Sign Of The Infernal Root

The Holo-Grove stood at the heart of the Canopy's training district—a vast dome of living crystal capable of projecting fully realistic training fields, complete with illusions of creatures and environments woven from pure Arcana. Though only projections, their effects felt disturbingly real: wounds hurt, fatigue weighed heavy. For the Novitiates, this was their first trial to work together as a single team.

Aren stood among the other cadets, face blank. Kael stood at his side, adjusting his combat gloves with an easy grin. On the other side stood Elira Vaelith, the noble elf girl with silver hair, her carved Arcana staff resting lightly in her hands. Her emerald eyes flicked over Aren briefly, dismissive, before returning forward as though he wasn't there at all.

The fourth was Thalen, a wolf beastkin with grey-tipped ears and sharp golden eyes full of wary focus. Broad-shouldered yet taciturn, he merely gave Kael a brief nod when the boy tried to make small talk.

So Aren's team was set: Elira, Kael, Thalen, and himself.

Instructor Serin Elthrae stepped forward, her gaze as sharp as ever.

"Today you'll undergo your first team coordination trial. Your objective is simple: survive in the Holo-Grove for one hour while neutralizing low-tier demon projections that appear at random. Remember, the simulation is safe, but the wounds you take will feel real. Failure to work together means failure of the mission. Understood?"

The Holo-Grove was the Academy's projection arena, built specifically for cadet training.

"Ready!" Kael and the others replied with enthusiasm. Thalen gave a curt nod. Elira remained still, and Aren said nothing.

Serin continued,

"One more thing: the arena will judge you not only by the number of demons defeated but by how well you protect each other. Reckless actions will cost you."

With that, the dome's floor trembled as the Holo-Grove activated. Blue light surged, and the world around them shifted into a dense, mist-choked forest lit by weak shafts of sunlight. The air felt damp and heavy, the smell of wet earth sharp in their noses.

At once, the other cadet teams dispersed, leaving Aren's team alone.

Kael broke the silence first.

"Alright, if we're going to make it, we need a plan. Aren, you—"

"I'll lead," Elira cut in, her tone imperious.

"I'm the only one here with advanced Arcana control. Kael and… the beastkin, hold the perimeter. And this one—" she spared Aren a dismissive glance "—don't get in the way."

Kael gave a crooked smile.

"Uh… Aren, you okay with that?"

Aren didn't respond. His gaze was empty, the Silent Mark on his hand pulsing faintly. Elira's words slid past him, drowned out by the whispers of demon souls stirring inside him.

Thalen rumbled lowly,

"Don't get careless. Projection or not, they can still hurt us."

They moved through the mist. A snap of branches heralded the first attack—three Imp Claw projections, low-tier demons, barreling through the fog with hissing black talons.

Elira raised her staff, chanting quickly.

"Ray of Aether!"

A violet beam speared through one imp, erasing it in a burst of light.

Kael drew his twin daggers, catching the second imp's claws.

"Aren, a little help here!" he called.

Aren stepped forward, dodging a slashing strike with startling agility for his small frame. A single short punch sent the imp crashing into a holographic tree, where it vanished in a flare of light.

Kael stared, impressed.

"Whoa… you're really strong, huh?"

Elira glanced at Aren briefly, saying nothing.

For the next twenty minutes, they fought off wave after wave of low-tier demon projections and several Howler Hounds—wolf-like beasts with iron-mawed jaws. Kael and Thalen tried to hold formation, but Elira broke ranks repeatedly, flinging spells with little regard for her teammates' positions.

"Watch your flank, Elira!" Thalen barked as a Howler lunged at her from the side.

"I don't need a guard," Elira retorted, freezing the creature with Frost Bind. However,she failed to notice two Imp Claws darting at her blind side.

Aren moved without thought. In a blur, he seized both imps and slammed them into the ground with strength impossible for his slight frame. Elira's eyes widened, shock flashing across her face.

"You…?"

Aren stood there, breathing hard, the Silent Mark on his hand pulsing wildly. For an instant, a dark violet gleam flickered in his eyes—the shadow of demon souls he carried.

Kael clapped him on the shoulder.

"Nice save! But… you good?"

Aren gave no answer, closing himself off once more.

At the fortieth minute, the arena's difficulty spiked. The mist deepened, and from the darkness emerged a Dreadfang Alpha projection—a massive wolf with an aura of crushing Arcana, a foe usually reserved for Initiate-level cadets.

"This… isn't low-tier anymore!" Kael shouted. "We'll have to work together to bring it down!"

Elira stepped forward, raising her staff.

"I can handle this on my own—"

"Don't be stupid!" Thalen growled, but it was already too late. Elira's spell misfired, and the beast lunged with terrifying speed. Its fangs nearly tore into her shoulder when Aren appeared, intercepting the attack with sheer physical might.

Whispers roared in his mind: Release us… let the blood flow…

Aren grit his teeth, resisting the surge of dark power. With a heave, he hurled the wolf away, his body thrumming with the wild energy of demon souls.

"Now!" he barked. Kael and Thalen struck in unison—Kael's twin blades piercing the beast's heart as Thalen leapt, raking its throat with Arcana-charged claws. The projection dissolved into motes of light.

The dome reverted to its crystalline form. Cadets across the hall turned to watch them. Serin stood before the group, her expression unreadable.

"You survived. But your coordination was abysmal. You relied on individual strength rather than teamwork. In a real battlefield, that will get you killed."

Kael exhaled and forced a sheepish grin.

"Hey, at least we didn't die, right?"

Elira remained silent, her gaze lingering on Aren. The memory of that power—the force that had saved her—gnawed at her thoughts. It wasn't ordinary, even by Warden cadet standards.

Thalen crossed his arms over his chest.

"We need more practice."

Serin's gaze swept over them one last time.

"You have one week before the next trial. Use it to learn cooperation. Fail, and you'll be dismissed."

That night, in the dormitory, Kael couldn't stop recounting the simulation.

"Aren, seriously, that was insane! You held off a Dreadfang Alpha all by yourself."

Aren sat on his bed, staring at the Silent Mark's faint glow.

This power… it isn't truly mine. Each time I use it, the whispers grow louder…

Across the room, Elira sat deep in thought, her eyes fixed unconsciously on Aren.

What is this boy, really? And why do I… feel indebted to him?