Chapter 25: Fire Behind the Veil

The morning sky over Aerthalia was pale, as if mourning the night filled with blood and magic. The once-grand academy now bore cracks and scorch marks. The scent of ozone and arcane dust still lingered in the air.
In the main assembly hall, professors, arcane supervisors, and academy officials had gathered — tense faces, some still stained with blood and soot. In the center sat Angeline, surrounded by Myra, Real, and Elaine.
> “You’ve brought disaster to these walls,” murmured Professor Dervalt, a known voice from the conservative faction.“Or saved us from a silent annihilation,” Vice Headmaster Calhoun countered firmly.


Tensions flared — some factions blamed Angeline for the attack, while others began to place their trust in her.

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🔍 The Investigation Begins
Calhoun assembled a special task force: Real representing the students, Elaine as senior representative, and Arlen, a cool-headed, neutral arcane observer.
Their discoveries included:
A distortion artifact left behind in the training hall ruins.
Traces of matching magic found at Thirna Hollow — a forbidden ancient site sealed from students.
An old manuscript, accidentally uncovered by Angeline while studying her Voidstep, containing the same symbol used by the shadow organization.

> “They weren’t just attacking… they were searching for something that was once sealed within this place,” Arlen deduced.



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💥 Internal Tensions
Meanwhile, the conservative faction quietly pushed for Angeline’s removal from the Academy — labeling her too dangerous and a magnet for catastrophe.
Whispers began to spread among students:
> “We wouldn’t have been attacked if it weren’t for her…”“Void Heir… maybe it’s a curse?”


Myra was furious, but Angeline remained silent. Her physical wounds were healing, but the emotional scars lingered.
> “I know someone like me was never truly welcomed here… but I won’t run,” she told Real.



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🧠 A Shocking Revelation
During his private investigation, Real uncovered an ancient manuscript belonging to his late mother — a former dimensional guardian. It read:
> “If the Voidstep awakens in the hands of a true heir, the gates of Nyx Solum will tremble. The world will choose: to open… or to burn itself anew.”


Nyx Solum — a long-forgotten legend about an inverted dimension where all denied possibilities were sealed away.

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⚖️ Secret Academic Tribunal
A hidden tribunal was held beneath the Academy. Only those with the highest authority were present.
Calhoun defended Angeline by projecting magical recordings of the recent battle — proving her powers saved dozens of lives.
The conservative leader, however, declared:
> “We don’t need a savior who can open the gates of hell.”


But before any verdict could be passed, a foreign envoy arrived — an Archmagus from the Western Confederacy, bearing urgent news:
> “We too were attacked. The invaders sought only one name: the Void Heir.We have come not to punish Angeline Ceu…but to request her leadership in a broader investigation.”



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🔚 End of Chapter
The chapter closes with Angeline standing on the dormitory balcony, gazing out at the ruins of the training tower.
Myra stood beside her.
> “You know they’ll keep coming for you.”“I do,” Angeline answered softly.“But this time… I’ll hunt them back.”