Chapter 7 — The Shadows Answer Back
The old maintenance wing was colder than the rest of the academy.
Not physically.
Not exactly.
It was the kind of cold that settled under the skin — the kind that made the air feel like the building itself was holding its breath.
I slipped inside and let the door creak shut behind me. Dust coated the floor. Broken crates leaned against the walls. A few rusted tools lay scattered like relics from a forgotten era.
No footsteps.
No voices.
No scry?orbs drifting overhead.
Finally.
The system pulsed.
Objective: Test Deathbound energy in a private location.
Surveillance Density: Low
Risk Level: Moderate
Moderate risk was practically a blessing.
I exhaled slowly and raised my hand.
The cold pressure beneath my ribs stirred immediately — the same presence that had nearly slipped free during mana shaping. It rose like smoke, coiling through my veins.
Hungry.
Waiting.
“Just a small release,” I whispered. “Controlled.”
The system flickered.
Initiate Controlled Deathbound Release?
Yes / No
I hesitated only a moment.
“Yes.”
The temperature dropped instantly.
A faint black shimmer gathered around my palm — thin at first, then thicker, swirling like ink in water. It wasn’t mana. It wasn’t anything the academy taught. It felt deeper. Older. Wrong in a way that made my pulse quicken.
The system chimed.
Deathbound Output: 2%
Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.
Stability: Unstable
Warning: Emotional state affects control.
My heart kicked harder.
The shimmer pulsed in response.
“Calm,” I whispered. “Stay calm.”
The energy resisted, pushing outward, testing the boundaries of my control. It wanted to spread. It wanted to grow. It wanted—
A sharp crack echoed through the room.
I jerked back, the shimmer collapsing instantly.
A loose ceiling tile had fallen, smashing into the floor a few feet away.
My pulse hammered.
That… wasn’t me.
Right?
The system pulsed again.
Environmental Disturbance Detected.
Deathbound resonance may influence surroundings.
Recommendation: Reduce output or relocate.
Fantastic.
I crouched, breathing slowly until the cold pressure settled again. The room felt heavier now, like the shadows themselves were watching.
I tried again — smaller this time.
A thin veil of black shimmered around my hand. Quiet. Controlled. Almost gentle.
The system chimed softly.
Progress Achieved: Deathbound Control +1
New Passive: Shadow Veil (Minor)
Effect: Slightly obscures presence from magical detection.
My breath caught.
That… was useful.
Very useful.
I lowered my hand, letting the energy fade. The cold pressure retreated, settling back into its usual quiet coil.
For the first time since awakening this cursed affinity, I felt something close to hope.
Then footsteps echoed outside the door.
I froze.
Two voices followed — low, irritated.
“…I told you, no one uses this wing anymore. If someone’s inside, they’re not supposed to be.”
Another voice answered, sharper.
“Check it anyway. The Headmaster wants all anomalies investigated.”
My blood ran cold.
Not now.
Not here.
The doorknob rattled.
I backed into the shadows, heart pounding, the system pulsing urgently.
New Objective: Evade detection.
Use Shadow Veil?
“Yes.”
The shadows thickened around me, cool and silent, wrapping around my body like a second skin.
The door creaked open.
Two instructors stepped inside, scanning the room.
One held a detection charm — a small crystal that glowed faintly blue.
“Nothing,” he muttered. “No mana signatures.”
The other frowned. “Then why did the scry?orb register a fluctuation?”
My pulse thudded in my ears.
The charm passed inches from my face.
The Shadow Veil held.
Barely.
After a tense moment, the first instructor sighed. “Probably just residual energy from the old wards. This place is falling apart.”
“Still,” the other said, “keep an eye on Class D. Strange things always start at the bottom.”
They stepped out, closing the door behind them.
I didn’t move until their footsteps faded completely.
Only then did the system pulse again.
Shadow Veil Duration Expired.
Concealment Successful.
I exhaled shakily.
That was too close.
Way too close.
But I’d learned something important:
Deathbound energy wasn’t just dangerous.
It wasn’t just forbidden.
It was detectable — even when suppressed.
And the academy was already watching for anomalies.
I needed to be smarter.
Faster.
Stronger.
The system pulsed one last time.
New Quest Available: Into the Underhalls
Objective: Locate a deeper, safer place to train.
Reward: Deathbound Skill Upgrade (Unknown)
I stared at the glowing text.
A deeper place?
Safer?
In this academy?
I wasn’t sure such a place existed.
But if I wanted to survive…
If I wanted to grow…
If I wanted to stay hidden…
I’d have to find it.
Strength grows in shadows.
And mine were only getting darker.
