Shadowed Ascendance: The Forbidden System

By the time Aria Highwind escorted Reziel through the winding streets toward the nearest outpost of the Knights of the Radiant Dawn, the storm had escalated into a full downpour. Rain hammered rooftops and swept through the alleys, washing grime into the gutters. Thunder rumbled overhead, echoing the turmoil in Reziel's mind.

His side still throbbed under the bandages, but a mixture of adrenaline and the System's lingering energy kept him moving. The last thing he wanted was to appear weak in front of a fully armed knight. Aria maintained a cautious distance, her silver spear at the ready, but not aimed at him—for the moment.

Eventually, they stopped before a stout, two-story garrison building constructed of dark gray stone. A golden sunburst emblem—Luxaria's sigil—gleamed on a signboard above the arched entrance. Several knights in white-and-gold tabards stood guard, eyeing the pair curiously as Aria guided Reziel inside.

Light from flickering lanterns illuminated a wide reception hall. Rows of weapon racks lined the walls; a few battered training dummies occupied one corner. The smell of damp leather and metal filled the air, overpowered only by the odor of wet cloaks and muddy boots as knights stamped off the rain.

Reziel's gaze flitted anxiously from one soldier to another. Aria caught the tension in his posture. "Relax," she said, her voice still firm but not unkind. "You're safe here—as long as you cooperate."

He forced a dry laugh. "Not sure if 'safe' is the right word, considering how many swords are in this room."

A tall man with a neatly trimmed beard approached, wearing the same knightly regalia but bearing the rank insignia of a Knight-Captain. His sharp green eyes narrowed at Reziel. "Highwind, what's this about? You were investigating the disturbance near the slums."

Aria tapped her spear's butt on the floor in a formal gesture. "Sir Galland, I found him battling two suspicious individuals who fled before I could apprehend them. He appears to possess dark magic—similar to last night's phenomenon. Claims he isn't one of the cultists."

Reziel swallowed hard at the phrase dark magic. He expected every knight in the hall to lunge at him, but only uneasy murmurs rippled through the small gathering. Knights exchanged wary glances. They'd clearly seen or heard enough unusual events in the past day to be on edge.

Sir Galland's eyes narrowed further. "Is that so?" He addressed Reziel directly. "Name."

"Reziel," he answered, voice steadier than he felt.

"How did you acquire such power, Reziel? And why were those cultists after you?"

He sighed, feeling the weight of every gaze. He couldn't exactly detail how the Forbidden System latched onto him after a botched ritual. Not unless he wanted them to consider him a cursed vessel. Then again, half-truths might be worse if they discovered he was lying.

Finally, he met the Knight-Captain's stare. "I was an unfortunate bystander. They performed some forbidden ritual in the slums—I was caught in it. Next thing I know… this magic started manifesting." It wasn't a complete lie.

Sir Galland studied him for a long moment, then nodded. "Very well. Highwind, escort him to the infirmary. Have a cleric look at that wound. We'll continue this conversation in private."

Aria inclined her head. "Yes, Sir."

Relief mingled with apprehension in Reziel's chest. Maybe they wouldn't lock him in irons just yet. But a prickle of unease reminded him that they could be trying to glean more information before deciding his fate.

A young cleric—a weary-faced man in simple white robes—examined Reziel in the modest infirmary. The small room smelled of disinfectant and herbal salves. Aria stood guard by the door, arms folded, spear propped against the wall.

Reziel suppressed a wince as the cleric peeled back the soaked bandages. His side was bruised and raw, but the wound itself had begun to close, thanks to Madge's earlier salve. The cleric frowned, gently probing the area.

"Fascinating," he murmured. "This healing is unusually rapid. You're certain you used no magic to accelerate it?"

Reziel shook his head. "No. Just… some ointment from a local apothecary."

Aria's gaze flicked between them, clearly skeptical. "He's been using dark magic," she pointed out. "Sometimes those energies cause unexpected effects—even physical changes."

A wave of panic washed over Reziel. Physical changes? The last thing he needed was to sprout demonic traits or go insane because of the Forbidden System. He pressed his lips tight, hoping it wasn't already happening.

The cleric finished re-wrapping the wound in cleaner bandages. "He should rest. I can treat external injuries, but if this dark power is indeed inside him, I can't promise a simple fix."

Aria nodded, turning to Reziel. "You heard him. You'll stay here, under watch, until Sir Galland's ready to see you." Though her words were formal, there was a slight softening in her tone. Perhaps she saw him less as a criminal and more as an unfortunate soul tangled in dangerous magic.

Reziel exhaled. "Under watch… means what exactly?"

Aria gestured to a cot in the corner. "It means you'll lie down, keep still, and not cause trouble. I'll be right outside."

Too fatigued to argue, he sank onto the cot with a hiss of pain. As the cleric left, Aria paused briefly. "I'll be back soon. Don't give the guards any reason to restrain you. This is the best chance you have to avoid a harsher fate."

