Chapter 13 – Breaking Point
The morning sun slowly pushed away the veil of mist covering the academy. As Seryn walked silently through the stone corridors of the dormitory, he could clearly hear the whispers around him. People were talking about him. Some watched with fearful eyes, others with curiosity. But they were all drawn to the same thing — his golden eyes.
His body was completely different after the ritual. Muscles were more defined, his movements sharper, his steps more confident. The once-dull look in his eyes now carried a presence strong enough to make anyone freeze. Many people disliked this new version of him, but Seryn didn't care. He was no longer weak.
He stopped by the library to grab a few old books. They were about serpent species, types of poison, and the anatomy of powerful creatures. After the Serpent King ritual, he wanted to understand how his body had changed and prepare for stronger rituals in the future.
While reading, a hand touched his shoulder. Looking up, he saw the librarian, Lysa. "Daskal," she said softly. "Your eyes… they look different. Such a drastic change in such a short time… Is the ritual really that powerful?"
Seryn closed the book. "It is," he said calmly. "But it's also dangerous. If you do it wrong, you die. Or lose your mind."
Lysa took a deep breath. "That's why most people don't choose this path."
"Most people are afraid of dying," Seryn replied. "But I've already died once."
Lysa didn't respond. Seryn placed the book in his bag and walked toward the training grounds.
Students were practicing sword techniques at the training field. Seryn joined them — he wanted to test his new body. He drew his sword and faced a wooden training dummy. His first strike split off a large chunk of wood and sent it spinning into the air. The second blow cleaved the dummy in half. His reflexes were faster, his movements far more precise.
Several students had stopped their own training to watch. Whispered voices rose again:
"He's so fast…" "He wasn't like this before." "Maybe the ritual really does work…"
Seryn ignored them. He raised his sword again and analyzed his movements. Once clumsy and weak, they were now deadly and precise.
Just then, a familiar figure stepped out of the crowd — Lucien. His hand rested on the hilt of his sword as he walked toward Seryn.
"Daskal," he said. "I want to challenge you."
Seryn lowered his sword. "Why?"
"Because you've changed," Lucien said. "You're not weak anymore. I want to see how strong you really are."
The crowd fell silent. All eyes turned toward the two men.
"What are the conditions?" Seryn asked.
"No magic," Lucien replied. "No critical strikes. First to land three blows wins."
Seryn thought for a moment. Lucien was far above his level. But he no longer wanted to back down. "I accept."
They stepped into the center of the training field. The crowd formed a circle around them. The air grew heavy.
Lucien made the first move. His speed was incredible — almost too fast to see. Seryn dodged to the side by reflex, narrowly avoiding the strike. He countered, but Lucien blocked it easily.
The second attack came even faster. This time, Seryn didn't defend — he stepped back and created distance. As Lucien moved in to close the gap, Seryn swung downward, aiming for his wrist. Steel clashed, sparks flew, and Lucien jumped back.
The crowd held its breath.
Seryn tried a different tactic on his third attempt. He pretended to retreat, then lunged forward suddenly. His sword cut across Lucien's cheek, leaving a thin red line. The first point was his.
"One," someone called out.
Lucien's expression hardened. He tightened his grip on his sword and launched a series of rapid attacks. Each strike echoed with the sharp ring of metal, forcing Seryn to defend. As he stepped back, Seryn planted his foot firmly and cut through Lucien's attack line. A quick counterstrike touched Lucien's arm.
"Two!"
The crowd buzzed with excitement. Lucien was clearly frustrated but still in control. His final attack was his fastest yet. Seryn raised his blade just in time, but the impact forced him several steps back. He narrowly avoided a strike to the back of his knee.
For a brief moment, they stared at each other in silence. Then Seryn lowered his sword. "Enough," he said. "My ribs still haven't healed."
Lucien stood still for a few seconds before sheathing his sword. "That's enough," he said. "But I'll keep watching you. Because this power could become a threat."
"Watch all you want," Seryn replied. "I won't hide."
As the crowd dispersed, Alaric watched from a distance. There was concern in his cousin's eyes, but he didn't speak. He knew Seryn was no longer the same man he once was.
Later that day, the academy posted a list of available missions. One of them caught Seryn's attention: "Northwestern Shore – Investigation and Resource Collection." That area was close to the cave where the Serpent King had been found. He took the mission alone.
"No team?" the clerk asked.
"No," Seryn replied. "I'll do it myself."
The mission was approved. By late afternoon, Seryn was on his way. The sea wind carried the sound of waves crashing against rocks. Every step was careful and deliberate — one mistake could cost him his life.
When he reached the shore, he began searching for traces. Claw marks were visible on the rocks — likely from a younger serpent, possibly an offspring of the Serpent King. The scent of poison lingered in the air. It was valuable information.
Seryn mixed and altered the tracks, changing their direction to confuse anyone who might follow. As he was returning, he met a man on the bridge.
The man wore a simple cloak and carried a book. "Daskal," he said. "I need to ask you a few questions."
"Do I need to know who you are?"
"I'm from the Temple," the man said. "Golden eyes… they're rare. Is this transformation permanent?"
"I don't know," Seryn said. "Maybe time will tell."
"The Temple values balance," the man said. "Those who disrupt it either break the chain or are crushed beneath it. I hope you choose the right side."
Seryn's voice was cold. "I was born to break the chain."
The man smiled, though his eyes remained serious. "We'll see." Then he disappeared into the mist.
When Seryn returned to the dormitory, Alaric was waiting for him at the door. "You spoke with someone from the Temple," he said.
"Yes," Seryn replied. "They're watching me. They know I'm not ordinary anymore."
"That makes you dangerous," Alaric said. "But you don't have to walk this path alone. If you need help, I'm here."
Seryn nodded. "Thank you. But this is a path I have to walk myself."
That night, Seryn sat alone in his room, reviewing his plans. The attack was only two days away. He needed to finalize preparations, set escape routes, and be ready for the worst.
He looked out the window. A thick fog hovered over the lake. His eyes glowed like two golden lights in the darkness. "The time is coming," he whispered. "And I'll be ready."
💠 If you enjoyed this chapter, please leave a comment and add the story to your library! 💭 Seryn is no longer ordinary… Could he be the one to break the chain?