The infirmary was quiet, save for the soft rise and fall of Riven's chest and the faint flicker of Lily's heat magic as she sat by his side. Kairo's crimson eyes scanned the room once, ensuring his friends were stable, before he turned toward the exit.
"Igron," Kairo muttered under his breath, the name carried like a summons. He moved swiftly through the academy corridors, silent and deliberate, finally reaching Igron's training grounds.
Igron was already sparring with several senior students, illusions flickering around him, each one striking with deadly precision. He noticed Kairo immediately, the red glow of his eyes cutting through the chaos.
"You've been gone a while," Igron said, breaking off his sparring and stepping forward, curiosity and a hint of amusement in his tone. "What brings you here?"
Kairo's gaze was sharp. "I need your help. The assailants who attacked Riven and Lily… I need to find them."
Igron's brow arched. "That small group? You want me to chase them down?" He smirked slightly, though his eyes were calculating.
"Yes," Kairo replied calmly, "before they plan something bigger. I don't want this repeated."
Igron paused, observing the seriousness in Kairo's tone. He could sense the weight behind the request—not just the strategic advantage, but the personal stakes. He had always known Kairo to protect what he valued.
"Fine," Igron said finally, "I'll find them. But you're paying me back for this later." His smirk widened, shadowing the sharp precision in his gaze.
Kairo gave a subtle nod, acknowledging the promise. "I trust you."
Meanwhile, back in the infirmary, Lily's hands gripped the edge of the bed as she processed the attack, her mental exhaustion heavy. "I… I should've been able to fight," she whispered to herself. Riven stirred slightly, murmuring in his sleep, and she felt the weight of helplessness lift only slightly.
Outside, Igron's shadows began moving, tracing the paths of the assailants, tracking them with deadly precision. Kairo followed silently, observing, knowing that when the attackers were found, their reckoning would be swift.
The academy grounds remained deceptively calm, but for Eclipse Faction, the storm was only just beginning.