A heavy silence hung in the room.
Eren felt the weight of Lilia's words settle in the air like an invisible force pressing against his chest.
"The Seeker?" he repeated, his voice barely above a whisper.
Lilia nodded, her expression tense. "I overheard some professors talking in the restricted section of the library. They mentioned a man who recently arrived under direct royal orders. No one knows his real name, but they call him The Seeker of the Rift."
Eren's mind raced. That name wasn't unfamiliar.
A hunter. A man tasked with tracking those tainted by forbidden magic. The Seeker was infamous among those who studied the hidden history of the kingdom. Wherever he went, blood followed. If he was here now…
That meant someone suspected him.
Eren took a deep breath, forcing his mind to stay calm. "How much time do I have before he finds me?"
Lilia hesitated. "I don't know. But if the professors were discussing him openly, it means he's already within the academy."
His fingers curled into a fist. He had been careful—avoiding unnecessary confrontations, controlling his powers, and keeping his Cursed Mark hidden.
But was it enough?
The Seeker wouldn't be acting blindly. If he was here, it meant someone had tipped him off.
There was a traitor.
---
A Sudden Summons
A loud knock at the door shattered the tense atmosphere.
Eren and Lilia both stiffened.
A cold, authoritative voice followed.
"Eren, you are to report to the Headmaster's office immediately."
His heart pounded.
They were already moving.
Lilia grabbed his wrist. "Be careful." Her voice was barely above a whisper, her worry evident in her violet eyes.
Eren forced a small nod, straightened his posture, and walked toward the door.
As he opened it, he was met by a knight clad in black armor, the Royal Guard's crest gleaming under the dim light.
The knight didn't say a word—just turned, expecting Eren to follow.
His steps were steady, but inside, his thoughts churned violently.
Was this it? Had they already figured out his secret?
The academy's hallways stretched endlessly, torches flickering with ethereal blue flames. Other students whispered among themselves as he passed. News traveled fast in the academy, and being summoned by the Headmaster was never a good sign.
The moment he reached the massive doors of the Headmaster's office, the knight stepped aside, motioning for him to enter.
With a deep breath, Eren pushed open the doors.
---
The Headmaster's Office
The office was vast, lined with bookshelves stacked with ancient tomes. Intricate runes glowed faintly along the walls, creating an aura of authority and mystery.
At the center of the room stood Headmaster Alistair, his expression unreadable.
But Eren's attention was immediately drawn to the other figure in the room.
A man draped in a long, dark cloak stood beside the Headmaster. His very presence was suffocating—an oppressive weight in the air that sent shivers down Eren's spine.
His features were sharp, his eyes like twin black abysses that seemed to see beyond the physical realm. His posture was relaxed, yet every fiber of Eren's being screamed danger.
This was him.
The Seeker.
Eren masked his emotions, schooling his expression into neutrality.
The Seeker's lips curled into a barely perceptible smirk.
"Eren." The Headmaster's voice was calm, yet layered with something unreadable. "Do you know why you've been summoned?"
Eren met his gaze evenly. "No."
The Seeker stepped forward. His movements were smooth, calculated—like a predator studying its prey.
"An anomaly has been detected," he said, his voice smooth and controlled, yet carrying an underlying menace. "A power that should not exist within these walls."
Eren didn't flinch. "And you think I'm responsible?"
The Seeker's eyes narrowed slightly. "Do you deny having encountered anything… unnatural?"
A trap.
If he admitted anything, even slightly, the Seeker would dig deeper.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Eren said, keeping his voice calm but firm.
A moment of silence stretched between them.
Then, the Seeker chuckled—a soft, unsettling sound.
"Perhaps." His tone was light, but his gaze was razor-sharp. "Then you wouldn't mind if I took a closer look, would you?"
Before Eren could react, the Seeker raised his hand, dark energy rippling around his fingertips.
He's going to probe my soul.
A split-second decision.
Option 1: Allow it, risking exposure.
Option 2: Deflect it without making it seem suspicious.
He chose the second.
Subtly, he activated the Cursed Mark, suppressing its signature while letting a harmless trace of mana flow out—just enough to make it seem like he had a common magical affinity.
The Seeker's magic touched him, an invasive force pressing against his very being.
Then, after a long pause, it stopped.
"…Interesting." The Seeker's smirk grew slightly wider. "I see nothing out of the ordinary."
Eren fought the urge to exhale in relief.
The Headmaster nodded. "Then there is no need for further concern, is there?"
The Seeker tilted his head. "For now."
---
A Dangerous Game Begins
The meeting ended with the Headmaster dismissing Eren, but he knew this was only the beginning.
As he walked back through the academy halls, Lilia was already waiting for him at a secluded corner.
"What happened?" she whispered.
Eren's expression darkened.
"He tested me."
Lilia's eyes widened. "Did he—?"
"He didn't find anything," Eren reassured her. "But he's not convinced. He'll keep watching."
Lilia bit her lip. "Then what do we do now?"
Eren's gaze hardened.
"We find the traitor."
Because one thing was clear.
The Seeker hadn't come here on his own. Someone had pointed him in the right direction.
And Eren was going to find out who.