KAIRO'S POV:
Morning came way too early. My whole body still ached from yesterday, and my head hurt from trying to remember that cursed name — Arcanum Obscurathis Valencrest Academy. Even saying it once made me feel like I was summoning a demon instead of transferring schools.
We arrived at the academy gates, and the first thing I noticed was how enormous it was — towers that looked like they touched the clouds, floating platforms glowing with runes, and banners that shimmered like they were alive. Yeah, no big deal. Just another day being thrown into a magical version of hell.
"Welcome to the Arcanum Obscurathis Valencrest Academy," Veyra announced proudly, waving her hand toward the breathtaking view.
I squinted. "Can we just call it... A.O.V.A.? Or maybe... Arca-something? That name's a tongue workout."
Before I could even finish laughing at my own joke, pain shot through my ear. "Ow—OW! Hey!"
Veyra had me by the ear like I was some kid caught stealing cookies. "It's not a joke, Kairo," she scolded, her voice low and sharp but still weirdly graceful. "This academy holds the most powerful mages in the realm. You should show some respect."
"Respect, right. Got it—ow—okay, okay, I'm respecting! I'm full of respect!" I groaned as she finally let go.
Lio was laughing behind me, the traitor. "You never learn, huh?"
"Laugh again and I'll ask her to enroll you in pronunciation class," I muttered, rubbing my ear.
Serena giggled softly beside us. "You do have to admit, it's kind of a long name."
"Thank you! Someone understands me!" I said, throwing my hands up in victory.
Veyra sighed dramatically. "Children," she muttered under her breath, pinching the bridge of her nose. Then she looked at us again with that serious, commanding expression. "Let's go. The Head Mages are waiting to meet you."
And just like that, my nerves kicked in again. Because if this was the school of S-Rank mages, then I had a feeling "waiting to meet you" probably meant "waiting to test your limits until you cry."
Still, as we walked through those grand gates, I couldn't help but grin.
New school. New chaos. New chance to get in trouble.
Bring it on, Arca-whatever-your-name-is.
I thought I'd seen enough of this academy from the outside.
But the moment we stepped into the main hall, my jaw almost hit the floor.
The walls weren't just stone — they moved. Glowing runes shimmered like fireflies, crawling across the marble surfaces before vanishing into thin air. Floating orbs of light drifted in the air, humming softly as if whispering ancient secrets. Above us, the ceiling wasn't a ceiling at all — it was a sky full of galaxies, stars swirling like someone had trapped the universe inside a dome.
"Whoa…" I muttered, unable to stop staring. "This place looks like someone threw up magic everywhere— but, like, in a good way."
Beside me, Veyra just chuckled softly, her heels clicking against the marble as she walked ahead with grace that made everyone stare.
"Welcome to the Hall of Arcanum Obscurathis Valencrest," she said, her tone proud yet calm. "The center of power and discipline in this academy."
Eryndor followed quietly, his eyes scanning every glowing detail. Even he seemed impressed, and that guy barely reacted to anything that didn't involve ice.
"Feels weird," I said, shoving my hands in my pockets. "It's like the air here's… alive."
"That's because it is," Veyra replied, turning to me with a knowing smile. "The academy itself is enchanted — it breathes mana, and it responds to emotions, energy, and intent. If you lose control here, this place will remind you who's in charge."
"Comforting," I muttered, though I couldn't hide my grin. My heart was pounding — nervous, yeah, but also excited.
This was it.
The big leagues.
The place where the most powerful mages were trained.
And somehow, me — the guy who still couldn't remember his own spell incantations — was walking into it.
Eryndor glanced at me, noticing my trembling hand. "You're nervous," he stated flatly.
I scoffed. "Pfft. Nervous? No way. I'm just— uh— letting my mana vibrate from excitement."
Veyra gave me a side-eye that said, 'Sure you are.'
We kept walking through the hall, and the deeper we went, the more I felt the magic pulse through the floor — like a heartbeat. The portraits along the walls moved slightly, their painted eyes following us. Mages of the past, I guessed. All staring. Judging.
When we finally reached the large golden doors at the end of the corridor, Veyra stopped.
"This," she said, looking back at us, "is where you'll meet the S-Rank mages."
