A Veiled Warning

The atmosphere in the academy had shifted.

At first, it was subtle—nothing more than whispers in the hallways, small changes in routine. But as the days passed, the tension became impossible to ignore.

The noble students—usually loud and confident—had grown quieter, more watchful. The faculty members moved with a sense of urgency, exchanging words in hushed voices when they thought no one was looking. And then, there was the biggest indicator of all—

An emergency, high-level meeting had been scheduled between the leaders of the great families and the headmistress.

That alone sent ripples through the student body. Meetings between legacies and the academy officials weren't unheard of, but this one was different.

This one was being held in secrecy.

Nobody knew what was being discussed, but everyone could feel the weight of it. The pressure hung over the academy like an approaching storm.

Fenix sat in his usual seat in History class, watching the lesson unfold. Normally, he found history useful—it was one of the few subjects that might give him clues about the past, especially regarding the Soul Realm. But today, his attention wasn't on the professor.

It was on the noble students in the room.

Even without hearing a word, he could tell—they knew something.

Garrick Drakar, usually poised with a quiet arrogance, tapped his fingers against his desk in an uncharacteristically restless rhythm. Celcia Evern, heir to the House of Fate, had barely spoken all class, staring blankly at her notes. Even Elias Moreau and Rika Voss—both known for their sharp remarks—seemed to be elsewhere in their minds.

They were uneasy.

Something was wrong.

Fenix shifted his gaze slightly. A few seats away sat Sylis of Arventis.

She looked the same as always—calm, focused, flipping through her book with practiced ease. But he knew her well enough now to notice the subtle tells.

Her brow was slightly furrowed.

Her fingers tapped lightly against the cover of her book.

And every so often, she adjusted her gloves, something he'd never seen her do before.

'She knows something.'

Before he could think further, the professor's voice snapped him out of his thoughts.

"Fenix, what are the Five Fragments, and why are they considered the pillars of civilization?"

He blinked once, adjusting to the sudden shift in focus. He knew the answer, but his mind was still turning over what he had just observed.

Still, he responded quickly. "They are remnants of a single god, who split into five aspects. Each fragment grants its wielder immense power, and the great families inherited and safeguarded them, shaping the world as it is today."

The professor nodded, satisfied, and continued the lesson.

But Fenix barely listened. His mind was elsewhere.

After class, just as Fenix was leaving the lecture hall, he felt a hand grab his shoulder.

He turned, instinctively tense, only to see one of the academy instructors standing behind him.

"You," the instructor said. "Follow me."

Fenix frowned but complied. He hadn't done anything—at least, nothing worth being pulled aside for.

But as they walked through the halls, taking turns away from the student-filled corridors and deeper into the faculty offices, he realized—this wasn't just a normal discussion.

Something serious was happening.

Eventually, the instructor led him into a small office, one lined with shelves filled with books and old maps of the Soul Realm. Behind the desk sat a professor he had never directly interacted with before.

An older man with graying hair and tired eyes, but an intensity behind them that told Fenix he was not someone to be taken lightly.

The man gestured for him to sit.

"Fenix," the professor said, his voice measured. "I'll get straight to the point. You've been drawing too much attention."

Fenix raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

The professor exhaled. "Your performance in the last trial. The way your group worked together. What happened with Sylis in the Soul Realm. People are talking about it. More than you think."

Fenix's expression darkened. "So?"

"So," the professor leaned forward, voice dropping slightly, "there are people in this academy who want to know what happened that day. And not all of them have good intentions."

Fenix tensed. "Are you saying I should stay away from Sylis?"

The professor scoffed. "It's too late for that. But you should be careful about what you reveal. There are eyes on you, Fenix. More than you realize."

Before Fenix could question further—

An alarm blared through the academy.

A loud, blaring sound that shattered the quiet tension into pure chaos.

Fenix shot up from his chair. The professor cursed under his breath.

"What the hell—?"

Then, a second later—

BOOM.

The sound of an explosion erupted from the distance.

The academy was under attack.

Fenix rushed to the window, his heart hammering as he saw smoke rising from one of the academy buildings. Students below were scattering in panic. Faculty members were already on the move, their figures dashing across the open courtyards.

The professor beside him grabbed his coat, already moving toward the door.

"Stay out of this, Fenix."

Fenix clenched his fists.

There was no way in hell he was listening to that.

Without another word, he turned and sprinted out of the office, the sound of sirens ringing in his ears. His mind raced, his body moving on instinct.

He needed to find Sylis.

He needed to find his friends.

He needed to know what the hell was happening.

As he moved, his thoughts kept repeating the same thing—

'This isn't just a coincidence.'

Something was happening.

And he was right in the middle of it.

Fenix sprinted through the academy's winding hallways, the distant echoes of panic growing louder with each step. The explosion had rattled the normally structured and disciplined environment, replacing it with pure chaos.

