early summer, year 02 - eryndor academy grand hall
morning bells tolled through the floating spires of the academy. banners of blue and gold hung over the marble stairway, yet the air felt heavier than ceremony.
students whispered of corruption in the noble council. professors smiled too tightly. and kain, for the first time, wore the academy's white uniform instead of his travel coat.
selene adjusted his collar with a faint smile. "try not to look like you're about to duel the entire council."
"if they accuse me again of harboring mirror contraband," he said, "i might."
from the doorway, laora called, "brother, save your temper for after the meeting. we just finished mending the floor you scorched last time."
kain exhaled, half-smiling. "right. diplomacy first."
1 – the hearing
the grand hall glittered with too much light. twenty noble representatives sat in a semicircle above a lower dais where kain, lumiel, and daniel stood. behind them waited acheron, selene, and reika in ceremonial robes—silent witnesses from the shadow brotherhood.
the high chancellor cleared his throat. "prince kain machiavelli, you stand accused of violating academy protocol-possessing cursed artifacts, employing forbidden flame, and interfering with noble commerce."
lumiel's tone was calm. "the so-called cursed artifacts were mirror shards used to save students' souls. perhaps the council prefers them trapped?"
a ripple of gasps.
daniel grinned slightly, flipping a golden coin. "commerce interference? gentlemen, the only business we disturb is soul-trafficking. if you'd like, i can check whose signatures are in those ledgers."
the chancellor's knuckles whitened. "this is an official inquiry, not theatre."
"then stop acting," kain said softly. his eyes burned silver for a heartbeat.
2 – the susanoo of flame
sudden darkness spread across the hall as the wall mirrors cracked one by one. black mist oozed through the fractures.acheron's voice cut through the panic: "they're using the council mirrors as gateways!"
out of the largest pane stepped a humanoid shadow armored in glass, its eyes molten.
"children of nihility," it hissed, "your defiance ends here."
kain drew both blades. "no-our awakening begins here."
the shadow lunged. kain crossed his swords, and the shadow nihility flame burst outward. silver and black spirals rose behind him, forming a towering armor-the susanoo of void flame.its wings unfurled, scales shimmering like glass over fire.
selene whispered, "he's manifesting fully…"
acheron closed her eyes, linking her aura. "i'll stabilize it."
lumiel pointed toward the councilors. "everyone behind the barrier—now!"
the susanoo's twin blades struck the shadow's chest, cracking it open in a flare of light.
"by the aeon ix," kain intoned, "your reflection returns to silence."
the creature exploded into dust. every mirror in the hall shattered at once.
3 – echoes of truth
smoke cleared. shards floated mid-air, rearranging into an image: archduke vorseth's obsidian face.
"impressive. the nihility flame matures.but every flame casts a longer shadow."
acheron's hand tightened on kain's shoulder. "he's testing us."
lumiel stepped forward. "then we'll test him back. by decree of the academy, these halls are purged of corruption."
selene touched the nearest shard; her healing light wrapped around it, showing hundreds of small faces-the students freed by reika's ritual.
"you see?" she said softly to the remaining councilors. "that's what he calls a crime."
one councilor dropped his seal of office onto the floor. another followed. within minutes, half the seats were empty.
4 – quiet aftermath
outside, eryndor's bells rang again—this time not for ceremony but warning.
on the balcony overlooking the floating gardens, the siblings gathered. laora handed everyone a cup of herbal tea from the academy kitchen, still steaming.
"i can't believe we survived that," she said. "i thought the ceiling would fall again."
daniel smirked. "you worry too much. my golden phantom was ready to rewrite gravity itself."
"please don't," selene said. "my wings are tired enough."
acheron leaned against the railing, crimson eyes on the distant city. "vorseth isn't finished. this was just his echo."
kain nodded. "then we answer with presence, not echoes."
lumiel smiled faintly. "you mean more work."
"always," kain replied. "the brotherhood never sleeps."
5 – the vow renewed
as twilight spread across the sky, a silver dragon shape shimmered faintly above eryndor-the spiritual projection of kain's susanoo lingering like an aurora.people looked up from the streets below, whispering that a protector watched over them.
acheron joined him quietly. "you didn't lose control this time."
"i remembered what you said," he answered. "balance isn't about resisting the flame-it's about letting the shadow breathe."
she smiled. "and that's why you'll never become your father."
they stood together, watching the last shards of daylight fade into the city's mirrored glow.
[status update]
name: kain machiavelli
race: half aeon • half blood dragon
level: 21 exp: 2 340 / 2 900
tree rank: chesed (4th sphere)
guiding aeon: ix – aeon of nihility
unique skill: shadow nihility flame lv 6
susanoo: void flame armor – awakened
organization: shadow brotherhoodbond updates: acheron (19 %) • selene (11 %) • lumiel (loyalty sealed)
objective: investigate archduke vorseth's mirror gateways hidden in the academy vaults.
end of chapter 16 – the fallen council