The Fatal Mistake
Midnight, three days after Carsel and Kael became study partners
The academy alarm blared, shattering the night's silence, a sound no student had ever heard before. Carsel woke in a panic, his heart pounding from the piercing sound echoing across the island.
"What was that?!" Korgan shouted, leaping from his bed.
Timmy trembled with fear in the corner of the room, while Vex, surprisingly, looked excited. "This... this is the aura of death. Something big is happening."
Through the cracked window, they could see a red light glowing in the night sky. Not a natural aurora – this was a magical flare typically used for emergency signals.
The dormitory door burst open. The senior prefect rushed in, panic on his face.
"All students gather in the Main Hall now! NOW! This is not a drill!"
Carsel grabbed the nearest uniform and ran out with his roommates. In the corridor, chaos had already begun. Students from all dormitories ran about, confused and scared, some still in pyjamas, others half-dressed.
"Carsel!"
He turned and saw Kael running towards him, his face pale with worry.
"Do you know what's happening?" Carsel asked as they ran together towards the Main Hall.
"No idea, but I saw the professors panicking. And there's... there's a strange smell in the air."
Carsel inhaled deeply and noticed something metallic and acrid. A familiar scent he couldn't quite identify.
Blood, a dark part of his mind whispered. That's the smell of blood.
MAIN HALL - EMERGENCY BRIEFING
The Main Hall, capable of holding a thousand people, was now filled with students of all levels. Ruby, Sapphire, Emerald, and Onyx mingled in a nervous crowd. Social hierarchy was temporarily forgotten in the face of an unknown threat.
On the podium, Headmaster Aldeon – a man in his 70s with a powerful aura of authority – stood with a grim expression. Behind him, a line of professors with tense faces.
"Students," the Headmaster's voice was magically amplified to reach the entire hall. "Our academy is facing an emergency situation. Half an hour ago, the magical barriers protecting this island were attacked by an unknown force."
A nervous murmur spread among the students. Carsel felt Kael tense beside him.
"We do not yet know the identity or motivation of the attackers, but they have breached the outer defences and are currently approaching the inner sanctum." The Headmaster paused, letting the weight of his words sink in. "For your safety, all students will be evacuated to underground shelters until the situation is under control."
"Headmaster!" a senior Ruby student raised his hand. "Can't we help? We've been training combat magic and swordplay!"
"Absolutely not," the Headmaster replied firmly. "You are still students. This is a matter for the faculty and professional guards."
But his words were cut short by a thunderous explosion from the north wing. The entire building shook, and several chandeliers fell from the ceiling.
"BREACH! BREACH IN THE NORTH WING!" shouted a guard, running into the hall with torn armour and bleeding from multiple wounds.
"They... they're inside! Professor Hendricks is down! We need backup!"
Instant panic erupted among the students. Some began screaming, others ran towards the exits, creating chaos and a stampede.
"CALM!" the Headmaster roared with voice magic that forced everyone to freeze. "Faculty, battle stations. Prefects, lead the evacuation to the underground shelters. GO!"
THE ATTACK
The attackers were not ordinary monsters or beasts. They were figures clad in black robes with eerie masks, moving with coordination and purpose that indicated a planned assault.
Carsel and Kael followed the evacuation group towards the basement, but midway, they heard screaming from the east corridor.
"Help! Somebody help us!"
Without thinking, Carsel veered off from the evacuation group.
"Carsel, wait!" Kael shouted, but he followed.
They found a group of first-year students – children aged 9-10 – trapped in a classroom because debris from an explosion blocked the main exit. Smoke began to billow from a spreading fire.
"Is there another exit?" Carsel asked one of the panicking children.
"There's... there's a window, but we can't reach it! Too high!"
Carsel saw the window. It was indeed too high for the children, but he and Kael might be able to help them escape.
"Kael, can you create an earth platform to boost them to the window?"
"I can try," Kael replied, beginning to concentrate. His earth magic was still at Tier 5 Adept level, but a simple platform should be manageable.
Carsel, meanwhile, began to use dark enhancement to strengthen himself, preparing to help evacuate the children one by one.
But as Kael tried to create the earth platform, something went wrong. Perhaps due to stress, perhaps due to lack of experience, but his magic became unstable.
"Kael, careful!" Carsel warned as he saw the earth magic begin to crack and waver.
"I'm trying! It's harder than—"
CRASH!
The platform collapsed, and worse – debris fell and blocked the window exit too.
"No!" one of the children screamed. "Now we're completely trapped!"
The smoke grew thicker, and the temperature began to rise. The fire was spreading faster than expected.
"We have to find another way!" Kael said in a panic. "Maybe the main door—"
"Blocked by debris, remember?" Carsel snapped, adrenaline and stress making him irritable. "You made the situation worse with your failed magic!"
"I was trying to help!" Kael retorted defensively.
"Well, trying isn't enough when lives are at stake!"
