VOL. 1: CHAPTER 14 — "THE WOUND, THE WARNING, THE BOY WHO SHOULDN'T FALL, LOCKDOWN LESSONS, AND SHADOWS BENEATH THE STONE"

“That wasn’t a compliment!” She said.

“I’m still taking it.” I said.

“You are INFURIATING—!!” She replied.

Aerin tugged her sleeve, panicked.“ Princess… please don’t yell at big brother! He’s hurt!”

“I KNOW HE’S HURT—!! That’s why I’m yelling!!” She yelled.

“…That logic scares me.” I muttered.

“It SHOULD—!!” She replied.

We made it into the infirmary, where a healer gasped upon seeing me.
“Oh stars—Princess?! What happened?!”

Lythiriel answered sharply:
“He was attacked. Shadow needle. Abyssal influence.”

The healer bowed in fear. “Put him there—quickly!”

Lythiriel guided me gently onto the bed—
Actually, gently for her.
Which meant only moderately violent.

Aerin sat next to me, gripping my hand.“Big brother… don’t die…”

I squeezed his hand weakly. “I promise. Not today.”


— HEALER’S ASSESSMENT —

The healer placed glowing palms over my wound.
“It is not fatal,” she said slowly, “but… how did he remain standing? A shadow-curse like this should paralyze a normal man.”

Lythiriel crossed her arms proudly. “He is not normal.”

“Not helping,” I muttered.

Aerin scolded her. “Princess, big brother needs comfort! Not insults!”

“I—I was not insulting him!” She denied.

“You said he’s not normal!” Aerin said.

“That’s—!! That’s different!!” She replied.

Aerin squinted at her suspiciously.

Lythiriel panicked. “AREN DON’T LOOK AT ME LIKE THAT—!!”

The healer sighed and poured glowing liquid light into the wound.
It burned.
A lot.

I was in pain. “AH—!! Hey—ow—!!”

Lythiriel grabbed my uninjured hand.
“Stop squirming,” she whispered.

Her grip was warm.
Tight.
Frightened.
And it helped.

Aerin leaned against my side. “You’re strong, big brother…”

I smiled despite the pain. “I try.”


— QUEEN VAELINDRA ARRIVES —

The healing glow faded just as the doors opened.
Silver light.
Heavy footsteps.
Cold aura.

Queen Vaelindra stepped inside.
Everyone went still.
Everything felt suddenly colder.

Her eyes scanned the room—
Then locked onto me. “…Kai Rajput.”

“Hey.” I replied.

“Be serious.” She said.

“Sorry.” I apologized.

Her gaze drifted to the wound. “…You were targeted again.”

I nodded. “Yes.”

Her aura sharpened.
Students nearby flinched.

“Describe the attacker,” she commanded.

I took a breath. “Shadow needle from a distance. High precision. Mana felt… oily. Like the parasite. But stronger.”

Aerin shuddered. “Princess… I was scared…”

Vaelindra surprised all of us.
She knelt beside Aerin.
Placed a gentle hand on his hair.

“You were brave, little one. Courage does not mean not fearing—it means protecting what matters despite fear.” She said.

Aerin’s eyes widened. “…Really?”

“Truly.” Vaelindra smiled.

His tears slowed.
Lythiriel’s eyes softened.

Then Vaelindra stood and turned toward me. “You drew the attack away from my daughter and the child.”

I shrugged. “Seemed like a good idea.”

“It was not ‘good’,” she said sharply. “It was instinctive. Reckless. And effective.”

I blinked. “…Thank you?”

“It was not praise.” She turned to Lythiriel. “You trembled when he fell.”

“M-MOTHER—!!!” Lythiriel exploded, face redder than the sun.

“Is this true?” the Queen asked calmly.

“N-No!! I—!! Yes!! But—!! That’s not—!! I wasn’t—!! I was responsible for—!! AAAAA—!!” Lythiriel was speechless. 

I smiled.

She smacked my arm. “NOT ONE WORD—!!”

Ouch.


— THE WARNING —

Vaelindra’s expression grew colder. “Kai. Hear me.”

“Okay.” I said.

“There is a pattern.” She held up three fingers.
“The forest attack.”
“The Academy sabotage.”
“The needle in the dark.” Her eyes narrowed.
“Someone is targeting you. Not the Princess. Not the Academy. You.”

I swallowed. “Why?”“Because of what Elder Mina saw.”

“The anomaly.”
“The world-breaker.”
“The fate-shifter.” Her voice dropped.
“They want you dead before fate can change.”

Lythiriel shook her head violently. “No—!! He’s not—!! He wouldn’t—!! Mother, this is unfair!”

“It is reality,” Vaelindra said softly.

Aerin hugged me tighter, trembling. “Big brother… don’t die. Please.”

