The night was deep and quiet, wrapped in the silver glow of the moon that hung above the shattered frost lands. Tang Xan sat alone near the wide window of his hospital room, the faint wind brushing past his face. His gaze was distant—he wasn't looking at the moon, nor the stars. His mind was lost somewhere else, drifting through the memories of Leo.
The laughter.The training.The last smile before that blinding light consumed everything.
Tang Xan's chest tightened. "Leo…" he whispered, voice trembling. "Why… why did you have to use everything? You said we'd fight together."
Days had passed since the battle that destroyed Frost City, but the ache inside him refused to fade. Even when the world had been restored, the emptiness in his heart only grew stronger. He clenched his fists, nails digging into his palms, eyes burning with unshed tears.
Then, slowly, he stood up.
The moonlight reflected in his sharp, determined eyes. The pain had turned into something else—something fiercer.
"I can't stay weak," he murmured. "You said to be strong, Leo. I will."
He took one deep breath, feeling the faint wind move through the broken glass. Then, without another thought, he moved. With a powerful motion, Tang Xan shattered the hospital window and leapt into the night sky.
His body glowed faintly as the wind element coursed through him. He bent the air around his body, forming invisible currents that lifted him higher. The night embraced him. In seconds, he flew through the glowing clouds, streaking across the stars like a shadow.
The city below was silent—rooftops glowing faintly from the moonlight, shattered walls repaired by magic, people asleep unaware that one figure was soaring above them like the wind itself.
He landed silently on the edge of his room's old rooftop. His boots touched the ground softly, but the air trembled faintly with his energy. He walked in, gathered the few items scattered across the table—his old bracelet, a cracked pendant Leo had once given him, and his training gloves.
After a brief glance around, Tang Xan whispered, "Time to start again."
He walked out and stood under the open sky, eyes focused, breathing slow. He extended his hand forward, closing his eyes.
This time, he wasn't practicing his physical strength—he was trying something new. Something powerful.
Aura Release.
It was said to be the mark of true spirit masters, a technique that released the inner energy of one's soul, blending body and spirit together. Tang Xan had read about it once, but never dared to try. Tonight, he would.
He took a deep breath, feeling his heartbeat sync with the rhythm of the wind. His aura began to rise—slowly at first, then faster, sharper, brighter. The stones around him trembled, the ground cracked faintly beneath his feet, and the air rippled with invisible pressure.
"Good…" he whispered. "This… this is power."
But then, he felt something else.
A strange presence—soft, almost like a gentle melody. It wasn't threatening, yet powerful enough to make his senses tingle. It was a beautiful kind of aura, one that flowed like moonlight and warmth together.
He opened his eyes slightly, scanning the surroundings. "Who's there…?"
The aura grew stronger, pulsing closer like waves on a shore.
Suddenly—
A streak of light flashed in front of him.
Tang Xan's instincts reacted before his mind. He twisted his body, narrowly dodging the attack. Dust flew everywhere, a faint scorch mark appearing where he had been standing just seconds ago.
"What the—?"
He spun around, his claws glowing faintly as his spirit energy surged. He reached out, grabbing the attacker's hand mid-strike, his claws stopping just a breath away from the person's neck.
For a heartbeat, silence filled the air. Then Tang Xan's eyes widened.
"Rose?"
The girl froze, her bright eyes blinking up at him, surprised yet calm. Her soft hair glowed faintly under the moonlight, and a playful smirk appeared on her lips.
Tang Xan immediately released her, stepping back awkwardly. "Why—why did you attack me?!"
Rose brushed off the dust from her sleeves, her tone casual but her eyes sharp. "I wasn't attacking you. I was helping you train. You said you were working on your control, right? Then I'll be your sparring partner."
Tang Xan sighed, rubbing his neck. "That's… not exactly what I meant."
Rose crossed her arms, smirking. "What? You think you can do everything alone?"
He looked at her, surprised. "It's not that, I just don't want to bother you—"
"I said no," she interrupted sharply, stepping closer. "You're not training alone tonight."
Her voice was firm, leaving no room for argument. Tang Xan blinked, then chuckled nervously. "Alright, alright. I won't argue. But next time, maybe warn me before you throw a light bolt at my face."
Rose rolled her eyes dramatically, puffing air through her mouth, folding her arms like a child pretending to be angry. "Hmph! You're no fun."
Tang Xan raised both hands quickly, panicking. "Okay, okay! Sorry! I didn't mean it like that. Please don't get mad!"
She glanced at him sideways, then smiled faintly. "Good. Now, let's begin again."
The training continued.
Hour after hour, under the pale moon and the cold breeze, the two of them trained together. Rose attacked with light-based spells—swift, precise, shimmering like falling stars—while Tang Xan dodged, countered, and learned to release his aura without losing control.
The ground cracked beneath their feet, stones shattered mid-air, and waves of light and wind clashed again and again.
Tang Xan could feel his power growing with each breath. His aura was more refined now—less wild, more stable. Each movement he made was smooth, the energy flowing naturally like a second heartbeat.
Rose landed beside him, slightly out of breath, wiping sweat from her brow. "Not bad, Tang Xan. You're improving fast."
He smiled faintly. "Thanks. It's because you helped me. If you hadn't surprised me at the start, I might've never reached this level of focus."
She laughed softly. "So you're saying I should keep attacking you without warning?"
Tang Xan blinked. "Please… don't."
They both laughed, their voices echoing softly under the night sky.
As the stars slowly began to fade and the horizon turned gold with the first light of dawn, Tang Xan stood still, looking at his trembling hands. The energy inside him was calm now, glowing faintly with white light.
"I can feel it," he whispered. "The power is stable. Leo… maybe I'm closer to keeping my promise."
Rose turned toward him, smiling. "We did it. You're stronger now."
Tang Xan nodded slowly. "Yeah."
The night training had pushed both their limits. Even Rose, usually radiant and energetic, now yawned quietly, stretching her arms.
"You should rest," Tang Xan said. "The tournament starts at ten."
Rose frowned. "What about you?"
"I'll sleep too. Just for a bit."
"Good." She smiled. "Don't oversleep this time."
Tang Xan grinned. "I won't."
They exchanged a small nod, the kind that spoke more than words ever could.
As Rose walked away, her aura dimmed, fading like the last spark of starlight. Tang Xan watched her go, a faint warmth in his chest replacing the old ache that used to live there.
When she finally disappeared down the path, he whispered softly, "Thank you, Rose."
He sat down, the morning light touching his face. His body ached from the training, but his mind was calm. The pain, the grief, and the exhaustion were still there—but now they were no longer heavy.
He lay down on the grass, eyes closing slowly.
The wind whispered softly through the trees as if singing him to rest.
"Just a little rest…" he muttered. "Then the tournament."
The last thing he felt before falling asleep was the faint warmth of sunlight brushing across his face.
Hours passed.
The bells of the academy began to ring in the distance—clear, loud, echoing across the mountain ranges.
The tournament was about to begin.
Tang Xan stirred awake, rubbing his eyes. "What time…?"
He glanced at the small clock nearby.
9:30 a.m.
His eyes widened. "Oh no—!"
He jumped to his feet, still half asleep, brushing off the dust from his clothes. "I'm late again! Why does this always happen?!"
Grabbing his gloves and his spirit bracelet, he dashed toward the gate, wind gathering around his feet as he leapt through the air.
The day had begun.He Will Start The New Journey Without Leo
End Of Chapter 15