Chapter 39: Regazan The Blood Faun
The orb of arcane energy drifted ahead of me, cutting through the faint mist that hovered across the courtyard. It pulsed softly as an indication of how far or close we were to its target, each pulse of its bluish-purple light echoed like a heartbeat, tugging me forward with determination. My boots pounded against the damp stone as I followed it.
Through the winding campus patches, the night wind slapped against my face as students and lecturers were running helter skelter to or from shadow creatures.
And then, after what it felt like two minutes of running, the chancellor’s quarters came into view. Immediately I set my eyes on it, a creeping chill snaked down my spine.
’No way...’ I muttered to myself.
The orb slowed down and the pulsing of its light increased- we were close, flickering near the entrance of the quarters like a candle light battered by wind. My chest tightened immediately, if the arcane trail led here, then...
"The chancellor, Hans Wagner is in trouble..."
Without wasting a heartbeat, I dashed forward. The moment I stepped into the Chancellor compound, the air changed. A huge wave of crushing anti-arcane pressure slammed into me like a wall.
"Ahhh!! what is this pressure!"
My breath hitched, the energy was so dense that I could literally smell the Anti-arcane even though I hadn’t entered the building yet.
"Damn it... even as a retired reaper, he cant handle this kind of pressure." I muttered, understanding that the pressure coming from the shadow creature inside was way stronger than anything I had ever faced. Even stronger than the creature I fought during the Class Awakening quest.
Hans wagner, an A-rank Aeromancer, legendary ex-reaper was well past his prime. He was supposed to be living quietly, not facing this level of danger again. But the presence I felt wasn’t just dangerous it felt pure evil.
The orb zipped ahead through the half open doorway. I didn’t dare to hesitate. With both daggers still in my hands, I slammed the door open and bolted inside.
The hallway lamps-Designed to light up by drawing arcane energy from any awakened near by flickered violently and with the light, shadows writhed along the walls. The pressure grew heavier with every step. My heart beat thudded in my ears and my breathing rivaled the persistent pulsing of the orb in front of me as I followed it through the corridor until it halted right before a massive oak door.
The chancellor’s office.
The wooden, fine print on the door read.
"Damn it..." I whispered under my breath and pushed through.
The sight that greeted me nearly froze my blood. The office was a wreck, bookshelves torn apart, the elegant desk split clean in half, papers scattered everywhere like shredded snow. The smell of burnt wood and metallic dust filled the air.
And there, standing tall in his grand dark-grey robes was chancellor hans wagner himself. His silver hair fluttered faintly under the breeze that entered the room through an open window and his expression was carved in grim focus.
His staff, normally used for walking, was in his other hand and was raised, poised for combat.
He wasn’t alone.
As I opened the door even further, I saw a figure stand opposite him- humanoid in nature but definitely not human.
Its body was thick and solid, almost sculpted from condensed black mist. Crimson red eyes burned through the darkness like molten glass and a sturdy goat-like horn. Every slow exhale from the creature released tendrils of shadow that dissolved into the air as I took in its form: Its legs bent backwards at the knee, ending in a thick, cloven hoof-like structure, its shadowy skin came in the form of coarse fur that climbed up from its ankles to its wrist, everything was black with red streak of lines drawn all over its body.
The upper body part was mostly human like- muscular, but lean in a wiry, feral way. Across its shoulders and chest, patches of shadowy fur mingle with the red streaks. Its arms were long, almost too long and musculare, ending in calloused hands with sharp nails.
The eyes were red horizontal slits, like a goat’s, glowing red and standing out in the dark structure of its body. A short muzzle justs forward, line with even red teeth. The two horn on top its head curled back from its forehead, ridged and black, giving it a silhouette that’s both regal and demonic.
And then, it turned its head. Those red eyes locked onto me.
A slow, deliberate grin spread across its face- stretching too wide, too human to be anything natural.
Then it spoke.
"I was wondering where tha overwhelming Arcane energy pressure came from..."
