Chapter 2: Velmora Part 10

Part 10: Crest of Fire, Crest of Blood

Tone: Tense, Dark Fantasy, Deep Suspense, and Hidden Conspiracies

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[Scene 1 – The Forbidden Wing Beneath Arkalis]

It was midnight.

Velmora's twin moons hovered low, their pale glow casting long shadows across Arkalis Academy's outer towers. Deep underground — far beneath the Academy's oldest wing — two figures in crimson robes walked silently.

They reached a sealed gate covered in blood-etched symbols. One of them, a high-ranking professor — hidden under the guise of nobility — spoke:

> Robe 1:

"Initiate the ritual. Tonight… the crest will bleed again."

The other drew a blade across his palm and smeared the sigil. The wall responded — ancient metal folding away to reveal a long-forgotten altar.

At its center: a sealed heart. Still beating. Still bound by a Founder's chain.

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[Scene 2 – Arshan's Nightmare]

Meanwhile, Arshan tossed in his dorm bed, sweat dripping from his brow.

Flashes.

Fire.

He stood in a city in ruins — shadows crawling up walls like ink.

A voice whispered:

> "Velmora's salvation… or its final crest-bearer."

Then a face — half-covered, eyes like burning stars — stared directly at him through the dream.

> Unknown Entity:

"The Founder failed. You will too."

He jolted awake.

> Zyana (low and alert):

"That wasn't just a nightmare. Something is tugging your mind across the Drift."

> Arshan (sitting up, breathing hard):

"Why now? Why am I seeing things I shouldn't?"

> Zyana:

"Because… someone's awakening a relic that should never breathe again."

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[Scene 3 – Arkalis in Chaos: Rumors of Blood Magic]

The academy buzzed.

A student had gone missing.

Then another.

And whispers began to spread — of forbidden blood crests, of rites not practiced since the Second Founding War.

Even teachers were on edge.

> Student (whispering):

"They say Professor Malrik was seen with crimson mana around his eyes… like the cursed blood channelers."

> Another:

"Someone's performing sacrifices inside the academy."

In the courtyard, Arshan trained alone — his Soul Weapon flickering between solid and phantom.

Veyron approached.

> Veyron:

"The Founder's soul isn't done testing you. That blade... it has seven stages. Each one tied to a truth."

> Arshan:

"What if I can't handle the next truth?"

> Veyron:

"Then you'll die like the rest."

Arshan didn't flinch.

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[Scene 4 – The Ritual: Grief Gate Begins to Open]

Underground — within the sealed altar — blood pooled around the heart as the ritualists chanted.

> Robe 1:

"Bring forth the Crest of Grief — open the First Vein."

Suddenly, a tear in space formed — thin, but glowing with black-red energy.

It wasn't just magic.

It was Drift energy.

The forbidden kind — one that only forms when the boundary between reality and corrupted thought collapses.

One of the casters screamed — his body torn into glyphs.

The others didn't stop.

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[Scene 5 – Zyana Unlocks Emergency Protocol: "Founder Tier Access"]

Inside Arshan's mind, Zyana's voice glitched for a moment.

Then she returned — sharper.

> Zyana:

"I've detected a breach forming. Founder-level access required. Do you give permission?"

> Arshan:

"Do it."

[System Core Unlocked]

> Accessing...

Founder Tier 1 — "Passive Thread Activation"

Skill Gained: Bloodsense Radius

— Allows the user to sense unstable blood rituals and corrupted mana within 1km.

> Skill Gained: Founder's Seal: Level 1 Suppression

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[Scene 6 – The First Attack Inside the Academy]

Just as students gathered in the outer dorm halls for morning studies — a surge of blood exploded from one of the towers.

A student screamed — his face half-dissolved, mana vein lines glowing red.

A beast had emerged — not natural, but born of failed ritual remnants.

The alarms rang.

Arshan appeared — Soul Weapon ignited.

Zyana guided him:

> Zyana:

"Its core is unstable. Hit it once with Drift energy and it will collapse in on itself."

> Arshan:

"I don't know how to use Drift!"

> Zyana:

"Yes you do. Remember what the Founder whispered."

Arshan took a deep breath… channeled.

A single black-blue glyph formed around his blade.

He slashed.

The beast howled — then imploded into red mist.

Silence followed.

Then applause.

But hidden among the crowd, two students smiled — not in admiration, but in confirmation.

> Student 1 (quietly):

"He's ready. The founder's chosen… may break Velmora faster than we hoped."

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[Scene 7 – Evil Sorcerer Summit: Council of Five]

Far from Arkalis, atop a crumbling tower in a cursed valley, five evil sorcerers stood around a living map of Velmora. The ritual's success had unlocked the first Grief Seal.

> Sorcerer 1 (gravel voice):

"He opened it unknowingly. He's our key."

> Sorcerer 2:

"Do we kill him now?"

> Sorcerer 3:

"No. We let him open the next six. Then we break him."

They marked the second location on the map: The Library of Echoed Time.

> Sorcerer 4:

"Prepare the second corruption."

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[Scene 8 – Arshan's Power Evolves, World Reaction Begins]

Back in Arkalis, the Royal Archives began recording the anomaly.

Mages in the Capital of Velmora debated the ripples.

One elder mage looked toward the east:

> Elder Mage:

"If this continues… the prophecy will awaken before the third eclipse. And that boy…"

> Royal Strategist:

"Shall we deploy the Sealing Knights?"

> Elder Mage:

"Not yet. Let him walk a little further into the dark."

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[Scene 9 – Zyana's Warning]

At night, Arshan stood on the academy rooftop.

Zyana finally broke the silence:

> Zyana:

"They're using you."

> Arshan:

"Who?"

> Zyana:

"Everyone. The Founder's will. The sorcerers. Even Veyron has secrets."

> Arshan (softly):

"Then I'll uncover them all. One by one."

Suddenly, a shooting star tore across the sky — glowing black.

It wasn't a star.

It was a signal.

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To be continued…

Next: Part 11 – The Black Comet and the Time-Eater Seal

> The corrupted sky brings Velmora closer to collapse.

A new dungeon opens inside the academy library.

Betrayal from within strikes hard.

Arshan must face the echoes of the academy's founder… in real time.