DONG.
The fourth bell echoed through Aetheris Academy.
Then everything stopped.
Not became quiet.
Stopped.
The emergency runes along the walls froze in the middle of their flickering.
The dust hanging in the air ceased falling.
Even the flames inside the magical lanterns became motionless.
Kael stood perfectly still.
He couldn’t breathe.
He couldn’t blink.
He couldn’t move.
Only his thoughts remained.
What is happening?
The System appeared.
[CRITICAL WARNING.]
[Temporal progression has temporarily ceased.]
[Host consciousness remains active.]
[Reason: Unknown.]
Kael’s eyes widened.
Time stopped?
He tried moving his fingers.
Nothing.
He tried turning his head.
Nothing.
Even Pi was frozen on his shoulder.
The little creature’s golden eye remained fixed on the empty corridor.
Kael’s mind raced.
This isn’t the fourth presence.
He had felt the fourth presence.
It had been enormous.
Heavy.
Ancient.
This was different.
This felt…
Personal.
A faint scratching sound reached his ears.
Scratch.
Kael’s eyes widened.
Scratch.
Again.
Scratch.
Something was writing.
The sound came from somewhere behind him.
Kael desperately tried to turn.
Nothing.
The scratching continued.
Slowly.
Calmly.
Almost casually.
Then a voice whispered beside his ear.
“You remembered.”
Kael’s pupils contracted.
He knew that voice.
Not because he had heard it before.
Because he had heard it in the memory.
The white room.
The black door.
The person holding the quill.
Kael’s mind screamed.
Who are you?
The voice answered.
“You already know.”
Kael froze.
No.
“You simply forgot.”
The scratching stopped.
Then—
Time resumed.
WHOOSH!
Kael stumbled forward.
He immediately grabbed his sword.
Lucien nearly fell beside him.
The second irregularity spun around.
Pi suddenly jumped from Kael’s shoulder.
“Pi!”
Kael caught the little creature.
“What happened?”
Lucien looked around.
“What happened to the lights?”
The lanterns had returned to normal.
The dust was falling again.
Everything appeared exactly as it had been.
Except-
The corridor was empty.
Kael looked behind him.
Nothing.
He turned around again.
Nothing.
“Someone was here.”
Lucien frowned.
“Who?”
“I don’t know.”
The second irregularity stared at Kael.
“You heard it too.”
Kael looked at him.
“You did?”
“No.”
The boy’s expression darkened.
“But I saw your reaction.”
Kael narrowed his eyes.
“That’s not the same thing.”
“No.”
The boy looked toward Pi.
“But something spoke to you.”
Kael glanced at Pi.
The creature stared back.
Its golden eye was still glowing.
Kael lowered his voice.
“It said I remembered.”
The second irregularity became completely still.
“Remembered what?”
Kael hesitated.
“The white room.”
The boy’s expression changed.
For the first time, genuine fear appeared in his eyes.
“That’s impossible.”
Kael frowned.
“That’s what everyone keeps saying.”
The second irregularity stepped closer.
“What did you see?”
“A door.”
“What kind?”
“Black.”
“Symbols?”
Kael thought.
“Yes.”
The crown.
The eye.
The broken chain.
“And someone holding a quill.”
The second irregularity’s face went pale.
“Did you see their face?”
“No.”
“Did they speak?”
“Yes.”
“What did they say?”
Kael looked at him.
“They said if I remembered, everything would change.”
The boy stepped backward.
“Then we have a problem.”
Kael sighed.
“We’ve had a problem for seventeen chapters.”
The boy ignored him.
“No.”
He looked genuinely disturbed.
“This is different.”
Kael’s expression hardened.
“Explain.”
The boy stared toward the corridor.
“The white room isn’t part of this world.”
Kael frowned.
“What?”
“It’s not part of the worldline.”
“Then where is it?”
“I don’t know.”
Kael’s eyes narrowed.
“You’re lying.”
“I’m not.”
“Then why are you afraid?”
The boy didn’t answer.
Kael stepped closer.
“You’re the one who called yourself Second.”
The boy looked at him.
“You’ve known about these things longer than I have.”
“Yes.”
“Then stop giving me fragments.”
The boy remained silent.
Kael’s voice hardened.
“Tell me what you know.”
A long pause.
Then—
“I’ve seen the white room.”
Kael froze.
The boy continued.
“Once.”
“When?”
“Before I became Second.”
Kael stared.
“What were you before?”
The boy looked away.
“I don’t remember.”
Kael’s eyes widened.
“Your memory was erased?”
“No.”
He touched his chest.
“It was never there.”
Kael frowned.
“That’s impossible.”
The boy smiled bitterly.
“Now you sound like everyone else.”
