The fight was over.
My brother had emerged victorious.
He only had one fight left to fulfill his dream… and after what he had just done, no one could say he didn't deserve it.
—What a fight… —Luca said, still full of excitement—. That was insane.
—Yeah —Tarin added, calmer—. It was very interesting.
Then he looked at Mira.
—Sorry about your brother.
Mira shrugged.
—It's fine. He'll try again in five years. That's what he gets for being stubborn… for refusing to watch the fights.
She sighed, but smiled slightly.
—Tell Elijah congratulations from me.
I nodded.
—I will. I'm going to see him.
I stood up and started making my way down the stands. This time, people didn't even bother fully moving aside; they were already starting to glare at me from how many times I'd passed through.
I walked through the inner corridors of the amphitheater. They felt familiar now.
I reached my brother's room and knocked on the door.
—Come in.
I stepped inside.
Elijah was standing, relaxed, as if he hadn't just come out of one of the most intense fights of the day. As soon as he saw me, he smiled.
—Hey, little brother. What's up? —he said—. How did I look?
I crossed my arms, trying to sound serious.
—At times. In a real fight… you would've died on the first attack.
Elijah let out a laugh.
—Good thing it wasn't a real fight.
He shrugged slightly.
—I needed to see what his power was. Letting him make the first move was the fastest way.
—You could've just watched his fights beforehand.
—And miss the surprise? —he replied, smiling—. Where's the fun in that?
I shook my head, though I couldn't help but smile.
—And tell me something… —I said, frowning—. How were you able to see the threads?
Elijah shook his head.
—I couldn't.
I blinked.
—What?
—I couldn't see them —he repeated, like it was the most normal thing in the world.
I stared at him, completely confused.
—Then… how the hell were you moving through them like they were yours?
Elijah smiled faintly.
—Memorization.
He made a small gesture with his hand, as if it were nothing.
—I kept my eyes on Reid the whole time. Every time he pushed off or changed direction, I knew there was a thread there. I didn't know all of them… but I knew enough.
I stayed silent, staring at him.
He had memorized something invisible… in the middle of a fight at that speed… and used it to his advantage.
It was absurd.
And yet, he had done it.
—Obviously, I couldn't see them —he added—. They're invisible because of his magic.
I hesitated for a second.
—I could.
Elijah raised an eyebrow.
—That's not possible. What makes his power useful is that no one else can see them.
I slowly shook my head.
—No… it's not that I saw them exactly.
I searched for the right words.
—It was more like… a feeling.
I looked down for a moment, trying to explain.
—Like in a space where there shouldn't be anything… there's something stretched tight. Like a very thin rope. You can't see it… but you know it's there.
Elijah stayed silent for a few seconds.
Thinking.
Then he smiled.
—That's very interesting, Ren.
I looked up.
—It has to be related to your power. It's not normal to perceive something like that.
He crossed his arms, analyzing me.
—You might be able to see… or feel things others can't.
He paused briefly.
—And that… is an incredible power.
—I didn't know it was that incredible… —I murmured—, but right now it doesn't matter.
I shook my head slightly, pushing the thought away. This wasn't the moment.
—Well, we'll see in a few days. Right now, you need to focus on the last fight.
Elijah nodded slowly. His smile was still there, but this time it was different. More contained. More serious.
—You're right. Just one left… —he lowered his gaze for a second—. One more and I'll have reached what I've been chasing for years.
—Just one —I repeated, almost in a whisper.
There was a brief silence.
—Although… —he added, leaning slightly against the wall— I do feel bad for Reid. He came from so far away for this… and in the end, he's leaving empty-handed.
—I'm not leaving empty-handed.
The voice caught us completely off guard.
We both turned instantly.
Reid was leaning against the doorframe, as if he had been there for a while, watching.
—Hey, didn't they teach you any manners? —Elijah said, frowning, though with a hint of a smile—. You knock before entering.
—You knocked me out of the tournament —Reid replied with a shrug—. I think that gives me certain privileges.
—I'm not entirely sure that's how it works… —I added, half-laughing.
Reid stepped a couple of steps into the room.
—Doesn't matter. The point is, I'm happy. I got what I came here for.
Elijah raised an eyebrow.
—Oh yeah?
—Yeah —Reid said with a small smile—. I made it far… I saw my family after so long… and I saw you too.
A brief silence fell between them.
—Besides —Reid added, looking straight at him—, you know perfectly well that in a real fight I would've killed you in the first attack.
Elijah let out a short laugh.
—Good thing it wasn't a real fight.
I couldn't help but laugh too.
—When all this is over —Reid continued—, you owe me a real one. No rules. On a field that doesn't favor you so much.
Elijah stepped toward him, smiling confidently.
