Under Pale Canopies

Kaya's eyes opened to the pale canopy above her. For a moment she only stared, listening to the faint crackle of a lantern somewhere in the corridor. Her body felt heavy, every breath tugging against fresh bandages.

She turned her head, eyes tracing the dim room until they landed on the figure standing nearby. Straight posture, hands folded neatly behind his back.

"…Captain," she murmured.

Jin's gaze shifted toward her, steady as stone. She tried to sit up, but a sharp pull from her gut made her wince.

"Don't push yourself," he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "You slept the whole day through."

Kaya lowered her eyes, her head sinking against the blanket. Her fingers curled tight into the fabric. “…I lost. He beat me.”

The words hung there, unanswered. Jin neither moved nor spoke at first, letting the silence stretch until it weighed on her chest heavier than the bandages.

Finally, evenly, he said, "It wasn't because you were weak. It was because he was strong."

Her lips tightened. "Doesn't matter. A loss is a loss. I dragged my family name into the mud… stripped it of any honor or pride."

Her voice thinned, almost breaking. "How am I supposed to look my father in the face now?"

Jin's gaze sharpened, and after a pause he stepped closer, lowering himself to sit at her side. "I won't pretend I know the exact weight you carry," he said evenly, "but listen. What drove you this far… it started in the battle royale, didn't it? Your near loss."

Kaya buried her face a little deeper, her shoulders curling.

His tone stayed calm. “Even I heard it — the whispers, the badmouthing. Your family’s name was nearly ruined after you almost lost to someone like Kazuo. But it seems the situation has changed.”

He paused, letting the words sink in. “After Kazuo defeated you, I expected more of the same. Instead… it shifted. They see you in another light.”

Kaya lifted her head, confusion flickering. "What do you mean?"

"When Kazuo won, the noble families were outraged, of course. But instead of giving him credit, they gave it to you. Their reasoning? Someone wielding water magic like that — something they've never seen before — made the match unfair. And the fact that you lasted so long against it?" Jin's tone stayed calm, precise. "They call it proof of your strength. That you nearly defeated someone using pure magic alone."

She turned her head, meeting his gaze. “Why? Why twist it like that?”

"Because even if it's dumb reasoning, if it helps them cope, the noble families will say anything. And more than that—" Jin's voice hardened. "They refuse to acknowledge a black-eyed half-noble like Kazuo. They won't let him shine, no matter what. So instead, they let you shine in his place."

Kaya's breath caught. "So… my family name—"

"—is restored," Jin finished, voice firm. "And shines brighter than ever."

He inclined his head. "Besides… he came."

Her eyes widened, snapping back to him. "He? You mean—"

“Your father.” Jin’s tone softened, though only slightly.

Kaya’s gaze dropped. “That’s so unlike him… Even if what you say is true, I still lost.”

Jin shook his head faintly. “You should know the reason already.”

Her eyes flicked back up, uncertain.

“No matter how strict your parents are, they still love you — no matter the outcome,” Jin went on. “This is what I believe. He only wanted to push you further. He knew that by acting the way he did, you’d go beyond your limits.”

Her lips parted, but no words came.

Jin continued, steady. "And the fight with Kazuo proved it. You've never used your Arcane spell in such a creative way — calling out fake-outs like that, pushing yourself into something new. That wasn't weakness. That was growth."

Jin straightened, hands folding neatly behind his back again. "Get well soon. We have a mission coming up, and your teammates will want to hear everything that happened."

His footsteps faded down the corridor, leaving only the low crackle of the lantern.

Kaya leaned back against the pillows, breath unsteady, eyes drifting to the pale canopy above.

Her name… restored,

And yet, when the memory of the fight rose again — the clash of water and stone, the weight of his gaze — it wasn't shame that tightened in her chest.

It was the image of Kazuo standing there, unyielding, eyes burning with resolve.

Her lips pressed together, a whisper slipping out before sleep claimed her.

"…Next time, I'll win."

By the time Kaya drifted into silence, another patient was stirring awake across the infirmary halls.

