The Triple-D Failure Rises To Power

CHAPTER 5 – Into the Shadows

“Yo, did you hear? The Triple-D Failure actually thought he had a shot at Serena!”

The hallways of Lumeris Academy buzzed with cruel laughter. It had been two days since that night, and still, the story spread like wildfire.

“Bro legit tried to kiss her right in front of Darius. Can you believe that?”

“Man’s bold for a loser.”

“More like stupid.”

Another crumpled note hit Eren’s back as he opened his locker. Scrawled across the metal in red paint were words that stung worse than fists:

LOSER. FAILURE. DOG. PERVERT. WEAK.

His chest felt tight. He wanted to scream, to fight back—but his throat stayed closed. Always closed.

Even in class, the whispers never stopped. Remarks were tossed his way like knives, each one getting a laugh.

“Don’t sit too close. He might drool on you.”

“Careful, he might think you’re into him.”

Everyone laughed. Everyone… except Lyra. She didn’t laugh, didn’t join in, didn’t even smirk. Sometimes, Eren caught her looking at him with something almost like… anger? Not at him, but at them. But he never asked. He was too used to being alone. 

When the bell rang for Path Balance, students rushed out, eager. It was one of the most exciting first-year lessons because it was hands-on.

The training grounds stretched wide under the sunlight. Grass bent in the wind, glowing faintly with traces of Flow.

Mrs. Lucia Decalar stood at the center. Tall, strict, her brown hair pulled into a braid. Her sharp gaze made everyone quiet down instantly.

“Listen up, year ones. Today is practical,” she said, voice carrying. “You’ll be grouped into fours. Two magic users, one martial, one medicines. You’ll enter a Grade C Shadowfold and face Grade C Umbari together.”

Whispers broke out. Grade C wasn’t a joke.

“For those who don’t know,” she said, “Umbari are shadow creatures born from Flow imbalance. They come in grades, from S down to E.”

She let the words hang, watching their faces pale with curiosity and fear.

“E grades are the weakest, but don’t underestimate them. Even the lowest can overpower a normal human. From E to D, they are called Ragers. Reckless. Wild. They charge without thought, but their strength isn't that dangerous.”

She raised two fingers. “From C to A, they are Umbari. Smarter. Faster. Capable of teamwork and sometimes basic tricks. Grade A can regenerate also. One mistake against them will cost you dearly.”

Her voice dropped lower. “And then there are the Grade S. Rare… but terrifying. They can shift their forms, speak like us, even plan strategies. Some say a few can wield the Void Path itself. Also, they feed on human souls.”

A ripple of unease spread through the first-years.

“These Grade S have a name of their own,” she finished. “They are called the Shadow Weavers. And if you ever meet one in life…” she paused, her gaze fierce, “pray you're out of there before it finds you.”

Murmurs spread fast until her voice cracked like a whip. “Silence.”

“Your task: defeat three Umbari. When you succeed, press this.” She held up a small glowing buzzer. “It will pull you out. Fail to press it before the fold collapses in an hour… and you may never leave.”

Nobody laughed at that.

Mrs. Decalar started calling names. Excitement burst as friends were paired together, cheers for popular students.

Then—

“Group L. Darius Kane.”

The cheers shook the field. S-class in martial arts. Son of the Four Great Houses. 

“Serena Arclight.”

More cheering. Someone shouted, “Perfect couple!”

“Lyra Medella.”

The loudest cheer yet. S-class in magic. Daughter of the Four Great Houses.

“And lastly…” Mrs. Decalar glanced at her scroll. “…Eren Varrow.”

Laughter roared through the crowd.

“Group L is doomed!”

“Better press the buzzer now!”

Snickers rolled until—

“Shut it!” Lyra snapped. “He’s part of the team. Mock him again and I’ll roast you.” A ball of fire appeared in her hand. 

The laughter died quick.

