For Heze's soul, the sensation was an explosive decompression. As if every atom in his body was stretched across infinite space, then slammed back together. For Nihil's essence, it felt like returning home, briefly dissolving into familiar silence before being thrust back into existence.
Consciousness returned with a jolt.
No longer the dusty, death-tinged air of the cathedral. Not the warm forge of Thorek. The first thing to greet him was the pungent stench of wet garbage and stagnant sewer water.
Nihil opened his eyes. He lay atop a pile of rotting burlap sacks in a narrow, filthy alleyway. Tall brick walls flanked him, blocking most of the light. Above, only a sliver of pale blue sky was visible. He was alone.
He attempted to rise, but his body screamed in protest. Every muscle felt stretched to its limit. His head throbbed painfully. He checked his system.
[System Reboot... Primary functions recovering.]
[Capacity: 1 / 25]
[Initiating Emergency Recharge Protocol... +1 Capacity every 10 minutes for the first hour.]
[Warning: Null-Capacity Condenser sustained minor damage during Void Shift. Stabilization efficiency reduced.]
Zero. He had truly hit absolute zero. The system's self-defense protocol had saved his life, but at a steep cost. He was weaker than ever before.
With great difficulty, he leaned against the damp wall, breathing heavily. He needed to know where he was. With slow, agonizing movements, he crawled from the alley's shadows into the light.
The sight that greeted him made him freeze entirely.
This was not The Undercroft.
The street before him was paved with gleaming white marble that reflected the light. Majestic buildings soared into the sky, their slender pillars adorned with intricate gold carvings. Crystal lanterns floated in the air, emitting a soft glow despite the afternoon hour. Passersby wore silk robes and elegant gowns, their faces bearing expressions of calm superiority.
In the distance, he could see the glittering towers of a palace that seemed to touch the clouds. On the other side stood a massive complex with a crystal observatory dome—Dawnlight Academy.
This was Solara Magna, the heart of the Solaris Imperium.
The system had thrown him from the frying pan into the fire.
The air here felt wrong. Heavy. Saturated with pure Blessing energy, which felt to Nihil like constant static pressure on his skin, making him want to crawl out of his own body.
A noblewoman passing near the alley caught sight of him. Her haughty eyes widened momentarily in disgust at the sight of the dirty, tattered figure emerging from the shadows, before she quickened her pace, pinching her nose.
Nihil realized his appearance was a significant problem. In The Undercroft, he could blend in. Here, he was a stain on a perfect canvas.
Sure enough, two Holy Knights on patrol spotted him. Their silver armor shone brightly, and the Blessing aura surrounding them was painfully oppressive to Nihil.
"Hey, you! What district's trash crawled out here?" one of the knights called out, approaching with arrogance, his hand already on his sword hilt. "No beggars allowed in the Academy Sector. Leave now or we'll 'cleanse' you."
Nihil had no energy for a fight. He couldn't even use Suppressive Gaze without passing out. He could only rely on his wits.
He didn't run. Instead, he bowed deeply, an exaggerated gesture of respect. "Forgive me, noble knight," he said, making his voice rasp and weak. "I'm no beggar. I'm a messenger from a foundry workshop in the Foundry District. I got lost while searching for a client's address here. Your city's light is so... dazzling."
The knight was slightly taken aback by the unexpected compliance and flattery. His companion snorted. "A messenger dressed like a walking corpse? Quickly state your business and be gone from our sight."
"A young alchemist from the academy ordered some rare metal ingots," Nihil continued, fabricating a story on the fly. "His name... is Erion. Do you know where the alchemy dormitories are?"
The two knights exchanged glances. The name was common enough. The story made sense. Dealing with a dirty messenger was more trouble than it was worth.
"The alchemy dormitories are in the west wing," the first knight said impatiently, pointing toward one of the smaller academy buildings. "Now be gone from our presence."
"Thank you for your kindness, noble knight. May the Light ever guide your path," Nihil said, bowing again before turning and walking with a deliberate limp in the indicated direction.
