In the aftermath of battle, Kor listened intently to the nervous chatter echoing through the stone hallway. The students huddled together beneath the flickering mana-lights, too shaken to even approach the narrow windows lining the corridor. They pressed close to the remaining professor like moths to a flame, seeking any comfort they could find. A hush fell over the hallway, every whispered word and trembling breath weighed down by a suffocating tension.

His magical senses prickled with residual energy from the ongoing fight outside, even as he struggled to regain his depleted mana. The connection to his two defensive barriers had snapped—destroyed, he assumed, in the attack's chaos. Thoughts racing, a tide of fear clawed at Kor’s mind, but he forced it aside and slid down the rough stone wall, settling into a cross-legged meditation pose. Empty as he was, he would barely be able to flee, let alone fight. He needed his mana reserves restored.

Closing his eyes felt like a challenge in itself, like stepping blindfolded into uncertain terrain. But his mana sense compensated, giving him a clearer impression of the battlefield beyond the safety of the academy’s enchanted walls. Discharges of raw power flared like distant thunderclaps, muted but still felt through the solid stone as Kor focused on steadying his breathing.

His wire-rimmed glasses slipped down his sweat-dampened nose as he concentrated, pulling in the chaotic ambient mana swirling around him. It mirrored the frenzy of the worried students nearby, but Kor opened himself to the flow, determined to centre himself. The indelible image of the void-touched woman intruded, her corrupted form etched deeply into his thoughts. He forced the memory aside, focusing instead on the subtle currents of power.

Mana entered his body from every angle, a steady trickle of energy, but there was resistance. A small part of him refused the flow, a blockage he could sense clearly now. He focused intently on his palm, reaching out to the stubborn knot within himself. Terra had taught them several methods for clearing blockages, but Kor opted for the gentlest approach, a quiet negotiation with his own essence—a stark contrast to the violence of moments before.

It felt like coaxing open a clenched fist, gently soothing the resistance until it began to yield. Time seemed to stretch as Kor buried himself in the effort, his focus unwavering despite the tension still coursing through his body. Bit by bit, he coaxed the blockage into softening, each passing moment marked by the gradual relaxation of that tiny knot in his palm. Ambient mana flowed in more steadily now, a faint, tingling current that gradually built upon itself. What began as an imperceptible trickle grew, slow and tentative, into a gentle stream as the blockage cleared away. It was a small victory, but one he could feel, a meaningful step forward.

The din of his surroundings crept back into his awareness. The images of Voidlings and the female professor’s crackling lightning spells loomed in his mind. He prepared to attempt another round of clearing. Terra had warned them that the first stages of mana control were painstaking, and Kor could see why. The single blockage he’d cleared was one of countless others, even within his palm alone.

Before he could continue, the emanations of battle faded to nothing. The door flew open as she entered, silver-streaked hair crackling with residual energy. Lines of strain carved across her features, yet her voice held a quiet, steely resolve. “The Voidlings have been dealt with.” She glanced back through the doorway before pulling it shut with a solid thunk. “These ones, at least.”

“Are we safe here?” A student with a singed uniform sleeve raised her hand tentatively.

Still standing guard, the older professor let out a deep chuckle. “What do you take us for?” He straightened his emerald robes with a flourish. “Any instructor here can handle a few Voidlings.”

A few students murmured among themselves, their words laced with a mix of nerves and lingering fear. The professors moved several paces away, their voices dropping to urgent whispers as they conferred. Kor’s mind churned with questions. He’d thought Voidlings were mindless, ravenous creatures driven solely to devour mana. Why hadn’t they been told about the woman? Were there more like her? And what did they want?

He was working through the spiralling possibilities when the old man’s steely eyes locked onto him. Kor’s heart skipped a beat. This was going to mean trouble.

