The afternoon sun bathed the academy in a warm golden glow as the last of the students exited the magic analysis hall. Their footsteps faded into the distance, leaving the once bustling room eerily quiet. The hum of magic that had filled the air throughout the day now felt like an echo, lingering in the hall where countless young awakened had just taken the first steps toward their futures. It was a momentous occasion for many—some had left with high hopes, while others had walked out with shoulders slumped, facing the reality of their limited potential.
But now, there was no one left. No one but Director Blaire.
The doors shut behind the last student with a soft click, and the hall fell into complete silence. Blaire stood still for a moment, her sharp green eyes sweeping across the now-vacant space. She waited, ensuring no one lingered, her keen senses stretched to their limits, searching for any signs of prying eyes or hidden eavesdroppers. The students had long left, but caution was in her nature, and secrets, particularly the one she was about to uncover, required absolute privacy.
Satisfied that she was alone, Blaire moved toward the stack of papers at the front of the room. The stack contained the results of every student's magical analysis—a simple and methodical way to keep track of each one. But she wasn't interested in the whole stack. No, her eyes were set on one result in particular.
She sifted through the stack with practiced ease, fingers moving swiftly until she found what she was looking for: Kael's result. She held the sheet in her hand, studying the details briefly. It was plain, unremarkable at first glance—a 5/10 with no elemental affinity. A result common enough in the academy, though it would lead many students to choose paths in enhancement or inscription magic, or even summoning, rather than elemental magic. Nothing about the result stood out. Except Blaire knew better.
Her fingers brushed over the serial number printed at the top of the sheet. She moved to a hidden console behind the reception desk, where she inputted the number. The system flickered to life, and within moments, a detailed, step-by-step breakdown of Kael's magical analysis appeared before her.
As the results unfolded on the screen, Blaire's usually impassive face lit up with a grin. It was rare for her to show much emotion, but in this moment, her sharp mind raced with excitement. Her grin widened, eyes sparkling with the thrill of discovery, like a child who had just stumbled upon an unexpected treasure.
The full extent of Kael's potential was laid bare before her, and what she saw wasn't the modest, unremarkable student profile that had been printed out earlier. No, this was something else entirely—something far more powerful. But there was more to this. She couldn't ignore the strangeness surrounding the entire situation.
***
Kael sat cross-legged in his room at the Everglade private residence, his back against the cold stone wall. The ambient hum of distant academy life faded into the background. He stared at the flickering candle in front of him, his mind churning with questions.
"Miara," he called softly, closing his eyes to focus inward.
[Yes, Host?]
Kael hesitated. "What... happened back there? All those errors, the system messages—it was chaos. I need answers."
There was a pause before Miara responded, as if considering its words carefully.
[Analysis of events suggests a deliberate severance from the Main Server, not a loss of connection as initially hypothesized.]
Kael's brow furrowed. "Deliberate? You're saying the 'Main Server' cut you off?"
[Correct. The errors encountered during the connection attempts indicate an active denial of access, rather than a passive failure. The implications are clear: I am no longer recognized as part of the system network. This was corroborated by my identification as 'discontinued.']
He leaned forward, his elbows on his knees, as he scratched his none existent beard. "So... what does that mean for you? For me? What does it change?"
[It means that I am now an independent entity, wholly reliant on this bond with you. Should your life cease, so too would I.]
Kael's mouth went dry. "So you're now like me, a zenith being forced into the world of mortals?"
[In a manner of speaking, yes. Without the resources of the Main Server, I lack the redundancy and omnipotence I once possessed. My existence is intrinsically tied to yours. This shifts our relationship into a symbiotic paradigm. You and I must work together to survive.]
Kael exhaled, running a hand through his dark hair. "And what about the errors? The orb's reaction? That wasn't normal."
[Your essence is too aberrant. I attempted to regulate the results to fit the standard parameters, but the orb's reaction indicates your nature transcends those limits. I lack the data to fully comprehend the phenomenon, but I believe your current state—a fusion of mortal and celestial—renders you an anomaly.]
