The morning sun bled through the thin veil of clouds above the academy, casting an amber glow across the training fields. Max stood quietly on the edge of the dueling ring, his arms crossed as he listened to the murmurs of students filling the space. Today wasn't just another sparring day—today, they were being observed by instructors from across several elite departments. Word had it that those who impressed might receive specialized training or advancement opportunities.
But Max's mind wasn't on that. Not entirely.
His eyes darted across the field until they landed on Thorn, standing near the observation platform with his usual disinterested expression. The man exuded authority in a way few others did. And today, Max knew, Thorn was here for him.
The memory of their previous conversation still burned in Max's thoughts.
Flashback: The Night Before
In the quiet, candle-lit briefing room deep in the academy's restricted sector, Thorn had stood with his arms behind his back, the flickering light casting harsh shadows across his angular face.
"You've done well to keep your talents hidden," Thorn had said. "But it's time to step into the shadows. There's something I want you to investigate."
Max sat straight in the chair across from him, suspicious. "A mission?"
Thorn nodded. "A quiet one. Off-record. I want you to infiltrate the ruins of the ancient Mana Nexus that surfaced two weeks ago near the western marshlands. There's… movement there. Too much activity for a dead zone."
Max frowned. "Why me?"
"You can keep secrets. More importantly, you can survive where others might not. And you'll be going alone."
Max's breath had caught at the word alone, but he'd hidden it well.
"What am I looking for?"
Thorn turned slowly and placed a folded piece of parchment on the table. "Anything unnatural. Reports suggest awakened beasts are behaving erratically near that area. I suspect someone's been tampering with the mana flow."
Max narrowed his eyes. "You think someone's trying to create another artifact?"
Thorn didn't answer. Instead, he looked at Max long and hard. "Do not speak of artifacts. Not here. Not anywhere. We both understand what silence protects."
Present
Max tightened the straps of his combat vest as the duel pairing was announced. His opponent: Erika Devoir, a fire-element student from the upper division.
She was known for her aggressive fighting style and flashy techniques. Students began to gather, whispering with excitement. It wasn't often a lower-division student like Max got paired with someone of Erika's caliber.
The duel began with a thunderous crack as Erika launched a barrage of fireballs toward Max. He weaved through them with practiced ease, pretending to struggle as each burst of flame narrowly missed his limbs. He could feel the heat singe the air around him, but he was used to it by now.
He ducked, rolled, then came up with a carefully measured counterattack. No mana. Just a burst of physical movement fast enough to stagger Erika. She recoiled, surprise flashing in her eyes.
The crowd roared. Max's strength was still officially unranked, his talent labeled green. But he moved like someone trained under a master, and his blows landed harder than they should have.
Erika's grin widened. "So you're the famous orphan freak everyone whispers about."
Max didn't respond. He dashed forward, slammed a fist into her midsection—not enough to injure, just enough to knock her off-balance. Her flames sputtered from her fingertips as she hit the ground.
She groaned and raised her hand. "I yield."
Silence fell across the field before the crowd erupted.
Max stepped back, panting slightly. His eyes found Thorn's across the field. The man's face remained unreadable, but there was the slightest twitch of satisfaction in the corner of his mouth.
Later That Day
Max sat beneath one of the large oak trees on the academy's edge, sipping from a metal canteen and reviewing his system panel.
[LEVEL: 12]
[EXP: 93%]
[Skills Available: "Mana Veil (Lv. 3)", "Elemental Pulse (Lv. 1)", "Silent Step (Lv. 2)"]
[Passive Perk: Adaptive Resistance (Minor)]
The experience gain from the duel had been generous. But more importantly, he'd proven to himself—and Thorn—that he could hold his own under pressure.
He opened a small compartment in his cloak and retrieved a folded version of the map Thorn had given him. The ruins were marked clearly, just two days outside the city limits. If he left the following night, he could reach it without drawing attention.
Still, something didn't sit right with him.
Why had Thorn chosen him for this? Was it because he trusted Max—or because he suspected something? Max had been careful, extremely careful, never to reveal his connection to the artifact or the system. Julius knew, but Julius was gone now, returned to the Frost estate.
The contract bound him to secrecy, at least for now.
But Thorn's eyes—the way they had studied him, read into him—made Max wonder if he was being tested, or if this was simply the beginning of something much deeper.
That Night
Max stood in his dorm room, a packed satchel at his feet. Inside were food rations, alchemy salves, a compact mana detector, and of course, his dagger.
The necklace pulsed faintly at his chest.
[SYSTEM UPDATE: Incoming Quest - "Echoes Beneath the Ruins"]
[Mission Rank: Hidden]
[Reward: Unknown]
[Penalty for Failure: Data Corruption Risk]
Max exhaled slowly. "No pressure, huh?"
He looked once more around his room. The academy had become familiar, almost comfortable. But comfort bred complacency, and Max couldn't afford that. Not now.
He slung the satchel over his shoulder and pulled his hood low over his brow. He slipped out of the dormitory through the side corridor, moving like a ghost through the dimly lit campus.
By the time he reached the outer gate, the moon had risen high. He touched the side of his necklace once for reassurance, then disappeared into the trees.
The ruins waited.
And Max would uncover whatever lay beneath—secrets, traps, or truths long buried by those who feared them.