The “After School” Anomaly Commission in Neverness to Everness (NTE) is a school-instance encounter built around a single rule: the Shadow Man becomes dangerous the moment you stop watching it. The commission is finished only after you collect two keys and interact with the TV to shut it down.
Quick answer: Keep the Shadow Man in view as you move, take the first key from the flower pot area, take the second key from the Shadow Man upstairs, then turn off the TV.
After School Anomaly Commission: What makes the Shadow Man move
The Shadow Man’s behavior is tied to your camera. While it remains in view, it stays still or moves slowly enough to manage. When you turn away or lose sight of it, it rushes you.
If it touches you, the commission resets you back to the starting point inside the anomaly.
Where to start the After School anomaly (Bridge Crossing, Mr. Brown’s Shop)
The anomaly starts in the Bridge Crossing area, near Mr. Brown’s Shop. Approaching the anomaly’s TV is the entry trigger, pulling you into the school instance.
Step 1: Travel to Bridge Crossing and navigate to Mr. Brown’s Shop area. Move toward the anomaly TV until the commission pulls you into the school.
Step 2: Once inside, orient your camera so the Shadow Man stays in frame while you begin moving through the hallway.
First key: Flower pot area
The first progression gate is the key located near the flower pot area. The key is easy to miss if you rush, because the pressure comes from camera control rather than a traditional fight.
Step 1: Advance through the hallway while keeping your camera trained so the Shadow Man remains visible as much as possible.
Step 2: Reach the flower pot area and pick up the first key as soon as the interact prompt appears.
Step 3: Immediately re-center your view so the Shadow Man is back in sight before repositioning for the next route.
Use the first key to reach the second floor
After you have the first key, the next required action is using it on a nearby locked door to access the stairs.
Step 1: Find the locked door intended for the first key and open it to access the staircase route.
Step 2: Move up to the second floor while keeping the Shadow Man controlled with your camera, especially in tight turns where it’s easy to lose sight of it.
Second key: Attached to the Shadow Man
The second key is not placed on a surface. It’s attached to the Shadow Man, forcing you to approach it closely enough to interact.
Step 1: Locate the Shadow Man on the second floor and keep your camera locked on it as you close distance.
Step 2: Interact to take the second key, then create space quickly (this is one of the few moments where you may briefly break perfect camera control).
How to confirm the commission is complete
Having both keys does not finish the commission on its own. The clear condition is interacting with the TV to shut it down.
Step 1: Return to the room with the TV after you have both keys.
Step 2: Interact with the TV to turn it off.
You’ll know it worked when the anomaly ends, and you’re returned out of the school instance, with the commission marked complete and rewards issued through the normal completion flow.
When After School doesn’t progress as expected
- You’re being reset repeatedly because the Shadow Man touches you (usually after you turn the camera away or lose sight of it).
- You collected the first key but didn’t use it on the correct locked door to reach the stairs.
- You collected both keys but didn’t return to the TV and shut it down, which is the completion trigger.