The Weight of Power

Priyam’s mind was racing.

What the hell is happening to me?

He could still feel the residual energy from the Grand Mage’s attack lingering in the air, as though his body had absorbed it in some strange, unnatural way. It was a power he couldn’t explain, but it was undeniable.

“I’m not some freak,” he muttered, trying to steady his breathing.

Evelyne stood nearby, her expression a mixture of curiosity and caution. “You’re not a freak. But you’re not normal, either.”

Malakar’s golden eyes flickered with ancient knowledge. “It’s clear now. The mark is not just a binding.” He turned to Priyam, his gaze intense. “It’s a seal.”

“A seal?” Priyam asked, his voice trembling slightly.

Malakar nodded slowly. “A seal of power. A key to something beyond our understanding.”

Evelyne raised an eyebrow. “A key? To what?”

The Grand Mage met her eyes. “To whatever power lies dormant inside him.”

Priyam clenched his fists. “I don’t want any part of this.”

Malakar tilted his head. “You may not have a choice. The power inside you has already begun to stir. And once it awakens fully, the world will feel its tremors.”

The room seemed to grow colder as Malakar spoke. Priyam felt a knot form in his stomach. What the hell did I get myself into?

“Great,” he muttered, “just what I needed.”

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Evelyne shot him a sharp look. “You think you’re the only one with burdens, Priyam? You have no idea what I’m up against. You were summoned to this world for a reason.”

Priyam met her gaze, trying to ignore the tightening in his chest. “Maybe I wasn’t summoned at all. Maybe this is just some freak accident.”

Malakar’s voice cut through the tension. “Whatever the reason, Priyam, you are not just a ‘familiar.’ The magic you’ve absorbed is changing you—whether you like it or not.”

Priyam’s mind was spinning. But before he could respond, an unexpected sound broke the moment: a low, distant rumble.

Evelyne’s expression shifted to one of alarm. “That sound…”

Priyam’s heart skipped a beat. “What is it?”

Malakar’s face grew grim. “Not good.”

The Storm Approaches

The rumble grew louder, vibrating the floor beneath their feet. Priyam staggered, trying to find his balance, but the ground felt like it was shifting under him.

“Everyone, stay alert!” Evelyne commanded.

The air thickened with tension. Then, the sky outside the chamber darkened—clouds swirling unnaturally fast, as if something was pulling them toward the academy.

Priyam looked out the window, his eyes widening in disbelief. A massive vortex had formed above the academy, dark and ominous. It was a storm, but it wasn’t just any storm. The magic in the air felt wrong, twisted.

“What the hell is happening?” Priyam asked, his voice rising.

Malakar muttered under his breath, his hands raised to the sky. A flash of arcane light shot from his fingers, briefly illuminating the darkened clouds.

The vortex responded, shuddering, and then—

BOOM!

A bolt of lightning shot down from the storm, striking the academy’s central tower with unrelenting force.

The entire building shook.

Priyam stumbled, nearly losing his balance. He could feel it—the energy in the air was alive, thrumming with raw power. The mark on his hand flared, hotter than it had ever been before.

“This is no ordinary storm,” Malakar said, his voice low but filled with urgency. “It’s a magical disturbance. Someone—or something—has triggered this.”

Evelyne’s eyes narrowed. “But what could cause this kind of chaos?”

Priyam felt a sudden shift in the air, a pull deep inside him. His heart pounded as the mark on his hand burned, more intense than before. He could sense it now—something awakening within him.

“The storm… it’s calling to me,” Priyam whispered.

Evelyne turned sharply. “What are you talking about?”

But Malakar already knew.

“Priyam…” The old mage’s voice was grave. “The power inside you is reacting to the disturbance. It’s responding to something. And if it continues, you may not be able to control it.”

Priyam’s eyes widened. “Control what? What’s happening to me?”

Malakar’s gaze turned distant, as if seeing something far beyond this room. “You were summoned for a reason, Priyam. Whether you know it or not, you are the catalyst for something greater. And the storm is only the beginning.”

A Hidden Enemy

Outside the chamber, the rumbling intensified. The wind howled, tearing through the academy’s halls. Students and faculty alike scrambled, panic setting in.

But then, from the shadows of the academy’s lower halls, a figure appeared. Cloaked in darkness, their eyes glowed with an unnatural light.

They moved with purpose, weaving through the chaos, unnoticed by all.

Their lips curled into a smile as they muttered, “The Nameless One is awake. And soon, the world will fall before him.”

Priyam, oblivious to the figure’s existence, felt the strange energy in his chest intensify. He felt like he was on the brink of something monumental—something dangerous.

And deep inside him, the power whispered again.

“Wake up.”

To Be Continued…