Chapter 16: Secrets Within the Relic

Returning to the academy with the relic, Kaelen and Alden kept a careful distance from the other students in their group. They knew the power they carried was more than just a tool of the council—it was a dangerous asset, and the council’s motives for retrieving it remained shrouded in secrecy. The council would demand a full report, but Kaelen and Alden intended to learn what they could before handing the relic over.

After their return, the team was dismissed by Magister Lorn, who gave only brief instructions to rest and report the next day. Kaelen could feel Lorn’s eyes on him as he departed, the subtle scrutiny a reminder that any misstep would draw attention. Once alone, Kaelen slipped away, meeting Alden at the edge of the academy’s training fields under cover of darkness.

“Do you have it?” Kaelen asked in a low voice.

Alden nodded, drawing a small cloth-wrapped bundle from his cloak. He unwrapped it, revealing the dark crystal relic they had taken from the valley. It pulsed with a faint, ominous glow, casting shadows that danced along its surface.

“Let’s find out what this thing really is,” Alden said, his voice steady.

They moved into the Tower of Shadows, a quiet and secluded place where few students ventured at night. The tower’s dark energy amplified the relic’s glow, creating an atmosphere that felt heavy, almost suffocating. Kaelen could feel the dark particles in the air respond to the relic’s energy, a tangible connection that set his pulse racing.

He took a steadying breath, his energy heart pulsing as he extended his hand toward the relic, allowing his Dark particles to resonate with its energy. The moment his hand hovered over it, he felt a surge—a subtle pull that seemed to latch onto his energy heart, connecting him to the relic’s core.

Alden watched him carefully. “What do you feel?”

Kaelen concentrated, his gaze fixed on the crystal as he absorbed its faint pulses. “It’s… familiar. Like the Dark particles, but somehow more condensed, as if they’re from something older. Ancient.”

The relic seemed to sense his intent, and a flash of insight struck him. He realized this wasn’t just an ordinary crystal. It was a conduit, a fragment of a larger network of energy that connected with something deep within the gates.

Alden’s eyes narrowed as he reached out to touch the relic, his own energy heart reacting to the pulsing energy within it. “The council believes that these relics are keys,” he murmured. “They think that with enough of them, they can unlock a stable passage into the highest-ranked gates.”

Kaelen’s gaze shot up, his suspicion confirmed. “So they’re trying to use us to gather these pieces—testing the effects on us to see if we can handle the energy.”

Alden nodded grimly. “And if we can’t, we’re expendable.”

They were both silent, the weight of this knowledge settling over them. Kaelen pulled his hand back from the relic, his energy heart throbbing with a faint ache from the connection. “Then we can’t let the council have this—not until we understand its full power.”

Alden nodded in agreement. “But we have to be careful. They’re watching us, and if they sense that we’re hiding something…”

Kaelen’s mind raced as he considered their options. He knew they couldn’t study the relic freely without arousing suspicion. But if they could examine its effects subtly, perhaps they could learn to harness its power without drawing attention.

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“We’ll keep it hidden for now,” Kaelen said, wrapping the relic back in its cloth. “When the council demands it, we’ll claim it was lost in battle.”

Alden’s eyes glinted with approval. “Clever. We’ll study it in increments, using only what we need to understand its connection to Dark particles.”

They left the Tower of Shadows under the cover of night, each feeling the weight of their plan and the risks involved. But Kaelen knew they were closer than ever to understanding the council’s true intentions. They now held the council’s weapon, and with it, a chance to unravel the power it hid.

A New Routine

In the days that followed, Kaelen and Alden continued their training, acting as if nothing had changed. They attended classes, practiced spells, and engaged in combat exercises, maintaining the guise of loyal students. Yet, whenever possible, they retreated to the Tower of Shadows at night to examine the relic and learn its secrets.

During one of their late-night sessions, Kaelen discovered something peculiar. When he allowed the relic’s energy to resonate with his Dark particles, he felt a subtle amplification of his skills, especially those that relied on shadows. His Nightcaller skill, which allowed him to summon shadows as shields or attacks, felt sharper, more responsive, and easier to control.

