Chapter 4 Blades in the Dark

The Academy's training yard was a quiet oasis under the night sky, its crystal lanterns casting a soft glow across the packed dirt. Caelen stood alone, his breath visible in the cool air, gripping a practice blade from the Gem Weapon Class. It was a crude thing, forged from a Rank 1 Heart Gem, its edge faintly humming with mana but nothing compared to the power simmering inside him. The Nephalem system, his dangerous secret, pulsed in his veins, and Zorak's spectral form hovered nearby, unseen by all but him.

*"Focus,"* Zorak said, his voice sharp in Caelen's mind. *"This teacher, Korrin, is no fool. He senses more than he says. Learn from him, but reveal nothing."* The ancestor's tattered robes rippled, his eyes glowing with Vanta black and Lotus pink, a reminder of the dual energies Caelen had to hide.

Caelen nodded, glancing at his system stats:

*Nephalem System: Status*

- *Zorak: "Your Ascended side is stronger now. Nurture it, but beware the Fallen's call."*

- Ascended: 8

- Fallen: 6

- Balance: 55% (Slightly Ascended)

- Mana: 18

- Strength: 4

- Agility: 5

- Endurance: 4

- Ascended Skills: *Divine Spark* (Lv. 2, +2 Ascended), *Sacred Ward* (Lv. 1, +1 Ascended)

- Fallen Skills: *Shadow Slash* (Lv. 1, +1 Fallen)

The system had evolved slightly since the ruin, his Ascended points climbing from practicing *Divine Spark* in secret. Each skill's level contributed to its tree's total: Ascended at 3 (2+1), Fallen at 1. Zorak had hinted at evolutions—stronger abilities unlocked when a tree's total skill levels hit thresholds—but Caelen was far from that. *"Ascended Level 10 for your first evolution,"* Zorak had said. *"Fallen will wait. You're not ready for its weight."* Caelen preferred it that way; the Vanta black energy, with its crimson embers, felt too wild, too angry.

Footsteps crunched behind him, and Caelen turned to see Master Korrin approaching, his blind eyes hidden behind a dark cloth, his Rank 5 Serpent Gem katana sheathed at his hip. The blade's green mana veins pulsed faintly, and Korrin's sensory magic washed over Caelen like a tide, sharp and probing. "You're early," Korrin said, his voice low but warm. "Good. Shows you're serious."

Caelen shifted, uneasy. "I… don't want to stay the weakest," he said, echoing their last talk. It wasn't a lie, but it hid the truth: the Nephalem system made him anything but weak, and he feared what would happen if Korrin—or anyone—found out.

Korrin's lips twitched, almost a smile. "Weak's just a word. Skill's what matters." He drew his katana, its blade catching the lantern light. "Show me your stance."

Caelen mimicked the forms he'd seen in the Gem Weapon Class, his practice blade awkward in his hands. Korrin's magic flared, and he moved like a phantom, adjusting Caelen's grip with a tap of his katana. "Looser wrists," Korrin said. "Let the mana flow through the blade, not fight it."

Caelen focused, channeling his meager mana into the blade. It glowed faintly blue, but his mind wandered to *Divine Spark*, its Lotus pink light warm and steady, flecked with golden motes like fireflies. He wanted to try it, to see how it felt with a blade, but Zorak's warning stopped him: *"Not here. Not now."*

Korrin stepped back, his blind gaze unnerving. "Attack me," he said. "Don't hold back."

Caelen hesitated, then swung. His blade was slow, clumsy, and Korrin parried effortlessly, his katana a blur. "Too stiff," Korrin said, circling him. "You're thinking too much. Let your body move." His sensory magic pulsed, and Caelen felt exposed, like Korrin could see the Vanta black and Lotus pink energies hiding inside him.

They sparred for an hour, Caelen's muscles burning. Korrin was relentless, his movements fluid despite his blindness, his magic guiding every step. "You're not hopeless," Korrin said finally, sheathing his katana. "But you're holding back. Something's off about you, kid. That ruin… it wasn't just a collapse, was it?"

Caelen's heart skipped. *"Lie,"* Zorak snapped. *"He's fishing."*

"Just bad luck," Caelen said, forcing a shrug. "I got hurt, passed out. That's all."

Korrin's silence was heavy, his magic probing deeper. "Maybe," he said at last. "But I'm not blind to everything. Keep up, and we'll make a fighter out of you yet." He turned to leave, then added, "Tomorrow, same time. Don't be late."

