🩸 Chapter 39
"To hide from fate is foolish. But to face it unprepared… is fatal."— Ancient Crosnic Verse Proverb
🌌 Scene: Sinjai Academy, 3 Days Later
The Academy had returned to a strange normal. Students whispered theories in the halls, but no one could confirm what truly happened in the simulation room.
The instructors avoided questions.
Anshi walked beside Aeren during lunch, eyes scanning every passerby. She knew something was off — he hadn't spoken about what happened since waking up. No jokes, no training talk, just quiet stares and sudden shivers.
Aeren wasn't sure if he was dreaming or remembering anymore.
🩸 Scene: In the Depths — Karnyx the Memory Hunter
Far away, in the ruins of Krysolith Temple, a figure stood among melted bones and shadows. Cloaked in red threads laced with runes, his eyes glowed black with flickers of crimson.
Karnyx. Level 8 Seeker. Specialty: Memory Erasure. Blood Contract Holder.
He was bred by the Black Organ.
Unbound by mercy. Loyal to the core.
A creature with only one purpose: Find the Host. Bring him back. Alive.
And so, as the moon rose above Crosnic City…
Karnyx stepped through a mirror-like tear in space and entered the outer edge of Sinjai Academy — completely unseen.
🧠 Scene: New Ability – Mind Sync Echo
That evening, Aeren meditated on the school rooftop, trying to "feel" the powers he'd only glimpsed in dreams.
Suddenly, he heard Anshi's voice. Not from behind him. Not aloud.
"You forgot your cloak again, idiot…"
His eyes opened wide. She wasn't even near him.
Did I… just hear her thoughts?
Aeren felt something shift — the air trembled, and time slowed for a split second. A white-blue glow faintly pulsed on his palm.
Mind Sync Echo – Level 1: Active
He grinned nervously.
"Okay. That's new."
🕯️ Scene: Shadow in the Academy
Later that night, while everyone rested, a strange flicker of light passed through the hallway camera system.
In the staff dorms, one of the substitute instructors didn't report for duty.No one noticed.
No one except Headmaster Elroin, who stared at a blank screen and muttered:
"It's begun. The Hunter is here."
⚔️ Scene: Karnyx Watches
From the treetops near the barrier field, Karnyx sat crouched, silent as fog.
In his left hand — a small glowing vial with a strand of Aeren's hair, stolen from the infirmary.
"Your memory… shall become mine."
As the stars fell across the sky like knives, Karnyx activated a blood rune:
"Phase 1: Observation. Assimilate the target's mental patterns."
A small, red insect-like creature blinked into existence and flew toward Aeren's dorm.
The hunter waited.Patient. Precise.And very soon…
He would strike.
🧩 Chapter 40 Preview:
"The Bug in His Mind – Trial of the Echo Field"Aeren starts experiencing strange dreams — but they're not his own. The insect sent by Karnyx has begun syncing with Aeren's memory. Meanwhile, a surprise test forces all students to survive inside a sealed "Echo Field," where time runs differently… and illusions kill.