Sovereign Beyond Creation

Chapter 10

"He was a scholarship student," Catherine corrected him. Her grip on Adam’s hand tightened, sending a surge of warmth through him. "But I have discovered that his 'Null' status was a mistake. He possesses a rare 'Void Heart'—a body that can stabilize and refine mana better than any of your Spirit Veins, Julian Martinez."

Julian looked like he had been slapped. "A Void Heart? There's no such thing in the textbooks!"

"The textbooks are written for ordinary people," Catherine snapped. "And as you can see, the Inquisitor’s own orb confirms it. There is no corruption here. Only the refinement of my magic. Now, unless you want to explain to the Headmaster why you are interrupting a high-level breakthrough session, I suggest you leave my tower."

Malphas looked at the orb one last time. It was perfectly clear. He looked at Adam, who was still glowing with that strange, beautiful light. The Inquisitor didn't look completely convinced, but he couldn't argue with the magical readings.

"My apologies, Professor Cook," Malphas said, though his voice was still stiff. "We must follow every lead when it comes to the Void. It seems we were misinformed."

He turned a very cold look toward Julian.

"Young Master Martinez," Malphas said. "It seems your 'report' was a waste of the Inquisition’s time. Do not let it happen again."

Julian looked like he wanted to crawl into a hole and die. He looked at Adam—the boy he had forced to his knees just last night. He saw Adam standing tall, holding the hand of the most beautiful woman in the Academy, looking like a legend.

"This isn't over," Julian hissed, though he made sure the Inquisitor didn't hear him. "I don't know what trick you're playing, Cook, but I'll find out."

Julian turned and marched out of the room, his face bright red. Malphas and the guards followed him, their heavy boots echoing down the stairs until the tower was silent once again.

The moment the door to the stairs closed, the blue light around Adam vanished.

His legs gave out immediately. He would have hit the floor, but Catherine caught him. She didn't let go of his hand. She pulled him toward her, letting him lean against the desk.

Adam was gasping for air. His skin was pale again, and the "Crown of Thorns" tattoo on his chest was pulsing with a dull violet light.

[Binding Terminated.]

[Soul Stability: 40%.]

[Mana Capacity: 10/10 (Temporarily Expanded).]

"You" Catherine whispered. She was looking at him with an expression he couldn't quite read. It wasn't fear, and it wasn't anger. It was something closer to awe. "You actually did it. You took the rot. You you saved me."

Adam looked up at her. He was exhausted, but he managed a small, tired grin. "I told you I can eat the pain."

Catherine looked at her own hands. For the first time in years, her skin wasn't covered in a thin layer of frost. She felt warm. She felt human.

She looked at the purple screen that appeared in the air next to Adam. She couldn't see the words, but she saw the way his eyes tracked the light.

[Mission Progress: The Heart of the Frost.]

[Favorable Impression: -40 -> +10 (Neutral/Friendly)]

[System Note: You have survived the first day. The Ice Witch no longer wants to kill you. She now sees you as her lifeline.]

[Time Remaining: 48 Hours.]

[First 24-Hour Cycle Complete.]

"Stay here," Catherine said. Her voice was much softer now. "You’ve exhausted your soul. If you walk out there now, you’ll collapse."

She walked over to a cabinet made of dark wood and pulled out a small glass vial filled with a shimmering silver liquid. "Drink this. It’s a Spirit-Mending Draught. It will help your body adjust to the energy you just absorbed."

Adam took the vial. His hands were still shaking. As he drank the cool, sweet liquid, he felt a wave of peace wash over him.

"Adam," Catherine said, standing by the window as the storm outside began to clear. "Julian Martinez will not stop. And the Inquisition Malphas is a smart man. He didn't find anything today, but he will keep watching. If you stay by my side, you will be in constant danger."

Adam looked at the empty vial. He thought about the ballroom. He thought about the wine soaking into his suit. He thought about the way the guards had tossed him into the mud like he was nothing.

"I’ve been in danger my whole life," Adam said. He stood up, feeling his strength returning. "At least now, I have a chance to fight back."

Catherine turned to look at him. The sun was finally breaking through the clouds, casting a golden light across the room. For a moment, she didn't look like the Ice Witch. She looked like a woman who had just been given a second chance at life.

"Very well," she said. "If you are to be my 'Catalyst' in front of the school, you cannot look like a beggar. We have much to do before the classes begin tomorrow."

Adam nodded. He looked at his HUD.

[New Skill Unlocked: Frost-Void Resonance (Level 1)]

[Description: You can now cast basic Ice Magic, but it is fueled by the Void. Effect: Your ice will not melt. It must be broken.]

Adam raised his hand. He focused on the air in front of him. A tiny, jagged crystal of ice formed in his palm. It wasn't blue. It was a deep, dark purple, and it hummed with a strange, ancient power.

He had spent nineteen years as a Null.

Today, the first gate had opened.