The opulent Guildhall felt colder than usual, despite the roaring fireplace at the far end of the grand hall. Its polished marble floors, usually a testament to the Ascendant Guild's order and prosperity, seemed to reflect the unease churning in Ethan’s gut. He'd been summoned on short notice, told only that his presence was required for a “meeting of significance.” Given the knowing glances and hushed whispers he’d received since closing the Cerberus Gate, he had a pretty good idea what that significance entailed.

He found them waiting for him near the ornate fountain, its waters shimmering under the magically-augmented light. Marcus Volkov and Valerie Dubois. The Golden Boy and the Ice Queen. Two of the Guild’s most celebrated Ascendants, both known for their raw power and unwavering loyalty…or so the public believed. Ethan had a feeling their loyalty was more accurately directed at the power structure that had elevated them.

Marcus, tall and impeccably dressed even in his casual attire, had the kind of chiselled good looks that graced magazine covers. His power stemmed from manipulating earth, creating golems and causing tremors with a flick of his wrist. Valerie, equally striking with her platinum blonde hair and piercing blue eyes, wielded ice magic with ruthless efficiency, able to conjure blizzards and encase enemies in impenetrable prisons of frost. They were a formidable pair, and their combined influence within the Guild was considerable.

They turned as Ethan approached, their expressions carefully neutral, but their eyes held a glint of barely-concealed disdain. Valerie spoke first, her voice as crisp and cold as the element she commanded.

“Blackwood,” she said, the name sounding like a curse on her lips. “We’ve been expecting you.”

Marcus gave a curt nod, his gaze sweeping over Ethan with a dismissive air. “Your recent…performance…at the Cerberus Gate has garnered some attention. Undeserved, in my opinion.”

Ethan clenched his jaw, resisting the urge to retort. He knew this was coming. His sudden surge in power, however carefully masked, hadn’t gone unnoticed. He’d become a variable in their carefully controlled equation, a potential disruptor they needed to assess and, if necessary, eliminate.

“I was simply fulfilling my duty,” Ethan replied, keeping his voice even.

Valerie scoffed. “Duty? Or a desperate attempt to claw your way out of mediocrity? Everyone knows you were practically a glorified janitor before. Now, suddenly, you’re closing unstable Rifts? Please.”

The jab stung, but Ethan refused to show it. He knew they were trying to provoke him, to push him into a corner where he’d be forced to reveal more of his newfound abilities. He needed to play this carefully.

“I’m not sure what you’re implying,” Ethan said. “But I assure you, my intentions are purely for the benefit of the Guild and the city.”

Marcus stepped closer, his eyes narrowed. “That’s precisely what we want to determine. There have been…whispers. Rumors of a rapid and unnatural increase in power. Something…off about your methods.”

Ethan felt a knot tighten in his stomach. They were fishing, but they were getting dangerously close. He needed to change the subject, to deflect their suspicions before they stumbled upon the truth of the Resonance System.

“Perhaps you’re simply jealous,” Ethan said, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. “After all, it’s not every day that someone like me overshadows established Ascendants such as yourselves.”

The bait worked. Marcus’s eyes flashed with anger, and Valerie’s expression hardened.

“Jealous?” Marcus scoffed. “Of you? Don’t flatter yourself. We simply want to ensure that the power you wield is legitimate. That you’re not a danger to yourself…or to others.”

“And how do you propose to do that?” Ethan asked, already knowing the answer.

Valerie stepped forward, her voice laced with a chilling sweetness. “We propose a friendly duel. A simple demonstration of your abilities. Nothing formal, of course. Just a chance for us to…assess your capabilities.”

The challenge hung in the air, thick with unspoken threats and veiled accusations. Ethan hesitated. He knew this was a trap. The Guild, or rather, the faction within the Guild, was using Marcus and Valerie to gauge the extent of his power. Accepting the duel meant playing into their hands, exposing himself to further scrutiny. But refusing would be an admission of guilt, confirming their suspicions and likely leading to even more aggressive investigations.

He glanced around the hall, noticing the subtle signs of observation. The Guild officials pretending to be engrossed in paperwork, the Ascendants casually leaning against pillars, their eyes fixed on him. They were all waiting, watching, eager to see what he would do.

“I’m not sure that’s necessary,” Ethan said, stalling for time. “I’m perfectly willing to demonstrate my abilities in a controlled environment, under the Guild’s supervision.”

Marcus chuckled, a cold, mirthless sound. “Don’t be ridiculous. The Guild has already given its…blessing…to this arrangement. Besides,” he added, his voice dropping to a low, menacing whisper, “are you afraid, Blackwood? Afraid of being exposed for the fraud that you are?”

The insult was deliberate, designed to goad him into action. Ethan knew he couldn’t back down. Not now. Not with so much at stake.

He took a deep breath, forcing himself to remain calm. “Very well,” he said, his voice clear and steady. “I accept your challenge.”

A collective murmur rippled through the hall. Marcus and Valerie exchanged a satisfied glance.

“Excellent,” Marcus said, a predatory smile spreading across his face. “We’ll meet you in the training arena tomorrow at dawn. Don’t be late.”

As Marcus and Valerie turned and walked away, Ethan felt a cold shiver run down his spine. He knew he was walking into a carefully orchestrated trap, a trial by fire designed to test his limits and expose his secrets. He had to find a way to navigate this challenge, to showcase his power without revealing the true potential of the Resonance System.

He needed a plan.

He found Maya in the Guild’s library, surrounded by stacks of ancient tomes and forgotten scrolls. She looked up as he approached, her brow furrowed with concern.

“Ethan, what’s wrong? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”

He quickly recounted the encounter with Marcus and Valerie, the veiled threats, and the impending duel. Maya listened intently, her expression growing increasingly grim.

“They’re trying to smoke you out,” she said, her voice low. “They suspect something, and they’re using the duel to force you to reveal it.”

“I know,” Ethan replied. “But I couldn’t refuse. Refusing would have been even more suspicious.”

“So, what are you going to do?” Maya asked. “Are you going to hold back? Show them just enough to satisfy their curiosity?”

Ethan shook his head. “I can’t. If I hold back too much, they’ll think I’m weak, and they’ll keep pushing. I need to show them that I’m a force to be reckoned with, but without revealing the true extent of my power.”

Maya sighed. “That’s a difficult balancing act. You’ll need to be careful.”

“I know,” Ethan said. “But I have an idea. I can use their arrogance against them. They underestimate me, they always have. I can use that to my advantage.”

He explained his plan to Maya, outlining his strategy for the duel. He would show them enough power to impress them, but he would also leave them with questions, with a sense that there was more to him than met the eye. He would make them believe that he was a threat, but not a threat they couldn’t control.

Maya listened carefully, offering suggestions and pointing out potential pitfalls. By the time they finished, Ethan felt a little more confident, a little more prepared for the challenge that lay ahead.

As he left the library, he glanced back at Maya, a silent message of gratitude passing between them. He knew he could count on her. She was the only person he truly trusted within the Guild, the only one who understood the risks he was taking.

He walked through the Guildhall, the weight of the impending duel pressing down on him. He knew that tomorrow would be a turning point, a moment that would determine his fate within the Guild. He had to be ready. He had to be strong. He had to survive. And perhaps, just perhaps, he could use this opportunity to turn the tables on those who sought to control him. The hunt for essence would continue tonight.

The Resonance System hummed within him, a source of both immense power and terrifying responsibility. He was no longer just Echo, the weak and underestimated Ascendant. He was something more, something dangerous. He was the Ascendant who held the system.