Chapter 243: Elysia’s Plan.
Crystal Hollow Valley
The Crystal Hollows were vast caverns lined with glowing quartz, their walls gleaming like fragments of stars.
High above, the Starveil Monastery rested upon the cliffs — a silent sanctuary where monks devoted their lives to studying the constellations.
Farther still, the Emberlight Tower burned with an eternal flame, tended by generations of mages who guarded its secrets.
"As told by selena..."
As the light shimmered and Kael stepped into the new landscape.
Towering cliffs surrounded him, their surfaces embedded with radiant minerals that pulsed softly like living veins of light.
Mist coiled lazily between crystal pillars that jutted from the earth like frozen bolts of lightning.
Across the valley, groups of students were already gathering — forming teams, testing spells, and drawing weapons.
Blades flashed in the faint glow of the crystals, and magic circles flared briefly as talismans were activated.
Kael, however, moved alone.
(I’ll start from the eastern ridge... The demonic readings are stronger there and I guess there are secret areas too.)
Closing his eyes for a moment, Kael activated his Ashen Core.
His senses expanded — he could hear the echo of mana currents flowing beneath the rocks and the distant whisper of energy crackling in the mist.
Then, he felt it.
Three faint but distinct demonic auras pulsed somewhere deep within the valley, moving like shadows beneath the crystal light.
Kael’s expression hardened.
"Three... that’s more than I expected."
High above on a ridge cloaked in mist, Elysia watched silently.
Her eyes were fully focused on Kael.
Her fingers curled around a small charm glowing faintly with violet mist — a mental illusion seed, something she had forged the night before using her spiritual sword energy.
She couldn’t face him directly so she’d do what she must from side to side.
She whispered to the faint silhouette kneeling beside her — a weak first-year student named Ryn, easily manipulated, now hollow-eyed and trembling under her control that uses some kind of magic gas.
"You remember what I told you," Elysia said.
"You’ll meet him at the valley’s eastern ridge. When he talks to you, lead him toward the mirror gorge. Do not look back."
Ryn nodded slowly.
He was manipulated and controlled completely.
"And when the mist rises," she added, "throw this crystal shard at the ground. It will shatter the seal. After that... you’ll be free from the pain."
Elysia closed her eyes briefly. (Forgive me... but this is the only way to end it before it begins.)
Kael made his way deeper into the valley, cutting down smaller demons along the way.
Each one fell quickly — his sword flashing in clean arcs, the Dark Edge leaving trails of gray energy as it sliced through flesh.
He collected their demon cores and stored them in his pouch.
"Six cores already," he murmured. "Not bad."
Then he heard a faint voice behind him.
"Kael...?"
He turned sharply, sword ready. A young student stumbled from behind a rock and it was Ryn.
His uniform was torn, and his face looked pale.
"Hey, you okay?" Kael lowered his sword slightly.
Ryn nodded weakly. "T-there’s something ahead... I saw a large demon. It’s too strong for me."
Kael frowned. "Then why didn’t you retreat?"
"I tried," Ryn said, shaking. "But... there’s something strange in that direction. The surrounding feels... wrong."
Kael’s curiosity sparked. (Strange mana? Could be a demon leader.)
(Or did he already go towards my secret areas?)
"Show me," Kael said, his tone firm. "Lead the way."
Ryn hesitated, then nodded. "This way..."
They walked through narrow crystal tunnels, the light dimming as the mist thickened.
Kael’s senses sharpened.
(Something’s off...) he thought.
The tunnel opened into a wide cavern. Massive crystals jutted from the walls, reflecting faint blue light.
At the center was a pool of still, glassy water.
Ryn stopped suddenly. His body stiffened.
Kael noticed the trembling in the boy’s hands. "Hey, what’s wrong—"
Ryn turned abruptly, his eyes flashing violet.
He leapt back just as Ryn threw a crystal shard to the ground.
Crack!
A wave of purple mist erupted outward, swallowing the cavern in an instant.
Kael coughed, covering his mouth. The air turned thick — his vision distorted.
The reflections in the crystals shimmered... then twisted.
He looked up — and froze.
Dozens of Kaels stared back from the crystal walls, each with hollow eyes and bloodied blades.
"What the—?"
The echoes around him began whispering. "Murderer... murderer..."
Kael gritted his teeth. "Illusion magic?"
He swung his sword through one of the reflections — the image shattered, but instantly reformed.
Then he saw Ryn collapse, his eyes rolling white. The boy had fainted, drained completely by the illusion seed.
"Damn it!" Kael shouted. "Who set this up?!"
No answer came. Only the sound of whispering, growing louder.
(Focus... this isn’t real. It’s an illusion.)
He closed his eyes and drew upon his skill.
But the illusion fought back.
From the darkness, the reflection of Dakin — the demon he was fighting days ago — stepped out, grinning.
"You thought you escaped us."
Kael’s eyes widened. "You’re not real!"
The phantom lunged — Kael blocked the strike. Sparks erupted as blade met blade, but the force felt real.
Kael grunted, sliding back across the crystal floor.
His wound burned, his breath ragged. The illusion’s strength was feeding on his exhaustion.
(If I don’t break the core of the illusion soon... it might kill me.)
He scanned the reflections again — one of them was different. In the far wall, a faint violet glow pulsed — the seed’s anchor point.
"Got you," Kael hissed.
He dashed forward. "Astral Severance!"
He slashed the wall — a thunderous crack echoed as the entire illusion shattered.
The mist dispersed, leaving silence behind.
Kael stumbled, panting heavily. The pool rippled once, then stilled.
He looked around — Ryn was unconscious on the ground.
Kael sighed. "What the hell was that illusion? That wasn’t normal academy magic..."
He knelt beside the student and checked his pulse. Still alive — just fainted.
"Guess you got caught up in something," Kael muttered. "Let’s get out of here."
He lifted Ryn onto his shoulder and began limping toward the valley’s exit.
High above the cavern, hidden behind the mist, Elysia watched through the reflection of a crystal shard.
Her hand gripped the edge so tightly that blood dripped down her knuckles.
"He survived..." she whispered. "Even that... didn’t kill him."
Her reflection flickered, revealing the faint tremor in her eyes — pain, anger, confusion.
"Why... why do you keep living?" she murmured, her voice breaking.
The illusion seed cracked slightly, its magic fading.
She turned away, her sword clinking softly against her hip. "... I’ll find another way."
As she vanished into the mist, the shard shattered — leaving no trace of her presence.