The Vellore estate had never known silence like this.
The vast halls—lined with obsidian pillars and red crystal chandeliers—echoed only with the low murmurs of grief. Servants moved like ghosts. The guards stood stiffer than statues.
At the center of the grand courtyard, beneath the silver moonlight of Eros' third moon, lay the crystal coffin.
Inside: Kyren Vellore.
Unmoving. Pale. Dead.
Not from illness. Not from old age.
Murdered.
And around him, the Vellore blood stood still—mother, cousins, uncles, all in black.
But at the center stood Vaeric Vellore, Head of the House.
His golden cloak swept behind him, face stony as steel.
He hadn't blinked in minutes. His eyes, locked on the face of his fallen son, said nothing. But his soul screamed loud enough to shake the stars.
Beside him, Luthan Vellore—Kyren's younger brother—knelt quietly.
He didn't cry. His hand rested on the glass coffin.
"…He used to call me a brat," Luthan said softly.
Vaeric didn't respond.
"He said I wasn't meant for the battlefield… that I was meant for data screens and tactics."
Still silence.
"…He was wrong."
That's when Vaeric moved. Just slightly.
He placed a hand on Luthan's shoulder. Strong. Heavy.
"Stand."
Luthan obeyed.
"I don't want vengeance," Vaeric said.
Luthan's eyes flickered. "You don't?"
"I want eradication."
The words dropped like thunder.
Moments Later — The War Room
Holographic screens filled the obsidian chamber. Surveillance images from Cyralis Academy. Combat logs. Aura charts. Weapon registry scans. Even illegal data from underground tournaments.
Strategists worked in silence. They all knew what this meant. When a Vellore died—the world shifted.
A general spoke, breaking the tension:
"No leads. No witnesses. We believe Kyren was isolated. His combat module was shut down. Internal bone fractures. Aura burnout. Nerve death. No DNA traces."
"Poison?" someone asked.
"Not even that. Just raw, devastating power."
Vaeric remained still.
"Find me the list of students powerful enough to do that. I want aura readings. Combat history. Medical logs. Mentors. Disciplinary actions. I want to know who in that school can fight like a reaper."
One woman spoke carefully, "My lord… what if it was a teacher? Or someone… external?"
Vaeric's voice came like a blade:
"Then we burn the entire academy."
Luthan's Mission
He walked through the academy gates the next day, quiet in his pristine uniform, eyes cold like the void.
Whispers followed him.
"Vellore family sent someone."
"That's Kyren's younger brother."
"Why is he here?"
But he ignored them all.
Luthan wasn't here for glory.
He was here to watch. To measure. To hunt.
He joined the advanced strategy class, sat at the top of the observatory stairs, and opened his digital notebook.
Page 1: "Suspect List — TBD"
Page 2: "Scan aura fluctuations during combat classes."
Page 3: "Look for sudden strength growth."
He began his silent investigation.
---
Elsewhere – Slums of Blackiron Ward
Two bounty hunters sat near a cracked monitor, sipping glowing red ale.
One looked around nervously.
"You get the call too?" the older asked.
"The Vellores? Yeah. They're paying millions."
"Why not take it?"
The younger one took a deep breath. "I saw what was left of Kyren. That ain't a normal kill. That was a message."
"What kind?"
He leaned in.
"'Don't touch me again' kind. Whoever did that… was angry. Not greedy. Not scared. Just done with being a victim."
He sipped his drink.
"And those kinds… they don't stop."
---
Back in the Academy
Eliar sat in the empty training hall, his shirt soaked in sweat, knuckles bruised.
[System Alert: Aura Stabilized – Minor Pain Resistance Unlocked]
He looked down at his hands. Stronger than yesterday.
Stronger than before.
He wasn't ready yet. Not for the nobles. Not for the Vellores. But every night, his body bled less. His breathing got sharper. His system whispered secrets he didn't understand.
[Hidden Quest Progress: 7% – Revenge is Patient]
He didn't smile.
He just got back up… and kept going.
---
Final Scene – Vellore Mansion
A group of shadow-cloaked Vellore scouts gathered before the family council.
"No results," one said. "We can't find the killer."
Vaeric's hand curled into a fist.
Then Luthan entered the room and said calmly:
"I'll find them."
His eyes glinted.
"They're in this academy."