They argued while the children grew more panicked and the situation became more desperate. The smoke began to affect their breathing, and some children started coughing heavily.
That's when Carsel made his fatal mistake.
In desperation and frustration, he decided to use dark magic with more force than he had ever attempted before. He would create a shadow pathway to help the children escape through the walls.
"Carsel, don't!" Kael warned as he saw a dark aura begin to intensify around Carsel. "You're not experienced enough to—"
"I can do this!" Carsel cut in stubbornly. "I won't let them die because of our incompetence!"
He channeled dark magic with reckless desperation, trying to create a shadow portal that could transport the children to safety.
But dark magic was the most dangerous and unpredictable element, especially when used with emotional instability. The magic Carsel cast not only created a portal – but also destabilised the entire structural integrity of the room.
"CARSEL, STOP!" Kael screamed, but it was too late.
CRUMBLE!
The entire ceiling collapsed.
In seconds that felt like an eternity, Carsel watched the horror of his mistake unfold. Gigantic debris fell towards the group of children who couldn't escape.
Kael, in a moment of pure heroism, threw himself forward with an earth magic barrier to protect as many children as possible.
But he couldn't save them all.
THUD. CRACK.
When the dust cleared, Carsel saw a scene that would haunt his nightmares forever.
Three children lay motionless beneath the debris. Blood pooled on the floor. Eyes that were once full of life now stared blankly at the collapsed ceiling.
And Kael... Kael lay with his legs pinned under a stone slab, alive but badly injured.
"No... no no no..." Carsel whispered, his hands shaking as the reality of what happened sank in.
"Carsel..." Kael's voice was weak but not accusatory. "Get... get the others out. I'll be fine."
But Carsel could see blood seeping from multiple wounds. Kael was definitely not fine.
AFTERMATH
When the rescue team finally arrived, they found Carsel kneeling among the debris with an expression of blank shock. The surviving children were traumatised and some were injured. Kael was unconscious from blood loss.
And three small bodies that would never return to their families again.
"What happened here?" Professor Marlena asked when she arrived with the medical team.
The surviving children, through tears and trauma, recounted their version of events. How Carsel and Kael tried to help. How the earth platform collapsed. How Carsel used dark magic that caused the ceiling to collapse.
"He... he was trying to save us," one of the children said with a trembling voice. "But his magic... his magic made everything fall down."
Professor Marlena looked at Carsel with an expression that was a mixture of disappointment and sadness. "Mr Nightshade, reckless use of magic – especially dark magic – is exactly why students should not be involved in emergency situations."
"I... I was trying to help," Carsel whispered, his voice barely audible.
"And your help killed three innocent children."
Those words hit him like a physical blow. Carsel doubled over as if he'd been punched in the stomach.
I killed them. I killed three children because of my arrogance and recklessness.
SOCIAL CONSEQUENCES
News of the tragedy spread with horrifying speed. Within hours, the entire academy knew that Carsel Nightshade – the dark magic user from Onyx – had caused the death of three students in a reckless attempt to play hero.
"I told you dark magic users are dangerous," Marcus told a group of Ruby students. "Now look what happened. Three innocent kids dead because of that freak."
"He should be expelled," another chimed in. "How can the academy allow a murderer to stay here?"
"Poor Kael," an Emerald student said with sympathy. "He was trying to fix Nightshade's mistake and ended up badly injured. If he dies too..."
Whispers and stares followed Carsel wherever he went. No longer just social isolation – now he was treated like a pariah, like a dangerous criminal who shouldn't exist.
Even his roommates in Onyx began avoiding him. Korgan moved to the furthest bed. Timmy never made eye contact. Vex, ironically, treated him with more respect – as if appreciating the capacity for destruction Carsel had shown.
"You know," Vex said one night when they were alone in the room, "most people don't understand the beauty of destruction. But you... you created magnificent chaos. Three souls released from their mortal coil in a single moment. Artistic, in a dark way."
"Shut up," Carsel whispered with a dead voice. "Just... shut up."
But the damage was done. His reputation as a dangerous outcast was now cemented by a tragedy that could not be undone.
HOSPITAL VISIT
Three days after the incident, Carsel finally gathered the courage to visit Kael in the medical wing. His friend lay in bed with his legs in casts and bandages covering multiple wounds.
"Hey," Kael said with a weak smile when he saw Carsel. "You look terrible."
"I'm sorry," Carsel said, words tumbling out in a rush. "I'm so sorry. This is all my fault. If I hadn't used dark magic recklessly, if I had listened to you—"
"Carsel, stop." Kael raised a hand to interrupt. "Yes, you made a mistake. A big mistake. And yes, the consequences are... terrible." His voice quieted when thinking about the three children who died.
"But," he continued, "your intention was good. You were trying to save them. We both were."
"Intention doesn't matter when the result is death," Carsel said bitterly. "I killed three children, Kael. I'm a monster."
"No," Kael said firmly, despite his weakness. "Monsters don't feel remorse. Monsters don't cry for their victims. You made a tragic mistake, but you're not a monster."
