Chapter 18: Whispers of Intrigue

The days following Lahsiv’s encounter with the shadowed man passed quietly on the surface, but beneath the calm, there was a storm brewing. Lahsiv’s training continued as usual, though each session felt different now, more focused, more intense. The power he had gained from the Abyss grew sharper, more refined with every passing day. But the warning he had received—the man’s cryptic offer and the knowledge of other forces seeking the Abyss—had not left his mind.

The Academy itself seemed to carry a new weight. The halls, once bustling with students eager to prove themselves, now felt tense, as if the air itself was thick with suspicion. Lahsiv could feel it in the way people watched him, the way conversations would hush when he passed. His rapid ascent through the ranks of the Apex class had not gone unnoticed, and the other top students, particularly Valen and Reya, were becoming increasingly wary of him.

But Lahsiv had no interest in their petty rivalries. He had his own goals, and they didn’t involve playing by the Academy’s rules.

One morning, as Lahsiv stood alone in one of the quiet courtyards, practicing his control over the shadows, a voice broke the stillness.

“Impressive.”

Lahsiv didn’t flinch. He had already sensed the person’s approach. He turned to see Reya Ilstrom leaning against one of the stone pillars, her arms crossed over her chest, watching him with a faint smirk on her face. Reya was one of the few who had consistently ranked higher than most of the other students, her mastery over Light Karma making her a formidable opponent. But like the others, she hadn’t yet faced what Lahsiv had in the Abyss.

“Reya,” Lahsiv greeted her coolly, sheathing his sword. “What do you want?”

She stepped forward, her eyes gleaming with curiosity. “You’ve been… different since the Abyssal Hall. Even Kaelor’s noticed. And we all know how hard it is to impress him.”

Lahsiv raised an eyebrow. “So? What’s your point?”

Reya’s smirk widened slightly. “You’ve become the Academy’s most talked-about student, Lahsiv. Some say you’ve unlocked something deeper in the Abyss. Others think you’re hiding more than you let on. Either way, it makes you interesting.”

Lahsiv remained silent, though he was aware of Reya’s game. She wasn’t here just to talk—she wanted something. Information, maybe, or to see if she could gauge just how far ahead of the others he was. He wouldn’t give her anything useful.

Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

“Does it bother you?” Lahsiv asked, his tone flat. “Being second to me now?”

Reya’s smile faded, but only for a moment. “Hardly. I don’t care about rankings. What I care about is power. Real power. And you’ve found something that gives you more than just skill with a blade.”

Lahsiv narrowed his eyes, watching her carefully. Reya was one of the more pragmatic students. She didn’t waste time on empty threats or alliances that wouldn’t benefit her. If she was talking to him now, it was because she saw an opportunity.

“You think you understand what I’ve found?” Lahsiv asked.

Reya’s eyes darkened. “I’ve been watching you. The others might think you’re just using a new technique, but I know better. You’ve touched something forbidden, haven’t you? Something the Academy won’t teach.”

Lahsiv didn’t confirm or deny her words, but Reya’s intuition wasn’t far off. She was perceptive, and that made her more dangerous than the other students who still believed power came solely from hard work and following the Academy’s teachings.

“What are you getting at?” Lahsiv asked, his tone sharp. “If you have something to say, say it.”

Reya stepped closer, her voice lowering. “I’m not here to expose you or challenge you, Lahsiv. I’m here to offer you something. An alliance.”

Lahsiv’s expression didn’t change, but internally, he was intrigued. “An alliance? With you?”

She nodded. “We both know the Academy is holding back. The instructors, the trials—they’re designed to keep us at a certain level, to make us loyal to their system. But you’ve already broken through that, haven’t you? You’ve found something outside their control. And I want to find it too.”

Lahsiv considered her words carefully. Reya was intelligent, and she wasn’t wrong about the Academy’s limits. The instructors were clearly holding back certain knowledge, particularly when it came to the Abyss and the darker aspects of Karma. But alliances were dangerous, especially with someone as calculating as Reya.

“And what would this alliance entail?” Lahsiv asked, watching her closely.

Reya’s smirk returned. “Simple. We work together, share what we find. You’ve already unlocked part of the Abyss, but there’s more. I’ve been doing my own research, and I know there are places within the Academy that are hidden—places where the real power is kept. We find those places, we break through their barriers, and we take what’s ours.”

Lahsiv remained silent for a moment, weighing her offer. There was no denying that Reya’s information could be valuable. She had access to resources and knowledge that even he hadn’t uncovered yet. And having her on his side—at least for now—could keep the other top students off his back. Valen, in particular, was growing more aggressive in his pursuit of dominance in the Apex class. An alliance with Reya might be a useful distraction.

But Lahsiv knew better than to trust her fully. Reya was only loyal to herself, and the moment she found something more valuable, she would turn on him without hesitation.

“I’ll consider your offer,” Lahsiv said finally, his tone cool.

Reya tilted her head slightly, studying him. “That’s all I ask. But don’t take too long. The others are watching, and Valen’s already gathering allies. If you want to stay on top, you’ll need more than just the Abyss.”

With that, she turned and walked away, leaving Lahsiv alone in the courtyard once again.

As the sun set over the Academy, Lahsiv found himself deep in thought. Reya’s offer was tempting, but he couldn’t shake the feeling that something larger was happening beneath the surface. The man from the Abyss, the shadowed watcher who had warned him of others seeking the same power, had been right. The forces at play were moving quickly, and the Academy itself was becoming a battleground—not just for the students, but for the forces of the Abyss and whatever else lay hidden within the walls.

The key to unlocking his full potential lay somewhere within the Academy, and he would need to navigate the treacherous waters of alliances and enemies carefully.

As the stars began to appear in the night sky, Lahsiv made his decision.

He would accept Reya’s offer, for now. She was useful, and her knowledge of the hidden parts of the Academy could lead him to the next step in his journey. But he would watch her closely, ready for the moment when her ambition turned against him.

In the end, Lahsiv knew one thing for certain: in this world of shadows, only the strongest would survive.

And he intended to be the last one standing.