The forsaken Code.

Chapter Four: The invitation

Noah walked through the dimly lit streets after his fight, his mind racing. The Forsaken Code was proving to be more powerful than he had imagined. He had just taken down a third-year student without even breaking a sweat, and the best part? No one had a clue how he did it.

Still, something gnawed at him.

The way Marcus collapsed, the whispers in the crowd—people were already starting to suspect something. If he wasn’t careful, he’d draw the wrong kind of attention.

He needed to lay low.

At least, that was the plan.

But fate had other ideas.

The next morning, Noah found a letter slipped under his dorm room door.

The envelope was plain, with no name or insignia. Only one sentence was written on the front:

"Power thrives in the shadows."

Noah frowned. He tore the envelope open and pulled out a folded piece of parchment.

Meet me at the Blackwood Tower at midnight. Come alone.

No signature. No explanation.

Noah felt a chill run down his spine.

Whoever sent this knew about him.

He considered ignoring it—but deep down, he knew this was something he had to face.

If someone had figured out his secret, he needed to know who.

Midnight arrived faster than expected. Noah stood outside Blackwood Tower, an abandoned clock tower on the far side of the academy. The place was supposed to be off-limits, but that never stopped anyone determined enough.

He took a deep breath and stepped inside.

The air was thick with dust, the wooden stairs creaking beneath his weight. As he reached the top, a single lantern flickered in the center of the room.

A man stood beside it.

Tall, lean, and with piercing golden eyes that seemed to glow in the darkness.

“You came.” The man’s voice was smooth, almost amused.

Noah kept his stance relaxed but ready. “Who are you?”

The man smirked. “Names are unimportant. What matters is what you are.”

Noah’s eyes narrowed. “And what exactly do you think I am?”

The man stepped closer. “Someone who shouldn’t exist.”

A sharp silence followed.

Noah’s muscles tensed. “Care to explain?”

The man chuckled. “I saw your fight in the underground arena. Your movements… they weren’t natural. You didn’t just predict Marcus’s attacks—you changed how reality responded to them.”

Noah forced himself to stay calm. “That’s a bold assumption.”

The man’s smirk widened. “Noah Carter, you are something this world was never meant to have.”

Noah’s pulse quickened.

“Relax,” the man said, raising a hand. “I’m not your enemy.”

“For now,” Noah muttered.

The man laughed. “Smart. But listen carefully—there are others who will come for you. The academy doesn’t take kindly to anomalies.”

Noah crossed his arms. “So what? You’re here to warn me?”

“No,” the man said. “I’m here to offer you a choice.”

He pulled out a black emblem and tossed it to Noah.

Noah caught it. The emblem was carved with strange symbols—ones that looked eerily similar to the runes of the Forsaken Code.

“What is this?” Noah asked.

“A key,” the man said. “To an organization that operates outside the academy’s rules. A group that understands that power should not be restricted by the weak.”

Noah studied the emblem. “And if I refuse?”

The man’s golden eyes gleamed. “Then you stay here, pretending to be normal, waiting for the day the academy realizes what you are.”

His voice lowered. “And trust me… they will realize it.”

Noah clenched his jaw.

The man turned to leave. “Think it over, Carter. But don’t take too long.”

With that, he vanished into the night, leaving Noah alone with more questions than answers.

Noah sat on his dorm bed, staring at the black emblem in his hand.

An underground organization? A group that knew about people like him?

It was tempting.

For the first time since his awakening, he had confirmation—he wasn’t alone.

But was this group truly offering him freedom? Or was it just another cage?

Noah sighed, gripping the emblem tighter.

Whatever happened next…

He had to be ready.

—

Noah barely slept that night. The black emblem rested on his desk, its strange symbols reflecting the moonlight filtering through his window.

A secret organization… One that operated outside the academy’s rules. One that understood power.

Noah wanted answers, but something felt off.

The man at Blackwood Tower had spoken as if he knew what Noah was. But how? How much did this group really know?

And more importantly—what did they want from him?

The next day, the academy buzzed with energy. It was the morning of the combat rankings—a day when students displayed their abilities in official duels to climb the academy’s hierarchy.

Noah walked into the dining hall, eyes following him as whispers spread.

“That’s him.”

“The one who destroyed Marcus?”

“No way. He doesn’t even have an ability.”

Noah ignored them and grabbed a tray of food, heading toward a quiet table—until a voice stopped him.

“Noah Carter.”

He turned.

Sophia.

She stood there, arms crossed, her sharp eyes studying him. She looked different—colder than before, like all the warmth they once shared had been erased.

“We need to talk,” she said.

Noah sighed. “And here I thought I’d get a peaceful breakfast.”

“Outside. Now.”

He hesitated, then followed her out to the academy gardens.

The moment they were alone, she got straight to the point.

“What did you do to Marcus?”

Noah raised an eyebrow. “I beat him in a fight. Isn’t that how the rankings work?”

Sophia’s gaze hardened. “Don’t play dumb. The way he lost—it wasn’t normal. I felt it, Noah. Something happened. Something unnatural.”

Noah kept his expression neutral. “Maybe he just wasn’t as strong as everyone thought.”

Sophia narrowed her eyes. “You never could lie to me.”

For a moment, silence stretched between them.

She sighed and ran a hand through her hair. “Look… I don’t know what’s going on with you, but I’m warning you—if you’re hiding something, the academy will find out. And when they do, you won’t just be expelled. You’ll be hunted.”

A chill ran through Noah’s spine.

Sophia turned to leave but hesitated. “Stay out of trouble, Noah.”

Then she was gone.

Noah exhaled slowly.

Sophia was sharp. If even she suspected something, then he needed to be very careful.

That night, Noah locked his door, preparing to go through the Forsaken Code again—until he sensed something.

A presence.

Someone was outside his window.

Moving in a flash, Noah yanked the window open—only to come face-to-face with a familiar smirk.

Kyle Hastings.

The last person Noah wanted to see.

“Not bad, Carter. You actually noticed me,” Kyle said, sitting casually on the windowsill like he belonged there.

Noah crossed his arms. “What do you want?”

Kyle chuckled. “Relax. I’m not here to fight. I just have a question.”

Noah stayed silent.

Kyle’s eyes gleamed with amusement. “Who really trained you?”

Noah frowned. “What?”

“Don’t play dumb,” Kyle said. “I’ve been watching you. A week ago, you were nothing. Now, you fight like someone who’s been trained for years. So tell me—who’s teaching you?”

Noah kept his expression unreadable. “No one.”

Kyle tilted his head. “Liar.”

Noah’s patience thinned. “If you came here just to make accusations, you can leave.”

Kyle smirked. “Fine. Keep your little secret. But I’ll figure it out soon enough.”

He turned to go, then paused. “Oh, and one last thing—be careful who you trust.”

Then, just as suddenly as he arrived, Kyle disappeared into the night.

Noah closed his window, his thoughts racing.

Kyle knew something was off. Sophia suspected him. And the man from Blackwood Tower was watching him.

Noah wasn’t just walking into danger.

He was already in it.

And there was no turning back now.

—