Chapter 19: The Hidden Paths

The day after his conversation with Reya, Lahsiv’s routine in the Academy continued as usual on the surface. But in his mind, the gears of a new plan were already turning. He had agreed to Reya’s alliance, though cautiously. She was not to be trusted in the long run, but for now, her knowledge of the Academy’s secrets could prove useful. More importantly, Reya knew the Academy’s limits—and that, like him, she was eager to break through them.

That morning, as Lahsiv sat through a lecture on advanced Karma manipulation, his thoughts drifted away from the instructor’s dull, rehearsed speech. He had long since surpassed the need for these lessons. His mastery of Dark Karma and the power of the Abyss had rendered most of what they taught obsolete.

But it wasn’t the current lecture or even the routine training sessions that occupied his thoughts now. It was Reya’s mention of hidden places—parts of the Academy that even the top students hadn’t yet explored. She had said she had been doing her own research, and Lahsiv had no doubt that she had uncovered something worthwhile. He just needed to see how far it would take them.

Later that afternoon, after the day’s training sessions had ended, Lahsiv found Reya waiting for him in the shadow of one of the Academy’s older buildings. It was clear she had been waiting for this moment—her arms crossed, her posture casual but alert. Her sharp eyes followed him as he approached, and there was a certain spark of curiosity in her gaze.

“Have you made a decision?” she asked, skipping the pleasantries.

Lahsiv nodded. “I’ll work with you—for now.”

Reya smirked, clearly satisfied with his response. “Good. I knew you’d see the value in it. Come with me.”

Without waiting for further confirmation, she turned and began walking toward the more isolated part of the Academy grounds. Lahsiv followed, his senses on high alert. Reya was clever, but she also knew she was playing a dangerous game by involving him. She wouldn’t make a move without ensuring it was in her favor, but Lahsiv was ready for anything.

They walked in silence for a few minutes, moving past the regular training grounds and into an area where the buildings were older, their stone walls worn and covered with ivy. It was a part of the Academy that few students ventured into—mostly because there was nothing of note here, at least on the surface.

As they approached an unassuming stone structure, Reya finally spoke. “This is one of the oldest parts of the Academy. No one comes here anymore. But what the instructors don’t tell us is that beneath this section, there’s a network of tunnels—an old labyrinth that dates back to the time before the Academy was built.”

Lahsiv raised an eyebrow. He had heard rumors of such tunnels, but nothing concrete. “And you’ve found a way in?”

Reya nodded. “I’ve been exploring them for the past few weeks. They’re not just old tunnels—they’re connected to something deeper. Something related to the Abyss.”

Lahsiv’s interest piqued. The Abyss’s influence in the Academy was clear, but if these tunnels held more secrets related to that power, he needed to see them for himself.

Reya led him to a narrow alley between two buildings, where a large, heavy grate covered what appeared to be an old drainage tunnel. She knelt down and pressed her hand against a hidden mechanism embedded in the stone. The grate shifted slightly, opening just enough for them to slip through.

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“After you,” Reya said, gesturing toward the opening.

Lahsiv eyed her for a moment, then crouched down and entered the tunnel, his body immediately enveloped by the darkness within. He could hear Reya following closely behind, the sound of her footsteps echoing faintly against the cold stone walls.

The tunnel was cramped and narrow, forcing them to walk in single file as they descended deeper into the earth. The air grew cooler the further they went, and the faint scent of damp stone filled the air. Lahsiv could feel the faint pulse of dark energy here, growing stronger as they moved forward. Whatever lay at the end of this tunnel was tied to the Abyss, and that was exactly what he was looking for.

After what felt like an hour of walking in silence, the tunnel opened into a larger chamber. The ceiling arched high above them, and the walls were lined with strange, glowing runes that pulsed with a faint, eerie light. In the center of the chamber was a massive stone door, covered in intricate carvings and symbols that Lahsiv recognized as being related to the Abyss.

