The hallway was silent as Kael led me away from the training grounds. His steps were fast, precise—controlled, but definitely irritated. I followed, heart pounding in my chest, unsure if I was in trouble or… worse. We stopped in one of the empty instructor chambers, lit only by a few glowing mana crystals embedded in the stone walls. The air was heavier here, like it knew what was about to happen.
Kael turned around sharply, his sharp cloak flaring slightly with the motion. His gaze locked on me like a hawk sizing up prey.
"What did you do back there just now?" he asked, voice low but demanding, cutting through the silence.
I blinked, still catching my breath. "Uh… what did I do?" I asked hesitantly, trying to make sense of what he meant.
His eyes narrowed. "Don't act coy with me, Elias. I'm not in the mood. You're telling me you have no idea how you managed to summon and control dark mana—and not just any kind. That was ancient-grade, corrosive level dark mana. The kind we keep locked behind runes. The kind that ruins minds."
I stared at him, stunned. "Dark… mana?" I repeated, almost like I was tasting the words for the first time.
Kael's expression didn't soften. In fact, it grew even grimmer. "Do you know how dangerous that is? That wasn't a mere burst of power—it was sentient. It moved like it had a will. That isn't something a normal student pulls off accidentally. Especially not one claiming they 'suck at everything.'"
I opened my mouth, then closed it again. My body had moved on its own, hadn't it? Reacted before I could think. And that strange sensation... like something old had cracked open inside me.
"I—I didn't know. I just… fought back." I said, my voice barely above a whisper. "I didn't even mean to win."
Kael stepped forward, studying me. His gaze wasn't just stern now—it was curious. Calculating. Like he was trying to figure out a puzzle with a missing piece.
"Don't use that mana again. Not until we understand it. Not unless I'm there. Do you understand me?"
I nodded slowly, the weight of his words anchoring deep in my chest.
"Good. Because whether you believe it or not, whatever's inside you—it's waking up."
His words hit me like a storm, but I didn't let them pass quietly.
"What do you mean, sir?" I asked, my voice steadier than I felt.
Kael didn't answer immediately. He turned his back to me, shoulders tense, like he was struggling with something—something heavy. The room felt colder suddenly, and not because of mana. Because of silence. The kind that means truth is close but not ready to be spoken.
"Just be careful…" he finally said, his voice lower now, almost cautious. "You don't know what trouble you're in. If anything happens to you… don't use that mana in front of anyone. Not even your friends. If someone from the higher ranks sees it—you'll be questioned by the authorities."
He paused. His voice dropped even lower, more personal. "And I don't want you to deal with them."
That stopped me cold.
"Why do you care about me so much, sir?" I asked. My eyes didn't leave him. "You barely know me."
He didn't respond. His back was still to me. But I saw the shift in his shoulders. The hesitation.
"I… you're my student. Of course I have to take care of you."
I frowned, stepping forward. That wasn't an answer. That was deflection. And I wasn't letting it slide this time.
"No. You're not telling me anything. You said you want me to be careful, right? But of who? Of what? What am I supposed to be protecting myself from if you won't even tell me?"
He turned around.
Slowly. Reluctantly. And when he did, he looked… tired. Troubled. Like he'd just opened a door to memories he didn't want to revisit. His eyes met mine, and for the first time, I saw real fear in them.
Not for himself.
But for me.
He walked a few paces closer, gaze sharp but almost… protective.
Then he spoke a name.
One word. One that seemed to carry weight far beyond its length.
"Gansovi."
I felt the name settle in my bones like ice.
"Gansovi?" I repeated, unfamiliar but instinctively wary.
Kael nodded, voice dark now. Serious in a way that shut out everything else. "He's not just a name. He's a warning. A shadow. The kind of person you never want knowing your existence. If he finds out about your man—"
He stopped himself, jaw tightening.
"If he finds out about you, Elias, he won't stop. Not until he's torn every secret out of you."
I swallowed. "Who is he?"
Kael didn't answer right away. He looked away—then back. And his next words chilled me.
"He's not someone you meet. He's someone you survive."