Chapter 3 The Weakest

Caelen's boots echoed on the polished stone floor of the Explorers Guild Academy, a towering fortress of steel and crystal nestled in the heart of City-State Elara. The air hummed with mana, powering the glowing crystal batteries embedded in the walls. It was his first day, but he was already late—three days late, thanks to the ruin's collapse. The infirmary had patched him up, but the whispers followed him like shadows: *"The kid who fainted in the exam. Weakest of the batch."*

He clutched his satchel, the Rank 1 Heart Gem from the shadow rat tucked inside, a meager trophy from his disastrous trial. His arm still ached where the Nephalem system had bonded, the faint scar shimmering with a Vanta black sheen under certain lights. Zorak's voice, sharp and spectral, echoed in his mind: *"Keep it hidden, Caelen. The Guild hunts what it fears."*

The Academy's main hall buzzed with students, their uniforms crisp—dark blue with silver trim, mana crystals glinting at their collars. Some channeled sparks of fire or ice, their magic flaring in controlled bursts as they practiced. Caelen, with no visible magic, felt like a ghost among them. His stats, displayed only to him by the system, were a grim reminder of his place:

*Nephalem System: Status*

- *Zorak: "You're a target now. Blend in."*

- Ascended: 6

- Fallen: 6

- Balance: 50% (Stable)

- Mana: 18

- Strength: 4

- Agility: 5

- Endurance: 4

He was below average, even by "Gemless" standards. The system's power—Vanta black Fallen energies laced with crimson embers, Lotus pink Ascended energies glowing with golden motes—felt like a curse as much as a gift. Zorak, his spectral ancestor, hovered in his vision, unseen by others, his tattered robes rippling with dual energies. *"Patience,"* Zorak said. *"Power grows with time. For now, play the fool."*

Caelen adjusted his uniform, avoiding eye contact as he navigated the hall. A group of students near a crystal fountain snickered, their leader a tall boy with fiery red hair and a smirk that screamed trouble. Kael, Caelen had heard—top of the entrance exam, a fire-magic prodigy. His mana flared, a red-orange glow dancing around his fingers as he tossed a coin-sized Heart Gem in the air.

"Look, it's the ruin fainter," Kael called, his voice dripping with mockery. The group laughed, and Caelen's cheeks burned. He kept walking, but Kael stepped into his path, his fire magic flickering. "Heard you didn't even fight a shadow rat. Just collapsed like a kicked puppy. Why're you even here, Gemless?"

Caelen's hand twitched, the Fallen energy stirring in his veins, urging him to lash out. Vanta black wisps, flecked with crimson, flickered briefly under his sleeve, but he clenched his fist, forcing them down. *"Don't,"* Zorak warned. *"He's baiting you. Stay weak."*

"I'm here because the Guild sent me," Caelen muttered, sidestepping Kael. The bully's eyes narrowed, but a teacher's voice cut through the tension.

"Enough loitering!" Master Vara, a stern woman with a mana-charged whip, barked from across the hall. "Orientation starts now. Move!"

Caelen slipped into the crowd, his heart pounding. The orientation hall was massive, its ceiling a dome of crystal that refracted light into rainbows. Hundreds of students filed in, their chatter fading as Master Vara took the stage. Caelen found a seat near the back, next to a girl with short brown hair and a satchel stuffed with tools. She glanced at him, offering a shy smile.

"I'm Mira," she whispered. "Gem Weapon Class. You're… the one from the ruin explosion, right?"

Caelen nodded, wary. "Caelen. Yeah, that was me."

"Don't worry about the rumors," Mira said, her eyes kind. "I'm Gemless too. We'll figure this place out."

Before Caelen could reply, Vara's voice boomed. "Welcome to the Explorers Guild Academy. You're here to reclaim Earth's lost heritage—ruins, Heart Gems, technology. The Great Reset took our past, but we'll take it back." Her whip crackled with mana, silencing whispers. "Most of you have magic. Some don't. Those without will train in Gem crafting, but all will fight. The ruins don't care about your excuses."

Caelen's stomach twisted. He'd be sent to the Gem Weapon Class, a dumping ground for the "useless." Mira seemed fine with it, but he wasn't. Not with the Nephalem system burning inside him.

