The air in the tunnel outside the door was filled with the smells of dust, iron, and anxiety. They climbed higher and higher, and with each step Leng Wei felt the weight of the Academy falling on his shoulders again. But now this burden was different—not fear, but the burden of responsibility.
The bracelet on his wrist remained cool, but a quiet confidence pulsed inside him. He reminded not only of the past, but also of the choice — every moment, every step forward was his decision.
"Do you feel it?" Khan broke the silence, listening to the distant sounds. "There's something going on there. It's not like the normal life of the Academy."
Indeed, muffled screams, the clash of weapons, and the hum of magic could be heard through the stone. The academy was bustling.
The elder gripped his staff. "The Council did not wait. They started the purge."
Leng Wei did not answer. He confidently strode forward, and it seemed that the walls were parting in front of him. His connection with the Tomb has not weakened, turning into a quiet dialogue with the very foundation of this place. The stones whispered to him of fear, anger, and hope.
Suddenly, the tunnel led them into an abandoned repository of ancient artifacts, a room that even the Keepers considered lost. Dusty scrolls and broken crystals were scattered everywhere, but in the center, at a table covered with cobwebs, sat a woman in a hooded cloak.
Lin Mei.
Her face was pale, but there was determination in her eyes. Next to it was a map of the Academy with markings: the movements of the guards, the gathering points of the half-bloods, the halls where the battles took place.
"I knew you'd come back through this passage," she said, without taking her eyes off the map. — Your absence has stirred up the hive. The Council has declared you a traitor and your supporters rebels."
"What's going on?" asked Leng Wei, coming closer.
"They're using an ancient artifact, the Heart of Silence," she whispered. — This artifact suppresses the will of half-bloods, turning them into obedient servants. Already a third of the Academy is under his influence."
Khan smiled gloomily: "So the battle will be not only for the walls, but also for the minds."
Leng Wei looked at the bracelet. The metal responded with a slight glow. He felt like his own will, tempered in the Tomb, was becoming a shield against the influence of others.
"Where is the artifact?" he asked.
"In the heart of the Academy," Lin Mei replied, "but it's not just the guards who guard the way there. The true Masters have awakened the ancient guardians, creatures of stone and shadow."
Suddenly, the door to the vault was flung open with a bang. Jin stood in the doorway, his silver eyes glancing coldly at them. Dozens of guards in shining armor lined up behind him.
"Leng Wei,— Jin said without emotion. — You came back at the right moment. The council wants to see you. Your actions will be judged by the laws of war."
Leng Wei stepped forward without flinching, and the guards involuntarily retreated. The air around him thickened, filling with the energy of the Tomb.
"I didn't come back for the trial, Jin,— he said. "I came back to end this war."
Jin smiled, but there was no warmth in his smile. "Are you sure you're ready to bear the consequences?"
Leng Wei glanced at his companions, Han, the Elder, and Lin Mei. Then he noticed the bracelet pulsing in time with his heart.
"I'm not just ready," he replied. "I was born for this."
The guards rushed forward, but Leng Wei was already ready. For the first time in his life, he felt neither rage nor fear, just a quiet, implacable confidence. His power did not fall on the enemies in a flurry, but spread through the hall like a tide, binding their will.
The battle had just begun, but he already knew it would not be a battle for power, but for a future where half—bloods and vampires could go their separate ways.
And he will be their beacon.