Raiden Alaric

I took a look at the Anchors on the bench. Thank God Chronos gave me the command phrase for them to be released. Told me that he would trust I stick to training and only remove them if I deemed them necessary. I deemed it necessary for this.

Before I could make it out of the changing room, something small slammed into my shoulder like it had been launched from orbit. I didn't flinch, just froze as a blur of violet and black feathers landed and immediately started nuzzling my cheek.

"…What."

It was a bird. Just… a tiny bird. Feathers dark and iridescent, flickering violet in the light. She looked normal, almost. But no bird moves like that. No normal creature lands that fast, that precise.

She cooed once, soft and almost smug, and kept brushing her beak against my jaw like I owed her a treat.

I glanced around.

Illya wasn't nearby, but this had her fingerprints all over it.

"Uh... hi?"

The bird didn't answer. Well, obviously because it's a bird. But she didn't leave either. Just sat there. Watching me with those too-intelligent eyes.

I didn't know what she was. At least, I think it was a she.

She shifted once, feathers fluffing up slightly, then settled in like she planned to stay awhile.

After making my way out of the changing room, I saw Ella had already changed.

I began to wonder if it was just an Elven woman thing to change that quickly. My mom never changed that fast.

When we stepped out onto the training floor, the space had cleared enough for us to stretch without getting trampled. A few others lingered at the edges, watching without pretending not to.

Ella stood beside me, working through a series of joint rotations. Meanwhile, Illya lounged behind us, leaning back on her hands like she didn't have a job here.

The bird didn't move. She just stayed perched on my shoulder, perfectly balanced, acting like she'd known me for years.

Illya gestured lazily in my direction and gave a pointed look at the bird.

"So," she said, "you gonna talk about it, or keep being mysterious?" Then she smirked. "Also, I see you've made a new friend."

I glanced at the bird again. "I didn't invite her."

"You don't have to. She goes where she wants."

So it is a she.

"Is that normal?"

Illya's grin widened. "For Her? Yeah."

That didn't answer anything. Before I could push the topic, Ella glanced at my shoulder and added, "She's a Wind Ethereal. Name is Aella, Illya's contracted with her."

I blinked. "You're just casually saying that?"

Ella shrugged. "It's not a secret. Most people just don't notice what she is."

Illya gave a short whistle. Aella let out a single trill, hopped off my shoulder, and took to the air in one smooth, silent motion.

There was no wingbeat. Just a blur, and then she was gone. Or so I thought.

A ripple of motion passed in front of me, too fast to track, too soft to hear, and I saw it: a curl of wind folding inward.

Aella flowed into Illya's chest like mist pulled into a lung. No flare. Just… gone.

Illya exhaled slowly, eyes flicking open like she'd just returned from somewhere deep.

"That was… actually really cool," I muttered.

Illya smirked. "She's got style. So are you going to talk about it or what?"

I rolled my shoulders, slow and methodical. "Depends. Talk about what?"

"Oh, I don't know," she said. "How about the fact that you finally awakened after being the world's strongest 'normal' guy for, what, two years?"

"That's a stretch. Also, flattery will get you nowhere. But it is accepted," I said.

Ella chimed in. "Is it?"

I simply nodded with a bright smile.

Illya narrowed her eyes. "Seriously though, what did it feel like? Was it brutal? Did it mess with your senses? Did you win the fifty-fifty on whether you are just fine or just scream until you pass out?"

Ella gave a quiet nod. "Don't remind me. I lost that fifty-fifty."

I looked over. She didn't say it like it was a badge of honor.

"I was out for three days," she said. "Couldn't walk. Couldn't talk. Everything sounded like it was being funneled through metal. Even light made me sick. While I could've put on a bind, it's better to get control of your senses first. Otherwise, you'd collapse every time you remove it."

I froze mid-stretch.

Oh! Oh. Oh…

Right... That was supposed to happen. Well, it did happen. For a few seconds.

I looked between them, Ella rubbing her shoulder like she could still feel the aftermath, Illya watching me with quiet curiosity, and something twisted in my gut.

"I won the fifty-fifty," I lied as easily as I breathed. "Kind of grateful about it. Otherwise it would've been awkward returning to the viewing box."

Ella nodded like that made sense. Like that made me normal. I went back to stretching.

I didn't have the heart to tell them I fixed it in less than a few seconds.

Thank you, Chronos, for the sensory training. And thank you, past me, for asking for it.

Ella walked across the marble without a word. I didn't follow. Just stayed where I was, hands loose at my sides. Just watching as she made her way to the weapons rack against the far wall.

She reached for a training spear. Not one of the reinforced metal ones, just lacquered wood, balanced, still dangerous in the right hands. I would know. Illya was oh so gracious to beat me with one.

Her fingers curled around the shaft, but she didn't move right away.

She stood there, staring ahead. Then her hand reached up and tapped the base of her wrist. The aura bind shimmered once, then fell to the ground.

Her pressure filled the room immediately.

It wasn't oppressive. Not exactly. But it was sharp. Wild at the edges. Like a current that hadn't decided which direction it wanted to pull yet.

And for the first time... I could see it.

Her aura spilled around her in layers, bright, cascading green that pulsed through the air with each breath. It flickered and twisted like spiritfire. Beautiful and erratic. Every other inhale, the flow caught in her chest before settling again. Then again. Unstable, but alive.

It moved through her arms, through the spear, circling like wind around glass. This was the first time I'd ever seen her like this. It was beautiful.

Before this, we'd only ever sparred without aura. Just raw skill and movement. This time, we could go all out.

This was her at full strength.

And I could see it in the way her shoulders tensed, the way her grip kept readjusting, she was holding back flares with every breath.