As Korrin vanished into the shadows, the system chimed:

*Quest Complete: First Step to Strength*

- *Zorak: "Well done, but he's too perceptive. Watch him."*

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

- New Mana: 23

- New Skill: *Mana Channeling (Basic)* (Enhances weapon attacks with mana, +1 damage per 5 Mana used)

Caelen exhaled, his hands shaking. Korrin's training was a lifeline, but his suspicion was a threat. He needed to get stronger—fast—but without revealing the system.

The next day, Caelen shuffled into the Gem Weapon Class, his body sore from training. Mira was already there, her workbench cluttered with tools and a Rank 1 Heart Gem glowing blue. "You look rough," she said, grinning. "Late night?"

"Something like that," Caelen muttered, taking a seat. The workshop smelled of molten metal and mana, its forges powered by crystal batteries. Mira showed him how to infuse a Heart Gem into a dagger, her hands steady as she channeled mana. "It's not glamorous," she said, "but a good Gem weapon can match magic any day."

Caelen nodded, his mind on the system. Could he infuse a Gem with Ascended or Fallen energy? The thought was tempting, but Zorak cut in: *"Not yet. Your control's too weak. Stick to Ascended skills for now."*

Across the room, Kael lounged with his cronies, his fire magic flaring as he "helped" a student by melting their workbench. His eyes locked on Caelen, and he sauntered over. "Still playing with rocks, Gemless?" Kael sneered, tossing a spark that singed Caelen's sleeve. "You'll never make it past the first-year mission."

Caelen's blood heated, the Fallen energy stirring—Vanta black wisps, crimson embers flickering in his mind's eye. He wanted to shut Kael up, to unleash *Shadow Slash* and wipe that smirk away. But Zorak's voice was firm: *"Control it. Ascended, not Fallen."*

Caelen took a breath, summoning a faint Lotus pink glow in his mind, its golden motes calming him. "I'll manage," he said, turning back to his work. Kael scoffed but moved on, his laughter echoing.

Mira frowned. "He's a jerk, but he's not wrong. The first-year mission's tough. You need a team you can trust."

Caelen's thoughts drifted to the blonde girl from orientation—Lysa, the celestial devotee. Her pendant had caught his eye, its winged star a symbol of faith. Could she be trusted? Her gaze had been kind, but her beliefs might clash with the Fallen energy inside him.

That afternoon, in the history class, Master Torv's cold stare lingered on Caelen again. The teacher's lecture turned to the Great Reset's mysteries: "Some say celestial beings caused it, others blame demons. The ruins hold the truth, but only the worthy find it." His eyes flicked to Caelen, and a chill ran down his spine. Torv's mana felt sharp, like it was probing for secrets.

The system chimed:

*Quest Updated: Listen and Learn*

- *Zorak: "This man hides more than he teaches. Watch him closely."*

- Task: Uncover a clue about the Great Reset in class.

- Reward: +3 Ascended, +1 Fallen

- Penalty: None

Caelen scribbled notes, catching a mention of a ruin called Elysium, tied to "forbidden powers." Zorak's spectral form stiffened. *"Elysium… my past lies there. Be cautious."*

As class ended, Caelen lingered, noticing a carved tablet on Torv's desk—a winged figure and a shadowed beast, locked in combat. It matched the ruin's runes from his exam. Before he could inspect it, Torv's voice cut through: "Lingering, boy? Curious about things you shouldn't be?"

Caelen mumbled an excuse and left, his heart racing. Torv knew something. The Guild's rumors about the ruin explosion were growing, and now Kael was watching him, Torv was suspicious, and even Korrin's kindness felt like a trap. He needed to train harder, to master the Ascended side before the Fallen's anger took over.

That night, as Caelen headed to the training yard, he overheard a group of students whispering in the hall. "The Guild's sending Rankers to the ruin site," one said. "They found traces of… something. Not mana. Something older."

Zorak's voice was grim: *"They're closing in, Caelen. Train, hide, or the hunters will come."* A new quest flashed:

*Quest: Shadows of Suspicion*

- *Zorak: "The Guild senses your power. Prove your worth without revealing it."*

- Task: Survive one week at the Academy without exposing the system.

- Reward: +5 Ascended, New Skill: *Grace of Healing*

- Penalty: -15% Balance if detected

`l

Caelen's grip tightened on his practice blade. The Academy was a battlefield, and he was already losing ground.