The forsaken Code.

Chapter Five: The first step into the Unknown.

Noah sat at the edge of his bed, staring at the black emblem on his desk. The invitation to Blackwood Tower was more than just a meeting—it was a door into a world that operated outside the academy’s control. A world that could either give him answers… or put him in even greater danger.

He exhaled sharply.

He had made his decision.

Tonight, he would go.

Slipping out of the academy unnoticed wasn’t easy, but the Forsaken Code made it possible. He rewrote the reality around himself—bending shadows, making footsteps silent, shifting attention away when necessary.

It felt… natural.

Like his power was always meant to exist outside the rules.

He reached the city unnoticed and moved through the dimly lit streets until he stood before Blackwood Tower. It loomed above him, dark and unmarked.

No guards. No signs of life.

Just an empty lobby and an elevator waiting with its doors open.

Noah hesitated for a split second before stepping inside.

The moment he did, the doors slid shut. The elevator didn’t have buttons. It simply moved, descending into the unknown.

A single thought ran through Noah’s mind.

There’s no turning back now.

The Hidden Organization

When the elevator stopped, Noah stepped into a vast underground hall. Unlike the sterile academy halls, this place felt alive. The walls were lined with ancient symbols, glowing softly with an eerie blue light.

Figures in dark robes moved about, whispering in hushed tones.

At the center of it all stood the man from before—the one who had given Noah the emblem.

“Welcome,” he said, his voice calm yet powerful. “You’ve made the right choice.”

Noah remained cautious. “What is this place?”

The man smiled. “A sanctuary. A refuge for those who do not fit into the academy’s narrow understanding of power.”

He gestured to the glowing symbols on the walls. “The world believes that abilities are bound by the Awakening Crystal’s judgment. But we know the truth—there are forces beyond their comprehension.”

Noah narrowed his eyes. “And you think I’m one of them?”

The man stepped closer. “We know you are.”

Noah’s pulse quickened. “Then tell me—what do you know about my power?”

The man’s smile didn’t fade. “First, let me introduce myself. You may call me Vance.”

Noah didn’t respond. He was done playing games. “My power. Explain.”

Vance chuckled. “Straight to the point. I like that.”

He walked past Noah, leading him deeper into the hall.

“Your ability is unlike any recorded in the academy’s history. You are not just an awakened… You are something else entirely.”

Noah’s fists tightened. “Then why did the crystal say I had nothing?”

Vance stopped, turning to face him.

“Because your power exists outside their system.”

He gestured to the symbols on the walls. “Abilities are merely manifestations of controlled energy. But you? Your power bends the very foundation of reality. The academy cannot measure what it does not understand.”

Noah processed his words carefully. “And what does that mean for me?”

Vance’s smile widened.

“It means you have the potential to reshape the world itself.”

Before Noah could respond, a voice cut through the hall.

“Words mean nothing without proof.”

A tall figure stepped forward—clad in dark combat gear, his face partially hidden beneath a hood. His presence sent a ripple through the room.

Vance sighed. “Patience, Killian.”

Killian ignored him, his gaze locked onto Noah. “If he’s truly one of us, let him prove it.”

Noah exhaled slowly. He could feel the weight of every eye in the room.

A test. A challenge.

He had no choice but to accept.

Killian smirked. “Good. Try to keep up.”

In a flash, he attacked.

Noah barely had time to react before Killian’s fist came flying toward his face. He ducked, but the sheer force of the punch sent a shockwave through the air.

Killian was fast. Too fast.

Noah dodged again, his mind racing. He couldn’t fight Killian the way a normal awakened would. He had to rewrite the battlefield.

The Forsaken code hummed in his veins

Time slowed.

He reached into the unseen threads of reality, making a single adjustment—Killian’s momentum was no longer his own.

The next moment, Killian stumbled, his balance suddenly gone.

Noah didn’t hesitate. He stepped forward, twisting the rules of gravity just enough—Killian flew backward, crashing into the ground.

A stunned silence filled the room.

Noah straightened. His power wasn’t flashy. It wasn’t an explosion of energy or fire.

But it was absolute.

Vance chuckled. “Impressive.”

Killian pushed himself up, eyes burning with something between anger and admiration. “Not bad.”

Vance clapped a hand on Noah’s shoulder. “Welcome to the real world, Noah Carter.”

Noah knew this was only the beginning.

And from this moment on, there was no going back.

Noah stood in the dimly lit hall of Blackwood Tower, his heart still steadying from the fight with Killian. The whispers around him had died down, replaced with watchful stares. He had proven himself—at least enough to be acknowledged.

But the true test was yet to come.

Vance’s hand remained firm on Noah’s shoulder. “You see now, don’t you?” His voice was calm, yet his eyes carried something deeper—something unreadable. “You are not bound by the limitations of this world. And that is why the academy will never accept you.”

Noah exhaled, his gaze flickering to the glowing symbols on the walls. “Then what exactly do you want from me?”

Vance’s smile didn’t waver. “We want you to understand what you truly are.”

Noah narrowed his eyes. “And if I refuse?”

Killian scoffed from the side. “You won’t.”

Vance chuckled. “There’s nothing to refuse, Noah. You came here seeking answers. We are offering them. What you do with them… is entirely up to you.”

Noah didn’t respond. He wasn’t foolish enough to fully trust them, but he needed information. And for now, that meant staying.

Vance gestured toward the end of the hall. “Come. There’s something you need to see.”

They walked through a set of heavy steel doors, descending into what felt like a forgotten vault beneath the tower. The air was thick with an ancient presence, the scent of old parchment and something unidentifiable lingering.

Rows of towering bookshelves stretched into the darkness, each filled with records, artifacts, and writings that looked far older than Eastwood Academy itself.

Noah felt a strange pull, his instincts whispering that this place held knowledge long buried.

Vance stopped before an iron pedestal. On it sat a book, its cover dark and unmarked, the pages humming with faint energy.

“This,” Vance said, brushing a hand over the surface, “is the Codex of the Unseen. It contains records of abilities that defied the Awakening Crystal’s comprehension. People like you.”

Noah’s fingers twitched as he reached out. The moment his hand made contact, a rush of energy shot through him—visions flashing in his mind.

A warrior bending time itself.

A woman walking between realities.

A man rewriting the very laws of death.

And then—

Darkness.

A voice, ancient and cold, whispering.

"The Forsaken Code was never meant to exist."

Noah ripped his hand away, his breathing uneven. His head throbbed, his vision swimming.

Vance observed him carefully. “What did you see?”

Noah clenched his fists. “The truth.”

Vance’s smile grew. “Then you understand now.”

Noah met his gaze, his voice steady. “Not yet. But I will.”

Vance nodded. “Then you are ready for the next step.”

Killian smirked. “Let’s see if you survive it.”

Noah said nothing.

But deep inside, he knew—this was only the beginning.