Scene: Headmaster's Office – Early Morning
Three cups of untouched tea.
Five robed elders. One frustrated headmaster.
> "The Council has declared it: The Abyssborn Tournament begins in five days."
"It's too soon."
"It's a trap."
"It's politics."
And worst of all—
> "Raze Vielhart is required to participate."
---
📢 Later That Day: Tournament Announcement
A floating golem flies over the school courtyard, yelling with magical speakers.
> "ATTENTION: All students are now registered for the Abyssborn Selection Trials!" "Winner gets a recommendation to the World Mage League, a custom artifact, and immunity from noble arrest warrants!"
> "Also, loser gets possibly exploded!"
Raze is in the middle of a lunch line, chewing a sandwich.
> "Did they just say exploded?"
"Yes."
"Cool."
---
🎒 New Arrival: Mysterious Transfer Student
That same day, a student appears.
Name: Eiro Vandross
Rank: Transferred from a "lost" academy.
Crest: Unknown.
Aura: Calm. Too calm.
Appearance: One eye always hidden. Scar over neck. Voice like poison in honey.
Raze gets assigned to room with him.
> Eiro: "Nice to meet you, Vielhart. I've heard about your... incident."
Raze: "You trying to fight or flirt?"
Eiro: "…Why not both?"
But behind his back… Eiro whispers to a shadow crystal.
> "Target acquired. Confirmed presence of Abyssal Traits. Awaiting orders to strike."
---
⚔️ Scene: Kaelira Confronts the Headmaster
She slams a scroll down.
> "This is from the Crest of Truth Archives. My family's seal. The rune on Raze's summoning circle matches the brand used on Abyssal royal infants... the ones taken during the purge."
The headmaster grows pale.
> "Are you saying... Raze is a lost prince?"
"I'm saying he's a walking declaration of war."
---
🧪 Meanwhile: Training Ground Chaos
Raze is forced to attend "Tournament Prep Class."
They give him a spell scroll.
> "Channel your mana through it."
"What mana?"
He grabs it.
Scroll bursts into flames.
Class evacuated.
One kid loses eyebrows.
> "This is why I don't get invited to parties."
---
🔥 First Twist: Prophecy Fragment Unsealed
Deep underground, in a forbidden archive chamber, a scholar cracks open a sealed text.
Inside:
> "When the Magicless One awakens the Maw..."
"When the Silver Blade guards the Throne Unseen..."
"When Blood meets Blood but not Truth..."
"…the world shall divide, not unite."
> "That's not a prophecy... that's a warning."
---
☠️ Cliffhanger Ending:
Late that night, in their dorm room...
Eiro stands above Raze's sleeping form.
Blade in hand. Eyes dead.
He raises it—
Only to be frozen by Kaelira mid-break-in, blade pointed at his back.
> "Try it. I dare you."
—Kaelira, with rage she's never shown before.
Eiro lowers the blade.
> "Interesting. You care that much… for him?"
"He's mine to kill if he steps out of line."
"...Noted."