Reincarnated as an Apocalyptic Catalyst-Chapter 77: What Came Before

I hated dealing with Veldrin. He always had this air about him, like he knew something you didn’t and was just waiting for the right moment to use it against you. Unlike the other professors, he didn’t bother pretending to care about moral integrity or the well-being of his students. He was here for knowledge and knowledge alone.

This is why we were bringing him an artifact we had risked our lives and limbs to acquire.

Ronan and I navigated the winding corridors of the Academy’s restricted wing, our footsteps echoing through the quiet halls. I had already checked to make sure we weren’t being followed, but paranoia lingered. Between the heist, the cult, and whatever the hell was happening with Mara, I wasn’t feeling particularly lucky lately.

"You are tense," Ronan observed.

I sighed, rubbing the bridge of my nose. "Yeah, well, we’re about to hand over a stolen artifact to a guy who probably has plans for his own villain arc."

"Would you prefer we keep it?"

I glanced at Ronan. "No, but I’d prefer not to be on the receiving end of whatever comes next."

"Then why did we steal it?"

"Because we need answers."

"Then you should focus on obtaining them."

"I mean, that’s the plan, hence all of the effort we went through to get Professor Shady his stupid object, risking our lives, risking our reputation–though that wasn’t great to begin with–and inevitably leading to Mara running off. Though I suppose that last part was on me." Yup, just needed to deliver, whatever this thing was, and get the answers we were promised.

We arrived at his door, dark wood reinforced with warding sigils that shimmered under the dim light. I rapped my knuckles against it twice.

No answer.

"Maybe he’s—"

The door swung open on its own, revealing a dimly lit study lined with bookshelves and alchemical equipment bubbling ominously in the corner. The scent of old parchment, ink, and something acrid filled the space.

Veldrin sat behind his desk, fingers steepled, watching us with his usual unreadable expression. His gaze flickered between Ronan and me before settling on the satchel slung over my shoulder.

"You have it."

Not a question, just a fact. After all, why would we bother coming back if we didn’t, not to mention the most likely reason we wouldn’t have it would be because we are in the Academy’s version of jail.

I stepped inside, motioning for Ronan to shut the door behind us. "Nice to see you too, Professor."

Veldrin smirked. "You’ll forgive me if I don’t extend the same sentiment. You were... reckless."

I slouched into the chair across from him. "And yet, here we are. Alive and victorious."

"Bold words for someone whose name is likely being whispered in the halls of those looking for retribution."

Ronan, ever the mood-killer, interjected. "Caidan’s name is whispered often."

Veldrin raised an eyebrow, amused. "Yes, I imagine it is. The main thing is that there is no actual proof, that is unless you plan on implicating yourself by turning the artifact over to the authorities?"

I scowled at Veldrin before pulling the artifact from my satchel, wrapped in cloth. "Look, we didn’t come here to discuss my reputation. We came for answers."

Veldrin’s fingers twitched slightly as I set the artifact on the desk. He leaned forward, eyes gleaming with something too close to excitement for my comfort. He unwrapped it, and the moment it hit open air, the room’s temperature dropped.

A faint hum of magic thrummed from its surface. Veldrin’s lips curled into something that was almost a smile, and honestly, it was unnerving.

"Fascinating," he murmured, running his fingers over the etchings. "You have no idea what you’ve stolen, do you?"

"No shit, that’s why we’re here. Enlighten us."

Veldrin turned the artifact over in his hands. "This," he said, "is a fragment of something much older than the Academy. Perhaps even older than the Trinity’s reign."

That got my attention. "Older than the gods?"

Veldrin’s smirk deepened. "The gods you know, yes."

"Don’t assume which gods I do and do not know, you might be surprised." Now time to return his ’smile’ with my own. I hoped it unnerved him as well.

Ronan, unbothered by the suspense, asked, "What does it do?"

"That remains to be seen. But I suspect it’s tied to the very magic the cult seeks to harness." He glanced at me. "Which means you’ve stirred a particularly venomous nest."

That was fine, I expected so much when I came face to face with that beast of a cultist, flinging spells and slinging shadow blades like they were nothing.

I leaned forward. "Are we in trouble?" I asked sarcastically.

Veldrin chuckled. "Caidan, my dear reckless student, you were in trouble the moment you stepped into that vault. The real question is, can you make it out alive?"

I ran a hand through my hair. "I was in trouble the moment I stepped into your office. Besides, I haven’t died yet." As far as you know. I’ve probably died half a dozen times by this point.

Veldrin leaned back. "I can study this further, but I require time. In the meantime, I suggest you be careful. The cult will not take this loss lightly."

"You sound like you know a lot about them."

His smile didn’t reach his eyes. "I make it my business to know things."

Ronan spoke again. "Then you must know their ultimate goal."

Veldrin hesitated. Brief, but I caught it.

"Power," he said simply. "And they are very close to attaining it."

