Rumor of a God
> "Fear spreads faster than fire. But belief? Belief lingers after both have burned away."
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1. The Thread Appears
In the west wing of Floating Veil Academy, a black thread appeared.
Not on a door. Not tied to a person. It simply hung—between two pillars where nothing had been before.
The first to see it was an archivist named Levia. She blinked once and forgot it. Then remembered it in a dream. Then woke screaming.
By morning, five more black threads had appeared across campus.
None touched. None moved. None disappeared.
But the dorms whispered now. Professors paused mid-lecture. Disciples began to hesitate before making boasts. Something about the air felt... watched.
Kairo Vale remained unseen.
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2. Vaelira's Directive
Vaelira Thorne reviewed the Academy's myth-layer fluctuations from her ship in orbit.
> "What kind of Authority does this?"
The threads had no elemental signature. No spatial disturbance. But belief around them bent like heat-warped steel.
She touched a crystal interface, called up myth-flow analysis.
> [Source Unknown. Spread Rate: Exponential. Emotional Signature: Dread.]
She whispered to herself:
> "Dread doesn't come from power. It comes from realizing too late… someone else already won."
Her eyes narrowed.
> "Initiate Quiet Protocol. If this is him, we do not engage. We observe."
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3. The Puppet Duel
In the Emberglow Arena, two Chosen clashed.
Flames lit the air. Swords sang. Spectators cheered.
But every few seconds, they glanced at the corner where a single black thread now hung near the judge's dais.
One disciple whispered:
> "Is this... his doing?"
Another answered:
> "Who?"
The first paused. Shook his head.
> "I don't remember. But I feel like we should."
The judge called the duel winner. No one celebrated.
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4. Kairo Beneath the Bell Tree
Kairo sat beneath the Old Bell Tree, where silence felt older than time.
A notebook lay in his lap. He sketched myth-patterns—not for combat, but for misdirection. Thread-weaving. Belief infection.
He murmured:
> "They'll think it's haunting. Not strategy."
The tree's bell rustled, though no wind blew.
He smiled.
> "Good. That means it's working."
He added a note:
> "Thread 1: Appeared near scholar dreams. Link emotional terror to forgotten knowledge." "Thread 2: Combat space. Link awe to mythic indecision."
He tapped the page twice. Folded it. Burned it with no fire.
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5. Solas Reacts
Solas Thorne punched a mirror.
Glass scattered. Blood ran.
> "Why won't he show himself?"
His attendant remained silent.
> "Threads? Threads?! This coward leaves yarn around campus and people flinch like he's a god!"
The attendant whispered:
> "But what if… he already won something we didn't see?"
Solas turned. Eyes blazing.
> "That's the problem. He wins without being there. And no one can stop him, because no one knows where to stab."
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6. The Council Frets
In the Headmistress's Hall, instructors debated action.
Elder Mun said:
> "They're not real. Just psychic phenomena."
Archivist Tylen countered:
> "They're effect markers. Myth-signatures. This is systemic interference!"
Headmistress Althaea raised one hand. Silence fell.
> "This is no Authority we've recorded." "But it has weight. And fear. And consistency."
She turned to her aide.
> "Put a request to the Skyborne Council. We may have a Whisper-Class Sovereign loose."
No one argued.
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7. Kairo's Thought
Alone, walking between students who didn't notice him, Kairo paused.
He watched a disciple train. Fail. Get up. Fail again.
The disciple turned. Stared at him.
> "Do I... know you?"
Kairo tilted his head.
> "Not yet. But you will remember me when you forget everything else."
He walked away. Behind him, a black thread shimmered into existence near the boy's blade.
The boy stared. His hands trembled.
He never forgot the moment again.
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End of Chapter 6: Black Threads