Outside the Scar entrance, seven figures stood in front of its entrance. All of them wore the dark robes of the Vladiric Domain. They were not standing in formation, yet there was a quiet tension among them.
Each carried the presence of an Adept. Even without moving, their aura pressed faintly against the surrounding air, the kind of presence only those who had already crossed the first stage possessed.
They were the handlers assigned to this Scar, responsible for observing the awakened children inside and deciding which of them deserved guidance, resources, or attention from the domain.
After a mont, one of them spoke.
"I assu you’ve all heard the news," he said, glancing from one face to another. "That boy... is him."
A man standing to his right let out a short breath. "Yeah. I still can’t believe it. First we hear he ca out of the Shrouded District, and then it turns out he awakened a high-grade mana core. That part surprised the most."
The man who had spoken first did not look impressed.
"Brian, that’s not the surprising part," he said evenly. "What surprises is that in the last four weeks he has nearly hunted every awakened operating in the first layer. So of them more than once."
A few of the handlers exchanged looks and nodded. They had all heard the reports. Their students returned empty-handed, irritated, and careful with their explanations. Every story circled back to the sa problem, soone moving through the forest unseen and taking their crystals.
Near the edge of the group, one of the n idly spun a dagger between his fingers, clearly entertained by the discussion.
"But he’s good," the man said with a grin. "Really good. Ryker tried to corner him three different tis. Didn’t work once. And the best part? The kid ca back twice at night and stole Ryker’s crystals while he was sleeping."
A quiet round of laughter moved through the group.
The first man turned his head slightly.
"Jeremy," he said calmly, "I hope Ryker losing like that hasn’t bothered you."
Jeremy didn’t react. His expression remained flat, the sort that showed nothing for events already past.
Instead, he asked, "Draco... I heard the boy, Ivor, has been working with Nara."
Draco shrugged, as if the matter carried little importance.
"Yeah," he said. "That’s what I heard too."
Jeremy looked serious. "Then why don’t you ask Nara to tell the boy to calm down and co out of the Scar so soone can be put in charge of him."
The feeling in the air changed a bit. Having a handler ant being controlled. It ant the boy would no longer be free in the Scar, but would beco a possession that the Domain could use.
Jeremy said calmly, "I sent Ryker a third ti just to deliver the ssage. The kid won’t listen."
This made everyone serious. For them if a newly awakened boy refused a handler and guidance, it ant he wasn’t just talented, he was dangerous. A talented child can be guided. A talented one who refuses guidance can cause serious problems that require intervention.
Draco answered slowly. "It’s complicated. I am sure you already know by now."
He stopped talking for a mont. Instead, he looked at a building right outside the scar compound. A man in black robes was sitting on a roof. His hood was down low, hiding his face. He sat by himself, completely still, watching the entrance to the Scar as if he could see through the doorway into the forest on the other side.
Draco’s voice dropped out of respect for the hooded man.
"We can’t go in," Draco said. "The only way to bring him out is by force but..."
He paused, then continued, eyes still on the rooftop.
"But do you really think we will survive after using force against him."
No one thought it was funny. They all knew who the hooded man was connected to, even if they didn’t know his na. He was part of Lord Maelor’s group. And the news, first quiet, then more public through official sources, was now certain: Ivor was related to Maelor. His grandson. A problem that was suddenly dangerous.
Jeremy’s expression grew colder.
"We can’t interfere directly," he said. "But that doesn’t an the problem solves itself. So of the stronger kids from the second and third layers might co down soon. If they do, they’ll probably try to put him in his place."
A faint smile pulled at the corner of his mouth. There was nothing friendly in it.
Draco let out a low chuckle. "That would actually be entertaining to watch."
Until then, the only woman among them had remained quiet. She stepped slightly forward, her gaze moving across the group.
"So what do we actually know about him?" she asked.
Draco shrugged lightly. "Basic things. He fights with a sword. Moves fast. He can already coat his weapon with mana." He paused, then added, "But he hasn’t locked any skills yet."
The woman’s expression didn’t change.
"That level of ability doesn’t explain how soone hunts the entire first layer for weeks," she said flatly.
Draco opened his mouth, searching for sothing more solid. "Well... he’s carrying a good sword."
She looked at him as if he had just wasted her ti. "That’s irrelevant. What else?"
Draco fell silent. Luck might explain one or two victories, but not weeks of dominance.
Jeremy spoke instead.
"He hasn’t entered the Labyrinth or the Blue Cave," he said. "Which ans he probably hasn’t attuned more than three nodes yet."
He paused, thinking through the reports.
"His endurance is abnormal," Jeremy continued. "His combat instincts are excellent. And..." His eyes narrowed slightly. "He’s ruthless."
A few of the others glanced at him.
Jeremy finished calmly. "In his last fight with Ryker, he cut off Ryker’s index finger."
The woman’s eyes sharpened with interest.
"Ruthlessness runs well in Vladiric blood," she said. "He’ll fit."
With that, she turned away, as if the discussion had already given her everything she needed. She walked toward the road leading away from the Scar entrance, her robe moving smoothly behind her.
Draco called after her, suddenly lighter in tone.
"Hey, Es. Where are you heading? Co grab lunch with us."
Es didn’t respond. She continued walking.
As she moved down the path, she slipped a small folded note from her sleeve. Opening it, she glanced at the two nas written inside.
Kael Vladiric and Rhea Vladiric.
Ivor’s parents.
A quiet, private smile touched her lips. She folded the paper again and tucked it back into her sleeve before continuing toward the Shrouded District, as though the direction had been decided long before this conversation.
Behind her, the Scar portal continued its slow, swirling motion.
The handlers stood outside discussing a boy they could not reach, while deep within the forest, Ivor prepared himself for his next all out hunt.
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