The sky outside was a deep shade of gray, not from clouds but from the thick smoke rising from the west wing of the academy.

In the distance, figures moved unnaturally fast. Not students. Not faculty.

Intruders.

His gut twisted.

'This isn't just an accident. Someone is attacking the academy.'

Reaching the Courtyard

The moment he burst through the main doors, he was met with a scene of disorder.

Students were running for cover, their faces a mix of confusion and fear. Instructors were barking out orders, trying to contain the situation.

And then—he saw them.

A group of individuals, clad in dark, battle-worn gear, moving with the precision of trained killers. They weren't panicking.

They had come prepared.

A strike force.

'Who the hell are these people?'

Fenix gritted his teeth. He could feel his fingers twitching, his instincts screaming at him to do something.

But before he could even take a step—

A second explosion rocked the courtyard.

BOOM.

The ground shook violently. A section of the outer wall crumbled, sending debris flying in every direction.

Students screamed. Some were knocked off their feet.

Fenix barely managed to keep his footing, his mind racing.

Then, amid the falling rubble, a group of masked figures emerged.

At first, he thought they were just another set of intruders. But then—he saw what was behind them.

A creature.

It wasn't a regular monster from the Soul Realm.

This thing was different.

Its skin was blackened, cracked like molten rock, with glowing crimson veins coursing through its body. Its form was twisted, humanoid but wrong.

And its eyes…

They were voids. Empty, yet filled with malice.

The masked figures surrounding it moved as though they were guiding it, ensuring it stayed within their control.

Fenix felt his pulse quicken.

'That thing… shouldn't exist here.'

Monsters couldn't appear in the human world unless summoned through controlled means or it meant that a Gate opened in their world.

So either—

Someone had illegally transported it here.

The Soul Realm broke a gate in Earth

Neither option was good.

And then, the creature moved.

The monster let out a distorted shriek, and the air warped around it.

A sudden shockwave blasted outward, sending students flying. Fenix threw up his arms just in time, but even then—he was forced back several steps.

He barely had time to recover before—

It lunged.

Moving faster than something of its size should be able to, the creature tore across the courtyard, its claws aimed directly at a group of unarmed students.

Fenix didn't think. He reacted.

He sprinted forward, summoning Ashfang into his grasp. The sword roared to life, its surface shimmering with the faint glow of embers.

Just as the beast swung its claws—

Fenix intercepted it, steel clashing against the unnatural darkness of its form.

The impact sent a shock through his entire body. His arms screamed in protest, his knees nearly buckling under the force.

But he held firm.

'Damn… this thing is strong.'

With a grunt, he twisted his grip and deflected the attack, using its own momentum to push it back.

The beast stumbled slightly. Not much. But enough.

That was all he needed.

Fenix shifted, flames licking along the edge of Ashfang. With one precise slash, he sent a wave of fire directly at the creature.

The flames engulfed it—

And for a moment, he thought it had worked.

But then—it stepped through the fire, completely unharmed.

Fenix's eyes widened.

'What…?'

Before he could even react—it retaliated.

A dark energy pulsed from its core, exploding outward.

Fenix was thrown back.

His vision blurred as he hit the ground hard, the force knocking the wind out of him.

Pain radiated through his body, but he forced himself up, coughing.

And that's when he heard it—

"FENIX, MOVE!"

He barely had time to react before a massive torrent of water slammed into the monster, sending it skidding across the courtyard.

Fenix turned his head—

And saw Sylis.

Sylis stood a few meters away, her hands raised, water swirling around her fingertips. Her presence was commanding.

Behind her, other high-ranked students and instructors began to arrive.

And at the forefront of them—

The headmistress herself.

Her mere arrival shifted the atmosphere.

Even the masked attackers paused.

Fenix felt it. The sheer pressure she radiated. This wasn't just another awakened—

This was someone who stood at the pinnacle.

Seven Soul Cores.

One of the strongest awakeneds alive.

And as she stepped forward—everything changed.

The masked figures immediately began retreating.

The beast, despite its unnatural power, hesitated.

And then, in a single instant—

The headmistress vanished.

Only to reappear in front of the creature.

A flash of movement—

And the beast was cleaved in half.

Fenix barely had time to process what had just happened.

One second, the creature was an overwhelming threat.

The next—it was nothing.

The battlefield fell silent.

The masked figures were gone.

The monster was dead.

But the academy—had been shaken.

The headmistress turned to the remaining faculty.

"Secure the students. Check for injuries. This is not over."

Her gaze landed on Sylis and Fenix.

"You two," she said, her voice unreadable. "Come with me."

Fenix exchanged a quick glance with Sylis.

This wasn't just about the attack.

This was about something bigger.

And they were now right in the middle of it