Chapter Nine -Frolics and Friendship

Chapter Nine -Frolics and Friendship

Suddenly, Rega and Darian didn’t wait. They were already inside Kael’s zone.

A brutal 2v4 erupted. Rega unleashed his full power—blood spikes tore through the sand floor like fangs. Darian flooded the corridors with spiraling bolts of lightning that danced between the stone walls.

Kiara’s voice rang out, sharp and panicked. “They’re HERE! Trap corridor nine!”

Sahir pressed his palm to the floor. A wall of sand shot up, but Rega melted through it effortlessly.

“You thought we’d wait? I feast now,” Rega snarled.

Kiara was flung back by a wave of energy. Sahir took a glancing wound across the arm, blood soaking through the sand.

Rega reached the pedestal. His hand wrapped around Kael’s flag—it shimmered red in his grip.

Darian stood beside him, lightning dancing at his fingertips. “Let’s end it.”

Glenn’s eyes flicked to the surveillance orb beside him. Onscreen, Rega held the flag, charging toward the maze’s exit. Glenn’s hands clenched into fists.

“Rega’s taking our flag. We lose if he gets out.”

Kael stood beside him. His eyes glowed faintly, jaw set with unshakable calm. “Then we don’t let him.”

Glenn pulled a trap-trigger from his belt and held it out. “There’s an old path—the collapsing corridor near Sector Four. We bait him through it.”

Kael gave a half-smile, something deadly behind it. “I’ll do one better. I’ll take both flags from under his nose.”

Kael burst through the twisting corridors of the maze. His movements were fluid—leaping over pressure tiles, sliding beneath dart traps, punching through a false wall. The maze shifted around him, but he was faster.

Meanwhile, Glenn reached the glyph-stone that controlled the collapsing corridor. He slammed the trigger into place.

Sahir’s voice was calm, unshaken. “They will. And we’ll be ready.”

Rega heard the first rumble behind him. The corridor began to fall apart. Stone slabs dropped one after another.

He spun in confusion. “They will. And we’ll be ready.”

Kael shot from a side corridor, warborn speed behind his charge. He uppercut Darian clean off his feet.

Glenn appeared just as the stones started to fall. He didn’t hesitate—he lunged forward and grabbed the enemy flag.

“Now, Kael!” he shouted.

Kael drove Rega backward, slamming him into a trap tile. Blood tendrils coiled up around Rega—his own power turning against him for a moment too long.

Kael’s tone was low and final. “You talk too much.”

He snatched both flags and took off.

He sprinted down the shifting corridor, bouncing off stone, ducking through falling debris. A bounce tile launched him skyward. He flipped through the air and landed in full sprint. The timer at the gate blinked red.

Kael dove through the glowing gate.

The horn roared across the sky.

The entire maze lit up with golden light. The moment Kael crossed the gate, magical glyphs pulsed across the labyrinth’s walls. Above, the crowd roared. Announcers shouted over one another as the stands erupted in cheers.

Smoke drifted across the broken corridors as the battlefield settled.

Kiara and Sahir limped toward Kael, dust-covered but standing tall. Glenn emerged from the far side, both flags held high, grinning like a madman.

Kael dropped to one knee, his chest rising and falling with deep breaths. A tired smile touched his lips. “That’s how Warborn finish it.”

Glenn laughed as he approached, tossing the enemy flag into the air and catching it. “You’re lucky I didn’t take the spotlight.”

Kiara smirked, wiping sweat from her forehead. “You both owe us a week’s worth of training covers.”

Sahir’s grin was wide despite the gash on his arm. “Worth it.”

They stood together in the glowing heart of the maze, four cadets marked by battle but unbroken.

In the distance, partially hidden by the shadows of a crumbling corridor, Rega watched. His eyes burned—not from the wounds, but the humiliation. Kael stood tall, lifting both flags high above his head as the maze pulsed behind him, bathed in triumph.

Birds chirped in the background. Kael sat on the porch steps of his slightly rustic house, carefully wrapping cloth around his knuckles. In the backyard stood a few wooden training stumps—scarred and worn from use.

The kitchen door creaked open. Lily stepped out, wiping her hands on a towel.

“You’re up early again, sweetheart.”

Kael kept his eyes on the cloth. “Just didn’t feel like sleeping in.”

She smiled, walking over to him with quiet steps. “You never do. Especially not after a big win.”

She handed him a warm clay mug. “Here. Ginger and rootleaf. Your favourite.”

Kael took it with a small nod. “Thanks, Mom.”

For a while, they sat in silence, watching the steam rise from the mug.

Kael’s voice was low. “I almost lost it, you know. Back there in the maze. One second slower, and Rega would’ve had us.”

Lily didn’t flinch. “Mmm. And yet, here you are—winning it, no less.”

Kael smirked faintly. “Lucky move.”

“There’s no such thing as luck when your hands are bruised like that.”

She gently took his hand, examining the wrapped knuckles.

“You’ve always had this fire in you. Even before your powers awakened. That’s what makes you you.”

Kael stared at the yard. “I just… I keep wondering if this fire will be enough next time.”

A knock at the fence gate cut through the moment. Glenn leaned lazily on the wooden post, waving.

“Morning, Mrs. L! Your son’s there?”

Lily chuckled. “Yes.”

Kael stood, finishing the last sip of his drink. “Let’s go. We’ve got a long day of doing absolutely nothing.”