Hesitant steps interrupted his thoughts. It was the boy he’d saved earlier, now shifting nervously as he approached. His gaze flicked between Kor and the floor. “Thanks for… what you did back there.” He raked a hand through his sweat-dampened hair. “I’d heard about you before, you know. Snowflake boy.”

Kor fought back a frown, keeping his voice carefully neutral. “I’m sure you’d have done the same for me.”

The boy gave a tentative nod, his expression still uncertain. Nearby, a cluster of students leaned in, whispering amongst themselves. The nickname “Snowflake boy,” rippled through their murmurs, each repetition grating on Kor’s nerves like sandpaper. He folded his arms and leaned back against the cool stone wall, focusing instead on the faint trickle of mana still flowing into his palm.

This Voidling incursion dragged on far longer than usual. For over an hour, they sheltered in the hallway, its charged atmosphere thrumming with whispered conversations and shuffling feet. Kor occasionally felt distant fluctuations of mana as the battle raged on, but he dedicated most of his time to meditation. Opening all the pathways for mana to enter his body would take weeks unless he could find uninterrupted time to practise. With regular classes and electives beginning soon, he doubted he’d make swift progress on this front.

As the golden afternoon light finally began to fade outside, the Dean’s voice resonated through the campus’s enchanted announcement crystals. “The threat has been dealt with.” The reassurance, however, did little to ease the tension visible in the students’ rigid postures. The lightning professor stepped back into the hallway, her robes oddly pristine and her expression composed. “It’s safe now,” she declared, gesturing for her students to follow as she led them toward the exit.

Kor pushed himself to his feet, joints stiff from sitting so long, but a firm hand gripped his shoulder before he could take a step. His stomach dropped as he turned to find himself under the piercing gaze of an older professor he didn’t recognise. The man’s eyes were sharp as steel beneath thick, grey brows. “You, come with me.”

Kor nodded meekly, his mind racing as he followed. The battlefield was clear; his snowflakes had completely dissipated, and the bodies of the voidlings were nowhere to be seen. Yet, evidence of the fight remained—scorch marks scarred the stone paths, and withered plants drooped in their beds, their life force drained by void energy.

“What, uh, do I call you, professor?” Kor asked, trying to keep his voice steady as he hurried to match the man’s brisk stride across the courtyard.

“Oak.” The man’s clipped tone discouraging further conversation.

They moved quickly through the campus grounds. Kor’s eyes darted from one sign of the incursion to another—withered flower beds, shattered ward-stones, scorched walls. Reaching out with his mana senses, the remnants of destruction felt hollow, like echoes of a violent storm. Questions tumbled through his mind: How had the voidlings breached the barrier without bringing it down entirely? And what had been their true aim? He suspected the answers were more complicated than they had been led to believe.

Professor Oak led him to Spire Alpha, its white stone tower gleaming in the late afternoon sun. The elevator ride to the Dean’s floor felt interminable, and Kor suppressed a groan. Dean Velleth was notorious for his barely concealed disdain toward Lexicans, and Kor had no desire for another encounter with the man. This situation was deteriorating by the minute.

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The receptionist glanced up from her crystal display, her enchanted quill pausing mid-stroke. “Another one?”

Oak gave a curt nod, and the receptionist waved them through with a practiced gesture. Inside the Dean’s office, two other students and a professor already waited before Dean Velleth’s desk. The man’s sharp gaze landed on Kor, and he let out an exasperated sigh that seemed to fill the book-lined room.

“Another one.” He adjusted his formal robes. “And a Lexican, too.” His disapproval hung heavy in the air, but Kor bit back any response.

The other two students presented a study in contrasts. One, a boy with an expertly tailored uniform and carefully cultivated look of disinterest, barely acknowledged Kor’s presence. The other, a severe-looking girl with olive-coloured skin and short brown hair cut in precise lines, stood with perfect posture, her bearing speaking of noble upbringing and unwavering confidence.

