Somewhere beyond the known borders of Etherion.
A throne at the top of a long staircase sat in the darkness — ominous, completely swallowing the light. A figure sat on it — elbow on the armrest, hand against cheek — entirely still.
A demon entered the throne room. A horn on its forehead, flames flowing through it like veins. Enormous. Eyes like burning amber.
The demon knelt down on one knee.
"My lord."
The dark figure didn't move.
"Kilkador. Tell me."
"Cras is dead, my lord."
The darkness was still. The figure didn't shift.
"So. The Weltgehirn is already active. "
"Yes. My lord. "
The dark figure straightened, putting his hand on the armrest.
"The boy — is becoming more interesting than the artifact."
The figure paused, darkness around it shifting.
"Keep an eye on him."
"My lord."
"And don't act unless necessary. "
The figure looked at its own arm.
"I — want it."
"My lord."
It looked at Kilkador.
"You can leave."
The demon got on its feet and walked out.
The Academy's training ground. Evening.
Rush was practicing with Jennifer.
"Hold your breath steady. Gather mana around your palm. Imagine a mana field forming — any shape that comes to mind. Something simple— like a square or a circle. And say it."
Rush extended his arm. Palm facing toward Jennifer. Mana slowly gathering around his hand. Khaos Blocker absorbing most of it. A word arrived —
Spiritus Empodio.
A thin film of circular man — transparent, with a shade of blue — formed.
Very thin.
It broke down even before Rush could properly see it.
Jennifer looked at him.
"It's the most basic defense spell, Rush."
"Yes. And the most difficult to control," Rush said.
Jennifer looked at his face, studying something in his expression.
"You defeated the Phantom Sleeper and you're telling me you can't use mana barrier ."
She walked toward a bench on the side.
"How is that even possible?"
"The official story covers it," Rush said."I didn't defeat the demon alone. Darius did most of the work."
"No need to hide it from me, Rush. You know who I'm, right?"
She sat on the bench, folding her hands.
"I heard the rumors too. And Alexis told me about Darius."
"So you already knew —"
"Yes."
Rush walked toward her. He already knew Jennifer had the real version of the incident. The morning after he woke up. Her interruption before he could say anything that would require explaining.
She had known then too.
"Why didn't you ask me then?"
Her expression shifted.
"Would you have told me?"
Jennifer looked at him with a question in her icy blue eyes.
"Do you even want to tell anyone?"
It caught Rush off guard. He sat at the other corner of the bench. He didn't say a word. Actually he didn't know what to say. He just kept looking at her.
His silence gave Jennifer the answer she already knew.
"So you and Nia actually defeated a Greater Demon? I don't want an answer now."
She looked at the sky.
"Whenever you're ready."
Rush was still silent, looking at her.
How does she read me that easily, he thought.
Beelzebub resurfaced to answer that.
She is more perceptive than you think, boy.
"And you're lost in thought," Jennifer said."Again."
Rush frowned.
"No. I'm not... I was just thinking."
She tilted her head and looked at his face more carefully. Not saying a word.
Rush spoke up.
"Ok. Let's try again. "
He got up. Walked away. And extended his arm.
Don't push you limits child, Beelzebub said. Core stability is only fifteen percent. Even with the Khaos Blocker, your body can't handle it yet.
Rush didn't reply.
"Spiritus Empodio "
A magic barrier formed. Stayed for a few more seconds than the previous one.
A sharp pain erupted in his chest, breaking his focus. Mana retreating from his palm. His expression stayed neutral, hiding the pain from Jennifer. She noticed anyway.
She got up. And moved toward him.
"Are you alright? "
"Yes — yes."
Jennifer stopped.
"Okay.That's enough for today."
She picked up her sword from the bench and left for the dormitory.
Rush took his daggers lying on the bench and started walking back.
Should have listened to me, child, Beelzebub said.
"I— I know."
Rush clenched his chest.
He kept walking, focused on his core, mana, the barrier that never completely formed.
Rush was completely unaware of the dangers that were approaching him. Kilkador was already making its move.