Chapter 26.0 Redmond/ Magnus clause
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Redmond slipped into the quiet of his dorm chamber, shutting out the murmur of students still buzzing in the courtyard. The visor on his desk flickered faintly as he activated its private channel, his fingerprint authorization routing through a secure Synthion relay.
A moment later, Elira's holographic image shimmered into form — serene, poised, her expression softening when she saw him.
"You look tired," she said, tone more observation than accusation.
"I had a… complicated day." Redmond leaned back against his chair, rubbing his temple. "Magnus managed to strengthen his Origin Talent. The whole Academy is talking about it. And someone else challenged me to a duel."
Her eyes narrowed slightly, though not in surprise. "A duel. Already. You haven't even been at the Academy a full cycle."
"I didn't invite it. But refusing would've drawn more noise than accepting."
"Hm." Elira tilted her head, studying him. "And what do you think of Magnus' progress?"
Redmond paused. "It was… satisfying to watch. He remembered himself. But it wasn't my doing alone. I just nudged him. He was ready."
"That's humility." She gave a faint smile. "But don't let it blind you. The ability to awaken clarity in others — that is rare, Redmond. Dangerous, too. People fear what changes them."
He frowned, thoughtful. "You think the Academy staff sees me as a threat?"
"Not yet. But they are weighing you. Always weighing." Her eyes grew distant for a breath, then sharpened again. "Tell me, did you test your limits today?"
He hesitated. "Yes. My crimson energy… it shifts constantly. It's not just fire or ice, it's everything at once. Like it's alive."
"That," she murmured, "is why your father insisted we restrain it when you were young. Energy with will of its own either becomes your ally—or consumes you. Has it ever felt… alien to you?"
Redmond's jaw tightened. "Not alien. Restless. Like it wants more than I can give."
"Then learn to lead it," Elira said firmly. "Don't let it drag you. Even living energy respects willpower. Yours must always be stronger."
For a moment, silence stretched between them. Then Redmond asked, almost quietly, "How is Clara?"
A flicker of warmth softened Elira's usually composed face. "Curious as ever. She insists she'll be as strong as you one day. And Redmond…" She leaned closer, voice lowering. "Don't carry everything alone. Even the strongest walls crack if they take every storm head-on."
He nodded once, slowly. "I'll remember."
The call blinked out, the hologram dissolving into nothing. Redmond sat still for a long while, her words lingering like an echo.
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Magnus sat in silence within his quarters, the faint glow of his holo-constructs flickering in the air like shards of living machinery. His breathing was steady, but his mind roiled — replaying Redmond's words, the moment his Origin shifted, and the awed whispers of students who had watched him.
The comm-ring on his wrist vibrated. A secured frequency. His eyes tightened. He already knew who it was.
He accepted the call.
The room was instantly dominated by a larger-than-life projection of Lord Varus Nox — his father, patriarch of the Nox Clan. The man's presence was commanding even through holo-feed, shadows stretching like roots across the chamber.
"Magnus," his father's voice rumbled, deep and controlled, "the reports reached me. Tell me plainly. Did you truly awaken a Nox trait in your Origin?"
Magnus swallowed, forcing his back straight. "Yes, Father. My constructs… they changed. No longer only machines of light. They gained weight, substance. Shadows within steel. A resonance I've never felt before."
Varus's eyes glinted, sharp as obsidian. "Show me."
Magnus raised his hand. In the air, lines of code and geometry unfurled, forming a construct — not just a drone of light, but a sleek, metallic sentinel cloaked in shifting darkness. The edges shimmered as though reality itself bent at its seams.
The patriarch leaned closer, studying every detail. At last, his lips curved in something between approval and calculation.
"…It is true. The mark of the Nox runs in you."
Magnus exhaled, tension loosening slightly. "Does this mean—"
But Varus cut him off. "Do not be arrogant. Bloodline is foundation, not achievement. You did not reach this alone, did you?"
Magnus hesitated, then answered quietly, "No. Redmond… reminded me. He saw what I was blind to."
Varus's expression stilled. "Redmond Red'Lux. The king's son."
"Yes."
For a long moment, silence stretched between them. Then Varus spoke, his tone slower, weightier.
"Magnus. You are heir to the Nox Clan. Our name must never fade. If Redmond can sharpen your edge, then stay close. Learn. Grow. But remember — a blade is not meant to be sheathed forever. One day, even friendship may turn to rivalry."
Magnus lowered his gaze. "I understand."
"Do you?" Varus's voice rose, stern. "Support him while it serves you. But never forget your own path. The Supremacy Tournament approaches. There, the world will see whether Redmond's brilliance eclipses you — or whether the Nox name can shine alongside him."
Magnus clenched his fist, the construct dissolving into streams of dark light. "I won't be left behind. Not by him. Not by anyone."
Varus gave a single, approving nod before the projection faded.
Magnus sat in the silence of his chamber, his chest tight, his thoughts heavier. Redmond's words still echoed in his mind — not as chains, but as fire.
Stay close, my son… his father's words lingered. But never forget. The Nox must endure.
Magnus closed his eyes, determination hardening.
He would walk beside Redmond for now — but the path ahead would test whether they were allies, or inevitable rivals.
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