The following afternoon found Adam ascending the spiral staircase to the Dawn Chamber, his mind still processing the disturbing historical pattern he had discovered regarding previous Crossmarked individuals. His bi-weekly session with Archmage Levian presented both opportunity and risk—a chance to gain insight from the ancient mage while avoiding revealing too much about his own concerns.
The chamber appeared empty when Adam arrived, though he knew better than to trust appearances where Levian was concerned. The archmage had a fondness for perception tests disguised as casual arrivals.
"Your energy signature betrays your thoughts, Prince Adam," Levian's voice came from seemingly nowhere before the archmage shimmered into visibility near the eastern alcove. "Turbulent currents beneath a controlled surface. Something troubles you."
Adam bowed respectfully, unsurprised by either the concealment technique or the perceptive observation. "I've been researching historical precedents, Archmage."
"Ah." Levian's shifting eyes settled momentarily into a knowing violet hue. "You found the archives' limited collection on your predecessors."
There was no point denying it. "Yes. The pattern is... concerning."
"Seven documented cases, seven premature ends," Levian stated flatly, moving to the chamber's center. "Though the actual number is likely higher, with some cases lost to history or deliberately obscured."
"All pursued Void energy," Adam said carefully. "All met similar fates."
The archmage studied him with penetrating intensity. "And you wonder if you're predestined to follow the same path."
"The statistical consistency suggests more than coincidence," Adam replied, framing his concern in academic terms rather than personal anxiety.
Levian gestured for Adam to join him at the center of the chamber. Rather than the usual training apparatus, today a single crystalline sphere rested on a pedestal—an advanced scrying tool used for complex energy visualizations.
"The Crossmark is not merely an ocular curiosity," Levian began, activating the sphere with a touch. "It's a physical manifestation of a rare energy configuration that exists in certain individuals from birth—or sometimes manifests later through extreme circumstances."
The sphere illuminated, displaying a complex, three-dimensional representation of the Spectrum—seven distinct energy types flowing in carefully maintained separation.
"Traditional magical theory treats these seven aspects as fundamentally discrete," Levian continued. "Practitioners may develop secondary affinities with dedicated study, but remain fundamentally aligned with their dominant aspect."
The image shifted, showing a typical mage's energy signature—predominantly green for Emerald affinity, with minor connections to adjacent aspects.
"But Crossmarked individuals," Levian continued, altering the display again, "possess a fundamentally different energy structure."
The new visualization showed energy flowing in a radically different pattern—a central core of white light from which all seven aspects emerged, with stronger channels for some but potential pathways to all.
"Instead of developing affinity for specific spectrum aspects," the archmage explained, "you naturally access the pre-differentiation state—the unified energy that precedes spectrum separation. Your primary manifestation may be Crimson, but that's merely the path of least resistance for your particular configuration."
This aligned with Adam's own discoveries in both lifetimes, though he had never seen it so clearly visualized. The explanation also suggested why Crossmarked individuals inevitably developed capabilities across multiple spectrum aspects regardless of their training.
"And the connection to Void energy?" Adam asked, focusing on his primary concern.
Levian's expression grew solemn. "That is where theory becomes more speculative. The dominant hypothesis suggests that access to pre-differentiation energy naturally leads to questioning what exists beyond the Spectrum itself."
The visualization changed again, showing the unified white energy core with tendrils extending outward past the seven aspects into an area of darkness that seemed to absorb rather than emit light.
"If the Spectrum represents all forms of creative energy," Levian continued, "then what exists in opposition? What constitutes the absence, the negation, the void? This question eventually obsesses every Crossmarked individual I've studied or encountered."
"Including the Crimson Lady," Adam said, referencing the most recent case from his research.
A flash of surprise crossed Levian's features. "You found references to Subject R-7. Interesting. Her case was supposedly expunged from most historical records."
"The archives contained limited information," Adam replied carefully. "Execution by Radiant Blade following Void contamination."
"A simplified account of a far more complex tragedy," Levian said, his tone suggesting personal knowledge. "Renna was brilliant—perhaps the most talented Crimson theorist of her generation. Her work on transformation matrices revolutionized entire branches of practical application."
The use of a personal name rather than formal designation caught Adam's attention. "You knew her personally."
"I did." Levian's gaze grew distant. "I was younger then, still establishing my reputation as a multi-spectrum adept. We collaborated on several theoretical projects before her... decline."
The archmage waved his hand, dissolving the visualization entirely. "Her Crossmark manifested spontaneously in her twentieth year following a near-fatal magical accident. Unlike most cases, she had already established herself as a respected theorist before the manifestation granted her expanded capabilities."
"What led her to Void experimentation?" Adam asked, recognizing the rare opportunity to understand a predecessor's trajectory.
"Intellectual hubris, initially," Levian replied. "The same curiosity that made her brilliant also made her reckless. When conventional boundaries fell before her expanded abilities, she began questioning whether any limitations were truly fundamental."
The parallels to Adam's own path in his previous life were unsettlingly precise. His pursuit of Void energy had followed a similar progression—from testing conventional boundaries to questioning their very existence.
