Chapter 29: Echoes of Danger


    Abel went up the winding staircase back to his room, his thoughts heavy with the events of the night. Glandel had dismissed the other recruits, leaving the tower’s halls quieter than usual. The eerie moonlight filtering through the stone lattice windows cast long, pale shadows across the walls, giving the familiar surroundings a strange, unsettling feel. It was as if the silence of the tower held something deeper—a warning, or perhaps a reminder of what lay beyond its walls.


    When Abel reached his door, he paused for a moment, taking a deep breath before stepping inside. The day had been intense, and his mind buzzed with new information. He closed the door softly behind him and let out a long sigh, the weight of it all pressing down on him. He sat on the edge of his bed, staring into the flickering light of the lantern that bathed the room in a dim, orange glow. The soft crackle of the flame was the only sound, filling the space with a quiet warmth that was almost comforting.


    Abel’s thoughts drifted back to Gravedigger’s breakthrough—the raw power of the ancient bone glowing with untapped energy. The image replayed in his mind, over and over. Gravedigger had succeeded where others had failed, using the relic to gather mana and create a mana pool, a feat not easily accomplished by any recruit. The process had been dangerous, yet Gravedigger had walked that razor’s edge and come out victorious.


    Gravedigger had shared crucial information during the ritual, revealing more about the process—details about concentrating mana and using a stimulant to propel the breakthrough. It was something Abel had heard before. His own Knowledge Book from those first few weeks had hinted at similar methods: the importance of inscriptions, magical beast blood, and the concept of "uniqueness" to gather and channel mana.


    But without the book in his possession, Abel was left to rely on fragmented memories. His understanding was incomplete, and if he wanted to move forward on his path, he needed more information. His mind turned toward the one place that might have the answers: Marcella’s library. Tomorrow, during his next shift, he would delve deeper into the archives, searching for any texts that might help him unlock the mysteries of mana concentration and inscription work.


    As he mulled over his thoughts, a soft knock broke the silence. Abel blinked, momentarily pulled from his reverie. Another knock followed, more insistent this time. He stood and opened the door to find the other members of Room Eighty gathered outside—Sena, Isabella, and Nando. Their faces were a mixture of curiosity and concern, their eyes reflecting the flickering light from the lantern in the hall.


    Sena, always the first to speak, stepped into the room with a questioning look. “How did it go?” he asked, his voice quiet but urgent. “Did Gravedigger succeed?”


    Abel leaned back against the wall, crossing his arms as the others filed in behind Sena. The room suddenly felt smaller, their presence bringing a sense of shared anticipation. "Yeah, he did," Abel replied, his voice steady despite the whirlwind of emotions still swirling inside him. "The ritual worked. He used an ancient bone—something powerful—to gather mana and create a mana pool. That’s how he broke through to become an Apostle."


    Isabella’s eyebrows shot up in surprise. “That sounds… intense. And risky. I’ve never heard of anyone using bones in a ritual like that.”


    “It was,” Abel agreed. “But Gravedigger had a specific goal—he wanted to fuse the power of bones into his abilities. It was dangerous, but it worked. The bone wasn’t just a tool; it was part of the process, part of him.”


    Sena’s eyes widened as he leaned forward, intrigued. “So, he created a mana pool by using the bone as a catalyst? That’s… incredible. And terrifying.”


    Nando, who had been quiet up until now, shifted uncomfortably. “Did he say anything else about how it works? Something we could use?” His voice was lower than usual, but there was a clear hunger for knowledge in his tone.


    Abel’s gaze flicked to Nando. He recalled Gravedigger’s words clearly. "He mentioned that becoming an Apostle isn’t just about gathering mana—you have to concentrate it within yourself. Sometimes, though, you need a catalyst to spark the process. In Gravedigger’s case, it was the ancient bone. But it could be other things too—like magical beast blood or something unique to your path."


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    The room fell into a contemplative silence, the weight of Abel’s words sinking in. Sena leaned against the wall, his face thoughtful. "The Knowledge Book we had said something similar," he murmured. "That gathering mana is personal—different for everyone. It makes sense that the process isn’t one-size-fits-all."


