The morning came
And Raz couldn't stop thinking about that encounter with Thomas. He wondered whether he would be capable of obtaining that magic. And then, he went outside.
The morning was clear, almost too quiet.
The training yard was still covered in dew. The stones shimmered beneath the soft light of dawn. There were no soldiers, no noise. Only a single figure standing at the center of the field.
Thomas.
Blond hair reflecting the light as if it absorbed the sun itself. Blue eyes, focused. Serene. His posture wasn't arrogant; it was disciplined.
Raz watched from behind a column, hidden in shadow.
Not transformed.
No fangs.
Just himself.
His eyes analyzed every movement.
Thomas placed one hand over his heart.
The other extended forward.
He took a deep breath.
The air shifted.
It wasn't immediate. It wasn't violent. It was subtle.
As if the light itself responded to his heartbeat.
A faint ring began to form around him, expanding slowly. It wasn't his ultimate technique. It was a controlled version, a restrained practice.
The light spread outward in soft waves.
And then Raz felt it.
It wasn't pain.
It was… rejection.
As if something inside his chest shrank.
As if two incompatible energies barely brushed against one another.
A small sound escaped his lips.
A soft click of air.
An almost imperceptible muffled groan.
And he took a step back.
The sole of his boot scraped against a damp pebble.
Chrrk.
A minimal sound.
But in a silent courtyard… it was enough.
Thomas' eyes snapped open.
The wave of light dissipated.
He turned his head quickly, alert but not aggressive.
"Who's there?"
Silence.
Raz evaluated in a fraction of a second.
It didn't seem like Thomas had detected anything dark.
He had only heard the noise.
Good.
Raz stepped out of the shadows with his usual relaxed smile, hands visible.
"Easy, easy," he said lightly. "I didn't mean to interrupt."
Thomas studied him for a few seconds.
Then his expression changed.
It softened.
"Ah. Hero Raz, correct?"
Raz inclined his head slightly.
"The one and only. Sorry if I startled you."
Thomas shook his head with a faint smile.
"No. I was the one who overreacted. The silence here sometimes makes any sound seem bigger than it is."
Raz observed him carefully.
"You train very early."
"The light is purer at dawn," Thomas replied. "It's easier to focus."
Raz walked a few steps toward the center of the yard, not getting too close.
"I've never seen level-five light magic up close before."
Thomas tilted his head slightly.
"Does it interest you?"
Raz's smile deepened.
"I'm interested in anything strong."
Thomas let out a soft laugh.
"That sounds more ambitious than curious."
"Maybe I'm both."
The wind stirred Thomas' cloak gently.
He watched Raz calmly.
"Did you feel something just now?"
Raz held his gaze.
That question was dangerous.
But Thomas didn't sound accusatory.
He sounded genuinely curious.
Raz shrugged.
"Just the change in temperature. It's different from ordinary elemental magic."
Thomas nodded slowly.
"Light isn't like fire or lightning. It doesn't burn through heat. It burns by nature."
The words lingered in the air.
Raz remembered that slight rejection in his chest.
Interesting.
"And does it hurt?" he asked casually.
Thomas looked at him.
"If you have something dark inside you… yes."
Silence.
Just a second.
Then Thomas added with a calm smile:
"But don't worry. That's not something that happens to normal people."
Raz held his smile. "Perfect!"
Thomas picked up a nearby water bottle.
"If you'd like, we could train together sometime. It's always good to measure strength."
Raz inclined his head.
"I'd like that very much."
And he meant it.
Later in the Strategy Room
The king was in discussion with his advisers.
Ariane, impeccable as always, listened with calculated attention.
—The creature outbreaks keep appearing in isolated areas —a general reported.
Gaius crossed his arms.
—They're not following normal migration patterns.
Thomas spoke calmly.
—They don't seem to be born from natural ecosystems. It's as if… someone is altering something.
The king frowned.
—Altering how?
Thomas shook his head slightly.
—I don't know yet.
Ariane kept her expression neutral.
But inside, her mind was moving quickly.
The balance was shifting.
And Thomas was an inconvenient variable.
That night
Raz was sitting in his room.
Violeta remained in the shadows, as always.
—Master… did something happen? —she asked softly.
Raz rested his elbows on his knees.
—Light… is different.
Violeta did not respond.
—It didn't harm me —he continued—But it reacted.
He placed a hand over his chest.
Remembering the small, involuntary sound.
That faint snap of air that had almost given him away.
He couldn't afford mistakes like that.
Not with a level five mage in the castle.
He smiled faintly.
—Interesting.
He lay back on the bed.
Stared at the ceiling.
If he could absorb darkness…
Could he absorb light without destroying himself?
And if he did…
Would he still be himself?
His eyes slowly closed.
The smile was still there.