Its voice was deep, masculine and unsettling with an evil ish tone to it- like hundreds of tones speaking at once in unison.
My entire body froze. My throat went dry and I felt my hair on the back of my neck rise. My lips parted, barely managing to form words as I stared in shock.
"...What... what just happened?" I muttered, my voice shaking slightly. My eyes widened, disbelief hitting like a strong hammer. "Did a shadow creature just... just... speak?"
For a second, none of us moved. The room was silent except for the faint hum of the flickering arcane powered lights above. The creautre’s grin didn’t fade, it widened, stretching unnaturally as if mocking my disbelief.
Hans wagner’s voice cut through the stillness, low and steady, but I could hear the strain beneath it. "Stay back, levi."
I didn’t argue. The aura around the chancellor was thinning fast-his once bright aeromancer energy flickered like a dying ember. Still, his gaze stayed locked on the figure before him.
The creature tilted its head slightly, like it was studying us. The shadows around its feet pulsed in rhythm with its breath. When it spoke again, the sound rattled in my chest. Hundreds of voices overlapping, one deep and guttural, the others disturbingly human.
"You human s evolve so slowly," it said, taking one slow step forward. The floorboards cracked beneath its weight. "And yet, you dare to call yourselves awakened."
My grip tightened around my daggers. My instincts screamed for me to move, but my body wouldn’t obey. Its voice wasn’t just sound- it carried pressure, like a curse inside me... reacting. It twisted, pulsing violently as though something foreign was clawing to take control.
"...Ah, apologies I just recently escaped from a prison I understand you humans call Dungeon gate, so my attributes are a bit sloppy..."
Hans wagner raised his cane, and a faint ripple of air swooshed around the room between him and the creature. "Levi," he said quietly, "That’s no ordinary shadow. don’t let it inside your mind."
I clenched my jaw. "What the hell is it, then?"
The creature laughed exposing its red teeth. The sound was low at first then rolled into something sharp like static tearing through the air. It lifted one hand and black mist coiled around its arm and pointed straight at me.
"Tell me...Levi," it said, my name spilling from its mouth like venom, "When you slaughtered my lesser kin out there... did you ever stop to wonder why they were here?"
My heart skipped a beat, the room trembled. The arcane threads in my vision began to distort, my space manipulation skill faltering for a second as I struggled to keep my focus.
Hans took a step forward, placing himself between us. "Enough. You’re not supposed to exist outside the confines of your natural prison."
The creature chuckled again. "Supposed to..." it repeated, almost playfully. "You people really don’t understand whats coming don’t you?"
It leaned closer, its red crimson eyes blazing brighter now, and every word it spoke vibrated through my bones.
"Your existence and dominance over this beautiful realm... they’re all built on burrowed time."
A light above shattered and the pressure of anti-arcane outward like a pulse wave from the creature, throwing papers, glass and debris across the room. I raised y arms instinctively, squinting through the haze of dust that kicked up,
When the air finally settled, the creature still stood where it was.
"Immediately I escaped the gate, I felt your power... so strong and overwhelming for someone that hasn’t even truly mastered it..." the creature said further.
"Tch! What do you know...! I said with a hiss in attempt to intimidate.
"I know that you are strong and to allow my kind to take over this realm, I will have to eliminate the strongest ’awakened’" the creature replied with a smug grin.
Then turned to hans wagner, "Sit tight old man, and I request you don’t interfere... let the strong ones participate in primordial power..."
Hans wagner replied with a scuff and repositioned his fighting stance, kicking his robe back. " Hmphhh!! You have to kill me first to touch anyone of my students!"
Turning back to me, I fell into a fighting stance immediately.
"You are strong, and I enjoy taking victory over the strong... to show my respect..."
Bam!
It slammed its hoofed foot into the floor boards, shattering the flooring on impact and purple lines immediately surged from his feet as it made contact with the ground.
"Soul Manifestation..."