Dean Velleth’s gaze swept over them all like a physical weight. “Fine. Three of you, then. You are not to discuss what you’ve witnessed today with anyone—not even each other. Am I clear?”

Kor and the bored-looking boy nodded quickly, but the girl’s sharp voice cut through the tension like a blade. “Why?”

This girl had even Kelleth beat for attitude. The Dean’s eyes bulged, mana flaring around him. “What do you mean, why? That should be obvious even to a first-year student. Word of Voidling... allies cannot be allowed to spread.”

The girl crossed her arms, defiance writ large on her face.

“If you don’t agree, I will remove you from Conflux.” Velleth’s voice lowered dangerously. “But not before binding your commitment by magical contract.”

Her eyes flashed. “You wouldn’t dare. I am Serris, first daughter of the Unbound. My family—”

“Will respect the Voidflame Edict, same as every other noble family.”

Serris opened her mouth, but a surge of mana from Velleth silenced her voice mid-word, snapping around her like invisible chains. “Enough! You will comply.”

His gaze turned to Kor and the other boy, pinning them in place like a predator sighting prey. “Discuss this, and your futures are ended. Understood?”

Kor’s knees felt weak as he nodded. The other boy simply dipped his head. Serris, however, looked ready to chew rocks. Her mana swelled, pushing so hard against Velleth’s binding spell that Kor could feel the weight of it. Such intense power...

“Please, Serris, let it go. For me?” The boy squeezed her shoulder.

Serris’s muscles tensed beneath his touch. Her glare lasted only a heartbeat before melting into mere annoyance. She jerked her head in a curt nod. Velleth released his spell, and the oppressive atmosphere lifted slightly.

“I’d bind every one of you by contract if I could.” Velleth’s mana writhed and coiled as he wove his spell. The magic’s complexity dazzled even Kor’s untrained senses. The Dean’s fingers danced through the final gestures, and foreign mana pierced their chests like ice-cold needles. Kor clutched his chest, the sensation spreading like frost through his veins. Serris and the boy flinched beside him.

“Break your word, and I’ll know.” Velleth’s voice cut like steel. “Thank the First Magus for his tolerance. I possess far less.”

Hatred blazed in Serris’s eyes, but the other professor stepped forward.

“How much longer can we maintain this façade, Velleth? Their incursions grow more frequent, and countless students have witnessed their true nature.”

He waved toward the three of them. “You can’t monitor every student.”

Velleth’s fist crashed against his desk, the crack like thunder. “That’s enough! We’ll address this later. Now, get them out.”

Oak and the other professor herded them away. Serris’s rage twisted the surrounding mana into violent knots. Her boyfriend murmured in her ear, but Kor could still see her fingers twitching, ready to unleash destruction. Kor hung back as they descended to the ground floor.

Oak whirled to face them, his eyes sharp as blades. He jabbed a finger into Kor’s chest. “Tread carefully.” The touch sent pain lancing through Kor’s sternum—a physical echo of the Dean’s warning.

Velleth’s foreign mana burrowed inside him like a splinter he couldn’t remove. Though his limited sensitivity couldn’t pinpoint it, the intrusion nagged at him, a discordant note in his core that wouldn’t fade. He massaged the spot as they parted ways, watching Serris and her boyfriend vanish without acknowledgment. Their attention was the last thing he wanted. He drew a steadying breath and set off toward his dorm.

Work awaited him—practice and study, the twin pillars of his new existence. The mana puzzle still defied him. Despite conquering several of its twisted corridors, he couldn’t gauge his progress. The crystal’s strange properties defied his mana, making victory feel just beyond his grasp. Tomorrow brought Lexday practice with Marcus and the others. Even unlocking his specialisation wasn’t enough. Hunger for their respect burned in his chest. Solving the basic puzzle was merely another step in that direction.

