Council Chamber – The Heart of the Academy
Christian stood alone in the circle, surrounded by masters, elite students, and the Headmaster himself.
Kien wasn't allowed inside.
The air was thick. Not with heat—but tension.
Liora's voice rang out first. "You've brought something into this school. Something older than fire. Older than Void."
Christian said nothing.
"You've hidden its growth. Lied about your visions. Now students are losing control—wards are failing—"
"I didn't summon it," he snapped. "You did."
Silence.
Eyes turned to Liora.
For the first time… she flinched.
---
Outside the Chamber – Kien's Vision
Kien felt the surge before it began. Her ice sigil burned cold on her skin.
The world around her stilled. Sound vanished. Light dulled.
And then—a voice.
Soft. Smoky. Old.
> "You are the tether. Without you, he will fall."
Alira Flamebinder stood in the hallway. Transparent. Flickering.
> "The First Flame tests him. But the ember in him is not alone."
Then she vanished—leaving behind a single word:
> "Choose."
---
Inside – Judgment Turns
Varis stepped forward.
"You are dangerous, Christian. But you may still be human. We need to know which."
He raised a binding sigil.
Christian stepped back.
"I'm not your weapon."
"No," Varis said, voice steel. "You're your own threat."
---
The Unraveling
Suddenly—
The walls shivered. Stone cracked.
The spirit bleed-over surged.
One of the council members screamed—eyes turning ember-red as the entity possessed him.
> "He carries our mark."
"Let him burn with us."
Students fled. The possessed master lunged at Christian.
Christian didn't hesitate.
He reacted.
And the Ember Mark ignited.
Void and flame surged in tandem—fire without color, shadows that glowed.
He struck the spirit down—but not without cost.
Half the chamber collapsed in ash and heat.
---
Kien Enters
She rushed to his side, ignoring the chaos. She caught him before he fell.
"You held back."
"I had to."
"You could've destroyed the whole room."
He looked at her, exhausted.
"But not you."
---
Aftermath
Varis called for containment. But the damage was done.
The academy was shaken. The council fractured.
Some now feared Christian more.
Others believed he was the only thing holding the real danger at bay.
And in the shadows of the flame-cracked chamber… the entity watched.
Smiling.
---
To Be Continued…