The air inside the academy carried a strange mix of excitement and foreboding, a feeling that sat heavy on Kai's chest as he crossed the sprawling courtyard. Around him, clusters of students laughed and talked, their words blending into a white noise he couldn't focus on. This was his first day walking among the awakened, and the weight of his mask—both figuratively and literally—pressed down on him.
He adjusted his face covering nervously, careful not to draw attention. To everyone here, he was just another non-awakened student, perhaps one lucky enough to have slipped through the cracks of the system. But Kai knew better. In the shadows of his mind, Tebu hummed faintly, its presence both reassuring and ominous.
"Host, a reminder: keep your power hidden," Tebu's mechanical voice advised.
Kai's lips twitched under the mask. "Like I needed the reminder," he muttered.
As he approached the lecture hall, a series of hushed conversations caught his attention. He slowed his steps, pretending to adjust the straps of his bag, and tilted his head slightly to listen.
"They're saying it was some kind of abnormal system," a girl whispered to her friend.
"Yeah, but the enforcers handled it. That's what they're for, right?" the boy replied.
"No, you don't get it. They're calling it 'the masked anomaly.' If they find out who it is…"
Kai clenched his fists inside his pockets. His every instinct screamed at him to walk away, but his feet stayed rooted. The masked anomaly—was that him? The thought chilled him to the core.
The conversation ended as the pair disappeared into the crowd. Kai took a deep breath and forced himself to continue forward. He knew now that the academy wasn't just a school; it was a hive of watchful eyes, any one of which could unmask him.
---
The lecture hall was vast, with rows of ascending seats filled with students. Holographic displays hovered at the front, cycling through images of abilities and their classifications. Kai slid into a seat near the back, keeping his head low.
Professor Arwin, a middle-aged man with sharp eyes and an authoritative presence, began the lesson. "Today, we'll discuss the categorization of systems and the dangers of unregulated power," he said, his voice steady and commanding.
Kai tuned out the lecture, his thoughts spinning. The academy might see systems as tools to control and regulate, but to him, Tebu was more than that—it was survival, a lifeline that kept him alive in a world that didn't care if he drowned.
His focus snapped back as the professor brought up a hologram of a strange, shadowy creature.
"This," Arwin said, "is an example of an otherworldly entity. These beings are often associated with abnormal systems, the kind of power that disrupts the balance we work so hard to maintain."
The room buzzed with murmurs of intrigue and fear. Kai stared at the image, a cold sweat breaking out on his back. It looked disturbingly similar to the early form of his own creature.
---
That evening, Kai retreated to an isolated training area outside the main campus. The moon hung low in the sky, casting an eerie glow over the deserted field. He activated Tebu, feeling the familiar surge of energy as his creature materialized from the shadows.
It stood before him, its form still incomplete, shifting and unstable. Its glowing eyes fixed on Kai, a silent question in their depths.
"Host, an evolution pathway is now available," Tebu informed him.
Kai hesitated. Evolution sounded like progress, but every step forward came with risk. He crouched in front of his creature, reaching out to touch its translucent surface. It felt cool under his fingers, like a shadow given form.
"You ready for this?" he asked softly.
The creature's form rippled in response, as if understanding his words.
The process began with a low hum, a vibration that seemed to resonate through Kai's very bones. The creature writhed and twisted, its shape elongating and refining. Tendrils of shadow coalesced into limbs, a vaguely humanoid silhouette taking shape.
Kai's chest tightened as the creature let out a distorted cry, its pain echoing in his mind. He gritted his teeth, forcing himself to stay calm. This wasn't just an upgrade—it was a transformation, one that demanded something from both of them.
When the light faded, the creature stood taller, its form more solid yet still alien. It looked at Kai with eyes that now held a spark of intelligence.
"Host," Tebu said, "the creature has evolved successfully. Its capabilities have increased, but so has the risk of instability."
Kai nodded, exhaustion washing over him. He reached out again, and this time, the creature didn't flinch. It leaned into his touch, a gesture that felt strangely… human.
"Good job," he whispered.
---
As he walked back to the dorms, Kai's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of footsteps behind him. He froze, his hand instinctively moving to his side.
"You're not as invisible as you think," a voice said, calm and measured.
Kai turned slowly to find a figure standing in the shadows, their features obscured by the dim light.
"Who are you?" Kai demanded, his voice steady despite the adrenaline coursing through him.
The figure chuckled. "Someone who knows what you're hiding. And someone who can help you—if you're willing to listen."
The chapter ends with Kai narrowing his eyes, unsure whether this stranger is a threat or an ally.