The first morning in the Academy was colder than Kaelith expected. Not the air — he'd survived frozen mountains and ash-choked wastelands — but the chill of being surrounded by strangers who judged him instantly. Students passed by, their gazes sharp, some curious, some dismissive. Every whisper and sideways glance gnawed at him like a dozen unseen daggers.
Lyrielle clung to his side, small and trembling, but she didn't cry. She had learned that crying wouldn't change anything, that surviving meant holding on. Kaelith's chest tightened every time he looked at her. The weight of her life in his arms pressed down on his spine, but he welcomed it. She was the only warmth he had left.
> [System Notification]
New Quest: Survive First Day in Academy Training Grounds
Reward: Minor Negative Points + Experience
Penalty: Lifespan -2 years if failed
Kaelith didn't hesitate. "We'll survive. All of it. Just… stay behind me."
The training grounds stretched like a vast battlefield. Hundreds of students sparred in duels, their movements a mix of elegance and lethality. Blades sang, fists struck, spells shimmered and collided. Some laughed; others gritted teeth as shadows clawed at their foes.
Kaelith's fists clenched. I've walked through worse. Beasts, death, fire. But this… this place is different. They don't just test strength — they test hearts.
Lyrielle tugged on his sleeve. "Kaelith… some of them are scary."
"I know," he whispered, kneeling to meet her gaze. "But scary doesn't mean unstoppable. We keep moving."
Even as he spoke, a blond-haired girl with twin braids stepped forward. Her eyes, violet and piercing, scanned Kaelith like a predator. "You're the boy from the canyon," she said coolly. "The one carrying a sister. Interesting. I'm Lysandra Vale. Don't think I won't test your limits."
Kaelith's jaw tightened. "Limit tests aren't my choice. Survival is."
She smirked. "We'll see."
---
The first trial began shortly after — a simple combat exercise meant to pair students with partners of roughly equal skill. Kaelith was assigned against Veylan Corvos, the red-haired boy he had met at the gates. His lips twisted in a half-smile that didn't reach his eyes.
"You look like you're hiding something," Veylan said, circling him. "Some secret power? Don't pretend you're weak."
Kaelith's eyes narrowed. "Maybe I am. Maybe I'm not. Let's find out."
The duel started, and Kaelith immediately felt the difference between raw survival in the wastelands and controlled combat here. Veylan was skilled, fast, and unyielding. Every strike Kaelith blocked sent a jolt of pain through his arms. Every dodge required focus and calculation. This wasn't about anger or hate — it was about precision.
He faltered once. Veylan's fist grazed his cheek, leaving a sting and a smear of blood. Kaelith tasted copper on his tongue. Damn… I can't afford mistakes here.
> [System Notification]
Anger Bar: 45/100
God of Negative Emotions: Passive Ready
Kaelith gritted his teeth. He didn't want to unleash Berserk Mode yet — too risky with Lyrielle nearby. But he could absorb the negative emotions around him: Veylan's confidence, the whispering students' doubts, the slight fear in some spectators. Slowly, it pooled inside him, a dark river feeding his strength.
His movements became sharper, faster, more precise. Veylan's attacks started to miss, and Kaelith countered with an intensity that shocked the crowd. Still, he held back. Every strike was measured, not lethal.
---
After several exhausting minutes, Veylan fell back, chest heaving. "Not bad… kid," he admitted grudgingly. "Not bad at all."
Kaelith lowered his fists, sweat dripping down his face. He felt human, tired, raw — but alive. The spectators murmured, impressed despite themselves.
Lyrielle peeked from behind a tree. Her small hands were clenched, eyes wide. "Kaelith… you were amazing!"
He offered her the faintest smile. "It's not amazing. It's survival."
> [System Notification]
Negative Points +15
Experience +20
Kaelith's chest tightened. Every gain here was another step toward protecting Lyrielle, toward one day confronting the forces that had taken their family. But he also felt something heavier: the loneliness of having only her. No allies, no friends — just a relentless focus on survival and revenge.
---
That night, in their dormitory, Kaelith sat awake while Lyrielle slept beside him. He traced the scars on his arms, feeling the aches and bruises, thinking of the beasts that had taken everything.
"I'll get stronger… faster than anyone," he whispered. "I won't let anyone touch you again. Not gods, not monsters, not people."
The System panel glowed faintly, showing his Status and Shop for review.
---
[System Status – Kaelith]
Race: Human (Reincarnated)
Level: 6
Lifespan Remaining: 48 years
Strength: 31
Speed: 33
Vitality: 25
Anger Bar: 0/100
Skills: Shadow Step (basic), God of Negative Emotions (passive active), Berserk Mode (unlocked)
Negative Points: 65
---
[System Shop – Advanced Tier]
Item Name Description Cost (ANP)
Eclipse Blade Weapon forged from void energy. Strength +20 5,000 ANP
Arcane Grimoire – Level 5 Master spell book. Unlocks fire, ice, shadow spells 4,500 ANP
Temporal Escape Rune Teleports user instantly; cooldown 24 hours 8,000 ANP
Life Extension Serum Adds 10 years to host lifespan. 10,000 ANP
Mirror of Shadows Creates clone from shadow. Lasts 30 seconds. 6,000 ANP
Kaelith's eyes lingered on the Mirror of Shadows. A clone… an extra body to protect Lyrielle, to fight alongside him if needed. He sighed. NP and ANP were far too low, but every duel, every absorbed emotion, brought him closer.
---
The next day, Kaelith faced another challenge: the Trial of Shadows, an endurance and combat test meant to push students to their limits. Shadows rose from the ground, twisting, attacking with the strength of their victims' deepest fears. For Kaelith, this trial was more than physical. It was emotional. Every shadow reflected his own nightmares: the slaughtered village, the screams of his parents, Lyrielle crying out for him.
He faltered. A shadow reached for Lyrielle, and something in him snapped.
> [Anger Bar: 95/100]
He let the negative emotions flood through him, absorbing despair, pain, and fear. Black energy surged around him. He struck, faster than any shadow could react, cutting a path through the illusions. For every scream, for every pang of memory, he became sharper, deadlier.
When the trial ended, Kaelith collapsed, spent. Lyrielle ran to him, pressing her forehead against his. "Kaelith… you were amazing. But… you hurt yourself."
He closed his eyes, exhausted and trembling. "I'll be fine. As long as you're safe, I can take anything."
> [System Notification]
Negative Points +25
Experience +35
That night, Kaelith lay awake long after Lyrielle slept. His heart ached not for himself, but for her. Every loss, every sacrifice, every ounce of hatred he channeled into power was for the small warmth she gave him.
And as he drifted into a restless sleep, he whispered into the darkness:
"I'll never let you go. Not ever. Not until every last one who hurt us has paid."
Somewhere in the Academy, eyes watched him — calculating, waiting. Kaelith's path was only beginning.
— End of Chapter 4