His empty dorm greeted him, Talen conspicuously absent. Kor tossed his pack onto the bed and surveyed the jungle of plants that had claimed their room. Talen’s verdant charges seemed to whisper among themselves, leaves rustling without wind. He wondered about his roommate’s hidden life. Did Talen have another circle of friends? Secret training sessions? Maybe he visited his family—Kor imagined them as eccentric animal lovers who mortified their son by preferring pets to plants.

His connection to Tortoise flared suddenly, the familiar hum of its presence sharpening in his mind. Kor grimaced, wondering if this was going to become a regular occurrence. Before he could fully form the thought, the voice blared out a warning: “Kor, watch out!”

He paused only for a moment before dropping to the ground, groaning as his stomach met the floor. Mana flared at his call, and he scanned the room for threats, heart pounding in his chest.

“Tortoise, what’s going on?”

Kor readied a fractal image in his mind, prepared to fling a barrier up at the first sign of danger. His eyes swept across the seemingly peaceful room, muscles coiled for either escape or combat. His heartbeat drummed in his ears as he studied Talen’s plants. They remained motionless, their verdant surfaces unnervingly still. Neither his magical nor physical senses detected anything unnatural, yet the warning echoed relentlessly in his mind.

“Is this your idea of a prank?” Kor pushed himself to his feet as Tortoise’s voice came again, words even more drowsy than last time.

“Don’t mess with them, Kor. You aren’t ready yet.”

Kor pushed himself up with a huff, the motion reminding him of the weight he still carried. “I must be losing my mind. Tortoise in my head says jump, and I say, how far?” Kor shook his head.

“Wha... What?” The torpid voice roused itself, as if waking from slumber.

“Why are you yelling about danger? There’s nobody here.” He strode over to his bed and slumped down, pulling out his books and the mana puzzle.

“Sorry...” A pause. “NOT A TORTOISE!” The voice crackled with sudden fury, like lightning in a clear sky.

Kor blinked. “You were dreaming about the Voidlings, weren’t you?”

“Yes.”

“Well, that was hours ago. Nothing to worry about.”

“No. Plenty to worry about. They shouldn’t be coming so soon. Something is wrong.”

Kor scowled, irritation mounting. “More cryptic hints? Really Tortoise?”

“I’m not a—”

“Okay, okay! Not a tortoise. Stop being so cryptic. Who is coming?”

“The Voidlings. But they aren’t what you need to worry about.”

Kor hesitated, his hand freezing over the puzzle’s crystalline surface. “What is, then?”

“Nul’var.”

The word reverberated through his mind, each syllable echoing with resonance. White-hot pain lanced through his thoughts, making him clutch his head. The name alone carried a fragment of understanding—an understanding far too vast for him to bear.

Ancient, primal. Harbingers of collapse.

Images seared themselves into his consciousness, impossible scenes that defied understanding. He writhed on his bed, clutching his temples as the vision overwhelmed him. A guttural scream tore from his throat, raw and broken, echoing through the room. The very air seemed to warp, bending under the weight of the revelation.

A maw like a black hole consumed his thoughts, swallowing light, sound, and even void itself. Its existence obliterated everything, an unending hunger that left nothing behind. Around it, the dimensions themselves unravelled, reality twisting in gradients of violet and black. Causality broke down, events folding over one another in nonsensical loops. An essence, neither liquid nor gas, suffused the air—a suffocating presence that crushed reason beneath its weight.

Flashes of fleeing Voidlings came next. A mixture of humanoids and their terrifying creatures raced through their collapsing dimension, lightless features etched with terror. They were desperate, dying, torn apart as they fled across the shifting expanse of their own disintegrating realm. Nowhere was safe.

The overwhelming alienness of the scenes crushed Kor’s mind, each moment a fresh wave of incomprehensible horror. His vision blurred, his breath coming in ragged gasps as the strain pushed him beyond his limits.

Reality snapped, and Kor’s world tilted. The images dissolved into darkness, leaving only the faint, echoing whisper of the entity’s voice as he fell into unconsciousness.