My stomach did a somersault. I gulped. "Oh… great. No pressure, right?"
Eryndor sighed. "Try not to say anything stupid."
"No promises," I whispered back, and Veyra just smirked before pushing the doors open.
A wave of powerful energy hit me instantly, enough to make my skin prickle.
Inside the grand chamber were five figures — each radiating a different kind of magic, their presence so heavy it felt like the air was bowing to them.
And that's when I knew —
whatever was about to happen next… was going to change everything.
The doors creaked open, revealing a chamber so grand it almost made me forget how to breathe. Pillars carved with runes glowed faintly, and the air was thick with mana — the kind that made my skin hum like a live wire.
Five figures stood there, all radiating enough power to make the atmosphere tremble. These were the S-Rank mages. The strongest of the strong.
Before I could even blink, one of them — a tall boy wearing a black crop top with a smug grin plastered across his face — casually walked toward me. His hair was a silvery pink, eyes sharp and playful. He looked like trouble wrapped in confidence.
"Yo," he said, flashing a smile that could probably melt icebergs. "You must be the famous Kairo everyone's been talking about."
He extended his hand for a handshake, and I instinctively reached out—
—but before our hands could meet, someone stepped right between us.
Eryndor.
He blocked the handshake so smoothly it looked almost deliberate. His expression? Cold. Calm. Dangerous.
"Don't get too close," he said flatly, his icy-blue eyes narrowing.
The boy raised an eyebrow, clearly amused. "Oh? Overprotective, are we?"
He chuckled and tilted his head, peeking around Eryndor to grin at me. "Name's Renze D'Athrell, Flame-tier S-Rank. You can call me Ren."
Eryndor didn't budge an inch.
"Flame-tier or not," he said, voice low and sharp, "watch your distance."
Renze smirked, clearly enjoying the tension. "Relax, Ice Prince. I was just saying hello."
He stepped back slightly, hands raised in mock surrender. "Man, you must be fun at parties."
Kairo couldn't help but blink between the two — one radiating cool, sharp frost; the other, burning mischief and heat.
It was like watching fire and ice glare each other down — literally.
"Uh… thanks for the warm welcome?" I said awkwardly, scratching my head. "Or… cold one, depending on who you ask."
Renze laughed, clearly entertained, while Eryndor just shot me a warning look that screamed, 'Don't encourage him.'
Behind them, the other S-Rank mages watched with faint smiles or unimpressed expressions — one of them, a calm-looking girl with emerald eyes, murmured, "Renze's already starting again…"
Veyra cleared her throat, her voice slicing through the air like a whip. "That's enough introductions for now. You'll have plenty of time to get acquainted later."
Renze winked at me before walking back to his group. "Can't wait, lightning boy."
I blinked. Lightning boy? Great, I already had a nickname.
As the tension eased, I glanced at Eryndor, who stood beside me with arms crossed.
"Hey," I whispered, nudging him lightly, "didn't know you had a personal space rule for me."
He didn't even look at me. "That guy's annoying."
I smirked. "Jealous much?"
His icy glare could've frozen the sun.
"Keep talking," he said, "and I'll freeze your mouth shut."
I chuckled quietly.
Yeah… this was going to be one interesting academy.
The meeting hall was massive, but somehow Eryndor and I ended up sitting at the farthest corner — probably his idea. He liked quiet places. Or maybe he just didn't want anyone near us.
I was leaning back in my chair, trying to process everything that had happened — new academy, new people, and a very strict headmistress — when suddenly someone plopped down on the other side of me with zero hesitation.
"Miss me already, Lightning Boy?"
I turned my head. Of course. Renze.
The guy wore that same mischievous grin, resting his arm casually on the back of my chair like he owned the place. His fiery pink-silver hair shimmered slightly under the chandelier's glow.
Eryndor's glare from my left could've cut through steel.
"Didn't you have your own seat?" he said, voice colder than ever.
Renze smirked. "Yeah, but yours looked lonely."
I nearly choked trying not to laugh.
Renze turned back to me, completely ignoring the human glacier sitting beside me. "So, Kairo, right? Heard you fried half the academy with that lightning of yours."
I blinked. "...That's an exaggeration."
