Chapter 26: The Veil of Dominion

A cold wind swept through the ruined corridors, carrying the scent of damp earth and ancient stone. The faint glow of the moon filtered through shattered stained-glass windows, casting fractured beams of silver across the floor. My footsteps were soundless against the cracked marble, my senses attuned to the whispers of power lingering in the air.

The academy had always been a battlefield, not of swords and blood, but of influence and survival. Tonight, I stood on the precipice of something greater—something that had lurked within me all along.

The mark on my skin pulsed, sending a jolt of raw energy coursing through my veins. I clenched my fists, steadying my breath. It wasn't pain this time, but something far more profound. The Cursed Mark was awakening, responding to the weight of my resolve.

A flicker of movement in the distance. I stilled.

Shadows twisted along the far end of the hallway, coiling like living tendrils. A presence lurked beyond sight, concealed within the veil of darkness. My heart didn't race—I had expected them.

"Come out," I said, my voice cutting through the silence.

A chuckle answered, low and edged with amusement. "You sensed me faster than before."

From the shadows stepped a figure cloaked in black, his presence an echo of the power that resonated through these halls. His golden eyes gleamed beneath his hood, studying me with curiosity.

"I thought you'd be struggling to stand after last night," he continued, tilting his head. "Yet here you are, still standing. Stronger."

I met his gaze without flinching. "Was that your intent? To watch me break?"

His smile was unreadable. "Not break—change."

Power crackled in the air between us, an unspoken challenge. He had been testing me, pushing me beyond my limits. And perhaps... I had done the same to myself.

"You've been chosen by the curse," he murmured, stepping closer. "But do you even understand what that means?"

The mark on my arm burned, but I did not waver. "I understand enough."

He exhaled, a hint of something unreadable in his expression. "Then show me."

His fingers twitched, and the shadows around him surged forward, lashing out like sentient chains. I moved before they could touch me, my instincts honed by battles fought in silence. My body blurred into motion, slipping through the attack with ease.

I struck.

A burst of dark energy erupted from my palm, colliding with his defense. He staggered back, eyes widening slightly as the force of my attack forced him to retreat a step.

"Impressive," he admitted. "But not enough."

With a flick of his wrist, the shadows twisted again, forming jagged spears that shot toward me. I raised my hand, the mark igniting with raw power. The air trembled as an unseen force swirled around me, deflecting the attack with a single motion.

This time, it was his turn to be caught off guard.

The mark on my body was no longer just a brand—it was a weapon, a force that had finally begun to heed my command.

For a moment, there was silence. Then, he laughed.

"Good. Very good." He lowered his arms, the shadows retreating as if acknowledging a greater power. "You're starting to understand."

I didn't respond, but I knew he was right. The power within me was no longer something I feared. It was something I controlled.

"Keep growing," he said, stepping back into the darkness. "Because next time, I won't hold back."

And then, he was gone.

I stood alone in the ruins, my breath steady, my power thrumming beneath my skin.

This was only the beginning.

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Final Words

Thank you for supporting my journey in Cursed Mark: Rise of the Forgotten Prince. Your encouragement means everything, and I promise to bring you an even greater story with each chapter. Keep following, and let's uncover the mysteries together!