Cendikia's breath came in shallow gasps as he watched Aiden Drystan disappear into the shadows of the academy's dimly lit halls. His heart pounded in his chest, a mixture of fear and frustration gnawing at him. Aiden's presence in the Depths wasn't a coincidence, he had been watching, waiting for Cendikia to make a move. And now, Aiden's sharp mind had undoubtedly caught the scent of something dangerous.
He's getting too close, Cendikia thought, his fingers tightening around the straps of his pack, where the Forgotten Scholar's grimoire lay hidden. The knowledge inside was powerful potentially world-changing but it was also a target. And Aiden wouldn't stop until he knew exactly what Cendikia had uncovered.
He turned back toward his quarters, his body still weak from the system's earlier punishment. His steps were slow and deliberate, each one weighed down by the gravity of what had transpired. The grimoire thrummed faintly in his pack, as though it could sense his hesitation, its ancient magic still pulsing with untapped power.
As Cendikia made his way through the empty halls, the system's voice broke through the silence in his mind:
[New Mission!!
Secure your position against Aiden Drystan. Undermine his growing suspicion.]
Cendikia frowned, the system's cold logic a reminder of the stakes. Aiden was a rising force in the academy, with influence that stretched into the highest circles. He had the connections, the charisma, and the power to ruin Cendikia's carefully laid plans. But now, the system was offering a way forward, if he could manage to outmaneuver Aiden, he could buy himself more time to explore the grimoire's secrets.
Still, there was risk in every step. Cendikia couldn't afford a misstep, not with Aiden already watching his every move.
When he finally reached his quarters, Cendikia shut the door behind him, leaning heavily against it. His body ached, and the lingering effects of the system's punishment weighed heavily on his mind. But he couldn't rest yet, there was too much at stake.
He set the Forgotten Scholar's grimoire on his desk, its dark cover glowing faintly in the low light of his quarters. He hesitated, his fingers hovering over the leather-bound book. The power inside was tempting, but he knew from the visions earlier that the more he delved into it, the closer he came to the scholar's ruin.
The system had already punished him for going too far. He had barely survived, and the cost had been steep.
"Status open," Cendikia muttered, needing to check where he stood after everything that had happened.
------
Name: Cendikia Paramarta
Role: Scholar (Side Character)
Level: 3
Health: 20/100
Mana: 10/70
Stamina: 25/100
------
Skills:
Ancient Language Decoding: Level 2
Knowledge of Forgotten Lore: Level 2
Beginner Combat Skill: Level 3
Forbidden Rites (Dark Magic): Level 3
Arcane Combat Skill: Level 1
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Active Buffs:
Arcane Combat Skill Unlocked: Minor bonus to combat involving arcane or magical opponents.
Knowledge of the Forgotten Scholar's Power: Temporary boost to magical knowledge related to ancient artifacts.
Active Debuffs:
Mana Drain: Reduced mana pool due to overuse of forbidden magic (-20 Mana).
Stamina Exhaustion: Reduced stamina regeneration (-10 Stamina).
Health Depletion: Significant health reduction due to system punishment.
------
Current Mission:
Undermine Aiden Drystan's Influence
Mission Progress: 50%
Secure your position against Aiden Drystan. Undermine his growing suspicion.
Mission Progress: 0%
------
Cendikia sighed. His health was dangerously low, his mana nearly drained, and his stamina only barely recovering. He was weaker than he had ever been, and the system's punishments were taking their toll. He wouldn't be able to rely on magic for much longer without risking further harm to himself.
He collapsed into the chair at his desk, rubbing his temples. His body was crying out for rest, but his mind was restless. Aiden's shadow loomed over everything, a constant reminder that his every move was being watched.
Cendikia needed a plan, a way to throw Aiden off without drawing more suspicion.
But how?
The answer came to him as his thoughts drifted back to Lira Calwyn. She was ambitious, powerful, and dangerous in her own right, but she was also someone who had a vested interest in seeing Cendikia succeed.. at least for now. If he could use her influence, he might be able to redirect Aiden's attention away from him, at least temporarily.
But that meant bringing Lira deeper into his schemes, which was a risk in itself.
Later that night, Cendikia made his way to Lira's private study. The torches along the academy's hallways flickered faintly, casting shadows that danced along the walls. His body still ached, but his mind was clear, he knew what needed to be done.
When he reached Lira's study, he knocked softly. The door opened moments later, and Lira's sharp eyes met his, studying him with a mixture of curiosity and amusement.