He leaned closer. "So it did happen?"
"...Maybe."
Renze chuckled. "You're more interesting than I thought."
He rested his chin on his hand, watching me like I was some puzzle he wanted to figure out. "You know, I'm a Fire Mage. Flame-tier, they call it. I don't just burn things — I shape fire, turn it into blades, armor, even wings."
"Wings?" I raised a brow. "That's new."
"Yeah," he said proudly. "Used to burn my back every time I summoned them. Now I just look hot while doing it."
I snorted. "You sound humble."
"Always." He grinned.
Meanwhile, Eryndor's jaw was tight, his fingers tapping lightly against the table. He wasn't even trying to hide that he was listening in.
Renze tilted his head slightly, noticing the tension but choosing to poke it anyway. "So… Ice Prince, you always this chatty, or is this your jealous mode?"
Eryndor slowly turned his head, voice low and sharp.
"Say that again, and you'll be a frozen campfire."
Renze grinned wider. "Ooh, scary."
I sighed, leaning back in my chair. "You two are gonna make me lose my mind."
Renze laughed, clearly having the time of his life. "Hey, can't blame me for wanting to know the new guy. You're not just lightning — you've got something else in there, don't you?"
My eyes flickered slightly. "How'd you—"
Renze smirked, tapping his temple. "Mana senses, Lightning Boy. You can't hide that much power forever. It leaks."
Eryndor's expression hardened, but he stayed quiet.
Renze stood up, stretching lazily. "Anyway, I'll let you two lovebirds— I mean, friends— have your peace." He winked at me and walked off before Eryndor could respond.
I groaned, running a hand through my hair. "He's gonna be a problem."
Eryndor muttered, still glaring at Renze's back, "He already is."
But deep down, I couldn't help but laugh.
Fire, ice, and lightning — this was definitely not going to end quietly.
Renze was everywhere.
If I turned around, there he was — waving, grinning, or casually pretending to "coincidentally" bump into me again.
At breakfast? He sat beside me.
At training? He volunteered to be my partner.
Even during lectures? He'd lean over and whisper random jokes that somehow got me laughing even when I tried not to.
I couldn't lie — the guy was funny, confident, and a little too carefree for someone in an elite academy like this.
But Eryndor? He didn't find it funny at all.
Every time Renze got within a few feet of me, Eryndor's aura dropped the temperature in the room by at least ten degrees. I swear, the poor plants in the hallway froze twice.
"Renze," Eryndor said one afternoon, standing between us again like a wall of frost. "Don't you have your own group to bother?"
Renze smirked. "Why bother others when your friend here is more fun?"
"I'm not his friend," Eryndor replied flatly.
"Ouch. He might disagree." Renze turned to me, raising a brow. "Right, Kairo?"
I blinked. "Uh… technically, we are friends, Eryndor."
Eryndor turned his head slowly, like he couldn't believe what I'd just said. "Kairo."
"What? He's nice!" I shrugged. "He helped me find the library earlier."
Renze winked. "See? I'm useful."
"You're suspicious," Eryndor shot back.
Renze put a hand to his chest, faking offense. "Me? Suspicious? I only have fire in my heart, Ice Prince."
Eryndor's hand twitched — I knew that twitch. He was this close to freezing Renze's mouth shut.
I sighed and grabbed Eryndor's wrist. "Hey, hey, chill—literally, chill. You're overreacting."
He looked at me, eyes serious. "No, Kairo. You don't sense it, but something about him… isn't normal. His mana fluctuates unnaturally. It hides something."
I frowned a little. "He's just energetic."
Eryndor didn't look convinced. "Energetic doesn't mask mana signatures. He's concealing his power."
I laughed awkwardly. "Maybe he just doesn't want to brag?"
Eryndor's expression didn't change — cold, steady, protective in a way that made me feel both annoyed and oddly… safe.
"Just stay alert," he muttered finally, walking ahead of me.
I glanced back at Renze, who gave me a playful salute and mouthed, He's jealous.
I rolled my eyes, but I couldn't stop smiling a little.
Still… something about the way Eryndor said it —"He's concealing his power"— stuck with me longer than I wanted to admit.