Reya stopped a few steps behind him, her eyes scanning the room. “This is it. I found this door a few days ago, but I haven’t been able to open it.”

Lahsiv approached the door, examining the symbols closely. They were familiar—similar to the ones he had seen in the Abyssal Hall—but these were older, more complex. There was a power sealed behind this door, and he could feel it, like a heartbeat just beneath the surface of the stone.

“These symbols,” Lahsiv said quietly, running his hand over the carvings. “They’re a lock. A seal designed to keep something—or someone—inside.”

Reya nodded. “That’s what I figured. But I can’t break the seal. Not without help.”

Lahsiv turned to her, his eyes narrowing. “You brought me here because you think I can break it.”

Reya shrugged, her smirk returning. “I don’t think. I know. You’ve already tapped into the Abyss in ways the rest of us haven’t. If anyone can break this seal, it’s you.”

Lahsiv remained silent for a moment, considering her words. She was right—his connection to the Abyss had grown stronger since the Abyssal Hall, and he had no doubt that he could break this seal. But the question was whether doing so would benefit him in the long run.

“Whatever’s behind this door,” Lahsiv said, his voice low, “could be dangerous. The Abyss doesn’t give power freely.”

Reya stepped closer, her eyes gleaming with anticipation. “And that’s exactly why we need to open it. The Academy is holding back. We’ve seen the limits they put on us. But this—this could be the key to something more. Something they don’t want us to find.”

Lahsiv stared at the door for a long moment, weighing the risks and rewards. He had already walked the path of the Abyss this far. There was no turning back now.

“Stand back,” he said, raising his hand toward the door.

Reya stepped back as Lahsiv focused his Dark Karma, channeling the power of the Abyss through his body. The runes on the door flared to life, glowing brighter as they reacted to his energy. He could feel the resistance in the seal, like a wall of force pushing back against him, but he pressed harder, willing the shadows to bend to his command.

The runes flickered, then dimmed slightly as the seal began to weaken. Lahsiv gritted his teeth, pouring more of his energy into the door. The resistance was fierce, but he could feel it cracking, feel the power inside the door starting to shift.

And then, with a sharp crack, the seal shattered.

The door groaned and slowly creaked open, revealing a dark passageway beyond. The air that flowed from the passage was thick with dark energy, far more potent than anything Lahsiv had felt before. It was as if the very essence of the Abyss was leaking from the door.

Reya stepped forward, her eyes wide with awe. “You did it.”

Lahsiv didn’t respond. His focus was on the passage ahead. Whatever lay beyond this door, it was tied to the Abyss in ways even he hadn’t fully understood yet. And now, it was open to them.

“Let’s go,” he said, stepping into the passage.

Reya followed without hesitation, the two of them disappearing into the darkness beyond the door.

The passageway twisted and turned as they ventured deeper, the dark energy around them growing more intense with each step. Lahsiv could feel the Abyss pressing in on him, like a living entity that was watching their every move. But he pushed forward, driven by the promise of whatever power lay at the end of this path.

After what felt like an eternity, the passage opened into a vast, underground chamber. The walls were lined with ancient carvings, depicting scenes of battles between light and dark forces, with figures wielding powers far beyond anything Lahsiv had seen. In the center of the chamber was a massive, stone pedestal, and atop it sat a single object—a black, pulsing crystal.

Lahsiv’s heart skipped a beat. The crystal was similar to the one he had found in the Abyssal Hall, but this one was far larger, its energy far more concentrated. He could feel its pull, like a gravity well drawing him toward it.

“This is it,” Reya whispered, her voice filled with awe. “This is what the Academy’s been hiding.”

Lahsiv stepped forward, his hand outstretched toward the crystal. He could feel the power radiating from it, the sheer potential it held.

But as his fingers brushed the surface of the crystal, a voice echoed through the chamber, low and menacing.

“You’ve come far, child of darkness. But are you ready to face what lies beyond?”

Lahsiv’s hand froze, his heart pounding in his chest.

The Abyss wasn’t done with him yet.