Chapter 9 - Unwanted Attention

The silent acknowledgement from the cloaked figure in the observation dome was more unnerving than an outright threat. It confirmed I was being watched, that my unique resonance sensitivity hadn't gone unnoticed. By whom? The figure's muted presence and use of Void Essence suggested connections to darker factions – perhaps House Nocturne seeking evidence against the Congress, or worse, the Eclipse Conclave, worshippers of the Primordial Devourer itself. Or perhaps it was one of the enigmatic Cosmic Wardens, manipulating events to preserve the Pillars, seeing me as a potential tool or threat.This unwanted attention forced me to be even more cautious. I avoided drawing notice, sticking to the fringes of Academy life, focusing on my studies – both the official, frustratingly mundane ones, and my secret cultivation of resonance. My progress with the latter continued, albeit slowly. I could now sustain the resonance manipulation for longer periods, subtly warming objects, enhancing my localized spatial awareness, and even creating faint, localized distortions in the ambient energy field – enough to make nearby Aether sensors flicker erratically, a parlor trick compared to the power wielded by others, but proof of growing control.However, trying to remain invisible in a place like the Academy Nexus was proving difficult. My consistent lack of progress in conventional magic, combined with my silver hair and quiet intensity, already marked me as an anomaly. And subtle changes, born from my unique cultivation, began to manifest.My eyes, normally a deep grey, sometimes took on that faint iridescent sheen when I was deeply focused on sensing resonance, or when near powerful energy sources. I caught glimpses of it reflected in polished surfaces, a subtle shift like oil on water, quickly suppressed but potentially noticeable to keen observers. Furthermore, my ability to anticipate minor energy fluctuations occasionally allowed me to avoid small mishaps or react slightly faster than expected, small deviations from the norm that might, over time, form a pattern.My first concrete sign of unwanted attention came not from the shadows, but from within the Academy's faculty. Instructor Tenebris, who taught Basic Void Dynamics – a dour man from a minor house affiliated with Obsidian Bastion – began singling me out. Initially, I assumed it was due to my poor performance, but his scrutiny felt different. He asked pointed questions, not just about the course material, but about energy perception, harmonic frequencies, and structural integrity under gravitational stress – topics that brushed uncomfortably close to my secret studies."Initiate Varis," he addressed me one day after class, his voice like grinding stones. "Your grasp of theoretical void mechanics is adequate, yet your practical energy manipulation remains… negligible. Explain this discrepancy."I offered a mumbled excuse about theoretical aptitude versus practical affinity, the standard explanation for initiates who struggled. Tenebris's dark eyes narrowed."Affinity is merely attunement," he countered. "Some attune to stars, others to flame, others to the void itself. Yet you seem attuned to… nothing. Or perhaps," his gaze sharpened, "something else entirely? Something fundamental?"My blood ran cold. How could he know? Was he just guessing, probing my weak points? Or had he observed something?"I… I don't understand, Instructor," I stammered, forcing confusion into my voice.Tenebris studied me for a long moment, his expression unreadable. "Perhaps not. Yet, anomalies often possess hidden depths. Do not mistake lack of conventional power for lack of potential, Initiate. Or lack of danger." He dismissed me with a curt nod, leaving me deeply unnerved.Was Tenebris simply a perceptive instructor? Or was he connected to something else? Obsidian Bastion, ruled by the Umbra Legion and Dynasty Eclipseborn, was aligned with Oblivion patrons. Could he be linked to the figure siphoning Void Essence? Or was he perhaps an agent of the Cosmic Warden, testing me?The second instance was more direct, less subtle. I was in a designated sparring arena, observing a duel between a fiery Emberfall initiate and a nimble Zephyros student. It was a dazzling display – jets of flame met controlled gusts of wind, explosions rocked the shielded arena. I wasn't participating, merely watching, trying to sense the ebb and flow of their energy through the resonance field.Suddenly, a voice hissed beside me, low and menacing. "Enjoying the show, anomaly?"I turned to see Lyraen Solarius standing there, flanked by his usual retainers. His golden eyes weren't filled with their usual arrogance, but with a cold, calculating curiosity. He must have noticed my intense focus, perhaps mistaking my resonance sensing for some form of magical analysis."Just observing, Solarius," I replied evenly, trying to keep my voice steady."Observing? Or prying?" Lyraen stepped closer, lowering his voice. "You spend much time in the library's restricted sections. You show interest in matters far beyond your station. And your energy signature… it's weak, yet… discordant. Like a badly tuned instrument." He tilted his head. "What are you, Kaelen Varis?"Before I could formulate a response, one of his retainers, eager to curry favour, sneered, "He's nothing, Lord Lyraen. Just Pillar Fodder. Probably admitted by mistake."Lyraen waved him silent, his gaze fixed on me. "Perhaps. Or perhaps he's a spy. A Nocturne agent? Or something… stranger?" His eyes flickered with suspicion. The paranoia endemic to the Great Houses was palpable."I'm just a student trying to find my way," I said, meeting his gaze directly. Projecting weakness was one thing, but projecting fear could be fatal.Lyraen studied me for another moment, then gave a short, humourless laugh. "Find your way? Be careful you don't find your way into depths you cannot handle, anomaly. Some secrets are protected for a reason." He turned, gesturing for his retainers to follow, and swept away, leaving me with a racing pulse.He knew I was researching things I shouldn't be. He sensed something unusual about my energy, even if he couldn't identify it. The casual dismissal was gone, replaced by suspicion. Being noticed by someone like Lyraen Solarius, a Starborn Heir with immense power and political backing, was incredibly dangerous.Instructor Tenebris's probing questions, Lyraen Solarius's suspicious scrutiny, and the silent observation by the cloaked figure – the threads were tightening. My attempts to remain hidden were failing. My unique nature, my resonance sensitivity, was drawing attention from multiple, potentially hostile, quarters. The Academy Nexus, once a place of bewildering discovery, was rapidly becoming a cage, and I felt the eyes of unseen players watching my every move.