Immortal Consequences(113)

“Corruption isn’t born,” Catherine began, her voice calm and steady. “It’s created. This remains true for both sides. Blackwood Academy was created for good, but in the wrong hands, it became corrupted. Same goes for the Demien Order. What started as a group of like-minded people bound together by a common goal turned into the Soulless One’s personal pursuit of revenge.”

The Soulless One. The unknown entity Demiens worshipped. Their leader.

“If either side defeats the other, the afterlife will crumble. It will end in destruction.” Catherine gestured to the three of them. “We want to stop that.”

Blackwood Academy…corrupted. As she took in the words, a part of Masika had to admit that she wasn’t surprised to hear that darkness lingered beneath the institution she had spent so many years in. Secrets festering in the underbelly. If Silas could keep a secret like the Decennial from the students, why not others?

“Wait,” Masika whispered, breathless. “You said Blackwood became corrupted in the wrong hands, but…that’s not possible. Silas has always been the Headmaster of the school. From the beginning of creation.”

Catherine’s stoic mask shifted a fraction. A flicker of rage ignited behind her eyes.

“No,” she whispered. “He wasn’t.”

It was Birdie who spoke next, her tone gentle.

“Silas has been the Headmaster for centuries…but he wasn’t the first. He entered the Ether as a Corrupted Soul.”

A sharp ringing echoed in Masika’s ears. “What? That—that can’t be true. If a Corrupted Soul crosses into purgatory, they’re consumed by the Ether in order to maintain balance.”

Russo’s voice cut through her like a sharp wind. “Silas was different. He was born with anger in his bones. With the hunger for revenge sewn into his soul. And when he crossed into the Ether, he found a way to fight his fate. He resisted.” Her dark eyes trailed over Masika’s face. “Do you even know where Corrupted Souls go? How they’re consumed?”

Masika hesitated.

“No.”

“They’re taken to the Shadow Lands,” Birdie explained. “If a soul crosses through and is marked as Corrupted, they’re tossed into the Shadow Lands and consumed. The only thing that remains is the remnant of who they used to be. The rot and decay and corruption. But when Silas was taken into the Shadow Lands, he found a way to fight back. He wasn’t consumed—he consumed. All the darkness. The festering corruption within the lands. And that’s how he gained the power to free his soul.”

Russo continued. “When he was strong enough, he went to Blackwood seeking revenge. He blamed Blackwood for naming his soul as Corrupted. He wanted to create his own rules. His own hierarchy of what was good and what…wasn’t. So he infiltrated Blackwood, destroyed the True Headmaster and took over. And anybody who tried to fight him, to speak against him, was banished from Blackwood.”

“Haven’t you been wondering why the Ether fights you?” Catherine asked, stepping closer. “Why it’s demanding these horrific sacrifices?”

“Silas,” Masika whispered, the realization washing over her.

Catherine nodded. “When he took over Blackwood, something shifted in the Ether. It was like it could sense the corruption. It began demanding more, requiring the souls of students in order to properly function. If we want to return the Ether to its natural state, we have to stop Silas once and for all. He must be destroyed. It’s the only way to restore true balance to the afterlife.”

Seconds dragged by. Nothing but the howling wind and the oppressive silence.

Masika found her voice. “The ones who were banished…where did they go?”

“To the outskirts,” Catherine replied. “Into hiding.”

“The Demien Order,” Masika whispered, the pieces slowly coming together. “That’s how they were formed. The students and Housemasters who were banished when Silas took over.”

Birdie nodded, solemn. “Yes. And its original purpose was really to find a way to overthrow Silas, but then…the Soulless One arrived.”

“Corruption isn’t born…，” Masika whispered, the truth settling into her bones. “It’s created.”

Catherine’s eyes traveled over her face. “Do you see now? This isn’t about choosing sides. This is about stopping the corruption before it spreads. We need to stop Silas, but we also need to stop the Demien Order from destroying Blackwood. If either side wins…the very seams of the afterlife will unravel.”

“Why are you telling me this?”

“Because we want you to join us.” Catherine paused, waiting for a response, but Masika found herself unable to speak. “I know this might not be the easiest thing to hear, and I know that the two of us probably need to talk about—”

A sudden burst of noise drowned out her words. The clatter of footsteps. The flutter of rapid breaths.

Catherine stepped in front of Masika, twirling the spear in her hand. When she moved, something inside the spear shifted. At first, Masika thought it might just be a trick of light, a reflection of the ice beneath them.

But then the tip of the spear crackled with bright sparks, spreading through the weapon in glowing rivers of silver light.

They’ve imbued their weapons with corporeal magic. Masika’s gasp caught in her throat.