In a dark room in a random location, a figure sat on a throne.
The darkness around him seemed to move independently like serpents made of smoke.
His face was hidden beneath a hood but two points of crimson light were where eyes should be.
The massive doors at the entrance swung open with a loud groan that was the only sound in the area.
A woman walked in with confident steps. She wore silver armor and her blonde hair was tied back in a tight braid.
It was Veronica.
She walked through the length of the throne room without hesitation. When she reached the base of the throne, she knelt with one fist pressed to the ground and her head bowed.
"My Lord Melrion," she said. "I have returned as commanded."
Her voice didn't have any of the playful mockery she'd shown to Lucas and the crew. Here, it was flat, professional and respectful.
"Rise, Veronica." The figure said.
Veronica stood up but she kept her eyes lowered.
"Report," Lord Melrion said. "How did the test proceed?"
"As anticipated, my lord," Veronica began. "The targets performed admirably under pressure."
"Elaborate."
"Yes, my lord." Veronica said. "Zacard Tosin and Damion Valorheart were very impressive. Their strength had surpassed what was expected of them. They have both broken into the Copper Rank and have even unlocked the ability to manifest soul weapons."
"Marie Zellivan and Lydia Astrolome haven't had such a explosive growth but they still had a bit of martial prowess but my lord there was one variable...."
"Oh? Interesting... continue."
"There was a variable not accounted for in the initial surveillance reports. A student named Lucas Estellan." Veronica said.
"Lucas Estellan," Lord Melrion said. "The minor noble from the Noclies Kingdom. The dropout. The failure. That Lucas Estellan?"
"The very same, my lord. Though it appears the reports were... outdated."
"Explain." Lord Melrion said.
"According to records, Lucas Estellan is Common rank with minimal combat ability and poor academic standing. He had no abilities and a weak mentality. By all accounts, he should have been irrelevant to our operations. In fact, he shouldn't have even been there...."
"Yet?"
"Yet, he displayed excellent combat capabilities and mentality . He fought alongside the main group, held his own against Legion operatives, and most notably..." She paused for emphasis.
"He successfully formed and stabilized his mana core in the middle of a combat zone, achieving Copper rank."
The throne room fell silent.
Then Lord Melrion laughed.
It was a sound like grinding stone and breaking glass, devoid of any real mirth.
The shadows around him expanded outward, filling half the chamber before receding.
"How fascinating," he said. "The world insists on its patterns, doesn't it? No matter how much we change, it seeks to correct itself."
Veronica said nothing.
Lord Melrion stood from his throne, and for the first time his full form became visible.
He was tall, easily over six and a half feet, draped in robes that seemed to be made from solid shadows. The crimson lights of his eyes blazed brighter.
"Tell me, Veronica. In your assessment, what is Lucas Estellan's potential?" He asked.
"Unknown, my lord. His growth rate is unprecedented and his mentality superb. If he continues at this pace..." She hesitated. "He could become a significant variable."
"A variable," Lord Melrion said as he paced back and forth. "Yes, that's an interesting way to phrase it."
He stopped, turning to face Veronica directly.
"You know, this world operates on certain fixed points. Destiny, fate, narrative causality... call it what you will. There are events that want to happen, people who are meant to be in certain places at certain times. The world itself has momentum. Inertia."
"When I first arrived in this world," he continued, "I thought I could simply reshape it to my design. Remove this person, elevate that one, change the key moments that would lead to my desired outcome. But the world pushes back. It tries to correct itself. Remove one hero, and another will rise to take their place. Prevent one pivotal moment, and another will occur to achieve the same result."
"I changed so many things. Altered the timeline, manipulated key figures, seeded my influence throughout the kingdoms. Yet Lucas Estellan, who should have remained irrelevant in my new design, has suddenly become relevant again. The world is correcting itself, filling a role that I thought I had eliminated."
"My lord," Veronica said, "are you saying that Lucas Estellan is—"
"I'm saying that he is an anomaly worth observing. Whether he is the world's attempt at correction or something else entirely remains to be seen."
Lord Melrion returned to his throne, settling into it with the ease of long practice. The shadows wrapped around him like a cloak.
"For now, we proceed as planned. The Legion's movements continue unabated. The pieces are still being positioned for the endgame."
"And Lucas Estellan?" Veronica asked.
"Watch him and document his growth. You can test him periodically, but do not engage him directly. If he truly is what I suspect him to be then killing him right now would only cause the world to produce another replacement in his place. Better to let him develop and see what role he ultimately fulfills in this grand design."
"Understood, my lord." Veronica said.
"One more thing," Lord Melrion added.
"Increase surveillance on the main group. If Lucas Estellan has become relevant, then the timeline may be accelerating faster than projected. I want daily reports on their movements, their training, their relationships. Everything."
"It will be done."
Veronica bowed and turned to leave, but Lord Melrion's voice stopped her.
"Tell me, Veronica. Do you believe in fate?"
She turned back, surprised by the question. "I... believe in power, my lord. And in those who wield it effectively."
"A diplomatic answer." His crimson eyes seemed to glow brighter. "But fate is a curious thing. It can be bent, twisted, delayed... but rarely broken entirely. I, for one, learned that lesson the hard way."