Ak_69

Meet Kieran, a 12-year-old street urchin with a secret - dark powers and even darker dreams. Haunted by the memory of his sister Sara's tragic death at the hands of a noble, Kieran is determined to dismantle the nobility's oppressive power structure that allowed her killer to go unpunished. His goal: create a world where the powerful can no longer harm the vulnerable without consequences.

When he stumbles upon Wells' mysterious grimoire, Kieran forms an unexpected bond with an ancient entity, gaining formidable abilities at a dangerous cost - his own life force. As he grows stronger, he becomes determined to master this entity, seeking a way to rewrite the terms of their arrangement and keep the power without paying the ultimate price.

Juggling life as an assassin in the shadows, he eventually earns a spot at the prestigious Academy. Behind its hallowed walls, he hunts for forgotten knowledge that might free him from the parasitic bond while maintaining access to the dark powers he needs for his mission.

Using clever tricks to hide his true abilities from professors and peers alike, Kieran carefully navigates the very institution that trains the elite he despises. By day, he studies ancient texts and rare magic; by night, he strikes from the darkness, targeting corrupt nobles one by one.

But as his life force continues to drain and the darkness within him grows, a haunting question emerges: In his quest to change the world and master forbidden magic, will he survive long enough to see his vision realized, or will the very powers he sought to control ultimately consume him?

Villain With A Side Quest

The moment the ice surged toward him, Kieran moved.

The cold struck his legs first—a creeping frost that numbed his muscles before he could react. The battlefield transformed in an instant; where solid stone had stood, now stretched a treacherous sheet of ice, smooth and unforgiving.

Diana wasted no time. Her hands wove sharp, efficient movements, bending the frozen battlefield to her will with practiced precision.

*She controls everything in this space.* The realization settled in Kieran's gut like a cold stone. *This isn't just about freezing me—it's about control.*

He barely registered the next attack before another wave of ice surged forward—jagged shards forming like crystalline spears aimed at his chest. Kieran twisted, dropping low, but his boots betrayed him on the slick surface. He lost his footing for half a second—just enough for a glancing hit to slice across his arm.

The Ice Mage's Challenge