Chapter 29: A Gathering Darkness
The morning after his confrontation with the Umbral Circle’s agents, the Academy seemed unnaturally calm. The air carried a strange stillness, as if the students and instructors were oblivious to the battle that had taken place in the Abyssal Hall the night before. But Lahsiv knew better. The calm was deceptive, a thin veil hiding the storm that was coming.
Lahsiv had won the fight, but he knew the Circle wouldn’t stop. He had dealt with their agents, but the organization’s real power lay beyond the Academy’s walls. They would regroup, send stronger forces, and attempt to reclaim what they believed was rightfully theirs: the power of the Abyss. Lahsiv couldn’t allow that to happen.
As he stood in his room, the early morning light casting long shadows across the stone floor, Lahsiv’s thoughts were already turning toward the future. The Abyss pulsed within him, its dark energy now a part of him, fueling his strength and ambition. But the deeper his connection grew, the more he could feel the Abyss’s pull. The man from the Circle had warned him: The Abyss does not care for ambition or pride. It only seeks to consume.
For the first time, Lahsiv began to wonder how far he could push his control.
By midday, Lahsiv found himself wandering through the more secluded areas of the Academy grounds, his mind focused on the next steps. He knew he couldn’t simply wait for the Circle to strike again. He had to go on the offensive, but he also needed to understand more about what they truly wanted.
As he turned a corner, he came face to face with Instructor Kaelor. The older man’s piercing gaze met Lahsiv’s, and for a moment, there was a heavy silence between them. Kaelor was no fool—he had sensed the growing tension in the Academy, and he had undoubtedly noticed the change in Lahsiv since his first encounter with the Abyss.
“Lahsiv,” Kaelor said, his voice steady, though there was an edge to it. “There are whispers among the students. Rumors of dark forces moving within the Academy.”
Lahsiv kept his expression calm. “Rumors spread easily here.”
Kaelor’s eyes narrowed. “True, but these rumors have weight. Students have reported seeing shadowy figures, and the instructors have noticed a surge in Dark Karma activity. Something is happening, and I suspect you’re at the center of it.”
Lahsiv didn’t flinch. He had expected this conversation eventually. “What is it you’re asking, Instructor?”
Kaelor crossed his arms, his gaze never leaving Lahsiv’s face. “I know you’ve been delving into the Abyss, and I know you’ve gained power from it. But you need to be careful. The Abyss is not just a source of strength—it’s a force that consumes, one that can corrupt even the strongest minds.”
Support creative writers by reading their stories on Royal Road, not stolen versions.
Lahsiv’s jaw tightened. “I’m in control.”
“For now,” Kaelor said, his tone heavy with warning. “But there are forces beyond your understanding at play here. The Umbral Circle is only part of the problem. If you continue down this path, you’ll attract more than just their attention.”
Lahsiv met the instructor’s gaze, his voice cold and resolute. “I’m ready for whatever comes.”
Kaelor sighed, his expression softening slightly. “I hope you are, Lahsiv. I’ve seen students rise too quickly, only to fall because they didn’t understand the price of the power they sought.”
Lahsiv didn’t respond. He had already made his choice, and there was no turning back.
Kaelor studied him for a moment longer, then nodded. “Be careful, Lahsiv. The Abyss does not forgive mistakes.”
With that, the instructor turned and walked away, leaving Lahsiv alone once more.
That evening, Lahsiv gathered Elira in one of the more secluded courtyards, a place where they wouldn’t be overheard. The moon hung high in the sky, casting a pale light over the Academy grounds. Elira looked more anxious than usual, her eyes darting around as if expecting the shadows to move at any moment.
“They’re not going to stop, are they?” she asked, her voice quiet but tense.
Lahsiv shook his head. “No. The Umbral Circle is regrouping. They’ll come again, stronger than before.”
Elira swallowed hard, her fingers fidgeting nervously. “What do we do?”
“We strike first,” Lahsiv said, his voice firm. “We find their base of operations and take them down before they can make their next move. The Circle has been operating in secret for too long. We’re going to expose them.”
Elira blinked, surprised. “You want to go after them directly?”
Lahsiv nodded. “We can’t keep reacting to their attacks. If we wait, they’ll catch us off guard. I’ve already dealt with their agents here, but the Circle is much larger than that. If we don’t destroy their base, they’ll keep sending more.”
Elira’s face paled slightly. “And how do we find them? The Circle operates in the shadows—they don’t leave trails behind.”
Lahsiv’s smirk returned. “They don’t need to. The Abyss can guide us.”
Elira’s eyes widened. “You’re going to use the Abyss to track them?”
Lahsiv nodded. “The Abyss is connected to all dark energy. The Circle’s power comes from the same source. If I push my connection far enough, I can find them. It’s risky, but it’s the only way.”
Elira hesitated, her fear evident. “What if the Abyss… what if it pulls you in?”
Lahsiv’s expression darkened. He knew the risk. The Abyss was a living force, a vast and consuming darkness that offered power, but at a cost. He had seen the effects on others—how the Abyss slowly eroded their will, how it consumed them from within.
But Lahsiv believed he was different. He had proven his mastery over the Abyss time and time again.
“I’ll control it,” he said, his voice hard. “I’ve come too far to let the Abyss take me.”
Elira still looked uncertain, but she nodded. “Then I’ll follow you. But be careful, Lahsiv. The Circle isn’t just after power—they’re after control. And they’ll do anything to get it.”
Lahsiv’s smirk faded, replaced by a cold determination. “They’ll fail. The Abyss belongs to me.”
That night, Lahsiv returned to the Abyssal Hall alone. The dark energy within the chamber pulsed stronger than ever, responding to his presence as he stepped into the center of the room. The runes along the walls glowed faintly, casting eerie shadows that danced in the corners.
Lahsiv closed his eyes, drawing in a deep breath as he focused his mind. The Abyss stirred within him, its dark energy coiling like a serpent, waiting for him to command it. He reached deeper into the darkness, further than he had ever gone before.
The room around him seemed to fade, replaced by an overwhelming presence—the Abyss itself. It was vast, infinite, a swirling void of darkness and power. Lahsiv could feel it pressing against him, testing his will, but he pushed back, asserting his control.
Slowly, he began to see something. Images formed in the darkness—faint at first, but growing clearer with each passing moment. He saw the figures of the Umbral Circle, gathered in a dark chamber, their faces hidden behind masks. They were speaking in hushed tones, planning their next move.
And then he saw it—a symbol, etched into the stone behind them. A sigil of the Abyss, marking the entrance to their hidden base.
Lahsiv’s eyes snapped open, his heart pounding. He had found them.
The Umbral Circle wouldn’t know what hit them.