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

As the door closed behind Master Chen, Kieran remained still, deep in the healing sleep the infirmary staff had induced. But beneath closed eyelids, his eyes moved rapidly, as if witnessing scenes invisible to others.

And in the depths of his unconscious mind, a voice that was not his own continued to whisper, patient and persistent, willing to wait for the next time Kieran's need outweighed his caution.

In his office, Master Chen composed a brief notice to be posted to the Headmaster:

Following the conclusion of the First-Year vs. Second-Year Tournament, the Academy faculty has selected the following students to represent Arcaneum in the upcoming Interschool Competition:

He paused, quill hovering over the parchment, before adding a final name:

Pawns in Motion