Chapter 24: Beneath the Surface
The next day, Lahsiv’s thoughts were sharp and precise, his mind locked on the plan he had crafted. The shadows had given him the information he needed—Valen’s alliance with the Umbral Circle was real, and the evidence he had uncovered was damning. But bringing it to light wouldn’t be simple. The instructors were cautious, and they would need more than just a vague accusation to act against a top student like Valen.
Lahsiv needed to play this perfectly.
As he made his way through the Academy halls, he could feel the tension building. Word of Valen’s growing influence had spread, and several of the students who had once stood on neutral ground were now aligning themselves with him. It wasn’t just about power anymore—it was about control. And Valen, with his ties to the Umbral Circle, thought he had already won.
But Lahsiv knew better.
He found Elira waiting for him in the shadowed corner of one of the older courtyards, just as they had planned. Her eyes were anxious, but there was a spark of determination behind them. She had committed herself to his cause, and now they would move together.
“Did you find what you needed?” Elira asked as soon as Lahsiv stepped into view.
Lahsiv nodded. “I did. Valen’s been more careless than I thought. His connection to the Umbral Circle is undeniable. We’ll bring it to the instructors and make sure they see him as the threat.”
Elira glanced around, her voice low. “And you’re sure they’ll believe us? The instructors have been watching everyone closely, especially you.”
“They’ll believe it because they won’t have a choice,” Lahsiv said, his voice calm. “The Abyss gave me what I needed. But we have to be careful. Valen has allies among the students. If they find out what we’re planning, they could strike before we’re ready.”
Elira nodded, though there was a flicker of doubt in her eyes. “What if something goes wrong? If Valen’s allies turn against us—”
Lahsiv cut her off, his tone cold. “Then we deal with them. One by one if we have to.”
Elira fell silent, sensing the finality in Lahsiv’s voice. She had seen what he was capable of, and she knew that once he set his mind to something, there was no turning back. But there was still an underlying fear, a realization that they were walking a dangerous path.
“When do we make our move?” Elira asked.
Lahsiv’s eyes narrowed, his mind calculating. “Soon. I’ll meet with the instructors and present the evidence. But first, we need to make sure Valen doesn’t suspect anything.”
Elira nodded again, her expression tense. “I’ll keep an eye on him and his allies. They’ve been gathering near the old sparring grounds, but they’re keeping their plans quiet.”
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Lahsiv smirked. “Good. Keep them distracted. I’ll handle the rest.”
The next day, Lahsiv made his way toward the central hall of the Academy, where the senior instructors often met to discuss the state of the Apex class. The halls were emptier than usual, as most of the students were either training or plotting in their own groups, but Lahsiv could still feel the undercurrent of tension that ran through the Academy.
He approached the chamber where Instructor Kaelor and the other senior instructors held court. The heavy stone doors stood before him, carved with symbols that marked the Academy’s long history. Lahsiv had never been summoned to speak before them without notice, but today, he would not wait for an invitation.
He pushed the doors open, stepping into the large, circular room where Kaelor and two other instructors sat in discussion. Their eyes snapped to him the moment he entered, and the air in the room grew heavier.
“Lahsiv,” Kaelor said, his voice measured. “This is an unexpected visit.”
Lahsiv stepped forward, his gaze locked on the instructor. “I’ve come with information. Critical information that concerns the safety of the Academy.”
The other instructors exchanged glances, but it was Kaelor who spoke again. “Go on.”
Lahsiv didn’t waste time. “Valen, one of the top students in the Apex class, has made an alliance with an outside organization known as the Umbral Circle. They deal in forbidden techniques and dark knowledge, and Valen has promised them access to the Abyss’s power in exchange for their support.”
The silence that followed was thick with tension. The instructors remained still, but their expressions darkened. Forbidden knowledge was not something taken lightly in the Academy, and any connection to outside organizations would be seen as a serious threat.
“Those are strong accusations,” one of the other instructors said, his tone skeptical. “Do you have proof?”
Lahsiv met his gaze steadily. “I do.”
He raised his hand, and the shadows that lingered in the corners of the room began to move. Lahsiv had already practiced this—he had drawn the memories of Valen’s meeting with the Umbral Circle from the Abyss itself, and now he could display them for the instructors to see.
The shadows swirled, forming a dark, smoky image in the air. Valen’s figure appeared, standing alongside the man from the Umbral Circle. The instructors watched in silence as the image played out, revealing the details of their alliance and Valen’s plan to use the Umbral Circle to gain control of the Abyss’s power.
When the vision faded, the room was deathly quiet.
Kaelor’s eyes remained on Lahsiv, but his expression had hardened. “If what you’ve shown us is true, then Valen has violated the most sacred rules of the Academy. Forbidden knowledge is not to be used or shared. The consequences of this alliance could be catastrophic.”
One of the other instructors nodded slowly. “We will need to investigate this further. If Valen is indeed working with the Umbral Circle, he will be dealt with.”
Lahsiv’s heart pounded in his chest, but his face remained calm. He had succeeded in planting the seed of doubt in the instructors’ minds. Now, they would begin to turn against Valen. But he couldn’t stop there. He needed to make sure Valen had no time to react.
“Valen has gathered allies,” Lahsiv said, his voice low. “They’ve been preparing for an attack. If we don’t move quickly, they’ll strike first.”
Kaelor’s eyes narrowed, his mind clearly racing with the possibilities. “You’ve done well to bring this to our attention, Lahsiv. We will act, but we must be cautious. If the students sense that something is wrong, it could lead to chaos.”
Lahsiv nodded. “I understand. But we need to move before Valen has a chance to escape or rally his allies. He won’t wait long.”
Kaelor exchanged a glance with the other instructors, then nodded slowly. “Very well. We will act swiftly. Valen and his allies will be brought in for questioning.”
Lahsiv smirked inwardly. It was all falling into place.
Later that day, as the sun began to set, Lahsiv and Elira stood together on one of the higher balconies overlooking the Academy grounds. The tension had only grown since the morning, and now, Lahsiv could see groups of students gathering in small clusters, their expressions tense and uncertain.
“They’re nervous,” Elira said quietly, her eyes scanning the courtyard below. “They know something’s coming.”
Lahsiv nodded, his eyes cold. “It’s already started. The instructors will move against Valen soon. Once he’s gone, his allies will scatter.”
Elira turned to him, her brow furrowed. “What if Valen fights back? He still has a lot of influence. Some of the students are loyal to him.”
Lahsiv’s smirk returned. “Valen doesn’t have the advantage anymore. He doesn’t know the instructors are coming for him. By the time he realizes what’s happening, it’ll be too late.”
Elira looked uncertain, but she nodded. “And the Umbral Circle?”
Lahsiv’s eyes darkened. “They’ll show themselves eventually. But I’m ready for them.”
As the shadows of evening began to deepen, Lahsiv felt a sense of anticipation building within him. The pieces were falling into place, and soon, Valen would be eliminated as a threat. But this was only the beginning. The Umbral Circle was still out there, waiting in the wings, and Lahsiv knew they wouldn’t give up their plans easily.
But he was ready. Whatever came next, he would face it—and conquer it.
As the darkness deepened around the Academy, Lahsiv felt the Abyss stir within him, its power growing stronger with each passing moment.