Jonah woke up with a shock, the energy from the Nexus Synthesis still vibrating through him. It wasn't a bad feeling, but a deep, steady pulse of power that had settled into his very core. He felt stronger, clearer.

In the back of his mind, a quiet, intelligent presence stirred in response. Specter. The link between them was a constant, a silent conversation that ran deeper than words. It was a strange comfort that went deep.

A sharp knock on his workshop door pulled him from his thoughts. "Jonah, get dressed. I'm coming in."

It was Seraph. Jonah quickly threw on a clean uniform as she entered, her eyes scanning the room.

"The Headmaster is pleased," she said, getting straight to the point. "Extremely pleased. Which means your life is about to change. Again."

She handed him a small, heavy black box. Inside, sat on a velvet cushion, was a thick stack of credit chits. It was more money than Jonah had ever seen in his life.

"What's this?" he asked, his voice rough.

"Your new stipend," Seraph replied, a faint smirk on her lips. "Comes with the Black Badge. You're no longer a standard student, Jonah. You're a high value asset. Which means you have new privileges."

She started ticking them off on her fingers. "Level four clearance. That gets you into most of the Academy's facilities, including the advanced libraries and the upper levels of the Forge. You're also excused from all standard first-year classes."

Jonah's eyes widened. "No more history of the Division Walls?"

"No more history," she confirmed. "Your training is now entirely project-based. You, me, and Vanessa will determine your curriculum. Your job is to understand your power, expand your abilities, and create. Is that clear?"

"Clear," Jonah said, still staring at the pile of credits. He could buy his own food for a decade with this. He could buy a whole house.

"Good," Seraph said, her tone turning serious. "Because it also means you're a target. You made a big splash last night. Don't drown in it."

She turned and left, leaving Jonah alone with a box full of money and a head full of warnings. His life had just gotten a lot easier, and a thousand times more complicated.

He stepped out of his workshop, intending to find Vanessa.

The Bronze-Badge seniors from last night were waiting. It was almost like they knew his next move. They stood in a loose group, but their power was anything but casual.

Thanos, the silver-haired Mage, stepped forward. His calm, assessing eyes made Jonah feel like a bug under a magnifying glass.

"Jonah of Cinderfall," Thanos said, his voice polite but firm. "I hope we're not disturbing you. We'd like a word."

Jonah glanced around. The strong presence of this group had cleared out the usual students. These were the kings and queens of the Academy's social hierarchy.

"Okay," Jonah said, cautiously.

"As you advance, you'll find that the Academy functions on more than just grades and ranks," Thanos began, his tone like a professor giving a private lecture. "The strongest students form alliances. We pool our resources, share information, and take on high-level missions that are unavailable to individuals. We build connections that will serve us long after we graduate."

He paused, letting the words sink in. "My group is called Aegis. We're the nation's shield. We guard the country, fighting dangerous creatures and keeping the walls safe. Your trained powers could really help us. I am formally inviting you to join us."

The offer hung in the air, heavy with promise and expectation. Being part of the top defensive faction meant power, protection, and a guaranteed career as one of the nation's guardians.

Before Jonah could even process it, a sharp-eyed woman with a Tamer's mark stepped forward. There was a sleek sharpness to the way she walked. "Aegis offers a uniform and a lifetime of fighting on the front lines, Jonah. A noble, but limited, path."

Her voice was sharp and practical. "My group is the Seekers. We don't believe the answer is a stronger shield, but a sharper key. We hunt for knowledge, for pre-war ruins, for lost artifacts. We believe in finding the secrets that can end the war, not just fight it."

She looked him dead in the eye. "A power like yours isn't a sword; it's a map to treasures no one else can find. Don't let them turn you into a weapon. Join us, and we'll help you become a legend."

Jonah stood there, caught between the two offers. Aegis and the Seekers. The Shield and the Key. Duty and Discovery.

He thought for a moment. He saw the paths they were laying out for him. In one, he was a soldier, his Progeny strategic assets in an endless war. In the other, he was a tool, a living compass pointing them toward forgotten riches.

Both paths led to a cage. It might be a fancy one, full of prestige and power, but it was still a cage. He remembered his life in Cinderfall, the desperate hope for escape, for a life where he could make his own choices.

He had come too far to hand over his freedom now.

He looked at Thanos, then at the Seeker leader. He bowed his head slightly, a gesture of respect he'd seen others use.

"Thank you both for your offers," he said, his voice clear and steady. "I'm honored. But I have to decline."

A ripple of surprise went through the assembled seniors.

"My class… it's new," Jonah continued, choosing his words carefully. "I don't even fully understand it myself yet. Before I can dedicate my power to a cause, I need to know what it truly is. For now, I need to remain independent. I need to study."

Thanos stared at him for a long moment, his calm expression unreadable. Then, a slow, genuine smile touched his lips. It was the first time Jonah had seen it reach his eyes.

"A wise answer," Thanos said, with a nod of true respect. "Very well. The offers stand, should you change your mind."

The Seeker woman gave him a sharp, appraising look, as if seeing him for the first time. "A player who knows his own value. Interesting." She gave a sharp nod. "We'll be watching your progress."

With that, they turned and walked away as one, their powerful auras receding, leaving Jonah alone in the suddenly quiet hallway.

He let out a shaky breath. He had just turned down the two most powerful student groups in the Academy. He hadn't made enemies, but he hadn't made allies, either. He had declared himself a neutral power.

A free agent.

And in this new, dangerous game, he knew he was more valuable and a bigger target.