Adam, head lowered, climbed the stairs toward the main hall. The conversation with Vicar and Adelaide still churned in his mind, especially Varidan’s imminent summons.

  Near the top of the stairs, he paused. A familiar, nauseating stench curled into his nose. His expression hardened. He pushed the door open.

  Five mutilated corpses littered the tavern’s main hall, blood and severed limbs sprayed across wood and stone. Cloaked figures stood among the carnage, blood-soaked daggers hanging at their sides. Their heads lifted in unison, gazes locking onto him with predatory intensity.

  Adam’s eyes flicked toward the bodies again, recognizing one through the gore. The carriage driver. Now a little more than battered flesh.

  He cracked his neck once, then stepped forward, measured.

  “What are you glaring at him for?! Clean up and take those roaches away!”

  Adam paused, turning toward the voice. Igor leaned through an open window, scowling at the masked assailants before fixing Adam with an easy smile.

  “Please don’t mind them,” Igor said. “They get… easily excited.”

  “I can see that,” Adam murmured as one of the men dragged a severed torso aside.

  “Are you done with your business?” Igor asked.

  “Yeah. Why?”

  Igor giggled—actually giggled—and vaulted through the window, landing neatly between stains of blood. He fished out a black-gold envelope. “A letter came for you. Here.”

  Adam didn’t take it immediately. “Who sent it?”

  “This style matches Varidan Academy,” Igor said with a dry smile. “I’m ninety percent sure it’s them.”

  So fast? Vicar said I had two or three days… Adam reached for the envelope, brows tightening.

  “Any additional instructions when you received it?” he asked.

  “No,” Igor said. “That lass was cold. Didn’t waste a single word. Why? Is something wrong?”

  Adam didn’t answer. The envelope carried a faint perfume; the paper smooth beneath his fingertips. He broke the seal and unfolded the letter.

  To Student 009,

  By order of the Varidan Academy High Council, you are hereby summoned to return to Varidan Academy for a mandatory debrief regarding the completion of your most recent assignment.

  You are to present yourself within seventy-two (72) hours of receipt of this notice. Failure to comply will be considered dereliction of duty and may result in disciplinary action in accordance with Academy regulations.

  All insignia and mission documentation must be retained and presented upon arrival. Further instructions will be provided during the debrief.

  By Authority of Varidan Academy

  Office of Oversight

  Varidan Towers

  Adam crumpled the letter, frown deepening. They’re more efficient than I expected. At least I have seventy-two hours to settle on a story.

  He stuffed the paper into his pocket. “I’ll be in my room. Don’t disturb me unless it’s important.”

  Igor nodded.

  Adam slipped behind the hidden door without another word.

  Igor watched him disappear, his smile never fading.

  Judging by that reaction, Varidan Towers must have summoned him… or something worse.

  He stroked his chin, thoughts swirling.

  A thud echoed behind him.

  “Henry, you’re back?” Igor called.

  “Mission abandoned, sir,” a heavy voice replied. “The target was a Varidan associate. They would’ve eliminated us if we continued.”

  “They?” Igor whipped around toward the kneeling cloaked figure. “What do you mean ‘they’?”

  “Sir… over twenty unidentified threats are observing the headquarters, and I believe more are hidden. This is an A-level threat scenario.”

  Igor’s stomach dropped. He glanced instinctively toward the window. “A-level? Who are they targeting?”

  “Sir, we believe they’re from Varidan Academy. Their target appears to be Priority D-102.”

  Igor’s gaze shot toward the hidden door Adam had vanished into. What the hell did that brat do?

  He remembered Adam’s stiff expression while reading the letter. No wonder he looked so empty earlier… This is bad. I can’t contend with Varidan yet.

  He surveyed the carnage left by the earlier intruders, humming to himself before addressing Henry again.

  “Cease anything that might draw Varidan’s attention.”

  “Understood, sir.”

  “Bury the paper trail leading to the elixirs. And ensure no one visits the ranch until further notice.”

  “No problem,” Henry replied. “Should we disband the network?”

  “No,” Igor said firmly. “But halt surveillance on all targets.”

  “I’ll make preparations.”

  “Good.” Igor looked out toward the street. “When do you depart for Vohmir?”

  “Next week, sir. I’ve prepared everything for the negotiations with Giles Prophete.”

