensity, a sense of purpose that bordered on fanaticism.
"You'll start as an Initiate," Aven continued. "Your task is to prove your worth and loyalty. But make no mistake—this is no mere apprenticeship. The knowledge we offer is dangerous, and the price of failure is steep."
"What kind of knowledge?" Eren asked, his voice steady.
Aven stepped closer, their tone lowering. "The kind that will help you master the Grimoire. But it comes with a cost, Eren. Power always does."
Eren nodded, his resolve unshaken. "I'm ready."
---
The First Trial
As an Initiate, Eren's first task was to complete a trial designed to test his resourcefulness and control over the Grimoire's power. Aven handed him a small, black crystal—the same kind they had shown him during their first meeting.
"This crystal is linked to a shadow construct we've set loose in the eastern forest," Aven explained. "Your trial is simple: destroy the construct and return the crystal to us. But be warned—the construct will not hesitate to kill you if you falter."
Eren took the crystal, its cold surface pulsing faintly in his hand. "What's the point of this trial?"
"To see if you can harness the Grimoire's power without losing yourself," Aven said. "And to prove that you're strong enough to stand with us."
Eren didn't argue. He understood the necessity of the trial, even if it felt like another layer of manipulation. With the crystal in hand, he set off toward the forest, his mind focused on the task ahead.
The forest was dark and foreboding, the trees towering above him like silent sentinels. The crystal pulsed in his hand, guiding him toward the construct. As he ventured deeper, the air grew colder, and an unnatural silence settled around him.
Then, he saw it.
The construct was a towering, shadowy figure, its form shifting and writhing as though it were made of living smoke. Its eyes glowed a piercing red, and its presence radiated a menacing aura.
Eren tightened his grip on the Grimoire, its pages already responding to the construct's energy. Dark runes appeared on the open page, offering him a spell to combat the creature.
The fight was brutal. The construct moved with inhuman speed, its attacks relentless and precise. Eren relied on the Grimoire's power to counter its strikes, weaving dark tendrils of energy to shield himself and strike back.
But the Grimoire's power came at a cost. Every spell drained him, the darkness threatening to overwhelm his senses. He could feel it creeping into his mind, whispering temptations and promises of greater strength.
"You're stronger than this," Eren told himself, forcing the whispers back. "Focus."
With a final surge of energy, he unleashed a powerful spell that engulfed the construct in a vortex of dark energy. The creature let out a piercing shriek before dissolving into nothingness, leaving only silence in its wake.
Eren collapsed to his knees, his breath coming in ragged gasps. The Grimoire pulsed in his hand, its presence a reminder of the power he had wielded—and the danger it posed.
---
The Return
When Eren returned to the Nexus, the crystal in hand, Aven and the others were waiting.
"You succeeded," Aven said, their tone neutral.
Eren held up the crystal. "The construct is gone."
Aven nodded, taking the crystal from him. "You've passed the first trial. But this is only the beginning, Eren. The path you've chosen is long and perilous. Are you prepared to see it through?"
Eren met their gaze, his resolve unshaken. "I am."
The others in the room murmured their approval, and Aven placed a hand on his shoulder. "Welcome to the Nexus, Initiate. From this point forward, you are one of us."
As the ceremony ended, Eren felt a strange mixture of accomplishment and unease. He had taken another step toward mastering the Grimoire, but the shadows around him were growing deeper.
The question was no longer whether he could survive the darkness—it was whether he could control it before it consumed him.