"Cendikia," she said smoothly, stepping aside to let him enter. "I wasn't expecting you."
He stepped inside, keeping his expression calm. "I need your help," he said, his voice steady. "Aiden Drystan is getting too close. He's suspicious, and I need to throw him off my trail."
Lira raised an eyebrow, closing the door behind them. "Aiden? He's clever, I'll give him that. But he's also too ambitious for his own good. What exactly are you proposing?"
Cendikia hesitated. He couldn't reveal everything. Lira was already too interested in the Forgotten Scholar's relic, and the last thing he needed was to give her more leverage over him. But if he could use her to manipulate Aiden, it might buy him the time he needed.
"I want to redirect his attention," Cendikia said carefully. "Make him believe that I'm working on something harmless. Something beneath his notice."
Lira's eyes gleamed with interest, her lips curving into a smile. "Ah, a misdirection. Clever." She moved to her desk, leaning against it as she folded her arms. "And what would this 'harmless' project be?"
"A research project on ancient Estharan relics," Cendikia said, the lie forming quickly in his mind. "Old, abandoned magical artifacts that hold little real power. It's the kind of thing Aiden would dismiss as irrelevant."
Lira considered his words for a moment, then nodded. "It could work. Aiden wouldn't waste his time on something he deemed beneath him. And if I were to drop a hint to him about your supposed 'project'…" She trailed off, her smile widening.
Cendikia's stomach twisted. He knew what Lira wanted, she was using this as an opportunity to tighten her grip on him. But he had no choice. For now, he needed her influence to keep Aiden at bay.
"Do it," he said finally. "But I need time. If Aiden gets too close, everything falls apart."
Lira chuckled softly, her eyes gleaming with amusement. "Don't worry, Cendikia. I'll take care of Aiden. He won't be a problem for you."
Cendikia nodded, though the knot in his stomach tightened. Lira was playing her own game, and he knew that her loyalty was as thin as the edge of a blade. But for now, he had bought himself a reprieve.
"Thank you," he said, his voice firm.
Lira waved her hand dismissively. "Don't thank me yet. Just make sure you're ready when the time comes."
Cendikia left her study, his mind heavy with the knowledge that he had made a dangerous deal. Lira was no ally, she was also a threat, just like Aiden. But at least for now, he had a moment to breathe, a chance to focus on recovering and planning his next move.
As he returned to his quarters, the system's voice chimed softly in his mind:
[Mission Update:
Undermine Aiden Drystan's Influence – 75% Complete.]
Cendikia allowed himself a small, grim smile. Aiden's attention had been diverted, for now. But the game was far from over. The Forgotten Scholar's legacy was still unfolding, and with the grimoire in his possession, Cendikia knew that the most dangerous challenges were still ahead.
The following day, Cendikia moved cautiously through the academy, his eyes scanning the halls for any sign of Aiden. Word had already started to spread about his supposed research project on ancient relics, and he knew that Lira had been working behind the scenes to plant the seeds of doubt in Aiden's mind.
But as Cendikia made his way to the library, his thoughts were interrupted by a voice behind him.
"Cendikia."
He turned, his heart skipping a beat as he came face to face with Aiden Drystan once again. Aiden's expression was calm, his eyes calculating as he studied Cendikia with the same intensity as before.
"I've been hearing things," Aiden said smoothly, stepping closer. "It seems you've been quite busy with your research."
Cendikia forced a smile, keeping his tone casual. "Just a project on old relics. Nothing too exciting."
Aiden's smile didn't reach his eyes. "Relics, you say? It seems you've chosen a rather… mundane subject for someone of your potential."
Cendikia's pulse quickened. Aiden wasn't convinced, not yet. But Cendikia couldn't afford to show any weakness.
"It's just research," Cendikia said, his voice steady. "I thought it might lead to something more, but so far, it's been disappointing."
Aiden stared at him for a long moment, his gaze piercing. Then, to Cendikia's surprise, he smiled.
"Well, I won't keep you from your work," Aiden said, turning away. "I'm sure you'll uncover something fascinating. Eventually."
As Aiden walked away, Cendikia let out a slow breath. The tension in his chest eased slightly, but the knot of worry remained. Aiden wasn't really fooled, not completely. But for now, the misdirection had worked. He had bought himself more time.
But Cendikia knew that time was running out. The Forgotten Scholar's legacy was growing more dangerous with each step, and soon, there would be no room for deception.