I was just about to step toward Renze when it happened again.
That voice.
"You should've listened to the ice wielder."
I froze, mid-step. My heart skipped as the familiar fiery tone echoed inside my head — calm but filled with irritation, the kind that burned more than it warned.
"Xei'thraem…" I muttered under my breath, eyes darting around to make sure no one heard me talking to thin air again.
Renze was smiling at me from across the corridor, waving me over. "Kairo! You coming?"
I forced a grin. "Y-yeah, just a sec!"
Inside, though, Xei'thraem's voice grew sharper.
"You're reckless. You trust too easily. That boy—he reeks of distortion. His aura is unstable, dangerous."
I frowned, whispering, "He's just a normal guy, stop making me paranoid."
"Normal? You can't even sense the difference between light and shadow, child."
I sighed, annoyed. "You always think everyone's suspicious. What's next, the janitor's a demon?"
There was silence for a moment — the kind that made the air feel heavier. Then his tone dropped lower, darker.
"You couldn't even do anything right during the last battle. You had to let me take over just to survive."
That hit me harder than I expected. My smile faded.
"Hey—" I whispered harshly, "—I didn't ask for you to take over, alright? I was handling it."
"Handling it? You were about to die, fool. Without me, you'd be ashes by now."
My chest tightened. I hated that he was right — that I really was weak without him.
I clenched my fists, forcing a smirk to hide the sting in his words. "Well, I'm still alive, aren't I? So maybe I'm not that useless."
"Alive because of me."
The voice faded slowly, like smoke vanishing in the wind, leaving my head throbbing and my pride in pieces.
I exhaled shakily. "Great. Now even the voice in my head thinks I'm pathetic."
When I looked up again, Renze was still waiting with that carefree grin — completely unaware of the chaos echoing inside me.
For a second, I wondered if maybe Eryndor and Xei'thraem were right.
Maybe Renze wasn't as harmless as he looked.
——
The days at Arcanum Obscurathis Valencrest Academy passed faster than I thought they would.
Between classes, training, and accidentally blowing up two practice targets again—
yeah, I was thriving.
But something was off.
Eryndor.
He barely talked to me anymore.
Whenever Renze and I hung out — whether it was eating lunch, exploring the courtyard, or just talking about stupid things — I'd always feel a sharp gaze watching us from afar. I didn't have to look to know who it was.
Eryndor.
But lately, that gaze wasn't there anymore. He just… stopped looking.
"Hey," Renze nudged me one afternoon as we sat near the edge of the academy's floating garden. "You okay? You've been staring at the same cloud for, like, ten minutes."
I blinked and forced a small laugh. "Just… thinking about something."
He grinned. "You think too much. That's probably why your mana runs out so fast."
I chuckled weakly, but inside, something ached.
It wasn't Renze's fault.
But every time I laughed with him, every time I saw that easy smile of his, I couldn't shake the image of Eryndor's cold, unreadable face — the way his ice-blue eyes would soften for a second when he'd look at me before freezing over again.
Later that day, I couldn't take it anymore.
I found him near the east wing, leaning against the wall, reading some kind of scroll. His uniform was slightly wrinkled — rare for someone who looked like he stepped straight out of a royal portrait.
"Eryndor," I called out.
He didn't even look up.
I walked closer. "Hey, did I do something wrong? You've been avoiding me."
"..."
No response.
"Come on, talk to me," I said, trying to sound casual but it came out sharper. "If this is about Renze—"
Finally, he lowered the scroll, his gaze landing on me like ice. "I'm busy, Kairo."
That tone. Cold, distant, final.
I frowned. "Busy? You've been 'busy' for a week. I'm not stupid."
He turned away. "You're fine. I'm fine. That's all you need to know."
And just like that, he walked past me.
No explanations. No glances.
Just the echo of his footsteps and that suffocating silence he always left behind.
I wanted to yell. To grab his wrist and make him say what he was really thinking.
But instead, I just stood there, staring at the empty hallway.
Maybe I really had done something wrong.
Or maybe he just didn't care anymore.
Either way… it hurt more than I wanted to admit.
I knew following him was a bad idea.
But when did that ever stop me?
Eryndor had walked off again after class, like he always did now — not even a glance, not even a single word. Just silence.