Before Kael could respond—
BOOM!
A massive explosion shook the academy.
The corridor walls cracked.
Lucien stumbled.
Kael caught him.
“What was that?”
The second irregularity looked toward the windows.
“Something happened outside.”
They ran.
At the end of the corridor stood a large glass window overlooking the academy grounds.
Kael stopped.
His expression changed.
Aetheris Academy was disappearing.
Not collapsing.
Not being destroyed.
Disappearing.
One of the eastern towers had become transparent.
Students who had been running through the courtyard were gone.
The training arena had vanished halfway through.
A floating platform above the academy flickered in and out of existence.
Kael stared.
“That’s…”
Lucien whispered:
“Impossible.”
The second irregularity shook his head.
“No.”
He looked at Kael.
“It’s beginning.”
“What?”
“The academy is being forgotten.”
Kael stared at the grounds.
A group of students appeared below.
Then vanished.
Appeared again.
Then vanished.
Like a corrupted image.
Kael’s fists tightened.
“We have to stop it.”
The second irregularity nodded.
“We need the central archive.”
Lucien frowned.
“We’re already in the old archive.”
“No.”
The boy shook his head.
“The real one.”
Kael looked at him
“There’s another archive?”
“Under the academy.”
Lucien’s face changed.
“That’s restricted.”
The second irregularity looked at him.
“So only the Headmaster and the senior council know how to access it.”
Kael smiled.
“Good.”
Lucien stared.
“Why is that good?”
“Because I’m beginning to realize that restricted areas usually contain the answers.”
Lucien sighed.
“That’s exactly the kind of reasoning that gets students expelled.”
Kael began walking.
“Better expelled than erased.”
They hurried through the corridor.
As they moved, Kael noticed something strange.
Every few seconds, another part of the academy disappeared.
A statue.
A hallway.
A classroom.
A portrait.
A staircase.
The academy was being rewritten piece by piece.
Then Kael saw something that stopped him.
A notice board.
A list of students.
Names were disappearing.
One by one.
Kael approached.
“Wait.”
Lucien stopped.
“What?”
Kael pointed.
“Leon.”
Lucien frowned.
“What about him?”
Kael stared at the list.
Leon Ardent’s name was still there.
So was Mira’s.
So was Elena’s.
But several other names had already vanished.
Kael’s eyes narrowed.
“Why are some people being erased and others aren’t?”
The second irregularity walked closer.
“Because the story is prioritizing them.”
Kael looked at him
“Prioritizing?”
“The important characters.
Kael’s expression darkened.
“So Leon is safe?”
“Not necessarily.”
The boy shook his head.
“The story may preserve him because he is necessary.”
Kael’s eyes narrowed.
“And me?”
The boy looked directly at him.
“You’re different.”
“Because I’m an irregularity?”
“No.”
He pointed at Kael.
“Because the story can’t decide what you are.”
Kael stared at him.
That answer was somehow worse.
Then—
A loud voice echoed through the academy.
“All students and faculty are ordered to remain in their designated locations.”
Kael looked upward.
The academy’s communication system repeated the announcement.
But something was wrong.
The voice was distorted.
Almost mechanical.
Then the announcement changed.
“All students and faculty are ordered to forget.”
Kael stopped.
Lucien’s face became pale.
“What?”
The voice repeated
“Forget.”
“Forget.”
“Forget.”
Kael’s vision blurred.
The System appeared
[Mental interference detected.]
[Attempting resistance.]
[Resistance successful.]
Kael gritted his teeth.
“Not happening.”
He looked at Lucien
The professor was holding his head.
“Professor?”
Lucien looked at him.
His eyes were unfocused.
“Kael…”
“Stay with me.”
“I…”
Lucien frowned.
“Who are you?”
Kael froze.
The second irregularity grabbed Lucien’s shoulder.
“Don’t listen to the voice.”
Lucien stared at him.
“Who are you?”
The second irregularity’s face hardened.
“It has begun.”
Kael grabbed Lucien’s shoulders.
“Professor.”
Lucien stared at him.
“Your name is Lucien Graves.”
Lucien blinked.
“You teach Mana Theory.”
Another blink.
“You know about Primordial Laws.”
His eyes began focusing.
“You found the black book thirty-two years ago.”
Lucien’s breathing slowed.
“And you’re supposed to die before sunset.”
Lucien’s eyes widened.
“I…”
Kael nodded.
“That’s right.”
Lucien suddenly grabbed Kael’s arm.
“I remember.”
Kael exhaled.
“Good.”
Lucien looked terrified.
“The voice is trying to erase me.”
Kael’s expression hardened
“Then we don’t let it.”
The second irregularity looked at Kael.
“How?”