—You know I'd beat you anyway.
—We'll see about that.
They stared at each other for a second… and then both burst out laughing, like nothing had changed between them.
Like they were still the same as always.
—Deal —Elijah said, extending his hand.
Reid looked at it for a moment… then shook it.
—Deal.
—Well, I'm heading to the stands. I wouldn't miss the final for anything —Reid said as he turned around.
—Same here, I should go too.
I looked at my brother for a moment and wished him luck with a slight smile before leaving him behind.
I walked with Reid back to our seats. This time, even before we said anything, people started moving aside. Some recognized him immediately. Despite his defeat, they looked at him with admiration… even fascination. They made space for us without us having to ask.
—Well, well… look who it is, my brother —Mira said when she saw him—. What are you doing here?
—I wanted to watch the final with my wonderful sister… and her friends.
—You could go back to Valerion. I'm sure you'd see it just fine from there —Mira replied with sharp sarcasm.
The atmosphere tensed instantly. Reid stayed silent for a few seconds, uncomfortable, not quite knowing what to say.
—Mira…
Before he could continue, the sound of trumpets cut through the air.
The entire amphitheater reacted instantly.
The announcer appeared once again in the center of the arena, standing tall, with a wide smile.
—We have reached the grand final, ladies and gentlemen!!!
The crowd roared.
—I hope you are enjoying this magnificent day. We have witnessed incredible fights, full of talent… and power.
He paused, letting the murmur grow.
—We began with sixteen participants. Many more tried… but only the best made it this far.
He pointed to the center of the field.
—And now… only two remain.
Silence slowly fell, as if the entire amphitheater held its breath.
—Two mages. Two prodigies. Two paths… and one single destiny.
His voice grew deeper.
—Today… one of them will achieve the greatest honor possible.
He looked toward the tower.
—Becoming a royal court mage!!!
The crowd erupted in applause and cheers.
As all that noise exploded around me, something didn't feel right.
At first, it was subtle. An uncomfortable sensation, like an invisible pressure slipping between the shouts, the laughter, and the applause. I frowned and tried to focus… but the more I did, the clearer it became.
Then I understood.
It was the same.
The same feeling as in that house. The same one I felt when that man came out of that dark basement. A presence that shouldn't exist… but was there.
A chill ran down my spine.
Did it have something to do with my power?
Was that… what I was perceiving?
I shook my head slightly. No. It couldn't be. It was impossible to imagine that thing outside of that place. And yet…
There it was.
I didn't know what to do. And honestly, even if I did, I doubted I could do anything against a presence like that. So I did the only thing I could.
Watch.
Observe, as if it weren't real. As if ignoring it could make it disappear.
—On the left side, we have a prodigious ice mage…
The announcer's voice pulled me out of my thoughts.
—They say his magic can surpass anyone's. He has advanced through every round with astonishing ease… Lioren Vask!
The crowd erupted in applause.
Everyone… except me.
I clenched my fists. That presence was still there, pulsing somewhere within the crowd. But I tried to push it out of my mind. After the fight… after my brother won… I could tell him. He would know what to do.
He had to.
But then something strange happened.
A few seconds passed… and no one came out.
The left side of the arena remained empty.
The announcer blinked, visibly confused. He leaned toward some nearby assistants and whispered something. They nodded and ran off into the interior of the amphitheater.
—Well… it seems Lioren Vask didn't get the message —he said, forcing a smile—. They've gone to get him, he'll be here shortly!
A knot formed in my stomach.
Something was wrong.
Very wrong.
—Meanwhile, on the right side, we have a genius of the sword… someone who has reached the final through effort and determination… Elijah Draven!
My brother appeared, as always.
Confident. Calm. Unstoppable.
The stadium roared, chanting his name.
But I barely reacted.
Because the feeling… was still there.
And it was getting stronger.
A few more moments passed. The assistants returned. This time they weren't running. They walked quickly, tense. They spoke to the announcer, almost whispering.
Even so, I caught fragments:
—…he's not there…
—What do you mean he's not there?
—…he's disappeared…
The announcer swallowed and stepped back to the center of the arena.
—I regret to inform you that… Lioren Vask is not in the amphitheater. We are doing everything possible to locate him. We ask for your calm.
The silence that followed was absolute.
Even the king seemed confused.
A participant… missing.
Then—
A voice.
From the left side.
—I'll participate.
It wasn't a shout.
It wasn't loud.
But it cut through the entire amphitheater.
And with it… that pressure became unbearable.
I felt as if something was crushing me from the inside.
I looked up.
A man was walking toward the arena.
Calm. Confident.
And the moment I saw him…
I knew.
The air got stuck in my chest.
There was no doubt.
It was him.
The man from the house.