    “Exactly,” Abel replied, nodding. “Each person’s path is different, but it’s all about finding the right catalyst.”


    For a moment, the room was filled only with the soft sounds of their breathing and the distant echoes of the tower. The seriousness of Gravedigger’s achievement had affected them all. It was proof that even a non-gifted recruit could rise to the rank of Apostle if they were determined enough—and willing to take enormous risks.


    The conversation shifted as Nando’s expression grew darker. He cleared his throat and spoke in a low voice. “Did you hear about Erin?”


    Abel frowned, unfamiliar with the name. “Erin? Who’s that?”


    “The chubby guy from our class,” Nando replied, his voice tinged with unease. “He went out on a gathering task recently… and didn’t come back. They say he was taken by a Nightcrawler.”


    Sena gasped, his face paling at the mention of the creature. “A Nightcrawler?”


    Abel’s stomach twisted. He had heard of Nightcrawlers before—dark, twisted creatures that stalked the forest under the cover of night, preying on the unwary. They were known for their speed and ability to vanish into the shadows, leaving behind little more than the whispers of their victims. The thought of encountering one in the wild sent a chill down his spine.


    Isabella, who had been sitting quietly, spoke up, her voice heavy with the weight of the news. “That’s… horrible. I didn’t know Erin well, but no one deserves that.”


    The room grew tense as they absorbed the grim reality of the tower’s dangers. Each of them understood the risks that came with living and training here, but hearing about someone their age—someone who had sat in the same classes as them—being taken by a Nightcrawler brought that danger closer to home. The fear was no longer a distant concept; it was real, tangible, and terrifying.


    “It’s a reminder,” Sena said softly, his eyes dark with worry. “No one is safe.”


    The silence that followed his words was thick, and heavy with unspoken fears. Abel felt the weight of it pressing down on him. The danger outside the tower’s walls was far greater than he had ever imagined. It wasn’t just magical beasts or rival recruits; it was creatures like Nightcrawlers—beings born from nightmares that stalked the darkness, unseen and lethal.


    Isabella, sensing the mood in the room, shifted uncomfortably. "I heard another rumor today," she added hesitantly, her voice barely above a whisper. "Some recruits who ventured too far to the north have been seeing… strange lights that would sing alluring melodies in the sky. No one knows what they are, but a few recruits have come back talking about it. They say it’s best to avoid that area, especially at night."


    Nando raised an eyebrow. "Strange lights? Like magic?"


    Sena shrugged. "Maybe. Or something worse. No one’s sure, but I overheard some recruits talking about it in the hall. They seemed spooked. Whatever it is, I’m not eager to find out."


    Isabella nodded slowly, her expression thoughtful. “Could be anything. The Stone Forest is full of mysteries, and the north isn’t exactly the safest place to wander.”


    The conversation tapered off as the weight of these new rumors settled in the room. The idea of unknown forces at play—strange lights in the sky, mysterious creatures lurking in the dark—only added to the growing tension that seemed to hang over the tower like a dark cloud.


    After a few more murmured conversations, the members of Room Eighty began to file out, each lost in their thoughts. Abel watched them leave, his mind still racing as the door closed softly behind Nando, the last to go. The silence in his room felt heavier than before, almost oppressive in the wake of everything he had learned.


    Abel lay back on his bed, staring up at the stone ceiling. Erin’s fate, the bone ritual, the Nightcrawlers, and now rumors of strange lights in the north—all of it swirled in his mind, a chaotic mix of fear, curiosity, and determination. The world outside the tower was far more dangerous than he had ever realized, and the path to becoming an Apostle seemed more mysterious and perilous than ever.


    As sleep slowly overtook him, Abel made a silent promise to himself—to learn everything he could. The next time he ventured beyond the tower’s protection, he wouldn’t be caught off guard. No matter what lay ahead, he would be ready.


    With that, he drifted into a restless sleep, the shadows of the Stone Tower stretching long into the night.