He didn't look back. Each step felt like walking on nails. The pervasive Blessing energy made him nauseous. After turning the corner of a building, out of the knights' sight, he slumped into the shadows of a small garden, gasping for breath.
He had escaped. For now.
He stared at the towering Dawnlight Academy complex before him. A symbol of everything that sought to destroy him. Paradoxically, the most dangerous place in the world might also be the best hiding spot. Who would look for a Void manifestation in the heart of Light's power?
His short-term goal was now clear: survive. Recover his energy. And find a way to blend into this lethal environment. The Academy itself was a frightening yet intriguing possibility.
News of what happened at the Dead District cathedral spread like wildfire through the underground network, but each faction interpreted it differently.
Aboard the "The Wanderer," hovering high above the city, Elara Moonveil stared at the holographic screen displaying perplexing data.
"A massive energy surge, consistent with large-scale Atomic Manipulation," she murmured, her finger tracing the sharp graph. "Then... silence. The energy trail vanishes completely. Not fading, not shifting. Just gone."
Her assistant looked pale. "Did he... get annihilated? Could the cult's ritual have succeeded?"
Elara shook her head, her eyes blazing with the intensity of a scientist who had just discovered a new phenomenon. "No. This isn't annihilation. It's a displacement. A momentary spatial tear. He didn't just escape—he tore a hole in reality and stepped through it. Void Shift... it's real."
Frustration and excitement warred within her. Her invaluable research subject was now off the map. But he had provided data far more precious.
"Initiate new protocols," Elara commanded. "Forget passive energy tracking. It's no longer useful. We're switching to conventional intelligence gathering. Monitor House Nocturne. Investigate all reports of spatial anomalies or magical disturbances across the continent. Learn everything we can about the Cult of Nullity and their leader, Ravenna Cruor."
She gazed at the city map. "He's smart. He won't appear in obvious places. He'll seek somewhere he can observe and learn. A library, a guild, or..." Her eyes fixed on the image of Dawnlight Academy. "...an academy."
Elara's hunt had now transformed into a grand game of intellectual chess.
In the foul-smelling Umbra Venari headquarters, Tarek Mornhall slammed a metal cup against the wall with his remaining hand.
"VANISHED?!" he roared at the trembling Rat Ear informer. "What do you mean vanished?!"
"That's all, Boss. The cathedral's half-destroyed. Many cult members dead. But our target... he just vanished. Some witnesses say he dissolved into shadows."
Tarek slumped into his chair, breathing heavily. Every time he thought he was close, his prey always stayed one step ahead with impossible tricks. He felt played. Humiliated.
"This isn't about money anymore," he hissed. "This is about honor."
He stared at his lieutenant. "I'm sick of these noble games. They give us incomplete information about nearly impossible targets. Contact our intermediary with 'The Silencer'. Tell him the contract changes. We're no longer hunting for them."
The lieutenant was shocked. "Boss, we'll lose the payment..."
"SHUT UP!" Tarek barked. "Tell them this: we'll keep hunting him, but for ourselves. And if House Nocturne tries to block us, or if they don't hand over all the information they have about that curse, I'll personally leak their little secret about the accursed son to the entire noble council. Let's see how much they value their reputation."
Tarek was now playing with fire. He no longer cared. He'd burn down the whole world if it meant he'd get his revenge.
Far from all this, in her luxurious bedroom at the Nocturne residence, Velka dropped a tea cup. Her hands trembled. A trusted servant had just delivered the latest rumors from The Undercroft. About the battle in an old cathedral and the disappearance of the "Red Ghost."
She knew. In her heart, she knew it was Nihil.
A cold fear gripped her. Her father, her brother, bounty hunters, and now a mad cult... everyone was hunting her brother. And in return, he left a trail of destruction.
Waiting and observing were no longer enough. Her plan to seek out The Weaver had to be accelerated. She could no longer be just a spectator to her family's tragedy.
With new resolve in her eyes, she stood and walked to her wardrobe. She ignored the silk gowns. At the very back, hidden, was a set of simple traveling clothes she had prepared. Tonight, she would not sleep.
Tonight, Princess Velka Nocturne would descend into the shadows.