Blame

The sound of water splashing echoed across the quiet underground world.

Elder Lorthan stared at the ripples on the spiritual lake, his expression frozen in disbelief.

He had just explained the dangers and pain that awaited Atticus in the lake, yet the boy hadn't shown the slightest hint of hesitation. It hadn't fazed him at all.

Lorthan had never seen a 17-year-old so fearless in his life. It should have been a moment to make any elder smile with pride. However, coldness filled Lorthan's face instead.

It was as though, the moment Atticus entered the lake, a switch had been flipped. Every trace of the sagely calm aura Lorthan carried vanished, replaced by an icy gaze fixed firmly on the lake.

'Such a shame,' he thought bitterly.

Atticus Ravenstein, the greatest genius humanity had ever seen. A boy foretold to raise humanity to unprecedented heights. A boy whose potential was immeasurable, destined to stand at the top.