Kai's training had become his new rhythm—day and night, sword swings blurred into meditation, sweat dripping into soil, every breath sharper than the last. The weight of what he saw in the seer's vision still echoed in his mind: ruin, ash, and a future he refused to accept.
That morning, as golden light spilled through the windows of the Valenhardt residence, Kai stood in the courtyard, repeating the same flow for the thousandth time.
"Still swinging that sword like the world will end tomorrow," a soft voice called from the steps.
He turned, recognizing the voice instantly.
"Aria?" he asked, lowering his blade.
His sister stood there, dressed in sleek celestial armor that shimmered faintly in the light. Her hair was tied back in a neat braid, a mixture of elegance and quiet strength. She wore a playful smile, but her eyes were as sharp as always.
"Good. You're awake. I already submitted your name for the Royal Academy's Interclass Combat Trials tomorrow," she said casually.
Kai blinked. "Wait, what?"
"You heard me." She tossed him a folded slip—his entry ticket. "It's time. You've been training harder than anyone I've seen. If you're going to grow, you need real combat against real opponents."
He looked down at the paper, then back at her. "But—"
She stepped forward, placing a hand on his shoulder. "Stop. No more training for today. You've earned rest. You need to be ready for tomorrow—it'll be exhausting."
Kai hesitated, then slowly nodded. His muscles ached in agreement.
"Besides," Aria added, walking past him, "it's about time the world saw what my little brother is really capable of."
---
The next day, the Colosseum at the Royal Academy blazed with energy. Hundreds of students and elite spectators watched from marble tiers as the trial began—Class versus Class, strength against strength.
Kai stood in the waiting hall, breath calm but eyes intense. He was no longer afraid of being average.
This time, he had something to prove—not just to others, but to himself.
And as the gates creaked open, Kai stepped forward, into the arena bathed in sunlight and challenge.
The Trials had begun.
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To be continued in Chapter 15: "The Reaper's Fang"