The black crystal remained hidden beneath the folds of his bag. No one noticed it. No one at all.
Cassien carefully lowered his gaze and slowly began drawing mana toward his fingertips. A faint black line appeared across the surface of the crystal.
'Just a little…'
The Demon Core pulsed. Once, twice, and soon, a dark whisper echoed inside his mind.
"Forsaken…" The words stretched through his mind like something from a nightmare. "Abyss…"
And then—
Boom!
A terrifying pressure exploded across the clearing. The ground cracked slightly. Several students stumbled.
"What the hell?!"
Everyone immediately turned.
Cid Forge stood frozen.
The four elements around his sword suddenly became unstable. Each one was being sustained solely by his Aether Core.
All four began colliding with one another. Veins bulged across his neck while Cid's eyes widened.
Thud.
His sword suddenly vanished.
