Amyra had just returned to the academy from the palace today.

Her steps were light as she walked through the academy grounds toward the garden—the place she always met Kyun.

It was time for their daily meeting.

What is he doing right now?

She thought about Alden, her lips curving up.

Will he be there with Kyun…?

…How wonderful that would be.

The banquet two nights ago had shaken her slightly. She didn't expect him to say that name so suddenly.

But she wasn't the type to break that easily.

At least he remembered the name.

That was a start.

She stepped into the clearing—

And the smile on her face vanished.

Kyun was lying on the ground. Her little body was trembling and one of her wings was broken.

Standing over her… was a familiar boy.

Similar white hair and violet eyes.

Her twin brother, Lucien was holding a glowing scroll and walking towards Kyun.

__

Amyra's vision narrowed. Something inside her snapped.

Violet lightning crackled around her like a violent storm in answer to her rage.

The air twisted. The temperature dropped.

Mana surged around her.

She didn't care about him. She never had. She knew what he'd done. To him.

To Alden.

And for that, she hated him as deeply as she hated Seles.

__

Across the clearing, Lucien's knees gave out. His body dropped before he even realized what was happening.

"What do you think you're doing?"

Lucien turned his head towards her.

And in that moment… their violet eyes met.

Lucien knew.

He had made a very, very big mistake.

He tried getting up… but his knees didn't obey.

[IMMENSE HOSTILE INTENT DETECTED]

[ACTIVATING SYSTEM EMERGENCY PROTOCOL]

The red coloured system panels flashed in front of him… as he finally could move slightly.

But before he could do anything—

Amyra moved. One step. That's all it took.

The ground beneath her cracked.

Then she vanished and reappeared right in front of him.

His eyes widened as his Instinct took over. He gritted his teeth and channeled mana into his legs.

[Thunder Steps]

He reappeared a few feet away, cold sweat forming across his temple as he looked at Amyra again.

Lightning raged around her like a living beast, dancing across her skin radiantly as her violet eyes locked onto his.

There was no emotion on her face. Only judgement. Only fury.

Lucien's heart pounded.

His whole body screamed at him to run but his pride refused to budge. He didn't want to accept that she was better than him.

Then, a voice echoed in his head.

"Kid… run."

Lucien froze.

"You can't win this. She isn't someone you can defeat."

It wasn't the system. It was something else. Something old. A presence that had barely spoken to him much.

His Spirit Bond. The Ancient Lightning Spirit: Kael'zin.

And he was warning him to run.

But before he could move—

Amyra appeared in front of him.

Her hand shot out and grabbed around his neck. His feet barely scraped the ground as he was lifted effortlessly.

He could barely think as his vision started darkening.

__

Amyra's eyes were cold as she held Lucien's neck in her grasp.

But she wasn't looking at him.

She was looking through him.

Because behind him, a golden swirl of mana shifted into a form.

A radiant golden bird silhouette appeared glowing with divine power.

Kael'zin.

The Ancient Lightning Spirit.

His golden eyes narrowed at the girl holding his contractor.

"RELEASE HIM, YOUNG LADY," his voice echoed in her mind. "HE IS UNDER MY PROTECTION."

Her violet lightning started receding as Kael'zin was the monarch of lightning.

No lightning could go against him.

But Amyra didn't flinch. Her expression didn't even shift. She simply turned her gaze to the golden bird.

"Fuck off… you pretender."

And then—

The lightning coiling around her turned pitch black.

Kael'zin's form started dimming.

His eyes widened.

"NO… THAT'S NOT POSSIBLE."

His voice was less commanding and more afraid now.

"HOW DO YOU HAVE THAT?"

Those were his last words before his form started twisting…

And just like that… he vanished, unable to hold his presence in the real world any longer.

The spirit had only been present in its spiritual form, using Lucien as medium. So Amyra simply severed the link.

Just for a moment.

She didn't care about the consequences—she only wanted to punish Lucien for what he'd done.

Her voice trembled with fury. "Why did you hurt Kyun?"

