Chương 48: The Cracking Crystal

The crystal did not break. Not yet. A thin line had appeared across its surface, almost invisible beneath the magical light surrounding the Royal Capital, but it was enough to make Leo stop in the middle of the corridor. He felt it. A faint vibration passed through the academy's magical network, traveled through the walls, and disappeared before anyone else could notice. Leo turned his head toward the eastern side of the city. The sensation was gone. But the crack remained. He had seen enough.

Something was happening inside the capital. Something connected to the strange man with the silver thread. And whatever it was, it had begun moving faster.

"Leo." Alice's voice brought him back. He looked at her. She was standing beside Amon, Masha, and Daniel, all three watching him with varying degrees of concern.

"You stopped again," Alice said.

"I was thinking."

"About the crystal?" Leo looked at Daniel.

"You saw it?" Daniel nodded.

"The light changed for a second." Amon crossed his arms.

"Could it be related to yesterday?"

"Probably." Masha frowned.

"That's not exactly reassuring."

"No." Leo's answer was so direct that Amon sighed.

"At least pretend to reassure us."

"I'd rather not lie." The four of them exchanged looks. Before anyone could say anything else, the bell announcing the next demonstration rang throughout the arena. The students began moving back toward their seats. Leo remained where he was for another moment. Then he followed them. The Arcane Convergence continued. That was the strangest part. The academy had been attacked. An ancient seal had been opened. Someone had infiltrated the academy.

And yet the event continued as though the world had simply experienced an inconvenience. Perhaps that was how large cities survived. They learned to continue moving even when something underneath them began to crack. By afternoon, the demonstrations had ended. Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel. The students were given several hours of free time before the evening events began. Leo used the opportunity to leave the academy. Alice followed him.

"So we're investigating," she said. Leo glanced at her.

"I didn't say that."

"You didn't have to." She adjusted the strap of her bag.

"Where are we going?"

"The eastern district." Alice's expression became serious.

"The sealed area?"

"No. The city." They passed through the academy gates. The streets outside were crowded. Merchants had decorated their stalls for the Convergence, foreign students moved between shops, and magical lamps floated above the roads despite the afternoon sunlight. The Royal Capital was enormous. Even after several visits, Leo still had not explored most of it. They walked for nearly twenty minutes before reaching the eastern district. The atmosphere changed gradually. The streets became narrower. The buildings older.

The number of Convergence banners decreased. Leo stopped beside a small stone bridge. Below it, a narrow canal carried water through the district. He looked at the surrounding buildings.

"Something happened here." Alice looked around.

"What?"

"The magical flow." She closed her eyes and focused. Alice's Light affinity allowed her to sense changes in magical energy, although her perception was nowhere near Leo's. After several seconds, she opened her eyes.

"You're right."

"There is a disturbance."

"Very faint." Leo nodded.

"Someone used a large amount of mana here recently." Alice looked toward the canal.

"Could it have been the person from the academy?"

"Possibly." They continued walking. Eventually, they reached an abandoned warehouse. Its doors were locked. Leo examined the ground. There were footprints. Several sets. Some were old. Others were recent. He crouched. One footprint had a strange mark beside it. A narrow line. Almost like something had been dragged across the ground. Leo touched it. Dust clung to his fingers.

"Metal." Alice looked at him.

"Silver?"

"Maybe." He stood. Then he heard footsteps. Both of them turned. A young man was walking toward them from the opposite end of the street. He wore the uniform of one of the merchant houses participating in the Convergence. He stopped when he saw them.

"Are you students from the Royal Academy?" Alice nodded.

"Yes." The young man smiled politely.

"I thought so." His eyes moved toward Leo.

"You're Leo, aren't you?" Leo's expression remained neutral.

"Do I know you?"

"No." The man laughed softly.

"Forgive me. Your reputation reached the capital before you did." Alice looked slightly surprised. The man introduced himself as Julian Ardent, the second son of a merchant family involved in the Arcane Convergence. He seemed friendly. Too friendly. But there was nothing suspicious about him. At least, not yet.

"I saw your demonstration earlier," Julian said to Alice.

"Your Light magic was impressive."

"Thank you."

"If you don't mind me asking, are you staying in the capital after the Convergence?" Alice hesitated. Leo answered before she could.

"We haven't decided." Julian looked at him.

"Of course." There was no hostility in his expression. Only curiosity. He spoke with them for another minute before politely excusing himself. Alice watched him leave.

"That was strange."

"Yes."

"You think he's involved?"

"No." She looked at Leo.

"You answered very quickly."

"I said I don't think he is."

"That's different from saying he isn't." Leo smiled faintly.

"You've been listening."

"I have." They continued toward the warehouse. But before they reached it, Leo stopped. Alice almost walked into him.

"What is it?" Leo looked behind them. Julian was gone. The street was empty. Yet the faint pressure he had sensed earlier had returned. This time, it was stronger. It came from beneath them. Leo slowly placed his hand against the wall of the warehouse. Mana moved through the stone. A hidden formation responded. Only for an instant. A thin silver symbol appeared beneath his palm. Leo's eyes narrowed. It was the same symbol from the academy. The Keepers of the First Gate. Alice saw it too.

"Leo…"

"I know." The symbol faded. But something had changed. Leo could feel movement beneath the street. Not a creature. Not an ancient presence. People. Several of them. Moving through a hidden passage beneath the district. Leo removed his hand.

"We're leaving." Alice looked surprised.

"We're not following them?"

"Not today."

"Why?"

"Because we don't know how many there are." He turned away from the warehouse.

"And because I don't intend to fight underground without knowing what we're walking into." Alice nodded. They returned toward the main streets. Neither noticed the small black bird perched on the roof above the warehouse. Its head followed them until they disappeared into the crowd. Only then did it spread its wings. Far below the city, a man opened his eyes. A small silver thread was wrapped around his fingers.

"The boy found the mark." Another voice answered from the darkness.

"Then the academy knows."

"No." The man slowly smiled.

"They know nothing." He released the thread. It fell onto the stone floor.

"Let them keep looking." A pause followed.

"And the Convergence?"

"Let it continue."

"Why?" The man looked toward the ceiling. Because somewhere above them, thousands of people were gathering beneath the same magical network. And beneath that network, something had already begun to change.

"Because when the city is full," he said quietly, "nobody will notice one door opening." Above them, the Royal Capital continued to celebrate. Music filled the streets. Magic illuminated the towers. And the Arcane Convergence moved toward its next night. Unaware that something beneath the city was preparing to rise. End of Chapter 48.