I Level Up by Killing Gods

Chapter 14: Black Haven



Kael sat in a cold, metal chair in a room, the pounding in his head refusing to ease. The silence around him uninterrupted.

Hours had passed since the Council session, but he felt their presence still linger, in the air and his thoughts. Whatever that Councilor had done to him left him feeling hollow and restless.

Finally, the door slid.

Two guards entered, silent and unreadable behind helmets. They motioned for him to stand.

Kael rose stiffly, his body tense, and followed them through a maze of corridors. They eventually emerged into a covered loading bay, where a black van like vehicle idled. One of the guards gestured toward the open door.

He climbed in, immediately noticing Dr. Levi sitting across from him. She was focused on her tablet, fingers tapping as she adjusted her glasses.

She glanced up briefly, offered him a small, detached smile, then returned to her work.

Kael settled into the seat, the air slightly tense even with the lack of words. The hum of the engine and the barely audible scratching of her stylus filled the silence until he finally broke it.

"So… am I going to jail?"

Levi paused, the corner of her mouth quirking up.

"No. The Council decided you didn't break any laws. Lucky for you, you were really not the one that killed the squad." She adjusted her glasses again, her gaze sharp and curious. "But they know you're far more that you seem, and they're determined to find out what exactly."

Kael leaned back, his head throbbing worse.

"I'm guessing they handed that job to you?"

Her faint smile widened, an unsettling mix of amusement and eagerness.

"Exactly. I've been officially tasked with studying you. Thoroughly." The gleam in her glasses made her look momentarily sinister.

Kael let out a short, exasperated breath.

"Great. And what exactly did they do to me back there?"

"That was Councilor Izarius's ability," Levi said, slightly annoyed remembering it. "When it activates, lying becomes impossible—or so they claim. But your last answer? That was a lie, clearly." Her gaze locked onto him like a hawk on prey. "So how..."

He met her eyes but didn't answer.

"Why didn't you warn me about that?"

For a moment, Levi hesitated. The confidence she radiated cracked ever so slightly.

"Because it wasn't supposed to happen. The Council isn't allowed to use abilities like that during hearings of this nature. It's forbidden." Her tone grew bitter. "But rules mean little to them. No one has the power to hold them accountable."

Kael sat with that thought, his already conceived despise for the Council hardening further.

"So where are we going now?"

Levi's sharp smile returned. "Black Haven Academy."

---

The ride dragged on, and when the van finally stopped, Kael stepped out, his boots sounding softly against the pavement. He froze at the sight before him.

The building didnt seem like just an academy.

Towering black spires shot into the sky, sharp edges slicing through low-hanging clouds. The main building stood like some colossal monument, its walls gleaming almost unnoticeably.

Surrounding the central spire were smaller buildings, each meticulously arranged and connected by floating bridges. Students and staff moved between them purposefully, pristine uniforms standing in contrast to Kael's tattered cloak and worn boots.

In the courtyard, polished stone tiles reflected the sunlight. Statues of legendary Lightforged warriors from the academy lined the perimeter, their carved faces stern and eternal.

Kael's attention shifted to the shimmering force field that seemed more bright around the academy than the city. Inside its bounds, everything was vibrant—the grass lush and green, the flowers impossibly bright.

"Welcome to Black Haven," Levi said, stepping beside him.

Kael didn't reply, too distracted by the stares. Dozens of students had turned their heads, their gazes locked on him. It wasn't just curiosity. There was judgment in their eyes—sharp, scrutinizing.

"Why are they staring?" he muttered.

Levi smirked. "Word travels fast. The Council's decision reached the academy before we did." She adjusted her glasses, amusement lacing her tone. "The outskirts boy who survived an A-rank breach—it's a story that's hard to ignore."

Kael raised a brow. "So, I'm some kind of hero?"

She chuckled. "Close. To them, you're more of a dirty freeloader. The kind of guy who caused an entire squad to die just to crawl out of the rubble with an opportunity he didn't earn."

Kael chuckled. "That's not close."

Levi shrugged. "It doesn't matter what they think. You're here now, and what's ahead is far more important than their opinions."

Kael glanced at her, catching the grin on her lips. "What's ahead?"

"Your evaluation," she said, her voice laced with excitement. "I have a feeling it's going to be… fascinating."

He said nothing.

As they walked deeper into the academy grounds, the whispers around him grew louder. He couldn't make out the exact words, but the buzzing tension was unmistakable.

Kael kept his head high, for him it didn't take much to not falter under their stares. Whatever was coming, he'd face it. He told himself he had nothing to lose.

What really mattered to him, his goals, made this all look petty and irrelevant.


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