The crimson orb weighed heavily in Vax’s pouch, its faint glow seeping through the fabric like an unrelenting reminder of its presence. The group had barely returned to the academy before Vax began feeling its effects—subtle at first, like a low hum in the back of his mind, but growing louder with each passing hour.

Scene: Sleepless Nights

That night, Vax lay awake in his dorm room, the orb placed carefully on the desk across from him. It seemed to pulse in time with his heartbeat, its light casting eerie shadows on the walls.

“Why can’t I stop hearing it?” Vax muttered, pressing his palms against his temples. A faint voice, deep and cold, echoed in his mind.

"Power… waiting… take it…"

He sat up, sweat dripping from his brow. “No. I won’t let it control me.”

The voice chuckled, a sound that sent chills down his spine.

"Control you? No, Vax. I want to awaken you."

Scene: Selena’s Concern

The next morning, Vax joined the group in the library, where Selena had spread out several ancient texts detailing relics similar to the orb.

“You look terrible,” Selena said, frowning as Vax sat down.

“I didn’t sleep,” Vax admitted. He glanced at the orb, which they had placed in a containment circle drawn with magical runes. “That thing… it’s trying to get inside my head.”

Selena exchanged a worried look with Kael. “I was afraid of this,” she said. “These relics don’t just hold power—they’re alive in a way. They have a will of their own.”

Kael nodded. “And that will is tied to the remnants of the Demon Lord’s essence. It’s no wonder it’s drawn to you.”

“What do we do?” Alisa asked. “We can’t just keep it around if it’s going to mess with Vax like this.”

“I’m fine,” Vax said quickly, though his shaking hands betrayed him. “We need to figure out what it’s trying to tell me. It mentioned something about awakening.”

Scene: Visions of the Past

Later that day, while practicing magic in the training hall, Vax’s vision blurred again. The golden light in his hands flickered, replaced by a crimson hue.

He was no longer in the training hall. Instead, he stood in a vast, desolate battlefield. The sky was dark, and the ground was littered with broken weapons and the bodies of fallen warriors.

In the distance, a figure stood atop a hill, shrouded in shadow. They held a crimson orb identical to the one Vax carried, its glow illuminating their twisted, malicious grin.

"This power will be mine," the figure said, their voice echoing in the still air.

Vax felt a sudden surge of anger and fear. His hands moved on their own, summoning a golden sword of light. He charged at the figure, but as he drew closer, their face shifted—until it became his own.

Scene: The Orb’s Influence

Vax snapped back to reality, gasping for air. The golden light in his hands was gone, replaced entirely by the crimson glow.

“Vax!” Selena’s voice broke through the haze, and he realized she was standing in front of him, her hands on his shoulders.

“You were losing control,” she said, her voice trembling. “The orb’s influence is getting stronger.”

Vax looked down at his hands, the crimson light fading. “I… I saw something. A battlefield. A version of me, but different. Darker.”

Selena’s expression grew grim. “The orb is feeding on your fears and doubts. If you let it, it will twist your magic—and you—into something unrecognizable.”

Scene: Seeking a Solution

Determined to find a way to resist the orb’s influence, the group sought out the academy’s principal, a wise and enigmatic figure who had been Vax’s silent supporter since the beginning.

The principal examined the orb carefully, his expression unreadable. “This relic is far more dangerous than I anticipated,” he said. “It’s not just a fragment of the Demon Lord’s power—it’s a key to his resurrection.”

The room fell silent.

Kael broke the tension. “If that’s true, then destroying it should be our top priority.”

The principal shook his head. “It’s not that simple. The relics are bound to the essence of their bearer. If we try to destroy it while Vax is connected to it, the backlash could kill him—or worse.”

“What do we do, then?” Selena asked.

The principal placed a hand on Vax’s shoulder. “You must learn to control it. To bend its will to yours. Only then can you neutralize its power without losing yourself in the process.”

Scene: The Next Step

As the group left the principal’s office, Vax felt a heavy weight settle on his shoulders.

“I’m sorry,” he said quietly. “If it weren’t for me, none of this would be happening.”

Selena stopped and turned to face him. “This isn’t your fault, Vax. You didn’t ask for this power, but you’re the only one who can handle it. We’re in this together, remember?”

Vax nodded, a small spark of determination returning to his eyes. “Then let’s figure out how to beat this thing—before it beats me.”