"Everyone else thinks I am."
"Then prove them wrong." Kael struggled to sit up. "Learn from this mistake. Become stronger, wiser, more careful. Honour those children by ensuring a tragedy like this doesn't happen again."
Carsel looked at his friend with a mixture of gratitude and guilt. Even after everything, Kael still believed in him. Still supported him.
"I don't deserve your friendship," Carsel whispered.
"Maybe not," Kael replied with a small smile. "But you have it anyway. That's what friends do."
But despite Kael's forgiveness, Carsel couldn't forgive himself. Guilt and self-hatred began to consume him, fundamentally changing something in his personality.
I am dangerous, Carsel thought as he walked away from the medical wing. I hurt everyone I try to help. Maybe it's better if I stay alone.
Maybe everyone is right. Maybe I am a monster.
Dark thoughts like these would continue to grow in his mind, seeds of self-destructive behaviour that would plague him for years to come.
Meanwhile, in the unseen shadows, the mysterious attackers who assaulted the academy watched these developments with satisfaction. The chaos they had created had successfully planted seeds of discord and self-doubt in one of their primary targets.
"Phase one complete," a figure in a black robe whispered to a communication crystal. "The target has been isolated and traumatised. Psychological manipulation was successful."
A distorted voice replied from the crystal: "Excellent. And what about... the specimens we collected?"
"Three young souls, pure and innocent. Perfect for the next ritual. The Master will be pleased."
"Good. Withdraw for now. Let the academy rebuild its false sense of security. Phase two will begin when the target is completely broken."
The figure vanished into the shadows, leaving behind only a faint trace of malevolent energy that would haunt the academy for weeks to come.
ONE WEEK LATER
Carsel sat alone at the Onyx table as usual, but now his isolation was complete and absolute. Even the other Onyx students, typically fellow outcasts, now kept their distance.
The plates of food in front of him were untouched. He had barely eaten for the past week, guilt consuming his appetite and energy.
"Look at him," a Sapphire student at the next table whispered. "Sitting there as if nothing happened. Shameless."
"I heard the parents of the dead children are demanding he be expelled," his friend chimed in. "But the academy can't do anything because technically he was trying to help."
"Help?" a third voice joined the conversation with scorn. "He killed three innocent kids with reckless dark magic. That's not help, that's murder."
Carsel heard every word, each one like a dagger to his heart. But he didn't react, didn't defend himself. Part of him believed they were right.
Maybe I am a murderer. Maybe I deserve all this hatred.
"Carsel."
He looked up and saw Rion Moonstone standing beside him with an unreadable expression. The entire canteen suddenly went quiet, all eyes focused on the interaction between the academy's golden boy and its most hated pariah.
"Yes?" Carsel replied, his voice hoarse from not speaking much.
"I heard what happened," Rion said in a tone that was neither accusatory nor sympathetic. "I wanted to say... I'm sorry for the loss that occurred."
Carsel didn't expect that. "Why are you talking to me? Everyone else—"
"Everyone else are cowards who judge without understanding the full situation," Rion cut in with calm authority. "I know what it's like to have power that can hurt people if not controlled properly."
He paused, glancing around the canteen where everyone was still listening with intense curiosity.
"What you did was reckless and tragic. But the intent you had – to save innocent lives – that's what defines true character. Not the mistakes, but the willingness to risk yourself for others."
"I killed them," Carsel whispered. "My recklessness killed three children."
"Yes," Rion acknowledged bluntly. "And you'll have to live with that for the rest of your life. The question is: what will you do with that burden? Will you let it destroy you, or will you use it to become better?"
Before Carsel could answer, Rion continued: "Power without wisdom is dangerous. But wisdom without power is useless. You need both."
"I don't deserve—"
"Deserve isn't relevant," Rion cut in. "What matters is what you choose moving forward."
He turned to leave, then paused. "Oh, and Carsel? Real friends stand by you during your darkest moments, not just happy ones. Remember that."
After Rion left, whispers exploded throughout the canteen. Students were shocked that their beloved chosen hero actually defended the most hated student in the academy.
But his words didn't make Carsel feel better. If anything, the kindness from someone pure like Rion made his guilt even worse.
He's wrong, Carsel thought with despair. I don't deserve forgiveness or kindness. I'm dangerous. I hurt everyone around me.
Maybe it's better if I just... disappear.
Dark thoughts began swirling in his mind, and for the first time since the tragedy, Carsel began to seriously consider giving up entirely.
Unbeknownst to him, in the medical wing, Kael was struggling with infections from his injuries. His condition was worsening, and doctors were beginning to worry that complications could prove fatal.
Storm clouds gathered on the horizon, and the tragedy that had begun had not finished claiming its victims.
True darkness had just started to descend upon the academy, and upon the soul of a boy who once dreamed of belonging but now only wanted to disappear from a world that seemed determined to punish him for every mistake.
To be continued...