Glenn grinned. “Except maybe training until we drop.”

The two walked off down the quiet trail as Lily watched from the steps, arms folded, a quiet pride in her eyes.

She whispered after them. “Keep that fire, Kael. But don’t forget to breathe sometimes.”

Mist clung to the earth as Kael and Glenn strolled down a narrow path. Trees lined both sides. Birds chirped overhead.

Glenn nudged him with a grin. “So, what’s the plan for this ‘absolutely nothing’ day?”

Kael shrugged. “Just walk. Maybe bump into the others, maybe not.”

“You know we’re definitely bumping into the others.”

They laughed, light and easy.

Ahead, under the shade of an old tree, stood Sahir—arms crossed, posture casual, eyes sharp.

“You two are late.”

Glenn raised an eyebrow. “Late for what? We didn’t even schedule this.”

“I knew you’d pass through here. Kiara’s by the lake. Thought we’d all catch up.”

Kael nodded. “Sounds like a plan. Let’s go.”

Sunlight glittered across the lake’s surface. Kiara sat cross-legged near the edge, sketching in a small journal. She looked up as footsteps crunched the grass behind her.

“You took your time.”

Kael stepped into view. “Did Sahir drag you here too?”

“Nope. I came for peace. And then peace got louder.”
She smiled without looking up from her sketchbook.

The others gathered around her. Glenn skipped stones across the water. Sahir sat beside Kiara, eyes half-closed. Kael leaned against a tree, arms crossed but relaxed.

Glenn broke the silence. “So this is what post-victory looks like. A bunch of elite warriors doing absolutely nothing productive.”

Sahir replied without opening his eyes. “Speak for yourself. I’ve been planning future patrol routes.”

Glenn groaned. “Of course you have. You’re allergic to chill.”

Kael stared out over the lake. “You guys think we’ll always be like this?”

Kiara looked up. “Like what?”

“Together. As a team. With enough time to sit by a lake and talk nonsense.”

Sahir’s tone was steady. “Things will change. Missions get harder. People drift. That’s natural.”

Kiara nodded. “But as long as we have each other’s backs, we’ll find our way back. Always.”

Glenn grinned. “That’s poetic. Are you secretly writing books now?”

“Chapter One,” Kiara said dryly. “How to handle idiots on your team.”

They all laughed. The bond between them was unspoken, but solid.

The village market buzzed with life. Stalls brimmed with fabrics, spices, and odd little trinkets. Children darted between carts. Vendors called out their best deals.

Glenn’s eyes lit up. “Alright, alright! First round of fried buns on me!”

Sahir raised an eyebrow. “You mean the training funds we pooled for equipment?”

Glenn was already chewing. “Consider it morale boost.”

They wandered the market—eating, laughing, tossing coins to street performers. Kiara helped a child with a scraped knee. Kael lifted boxes for a struggling vendor. Glenn played tag with a group of kids, losing on purpose. The world felt simple for once.

Lighthearted music swelled in the background as they walked together through the crowd.

Later, they lay in a grassy clearing, the sun warming their backs. Butterflies drifted lazily across the sky.

Glenn was out cold, snoring softly.

Kiara doodled in her journal again. Sahir sharpened his blade, precise and patient. Kael stared up at the sky, arms folded under his head.

Kael spoke first. “You guys ever wonder what kind of missions we’ll get next?”

Sahir replied without looking up. “Likely scouting the northern perimeter. Heard Bloodcaster remnants still linger.”

Kiara sighed. “I hope it’s not just fighting. I wouldn’t mind escorting a healer’s convoy for once.”

Glenn murmured in his sleep. “Undercover mission… tropical island… strategic tanning…”

Kael chuckled. “I want one that challenges us. One that makes us grow.”

Kiara looked over. “You mean grow new scars?”

Kael smiled. “Maybe. But also, grow stronger. Smarter. Closer.”

They walked Kael home in the fading light, the sky above streaked with orange and violet, like fire meeting twilight. The air was still warm, laced with the quiet hum of crickets starting their evening chorus. Glenn whistled an off-key tune as they strolled.

"Today was actually kinda perfect," he said, hands behind his head, a lazy grin on his face.

"I agree," Kiara replied, her voice calm, content.

"Even if we did waste half a day,” Glenn added.

Sahir shook his head. “We didn’t waste it. We lived it.”

As they reached the front gate of Kael’s house, they saw Lily in the yard, gently watering a row of herb pots. She looked up, her smile soft as she waved to them.

"Back already? Dinner’s warm inside," she called.

Kael nodded. “I’ll join in a sec, Mom.”

The team lingered just outside the fence, none of them quite ready to break the moment. The house stood quiet behind them, the porch lights casting a soft glow onto the path. Fireflies began to appear in the grass.

Kael looked at them—his friends, his teammates—and exhaled.

“No matter where we go from here... this day’s gonna be one I remember.”

Glenn gave him a playful shove. “Don’t get sentimental now.”

“Let him,” Sahir said quietly. “Even warriors need moments.”

Kiara stepped closer, her expression more serious. “Let’s just promise one thing.”

Glenn raised an eyebrow. “What?”

“That whenever we’re in trouble,” she said, “we help each other. No matter what.” Kael reached out first. “It’s a deal.” One by one, the others placed their hands over his. It wasn’t dramatic or loud. Just honest. A silent vow shared in the glow of a dying sun. Above them, the last light faded into deep violet. Whatever came next, they’d face it together.