🏫 Ashenwell Combat Hall – Morning
The simulation arena thrummed with energy—crystal pylons glowing at the corners, instructors stationed at arcane nodes.
Grim stood near the edge, arms crossed.
Students buzzed with rumors:
"They're pairing Tier rankings today."
"You heard about the Voidstrike unit, right? Someone survived it."
"I bet they'll stick Grim with one of the nobility. To watch him."
"Or to die trying."
Professor Aerun's voice cut through the chatter.
"Today, you will enter combat trials in bonded pairs. These simulations reflect possible Court tactics, Lume disruption zones, and soul interference."
He tapped the console.
Names lit up across the board.
Then Grim saw it.
Pair 11: Grim of Ashen – Ryn Talven
Grim blinked.
Who the hell is Ryn Talven?
👤 Enter Ryn – The Unexpected Partner
Ryn was quiet. Plain uniform. Hair short, eyes unreadable.
Not noble. Not weak.
And definitely… strange.
"I don't talk much," Ryn said flatly, stepping beside Grim. "But I don't miss."
Grim raised a brow. "Then stay out of my way."
"I'm Tier 3, Solace."
The name stopped him.
"What did you call me?"
Ryn didn't answer.
The simulation gate opened.
"Begin."
⚔️ Simulation Trial – Spiral Collapse
The world twisted—a simulation zone loaded with mirrored platforms, shifting gravity, and fog laced with unstable Lume.
Hostile constructs emerged.
Memory-fractured echoes.
Some even… looked like Grim.
"Why do these things have your face?" Ryn snapped, dodging a pulse blast.
Grim didn't answer.
Sparks still hadn't returned.
They fought—tight, clean, deadly. Ryn was fast with kinetic bursts, dodging in midair. Grim bent space itself to land explosive strikes.
But the enemy kept adapting.
Until one of the constructs whispered—
"Unit Abyss… confirmed alive."
Grim froze.
His flame flickered.
Ayesha.
"What was that?" Ryn asked, eyes narrowed.
"Nothing," Grim growled, slamming the thing into code dust.
But inside, his heart twisted.
🧠 Post-Trial Debrief
Ryn wiped sweat from her brow.
"You're not just Tier 1. You're a trigger."
Grim didn't answer.
"You've got pieces missing," she added. "And someone out there's using them against you."
He turned to leave.
"You weren't meant to survive," she said. "But I think they're scared you did."
🧾 Meanwhile – Kaia's Private Console
Kaia stared at a locked file that had auto-synced from Ashenwell's central system.
[LINE: SOLACE] – Status Update
• Subject: Abyss – Active – Unknown location
• Subject: Destruction – Contained
• Subject: Rapture – Deployed (Outer Isles)
• Subject: Nether – Unconfirmed. Last ping: Within Ashenwell region.
Kaia swore under her breath.
"They're all moving."
She typed a message to Grim.
Then deleted it.
He's not ready yet.
– Nightfall, Grim's Dorm
Grim sat at the window, watching shadows curl across the sky.
And in the distance—barely audible—
A soft, static voice whispered:
"Hey, flamebrain... you miss me?"
Sparks.
Alive. Glitched.
But back.