---
As the moon reached its zenith, Kaito and the misfits navigated the labyrinthine corridors of Astraea Academy’s ancient wing. The air grew colder the deeper they went, the faint glow of their mana orbs casting eerie shadows on the stone walls. Their destination: the Catacombs of Eternity, a place whispered about in hushed tones among students.
The letter from the Keeper had been clear—answers awaited below.
“This place feels... wrong,” Yumi murmured, her hand gripping her staff tightly.
“It’s meant to,” Kaito replied, his voice steady. “The wards here aren’t just to protect the academy—they’re to keep something sealed.”
At the entrance to the catacombs, they were met by Seraphine, her expression unreadable. She raised a hand, and the massive iron doors groaned as they swung open, revealing a steep staircase descending into darkness.
“The answers you seek lie within,” Seraphine said. “But be warned: the catacombs test not just your strength, but your resolve. Only those who are unshakable may proceed.”
“What does that mean?” Toru asked warily.
Seraphine’s gaze lingered on Kaito. “You’ll see.”
---
The group moved cautiously down the staircase, the temperature dropping with each step. The air grew heavy, and an oppressive silence enveloped them.
Elara shivered, her voice barely a whisper. “It feels like something’s watching us.”
“It is,” Kaito said grimly. His Appraisal skill revealed faint traces of energy lining the walls—wards, ancient and powerful.
At the bottom of the staircase, they entered a vast chamber. Pillars adorned with unfamiliar runes stretched toward the ceiling, and in the center of the room stood a figure cloaked in shadows.
“Welcome,” the figure said, his voice resonating through the chamber. “I am Valen, Keeper of the Nexus Order.”
Kaito’s eyes narrowed. “Nexus Order?”
Valen nodded. “We are the silent stewards of the fragment’s power. Our purpose is to guard its secrets—and to judge those who would seek them.”
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Valen stepped aside, revealing a massive stone door behind him. Carved into its surface were intricate patterns resembling the summoning circles they had encountered.
“To access the truth, you must pass the trial,” Valen said. “This door leads to the core of the catacombs, where the fragment’s resonance is strongest. But the path is fraught with peril. Only those with unwavering resolve may proceed.”
“And if we fail?” Yumi asked.
Valen’s expression turned grave. “Failure means death.”
The group exchanged uneasy glances, but Kaito stepped forward without hesitation. “We don’t have a choice. Let’s do this.”
Valen’s lips curved into a faint smile. “Very well. The trial begins now.”
---
As the stone door creaked open, an overwhelming wave of energy washed over them. The air crackled with raw power, and the group found themselves standing in an endless void, the ground beneath their feet barely visible.
One by one, shadowy figures emerged from the darkness, their forms flickering like dying embers. Kaito’s breath caught in his throat as he recognized them—not as people, but as reflections of himself.
“What is this?” Toru demanded, drawing his sword.
“These are echoes of your fears, your failures,” Valen’s voice echoed from nowhere. “To move forward, you must confront them.”
The shadows attacked without warning, each targeting a specific member of the group. Toru clashed blades with a shadow mirroring his movements perfectly, while Yumi was bombarded by illusions of her mentor’s cruel mockery.
Kaito’s opponent, however, was unlike the others. The shadow stood still, its form more defined, its presence suffocating. It spoke, its voice a distorted version of his own.
“You think you can change anything? You’re nothing but a pawn in an endless cycle.”
Kaito’s fists clenched. “I’m no pawn.”
The shadow laughed, its voice dripping with malice. “You’re bound by the same chains you claim to fight against. You will fail—just as you always have.”
---
Kaito surged forward, his essence flaring as he struck at the shadow with a blade of wind. The shadow countered effortlessly, its movements mirroring his own.
“You can’t defeat me,” it sneered. “I am you.”
Kaito paused, his mind racing. Fighting the shadow head-on was pointless—it was his equal in every way. But if it was a part of him...
He closed his eyes, lowering his guard. The shadow lunged, but instead of resisting, Kaito allowed it to merge with him.
A surge of memories flooded his mind, fragments of the created shadow's life— which was shocking because when you think about it it was just created how does it have memories? Why does it have memories? What made it want to merge with him? His answers were unanswered but he had to keep going.
When he opened his eyes, the shadow was gone. In its place stood Kaito, whole and resolute.
---
One by one, the misfits overcame their trials. Toru shattered his shadow with sheer determination, while Yumi dispelled her illusions with a defiant cry.
As the last shadow fell, the void dissolved, revealing a narrow path leading deeper into the catacombs. Valen’s voice echoed once more.
“You have proven your resolve. Proceed, and uncover the truth of the fragment.”
The group moved forward, their steps heavy with anticipation. Kaito led the way, his mind focused yet burdened by the knowledge he had gained.
At the end of the path, they found a pedestal identical to the one in the Sanctum of Origins. Resting atop it was a glowing crystal, its light pulsating in rhythm with Kaito’s heartbeat.
“This is it,” Yumi whispered. “The core of the fragment’s power.”
Kaito reached out, his hand trembling as he touched the crystal. A blinding light enveloped them, and for a moment, the world disappeared.
---
When the light faded, the group found themselves standing in a vast expanse of stars. A voice, neither male nor female, resonated around them.
“You have touched the essence of creation,” it said. “The fragment you seek is a remnant of the Nexus—the force that binds all existence.”
“What does that mean?” Kaito asked, his voice steady despite the overwhelming presence.
“It means your journey has only just begun,” the voice replied. “The demons seek to corrupt the fragment, to unmake the order of this world. You must protect it, Kaito—for it is tied to your very existence.”
The light dimmed, and they were back in the catacombs. The crystal’s glow had faded, but its weight in Kaito’s hand was undeniable.
---
As they emerged from the catacombs, the first rays of dawn illuminated Astraea. Kaito looked at his companions, their faces weary but determined.
“We know what we’re fighting for now,” he said, his voice firm. “And we won’t let them win.”
The misfits nodded in unison, their bond stronger than ever.
But deep in his heart, Kaito knew the path ahead would demand sacrifices he wasn’t sure they were ready to make.
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[A/N]: Sorry it took some time to create this part. Is the story pace good is it to slow or too fast?