Russ couldn't sleep.
Even after the Trial Chamber, after the pain, the triumph, the surge of power—his mind wouldn't stop replaying what he'd seen. What he became.
The voidlight still lingered beneath his skin, flickering when he was agitated. Which was, currently, all the time.
He sat alone on the Skyforge Tower's ledge, overlooking the academy's floating isles. Nova approached quietly, carrying two mugs of synth-coffee.
"You're going to fall off one of these days," she said, handing him a cup.
Russ took it, eyes still scanning the horizon. "I'll just void-leap back up."
"You'll try," she smirked. "Big difference."
They sat in silence for a while. A cool wind stirred the air, carrying the distant hum of the Academy's defense field.
"You okay?" Nova finally asked.
"No." Russ sipped. "But I don't know what 'okay' even means anymore."
Nova tilted her head. "Is this about what you saw in the chamber?"
"I didn't just see it," Russ said, jaw tight. "I felt it. That version of me—it wasn't just some illusion. It was... a path. One I could still go down."
"And do you want to?"
"No," he said quickly. "But the more I use the Void, the easier it gets. The power talks to me, Nova. It wants something."
Nova stared at him. "Do you think it's alive?"
Russ hesitated. "Not alive like us. But sentient? Maybe. Or maybe it's just every fear I've ever had, amplified."
She didn't have an answer for that. Neither did he.
Before either of them could say more, a sharp beep echoed from her communicator. She checked it—and her expression dropped.
"Headmaster wants to see us. Now."
---
The room was dim when they entered. Headmaster Vexim stood by the holo-console, arms crossed. Beside him, to their surprise, stood General Kael Draven, commander of the Sovereign Guard—and Russ's long-estranged uncle.
Russ froze.
"You've got to be kidding me."
Kael offered a nod, posture stiff. "Russ."
"No. You don't get to say my name like we're family."
"You are family," Kael said. "Whether you like it or not."
Vexim raised a hand. "Enough. We don't have time for grudges. The Voidborn are moving."
A holo-projection appeared, showing an image of a ruined outpost at the edge of the Cytheran Expanse. Black tendrils wrapped around broken towers. Glowing sigils pulsed like heartbeats across the terrain.
"That's from six hours ago," Vexim said. "The entire outpost was consumed. No survivors."
Russ felt the chill in the room.
"That's Void corruption," Nova whispered. "It's spreading faster."
Kael nodded. "And that's why we need Russ."
"Excuse me?" Russ narrowed his eyes.
"You're the only known Void-touched who hasn't gone mad," Kael said. "We need you to infiltrate the corrupted zone. You'll survive longer. You can map the energy, maybe even disrupt the spread."
"I'm not your experiment," Russ snapped. "You left me. You all did."
Kael didn't flinch. "And I regret it. But this isn't about the past. It's about stopping the Void before it swallows the entire system."
Russ looked to Vexim. "And you're okay with this?"
The headmaster's gaze was steely. "I didn't say I liked it. But you're not a student anymore, Russ. You're a variable we can't afford to ignore."
Silence fell.
Finally, Russ spoke. "Fine. I'll go."
Nova turned to him. "You sure?"
"No," Russ said. "But if I don't... who else will?"
Kael nodded. "We deploy at dawn."