Alden noticed it too, experimenting with his own Dark skills. “The relic acts as a stabilizer,” he observed, his eyes gleaming with excitement. “It’s as if it’s channeling energy directly into our energy hearts, reinforcing our control.”

Kaelen nodded, feeling the same surge of power. But as they continued, he noticed something else—the relic’s energy was gradually depleting. The more they used it, the fainter its glow became, as if its stored power was draining with each use.

“We can’t rely on it too heavily,” he murmured. “The council’s relics aren’t limitless. If we exhaust this one, we’ll need to find another.”

Alden looked thoughtful. “There could be more in the unexplored parts of the continent. The council is only interested in relics that they think will help them open higher-ranked gates. But if we could locate others, we might gather enough strength to stand against them.”

Kaelen’s mind raced with possibilities. If they could access more relics, they could create their own network of power, strengthening their Dark abilities without the council’s influence. It was a dangerous plan, but he knew it was worth the risk.

“We’ll need to map out potential sites,” Kaelen said. “Places the council might overlook.”

Alden nodded, his eyes sharp. “Agreed. But we must stay vigilant. The council won’t hesitate to intervene if they suspect our intentions.”

A New Challenge

Not long after, Magister Varyn summoned Kaelen and Alden together for a “special” training session. Kaelen sensed that this was a test; the council was keeping a close watch, and he and Alden would need to tread carefully.

The training was held in an isolated arena within the academy grounds, an open space surrounded by enchanted barriers to contain magic. Several instructors observed from the sidelines, their expressions unreadable as they took in every movement and spell.

“Today’s session will focus on advanced Dark techniques,” Varyn announced. “You will be paired together. We expect precision and control.”

Kaelen and Alden exchanged a glance, both understanding the unspoken challenge. The council was watching for weaknesses, signs of failure. They would need to perform with exacting skill, concealing their connection to the relic while demonstrating enough power to satisfy the council’s curiosity.

As the session began, Kaelen summoned Midnight Cloak, shadows coiling around him in a protective shroud. Alden mirrored his movements, his own shadows forming a layered barrier as they faced off. The instructors watched intently, their gazes sharp.

Alden moved first, launching a wave of dark energy that Kaelen countered with Dark Shroud, absorbing the impact and dispersing it into the ground. Kaelen retaliated with a calculated strike from Nightcaller, sending a surge of shadows that twisted around Alden’s defenses. Alden dodged with precision, his own shadows twisting in a complex pattern as he evaded Kaelen’s attack.

They exchanged blows, each maneuver calculated, each spell cast with subtle restraint. Kaelen felt the relic’s influence within him, its energy amplifying his focus and control. He could sense Alden’s movements as if they were in sync, their energy hearts resonating with a shared rhythm that allowed them to anticipate each other’s moves.

The instructors murmured among themselves, clearly impressed by the display. Kaelen could see Varyn watching closely, his eyes narrowed as he assessed every detail.

After several minutes, Varyn raised his hand. “Enough.”

Kaelen and Alden stopped, breathing heavily as they lowered their stances. The air was thick with the lingering energy of their attacks, shadows dissipating as they ended the session.

Varyn approached, his gaze piercing. “Your control is commendable,” he said, his tone cool but approving. “The council is pleased with your progress. Continue this path, and you may find yourselves chosen for… advanced missions.”

Kaelen inclined his head respectfully, hiding his wariness. He knew that the council’s approval came with strings attached—strings that could pull him into their schemes if he wasn’t careful.

As they left the arena, Alden cast a sideways glance at Kaelen, a faint smirk playing on his lips. “They’re watching us closely.”

Kaelen nodded. “Then we stay one step ahead.”

The alliance between them had grown stronger, but so had the risks. The council’s eyes were on them, and with each step, they walked a fine line between survival and exposure. But Kaelen was more resolved than ever.

With the relic in their possession, he and Alden held a sliver of power that could tip the balance in their favor. They would continue to gather strength, to unravel the council’s secrets from within.

And when the time came, they would be ready to face whatever the council had in store.