Lysander spent the day before his third unblocking in careful preparation. He attended classes with measured performance, participated in discussions with calculated insight, and maintained the appearance of a talented student rather than the magical prodigy he was becoming. All the while, he felt eyes watching his every move—not just Cassius Drakos and his cronies, but faculty members and even other students who had begun to notice the "failed prince's" transformation.
"They're watching you more closely today," Marcus murmured during their shared lunch period. "News of your summons to the palace must have spread."
"Let them watch," Lysander replied calmly. "Perception can be a powerful weapon when properly managed."
The afternoon brought Advanced Channeling class, where Lysander deliberately performed at exactly the level expected of him—no more, no less. The balance was delicate. Show too little, and Darius's spies would report inconsistency. Show too much, and he risked revealing his true potential before he was ready.
As twilight descended, members of The Broken Crown gathered briefly in their secure meeting room. Elara handed Lysander an enhanced dampening device.
"This should mask the magical discharge during your procedure," she explained. "But its range is limited. Professor Thorne needs to conduct the unblocking in the underground chambers for maximum concealment."
"We'll create diversions across the Academy," Julian added. "Nothing too obvious, but enough magical activity to obscure any leakage from your procedure."
Sera nodded. "I've arranged for three separate practice sessions in different towers. The magical signatures should confuse any monitoring."
"And I'll be channeling both Terra and Ignis publicly," Marcus said with nervous determination. "My first open demonstration of dual affinity."
Lysander looked at his allies with genuine appreciation. "Thank you. If all goes well, this unblocking will significantly advance our timeline."
"And if it doesn't go well?" Sera asked bluntly.
"Then The Broken Crown will need to continue without me," Lysander replied.
He departed through a side passage, making his way to the Academy's ancient underground chambers where Thorne and his associates waited. The space was different from previous sessions—larger, with elaborate protective wards inscribed across walls and floor. Headmistress Vail stood beside a crystalline table, her expression grave.
"We've enhanced the containment barriers," she informed him. "But this will be considerably more dangerous than previous unblockings."
Thorne nodded in agreement. "The third block is integrated with one of the fail-safes we identified. Removing it risks triggering catastrophic discharge."
"Then why attempt it at all?" Magister Selene asked, entering from a side chamber. "Why not wait until safer methods can be developed?"
"Because Crown Prince Darius leaves us no choice," Thorne replied grimly. "At the palace, imperial physicians would discover the partially removed blocks and likely attempt to reinforce them—an equally dangerous procedure if done without proper understanding of the existing structure."
Lysander settled onto the crystal table, placing Elara's dampening device on his chest. "What should I expect?"
"Pain beyond anything you've experienced," Vail said frankly. "And possibly moments of connecting to aspects of the Covenant itself. The third block specifically restricts interaction with ancient magical structures—including Covenant access points."
"Which is precisely why your brother fears your development," Thorne added. "The Aurelian bloodline can interact with the Covenant in ways others cannot."
Selene approached with a vial of glowing blue liquid. "This will help stabilize your channels during the procedure. It's a modified version of royal calming draught—designed for Anima practitioners specifically."
Lysander drank it without hesitation, feeling the cool liquid spread through his system. Almost immediately, his magical pathways began to tingle with increased sensitivity.
"We begin now," Thorne announced, activating the chamber's protective wards.
The three practitioners took positions around the table, each beginning to channel their specialized magic. Vail created the outer containment field, her power forming a shimmering dome over the proceedings. Selene established monitoring connections to Lysander's vital systems, her healing magic providing real-time support. Thorne focused directly on the blockage, using precise Umbra techniques to probe its structure.
Pain lanced through Lysander's body at the first contact with the block. Unlike previous procedures, where the pain had built gradually, this time it struck with immediate intensity. Every nerve ending felt as if it were burning from within.
"The block is actively resisting," Thorne reported, his brow furrowed in concentration. "It contains recursive defensive measures—designed to strengthen when attacked."
"His vital systems are fluctuating," Selene warned. "Heart rate accelerating beyond safe parameters."
Through the haze of agony, Lysander fought to maintain consciousness. He focused on his breathing, using techniques he'd mastered in his previous life to stabilize his magical channels.
"The fail-safe is beginning to activate," Thorne announced, voice tight with concern. "We may need to abort."
"No," Lysander gasped. "Continue."
Vail strengthened the containment field as magical energy began to discharge wildly from Lysander's body. "The reaction is stronger than anticipated. If the fail-safe fully triggers—"
"It won't," Lysander interrupted, focusing his remaining strength. Using his partially unblocked Anima abilities, he reached toward his own internal pathways, attempting to stabilize the fail-safe from within while Thorne worked to remove the block from without.
The coordination was excruciating but effective. Lysander felt the moment when Thorne's magic found purchase against the block's outer structure.
"I have it," Thorne announced. "Preparing for extraction."
The world dissolved into white-hot agony as Thorne began separating the block from Lysander's magical pathways. Blood poured from Lysander's nose and ears. His back arched involuntarily as power surged through newly opening channels.
Then, suddenly, everything changed.
Lysander's consciousness expanded beyond the chamber, beyond the Academy, connecting to something vast and ancient. For a brief moment, he perceived the Covenant itself—not as the simple magical contract described in imperial histories, but as a complex living system spread throughout Valterra. He sensed its weakening structure, the places where it had begun to fail, allowing magic to flow to those previously denied access.
And somewhere within that vast network, he felt recognition—as if the Covenant itself had become aware of his presence and responded.
Just as quickly, the connection severed as the third block shattered completely. Lysander collapsed back onto the table, gasping for breath as new power flooded his system. His magical senses expanded exponentially, perception extending throughout the Academy and beyond.
"Extraordinary," Thorne whispered, staring at the monitoring crystals. "The block is completely removed, but the fail-safe has been... repurposed rather than triggered."
"Impossible," Vail murmured, examining the readings. "The fail-safe structure has been integrated into his channeling system instead of detonating."
Selene focused on stabilizing Lysander's physical condition. "His recovery rate is unprecedented. Magical pathways are already adapting to the increased flow."
As Lysander slowly regained full awareness, he understood that something fundamentally had changed. The brief connection to the Covenant had altered something within him—accelerating his development beyond even his previous life's capabilities.
"How do you feel?" Thorne asked cautiously.
Lysander sat up, wiping blood from his face with a cloth Selene provided. "Different," he answered truthfully. "More connected to everything."
"You touched the Covenant directly," Vail said, her voice hushed. "The readings are unmistakable."
"Which makes you infinitely more dangerous in your brother's eyes," Thorne added grimly. "The summons to the palace has become even more perilous."
Lysander nodded, already forming new strategies. "Then we must ensure I'm prepared before I answer it."
The game had changed again. But this time, the pieces were moving in his favor.