Kazuo stirred, the faint scent of herbs filling his nose as his eyes blinked open to a ceiling he didn't recognize. For a moment, the world was a blur — pale stone walls, a lantern flickering low, the quiet draft slipping through a high window.

"Yo."

Kazuo turned his head. Setsuna leaned against the wall a few steps away, arms folded, white hair catching the lantern glow. A rice cracker crunched between his teeth.

Kazuo pushed himself upright, ribs aching dully but no sharp stab of pain. He glanced around, blinking at the folded uniform draped neatly over a chair. His old clothes were nowhere in sight.

"How long was I out?"

Setsuna chewed, swallowed, and lifted a brow. "Whole day. Don't worry, the healers patched you up. Couple of broken ribs, bit of internal bleeding — but nothing they couldn't handle. You'll live." He said it like he was commenting on the weather, completely unfazed.

Kazuo realized he was down to nothing but his underwear. His face tightened. "Where are my clothes?"

Setsuna smirked. "Have you seen your clothes after that match? Torn to pieces. You looked like some homeless guy who wandered into the arena by mistake." He jabbed a thumb toward the chair beside the bed. "So — here. An upgrade."

Kazuo eyed the neatly folded uniform. "…Wait. These are the same as before."

"They are."

"…Real funny."

Setsuna grinned wider and bit into another cracker without answering.

Kazuo exhaled, rubbing at his face, still shaking the weight of sleep from his head. "And the others?"

"Tetsu and Sora wanted to come pester you," Setsuna said, casual. "I sent them on errands. Didn't figure you'd want to wake up with two heads hovering over you."

Kazuo let out a small huff. "Good call."

"Well," he said, "you did great. Won fair and square. I was certain you'd pull through — after all, you've been training under me."

Kazuo blinked, the words sitting heavier than Setsuna's usual sarcasm.

Setsuna's eyes narrowed slightly. "But if I had to nitpick something in your match yesterday…" He tilted his head. "…it was that elbow you threw. Right into Kaya's back while she had her Arcane spell raging. You knew those shards would carve you up worse than her, and yet you still went through with it."

Kazuos gaze dropped to his palm. "…I don't know. Maybe I was desperate. Maybe I just wanted to stop her momentum, even if it cost me." His hand clenched, voice low. "But after that… she didn't feel invincible anymore. I could see it. That strike shook her, even if only for a moment."

Setsuna's mouth pressed into a line. "Still, it was stupid. Avoid reckless stunts like that. And stop gambling — you do that often. I don't care if you throw your money away outside the arena, but in there? You are betting your life."

Kazuo nodded.

He pushed off the wall, brushing crumbs from his sleeve. "Anyway. You missed the rest of round one while you were busy snoring. I'd rather not bury you in more battle reports after your own fight…" His smirk tilted faintly. "…but better you hear it now than later."

"So? Who advanced?" He asked eager.

"Kaien. Rulthan. And of course, Aoi." Setsuna's tone was matter-of-fact, like reciting something obvious.

Kazuo leaned forward slightly. "…Aoi too, huh."

"As expected," Setsuna said. "The two you should keep your eyes on are Rulthan and Aoi. Aoi's presence in the finals is practically guaranteed — nothing sticks to that guy. But your concern comes first: Rulthan. He's your next opponent."

Kazuo's hand stilled over his thigh. The scarred eye, the tavern… and the hand that once pulled him back in the battle royale, only to promise his end later.

Setsuna’s eyes studied him. “You figured some things out on your own yesterday. Coating your blade with water for that Riptide Cutter — smart. That’s sword and magic working together, the way it should.” He gave a short laugh through his nose. “Funny thing is, I was going to teach you that later. Thought you didn’t need it yet. The technique is called Resonance.”

Resonance…? The word lodged in Kazuo’s mind, heavy with possibility.

His mouth tightened, a flicker of pride crossing his face before fading.

Setsuna’s tone dropped firmer. “But don’t fool yourself. Against Rulthan, you’ll need more than that. A lot more.”

Kazuo leaned back slightly, breath steadying. “…So I’ll finally face him soon.”

“Five days,” Setsuna said, pushing off the wall. “That’s all you’ve got.”