Rin woke in the medical wing for the second time that week.
His body ached everywhere. The shared perception with Malachar during the fight with Lyanna had drained him more severely than he'd realized. When he tried to sit up, his vision swam.
"Stay down," Professor Corvin's voice commanded. She sat beside his bed, dark circles under her eyes suggesting she'd been there all night. "Your mana reserves are dangerously depleted. You channeled too much power through a suppressed bond. It's like trying to force a river through a drinking straw."
"The tournament," Rin croaked. "Quarterfinals are today."
"Postponed until tomorrow. Several students needed medical treatment after yesterday's matches." She held up a small mirror. "Look at yourself."
Rin took the mirror with trembling hands. His reflection made him flinch. The corruption marks had spread up the right side of his neck to his jawline. Dark geometric patterns now framed his face like a half-mask. His right eye, while still human, had faint crimson veins radiating from the pupil.
"Thirty eight percent," Corvin said quietly. "You're approaching the critical threshold faster than any projection suggested."
"Can I still fight?"
"Physically? Yes. Safely? Absolutely not." She leaned forward. "Rin, if you manifest Malachar at full power even once more, you'll cross fifty percent. At that point, the corruption becomes irreversible. You'll begin losing your humanity permanently."
"Then I'll fight without full power."
"You barely won your last match even with enhanced perception sharing. The quarterfinals will have opponents at high Silver or low Gold rank." She paused. "There's another option. One I shouldn't even be discussing."
Rin met her eyes. "What option?"
"The restricted archives contain research from a previous student who bonded with a Nexus entity. His notes might contain methods to stabilize your corruption or manage it more effectively." She hesitated. "But accessing those archives requires Headmaster Silvanus's permission, and he's forbidden anyone from viewing that material for fifteen years."
"Why?"
"Because the student in question... his story didn't end well." Corvin stood, pacing. "I've already requested access. The headmaster is considering it. But even if he agrees, there are no guarantees the research will help."
Before Rin could respond, the medical wing door burst open. Kira rushed in, her face pale.
"Rin! Thank the gods you're awake. I need to show you something." She pulled out a hastily scrawled note. "This was slipped under my door this morning."
Rin read the message:
"The boy's corruption can be managed. The archives hold partial answers, but not complete ones. If he wants the full truth about Nexus bonds, tell him to activate the purple crystal tonight. Come alone to the eastern bell tower at midnight. Shade."
"Who's Shade?" Kira demanded. "And what purple crystal?"
Rin exchanged a glance with Professor Corvin, who looked deeply troubled.
"Someone who's been watching me," Rin admitted. "He gave me a communication device weeks ago. I haven't used it."
"A mysterious figure offering forbidden knowledge?" Corvin's expression hardened. "Absolutely not. This could be a trap, or worse, someone trying to manipulate you for their own purposes."
"But what if he really does know something?" Rin argued. "The archives might have partial answers, but this Shade claims to have complete ones."
"At what cost?" Corvin shot back. "People don't offer help freely, especially not in secret. Whatever this Shade wants from you, it won't be worth the price."
Kira looked between them. "Wait, so Rin has two possible sources of information? The official archives and this mysterious Shade person?"
"One legitimate and one extremely dangerous," Corvin clarified.
A knock at the door interrupted them. A student messenger entered. "Professor Corvin? Headmaster Silvanus requests your presence immediately. He's made a decision about your request."
Corvin nodded and turned to Rin. "Don't do anything foolish while I'm gone. That means no mysterious midnight meetings." She left with the messenger.
Kira sat on the edge of Rin's bed. "You're actually considering meeting this Shade person, aren't you?"
"The archives might not have what I need. And I'm running out of time." Rin touched his corrupted neck. "After tomorrow's match, I might not have a choice anymore."
"Or this Shade could make things worse. He could be planning to kidnap you, steal your research, experiment on you..." Kira's voice rose with each possibility.
"He's had opportunities to hurt me before and hasn't."
"That you know of!" She took a breath, forcing calm. "Look, I understand you're desperate. But meeting a mysterious stranger alone at midnight is how horror stories begin. At least let me come with you."
"He said come alone."
"Then don't go at all. Wait for Professor Corvin's news about the archives."
They argued for another hour before Kira finally left, frustrated but resigned. Rin spent the rest of the day in the medical wing, recovering his strength and wrestling with his decision.
Evening came. Professor Corvin returned with news.
"Headmaster Silvanus has granted limited access to the archives," she announced. "But there are conditions. Only he and I may view the material initially. If we find anything relevant and safe, we'll share it with you. This is non-negotiable."
"When will you search the archives?"
"Tomorrow morning, before the quarterfinals." She studied his face. "This is the right path, Rin. Patient, careful, supervised. Whatever that Shade offered you, forget it."
She left explicit instructions with the medical staff: Rin was not to leave the wing until morning.
But as midnight approached, Rin stared at the purple crystal he'd retrieved from his dormitory earlier. It pulsed faintly in the darkness, warm to the touch.
"You're actually considering this," Malachar observed. "The professor is right that it's dangerous."
"You think I shouldn't go?"
"I didn't say that." The demon lord's tone turned thoughtful. "This Shade knows things about Nexus bonds. That suggests he has experience with them. Possibly firsthand experience."
"You think he's bonded to a Nexus entity too?"
"Would explain his interest in you. And his ability to move through shadows unseen." Malachar paused. "The question is whether his agenda aligns with your survival or merely intersects with it temporarily."
Rin looked at the crystal, then at his corrupted hand. Tomorrow, Professor Corvin would search the archives. Maybe she'd find answers. Maybe those answers would be enough.
But maybe they wouldn't.
At eleven forty five, Rin made his decision. He activated the crystal.
It flared bright purple, then dimmed. A voice whispered directly into his mind, cold and clear.
"Eastern bell tower. Midnight. Don't be late."
Rin climbed out of bed. The medical wing was quiet, the staff having retired for the night. He slipped into the corridors, keeping to the shadows.
The eastern bell tower was one of the oldest structures on campus, rarely used and poorly maintained. Rin climbed the spiral stairs, each step echoing in the confined space.
At the top, the bell chamber opened to the night sky. Wind whipped through the gaps in the stone walls. And there, standing at the edge overlooking the academy grounds, was Shade.
"You came," the masked figure said without turning. "Good. That shows you understand the gravity of your situation."
"You said you know about Nexus bonds. About the corruption."
"I know everything about them." Shade finally turned, his white mask reflecting moonlight. "Because fifteen years ago, I was exactly where you are now."