Shadowed Ascendance: The Forbidden System

Gray storm clouds gathered above Luxaria's skyline by midday, mirroring Reziel's mood as he hurried through the labyrinth of side streets. The recent bandaging on his side ached with every step, but he dared not slow—too many eyes were on the lookout for a dark-haired youth rumored to wield violet magic.

Drops of rain began pattering against the rooftops, intensifying the city's gloom. Reziel slipped into a rundown neighborhood just south of the market district, where wrecked hovels and half-burned structures told tales of past battles. An eerie quiet lingered here; even city guards rarely patrolled these backstreets.

He found an old stables building, long abandoned, with a roof partially caved in. Slipping inside, he surveyed the dusty remains of stalls and broken beams. It would have to do as temporary cover from the growing storm—and prying eyes.

I just need a moment to breathe, he thought, setting himself down on a wooden crate. His ribs throbbed. Exhaustion weighed on him, both physical and mental.

After a few steadying breaths, he closed his eyes and let the rain's rhythm soothe him. Yet the respite was short-lived. That faint hum in the back of his mind grew louder, like a static charge running through his thoughts.

Quest: Growth Through Conflict

Objective: Triumph over an enemy of equal or greater skill.

Reward: Skill Upgrade or New Skill

Reziel exhaled through clenched teeth. The System was clearly waiting—urging him to seek more battles. Part of him wanted to spurn it. But if he kept encountering threats like gangs, knights, or worse, shouldn't he be stronger?

His reverie was interrupted by the sound of quick footsteps outside. Voices, muffled by the rain, drew closer. Heart pounding, Reziel crouched behind a toppled stable wall. Peeking out, he spotted a pair of figures in the gloom: a hooded man and a cloaked woman.

They stepped cautiously into the stables. Reziel tensed—did they track him here? The woman raised a hand, producing a faint orange glow from her palm, illuminating her features. She had high cheekbones, dark eyes, and an authoritative air.

"He's close," she said in a low voice. "I can sense the residual traces of that unnatural mana."

The hooded man nodded. "We have orders. The Circle of Twilight wants to know more about the boy who survived their botched ritual. If we bring him in alive, we'll be well-rewarded."

A jolt of alarm surged through Reziel. So they were cultists… or at least working for those robed figures from last night's fiasco. Great, knights are after me, cultists are after me—everyone wants a piece of me.

He pressed himself flat against the stall, debating whether to sneak out or strike first. The System's quest prompt flickered insistently, as if smelling conflict in the air.

Before Reziel could decide, the hooded man took another step, boots splashing in puddles. He passed dangerously close to Reziel's hiding spot. Reziel's pulse thundered. If discovered, he'd have no choice but to fight. But in his injured state, could he handle two cultists?

Triumph over an enemy of at least equal skill…

The quest text loomed in his periphery. His mind warred between fear and ambition. I need to survive, and I need power to do it.

At that moment, thunder rumbled overhead. A sudden gust of wind rattled the broken stable doors. The male cultist tensed, spinning around. His eyes narrowed on Reziel's silhouette.

"There!" he hissed, flinging out a hand. A bolt of crackling purple energy lanced through the air.

Reziel dove aside. The blast scorched the rotting wood behind him, sending sparks flying. He scrambled to his feet, ignoring the stabbing ache in his side.

"Looks like I don't have a choice," Reziel muttered, raising his arms. He tried to summon Dark Pulse, the only skill he had. Violet energy flickered around his fingertips, responding to his will.

The cultist smirked. "So you do have the power. Surrender quietly, and our masters might spare you." His companion edged closer, a menacing orb of flame dancing across her palm.

Reziel's stomach twisted. These two clearly knew more about this "forbidden" magic than he did. But that wouldn't stop him from fighting back. Balling his fist, he unleashed a wave of Dark Pulse. The swirling force knocked the flame-wielding woman backward. She landed hard on the damp straw, momentarily dazed.

"You little—!" the cultist hissed, sending another bolt of raw energy that caught Reziel's arm. Pain flared, but Reziel pushed through it, adrenaline spiking.

The stench of ozone filled the air. Rain dripped through the broken ceiling, sizzling against stray sparks of magic. With the woman still recovering, Reziel charged the male cultist, forcing him into a close-range struggle. They grappled, boots sliding on the slick ground.

He's too strong, Reziel realized as the cultist twisted out of his grip with surprising ease. The man slammed an elbow into Reziel's wounded side, making him gasp in agony.

Dizzy from pain, Reziel still managed to fire another Dark Pulse at point-blank range. The violet surge crackled, pushing the cultist off his feet. He tumbled across the muddy floor.

Condition: Adrenaline Overload

Mana: Critically Low

The system's notifications buzzed. Reziel panted, on the brink of collapse. If the female cultist recovered now, he'd be finished.

But before anyone could make another move, the stable doors crashed open, revealing a figure silhouetted by the rain and the faint glow of lightning.

Aria Highwind stepped in, water dripping from her silver armor. Her stern gray eyes swept the scene—broken stalls, swirling violet sparks, and two suspicious individuals sprawled in the muck. She radiated authority, spear in hand, the Knight of the Radiant Dawn insignia gleaming even in the dim light.

"In the name of the Luxarian Crown," Aria said, voice resonating, "cease this at once!"

