The sun had just crested the mountain range behind the Academy when Shade stepped into the Core Disciples' Division for the first time.
The shift was immediate.
The aura in the air was denser—charged. Everything here seemed infused with subtle power. The walls were reinforced with enchantments. The disciples walking past her were no longer boastful children but composed cultivators with sharp eyes and confident steps.
Even the silence here was heavy. Authority bled from the very stone.
As she crossed the jade-inlaid archway that led into the inner division, her system flared to life with a whisper only she could hear:
[System Mission – Tier 2 Triggered]
Mission: Acquire the treasure known as the Flame Orchid Stone located somewhere within the secret vaults beneath the Academy.
Time Limit: 4 months.
Reward: +1 Tier Advancement (System), +1 Hidden Trait Unlock, +100 Silent Core Points.
Penalty: Unknown.
Serena's breath stilled.
Her system had never issued such a detailed mission before. And this one came with both promise—and threat.
A treasure in the Academy's vaults? That meant locked doors, sealed formations, and the eyes of Core elders. She needed more than stealth. She needed leverage.
And for that—she needed information.
---
The Core Disciples' quarters were located at the eastmost peak of the Academy. The compound was tiered—wooden bridges connected multiple towers, each rising higher than the last. Most of the residents here were cultivators in the third level of Core Bloom or higher—geniuses polished to the edge of their ambition.
Her own assigned quarters were modest compared to the larger towers, but it was quiet, shielded, and positioned near the northern cliffside. Close to a potential escape route.
That was all she needed.
After settling in, she made her way into the central plaza where paths diverged in every direction.
No one greeted her. But everyone noticed her.
A few glanced at the scythe on her back. Fewer still held her gaze. And none recognized her. As far as they knew, she was Shade, a wandering cultivator who earned her place through combat—one of the only "no-name" students to reach the Core Division in over a decade.
That suited her perfectly.
---
She walked with purpose but slowed just enough to observe.
The Alchemy Pavilion stood to the west—tall, spire-like, and ringed with violet runes. Disciples in pale gold robes moved in and out with pill bottles and scrolls in hand.
To the south was the Elemental Convergence Grounds, a place where disciples honed their affinity with specialized formations. She sensed roaring flames, biting cold, and trembling earth even from here.
The Sword Archives loomed near the center—a vast open temple where weapon techniques were stored and exchanged. Though she no longer favored swords, she could still find combat manuals or gain insight into formation-breaking techniques.
And then… the Obsidian Hall.
A massive obsidian gate carved into the mountainside. Two black-robed elders guarded it. This was where missions were assigned. And perhaps—beneath that structure—lay the vaults her system spoke of.
But it was too early to make a move.
She needed to know who the key players were. Which elders were corrupt. Which disciples could be manipulated—or broken. She needed routes, gaps in patrols, access to the Academy's power structure.
So she walked the full circuit of the grounds for the rest of the day, letting her presence sink in quietly like a blade waiting to be drawn.
---
That night, in her quarters, she stood before the window, watching the moonlight cast shadows over the stone courtyard.
Umbren stirred in the shadows behind her, tail twitching.
"We'll wait," she whispered. "But when we move, we take everything."
[Silent Core: +2 Points]
Emotion Registered: Ruthless Intent