The invitation

Ken narrowed his eyes as he stared at the woman standing in front of his father. Her presence felt overwhelming, almost as if time itself bent around her.

In a low voice, his father spoke.

"Why are you here, Witch of Curses? Or should I call you... Witch of Time?"

The woman smirked. "Oh~ still the same as ever, Rick." She stepped forward, her son following behind. "I'm here to offer your son a special admission to my academy. My son, Hel, is the same age as him—seventeen. I figured they could go together."

Rick was silent for a moment before sighing. "…Come inside first."

The woman and her son, Hel, took a seat at the dining table opposite Ken.

"I'm an old friend of your father," she said, her voice smooth yet unreadable. "Back when he was still an active necromancer. This time, I've come to invite you to my academy—KIPS."

Ken's eyes widened.

"KIPS? The most prestigious academy in the Undead Continent? It practically controlled half the land, and he was being given a direct admission?" Ken though,

But there was one problem…

"But... I haven't even opened my core yet. How can I enter an academy like that?"

Rick nodded in agreement. "He's right. He's never trained as a necromancer. Sending him there now would be—"

"Relax, Rick~" the woman interrupted with a playful tone. "He still has a week, doesn't he? That's enough time to open his core. He can learn the rest at the academy."

Rick exhaled. "His opinion matters the most. Ken, this will be a difficult path. Are you sure about this?"

Ken clenched his fists. "I want to go, Father. I want to become stronger… to learn the truth about my mother. Didn't you always say I was too weak to know about her?"

The woman chuckled. "Oh~ so you still haven't told him, Rick?"

Rick's expression darkened. "What would be the point? Knowing won't change anything." He turned back to Ken. "If you've made up your mind, I won't stop you."

"Good," the woman said. "Ken, meet my son. His name is Hel. You'll be in the same year at the academy—maybe even classmates."

Ken smiled. "Nice to meet you, Hel. My name is Rick—"

"You better not disappoint me… Son of the Devil," Hel said coldly.

"Hel, be nice," his mother scolded. "I have a feeling you two are going to be best friends."

"Only if he can make it to Class A."

The woman ignored her son's words and handed Ken an envelope. "This is your special admission letter—No. 2. After a week, head to a town called Meez near Sunny Hill. There, at the port, you'll find a ship under KIPS Academy. Hand this letter to a man that will standing in front of the ship He'll take care of the rest."

Ken held the letter tightly.

"Also, you seemed to have a very Unique ability "

"Did she find out about my ability?" Ken though

She turned to Rick. "Well, I'll be leaving now."

Rick said nothing as the woman and her son walked away.

Once they were gone, Hel glanced at his mother. "Mother, what did you mean by him having a unique ability?"

The woman chuckled. "Oh, Hel~ Are you jealous? You'll understand in time."

" Now that things have turned out like this, Let's open your core right now " Rick said,

"Right now?!" Ken frowned,

"What you don't want to?" Rick said,

"No, no I want to " ken replyed immediately,

Rick placed his hand on Ken's back.

"Sit still," he instructed. "I'm going to send my dark energy into your body. Pay attention to the flow—memorize its path. You'll need to guide your own energy the same way to open your core."

Ken nodded.

Dark energy—something only those who had formed a core could use. The process of opening one was dangerous. Many paid fortunes to powerful necromancers to do it for their children. Some succeeded. Others failed. Some… died.

For half an hour, Ken endured the pain. His body trembled, sweat dripping from his forehead. And then—

Something clicked.

A wave of exhaustion hit him like a crashing tide. His body felt like it had been drained of all its strength.

"It's done," Rick said. "You'll feel tired for a while. Most people faint after opening their core, so you're handling it well. Eat dinner and rest. Tomorrow, we'll start your training."

Ken barely had the energy to nod. He ate in silence, then dragged himself to his room. The moment his head hit the pillow, he fell into a deep sleep.

Ken woke up at six sharp. After breakfast, he sat with his father in the training area.

Rick crossed his arms. "We'll start with the basics. First, controlling your dark energy. Then, manipulating its shape."

Ken concentrated, feeling the strange new energy inside him. It was like a living thing—flowing, shifting. With effort, he pulled it out of his core and shaped it into a small flickering orb.

"Good. You're learning fast," Rick said. "Now, watch closely. I'll show you a spell. Try to copy it."

Dark energy swirled around Rick's fingertips as he drew a glowing formation in the air—a circular rune filled with intricate symbols. The moment it was complete, he fired it at a tree.

The lush, green tree instantly withered. Leaves shriveled and fell. The bark turned brittle and cracked.

Ken's eyes widened.

"This spell is called Exhausted. It's from the Curses branch of necromancy. You'll study it in the academy. There are other fields as well—Summoning, Magic, Combat, Bio, Poison, Spiritualism, and countless theoretical subjects."

Ken nodded and began to practice. It took him nearly half an hour, but eventually, he formed the spell and fired it.

The tree he hit darkened slightly, its leaves turning brown, but it wasn't nearly as powerful as his father's.

Rick smirked. "Not bad for your first try. Exhaustion is a simple spell, but learning to create it with knowing it's formula will help you cast any spell you see in the future. With enough talent, hard work, and experience, you'll be able to recreate spells instantly."

Ken's eyes burned with determination.

"I will become strong And one day—I would uncover the truth about my mother dead" ken thought