The female cultist, now on her feet, cursed under her breath. "Knights… We can't afford to be caught." She threw a hurried glance at her companion, who was shakily rising.

Aria's gaze locked onto Reziel, and her brows furrowed. He clearly was no innocent bystander—his tattered clothes, the violet energy flickering around him, and the fact he'd been in a magical skirmish all pointed to one conclusion. She pressed her lips together, uncertain whether he was a victim or an instigator.

Sensing the disadvantage, the hooded man spat, "We'll deal with this another time." He made a sharp gesture in the air, and shadows coalesced around his and the woman's bodies. They vanished into a swirling haze, leaving the faint smell of sulfur and ozone behind.

Lightning flashed, illuminating the stables. Aria whirled back to Reziel. He was hunched over, panting, violet sparks dissipating around his hands. Though every instinct told him to run, his legs trembled, and his side throbbed too severely.

"You—stop there!" Aria barked, leveling her spear. "Identify yourself and explain this dark magic."

Reziel grimaced, staggering upright. He met her gaze, defiance flickering in his eyes. "I… can't," he managed, voice hoarse. "I don't have answers."

"Dark mana," Aria spat in distaste. "You're behind last night's incident, aren't you?"

"That was…" He swallowed, shaking his head. The pain made it hard to think. "I—I'm not one of them. They're the ones who started it." The memory of hooded cultists chanting their ritual flashed in his mind.

Aria studied him, her posture tense. Rainwater trickled off her armor, forming puddles at her feet. "Then what are you?" she demanded. "A stray mage dabbling in forbidden arts? Some kind of possessed vessel?"

Reziel bristled. "I'm not possessed! I never asked for this power—" A wave of dizziness hit him, cutting his protest short. He nearly collapsed, only managing to brace himself against a broken stall.

Aria's spear tip hovered near his shoulder. "Luxaria has strict laws against forbidden magic," she said, voice colder now. "If you're telling the truth, then come with me willingly. We have to ascertain how deeply you're involved. If you resist, I'll be forced to subdue you."

Fear clashed with desperation in Reziel's chest. He couldn't let himself be dragged into a knight's interrogation. The System's ominous presence churned in his mind, pushing him to fight or escape. But in his current state, he stood little chance against a fully armed Knight of the Radiant Dawn.

New System Prompt:

WARNING: Host is in critical condition. Immediate conflict with a superior opponent is high-risk.

Advised Action: Evade or manipulate the situation to survive.

Aria watched him carefully, noticing his eyes flit as though reading something invisible. She suspected some form of arcane interface, further confirming her worst fears about him.

"Don't… come closer," Reziel rasped, raising his arm in a shaky attempt to summon Dark Pulse again. The energy sputtered, barely forming a spark before flickering out. He was too drained.

Aria took a measured step. "Stand down. I won't harm you if you comply."

Adrenaline spiked once more in Reziel's veins, overriding the haze of exhaustion. He thought of the System's new quest: Triumph over an enemy of equal or greater skill. Aria Highwind was undoubtedly a formidable foe. If he somehow bested her, the System would reward him with greater power. But that seemed near impossible in his current condition—and the consequences of attacking a knight were dire.

He forced a bitter chuckle, voice tight with pain. "Arrest me… or kill me. Either way, you'll be dealing with that cult eventually. They're the real threat."

Aria's expression flickered, torn between suspicion and logic. She knew about the surge of dark energy last night—and had just witnessed robed cultists vanish. Perhaps there was merit to his words.

Lightning strobed through the crumbling roof again. Thunder shook the stables.

"Who are you?" she asked quietly, lowering her spear fractionally, though not entirely.

He hesitated. Giving a fake name felt futile, but revealing himself might worsen his situation. Still, something in her eyes suggested she wasn't entirely heartless. "Reziel," he finally said, voice barely above a whisper.

Aria nodded slowly, processing the name. "Alright, Reziel. If you want me to believe you're not a threat, come quietly. You'll be questioned—harshly, perhaps—but if you speak truth about these cultists, the Knights might help you rid yourself of that power." She frowned at the flicker of violet around his wound. "Or at least ensure it doesn't consume you."

Reziel trembled, torn between seizing a slim chance at negotiation or attempting a suicidal escape. His better judgment screamed that resisting was futile. But the System hissed in his mind, scorning the idea of surrender.

He stared into Aria's unyielding gaze, recalling the cultists who wanted to capture him, the knights who'd brand him a criminal, the system demanding conflict. Is there another way?

Grimacing, he raised his hands slowly, showing he held no weapon. "I… I'll come," he managed. "But no chains. I can walk."

Aria regarded him warily, then nodded. "Very well. But try anything, and I won't hesitate."

The tension in the air thinned slightly, though not by much. Aria kept her spear at the ready as she approached. Reziel's heart hammered, uncertain whether he was making the biggest mistake of his life or taking his first step toward salvation.

Behind him, the battered stables groaned under the storm's fury. A fresh gust of wind and rain lashed inside, extinguishing the lingering sparks of violet mana. Reziel cast one last look at the site of his confrontation with the cultists, a heavy weight settling in his chest.

I really hope this isn't a death sentence…

He allowed Aria to guide him out into the storm-ravaged street, her armor clanking softly. In the distance, thunder rumbled—a promise of further upheaval to come. Whether that tumult would forge Reziel into something stronger or crush him under its weight remained to be seen.