Chapter 22: The Web Tightens
The Academy was quieter than usual the next day, but the tension in the air was undeniable. Whispers of conflict, of alliances forming and plans brewing, had spread among the students, but nothing had erupted yet. Lahsiv could feel it—a storm waiting to break. The students were divided, and the top contenders, including Valen, were maneuvering behind the scenes.
Lahsiv moved through the halls, his senses sharp. Elira’s warning about Valen had been the first clear sign that things were escalating, but Lahsiv wasn’t worried. If Valen and the others believed they could isolate him, they were underestimating him. But there was more than just Valen and the other students to consider now. The instructors had taken notice of him as well, and that was where the real threat lay. If they decided Lahsiv had gone too far in his pursuit of power, they could take action to remove him.
The Academy had strict rules about the use of forbidden techniques and the balance between Light and Dark Karma. Lahsiv’s connection to the Abyss was beyond what most students understood, and that made him dangerous in their eyes. But he had no intention of backing down.
Later in the day, Lahsiv found himself in the secluded training grounds where he had often gone to hone his skills alone. The shadows here felt different now—deeper, more alive. Since his encounter with the black crystal and his trial in the Abyss, the darkness seemed to respond to him more readily, as if the Abyss itself had become a part of him.
He stood in the center of the training grounds, his sword drawn. The Sword of Ruin gleamed faintly in the dim light, the dark energy within it pulsing like a heartbeat. Lahsiv raised his hand, summoning the shadows around him. They moved at his command, swirling like smoke before solidifying into dark tendrils. He could feel their power, the raw force of the Abyss, bending to his will.
Control is fleeting. The Abyss’s warning echoed in his mind, but Lahsiv pushed it aside. He had control now, and that was all that mattered. The shadows were his weapon, and he would use them to crush anyone who stood in his way.
As he trained, he sensed someone approaching. He didn’t need to turn to know who it was. Reya had a way of appearing when she thought something important was happening.
“Your control over the Abyss is growing,” Reya said as she stepped into the clearing, her eyes fixed on the swirling shadows around Lahsiv. “Impressive. But dangerous.”
Lahsiv didn’t respond immediately, focusing instead on dispersing the shadows with a flick of his hand. He turned to face her, his expression calm. “Dangerous for whom?”
Reya smirked. “For all of us. You know the instructors are watching you, don’t you? They’re afraid of what you’ve become. And Valen’s using that fear against you. He’s convinced some of the other top students that you’re a threat, and they’re planning to move soon.”
Lahsiv’s eyes narrowed. “And what’s your part in this, Reya?”
Reya raised her hands in mock surrender. “I’m not interested in getting involved in their schemes. I told you, I’m only interested in power. And right now, it looks like you’re the one with the most potential.”
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Lahsiv studied her for a moment, searching for any sign of deception. Reya had always been an opportunist, but she wasn’t a fool. She knew that if Valen and his allies made a move against Lahsiv, it could be the beginning of a larger conflict within the Academy—one that could disrupt everything.
“They’re underestimating me,” Lahsiv said coldly. “And if they make their move, I’ll make sure they regret it.”
Reya stepped closer, her voice lowering. “They’re planning something bigger than just a confrontation. I’ve been hearing rumors—there’s an organization outside the Academy, one that’s interested in the power of the Abyss. Valen’s been in contact with them. He’s promised them something, but I don’t know what.”
Lahsiv’s interest piqued. An outside organization? That explained why Valen had been so bold lately. If he had support from a group outside the Academy, he might think he could take Lahsiv down without facing consequences.
“Who are they?” Lahsiv asked, his voice hard.
Reya shook her head. “I don’t know much. They operate in secret, but I’ve heard whispers of them before. They’re known as The Umbral Circle. They deal in forbidden knowledge, trading secrets and dark techniques. If Valen’s made a deal with them, it means he’s desperate—or stupid.”
