The dimly lit room echoed with the soft rustling of papers as Professor Haris Aetos adjusted his seat.

The chamber deep within Nightfall Keep, a place of austere elegance, reflects the authority and wisdom within its stone walls. A high-vaulted ceiling loomed overhead, with arches carved from ancient obsidian rock, each etched with symbols of forgotten magic. Flickering torches cast long, dancing shadows that added to the room’s solemn atmosphere. The atmosphere smelled of old parchment and burning incense with the chamber bathed in a soft, golden light, casting long shadows on the stone walls.

At the centre of the room was a large, circular table made of dark wood, polished to a gleam but heavy with age and history. Here the the professors of Nightfall Keep gathered to discuss matters of utmost importance—tonight, the focus was on a single student: Lucifer.

Tower Master Jacob Noctifer stood at the head of the room, his hands clasped behind his back, staring intently at the holographic projection of Lucifer’s file, his figure tall and imposing, commanding respect without uttering a word. His face was a mask of discipline, eyes observing everything, missing nothing. The other professors took their seats around the table, each bringing their own energy and perspective to the discussion.

"Roll number 666," Jacob muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible but dripping with disbelief. "What an ironic number for such a peculiar case."

Haris Aetos, the youthful dwarf, broke the silence with the familiar rhythm of his fingers drumming against the armrest. "So... this boy, Lucifer. He can’t sense mana, and yet he summons a shadow. How’s that even possible?" His tone was casual, almost disbelieving, as if the situation was too far-fetched even for the magical world they inhabited.

Ava, her beauty as sharp as her words, leaned backwards, her eyes narrowing as she glanced at Cyfrin before speaking. “It’s not possible. Not in any rational sense. He’s a danger, an anomaly, and frankly, he shouldn’t be here. How can we justify his admission when he lacks the basic ability to sense mana?”

Cyfrin Walker, seemingly amused, had an unsettling smile playing on his lips as he responded, “Ah, Ava, your insistence on the conventional is almost charming. But perhaps you’re too quick to dismiss what you don’t understand. Lucifer is... an interesting case. Maybe more than you realize?”

Ava’s gaze turned icy as she glared at Cyfrin. “Interesting? Is that all you have to say? You’re too vague, Cyfrin. What are your true intentions with this boy? Are you looking to make him your experiment, to dissect and study him until there’s nothing left? Or is there something else?”

Cyfrin’s smile didn’t waver, but his eyes darkened. “My intentions, Ava?" He spoke with a deeper voice that could send chills down your spine. "They are as they always are—to seek understanding. To push the boundaries of what we know. Lucifer represents an unknown, puzzle that doesn’t fit within our current understanding of magic. I intend to solve that puzzle, one way or another. Perhaps he’s not an anomaly at all—perhaps he’s just what we need to understand mana from a different perspective. One that doesn’t rely on the senses we take for granted.”

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Haris scratched his head, his brow furrowing in confusion. “Wait, wait…so you’re saying he’s got magic but doesn’t know it? Or he’s just, like, super smart but not magical? I’m lost.”

"Perhaps his senses are still dormant. Maybe he’s unable to realize them, but given his skill in theory, there’s a possibility he might awaken them in time." Cyfrin concluded.

"Awaken them?" Ava scoffed. "That’s the best you can come up with? We’re talking about a boy who’s shown no mana sensitivity whatsoever! We might as well hypothesize that a rock will start casting spells....."

Her words hung in the air until a single, soft sound—a subtle throat clearing—silenced her.

The Tower Master’s presence was enough to command attention without a word. He stepped forward, his movements deliberate and measured, his expression unreadable as always.

"Enough," Jacob said quietly, though his voice carried the weight of authority.

He added, "We are not here to bicker. We are here to understand and Lucifer presents us with an opportunity. If he truly is an anomaly, studying him might reveal something new about the nature of mana itself. Something we’ve overlooked for centuries."

The room fell silent, the weight of Jacob's words sinking in.

"So what do you propose we do, tower master?" Haris asked, turning to face him fully.

Jacob’s gaze shifted to the projection of Lucifer, his eyes narrowing in contemplation. "We observe him closely. See how he interacts with the mana around him, if at all. And perhaps… help him along the way. If his senses are dormant, as you suggested, Cyfrin, then maybe a little nudge in the right direction could awaken them."

"A nudge?" Haris raised an eyebrow. "What kind of nudge are we talking about? We can’t just poke around in his head and hope for the best."

"Not his head," Cyfrin interjected, his tone playful yet serious. "But his environment. Put him in situations where his theoretical knowledge is challenged by practical application. See how he handles it. Maybe he’ll surprise us… or maybe he’ll fail spectacularly. Either way, we’ll learn something."

"Correct" Jacob exclaimed.

Ava sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose in frustration. "This sounds more like an experiment than a plan. We’re talking about a student’s life, not a lab rat."

Jacob’s expression softened slightly, a rare occurrence that didn’t go unnoticed by the others. "Perhaps it’s both. Lucifer is different, and that difference could either be his downfall or his greatest strength. But we won’t know until we test it."

There was a moment of silence as the professors absorbed the Tower Master’s words. Each of them knew that Nightfall Keep was not just an academy; it was a crucible, a place where the strongest survived and the weak were left behind. Lucifer’s future here was uncertain, but one thing was clear—they could not afford to ignore him.

"Very well," Jacob concluded, his voice firm. "We’ll observe him, guide him where we can, and see what unfolds. But we must tread carefully. The last thing we want is to unleash something we can’t control."

Haris chuckled, a gruff, almost reluctant sound. "A golden-eyed boy who can’t sense mana yet might be able to summon shadows?"

Cyfrin couldn’t resist a final quip. "Or maybe he’s just exceptionally good at pretending to be ordinary. A true talent in disguise."

Jacob simply nodded, his expression unreadable. "Only time will tell."

To be continued...