AFTER THE TRIAL

THE TOWER'S JUDGEMENT...

Elias opened his eyes.

Pain shot through his body. His limbs felt like lead, his breath shallow. The cold stone beneath him was proof-he was still inside the tower of trials.

But something was different.

The whispers were gone. The overwhelming force pressing down on him had faded. The black crystal that had shown him his darkest future was shattered into dust.

Had he won?

The moment the thought crossed his mind-

BOOM.

The entire tower rumbled as the massive stone doors swung open.

Bright light poured inside.

And outside, the entire academy was waiting.

THE RETURN...

As Elias stepped out, the first thing he noticed was the silence.

Hundreds of students had gathered, watching with wide eyes, whispering in disbelief. Some looked shocked. Some.... terrified.

He knew why.

His robes were in tatters. His body was covered in cuts and bruises. Black energy still flickered around his fingers. He looked like someonewho had been through hell and barely crawled out.

"He survived".

"No one's passed the tower in years!"

"But...did you see his eyes? For a second, they looked-"

Elias ignored the whispers. His head was still spinning. His chest felt... hollow. The vision of the Dark king, of Seraphina's death, of his own power unleashed-it wouldn't leave him.

He needed time.

He needed answers.

But before he could take another step-

Vladis Arcanis appeared.

VLADIS'S VERDICT...

The headmaster didn't speak immediately, He just stared.

His piercing silver eyes studied Elias, as if peeling away ebery layer of his soul.

Elias met his gaze, refusing to look away.

Then-Vladis finally spoke.

"Tell me, Elias Nightshade-what did you see inside the tower?"

The question wasn't casual. It was a test.

Elias hesitated.

Should he tell the truth? That he had seen a future where he become a monster? Where he burned the academy to ashes? Where he killed Lucius-where he killed Seraphina?

His fists clenched . No.

"Nothing I couldn't handle." His voice was steady. Controlled.

For a moment, there was silence.

Then-Vladis smirked.

"Good".

Elias stiffened. He had expected doubt, suspician-but the headmaster seemed... pleased?

"Come to my office at sundown," Vladis said. "We have much to discuss."

And just like that, he turned amd walked away.

Elias didn't move.

"Much to discuss?"

What did that mean?

What did Vladis know?

SERAPHINA'S CONCERN...

As the crowd slowly broke apart, Elias felt a familiar presence beside him.

Seraphina.

Her eyes studied him carefully, concern flickering beneath her usual cold expression.

"You look like hell," she muttered.

Elias smirked, but it didn't reach his eyes. "Thanks".

She didn't smile back. Instead, she stepped closer. Too close.

"Your aura..." she whispered. "It's difficult."

Eliad tensed. "What do you mean?"

Seraphina didn't answer right away. Instead, she lifted her hand- her fingertips barely gazing his wrist.

The moment she touched him-

A spark of black energy flared between them.

Seraphina's eyes widened. She immediately pulled her hand back, her face pale.

"That power inside you," she whispered. "It's stronger now."

Elias didn't respond. He didn't need to. He could feel it too.

The darkness wasn't gone.

It was growing.

LUCIUS'S WARNING...

That night, as Elias walked through the academy corridors toward Vladis's office, a familiar voice stopped him.

"Nightshade".

He turned.

Lucius Vorn stood in the shadows, arms crossed, his golden eyes unreadable.

Elias sighed. "Here to tell me you'll kill me again?"

Lucius didnt take the bait.

Instead, he studied Elias- not with anger, but something else. Something colder.

"I don't know what happened inside that tower," he said finally. "But whatever it was... you're not the same person who walked in."

Lucius stepped forward, voice low. "You should be careful, Nightshade. Because whatever that power inside you... it's already starting to show."

Then, without another word, he disappeared into the night.

Elias watched him go, his mind racing.

Even Lucius could sense it.

The darkness wasn't leaving him.

It was becoming a part of him.

And deep down, Elias wasn't sure if he wanted to stop it.