  The tale has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

  “Leave tomorrow.” Igor pulled out a sealed letter and tossed it to him. “There’s a rumor of an Awakened with prophetic abilities in Mahirian. If it’s true, you know what to do. Gilmore will provide additional intel. Go.”

  Henry vanished.

  Igor rubbed his temples. Why would Varidan send so many spies after that kid? Did they discover something about the elixirs?

  He shook his head sharply. No… impossible. We’ve been careful.

  The tavern door creaked open. Bricteva entered, her cold eyes settling on him.

  “Henry told me what’s happening,” she said. “Should we activate the substitutes?”

  “It’s too risky. Let’s not do anything rash... for now.”

  Her lips twitched. “Why would Varidan send high-profile agents after him? Did they find something we didn’t?”

  “I’m wondering the same,” Igor admitted. “The halo chamber confirmed he’s E-rank, but now, I have my doubts.”

  “I can’t imagine Master or Varidan taking interest in a mere E-rank Awakened.”

  “Something’s happening,” Igor said quietly. “We’re blind to it—for now.”

  “Not for long.” Bricteva smirked. “Four more months until we gain full control of the halo chamber. And that’s just the beginning.” She nearly giggled. “Soon, we’ll be free.”

  Igor’s smile was faint, uncertain—but he didn’t argue.

  “Let’s go to the halo chamber,” Bricteva urged. “There’s something important I heard about the Scavengers.”

  Neither spoke further as they slipped through the door leading to the secluded room.

  Varidan Academy, Dratol

  Adam stared at his reflection in a chamber of mirrored walls. He sat in an opaque glass chair before a matching table. At its center rested a melon-sized yellow crystal, its steady glow bathing the room in soft light.

  He had already reverted to his normal appearance and changed into a fresh, Academy-issued uniform.

  Six hours… Are they seriously just going to leave me here?

  He had reported to the Year One Registration Hall at dawn. An instructor had escorted him to this room—and no one had entered since. The silence only deepened his suspicion that a dozen unseen eyes were studying his every breath from behind the reflective walls.

  Adam exhaled, standing as he stretched. “Hello?” he called. “When do we start the debriefing?”

  Silence. Again.

  That was the tenth time he’d asked.

  After pacing for several minutes, he sank back into his chair.

  These people have no idea what kind of torture I endured under that lunatic. Whatever this is, it’s not going to crack me.

  His expression went flat. Might as well sleep. I don’t have time for—

  The crystal’s color suddenly shifted. A tranquil blue washed over the chamber.

  Adam sat upright. About damn time.

  An androgynous voice echoed. “Student 009, do you know why you were summoned?”

  “Isn’t this a debrief?”

  A brief pause. “In accordance with Varidan regulations, this debriefing is to verify the authenticity of your mission’s success. Do you understand?”

  Adam straightened. “What do you mean? I didn’t break any rules. Why—?”

  “We are here to determine that—not you,” the voice cut in. “Be advised: if you lie, you will be punished.”

  Adam’s jaw tightened. And how the hell will you know?

  His gaze slid to the crystal, then to the mirrored walls. If it wasn’t the orb or mirrors, it had to be a Blessing.

  The questioning began.

  “Is your name Adam?”

  “Yes.”

  “Are you an Awakened?”

  “Yes.”

  “Are you forty years old?”

  “Of course not.”

  “Are you a weapon manipulator?”

  Adam sighed. “Is there a point to this? You already know I can manipulate weapons.”

  They’re establishing a baseline… great.

  “Did you complete the mission in Gido without help?”

  “Yes.”

  “How did you eliminate the goblin clan when you are clearly weaker?”

  “I don’t have to answer that,” Adam snapped. “Varidan rules allow me to refuse questions relating to my Blessing.”

  Silence.

  Adam placed both hands on the table, waiting for the next round.

  “Did you kill the Baccarra queen by yourself?”

  “What’s the point of asking, my mission was to retrieve its heart. Of course—”

  “Student 009.”

  The interruption froze him.

  That sharp, cold, and unmistakable voice belonged to only one person.

  Dean Hensley.

  Adam swallowed, fighting the urge to curse. Why is the dean here?

  “From now on,” Hensley said, “answer in simple terms. Yes or no.”

  He hesitated. I didn’t kill the Baccarra queen… and I have no idea how to lie my way out of this.

  “Student 009,” the androgynous voice pressed, “answer the question.”

