THE CONSEQUENCES OF POWER

THE RETURN TO REALITY...

Elias's breath was steady. His fingers tightened around the ring as he stood in Vladis's office, his body still reeling from what had kust happened.

The betrayer's words echoed in his mind-

" Defeat yourself or be erased."

He had done it. He had faced his darkest self and survived. But something stil felt... wrong.

Like a door had been opened inside him. And he wasn't sure if he could close it.

VLADIS OBSERVES...

Vladis remained silent, his silver eyes calculating as he observed Elias.

Then- he smiled.

" fascinating."

Elias looked up sharply. "You knew this would happen."

Vladis tilted his head slightly, as if amised. " of course. Power always come at a cost."

Elias clenched his jaw. " what did you do to me?"

" I didn't do anything," Vladis corrected. " the ring simply revealed what was already inside you.

The question- is how did you feel now?"

Elias hesitated.

How did he feel?

Stronger? Yes. But also... different. As if something inside him had shifted.

Like the shadows no longer whispered to him from afar.

They were now part of him.

SERAPHINA'S SUSPICION...

Before Elias good respond, the door swung open-Seraphina entered.

Her gaze immediately locked into him.

Not Vladis. Not the ring.

Him.

"You changed".

Elias frowned. " what are you talking about?"

Seraphina stepped closer, her eyes narrowed. "Your aura. It's not the same as before."

Elias opened his mouth to deny it- but then he stopped.

Because she was right.

He could feel it to.

The power inside him wasn't just lurking anymore.

It was awake.

THE ACADEMY REACTS...

The moment Elias stepped out of Vladis's office, he could feel it-

The stairs.

The whispers.

Students who had once ignored him now stepped a side as he passed.

Some looked curious.

Others afraid.

But the one thing they all had in common ?

They knew something had changed.

And Elias.... didn't hate it.

For the first time Since entering Arcane Crown Academy-

He wasn't invisible.

LUCIUS'S CHALLENGE...

As Elias walked toward the training grounds, he heard a familiar voice behind him.

"You look different, Nightshade."

Elias turned.

Lucius Vorn stood there, arms crossed.

Elias sighed. "No, not again".

Lucius studied him carefully. His usual arrogance was still there, but beneath it- there was something else.

Uncertainty.

Hesitation.

And then, something Elias hadn't expected-

"Fight me."

Elias blinked. "What?"

Lucius stepped forward, his golden eyes burning.

"Whatever happened inside that tower, I want to see if for myself."

The challenge hung in the air.

Elias could feel his own power thrumming Beneath his skin, eager.

For the first time, a fight with Lucius didn't feel like an annoyance.

It felt like an opportunity.

Elias smirked.

"Fine".

THE FIGHT BEGINS...

A crowd had already started together. Words spread fast at Arcane Crown Academy and the moment Lucius challenged Elias whispers turned into excited murmurs.

"Is this really happening?"

"Lucius lost last time...but that was before Elias changed."

" this isn't just a fight- it's a statement."

Elias rolled his shoulders, feeling the energy Humming Beneath his skin. It felt different now. More stable. More controlled.

Across from him Lucius ignited his Flames. Golden fire swirled around his fists, crackling with raw power.

"No holding back this time, Nightshade," Lucius said. His voice was calm, but his stance was tense.

Elias smirked. "Good. I was hoping you'd say that."

BOOM!

Lucius attacked first. Flames erupted Beneath his feet as he dashed forward, moving like a comet.

Elias sidestepped at the last second, the heat licking his skin as Lucius's fist slammed into the ground, leaving a crater.

The crowd gasped.

He dogged that so easily?"

Lucius didn't hesitate- his spun, his other fist engulfed in Fire, aiming straight for Elias's ribs.

Elias lifted a single hand.

And caught the punch.

The impact sent a shockwave through the training Grounds, but Elias didn't move an inch.

Lucius's eyes widened.

"What?"

Elias looked down at his own hand- black lightning crackled around his fingers absorbing The Heat.

"You're slower than I remember," Elias said, voice even.

Lucius gritted his teeth and leapt back, creating distance.

But Elias didn't let him breathe.

The moment Lucius's feet touched the ground-

Elias disappeared.

Or at least that's how it looked to the crowd.

One second he was standing still.

The next -

He was right in front of Lucius.

And this time, Elias attacked first.

THE POWER UNLEASHED...

His punch landed clean, hitting Lucius in the stomach with enough Force to send him skidding backward across the field.

Lucius coughed, his flames flickering.

"What the hell..?" He wiped his mouth, glaring up at Elias.

The students watching were stunned.

"Since when was Elias this fast?"

" this is different. he's different."

Elias flexed his fingers. He could feel the power flowing naturally now. The hesitation he had before? gone.

Lucius's flames surged again.

"Don't get cocky, Nightshade."

Elias grinned. "Then stop holding back".

Lucius roared, is Golden Flames exploding outward-this time, he wasn't just throwing punches.

He raised both hands, chanting something under his breath.

The air around them twisted, heat warping the space. Then-

A massive fireStorm erupted.

A CLASH THAT SHAKES THE ACADEMY...

Elias's instincts screamed at him to move, but instead-he lifted his hand.

He didn't dodged. He absorbed.

The flame surged towards him, but the black lightning around his body flickered to life. Instead of consuming him, the fire twisted, blending unnaturally around his aura, as of refusing to touch him.

Lucius's Eyes widened in shock.

"Impossible."

Elias stepped forward-through the fire.

The moment he emerged from the flame untouched, a collective gasped rippled through the crowd.

Lucius hesitated for just a second.

It was enough.

Elias struck.

CRACK!

One precise hit- not brute force, but pure ,controlled power- sent Lucius flying across the training field.

He hit the ground hard, rolling to a stop.

Silence.

Then-

Lucius coughed and forced himself to his feet.

He was wounded, exhausted but still Standing.

And then- he laughed.

Elias frowned. "What's so funny?"

Lucous wiped blood from his lip, his Golden eyes sharp.

"You're finally worth fighting."

And then- he fell unconscious.

The match was over.

Elias had won.

Again.

AFTERMATH...

The training field was dead silent.

No one spoke.

No one move.

Then-

The first student whispered.

"Elias Nightshade just beat Lucius....again."

A second voice.

"This isn't luck. He's really changed."

A third.

"Maybe...maybe He's even stronger than Lucius now."

The realization spread like Wildfire.

Elias didn't kust ein.

He had dominated.

And now- the entire Academy knew it.

As Elias turned to leave, he caught sight of Seraphina watching him from a distance.

Her arms were crossed.

Her face unreadable.

But her eyes they were filled with something new.

Not fear .

Worry.