Dust still floated in the air after Darius's sword struck the ground. Everyone in the training circle fell silent for a few seconds. Darius stared at Kael with furrowed brows.
"You… dodged?"
Kael himself was still confused. He looked at his hand, his heart was beating very fast. What just happened…? Instructor Rethan watched them with a sharp gaze.
"Continue," he said coldly.
Darius shrugged.
"Alright."
He raised his energy sword again.
"Don't tell me that was a coincidence, Kael."
A faint smile appeared on his face.
"Let's try again."
Darius dashed forward, this time much faster, his sword flashing like light. Kael tried to block with his wooden sword.
CLACK!
The heavy impact made his hand tremble, his wooden sword almost slipped. Darius kept attacking relentlessly.
SWISH!
CLACK!
SWOOSH!
Kael retreated, his steps were messy. Some students began to comment from the edge of the field.
"That's the real Darius."
"Kael is going to fall again."
Maren bit her lip.
"Kael… be careful…"
Darius swung his sword toward Kael's shoulder. Kael tried to dodge too late. But right at that moment, the Chrono Halo vibrated, its hands moved slightly. The world felt strange, not stopping, but slowing down, enough to give Kael time. Kael tilted his body, Darius's sword missed his shoulder by a few centimeters.
Darius immediately stopped, his eyes narrowed.
"That's impossible…"
Kael also froze. His chest felt strange, as if his heartbeat was not synchronized with the world. Instructor Rethan raised his hand.
"Enough."
The fight was stopped. Darius looked annoyed.
"Hah? Why stop it?"
Rethan stared at Kael for a long time.
"This training is to test energy synchronization."
He pointed at Kael.
"And he… is not synchronized with anything."
Some students laughed, but Rethan did not.
"Training is over. Return to class."
The academy corridor was filled with the sound of footsteps, the tall stone walls were decorated with old banners of past generations of warriors. Kael walked slowly among the crowd, his mind still fixed on what happened on the field. Darius passed by him then stopped.
"Kael."
Kael turned his head. Darius's gaze this time was different, not mocking, more like curious.
"What did you do back there?"
Kael shook his head slowly.
"I don't know myself."
Darius stared at him for a few seconds, then snorted.
"Hmph. If that was a trick… next time use it better."
He left. Maren immediately approached Kael.
"KAEL!"
Kael was slightly startled.
"What?"
Maren looked at him seriously.
"You saw that too, right?"
"See what?"
"Your movement… was strange."
Kael lowered his head.
"…I was just lucky."
Maren crossed her arms.
"Lucky twice?"
Kael did not answer. Maren let out a breath.
"Fine. If you don't want to tell."
She walked slightly ahead of Kael, then turned her head with a small smile.
"But if you suddenly can control time or something…"
"Don't forget I'm the first one who noticed."
Kael smiled faintly, then looked at his hand again.
"If I could control time…"
"…I wouldn't even know where to start."
Evening came, the sky turned orange, the training field was almost empty. Kael stood alone in the middle of the field with a training sword in his hand, the wind blew gently. The Chrono Halo appeared on his back, its light now clearer. Kael took a breath.
"Alright…"
He looked at it.
"If you really exist…"
He raised his sword.
"…please help me understand."
He swung, nothing happened. He tried again, still nothing. Kael let out a breath.
"Great… I'm talking to a clock."
He almost gave up, when suddenly the Chrono Halo moved, its hands ticked. Dust on the ground lifted slightly, as if time jerked for a moment. Kael froze.
"I… did that?"
He tried again, this time more focused. His sword moved, the Chrono Halo ticked, and a leaf near him stopped in the air for just one second before falling again. Kael's eyes widened.
"I really…"
"If you continue to use that power without understanding its price…"
The voice was heard from behind. Kael immediately turned around. An old man stood at the edge of the field, his robe long, his hair white, his gaze sharp like someone who had seen too much time pass. He walked closer slowly.
"…you could destroy more than just yourself."
Kael swallowed.
"Who… are you?"
The old man stopped a few steps away from him, his eyes fixed directly on the Chrono Halo.
"My name is Aether Valen."
He took a slow breath.
"And I have seen that power… destroy the world."
The evening wind stopped blowing. Kael froze. For the first time, he realized that the Chrono Halo was not just a power, but something far more dangerous.