Humans fear many things.
Darkness, insects, animals, the depths of the ocean…
Death, hunger, disease.
But in this age, what people feared most could be summarized in a single word: Monsters.
When the heavy iron door of the cellar was closed, the echo struck once inside, then completely disappeared. This place was in the lowest level of the academy, even below the dungeons; rituals were performed here so that no one would notice, and no one could hear. The walls were plain stone, and there were old blood stains and ink spills on the floor. The darkness was not dim, it was heavy—like a weight that filled the lungs when one breathed.
Azel was at the head of the table. Dusk was preparing the black bowl. Kayra, Raphael, and Eren stood by the door. Eren still couldn't get the image of Sigrum out of his head; the moment he leaned over Dean, the way he pressed his nail into his neck. But despite the many questions to be asked, the ritual was the priority.
Azel lifted his head.
Azel: "You came just in time."
His eyes shifted to Eren.
Azel: "The three of you... get ready."
Kayra let out a short breath. Raphael lifted his head and tensed up. Eren just stepped forward.
A round stone platform was placed in the middle of the cellar. Old symbols were carved on it—complex signs painted with blood, ash, and black ink. In the very center of the platform was a spiral as black as night.
Dusk pointed.
Dusk: "Kayra, you go first. It will hurt. How much it hurts varies from person to person, so be prepared."
Kayra took off his top. A slight steam came from his back when he breathed, not from the cold—but from tension. He sat on the platform. Black ink was poured around him. The moment Dusk lifted the brush and touched Kayra's back, the boy clenched his teeth.
As the spiral began to be drawn, the ink continued to flow into the scratches of the stone platform. His back tensed. He clenched his jaw. But he didn't scream. Tears began to flow from his eyes.
Dusk stepped back. He touched Kayra's chest and cut his own finger with a dagger he took out of his pocket. He used the blood oozing from his finger to draw symbols on the boy's chest: a circle at the top, a dot in the middle of the circle, a square below the circle, and around it, the symbols for "I invite the power of the Shadow into my soul." The boy was now clenching himself even tighter. Then he let out a deep breath. Then he began to breathe in and out deeply.
Dusk: "Vim ex umbra in corpus tuum portare volo." (I want to bring power from the shadow into your body.)
Dusk: "Earth, and spirit. You have two elements, you are lucky."
The ink on his back glowed in brown and silver.
Azel nodded.
Azel: "Not bad."
It was Raphael's turn. Dusk had thrown all the equipment he used aside and took out a new set of equipment.
Dusk: "Next."
Raphael took off his jacket in one motion. He sat down. The moment the brush touched his skin, Raphael flinched as if he had been struck. He seemed to be in less pain than Kayra, only breathing quickly: the spiral was drawn on his back, the same symbols were drawn on his chest, and Dusk said the same words.
Dusk: "Vim ex umbra in corpus tuum portare volo."
When the spiral was completed, two colors shone from beneath the lines: light green and purple.
Azel: "Wind and lightning."
Dusk: "Well, that wasn't much of a surprise."
Raphael exhaled.
Raphael: "That was easy."
Azel said nothing. Because Raphael thought so.
Eren was the last one. Dusk changed his equipment again.
Dusk: "Come."
Eren sat down, holding his breath. When the first line touched his back, something harder than what Kayra and Raphael felt struck him. It was as if the ink was not just touching the skin, but being rubbed onto his bones. Eren suddenly began to scream, but Dusk didn't even lift his head from what he was doing, though it was clear he was trying to move faster.
The pain was sharp, like a deep knife wound. As the spiral was completed, the ink lines darkened on their own, then mixed with purple. It moved as if it were a living being.
Azel's eyebrow raised for a moment. Dusk noticed this but said nothing.
Azel: "Continue."
Dusk cut his finger and drew the same symbols on Eren's chest and again said the same words.
Dusk: "Vim ex umbra in corpus tuum portare volo."
It was finished, finally finished. The 4-minute ritual felt like 4 years, but it was over.
Dusk: "Eren. You continue to surprise me."
Eren was exhausted and tried to straighten up with difficulty, asking: "How?"
Dusk: "Normally everyone has one element, sometimes two."
Eren: "I don't have an element?"
Dusk: "No. Of course, there are those without elements, like Cain, his ability is very different. As for your situation, you have three elements. Dark, lightning, and spirit. This is a very rare situation. Of course, it's not something I've never seen before."
Captain Azel brought three bowls. Inside was a thick, black liquid that moved as if it were alive.