The kind of silence that stings.
And I was done with it.
"Eryndor!" I yelled from the corridor, my footsteps echoing as I chased after him.
He didn't stop.
He didn't even flinch.
I caught up, grabbing his arm. "Hey! Will you stop walking for one second and actually listen to me?!"
He turned slowly, his icy blue eyes sharp enough to make anyone freeze — anyone but me.
Because I was too tired to care anymore.
"What is your problem?" I asked, voice shaking. "You've been ignoring me like I don't even exist! Did I do something wrong? Just say it!"
"Let go of me, Kairo," he said flatly, but I tightened my grip.
"No! Not until you tell me what's going on! You used to talk to me, laugh with me, now you won't even look at me! What changed?!"
His jaw clenched. "You wouldn't understand."
"Then make me understand!" I snapped. "You're my friend, Eryndor. Or at least I thought you were."
That… that seemed to break something in him.
Because the next thing I saw wasn't the calm prince everyone admired.
It was the real Eryndor — frustrated, angry, tired of everything.
He shoved my hand away.
"Enough, Kairo!" His voice thundered through the hallway. "You don't get it! You never do!"
I froze.
It wasn't like him to yell.
Not like this.
"You think everything's a joke," he continued, his words cutting sharper than any blade. "You don't listen, you don't learn — you just rush into things and expect everything to be fine!"
"That's not true—"
"It is true!" he barked. "You bring trouble wherever you go! Every time you're around, something happens — chaos, fights, danger — and somehow you laugh through it all like it's nothing!"
My chest tightened.
I wanted to tell him he was wrong, that I never meant for things to go that way.
But he didn't stop.
"You know what's worse?" Eryndor said, his voice colder now, quieter but deadlier. "I'm disappointed I ever accepted you as my friend."
The air left my lungs.
I blinked, trying to find words, but all I could manage was a soft, "...What?"
"You heard me," he said, his tone trembling slightly but still firm. "I shouldn't have let you close. I thought maybe—maybe there was something about you worth trusting. But you're reckless. You're naive. You'll never be taken seriously. No one will ever listen to you because you're too… stupid to understand anything."
Stupid.
That word hit harder than any spell or blow I'd ever taken.
My throat felt dry. My vision blurred, but I didn't let it show.
"Oh," I finally whispered, forcing a laugh that cracked halfway through. "That's what you really think of me then."
He didn't answer. He couldn't even look at me.
For a moment, I stood there—frozen, humiliated, shattered.
Then I did the only thing I knew how to do when the world hurt too much.
I ran.
I ran down the hall, my shoes echoing against the marble floor, the world spinning around me. My chest burned, my throat ached, and my vision blurred with tears I swore I wouldn't cry.
Behind me, I barely heard him call my name.
"Kairo, wait—"
But it was too late.
Because the moment those words left his mouth, I was already gone.
The moment I burst out of the academy gates, the cold night air hit me like a wave. My lungs burned, my legs screamed, but I didn't stop running.
I didn't care where I was going.
I just needed to get away — from the hall, from the words, from him.
The guards noticed me, of course. They always did.
"Kairo, wait! You're not allowed past the wards!" one shouted, but I ducked under a barrier spell and slipped through a gap between the trees before they could catch me.
The forest was quieter than I expected.
The wind whispered through the leaves, and for the first time in days, I could actually breathe.
I followed the faint sound of water until I reached a lake — still, silver, and half-covered in mist. The moon reflected perfectly on its surface, calm and untouched, everything I wasn't.
I knelt by the edge, dipped my hands into the cold water, and stared at my reflection.
The bandages on my arms had loosened; the bruises from the last battle still lingered. I looked… tired.
So tired.
"Stupid, huh?" I muttered to myself, letting out a dry laugh. "Guess he's right."
The ripples distorted my face, and I splashed the water just to make the reflection disappear.
I don't know how long I stayed there — maybe minutes, maybe hours — until I heard footsteps behind me.
"...You look lost," a familiar voice said lightly.
I turned around.
Renze stood there, his usual smirk in place, though something about it felt… off tonight.
He was holding something — a small, glowing orb that pulsed with blue light.