Kael smiled.
“I don’t know.”
He drew his sword.
“But I have an idea.”
The System appeared.
[New Emergency Mission.]
[REMEMBER]
Objective: Prevent the designated individuals from being erased from the current worldline.
Protected Targets:
– Lucien Graves
– Leon Ardent
– Mira Ashbourne
– Elena Veyron
Reward: 400 Karma.
Failure: Permanent narrative deletion.
Kael stared.
“Four targets.”
He looked at Lucien.
“Where are the others?”
The second irregularity answered.
“Leon should be in the central training arena.”
“Mira?”
“Library.”
“Elena?”
“Western residence tower.”
Kael nodded.
“Then we split up.”
The second irregularity shook his head.
“No.”
Kael frowned.
“Why?”
“Because if we separate, the story can isolate us.”
Kael considered that
He hated admitting it.
But the boy was right.
“We stay together.”
Lucien looked toward the eastern tower.
“What about the students?”
Kael looked outside
Hundreds of students were still running.
Some were confused.
Some were crying.
Some were calling for teachers.
And some—
Were simply standing still.
Their eyes were empty.
Kael clenched his fist.
“We help whoever we can.”
The second irregularity nodded.
Then—
A voice spoke behind them.
“That’s a mistake.”
Kael turned.
The third irregularity stood at the end of the hallway.
The unwritten character.
He looked calm.
Almost amused.
“You shouldn’t save everyone.”
Kael’s eyes narrowed.
“Why?”
“Because the story doesn’t want them saved.”
Kael raised his sword.
“Since when do I care what the story wants?
The third irregularity smiled.
“That’s why you’re dangerous.”
He pointed toward the eastern courtyard.
“Look.”
Kael glanced outside.
A student was standing alone.
The student looked around desperately.
Then—
Everyone else disappeared.
The student remained.
Kael’s expression changed.
“Why is he still there?”
The third irregularity answered.
“Because he isn’t supposed to exist.”
Kael froze.
The student looked toward the window.
Their eyes met.
Kael felt a strange sensation.
He knew that face.
But he couldn’t remember where from.
The student raised a hand.
A black quill symbol appeared on his palm.
Kael’s blood ran cold.
“Another irregularity?”
The third irregularity shook his head.
“No.”
The boy smiled.
“Something worse.”
The student suddenly vanished.
The entire courtyard returned to normal.
Kael stared.
“What was that?”
The third irregularity’s smile disappeared.
“The Author’s discarded character.”
Lucien looked horrified.
“Discarded?”
The third irregularity nodded.
“Characters that are removed from the story don’t always disappear.”
Kael’s expression darkened.
“Sometimes they remain.”
“Yes.”
“And what happens to them?”
The third irregularity looked at Kael.
“They become hungry.”
A chill ran through the corridor.
Then—
SCRATCH.
Kael heard the familiar sound again.
Writing.
Somewhere nearby.
Scratch.
He turned toward the wall.
A sentence slowly appeared across the stone.
«KAEL VEYRON IS TRYING TO SAVE THE ACADEMY.»
Kael stared.
The second irregularity whispered:
“The Author is watching.”
The writing continued.
«KAEL VEYRON WILL FAIL.»
Kael smiled.
“Really?”
Another sentence appeared.
«KAEL VEYRON WILL—»
Kael struck the wall with his sword.
BOOM!
The words shattered.
The second irregularity stared.
“What are you doing?”
Kael grinned.
“Interrupting the narrator.”
The System appeared.
[Narrative interference disrupted.]
[Karma response detected.]
[+20 Karma.]
[Host has discovered a potential method of disrupting written events.]
Kael’s smile widened.
“Oh.”
He looked at the wall.
“I like this.”
The third irregularity stared at him.
“You really don’t understand what you’re doing.”
Kael turned.
“Then explain.”
“You’ve just done something the Author doesn’t expect.”
“What?”
“You acted before the page finished writing.”
Kael’s smile faded.
“So?”
The third irregularity looked toward the wall.
“The Author can write what happens.”
He paused.
“But if you act before the sentence is complete…”
Kael finished the thought.
“…the outcome becomes uncertain.”
The second irregularity’s eyes widened.
“That’s why the Author couldn’t predict you.”
Kael smiled.
“Exactly.”
The System appeared again.
[New Passive Effect discovered.]
[Narrative Interference]
Effect: Host actions performed before an external narrative sequence is completed may cause unpredictable deviations.
Warning: Excessive use may attract higher-level narrative attention.
Kael stared.
“That’s…”
He grinned.
“Actually useful.”
Lucien sighed.
“I don’t like that smile.”
Kael looked at him.
“Professor.”
“Yes?”