Azel: "Drink it. Don't worry, it's not some magical trinket, it's a high-calorie soup. I warn you, it doesn't taste good."
Kayra drank first. His eyes widened, but he managed to swallow. Raphael drank it, his tongue went numb. Eren brought the bowl to his mouth; as the liquid passed down his throat, it spread in his stomach like a cold hand.
Five seconds passed. Ten seconds. One minute.
Frankly, nothing happened.
Kayra: "That's it? So, can we just walk around now?"
Raphael laughed.
Raphael: "Wow, I thought something would happen."
Eren grimaced.
Eren: "The thing I drank is stuck in my mouth, man."
Azel lifted his shoulder. "Yeah, sure, nothing happened."
Kayra suddenly trembled. Raphael's knees locked. Eren's breath caught. And all three collapsed to the ground at the same time.
Azel said only one word: "Look, nothing happened. Dusk, start!"
When Eren opened his eyes, the air resembled a layer of ash. The ground was cracked, buildings had collapsed, and the sky was pitch black and dead.
Eren: "Where... the hell is this? The thing the Captain gave me must have made me drunk."
His steps echoed in the void.
Then a sound came. From behind him.
???: "Finally."
Eren turned. Someone was there. His eyes were dim and purple, a small but sharp knife in his hand, a rogue smile on his face.
???: "I was going to die of boredom here, man. Good thing you came."
Eren frowned.
Eren: "Who... are you? How did you get here—"
???: "You brought me, man. And how can you not know me? You've been using me since the exam, you're being rude."
Eren: "I've been using you since the exam?"
???: "Yes, you are. I'm your sword, Lunar. Since I'm a sword but also a spirit, I hang out in my owner's inner world. I can't go outside, but... this place isn't bad. Ruined. Just my style."
Eren looked around. There were darkened walls, cracked ground, and rotten streets everywhere.
Then something quickly passed by them. A shadow. Shapeless. Eren instinctively reached out his hand—the shadow recoiled.
Lunar rolled his eyes.
Lunar: "Did you let this in too, for f*ck's sake? What are you doing, man? We're practically hosting guests."
The shadow didn't react. It just stirred from a distance.
Lunar pointed with the tip of his knife.
Lunar: "This is the thing that the ritual you just entered put into your body. It will combine with you and allow you to generate magic energy. It's part of the Shadow's energy. Shapeless, cowardly. I'm annoyed by this too, I'll kill it."
Then Lunar suddenly stopped. His gaze shifted to one point.
Lunar: "Ah... let me show you the real bomb. You probably don't know about it. Look behind you."
Eren turned. There was a cage. Massive. Rusty. The chains seemed to be breathing—clack... clack... clack... The inside was completely dark. It couldn't be seen.
Lunar: "This has been here since I arrived."
Eren swallowed.
Eren: "What's inside?"
Lunar shrugged.
Lunar: "I don't know. But if it wakes up, we'll most likely die. All three of us. I'm counting that shapeless freak as one of us now."
Only the sound of chains could be heard from inside the cage. But the shadows were moving.
Then Lunar leaned towards Eren and grinned.
Lunar: "Anyway. We're together now. I'm here. Call me or don't call me... but we'll have fun. Be sure of that."
Suddenly, the inner world darkened. Eren felt like he was falling asleep.
Lunar: "You're leaving, I guess. See you."
When Eren opened his eyes, breathless, Kayra was groaning on the floor. Raphael was holding the wall. Hunger was gnawing at their stomachs—the first sign that the ritual had awakened the energy.
Azel was watching them carefully.
Azel: "It's good that you woke up. The ritual was completed successfully."
Kayra let out a breath. Raphael swore.
Azel turned his eye to Raphael first: "Wind and lightning."
Then to Kayra: "Earth and spirit."
Then he looked at Eren. He examined him for a long time.
"Your... elements are dark, lightning, and spirit."
He paused. He frowned slightly.
Then his eyes suddenly narrowed.
Azel: "And... there's something else, but... it's very similar to dark. I can't distinguish it. It's probably a sub-branch of the dark element, but to use it, you first need to learn how to use the dark element."
Eren said nothing. Lunar's smile was still in his head. And that cage.
The hunger suddenly twisted their stomachs even more.
Azel delivered the last sentence: "Rest. Don't approach the second ritual until the energy settles. Otherwise, you will die. Also, go to the cafeteria and eat as much as you can. I know you're hungry."