Mrs. Decalar continued, unfazed, and finally gave each group their buzzers. Then she spread her hands and chanted. The ground glowed with white air magic, pulling them into a circle. With a loud whoosh, the world bent—

And in a blink, they were inside the Shadowfold

————

The air was thick and cold, the sky a swirling gray. Trees stood black and twisted, dripping with shadows. The silence was broken only by a low, eerie growl.

“Great,” Darius muttered, drawing his sword. Its blade shimmered faint violet, glowing faintly with Martial Flow. “Listen up, Varrow. Don’t slow us down. One mistake and you’ll be Umbari chow.”

Before Eren could answer, shadows slithered forward. Two Umbari emerged—tall, twisted beasts with bodies of smoke and glowing white eyes. Their claws shimmered as if made of glass.

“Stay behind me,” Lyra ordered, stepping forward. Flames burst to life in her palms, burning bright red. Heat rolled off her as she narrowed her eyes.

Serena smirked, summoning flames of her own. “This’ll be fun.”

The Umbari charged.

Lyra thrust her arms forward, sending a stream of fire that lit up the dark. One Umbari dodged, moving impossibly fast. Serena shouted a spell, releasing a blast of blue waterballs that exploded on impact, knocking it back but not down.

The other Umbari swiped with its claws, sparks flying as it clashed with Darius’s blade. Darius grunted, twisting his wrist, and slashed upward in a violet arc. The Umbari howled but didn’t fall.

Eren’s heart pounded. His hands shook. He couldn’t fight like them—but he could see.

“Serena! Trap its legs with wayer—make it stumble! Lyra, when it staggers, hit it from the right!” he shouted.

They hesitated, but followed.

Serena crouched, waves swirling around her like a circle. With a stomp, she sent a wave of water across the ground, searing the Umbari’s shadow-legs. It shrieked, stumbling sideways.

“Now!”

Lyra's spell shot forward, a burning red lance slamming into its chest. The Umbari staggered, weakened.

“Got it!” Darius roared, his sword glowing brighter as violet sparks danced around it. He charged, slicing through the weakened creature. It burst into black smoke, gone.

The second Umbari lunged at Lyra, claws raised. She blocked with a blazing shield of fire, but the impact pushed her back. Eren shouted again, “Force it left! Serena, hit its arm!”

Serena’s spell smashed into the creature’s arm, weakening it just enough. Darius leapt high, spinning his blade, and cut straight down the middle.

The Umbari dissolved into mist.

Silence followed—then the distant cheer of some other groups who had been watching.

Darius smirked, wiping his blade. “See that, Vale? That’s how it’s done. Two down. One to go.”

He and Serena strode ahead, hands brushing, smug smiles on their faces.

Lyra stayed back with Eren, her flame still glowing faint. “You’re not useless,” she said quietly. “They’re wrong about you.”

He shook his head. “I didn’t fight. I just thought fast.”

“That is fighting,” she replied simply. Then, with a small grin, she added, “Besides, you don’t exactly scream ‘pervert.’ You’re way too awkward.”

Eren chuckled, for the first time in days.

As they walked deeper, shadows shifted again—but instead of Umbari, another group of students appeared.

Silver, Darius’s best friend, smirked as he spotted them. “Well, well. Still alive, Varrow? I’m impressed.”

Lyra was about to reply when Serena pointed to a narrow passage in the rocks ahead. The walls seemed darker there, humming with strange energy.

“Let’s check it out,” she said.

Darius nodded. “Could be worth it.”

Lyra frowned. “No. It’s not marked. That means it’s dangerous. We should stick to the route.”

Eren quietly agreed. “She’s right. It doesn’t feel safe.”

But Silver just grinned. “Scared, Varrow? Figures.” In one quick move, he grabbed Eren’s collar and yanked him forward.

“Stop!” Lyra shouted, shoving at another boy who blocked her way. “Let him go!”

Her voice echoed, but Silver only dragged Eren toward the shadows. The unmarked passage pulsed, dark and alive.

And as they neared it, the shadows inside began to stir.