"Renze?" I asked, blinking. "What are you doing here?"
He shrugged casually. "I could ask you the same thing. You ran off in the middle of the night. Thought you could use some company."
I forced a small smile. "Company, huh? Didn't think anyone would notice."
"I did," he said, tossing the orb slightly into the air and catching it. The glow flickered faintly, like it was alive.
"What's that?" I asked, nodding toward the ball.
"This?" Renze twirled it between his fingers. "Just… something I picked up from the artifact room. Kinda cool, right?"
But something about the energy coming from it made my stomach twist.
The mana… it didn't feel right. It was faint, but I could sense it — something old, unstable.
And the way the orb pulsed whenever it got near me…
"Renze," I said slowly, standing up. "That thing—it's not an ordinary artifact, is it?"
He tilted his head, smiling just a bit too innocently. "Why? Scared of a little light?"
"I'm serious," I said, frowning. "There's something off about it. I can feel it."
He chuckled softly. "Always so sensitive to mana, huh, Kairo? That's what makes you interesting."
Interesting.
The way he said it sent a chill down my spine.
I stared at him, searching his expression for any sign of truth, but his eyes — bright, confident, and calm — told me nothing.
Was he just being playful? Or was there something else lurking behind that grin?
The orb pulsed again, brighter this time, the glow reflecting across his face.
And for a split second — just a second — I thought I saw his smile falter.
Something inside me whispered:
You should've listened to Eryndor.
My hands curled into fists.
I didn't know if Renze was pretending… or if the person standing before me wasn't Renze at all.
Renze's smirk slowly stretched wider, and his usual calmness shifted into something darker—something twisted.
The orb in his hand pulsed again, brighter now, the blue light reflecting off his face like it was feeding on his excitement.
I took a step back. Every instinct in his body screamed that something wasn't right.
"Renze…" my voice came out low, uncertain. "What did you just do?"
Renze laughed. It wasn't the usual playful laugh that Kairo got used to hearing these past few days.
No—this laugh was hollow, sharp, and echoed across the stillness of the forest like broken glass.
"Oh, Kairo," Renze said softly, shaking his head. "You really don't know, do you? You're so naïve."
I froze. My throat tightened. "What are you talking about?"
Renze lifted the orb higher, the rain beginning to fall in faint droplets. "You thought I wanted to be your friend, right? You thought I was just some friendly S-rank mage who cared about you?"
He grinned wider. "No. I wanted to see it for myself—the power they keep whispering about. The magic that even the Ember Seals envy."
My heart pounded. "You… what?"
"You're powerful, Kairo. Too powerful," Renze continued, his tone shifting between admiration and envy. "And that's exactly why I wanted you. But before that…"
He tilted the orb toward me. The blue glow flickered violently now, reacting to Renze's mana.
I stared at it—and my stomach dropped.
That energy…
I recognized it.
That warmth mixed with cold mana that wrapped around me every time Eryndor was near.
No—
It couldn't be.
Renze saw the realization forming in my face and laughed again, louder this time. "Oh, so you finally get it."
His grin widened, cruel and mocking. "You didn't even notice when he disappeared, did you? After you ran off crying, Eryndor let his guard down… and I took my chance."
My voice cracked. "You— you what!?"
"I sealed him." Renze's words hit like a knife. "Right inside this orb."
Lightning flashed across the sky, illuminating the forest for a brief, terrifying second. The rain poured harder now, hitting the lake's surface like shards of glass.
My eyes widened, my knees nearly giving out as I stared at the glowing orb.
"No… that can't be…"
I reached out a trembling hand toward the sphere, but the closer he got, the stronger the blue glow became—like it recognized me, like it was crying out.
Renze's smile faded into something colder. "Eryndor was strong, but he was too easy to manipulate once he thought no one cared. You left him, Kairo. You made it easy for me."
My chest tightened. My breathing grew heavier.
I could feel anger, guilt, and pain all twisting inside me like fire and ice clashing together.
The rain soaked my hair and clothes, thunder rumbling across the sky as I whispered, almost broken,
"I was a fool… all this time…"
Renze tilted his head, studying my expression with sick fascination. "Yes, you were. You still are."