“How do we reach the underground archive?”
Lucien hesitated.
“There is a hidden staircase beneath the old lecture hall.”
Kael nodded.
“Let’s go.”
They began moving.
But before Kael could take another step—
Pi suddenly jumped from his shoulder.
The little creature landed on the floor.
Its golden eye glowed.
A black quill appeared.
Then—
A tiny crown.
Then—
A third symbol.
An eye.
Kael froze
“Pi?”
The symbols combined.
The floor beneath them began glowing.
A circular formation appeared.
Lucien’s eyes widened.
“That…”
“What?”
“I’ve seen that symbol before.”
Kael stared at the formation.
“Where?”
Lucien whispered:
“In the ruins where I found the black book.”
Kael’s expression changed.
Pi stood in the center of the formation.
Its tiny body began floating.
“Pi!”
Kael immediately reached for it.
But the formation pushed him back.
A voice echoed through the corridor.
Not the Author.
Not the fourth presence.
Not any of the irregularities.
Something else.
“Returner.”
Kael froze.
“You have finally reached the correct door.”
The floor opened.
A staircase descended into darkness.
At the bottom stood an enormous black door.
The exact same door Kael had seen inside the strange void.
Crown.
Eye.
Broken chain.
Kael’s heart pounded.
The second irregularity stared at it.
“No.”
Kael looked at him.
“You know this door.”
The boy nodded.
“I’ve seen it before.”
“What’s behind it?”
He didn’t answer.
Kael stepped toward the staircase.
The boy grabbed his arm.
“Don’t.”
Kael looked at him.
“Why?”
“Because the last time you opened that door…”
He stopped.
Kael’s expression hardened.
“The last time I opened it?”
The second irregularity stared into Kael’s eyes.
“You didn’t come back alone.”
Kael’s heart stopped.
“What?”
The boy released him.
“You brought something with you.”
Kael slowly looked at Pi.
The little creature was staring at the black door.
Its golden eye glowed.
The black quill appeared.
Then the crown.
Then the eye.
And finally—
A fourth symbol.
A broken chain.
Kael’s face went pale.
“Pi…”
The creature turned toward him.
“Pi.”
The black door opened by itself.
KRRRRR…
Cold darkness spilled up the staircase.
And from behind the door—
A familiar voice whispered:
“Welcome back, Kael.”
Kael stopped breathing.
He knew that voice.
It belonged to the person from the white room.
The one holding the quill.
The one who had told him:
You were chosen.
The voice spoke again.
“It’s time you remembered why.”
Kael stared into the darkness.
Then the System appeared.
[Sealed Memory Recovery: 4%]
[Origin of Host’s Return: Partially accessible.]
[Warning.]
[Memory contains information capable of destabilizing the current worldline.]
[Proceed?]
Kael stared at the notification.
For the first time, the System was asking him whether he wanted to know.
Kael looked at the black door.
At Pi.
At Lucien.
At the three irregularities.
Then he smiled.
“Yes.”
The System responded.
[Memory recovery beginning.]
[5%…]
[10%…]
[15%…]
[20%…]
The darkness beyond the door moved.
Something stepped forward.
Kael’s eyes widened.
The figure holding the black quill finally emerged from the shadows.
But before Kael could see its face—
The memory shattered.
CRACK!
The black door slammed shut.
The staircase vanished.
Pi dropped to the floor.
The lights returned.
Kael stood frozen.
The System displayed one final message.
[Memory recovery interrupted.]
[Recovered information:]
[Host did not die by accident.]
[Host was selected.]
[Selection occurred before Host entered this world.]
[Selector identity: UNKNOWN.]
[Reason: UNKNOWN.]
Kael stared at the words.
Then another notification appeared.
[New Quest Generated.]
[WHO CHOSE ME?]
Objective: Discover the identity of the being responsible for selecting Kael Veyron.
Reward: 3,000 Karma.
Failure: Unknown.
Special Condition: Do not trust the Author.
Kael slowly lowered his sword.
The second irregularity stared at him.
The Observer suddenly appeared from the shadows.
The third irregularity remained silent.
Lucien looked toward the vanished staircase.
And Pi—
Pi simply sat on the floor.
Its golden eye stared directly at Kael.
For one brief instant, the tiny black quill appeared inside it.
Then vanished.
Kael clenched his fist.
Someone had chosen him.
Someone had sent him back.
Someone had altered his memories.
And now—
The Author was watching.
Kael looked toward the ceiling.
A faint smile appeared on his face.
“Then watch carefully.”
He turned toward the others.
“Because I’m about to ruin your story.”
Far away, beyond the worldline—
A black quill stopped moving.
For the first time in a very long time…
The hand holding it hesitated.