The Boy Who Walks Beyond The End-Chapter 68: A World Without Nex

Morning arrived with soft golden hues kissing the stone paths of Eboncrest Academy. Birds chirped lazily outside Zen's dorm window, but the usual rhythm of the morning felt... off.

Zen sat at the edge of his bed, staring at the empty space before him.

"Nex?"

No answer.

Again.

Where the hell are you, Nex?

He frowned, leaning back with a sigh as silence answered him for the fifth time this morning. It felt wrong. Like a part of him had gone missing.

For as long as Nex had been with him, Zen had grown used to that ever-present voice—snarky, witty, often annoying, yet oddly comforting. Now? Nothing.

A knock broke his thoughts.

"Zen! Breakfast! Unless you're planning to starve and brood your way into a tragic story arc," Lyra's teasing voice echoed through the door.

He smirked faintly. "Coming."

---

The dining hall buzzed with its usual morning life. Students laughed, argued, swapped gossip and bites of breakfast. At one long table sat the familiar group—Lyra, Arisella, Elvern, Sylvia, and Fiora—all deep in conversation. They waved as Zen approached.

"You're late," Arisella said, tossing him a buttered roll. "Again."

"Let me guess," Sylvia said with a raised brow, "you were up practicing brooding in front of a mirror?"

"Something like that," Zen muttered, sitting down beside Lyra.

He picked at his food while the conversation circled back around the same question they hadn't stopped asking since the Trial ended.

"How did you two beat the Magmablood Sovereign?" Fiora asked, sipping on her cocoa.

Elvern leaned forward. "You were at the core when it fell. You've been dodging the full story."

Zen shared a brief glance with Lyra. They hadn't told anyone the truth. And they wouldn't.

"It wasn't much of a plan," Zen began calmly. "We were already worn out by the puzzle separation. We pushed hard, both of us, until the chamber started collapsing."

"Then?" Sylvia asked.

Lyra jumped in smoothly, "Then... a voice came. Deep, commanding. We don't know who or what it was. But it said 'Your flames shall be still.' and suddenly, the Sovereign froze—completely."

"We didn't question it," Zen added. "We just struck with everything we had left."

"Whoa," Fiora blinked. "So like... divine intervention?"

"Or some secret guardian," Arisella murmured.

None of them questioned it further. The lie was clean, carried enough truth in its tone to sound real. But Zen could feel the guilt in his chest.

They didn't need to know what really happened.

Not yet.

---

Later that afternoon, a note found its way to Zen and Lyra:

"The Archmage summons you. Come to the Tower."

They exchanged a glance.

"Here we go," Lyra muttered.

---

The Archmage's Tower

The tower loomed tall in the center of Grandovale Academy. Made of ancient darkstone and silver runes, it was a relic of a bygone age. The spiral staircase led them to the upper chamber, where silence blanketed the room like a forgotten secret.

He stood there—tall, regal, cloaked in indigo. The Archmage.

His presence was quiet—but oppressive. Not through power alone, but familiarity.

"I assume you know why you're here," the Archmage said, turning his covered face toward them.

"We do," Lyra said, bowing slightly.

Zen didn't bow. But he watched. Listened.

Zen narrowed his eyes.

I've felt this before.

"I trust your recovery is going well," the Archmage said, voice smooth, ageless.

"We're fine, Headmaster," Lyra replied politely.

He turned his masked gaze to Zen. "How did you kill the Sovereign?"

Zen stepped forward, composed. "Like we told the others. A voice froze it mid-combat. We struck together when it dropped its guard."

The Archmage tilted his head.

"Do you believe it was divine will?"

"We don't know what it was," Zen replied honestly. "But we were out of time, and we took the chance."

Silence stretched.

Then, the Archmage waved his hand. "You may go."

Just like that.

Zen didn't relax, though. He could feel it. The scrutiny. The suspicion behind that mask. That knowing aura. But he said nothing.

---

Evening – By the Lake

The orange sun dipped behind the distant hills, casting golden ripples across the academy's shimmering lake. Zen sat at the water's edge, arms resting on his knees. He stared at the sky, then at the quiet ripples.

Still no Nex.

"Hey."

He glanced to the side. Lyra stood there, holding two cups of berry tea. She sat down next to him and handed him one.

"You've been off today."

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Zen didn't answer immediately.

"I'm fine."

"No, you're not."

She looked at him with concern, not pressing—just... waiting.

Finally, Zen lowered his eyes.

"There's someone who's been with me for a few months now," he said quietly. "A spirit... I named him Nex."

Lyra blinked. "A spirit?"

He nodded. "I summoned it during one of my travels. Accidentally. Or maybe fatefully. I don't know. Ever since then... it's always been there. Talking. Guiding me. Laughing. It has a form—like a floating cube with runes, sharp tongue, annoying habits."

Lyra looked confused, but not judgmental.

"Why didn't you ever say anything?"

Zen gave a faint, tired smile. "Because no one else can see it. Or hear it. I wasn't sure if I should tell anyone. But... today, it's gone silent. Completely."

He looked out over the lake.

"And I don't know why that terrifies me."

Lyra leaned back, watching the sky. "So you've had this spirit watching over you all this time... and today is the first time you felt alone."

Zen nodded slightly.

"I don't think you're crazy," Lyra said softly. "Even if it is a little dramatic."

Zen chuckled.

"But I do know something else," she continued. "You've been holding too much by yourself. If this spirit—Nex, right?—was helping carry that weight, then now... let me carry some of it too."

The wind blew gently. Her words settled deep in Zen's chest.

"Thanks," he murmured.

They sat in silence, side by side as the sun sank further below the horizon. The soft waves lapped the shore, and the sky turned from orange to indigo.

For now, the world felt quiet.

But deep down, Zen could feel it.

Change was coming...