My voice softened. “I won’t. Promise.”

Lythiriel looked at me then—really looked.
And whispered: “You better not.”


— LOCKDOWN ORDER —

The Queen straightened. “From this moment, the Academy enters Level Two Lockdown.”

Gasps echoed through the hall.

“Princess Lythiriel,” the Queen commanded,
“you are personally responsible for Kai until further notice.”

Lythiriel froze. “Wh—Me?! Why—?!” 

“Because he listens to you.” Vaelindra replied. 

“I—he—!!! That’s not—!!” Lythiriel froze again.

“And because,” Vaelindra continued calmly,
“you protect him. Even when you deny it.”

Lythiriel’s soul visibly left her body.

Aerin nodded seriously. “Princess protects big brother. Big brother protects Princess.”

Lythiriel covered her face. “STOOOOOP—!!”

Elorin whispered:
“…She’s actually blushing.”

“I CAN HEAR YOU—!!” Lythiriel shouted.

Vaelindra turned to me. “Do not leave Lythiriel’s side. If she commands you to run, you run. If she commands you to hide, you hide. If she commands you to retreat—”

I nodded. “I listen. Got it.”

Lythiriel slowly peeked through her fingers. “…You… will?”

I shrugged. “You’re smart. I trust your judgement.”

She blinked, hard. “…Y-You can’t just say things like that…”

“Why not?” I asked.

“Because—!! Because—!! I—!! AAAAA—!!” She screamed.

The Queen interrupted the meltdown. “Good. Then listen carefully.”
Everyone quieted. “Because the next attack will not be subtle.”

A chill ran down my spine. “Next…?”

“Yes,” she said. “Your enemies will escalate.”


— GRAY-HAIRED STUDENT RETURNS —

The Queen left to address the Council.
Lythiriel helped me stand (without throwing me — progress!).
Aerin clung to my waist.

Elorin scouted ahead.

We exited the infirmary and walked through the quiet hallways.
Then—From the shadows—The gray-haired boy stepped out.

I stopped.

Lythiriel immediately put a hand on her sword. “…You again.”

He smiled faintly. “Good evening, Princess. Human.”

“Who are you?” she demanded.

He tilted his head. “Just a student.”

“That is a lie.” She said.

He chuckled softly. “Half a lie.” His eyes flickered to Aerin.
“Hello, little one.”

Aerin shrank behind me. “Big brother…”

The boy smiled sadly. “Don’t fear me. I’m not here to harm you.”

Lythiriel snarled quietly. “Then state your purpose.”

The boy’s expression shifted.
Calm.
Cold.
Knowledgeable.

“Kai Rajput,” he said, “you should not be here.”

My heart stilled. “…Meaning?

”“You are an anomaly,” he said gently. “A walking contradiction. A tear in fate.”

Lythiriel’s grip on her sword tightened. “Who told you that?!”

“No one,” the boy replied. “I simply see souls.”

Aerin trembled. “Princess…”

Lythiriel stepped between us. “Stay away from him.”

The boy sighed. “I am not your enemy.”

“Prove it,” I said quietly.

He met my eyes.
And whispered: “The Abyss is moving. The Dominion is preparing. Your presence has accelerated the timeline.”

Lythiriel stiffened. “…Timeline?”

The boy continued: “You will face loss. Soon. Unavoidable.”

The world froze.
Aerin’s hand squeezed my sleeve.
Lythiriel went pale.

I whispered: “…Whose loss?”

The boy’s eyes softened sadly. “You already know.”

My chest tightened.
A cold, creeping dread climbed my spine.

Aerin’s fate—The prophecy—
Mina’s warning—My vision blurred slightly.

I swallowed. “Who are you?” I repeated.

He stepped back into the shadows. “Someone who wants the world to survive.”

“Name,” Lythiriel demanded.

He smiled faintly. “Call me… Arcthel.”

The name carried mana.
Old mana.

He turned away.

“Be prepared,” he whispered.

Then melted into the shadows.


— THE AFTERMATH —

Silence.
Heavy.
Breathless.

Lythiriel turned to me.

Her eyes were trembling. “…Kai.”

“Yeah.” I answered.

“Don’t let his words control you.” She said.

I forced a smile. “Don’t worry.”

“You’re lying.” She called it out.

“…Yeah.” I said honestly.

Aerin hugged me again. “Kai… don’t leave. Don’t.”

I held him close.
And whispered: “I’m not going anywhere.”

But inside—
Inside I knew.

Nothing good waits.
Nothing stable.
Nothing guaranteed.

A storm was coming.
And something worse was waiting to take the person I had just begun to protect.   

Something bad was going to happen.