I clenched his fists, my teeth grinding. "You— you used me. You hurt him!"
Renze chuckled darkly, holding the orb close to his chest. "Don't worry. You'll be joining him soon enough. Then, I'll have both of your powers."
The thunder roared once again, echoing my rage. His mana flared subconsciously, red and gold light sparking from my hands, glowing even through the downpour.
Renze only grinned wider, unfazed. "Show me, Kairo. Show me that power everyone fears so much."
My voice came out in a low growl, almost trembling from fury.
"You'll regret ever touching him."
The forest darkened. The storm grew violent.
And for the first time—I wasn't just angry.
He was ready to burn everything down.
The rain just wouldn't stop. It fell harder by the minute, soaking through my clothes and dripping from my hair. The sound of thunder echoed above us, but the only thing I could hear clearly was my own heartbeat.
Renze stood a few meters away, the faint glow of that orb in his hand reflecting off the puddles between us. It was glowing blue—Eryndor's color. The realization twisted something in my chest that I couldn't describe.
He smirked at me like I was a joke.
"What's wrong, Kairo? Don't tell me you're afraid to fight without your little ice prince holding your hand."
That was enough to make my blood boil.
I didn't answer. I just clenched my fists and charged at him, water splashing around my boots.
He dodged easily, laughing as if this was nothing more than a game. His kick hit me hard in the stomach, forcing me back a few steps. I almost slipped, but I caught myself.
"You're fast," he said, brushing his wet hair back. "But you're sloppy. Too emotional."
I spat rainwater to the side. "You talk too much."
I rushed him again, throwing a punch toward his face, then another to his ribs. He blocked both, smirking like I was a child trying to fight a wall.
"Still no magic?" he mocked, holding the orb up like a trophy. "How noble. But tell me—how do you plan to win barehanded?"
The orb pulsed with light again, bright blue through the rain, and my stomach twisted.
That's Eryndor's magic. He's inside that thing.
Renze's grin widened. "You'll never take it from me. Not in a thousand years."
I felt anger building inside me—fierce, hot, almost uncontrollable. For a moment, I wanted to burn him alive. But I didn't. I couldn't.
And that's when I heard him.
"You're wasting time, boy."
My eyes widened slightly, and I froze for half a second. Xei'thraem.
The flamy cloak bastard again.
"Let me handle this. You can't win this fight without me. He's faster, stronger, and that orb is cloaked with mana you can't touch."
I didn't answer aloud—I just gritted my teeth and charged at Renze again, even though I knew he could see every move coming. His knee hit my side, hard, and I went down to one knee. The mud and water mixed beneath me, cold and heavy.
"You're being reckless again,"Xei'thraem's voice echoed sharply inside my head. "If you die, I die too. Let me take over."
I squeezed my eyes shut, replying through my thoughts.
"Shut up."
"What did you say?"
"I said shut up. This is my body, not yours."
He went quiet for a moment, then growled.
"You can't even land a hit."
"Then I'll learn."
I stood up again, rain dripping down my face. My whole body hurt, but I wasn't going to let him—or Renze—see that.
Renze tilted his head. "Talking to yourself now? Maybe you finally went insane."
I smirked slightly. "Maybe."
I lunged again, lowering my stance this time, dodging his incoming punch and countering with a kick. My boot connected with his ribs, making him stumble.
He laughed. "Now that's more like it!"
Blue flames erupted from his arm, crackling violently in the rain. "Come on, Kairo! Show me what you've got!"
I clenched my fists again, electricity dancing faintly at my fingertips—but I stopped myself. I wasn't going to let Xei'thraem control me again. Not now. Not ever.
Inside my head, his voice was softer now.
"You're too stubborn for your own good."
"Then sit back and watch," I replied. "Because I'm not giving up."
Renze and I locked eyes. The rain was pouring, thunder roaring behind us. He smiled wickedly, his blue flames reflecting in the puddles.
And I… I took a deep breath, forcing the fire in my chest to burn just enough.
This fight wasn't just about Eryndor anymore.
This was about proving something—to Renze, to Xei'thraem, and maybe even to myself.
When lightning struck the ground nearby, I moved.
Fast. Determined. Furious.
And the real battle began.