After a short while the tumultuous induction program finally concluded.
The students began to file out of the vast auditorium.
The first-years were in a state of bewildered excitent.
The upperclassn had expressions of sullen resentnt and anger on their faces. Eric along with the rest of the first-year students also made his way out of the big hall.
However the mont he stepped out of the auditorium and into the open air of the campus Adam’s control over his body receded. His allotted ti was up.
Or his imdiate purpose was fulfilled. He retreated back into his own internal domain.
Eric’s own consciousness his own mind flooded back into his body with a familiar disorienting lurch. It was always a strange feeling. The last thing he clearly rembered was the crushing pressure of the Principal’s aura.
He rembered the feeling of absolute helplessness as he was about to pass out.
The [System Window] was already there hovering silently before him.
It was displaying a concise if sowhat sanitized summary of the events that had transpired while he was unconscious. It inford him that "it" the System itself had handled everything.
It told him that the situation was now stable.
Reading the summary a profound sense of relief washed over Eric.
He recalled the terror of that mont in the auditorium.
He rembered the feeling of being completely and utterly powerless.
A shiver ran down his spine.
He was grateful imnsely grateful to the [System Window] for saving him again.
But at the sa ti a new steely resolve began to form within him. He was tired of being helpless.
The System Window is always saving , he thought a sense of self-reproach stinging him. But I can’t rely on it forever. I can’t be a passenger in my own life.
The feeling of helplessness of being a re observer in his own body during monts of crisis was becoming increasingly unbearable.
He decided right then and there that he would start training.
He would start seriously training from that very day. He would push himself beyond his limits.
He would beco strong enough to handle his own battles so that the System would not have to take over.
He was so lost in his thoughts his gaze fixed on the spot where the now-vanished [System Window] had been that he didn’t notice Alina approaching until she was right beside him.
She had seen him standing alone in a corner of the bustling courtyard. He was away from the other students. He had a confused dazed expression on his face as he stared into empty space.
"Adam?" she asked softly her voice filled with a hopeful uncertainty. "Are you still here?"
Startled by her voice Eric looked at her his expression one of pure confusion. "Adam?" he repeated the na unfamiliar to him. He didn’t know anyone by that na. "Who’s Adam?"
Alina’s face fell slightly. She imdiately understood.
The powerful enigmatic entity was gone. And the sowhat clueless Eric was back.
She quickly changed the subject to cover her mistake.
"Oh it’s nothing," she said forcing a smile onto her face. "I thought you were soone else. How are you feeling now? Are you okay?"
Eric let out a long weary sigh. "I don’t understand anything Alina," he admitted his voice low and troubled.
"This whole situation... I feel like I’m trapped in the middle of it. Things just happen and I don’t know why." He said the words knowing on so level that Alina wouldn’t fully grasp the depth of his confusion.
She didn’t know what it felt like to have parts of your life missing.
Alina placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. "You don’t have to worry so much Eric," she said reassuringly. "Everything will be alright in the end."
Just then Monica her expression a mask of cold fury walked up behind Alina. She glared at Eric with undisguised contempt.
"Alina," she said her voice sharp and imperious commanding "I don’t want to look at his face. Co with now or I will leave you here alone."
Alina let out a small resigned sigh. She gave Eric an apologetic look.
She said a quick "goodbye" and then turned to follow Monica. As they walked away Monica shot one last long hateful glare at Eric.
He was completely bewildered by her intense animosity.
He didn’t understand why she hated him so much. The [System Window]’s summary had been... very brief on the details of his interactions with the princess.
As Monica and Alina disappeared into the crowd Void approached Eric. He had a curious expression on his face. "So," he asked "what’s your plan now leader Eric?"
Eric still feeling overwheld and emotionally raw just wanted to be alone.
He wanted ti to think. He took a deep breath.
"Leave alone for now Void," he said his voice tired and a little sharp. "I don’t want to et with anyone right now. I need to be by myself."
Void was a little surprised by Eric’s abrupt almost dismissive tone. It was very different from the confident leader he had just seen.
He watched as Eric turned and walked away. A thoughtful frown was on Void’s face. What is going on with this boy? Void wondered.
His power his personality... it’s like night and day. Sotis he is a god and sotis he is a scared child.
A wild idea a theory he had previously dismissed began to form again in his mind. Normally a Spirit contracts with a host and then lends them so of their power, he mused.
But what if... what if the Spirit within Eric is completely taking over his body? But then he rembered the words of the Apostles their ancient decree from the dark hall.
No Spirit could completely possess a host.
They could only lend their power. It was a fundantal law of their existence. Shaking his head Void decided to put the puzzle aside for now. He would figure it out later.
He then saw them a short distance away.
The twin Elven girls Gold and Silver were watching him.
Void understood their silent signal.
They needed to talk. He along with the two girls then blended back into the crowd of students. All the students were now being escorted back to their respective dormitories.
The official classes they were told would begin the next day.
Later on one side of the vast Academy grounds within a small secluded forest that was enclosed by the Academy’s massive boundary walls a clandestine eting was taking place.
In a small sun-dappled clearing in the middle of this forest Void Gold and Silver stood facing each other. Their mission and the enigmatic boy nad Eric were the unspoken topic of their secret conference.
The ga had begun and the players were taking their positions on the board. And no one not even Adam was fully aware of all the pieces in play.
The Academy was a more dangerous place than anyone had realized.
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