****(NEXT MORNING)****


— KAI’S POV —

The next morning, the Academy felt like a haunted palace. Guards patrolled every hallway, mana lamps glowed dimly—tightened by new wards. Students whispered like scared birds.

A laminated sign hung outside the entrance:
LOCKDOWN LEVEL 2. Unauthorized movement prohibited.
Danger level: Elevated.

Aerin tugged my sleeve. “Big brother… does lockdown mean… we can’t go outside?”

“Yeah. It’s for safety.” I said.

He frowned seriously. “That’s good. I will protect you.”

I smiled.
The kid meant it.
Lythiriel arrived wearing full guard attire—forest-green armor plates over ceremonial robes, sword at her hip, hair tied in a strict braided style.

She looked… too competent.
Too princely.
 Too strong.

“Princess,” I said, “you look—”

She glared. “If you say anything embarrassing, I’ll throw you out a window.”

I nodded. “…Sharp.”

“Thank you.” She said.

“That wasn’t a compliment.” I replied.

She smiled. “It was for me.”

Aerin giggled.

Elorin joined us, sighing. “Let’s begin Duel Training.”-


— TRAINING GROUND #3: “THE MOONRING” —

We walked into a circular arena carved with glowing runes.
Spirit vines draped over archways.
The air vibrated with mana.

Lythiriel walked to the center. “Kai. You have a duel in two weeks.”

“With Vaelen? The noble kid?” I asked.

“Yes. The one you insulted.” She answered.

“I didn’t insult him.” I said.

“You told him his ego was bigger than his sword.” She sighed.

“That’s not an insult. It’s geography.” I retorted.

“KAI—!!” She yelled.

Elorin coughed politely. “Princess Lythiriel is correct. You must prepare. Vaelen is a top-ranked elite.”

“Great,” I said. “I like elites. They fall harder.”

Aerin laughed.

Lythiriel threw her hands up. “YOU ARE HOPELESS—!!”


— LYTHIRIEL TEACHES COMBAT (DISASTER ENSUES) —

Lythiriel drew her blade. “First lesson: footwork. If you trip in a duel, you die.”

“Is that literal?” I asked.

“Yes.” She replied.

“Scary.” I said.

“That’s life.” She replied.

“Dark.” I said.

“That’s politics.” She said.

“…Princess, are you okay?” I asked.

“N-No. Shut up.” She demonstrated the stance — calm, graceful, firm.

I copied it instantly.

She froze. “…Don’t copy me so quickly.”

“Why?” I asked.

She muttered. “It’s unsettling!” 

“That sounds like a you-problem.” I said.

“KAI—!!” She yelled.

She snapped her sword downward.
I copied her parry arc perfectly.

She glared harder. “Stop. I’m teaching.”

“I am learning.” I replied.

“YOU ARE MOCKING ME—!!” She said.

I smiled. “No, Princess. I respect you deeply.”

She blinked. “…Ah…? W-What—?”

“You’re a great teacher.” I nodded.

Her face turned pink. “I— I— you— STOP—!!”

I smirked. “Princess, you’re adorable when flustered.”

“STOP SAYING THAT—!!” She tripped over her own foot.

I caught her by instinct.
She froze.

I froze.
Aerin gasped dramatically.
Elorin quietly looked away like a man tired of teenagers.

Lythiriel scrambled out of my arms.“I—You—THAT NEVER HAPPENED—!!”

“It definitely happened.” I smirked.

“NO IT DIDN’T—!!!” She shouted.

Aerin raised his hand. “It happened.”

“AERIN—!!!” she shrieked.


— SERIOUS TRAINING BEGINS —

After her meltdown, Lythiriel forced herself into Teacher Mode.

“Enough. Show me Lightning Break.”

I inhaled.
Mana crackled.
Lightning gathered around my right arm, spiraling upward into a condensed, glowing beam.

Lightning Break — Controlled Form.
I aimed at a training dummy.
SHOT—!!

A pillar of condensed electricity blasted out, piercing straight through—
And hit the dummy behind it.
And the tree behind that.

“Ooops.” I'm getting scolded.

Lythiriel stared at the smoking trees. “Control. CONTROL, KAI. Not destruction!”

“Destruction is control, but make it cool.” I reasoned.

“NO IT IS NOT—!!” She retorted.

I tried again.
This time the beam sputtered.

Lythiriel slapped her forehead. “You reduced it TOO MUCH!”

“You said control!” I said.

“CONTROL DOES NOT MEAN TURNING IT INTO A SAD SPARKLE—!!” She yelled.

Elorin nodded thoughtfully. “It really is a sad sparkle.”

“ELORIN—!!” I said sharply.

Aerin patted my arm. “It was a very good sad sparkle, big brother.”

I smiled proudly. “Thank you.”

Lythiriel screamed into the sky.