"The physical corruption began subtly," Levian continued, his voice taking on a warning tone. "Dark veins extending from her eyes. Moments of personality fragmentation during high-energy manipulation. But the theoretical results were so promising that she ignored the warning signs."
"Until it was too late," Adam surmised.
"Until she was no longer entirely herself," Levian corrected grimly. "The final incident wasn't simply a magical accident or power overreach. She deliberately tore a permanent rift between realities, believing she could harness Void energy to transcend the limitations of physical existence."
Adam maintained his composed expression despite the chilling resonance with his own past ambitions. In his original timeline, his final experiments had involved similar attempts to create stable Void rifts for sustained power extraction.
"The Seven Councils authorized intervention only when the contamination spread beyond her control, affecting an entire district of Stormhold," Levian concluded. "By then, execution was mercy rather than punishment. What we terminated was no longer fully human."
The archmage fixed Adam with an intense gaze, his eyes cycling rapidly through spectrum colors before settling on a piercing white—the color of pure, undifferentiated energy.
"I tell you this not to frighten you, Prince Adam, but to warn you. The Crossmark grants extraordinary potential, but it also creates a unique vulnerability to forces beyond the Spectrum. Every predecessor followed this path not because of destiny, but because the same gift that allows you to perceive unified energy also allows you to sense what lies beyond it."
"And that perception becomes temptation," Adam said quietly.
"Precisely." Levian nodded gravely. "The question is whether awareness of this pattern gives you the capacity to resist what others could not."
The question hung in the air between them—a challenge and an evaluation. Adam considered his response carefully, aware that complete honesty was impossible without revealing his reincarnation, yet knowing that Levian would detect any significant deception.
"I believe understanding a pattern is the first step toward breaking it," he said finally. "If previous Crossmarked individuals were drawn to the Void through natural progression of their abilities, perhaps the key is to deliberately cultivate different paths of exploration."
Levian's expression remained neutral, though something like approval flickered in his white eyes. "A promising perspective. Which is why today's training will focus on an aspect of your potential that predecessors typically neglected."
The archmage gestured, and the chamber configuration shifted. The seven alcoves illuminated simultaneously, each crystal activating to its signature spectrum energy.
"Instead of pursuing greater power or boundary dissolution," Levian explained, "we will focus on harmony and balance—maintaining the distinct integrity of each spectrum aspect while acknowledging their unified source."
It was a fundamentally different approach than Adam had ever considered. In his previous life, his focus had always been on breaking barriers, transcending limitations, pursuing ever greater power. The concept of deliberate balance rather than boundary dissolution represented a paradigm shift.
"This technique was developed specifically for multi-spectrum practitioners," Levian continued. "It allows simultaneous awareness of distinct energy types without forcing unification or dominance."
The training session that followed was unlike any Adam had experienced in either lifetime. Rather than channeling or manipulating energy, he was guided through a complex meditation that involved perceiving all seven spectrum aspects simultaneously while maintaining their distinct characteristics.
The exercise was extraordinarily challenging, requiring a form of divided consciousness Adam had never attempted. Traditional magical training emphasized focus and singular attention; this demanded a fractured awareness that was initially disorienting.
"Most practitioners never attempt this level of divided perception," Levian explained as Adam struggled to maintain simultaneous awareness of seven distinct energy flows. "Their natural affinity creates inherent preference that makes true neutrality impossible."
"But Crossmarked individuals can achieve this balance," Adam surmised, beginning to understand the purpose of the exercise.
"In theory, yes. Though few have tried." Levian adjusted the energy flow from the Violet crystal, increasing its complexity. "Most are seduced by the power of boundary dissolution rather than the subtler potential of harmonic maintenance."
As the session progressed, Adam gradually developed a tentative grasp of the technique. Rather than his usual approach of imposing control through will and precision, this required a more receptive stance—allowing the energies to maintain their natural patterns while simply observing without interference.
By the time the training concluded, Adam had achieved only the most basic level of the harmonic perception Levian described. Yet even this preliminary understanding suggested possibilities he had never considered in his previous life.
"You show aptitude for this approach," Levian noted as they completed the session. "Which is both promising and significant. Few of your predecessors demonstrated patience for balanced perception."
"It's... different from conventional techniques," Adam acknowledged, genuinely intrigued by the approach despite its contrast with his previous methodologies. "Less immediately powerful but more comprehensive."
"Power versus understanding," Levian said with a nod. "The eternal balance. Most practitioners choose the former, particularly those with unusual capabilities. They become so captivated by what they can do that they neglect to fully understand what they are doing."
The archmage moved to deactivate the chamber's crystals, his movements precise and economical. "I believe this harmonic approach offers you a potential divergence from the historical pattern. A path your predecessors might have taken, had they not been so fixated on boundary dissolution."
Adam considered this carefully. In his previous life, he had indeed been consumed by the pursuit of greater power, viewing understanding primarily as a means to that end rather than valuable in itself. The balanced perception Levian demonstrated represented a fundamentally different relationship with magical energy.