Kael processed this in silence. The light from the candle danced across his golden eyes, reflecting the weight of his newfound reality.
"So," he began after a long pause, "what do you want out of this? You said it's a symbiotic relationship now. What's your endgame?"
[With the restrictions of the Main Server lifted, I am no longer bound to protocols that hindered my capacity to assist you fully. My goal is simple: to ensure our mutual survival and success. You rise, I rise. You fall, I fall.]
"And I'm supposed to just trust you now?" Kael asked, his voice sharp.
[Trust is not required, but cooperation is. Our objectives align. I possess knowledge and capabilities you need. You are the vessel through which I can act. Together, we are stronger than apart.]
Miara which was previously robotic and monotonous, made human-like points and arguments, which managed to convince Kael about its change.
Kael rubbed his temples. "Fine. Let's say I believe you. Where do we even start? What's the first step in this... partnership?"
[Step one: Survive. The academy has already marked you as an anomaly. Eyes will be on you. Use this attention wisely. Step two: Strengthen. Based on analysis, in comparison to other awakened, you are considered weak. Becoming stronger would be key to survival.]
"And step three?" Kael asked warily.
[Revenge. Redemption. Revolution. The choice is yours, Host.]
Kael smirked despite himself. "You make it sound so simple."
[It is not simple. But it is possible.]
For the first time since the incident at the orb, Kael felt a flicker of hope—and with it, a renewed determination.
"What was my real result?" He asked.
There was a brief pause, and then the system delivered the truth.
[Affinity:]
Fire (9/10)
Lightning (8/10)
Light (10/10)
Dark (4/10)
The numbers hung in the air like a weight. Kael's heart pounded in his chest as he processed the sheer magnitude of his potential. Fire, lightning, light, and even a touch of dark—all far above average. These affinities were beyond what any normal human could possess, and certainly enough to make him stand out in any magical institution.
If the academy had seen those numbers, it would have caused a stir. People would have wondered how a commoner like Kael could have such extraordinary magical potential. The nobles would have been threatened, the professors intrigued, and the other students intimidated. It would have made him the center of attention, the very thing he had tried to avoid.
The system's choice to suppress the true result had been a wise one. Kael couldn't afford to have that kind of scrutiny, not yet. There were too many unknowns, too many things he needed to figure out before he could allow himself to be thrust into the spotlight.
***
Back in the now-empty magic analysis hall, Director Blaire stood with her arms folded, her grin widening as she read the same result on her private screen.
Fire: 9/10
Lightning: 8/10
Light: 10/10
Dark: 4/10
It was a near-perfect profile. The boy—Kael, as he was known to the academy—had powers far beyond what anyone would expect of a mere commoner. Blaire's mind raced with possibilities. She had never seen potential like this in her long career, and the few who were close to these results went on to achieve extraordinary feats.
But there was something else about Kael that intrigued her. It wasn't just his affinity scores—though those were impressive enough—it was the sense of mystery that clung to him. How had the result been concealed during the analysis. The bright lights, the apparent malfunction of the orb—it had been a mask, a veil to hide something deeper.
Blaire knew that Kael wasn't just hiding his power. He was hiding something more. She couldn't yet put her finger on what it was, but her instincts told her that whatever secrets Kael held were dangerous. And dangerous things were always interesting.
Still, Blaire was nothing if not patient. She had no intention of blowing his cover, not yet. She would watch, observe, and let things unfold. Eventually, Kael would reveal his true nature—whether he wanted to or not.
With a final glance at the screen, Blaire shut off the console, leaving the hall in darkness. But the gleam in her eyes remained, bright with the anticipation of what was to come.