— ARCTHEL’S SHADOW POV (Hidden Observer) —

From the high branches above the arena, the gray-haired student—Arcthel—sat silently.

Watching.
Observing.
His eyes followed Kai’s movements.

“…Two Authorities,” he whispered. “Dormant. Unstable. Untrained.”

He watched Lythiriel’s earnest attempts to teach Kai.
He watched Aerin’s devotion.

“…He’s gathering anchors, ” Arcthel murmured.
“People who tether him to this world.”

His eyes flickered.
Sadness.
Regret.
Knowledge.

“But fate does not care for anchors.” He closed his book.
“The child will die. The anomaly will break. And the arc will shift.” He vanished.

— BACK TO KAI: BREAK TIME —

We sat under a moonbloom tree.
Aerin sat on my lap, happily eating a berry pastry.

Lythiriel sat beside us, pretending she wasn’t watching me.
Elorin stood behind like a chaperone.

Lythiriel finally spoke. “…Kai.”

“Yeah?” I said.

“Why do you risk yourself… so much?” She asked.

I blinked. “Huh?”

“In the festival. In the Academy attacks. Even during training just now…”
She clenched her fists. “You always put yourself in danger first.”

Aerin tugged my sleeve. “Big brother is brave.”

Lythiriel shook her head. “No. He’s kind. And stupid. And reckless. And—”She swallowed.
“…And I don’t want you dying because of it.”

Silence.
Aerin pressed against me.
Elorin respectfully looked away.

 i was shocked. “Princess…”

She turned slightly red. “I am only saying this because you are under my political care! Not because I—I—!!”

“Princess.” I said.

She froze. “…Wh-What?”

I smiled softly. “I’m not dying. I promise.”

Her lips trembled. “You shouldn’t make promises without power to fulfill them.”

“I have the power.” I said.

She shook her head. “You don’t know what’s coming.”

Her voice cracked. “You don’t know what ANY of us will face.”

Aerin hugged me tighter. “…Big brother, stay safe. Okay?”

I ruffled his hair. “I will, kiddo.”

Lythiriel stood abruptly. “Break time is over. We return to training! I refuse to let you lose to that pompous noble!”

I smirked. “Princess is motivated.”

“I AM NOT—!!” She replied loudly.


— TRAINING RESUMES: SPIRIT ARTS —

Lythiriel demonstrated her signature skill:

Moonveil Dance — First Step.

Light spiraled around her feet.
She shot forward with grace that made the air hum.
I tried copying her.
My body followed the pattern—
And I accidentally outsped her movement.

Lythiriel nearly tripped. “K—Kai?! How did you—?! That took me YEARS—!!”

I nodded. “I learn fast.”

“YOU LEARN WRONG—!! STOP BEING GOOD AT EVERYTHING—!!” She yelled.

“I can’t.” I replied.

“THEN AT LEAST PRETEND TO STRUGGLE—!!” She said loudly.

Aerin nodded sagely. “Yes. You must pretend.”

“…Even Aerin? Traitor!” I said.

Aerin giggled.


— ABYSSAL AGENT POV (BENEATH THE ACADEMY) —

Far beneath the training grounds—

In a restricted cavern lined with old roots—

A cloaked figure drew runes in the stone.

Black ink.
Black mana.
Black air.

A ritual.

“Tonight’s festival attack failed,” he whispered.
“But the next one…The next one will break them.”

He drew a sigil shaped like a moth’s wing. “A wound. A child. A catalyst.”
He smiled coldly. “Let the anomaly suffer.”


— BACK TO KAI (FINAL SCENES) —

The sun dipped low.

Training ended.
Aerin yawned on my shoulder.

Lythiriel sheathed her sword. “You improved.”

“Thanks.” I said.

“That wasn’t praise.” She retorted.

“I’ll take it anyway.” I smiled.

She glared gently. “…Let’s go. Dinner is mandatory in lockdown.”

Walking back through the Academy halls…

Aerin, half-asleep, rested his head on my shoulder.
“Big brother… you won’t leave me, right?”

“I won’t.” I said.

“…Promise?” He asked.

I hesitated.
Just a second.
Just long enough for Lythiriel to hear the fracture.

I forced a smile. “I promise.”

Aerin nodded and drifted to sleep.

Lythiriel slowed her pace. “…Kai.”

“Yeah?” I asnwered.

Her voice dropped to a whisper. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep.”

I looked at her.
She looked away.

Her hands trembled. “…Please.”

My throat tightened. “…I’ll try.”

She stopped walking.
Turned.
Looked at me like she could see everything inside me.

“…That’s enough.” She whispered.

For now.
We walked on.
Unaware that beneath our feet,
in the sealed caverns—the ritual circle pulsed awake.