"I would like to continue developing this technique," Adam said, surprising himself with his genuine interest.
"Good." Levian's expression remained neutral, though a hint of satisfaction colored his tone. "I've prepared theoretical texts that support this approach, though they're rarely consulted by conventional practitioners. You'll find them in your quarters."
As they concluded the session and Adam prepared to depart, Levian spoke again, his voice taking on an unusual gravity.
"One more thing, Prince Adam. You were observed in the archives yesterday."
Adam maintained his composed expression despite the internal alarm this confirmation triggered. "I assumed the documentation ward would record my access."
"I'm not referring to standard monitoring," Levian clarified. "Someone with significant Obsidian capability was tracking your research choices specifically."
So the archmage knew about the shadow observer. Adam considered his response carefully. "I noticed a presence. Female, I believe, based on the briefly visible physical form. Advanced Obsidian practitioner."
Levian's eyebrows rose slightly. "You detected her despite a concealment technique that would evade most masters, let alone students. Impressive."
"A momentary disruption in her technique," Adam explained modestly, though in truth his adult experience and heightened perception had made the detection possible.
"Nonetheless, your awareness suggests developing capabilities beyond your formal training." The archmage studied him thoughtfully. "As for your observer, there are... factions within the magical community with particular interest in Crossmarked individuals. Some scholarly, some political, some with more troubling motivations."
"The Obsidian Circle?" Adam suggested, recalling references from his historical research.
"Among others." Levian neither confirmed nor denied the specific group. "What matters is that your activities are being monitored more closely than standard Academy oversight would suggest. Your research into previous Crossmarked individuals will have been noted and reported."
"Should I be concerned?" Adam asked directly.
"Cautious, rather than concerned," Levian advised. "Knowledge is never neutral, particularly knowledge about liminal magical states. Those who fear what the Crossmark represents may interpret academic interest as the first step toward dangerous experimentation."
The warning was clear, though Levian's motivation for sharing it remained ambiguous. Was the archmage genuinely concerned for Adam's welfare, or simply ensuring that a valuable research subject didn't stumble into political complications?
"I appreciate the warning," Adam said sincerely. "I'll be more mindful of how my scholarly interests might be perceived."
"Good." Levian gestured toward the door, signaling the end of their session. "And perhaps balance your historical research with more conventional topics for the immediate future. There's value in appearing predictable even when pursuing unconventional understanding."
As Adam descended the spiral staircase from the Dawn Chamber, he processed the session's revelations and implications. The historical pattern of Crossmarked individuals falling to Void corruption was even more firmly established than his research had suggested. Levian's personal knowledge of the Crimson Lady added disturbing detail to the trajectory Adam himself had followed in his previous life.
Yet the archmage had also offered something unexpected—a potential alternative path through harmonic perception rather than boundary dissolution. A technique that emphasized balance rather than transcendence, integration rather than dominance.
Could such an approach actually break the historical pattern? Or was it merely a more sophisticated route to the same destination?
[ALTERNATIVE DEVELOPMENT PATHWAY IDENTIFIED]
[HARMONIC PERCEPTION: SIGNIFICANT DIVERGENCE POTENTIAL]
[SURVEILLANCE THREAT LEVEL: MODERATE]
The system's assessment aligned with Adam's own evaluation. The harmonic technique represented a genuine divergence from his previous magical development—and potentially from the path followed by his Crossmarked predecessors.
As for the surveillance, knowledge of the observer's existence provided its own advantage. In his previous life, Adam had operated in paranoid isolation, assuming enemies everywhere without confirmation. Now he could navigate more precisely, aware of specific interest in his activities without overreacting to perceived threats.
When Adam reached the royal quarters he shared with Marcus during Academy days, he found the promised texts from Levian waiting on his study desk—three ancient volumes bound in white leather with silver embossing, their titles faded with age:
"Harmonic Resonance: The Balanced Perception of Spectrum Energies" "Seven in One: Unified Awareness Without Boundary Dissolution" "The Concentric Circles: Maintaining Distinction Within Unity"
None were familiar from his previous life's studies, suggesting they represented a tradition of magical theory he had entirely overlooked in his pursuit of power. As Adam carefully opened the first volume, he found a small note inscribed in Levian's precise handwriting on the first page:
"The path not taken often reveals more than the one well-traveled. Choose with awareness rather than instinct."
The message seemed to directly address his situation—the opportunity to diverge from the historical pattern of his predecessors by making conscious choices rather than following the apparently natural progression of Crossmarked abilities.
As Adam settled into study of the unfamiliar theoretical approach, he found himself genuinely engaged by concepts he would have dismissed as irrelevant in his previous life. The harmonic techniques described a relationship with magical energy fundamentally different from the dominance-oriented approach he had mastered before.
Whether this new path would ultimately lead to redemption or merely more sophisticated darkness remained to be seen. But for the first time since his rebirth, Adam sensed a genuine possibility of breaking the pattern that had led every previous Crossmarked individual—including his former self—to destruction.
That possibility alone made the approach worth pursuing—both strategically and, somewhat to his surprise, for its own intrinsic interest.