The Balance of Power

Evan sat cross-legged on his cot, the faint hum of his core reverberating in his mind. The two cores he had collected earlier were nestled securely in his satchel beside him, their faint glow barely noticeable in the dim light of his cabin. The forest hunt had been a success, but he wasn't ready to part with the cores just yet. They were valuable, not only for their potential use but as trophies of his progress. For now, they would remain his secret.

The night was still, save for the occasional rustle of the camp outside. Evan focused his attention inward, on refining his magic. The synergy between the Projection Engine and the Ember Engine had transformed his capabilities. Alone, each was formidable; together, they were extraordinary. But the power they granted came with risks. The camp already assumed his core was aligned with fire magic—anyone seeing him conjure projections out of nowhere would immediately question the truth of his abilities.

"I can't afford to draw attention," Evan thought, his expression serious. "I need to hide what I'm doing. Blend the projections with fire and embers, make it look like it's all coming from the same place."

Evan activated Simulate, feeding his nucleus detailed instructions. He began experimenting with ways to embed projections in flames, using fire as a visual and functional camouflage. Shields, weapons, and tools conjured by the Projection Engine could be made to appear as though they were wreathed in flames, their origins indistinguishable from fire magic.

He sketched mental prototypes, envisioning a flaming shield that would block an attack or a burning spear that could strike with precision. The trick was ensuring the fire wasn't just an illusion. It needed to enhance the projection while hiding its true nature.

Evan instructed his nucleus to test these combinations, simulating different configurations of energy flow between the two engines. The adjustments were small but significant, ensuring the fire and projections worked seamlessly together. Satisfied with the instructions, he left the simulations running and prepared for his nightly meditation.

Evan closed his eyes and entered the Shadowed Palace, the vast, dark expanse of his mind where his core and orb awaited. The orb of Runic Forging hovered before him, its glow steady and inviting. Over the past few days, this routine had become second nature—a nightly practice to refine his abilities and deepen his connection to his core.

He approached the orb, letting its light wash over him as he focused on the energy flowing through his body. Each session brought new insights, subtle improvements that sharpened his control and understanding. Tonight was no different. As the orb pulsed gently, Evan felt his mind clear, his thoughts centering on the challenges ahead.

"The engines, the marks, the fire magic," Evan thought. "Everything has to align perfectly. No wasted energy, no unnecessary risks."

The orb's glow seemed to intensify, as though responding to his determination. Evan stayed immersed in its light for what felt like hours, his focus unwavering.

Evan was jolted awake at dawn by the sound of frantic footsteps approaching his cabin. The door burst open, and Cedric stumbled in, his face red and his breathing labored. "Evan!" he gasped, bracing himself against the doorframe. "Things have changed. You need to listen."

Evan sat up, blinking away the haze of sleep. "Cedric? What's going on?"

Cedric straightened, still panting. "The intermediates—they haven't come back. The Tower's panicking, and now they've made missions mandatory. Every apprentice has to complete one mission a week. No exceptions."

Evan frowned, confused. "Mandatory? That's new. I've been paying my fees like everyone else. Why would they—"

Cedric cut him off. "It doesn't matter. People are already talking about expelling you. They're saying you've been avoiding missions for too long, that you're not contributing."

Evan's eyes narrowed. "That doesn't make sense. I've paid my dues."

Cedric hesitated, his expression troubled. "I don't think this is really about you, Evan. It's the intermediates—they're not here. The camp feels... exposed. Vulnerable. People are scared, and when people are scared, they look for someone to blame."

Evan frowned, his gaze sharpening. "And I'm the target?"

Cedric shrugged, but his face betrayed his unease. "It's not about them being angry at you, exactly. It's more like... they're looking for a way to feel in control again. You're not taking missions, so you're an easy example. They can point at you and say, 'See? That's why we're struggling.' It gives them something to focus on instead of the fact that we've got no intermediates here and Murkwalkers are getting closer."

Evan leaned against the cot, crossing his arms as he processed Cedric's words. It made sense. Without the intermediates—normally the backbone of the camp's defenses—everyone was feeling the pressure. And the Tower mandating weekly missions for every apprentice only added to the tension. But what made him stand out?

Then a thought struck him. Jonas.

"Of course," Evan muttered, his mind racing. Jonas had invited him to join his group weeks ago, and Evan hadn't given an answer. It wasn't an outright refusal, but in Jonas's world, silence could be taken as defiance. It was possible Jonas was subtly stoking the fires, using the camp's fears to push Evan into a corner.

"Evan?" Cedric asked, his tone cautious. "What are you thinking?"

Evan shook his head. "Doesn't matter. If they want me to take a mission, I'll take a mission. I've been keeping my head down, paying my dues. If that's not enough for them, I'll shut them up another way."

Cedric's face broke into a grin, his trust in Evan absolute. "Of course you will. And I know you'll crush it. Let's get to the mission board."

---

The mission board was packed with apprentices when Evan and Cedric arrived. Groups huddled together, scanning the listings and arguing over which tasks to take. The air was thick with tension, voices rising as some pushed for safer assignments while others demanded answers about the intermediates' absence.

Evan pushed his way to the front, his eyes moving over the board. There were far more group missions than usual, each marked with a note requiring multiple participants. It was odd—missions for novices were rarely structured this way. They were meant to be individual tasks, manageable and safe for one person.

Cedric spoke up, his voice calm but firm. "They're doing this because of the intermediates. Some of the riskier tasks are falling to us, and they don't want anyone going out alone. Groups make it safer... in theory."

Evan scanned the listings, his attention caught by one in particular: Patrol and Scout Northwest Woods – Investigate reports of unusual activity. The task was marked as high priority and required a group of six apprentices. It stood out from the usual low-priority collection tasks, and the mention of "unusual activity" hinted at real danger.

"This one," Evan said, pointing to the mission.

Cedric leaned closer, reading the description quickly. "The northwest woods? That's close to where they've seen Murkwalkers recently. You sure?"

Evan nodded, his expression calm. "I'll handle it."

Cedric's grin returned, his belief in Evan shining through. "If you say so, then I know you will. Let's get signed up."

Evan and Cedric stood silently among the group of six apprentices gathered for the mission. The tension was palpable. Lars and Ilyra, two of the more outspoken apprentices, eyed Evan and Cedric with thinly veiled skepticism. The other two, Callen and Mira, weren't as vocal, but their glances toward Cedric's small stature and Evan's perceived inexperience spoke volumes.

"Six people for a patrol mission," Lars muttered under his breath, loud enough for everyone to hear. "Must be serious if they're sending this many. Or maybe they're compensating for..." He let his gaze linger on Cedric and Evan before smirking.

Cedric, as always, didn't react to the jab. He stood confidently beside Evan, his calm demeanor unshaken. If Lars or the others thought he was dead weight, Cedric didn't care. Evan, on the other hand, felt the irritation bubbling beneath his skin but kept his expression neutral. He had nothing to prove to them—yet.

Callen adjusted his pack and cleared his throat. "We should get moving. The longer we stand here, the later we'll be out in the forest."

"Agreed," Mira said, glancing at Lars. "Let's focus on the mission instead of picking fights."

Evan gave Cedric a small nod, and the group set off into the dense trees.