He only nodded. Once the door closed, he finally allowed his body to relax. The sound of distant thunder rattled the windows, punctuating the tension in the air.

No sooner had Reziel shut his eyes than the Forbidden System surfaced in his mind, the familiar ghostly text dancing on the edges of his vision:

Current Quest: Growth Through Conflict

Progress: 50% (Defeated cultist foes, but not a knight or equal-tier adversary conclusively)

Pending: Defeat a worthy opponent to complete your objective.

Additional Notice: The System detects threats. Survive by any means necessary.

Reziel grimaced. So it's still counting that fight with the cultists as partial completion. Did that mean if he clashed with Aria or another powerful knight, the quest would be considered complete, granting him more power?

You can't be serious… he thought bitterly. Fighting her here would be suicide.

The System offered no direct reply, just the unspoken sense of hunger for confrontation. Reziel closed his eyes, forcing himself to rest, ignoring the twisted temptation. He needed a clearer plan—and more information about these knights—before deciding his next move.

He might have dozed off for a few minutes when the door opened, rousing him. Aria stepped in quietly, her expression guarded but calmer than before. She stood near the cot, arms at her sides.

"How do you feel?" she asked.

Reziel hesitated, sensing no immediate hostility in her tone. "Better than I did this morning."

She nodded. "Good. Because Sir Galland wants to speak with you soon. He's gathering more intelligence on last night's events—maybe then he'll decide what to do about your… condition."

A spike of anxiety shot through Reziel's chest. "He's not planning to… torture me or anything, right?" The words tumbled out before he could filter them; fear had a way of overriding pride.

Aria sighed. "We're knights, not barbarians. We have laws—though for those suspected of forbidden sorcery, the rules can be… strict. If you cooperate, you'll improve your chances."

Silence settled between them, punctuated by the steady drum of rain against the garrison's shutters.

At length, Aria spoke again, more softly. "You said you got caught up in a ritual you knew nothing about. I want to believe you. But I've seen good people corrupted by dark powers in the past, Reziel. It rarely ends well."

He swallowed, reading genuine concern in her eyes. "I'm not… evil," he managed. "I've done desperate things to survive, but I'm not some demon worshipper."

Aria held his gaze, searching for a lie. At last, she nodded. "Then prove it. Start by telling Sir Galland everything you know about those cultists. The more we understand, the better we can help you—and prevent them from wreaking havoc."

Reziel wanted to protest that the Knights might simply brand him as a convenient scapegoat. Yet Aria's words carried a note of sincerity he found difficult to dismiss. Finally, he broke eye contact. "Fine," he murmured. "I'll do what I can."

Seemingly satisfied, Aria stood. "Good. Rest up. We'll escort you to the briefing room soon."

Meanwhile, across the rain-slick city, the two cultists who had fought Reziel huddled in a cramped cellar beneath a dilapidated warehouse. Flickering lantern light revealed a makeshift ritual circle etched into the dirt floor. They knelt beside a third figure—cloaked head-to-toe in shadows. An ominous aura radiated from this newcomer.

"Report," came the newcomer's low rasp, echoing against the stone walls.

The woman bowed her head. "We located the boy with the Forbidden System. But a knight intervened before we could capture him."

The cloaked figure stiffened, a coil of dark mana rippling outward. "Which knight?"

"A female—Aria Highwind," the male cultist replied, voice quivering. "She's taken him to the Knight's outpost."

Silence stretched, oppressive. The cloaked figure finally spoke, each word dripping with menace. "The Circle of Twilight will not be thwarted. Prepare a strike team if necessary. The boy's power belongs to us."

The cultists exchanged uneasy looks, but they nodded. Their master's command was absolute. The newcomer's outline blurred into a swirl of black smoke that seeped into the floor, leaving only the flickering lanterns and a lingering sense of dread.

Back in the garrison's infirmary, Reziel tried to gather his strength and thoughts. Thunder still rattled the windows. Every fiber of his being warned him this was only the beginning—caught between the Knights' scrutiny and the cult's looming threat, how long before he was forced to pick a side or fight them both?

The door swung open once more, revealing a young squire with a polite but firm smile. "Sir Galland requests your presence in the briefing chamber, sir."

Reziel pushed himself upright, biting back a groan at the dull throb in his side. "Lead the way."

On the threshold, Aria waited to escort him. Their eyes met. Hers held a touch of empathy, perhaps a hint of reassurance—yet also unwavering resolve. She'll show me no mercy if she thinks I'm too dangerous, he thought. And with the System's hungry presence in his mind, he couldn't deny that danger might be inevitable.

Steeling himself, Reziel followed Aria and the squire down a torchlit corridor. Each step echoed with the promise of what awaited: interrogation, revelations about the cult, and the final line between survival and condemnation. The Forbidden System stirred in the back of his mind, ever eager for conflict and power.

I won't give in, Reziel vowed inwardly. I'll find a way to control this power… before it controls me.

Yet the path ahead felt perilously thin—like a tightrope strung over a dark chasm. And every footstep threatened to tip him off into oblivion.