Tarek stared at Velka Nocturne, his single eye scanning the noble girl before him. He had spent the last months in paranoia and obsession, hunted by shadows sent by the man who employed him. And now, the daughter of that man stood here, offering him a way out.
"Protection from The Silencer," Tarek repeated hoarsely, "and revenge against Valerius Nocturne. You're promising me the moon and stars, little lady. What assurance do I have this isn't a trap to lure me out of hiding?"
"Your assurance is logic," Velka replied, her voice steadier than she felt. "Duke Alaric needs the Nocturne House crisis to remain controlled. A rogue Silencer is a variable he dislikes. And I... I need answers that only you possess. Our goals, for now, are aligned."
Tarek was silent for a long time, then he nodded roughly. "Fine. Deal. I'll give you everything I've found. But if your protector fails, I'll ensure you're the first person I see before The Silencer finds me."
The alliance was agreed upon.
Tarek led Velka to his back room. The space was a manifestation of organized madness. Walls were covered with maps of Solara Magna, copies of ancient documents, and crude drawings of Nihil. Red threads connected one clue to another.
"Your father was stingy with information," Tarek growled, pointing to a stack of parchments. "But he was careless. After I threatened him with Zarthus's name, he granted me limited access to some of his digital archives as bait. He thought me a fool. I copied everything."
Velka saw copies of her own family archives, documents she had never even seen. But Tarek didn't stop there. His obsession had taken him further.
"The family curse," Tarek said, his eyes gleaming. "It's not just black magic. I found forbidden texts from ancient curse hunters. They call it the 'Seed of Emptiness.' An existential parasite. It feeds on the host's life force to grow. But your brother... he's different. Something within him isn't just sustenance. Something within him is merging with the seed. He's evolving into something new."
The explanation sent a shiver down Velka's spine. It aligned with what she had witnessed in Nihil.
Then, Tarek revealed his most terrifying find. He pointed to a map of Solara Magna, where he had marked several locations in red ink.
"I've tracked the strange energy traces left by your brother when he first fled," Tarek explained. "One trace led me to an old alchemy lab owned by House Theron. But there's another... a very old and faint trace, matching the same energy signature."
He pointed to a location on the city's outskirts. A grand, isolated building. "The Elite Silent Hill Sanatorium. Where nobles send their 'mentally ill' family members to avoid disgracing their names."
Velka felt the blood drain from her face. "What do you mean?"
Tarek regarded her with a strange look, a mix of pity and cruel triumph. "Your father lied to you, little lady. Your mother, Queen Lilliana Nocturne... she didn't die of a sudden fever."
He pushed an old medical document toward Velka. There, it listed her mother's name, followed by a diagnosis: "Acute Hysteria and Magical Delusions." She was officially admitted to the sanatorium two weeks before her "death."
"Whatever the family curse is," Tarek said softly, "it didn't start with your brother, or even your father. It started with your mother. Find out what truly happened to her within those sanatorium walls," he sneered, "and you'll uncover the heart of this entire conspiracy."
Velka stared at the document, her world shattering into pieces. Her quest to save her brother had now transformed into a painful search for the truth about her mother's fate.
The Anomaly Team's victory over the Silver Sword Team sent shockwaves throughout the academy. Nihil was no longer merely a theoretical anomaly; he was a proven threat on the field. His newfound reputation granted him an unexpected advantage: space. Students no longer bothered him. Even Darius and his group kept their distance, regarding him with a mix of hatred and wariness.
Nihil used his newfound freedom to focus on his objectives. He spent his time in the library, using evidence from Theronius's journal as a key to unlock layers of lies in the official historical records.
One evening, as he studied a text on arcane resonance, someone approached his table. It was Princess Seraphina val-Argent.
"An impressive performance at the tournament, Mr. Nihil," she said, her voice calm and analytical. "Your tactic of neutralizing the archers and support mages before isolating their leaders... very efficient."
"I merely utilize the resources at my disposal," Nihil replied.
"Precisely," said Seraphina. "And that is what interests me." She placed a small data crystal on his table. "My study group is facing a problem. We've discovered a set of Pre-Imperial runes related to dimensional physics. The standard translations make no sense. Given your unique perspective on the world, I'd like to invite you to join us. Perhaps an 'anomaly' like you might see something we've missed."
This was an invitation to the inner circle of the academy's brightest students. An opportunity to gain access to knowledge and potential allies.
"I will consider it," said Nihil.
As Seraphina left, Nihil knew he must continue to move forward. He had already shattered one name on Selene's list. Now it was time to continue his climb and amass more influence.
The registration board for the next 1v1 ranked duel was now open. As rank #250, he was supposed to challenge someone in the Iron Rank. But that was too slow. He needed a bigger stage.
He approached Instructor Zander in the training room. "Instructor, I'd like to submit a special challenge request."
Zander, who was observing knight training, turned. "Tired of Iron Rank already?"
"I need data from stronger opponents," said Nihil.
"Who's on your mind?" Zander asked, amused.
Nihil pointed to a name on the holographic leaderboard. Zander followed his gaze and raised an eyebrow. "Her? You're jumping almost two hundred ranks. You're mad, boy."
"Academy rules permit special challenges with an instructor's approval," Nihil said flatly.
Zander stared at him for a long moment, then grinned broadly. "You really don't know how to relax, do you? Very well. Your request is approved."
Moments later, the entire academy was abuzz. The duel leaderboard was updated with an impossible challenge.
[NEW CHALLENGE: NIHIL (RANK #250) vs. LYRA VEX (RANK #75)]
Everyone thought he was mad. Challenge a high Silver Rank fighter? A master illusionist known for her cunning? And more importantly, one of Darius val-Luminar's most loyal lieutenants?
In the cafeteria, Celia nearly choked on her food. "He's challenging who?!"
In the noble tribunes, Darius crushed the glass in his hand. This was no longer mere rivalry. It was an open declaration of war.
In his room, Nihil calmly regarded the leaderboard. He had his reasons. He needed to test his Void Sonar and mental defenses against a true illusionist before he dared face a master like Lysander val-Torvus. Lyra Vex was the perfect test subject.
And by challenging her, he sent a second message to Princess Selene: he was not merely following orders. He chose his own targets, and he was not afraid to strike at the heart of his enemy's faction.
The next battle would not just be about victory. It would be about sending a message.