Vara continued, her eyes scanning the crowd. "Your entrance exams showed your potential. Some excelled." She nodded toward Kael, who smirked. "Others… disappointed." Her gaze lingered on Caelen, and the room's eyes followed. Snickers rippled through the crowd.

*"Stay calm,"* Zorak said. *"They see weakness. Let them."*

A girl across the aisle caught Caelen's eye, her expression softer than the others. Her blonde hair was tied back, and a pendant shaped like a winged star hung at her neck—a celestial devotee, maybe. Her eyes held curiosity, not mockery, but Caelen looked away, afraid she'd see the scar on his arm.

After orientation, Caelen followed Mira to their first class: History of the Reset. The teacher, Master Torv, was a gaunt man with a cold stare, his mana aura sharp and electric. Caelen's skin prickled under his gaze, like Torv could sense something off. The lesson droned on—tales of the Great Reset, ruins filled with alien tech, and vague mentions of celestial beings who'd abandoned humanity. Caelen's system chimed softly:

*Quest: Listen and Learn*

- *Zorak: "Knowledge is power. Pay attention to their lies."*

- Task: Attend the history class and note key details.

- Reward: +2 Ascended, +2 Fallen

- Penalty: None

Caelen scribbled notes, half-listening as Torv described a ruin with carvings of winged figures and shadowed beasts. *Celestial and demonic,* Caelen thought, glancing at Zorak's spectral form. The ancestor's eyes narrowed, but he said nothing.

Class ended, and Caelen headed to the Gem Weapon Class, a workshop filled with forges and crystal tools. Mira was already there, tinkering with a Rank 1 Heart Gem. "These are tricky," she said, showing Caelen a glowing blue shard. "But if you infuse mana right, you can make a decent blade."

Caelen nodded, his mind elsewhere. The system's power felt like a ticking bomb. He couldn't afford to slip up, not with Kael watching, Torv's suspicious stares, or the Guild's rumors about the ruin explosion. He needed to train, to understand what Zorak's system could do.

That evening, Caelen slipped into the training yard, a quiet corner of the Academy lit by crystal lanterns. He focused, summoning *Divine Spark*. A Lotus pink sphere formed, its golden motes swirling like fireflies. It felt warm, calming, but fragile. He tried *Shadow Slash* next, and a Vanta black blade materialized, its crimson embers pulsing with raw aggression. The contrast unsettled him.

*"Balance,"* Zorak said, appearing beside him. *"Too much Fallen, and you'll lose control. Too much Ascended, and you'll weaken. Train both."*

Before Caelen could reply, a figure approached—Master Korrin, his blind eyes hidden behind a dark cloth, his katana sheathed. His sensory magic washed over Caelen, sharp and probing. "Practicing alone, kid?" Korrin asked, his voice low. "You're late to the game, but you've got grit. I saw you in that ruin. Something happened, didn't it?"

Caelen froze, the Vanta black wisps fading from his hand. *He knows,* he thought, panic rising. Zorak's voice cut in: *"Lie. He suspects, but he has no proof."*

"Just… trying to catch up," Caelen said, forcing a shrug. "I don't want to be the weakest."

Korrin's lips twitched, almost a smile. "Good. I owe you for that ruin mess. Meet me here tomorrow night. I'll teach you to hold a blade properly." He turned to leave, then paused. "And kid? Be careful. The Guild's got eyes everywhere."

As Korrin's footsteps faded, Caelen's system chimed, a new quest flashing:

*Quest: First Step to Strength*

- *Zorak: "This man is an ally, but trust no one fully. Learn from him."*

- Task: Attend Master Korrin's training session.

- Reward: +5 Mana, Skill: *Mana Channeling (Basic)*

- Penalty: -10% Balance if you reveal the system

Caelen's heart raced. Korrin's offer was a lifeline, but the Guild's rumors were spreading. He overheard two students nearby, their voices low: "They say the ruin explosion wasn't normal. Some kind of forbidden power. The Guild's sending Rankers to investigate."

Zorak's spectral form loomed closer, his eyes blazing. *"They're already circling, Caelen. Hide, train, survive—or the hunters will find you."*