Chapter 10: Pressure and the Abyss
Sol remained seated after class ended.
Most students had already left.
The alchemy hall was quiet again.
He didn't move immediately.
Instead—
He reviewed everything.
Potion ratios.
Heat control.
Reaction timing.
[System Processing…]
Alchemy Efficiency Increased: +18%
"…Good."
But just as he stood up—
"Stay."
A calm voice.
Sol paused.
Kael.
Standing a few steps away.
Not blocking.
Not threatening.
But deliberate.
Sol turned slowly.
"…Something?"
Kael walked closer.
His gaze steady.
"You're hiding your real level."
Direct.
No hesitation.
Sol frowned slightly.
"I don't understand."
Kael stopped in front of him.
"Your spell control, your potion precision…"
"…and your presence suppression."
A pause.
"That's not something a normal Apprentice Lv1 can do."
Silence.
Sol didn't reply.
He simply looked uncertain.
A perfect mask.
Kael watched carefully.
Seconds passed.
Then—
He smiled faintly.
"Relax."
"I'm not here to expose you."
Sol's expression didn't change.
"But I am here," Kael continued,
"to test something."
Before Sol could respond—
Kael raised his hand.
A rune formed instantly.
Dark.
Cold.
Unstable.
Then—
It activated.
The air changed.
Heavier.
Darker.
A faint crack appeared in space.
Sol's pupils shrank slightly.
[Warning: Unknown Energy Detected]
The same feeling as before.
That cold…
Ancient presence.
"…Abyss energy," Kael said quietly.
The crack widened slightly—
Revealing darkness inside.
Not empty.
Alive.
Distorted shapes moved within.
Sol didn't step back.
But his mind sharpened instantly.
This is dangerous.
"Not many know about it," Kael said.
"The Abyss Domain."
He looked directly at Sol.
"A place outside normal worlds."
"Where laws are broken… and rewritten."
The crack pulsed.
A faint whisper echoed.
Unclear.
But unsettling.
[Analyzing…]
Error… Unable to Process
Again.
The system failed.
Sol's heartbeat slowed.
Instead of fear—
Curiosity.
"…Why show me this?" he asked calmly.
Kael observed him closely.
"Because you reacted differently."
A pause.
"Others would panic."
Sol said nothing.
Kael's smile deepened slightly.
"You're not normal."
The crack suddenly closed.
Silence returned.
As if nothing happened.
But the feeling remained.
Heavy.
Real.
Kael lowered his hand.
"Abyss energy can corrupt… or empower."
He turned slightly.
"Most mages avoid it."
Then looked back.
"But I don't think you will."
Sol's eyes narrowed just a little.
So he's testing reaction patterns.
Not strength.
Mind.
Dangerous.
Very dangerous.
"I don't understand what you mean," Sol said.
Kael didn't argue.
"Of course."
He started walking away.
But stopped at the door.
"One more thing."
Without turning—
"There's a restricted section in the library."
"Level 2 clearance."
A pause.
"You might find answers there."
Then—
He left.
Sol stood alone.
Silent.
Still.
Then—
"System."
[Active]
"Record that energy."
[Partial Data Stored]
Sol looked at his hand slowly.
That same faint darkness…
Was inside him.
Unanalyzed.
Uncontrolled.
But now—
He had a name.
Abyss.