  Adam opened his mouth. “Yes, I killed the—”

  The crystal jolted. A faint crimson shimmer bled across part of its surface.

  [Skill: Devourer activated]

  A primal hunger clawed up from the depths of his soul. Adam doubled forward, muscles trembling as he fought the urge to collapse.

  Five portals tore open around him. Seven masked instructors in red surged forth.

  [Skill: Devourer deactivated]

  Adam barely registered the message before two instructors slammed him to the floor. His arms and legs were bound in an instant; a boot pinned his skull to the marble.

  “What the hell—”

  “Silence,” an instructor barked. “You don’t have permission to speak.”

  Adam tried to retort, but no sound left his throat.

  Another Blessing. Fantastic.

  A final portal opened. Dean Hensley stepped through, her presence colder than the mirrors surrounding them. She approached the orb, studying its surface.

  “Seat him.”

  The instructors hauled him upright and dumped him back into the chair.

  Hensley’s sharp gaze cut into him. “What did you do?”

  “Speak,” an instructor commanded.

  “I didn’t do anything,” Adam growled. “What you’re doing is abuse of power. I’ll file a complaint.”

  “Please do,” Hensley replied, bored.

  She waved the instructors away. They vanished through their portals without a word.

  Now alone with her, Adam met her stare. Her killing intent wasn’t subtle. Is she planning to execute me right here?

  “Did you kill the Baccarra queen by yourself?” she repeated.

  Adam said nothing. His eyes flicked to the orb. The crimson tint was completely gone.

  “Don’t make this more difficult than necessary,” Hensley warned. “Answer.”

  “Yes,” he said. “Yes, I did.”

  Hensley immediately looked at the crystal.

  Adam followed her eyes and smiled. Oh? So that’s how it works.

  Her expression sharpened, but he held his smirk.

  “Did you witness the descent of the Grand Dungeon?” she asked.

  “No, I didn’t.”

  The orb remained unchanged.

  “Any more questions?” Adam murmured.

  Hensley’s gaze narrowed. “Your roommate, Hendrix Moon, reported encountering another Varidan student during his assignment. Was that you?”

  “No. I haven’t seen Hendrix in a while.”

  “Cut the nonsense,” Hensley snapped. “Only five students took missions in the Valar Pits. If not you, then who?”

  Adam shrugged. “Isn’t that your job to figure out?” he said lightly. “Respectfully, dean, anyone can impersonate a Varidan student.”

  Hensley glanced toward the TruthSeeker orb. Its surface remained perfectly calm; no glow, no pulse, nothing.

  Her jaw tightened. “Final question,” she said, voice dropping. “Are you an enemy of Varidan… or allied with one?”

  “No,” Adam answered, flat and bored. “I love Varidan Academy so much—”

  “That’s enough.” Hensley rose abruptly. She clapped twice, and a portal unfurled behind Adam in a swirl of muted colors.

  “That concludes the debrief,” she said. “You are free to resume taking missions whenever you see fit.”

  “Thank you,” Adam replied with a pleasant smile as he stood.

  “You may leave now.”

  He didn’t wait to be told twice. His steps were light, almost eager, as he disappeared through the colorless portal.

  The room quieted.

  Hensley’s eyes drifted back to the unresponsive orb, her brows knitting. What a complete waste of time…

  With a sigh, she snapped her fingers. A file materialized before her, hovering as she flipped to a marked page.

  His roommate mentioned Awakened from Raventhorn were present at the dungeon. Could they have helped him? Or did he get fortunate in the chaos that ensued that day?

  She exhaled heavily and shut the file. Her gaze returned to the orb one last time.

  The Council’s going to chew my ears off when they see this report. What was I expecting from an E-rank?

  Two sharp claps. A portal bloomed open, and Hensley stepped through without hesitation. As the portal sealed, the TruthSeeker orb dimmed to a dull, inactive yellow.

  Ten minutes later, another portal whispered open.

  A masked instructor in crimson stepped out, moving silently toward the orb. He hovered his hand above its surface without touching it.

  “What kind of monster did Vicar let into Varidan?” he murmured. “A mere E-rank… resisting a TruthSeeker? Either he’s lying perfectly, or he told the truth from the very start.”

  A soft chuckle slipped from behind the mask.

  “Vicar will be very interested in this.”

  A shadowy portal unfurled beneath his feet, swallowing him whole. In the next instant, the room was empty once more.