Shadows in the Vault

Kyros' day had been progressing with its usual blend of subtle scheming and overblown theatrics—a fine art he'd mastered since his reincarnation. He was halfway through a riveting mental exercise of calculating the exact angle required to balance a spoon on its edge when the academy's loudspeakers crackled to life.

'Attention, students!

All access to the vault is hereby suspended until further notice. Headmaster Protos requests the presence of Kyros Polemistes in his office immediately.'

Kyros raised an eyebrow. 'That's never a good tone,' he muttered to himself. 

He pocketed his spoon experiment with a dramatic flourish and made his way to the Headmaster's office, whistling an ominous tune for effect.

The Headmaster's office, a room as imposing as the man himself, was adorned with symbols of divine allegiance. Massive columns stretched to the ceiling, each etched with depictions of the gods' victories over mortals. Kyros resisted the urge to roll his eyes as he entered.

Headmaster Protos stood behind his desk, a towering figure with a permanent scowl etched into his face. His piercing gaze locked onto Kyros as soon as he stepped inside. Beside him, several faculty members whispered among themselves, their expressions a mix of unease and confusion.

'Kyros Polemistes,' Protos began, his voice sharp. 

'You recently requested access to the academy's vault, did you not?'

Kyros' lips curled into a faint smile. 

'Indeed, Headmaster. Curiosity is a scholar's finest virtue.'

'Spare me the theatrics,' Protos snapped. 

'The vault… has been compromised.'

Kyros raised an eyebrow, his expression carefully neutral. 

'Compromised? That's an interesting choice of words. Please enlighten this humble student with your wisdom, Headmaster.'

'Destroyed is more accurate!' one of the faculty members interjected. 

'Books and relics—centuries old—reduced to ash and rubble. We found traces of… unnatural energy. And you, Kyros, were the last person to access the vault!'

Kyros placed a hand over his chest, feigning outrage. 

'I am wounded by such baseless accusations! Would I, a mere student, desecrate this temple of knowledge?'

Protos' eyes narrowed. 

'Then explain why your signature is the last one recorded before the destruction.'

Kyros paused for effect, tapping his chin thoughtfully. 

'Ah, that! You see, Headmaster, I've recently taken up an interest in…' He gestured vaguely, 'alchemy. 

I was studying texts on containment spells for volatile materials. It's possible one of the wards in the vault was… how shall I put it… improperly maintained?'

'Improperly maintained?' Protos repeated, his voice laced with disbelief.

Kyros nodded solemnly. 

'Yes. Neglect is a silent killer, Headmaster. Perhaps it's time to consider a full audit of the vault's wards.'

Several faculty members exchanged uneasy glances, and Kyros could see the seeds of doubt taking root.

Protos stepped closer, his presence looming. 

'Do you take me for a fool, Kyros? There's more to this than mere neglect. I sense divine interference.'

Kyros tilted his head, his smile faint but ever-present. 

'Divine interference? In this esteemed institution? Surely, you jest. The gods wouldn't deign to meddle in such mortal affairs.'

Protos' scowl deepened. 

'Enough! Until this matter is resolved, your access to restricted areas is revoked. And you'll be monitored closely.'

Kyros gave a dramatic bow. 

'As you command, Headmaster. I shall endeavor to stay out of trouble.'

Protos turned to one of the faculty members. 

'Ensure the vault is sealed with the highest wards. If divine energy lingers, we must uncover its source.'

As Kyros exited the office, his sharp mind raced. The Headmaster's suspicions weren't entirely unfounded. He had indeed discovered something unsettling in the vault, but its destruction wasn't his doing. At least, not directly.

That evening, Kyros sat cross-legged on his dormitory floor. The room's shadows seemed to deepen as he examined the fragment he'd retrieved from the vault. Small and glowing, it pulsed with a quiet energy that felt both familiar and unsettling.

'What's your secret?' Kyros mused, turning it over. 

He felt echoes of something—distant whispers or memories just out of reach. Before he could probe deeper, a knock broke the silence.

He quickly wrapped the fragment in cloth and tucked it away. When he opened the door, Alethea stood there, arms crossed and her gaze piercing.

'We need to talk about what happened in the vault,' she said, stepping inside. 

Her gaze was sharp, searching his face for answers. 

'What are you hiding?' 'That surge of energy—it wasn't normal.'

Kyros leaned casually against the doorframe, smirking. 

'If by "not normal" you mean "interesting," then yes, I wholeheartedly agree.'

Alethea turned to face him fully, her expression serious. 

'Kyros, don't play coy. We were both in that vault, and we both felt it. That energy—it wasn't just a relic acting up.'

Kyros shrugged. 

'Relics tend to have dramatic personalities. It adds to their charm.'

Her expression didn't waver. 

'The Headmaster is suspicious. He thinks divine forces are involved. If you're hiding something, this could get dangerous.'

Kyros' smirk softened into something unreadable. 

'Dangerous? Alethea, if I started worrying about every suspicious look Protos throws my way, I'd never get anything done.'

'This isn't about Protos,' she said, stepping closer. 

'You found something, didn't you? I saw the way you moved before the collapse. You knew where to look.'

For a moment, Kyros said nothing, letting the silence stretch just enough to make her uncomfortable. Then he moved to his desk, retrieving the cloth-wrapped fragment. He unwrapped it slowly, letting its glow fill the room.

Alethea's breath hitched. 

'That… doesn't feel like any relic I've encountered before.'

'Because it isn't,' Kyros replied, his tone measured. 

'This fragment is ancient—older than the academy, older than some of the gods we revere. It doesn't belong here.'

Alethea's gaze flicked between Kyros and the fragment. 

'And you just… took it?'

'Would you prefer I left it to crumble under the vault's collapse?' Kyros asked lightly. 

'How heartless of you.'

She shot him a sharp look but didn't press the point. 

'What are you planning to do with it?'

Kyros tilted his head, studying her. 

'I haven't decided. But one thing's clear: this fragment is important. Important enough to warrant divine attention.'

Alethea's eyes widened slightly. 'If the gods think you're meddling—'

Kyros cut her off, his smirk returning with a hint of defiance. 

'Then they'll just have to deal with me.'

Far above, a Greater God watched the scene unfold. Its luminous form pulsed faintly, its voice resonating through the fabric of the heavens.

'The Godslayer stirs,' it mused. 

'Let us see how far his defiance will take him.'

Back in his dormitory, Kyros set the fragment on his desk. Its glow intensified, and the air in the room seemed to hum. Without warning, it projected a shimmering map onto the wall. A single mark pulsed, a beacon leading to an unknown destination.

Kyros stared at the map, his curiosity ignited. 

'Well, this just got a lot more interesting.'

The map flickered once before vanishing, leaving only the steady glow of the fragment. Kyros sat back, a small, dangerous smile playing on his lips.

'Looks like the game's just begun.'