The Call of the Abyss

Priyam’s heart raced as the storm outside the academy intensified. The magic in the air was thick, and his mark burned hotter than ever. The pull within him grew stronger, like an invisible hand grasping his chest, urging him to move, to do something—anything.

“What the hell is going on?” Priyam muttered, his voice strained.

Evelyne stepped closer, her face filled with concern. “Priyam, you need to calm down.” She reached for him, but he stepped back instinctively, as if the touch might trigger something.

Malakar was silent for a moment, eyes still focused on the vortex outside. “The disturbance is linked to you, Priyam. The magic is not simply reacting—it’s being drawn to you. Whatever this is, it’s awakening something… something dangerous.”

Priyam felt the pressure building within him, his thoughts clouded, and the pull of the storm outside growing stronger. He gritted his teeth. “I don’t care about this magic. I just want to know what’s happening to me!”

Malakar’s expression softened for a brief moment. “I don’t know yet, but it’s clear that your summoning was no accident. Something is drawing you into the heart of this chaos. The storm, the energy... it all points to the same thing.”

Evelyne’s eyes narrowed, her voice barely a whisper. “Priyam… is there something you’re not telling us?”

Priyam’s pulse quickened. “What do you mean?”

Evelyne moved closer, her eyes sharp. “You’re not like the other familiars. You’re… different. Why was the magic inside you able to stop Leonhardt’s sword? Why did you react the way you did when Malakar attacked you?”

Priyam swallowed. He could feel the weight of her gaze, but the words wouldn’t come. What could he say? He didn’t even understand it himself.

Suddenly, a voice echoed through the room, breaking the tense silence.

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“You can’t run from it forever, Priyam.”

The voice was hauntingly familiar—like a whisper carried by the wind. Priyam’s heart stilled, and the room seemed to grow colder.

“What the hell was that?” he demanded, his eyes darting around the chamber.

Malakar’s expression turned serious. “We’re not alone. Someone or something is watching us.”

Before Priyam could respond, a violent crash shook the room. The doors to the chamber were ripped off their hinges, crashing to the floor with a deafening roar.

A dark silhouette stood in the doorway, a figure cloaked in shadows, their presence more imposing than anything Priyam had felt before. The figure stepped forward, and Priyam’s blood ran cold.

The Face of the Enemy

The cloaked figure raised their head, revealing a pair of glowing eyes, the color of molten silver. Their voice was low and mocking as they spoke.

“So, this is the so-called familiar? How... disappointing.”

Priyam’s breath hitched. He could feel the weight of the figure’s gaze as though it were burning into him.

Malakar’s hand went to the staff at his side. “Who are you?” His voice was calm but tinged with the urgency of someone who knew danger when they saw it.

The figure smiled—a chilling, predatory grin. “I am the one who seeks to bring about the true chaos. I am the one who will see the chains that bind your world shattered.”

Priyam took a step back. “Who are you really?”

The figure chuckled, their voice like the scrape of iron on stone. “I was once a mage of this academy. I was once part of the system that now holds your power in check.”

Priyam’s mind raced. “You’re a former student?”

The figure’s eyes gleamed with malicious intent. “Not just any student, boy. I was the one who attempted to understand the power you now carry. The Nameless One… The power that should never have been touched.”

Priyam felt a cold shiver run down his spine. The mention of the Nameless One sent his mind reeling, and for the first time, the gravity of his situation hit him. He wasn’t just some random summon—he was connected to this ancient catastrophe.

“You’ve been hunting me, haven’t you?” Priyam’s voice was steady, but his fists clenched. “What do you want from me?”

The figure stepped closer, and Priyam instinctively took a step back. “I want nothing from you, child. You are simply the vessel through which my plan will be completed.”

Evelyne’s voice broke through the tension. “I won’t let you harm him.” She raised her staff, ready to face the enemy.

Malakar raised his hand, halting her. “This is no ordinary threat, Princess.” He turned his gaze to the cloaked figure. “Why are you here?”

The figure tilted their head, a twisted smile still on their lips. “Because it’s time, Grand Mage. Time for the chains to break. Time for the Nameless One to rise again.”

The Awakening

At the sound of the figure’s words, Priyam felt a surge of energy deep inside him, stronger than ever before. His mark flared, glowing brighter than it had at any point since his arrival in this world. The power inside him—dark, uncontrollable—was awakening, responding to the storm, to the figure, to everything.

“No!” Priyam shouted, trying to fight against it, but his body refused to obey. The energy surged through him, overwhelming his senses. The room seemed to spin, the air thickening with an unnatural pressure.

Evelyne shouted something, but Priyam couldn’t hear her over the roaring in his head. His vision blurred as the power coursed through him, and in the next instant—

CRACK!

A sound like thunder split the air. The ground beneath them trembled, and Priyam’s mark shattered.

To Be Continued…