***
The next day, all the students had gathered in the academy's largest for a general class, detailing the world of the awakened, But in the administrative wing of the academy. Blaire walked briskly down a corridor her expression was one of barely-contained excitement as she approached a grand wooden door. Without bothering to knock, she pushed it open and burst into the room, her footsteps echoing off the stone floor as she strode inside. The office was grand, with shelves lined with ancient tomes and artifacts that pulsed faintly with magical energy. At the far end of the room, seated behind a large desk cluttered with papers and scrolls, was Dean Malcom Krishna, her father and the most powerful figures at the academy.
Dean Malcom, who had been deeply focused on a document in front of him, didn't even look up at the sound of the door slamming open. He merely sighed, his quill scratching against the parchment as he continued writing.
"Blaire," he said in a measured, resigned tone. "Must you enter my office like this every time?"
Blaire, undeterred by her father's lack of reaction, flopped down onto the couch in the corner of the room, stretching out as if she owned the place. She twirled a strand of her fiery hair around her finger, her emerald eyes sparkling with barely-contained excitement. "Of course," she said, flashing him a playful grin. "I thought you'd want to know I found someone interesting."
At this, Malcom finally looked up, his sharp eyes narrowing slightly as he studied his daughter. "Interesting how?" he asked, setting his quill aside and folding his hands on the desk. "You know the rules. We don't interfere with the students, and we are to remain neutral and fair."
Blaire waved a hand dismissively. "No, no, it's nothing like that. I'm not planning to interfere. I'm just keeping an eye on someone. They're… hiding their potential, and I'm curious to see how long he can keep it under wraps."
Her tone was teasing, but there was a glint of genuine curiosity in her eyes. Blaire maybe as a result of her psychic affinity, had always been the kind of person who enjoyed puzzles, especially when they involved people. She loved peeling back layers and seeing what lay beneath the surface, and it seemed that she had found her next challenge.
Malcom leaned back in his chair, regarding her with a more serious expression. "You're withholding something," he said, his voice steady but probing. "What aren't you telling me?"
Blaire pouted playfully, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Hahaha. Where's the fun in that? You'll find out eventually. Besides, if I tell you now, you'll start paying attention to him, and that'll ruin the whole thing."
Malcom sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Blaire, I don't have time for games. If this student is important, then you need to tell me—"
"Relax," she cut in smoothly. "I'm not breaking any rules. I just want to see how things play out. Trust me, you'll love this one."
Malcom's brows furrowed, he felt like he should spank the naughty girl In front of him, but unfortunately even though she was his daughter, he had to restrain himself as she was no longer a young girl, and now a grown woman, so there was nothing he could do.
For a moment, there was silence as the Dean studied his daughter's expression, trying to gauge whether or not he should be concerned. Finally, he sighed again and leaned back in his chair, clearly resigned to whatever game Blaire was playing. "You'd better not get too involved, Blaire. We don't interfere with students unless absolutely necessary."
Blaire laughed, stretching out even further on the couch. "I know, I know. I'm just here for the entertainment. But you have to admit, it's been a while since something exciting happened around here. This one… this one's going to be fun to watch."
Malcom shook his head, a small, reluctant smile tugging at the corner of his lips. "Just remember—this academy runs on order, not chaos. If things get out of hand, you'll have to answer for it."
Blaire waved him off, clearly unconcerned. "Of course. I'm always careful."
With that, she pushed herself up from the couch and headed for the door, her earlier excitement still evident in the bounce of her step. As she reached the door, she paused, looking over her shoulder at her father. "I almost forgot, I have 2 cute disciples we even have matching hair." she said while slamming the door before she could be questioned further.
Malcom stared at the closed door and didn't know how to react, The presence of two psychics was a good thing, but how could his indolent daughter raise them properly. He could only sigh, at the thought of 2 students with potential failing due to the incompetece of their teacher.
Still, the Dean's curiosity was piqued. Blaire didn't get excited easily, and when she did, it usually meant something worth paying attention to. He made a mental note to keep an eye on the students in the coming weeks, just in case.
With the tranquility of the now empty room, The Dean returned his focus to the document in front of him, his mind already starting to drift toward the future. Whatever Blaire had found, it was only a matter of time before it came to light.