The academy went back to normal.. At least it seemed that way. Students still went to their classes. The ranking board still got updated.. Something was off. Kalen could feel it. The way the instructors looked at him was different. Some corridors had guards now.. When he walked people were quiet. They didn't make noise like they used to.
"They're watching us closely " Nyxara said. Lyra made a sound like she was thinking about it. "And not just the academy alone" she said. Asha'Kareth agreed. "They're preparing for something " she said.
Kalen walked alone through the upper courtyard.. People saw him. He was never alone now. Then he heard a voice. "You look like someone who just learned a secret he wasn't supposed to." the voice said. It was Seraphine. She appeared like she was always there. Kalen didn't stop walking. "Do you follow people often?" he asked her. She matched his pace easily. "Only the interesting ones " she said. Lyra laughed. "She's always like that " she said.
Seraphine tilted her head slightly looking at Kalen. "You met someone yesterday " she said. Kalen's gaze shifted just slightly. That was enough for her. She smiled. "I thought so " she said. Nyxara's voice became serious. "She knows too much " she said. Asha'Kareth agreed. "She is connected to something " she said.
Kalen stopped walking. He turned to Seraphine. "Tell me what you know " he said. Seraphine didn't hesitate. "Black Division" she said. There was silence. The name was heavy. Even without knowing what it meant. "Not official " she continued. "Not public, Not something students are supposed to know about." Lyra whispered, "…That sounds fun.". Seraphine was serious. "For decades, the academy has reported 'irregular disappearances'," she said. "Students with abnormal resonance. Multi-echo compatibility. system anomalies…" They don't graduate."
Kalen's jaw was tight. "They just vanish?" he asked. Nyxara was cold. "They erase them" she said. Asha'Kareth didn't say no. Seraphine came closer to Kalen.. This time she wasn't playing. She was warning him. "You're not the first " she said. Kalen's eyes were sharp. "What do you mean?" he asked. Her voice was low. "There have been others " she said. Lyra was quiet for once. ". What happened to them?" Kalen asked. Seraphine looked at him. "They all disappeared " she said.
There was silence. It was heavy and dangerous. Kalen breathed slowly. "And what about this Black Division?" he asked. Seraphine smiled a little. "They are the ones who make it happen " she said. Then she stopped talking "They don't lose." Nyxara's grip tightened. "They will." Asha'Kareth's voice sharpened. "They must".
Kalen looked at Seraphine. "…Why are you telling me this?" he asked. She didn't answer immediately. She came closer to him. The space between them felt different. "You're different " she said softly. Then she stopped talking for a moment. "And I don't like endings that are predictable " she said. Lyra smirked. "Oh she definitely wants you." Nyxara didn't hide it anymore. "She needs to stay far away from you".
Seraphine stepped back a little.. Her eyes stayed on Kalen. "You have two choices now" she said. "You can run or you can become something they can't erase". Kalen didn't hesitate. "I don't run". Seraphine smiled slowly. "Good". Then she turned to leave.. Then stopped. "One more thing". Kalen didn't move.. He listened. "They've already started moving " she said. The air felt cold. "Next time, it won't be a test " she said quietly.
She walked away.. The silence she left behind was heavier, than before.
[SYSTEM UPDATE]
[NEW OBJECTIVE UNLOCKED: SURVIVE PURGE PROTOCOL]
[REWARD: ???]
Kalen stood still for a long time. Then he smiled a little. He wasn't nervous. He wasn't afraid. He felt something else. "Good" he said. Inside him three voices responded. Lyra said, "This just got interesting." Nyxara said, "We'll protect you." Asha'Kareth said, "No." Then she said, "We will rise."
Beneath the academy in a place no student had ever seen; a room lit in cold blue light turned on. Screens activated. Data streamed. And at the center—
A file opened.
Subject: KALEN VIRE
Status: CONFIRMED ANOMALY
Classification: SOVEREIGN CANDIDATE
A voice echoed in the dark. It was cold and final. "Get him " the voice said. There was a pause. Then it continued, "If we can't get him... Erase him."