Lahsiv’s mind raced. The Umbral Circle. It sounded like the kind of organization that would be interested in the Abyss and its powers. If Valen had allied himself with them, he might be more dangerous than Lahsiv had originally thought. But Lahsiv wasn’t afraid. If anything, the prospect of facing a powerful, secretive organization only made things more interesting.
“They won’t be a problem,” Lahsiv said quietly. “I’ll deal with Valen and his new allies soon enough.”
Reya raised an eyebrow, intrigued by his confidence. “You seem sure of yourself. But be careful, Lahsiv. The Abyss is a double-edged sword. You might think you’re in control, but it has a way of taking more than you’re willing to give.”
Lahsiv met her gaze, his voice cold. “I know what I’m doing. And I won’t be stopped by Valen, the instructors, or anyone else.”
Reya smiled faintly, as if amused by his determination. “I hope you’re right. Because once this conflict starts, there’s no going back. The Academy won’t protect you if things get out of hand.”
Lahsiv smirked. “I don’t need their protection.”
With that, Reya turned and walked away, leaving Lahsiv alone in the training grounds once again. Her warning about the Abyss echoed in his mind, but he pushed it aside. He had no time for doubt. Valen and his allies were moving against him, and now that Lahsiv knew about the Umbral Circle, the stakes had risen even higher.
That night, Lahsiv sat in his room, the moonlight streaming through the window casting long shadows across the floor. He had begun to plan his next move, his mind focused on how to deal with Valen and the Umbral Circle. He knew he couldn’t wait for them to strike first. If they were preparing to move against him, he would have to hit them before they were ready.
But first, he needed more information. The Umbral Circle was a mystery, and he couldn’t afford to underestimate them. If they were as powerful and secretive as Reya had implied, they could pose a real threat—not just to Lahsiv, but to the entire Academy.
As he sat in the quiet of his room, his thoughts were interrupted by a sudden presence. The shadows in the corner of the room shifted, and a figure stepped out of the darkness. It was the man from the Abyss—the one who had first offered Lahsiv guidance.
“You again,” Lahsiv said, standing and reaching for his sword. “What do you want this time?”
The man’s hooded figure remained still, his face hidden in the shadows. “I told you before, child. The Abyss has chosen you, but others have taken notice. Forces beyond the Academy are watching, waiting.”
Lahsiv’s eyes narrowed. “The Umbral Circle?”
The man nodded. “They seek to control what you have unlocked. The Abyss is not theirs to wield, but they will try. Valen has made a pact with them, promising them access to the dark power he knows you possess.”
Lahsiv’s grip on his sword tightened. So it was true. Valen wasn’t just trying to defeat him—he was trying to sell the power of the Abyss to outsiders. And that made him even more dangerous.
“What do they want?” Lahsiv asked, his voice low.
“They want the Abyss,” the man replied. “They want its secrets, its power. And they will stop at nothing to take it from you.”
Lahsiv’s jaw clenched. He had no intention of letting anyone take what was his.
“And what do you want?” Lahsiv asked, his eyes locked on the shadowed figure.
The man smiled faintly, though his face remained obscured. “I want you to survive, child. The Abyss has plans for you, but you must prove yourself worthy. The Umbral Circle is only the beginning. There are other forces, greater forces, that will come for you. But first, you must deal with Valen and those who would stand in your way.”
Lahsiv’s mind raced. The stakes were higher than he had realized. The Umbral Circle was just the start of a much larger conflict, one that stretched far beyond the Academy’s walls. But Lahsiv wasn’t afraid. He had come too far to be stopped now.
“I’ll deal with them,” Lahsiv said coldly. “No one takes what’s mine.”
The man nodded slowly. “Good. But remember, the Abyss does not forgive mistakes. And neither do those who seek its power.”
With that, the man faded into the shadows, disappearing as silently as he had come.
Lahsiv stood alone in his room, the weight of what was to come pressing down on him.