I exhaled sharply. "You told me if I brought you this artifact, you’d enlighten me about the cult. I risked everything for this, so start talking, old man. I lost a good friend because of this shit, so you better spill." Again, my fault, but I was pissed and didn’t need logic getting in my way.

Veldrin’s smirk didn’t falter, but there was something sharper behind his gaze. He ran a thumb along the artifact’s etchings.

"I will enlighten you, as promised," he said smoothly, "but temper your tone, Caidan. You have no idea what you’ve gotten yourself into."

I clenched my fists but forced myself to stay quiet. I didn’t trust this bastard, but he was the only one who could give me answers.

Veldrin set the artifact down with almost reverent care. "The cult you encountered isn’t just playing at forbidden rituals. Their reach extends far beyond the Academy, beyond the city. They are older than you think, patient, and meticulous. And they do not act without purpose."

"Yeah, we gathered that much," I muttered. "They’re trying to summon something, right? Some ’lost ones’ or whatever. We know they’ve already done it at least once."

Veldrin nodded. "Summoning, yes. But not in the way you imagine." He folded his hands. "They’re not just calling forth spirits or creatures. They are tearing open something ancient—something that was sealed away before written history."

Ronan tilted his head. "A gate."

Veldrin’s eyes flicked to him in disbelief, but he brushed it aside for the moment. "Indeed. The ’gate’ they speak of is no metaphor. It is a boundary, one that was never meant to be undone."

My stomach twisted. "So they’re not just summoning old gods or dead things. They’re bringing back something from beyond. Something that was locked away for a reason."

Veldrin leaned forward, his smirk finally fading into something more somber. "I’m not sure if you know this, but the world we live in now, despite all of the terrible things that happen on the daily, we really are living in a golden age. Humans can live for hundreds of years, Elves and Dwarves are by all accounts, immortal beings. Even the more... simple races, like orcs and goblins, have managed to establish a place in the fringes of society." I had to interrupt.

"I’ve experienced nothing but trouble, from bandit attacks to fanatics to different fanatics, and that’s honestly not even the worst of it. Have you seen the slums? What’s the point in longevity if it just means suffering for twice as many years?" I sighed at the thought of all the terrible things plaguing this messed-up world.

"That leads into what I was about to say if you could just be patient..." His glare did little more than annoy me, but whatever, I’ll see what he has to say.

"As I was saying," the professor continued, "Haven’t you wondered why the Trinity, despite all their power, do not walk among us as the old tales say they once did?"

I frowned. "I always figured they had better things to do than micromanage mortals."

"How naive." Veldrin shook his head. "The gods you know, didn’t create this world. They inherited it. And they were not the first to hold dominion over it."

Something cold settled in my gut. "You’re saying... the cult isn’t just bringing back something powerful. They’re bringing back something that ruled before the Trinity?"

Veldrin’s fingers drummed against his desk. "Not just ruled. Consumed."

Silence.

I inhaled sharply. "And this artifact?"

"It is a piece of what once was. A fragment of something that should never be whole again. The cult seeks to reassemble these remnants, to weaken the seal holding their masters at bay."

"Masters?" I echoed.

Veldrin’s gaze sharpened. "You’ve already met one of them. Or at least, a fragment of their influence."

I didn’t like where this was going. "Morgana."

Veldrin nodded. "She was the last to remain after the others fell. She walks the border between this world and what lies beyond. And if the cult succeeds, she won’t be alone for long."

Ronan spoke again, his tone unreadable. "Then we should destroy it." I winced as he said the words, knowing just how Morgana would feel to hear one of her... Grandchildren? Speak this way.

Veldrin chuckled. "If only it were that simple."

"Okay, so if I understand correctly, a bunch of terrible shit is about to happen, you are going to study the relic or artifact, or whatever that thing is; which leaves Ronan and I where exactly? What are we supposed to do in the meantime?

Veldrin leaned back in his chair, tapping a single finger against the desk. "Survive," he said simply.

I scowled. "Yeah, no shit. I meant something a little more actionable."

Veldrin smirked. "Then here’s your next move: track the cult’s next gathering. They won’t stop just because you inconvenienced them. If anything, they’ll escalate. Find out what they’re after next. We have the artifact, yes, but that was only a piece. They’ll seek others. And when they do, you’ll need to be there first."

I exhaled sharply. "And how exactly do you suggest we do that? Knock on their door and ask for their schedule?"

"Use what resources you have. I assume your companion gathered some additional information you could use. Just make sure you watch your back. You’ve stolen from them, humiliated them. They’ll be coming for you."

"There’s no way I can take on more than one or two of these bastards if they’re as strong as I think, but we’ll see what we can do. Thanks for... something."

Veldrin’s gaze darkened just slightly. "You wanted answers, Caidan. I gave them to you. What you do with them is up to you."

I turned on my heel, heading for the door. "Come on, Ronan. We’ve got work to do." freeweɓnøvel~com

Ronan followed without hesitation, leaving Veldrin alone with his new toy.

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