When Genius Meets Genius
The social gathering had settled into a comfortable rhythm when a shift in the ambient energy made several Adepts turn toward the entrance. Elias felt it too—a presence approaching that carried weight beyond normal Adept cultivation.
"Oh, this should be interesting," Aldric said, a slight smile crossing his face. "That's Marcus Thornheart. If you thought your advancement was impressive, wait until you hear about him."
A man walked into the tea house with the easy confidence of someone who'd never met an obstacle he couldn't overcome. He was tall, with sharp features and dark hair that seemed to absorb light. His robes were simple but made from fabric that existed in superposition—simultaneously damaged from countless battles and pristine as if freshly made.
But it was his aura that drew attention. Even carefully suppressed, it radiated power that made some of the younger Adepts unconsciously step back.