But before she could go any further…

A glitched system interface flashed in front of her eyes.

[WHAT ARE YOU DOING?]

[HAVE YOU FORGOTTEN THE CONTRACT?]

[YOU CAN'T TOUCH HIM… YOU CAN'T INTERFERE WITH HIS FATE… YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU DO.]

A distorted voice rang in her head. She knew that voice.

The being she made a deal with.

Her fingers trembled as she let Lucien go.

He collapsed to the ground the moment her grip loosened.

His body trembled slightly as he let out a choked breath.

Amyra stared down at him. Her violet eyes were unreadable.

"If I ever see you anywhere near Kyun again…" Her voice was low but Lucien heard it loud and clear. "I'll kill you."

She didn't wait for a response.

She turned, gently lifted Kyun into her arms and walked away without sparing Lucien a single glance.

Leaving behind the boy who had thought his system made him untouchable.

__

After walking for a while, Amyra suddenly staggered, dropping to one knee as she coughed up blood.

Tch… I overdid it.

She wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.

This body is still too weak to completely wield it.

The power answered her call but not without consequence.

Her body ached and her vision blurred slightly. But she didn't care.

It was worth it.

Lucien had dared to touch someone precious to her. Tried to turn Kyun into a tool.

How could she forgive that?

If she had…

How would she have faced Alden?

"Kyu~" The little crow in her arms chirped, her voice low.

"I'm fine, Kyun." Amyra replied.

Even while injured and bleeding, the first thing Kyun worried about was her.

She really does take after Alden.

Amyra thought as a smile bloomed on her face. The previous cold expression vanished as if it was nothing but an illusion.

"Let's get you treated, shall we?"

"Kyu…kyu~" Kyun chirped again, this time with a bit more urgency.

Amyra's smile faded.

"Alden vanished?"

A frown appeared on her face. But she controlled it immediately.

"Don't worry, Kyun. He will be fine."

She didn't want to worry the child.

But her heart started pounding.

Where did he go?

Alden wouldn't leave Kyun. At least not without a reason

Which meant…

He didn't choose to.

Amyra's violet eyes sharpened. "Did he tell you something?"

Kyun hesitated slightly, unsure whether to share it or not. But after a long pause, she gave in.

"…Kyu."

Just one soft sound.

But it was enough.

Amyra understood immediately.

So, he entered the trial.

She closed her eyes, trying to recall the contents of The Book…

But it isn't the time yet… and his body shouldn't have vanished.

Did the trial change?

Did someone interfere again?

There were too many questions but no answers.

She looked down at Kyun and exhaled softly.

The only thing she could do now was trust him.

__

Meanwhile Lucien was still on the cold ground of the garden.

The damp soil clung to his body but he didn't care… he couldn't.

His whole body was covered in cold sweat.

H–How?

The single question dominated his mind.

How is she so strong?

Amyra had always been… untouchable. Even as children, she'd felt like something else—distant and cold.

The old Lucien was terrified of her. He never even dared to make eye contact with her for more than a second.

And when he, Lucas, awakened in this world… The fear was also inherited but he had something the old Lucien didn't.

A system.

He told himself he would rise. He would surpass everyone.

Even her.

And for a while, he believed in it completely.

Every time his stats increased, every time he unlocked a new skill, every time another quest declared him chosen—

He believed.

He believed she was just another obstacle in his way to greatness.

But now?

Now, he wasn't even sure she was human.

Just recalling her cold violet eyes was enough to send a wave of shivers down his spine.

She'd crushed him completely.

Lucien clenched his fist so tightly that his nails dug into his palm, drawing blood.

For the first time since arriving in this world…

He didn't feel like a chosen one…

…He felt like a bug.

______

Author's Note:

Amyra has always been calm but this time, she broke the rules because someone dared to touch someone precious to her.

Lucien learned something important today: power systems, titles and "chosen one" bullshit mean nothing when you're standing in front of someone who's already lost too much.

Hope you liked the chapter and thanks for reading.

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