She'd always had trouble with emotional control. Something most people didn't connect to aura manipulation until it was too late. Mood fed pressure. Pressure warped instinct. She talked about it enough. It was the reason she still wore a bind. It was what kept her from getting certified to go without one.

Speaking of which, I brought that up to Chronos once. He just laughed. Told me something I should've known already.

Apparently Selena's status with the A.A. lets her certify people herself. Why didn't she tell me? She was too busy drooling over the data from my aura. For once, that crazy woman did something I appreciated.

Ella turned to face me, expression locked in focus.

Illya gave a sharp clap from the side. "You both know the rules."

Her voice cut through the tension clean.

"Victory by submission, pin, surrender, or a fatal blow. If you land the strike but stop short, that counts. Best two out of three."

Neither of us spoke. We just moved into position. Ella leveled the spear.

I let my aura rise, steady and clean, pressing out across the floor like heat.

She smiled. This was going to be fun.

Illya gave the signal with a simple "Begin."

Ella didn't hesitate. Her opening step was clean, light on her feet, quick burst forward, spear snapping up into a tight guard. I shifted back half a pace to measure her rhythm.

The first thrust came fast towards my solar plexus. Her true speed was astounding.

I pivoted, let it pass beside my ribs, and ducked under the returning sweep as she dragged the spear back across in a tight arc.

I felt the wind off it. If I'd been a second slower, I'd have lost a tooth. Or my head…

She advanced again, footwork sharp, tip dancing for openings. But something was off. The power was there. The skill was there.

But her movements were inconsistent. Her aura was worse.

I could see it now, too clearly.

The green light around her pulsed with every step, but it didn't move with her. It flared during her strikes and then lagged as she reset. Her body was trying to fight as one machine, but her aura hadn't gotten the memo.

It broke her rhythm, and rhythm was everything.

She struck low, tip angled for my knee. I let it pass, counter-stepped into her inside, and palmed the shaft to redirect it.

Her aura spiked in panic, flickering hard across her left arm. I caught her elbow, twisted, and slipped past her guard.

My knee tapped the back of hers. Just enough pressure. She stumbled, her balance crumbling too easily. I stepped in, arm hooking under hers, twisting my hips to flip her over my shoulder. She hit the marble flat, almost no resistance, and I dropped to pin her shoulders, my weight locking her down. The move was clean, textbook, but it felt hollow-like sparring a shadow. Her wide-eyed stare met mine, her chest heaving under the pin.

Illya shouted the end of the round.

I eased off, stepping back, hands loose, letting her reset. A faint scowl tugged at my lips. This was too easy. Not even a challenge

"That it?" I asked.

She exhaled hard through her nose. "Shut up."

I watched her aura again. It was still lashing out in little bursts.

It wasn't a response to danger, but frustration. Her movements were too clean to fall apart on their own. Her aura was the one causing the drag.

She knew it. I knew it. She was about to start again, but I wasn't.

I thought back to everything she'd told me. The arranged marriage. The pressure from her family. The way she carried herself with responsibility she didn't ask for. Every conversation kept circling the same point, whether she was going to choose her life, or just live the one assigned to her.

Her aura was unstable because she was, because she was still trying to figure out what she was allowed to be.

"Ella," I sighed.

She froze mid-step. Her spear raised, poised to strike.

"What?" she asked.

I didn't answer. Everyone in the room felt it, that subtle shift. Even Illya straightened from her seat.

"…Raiden?" Ella asked again, this time quieter.

I lowered my stance.

"I'm not fighting you like this."

"…Raiden?" Ella asked again, this time quieter.

I lowered my stance.

"I'm not fighting you like this."

She blinked. "What?"

"You heard me."

Her grip on the spear didn't loosen. "You asked for this."

"No. I asked to fight you."

She frowned. "I am me."

I nodded. "Then sit down."

"What?"

I pointed to the floor. "Lotus position. You're not holding that aura steady. We're fixing that first."

She stared at me like I'd just told her to solve a murder with a tea set.

"I'm not meditating in the middle of the training hall."

"You're not sparring either," I said, already dropping into position. "Not until you're in sync with your own damn soul. I want to fight you not this impersonation."

There was a flicker of something behind her glare, confusion first, then irritation, then something heavier. Reluctantly, she stepped forward, spear still in hand, then lowered herself to the ground across from me.

Ella Vel'areis

I sat across from him, legs crossed, spear resting in the space beside me. I hated how calm he looked.

Eyes closed. Posture relaxed. Breathing even.

Meanwhile, I couldn't even breathe without my aura flaring out like I was on edge. Because I was. He was right. I didn't want to admit it, but he was right.

I tried to close my eyes. Tried to focus.

The first inhale was too tight. The exhale, shaky.

My aura sparked in my chest again, too fast, too shallow. It moved through my arms like it was trying to keep up, even though I hadn't done anything.

"Breathe slower," Raiden said, without opening his eyes.

I gritted my teeth. "I am breathing."

"No. You're tensing and exhaling through your teeth."

He wasn't wrong. That only made it worse.

I tried again. I inhaled, and exhaled. My aura flickered. It didn't flare this time. Another breath. Then another.

It started to settle. Not completely, but enough that I could finally feel where it was gathering. My chest, arms, and shoulders.

All the places I hold stress. All the places I store pressure I don't have time to acknowledge.

I tried to keep my breathing steady, but it kept catching on every inhale. Like my body was trying to argue with me.

Then I heard him shift behind me.

I opened my eyes just as Raiden sat down at my back, legs crossing again, back pressed gently against mine.

"What are you—"

"This is something Chronos taught me," he said, quietly. "It's a training method to smooth out the flow. Helps keep your aura from spiraling."

I felt his aura reach me. It wasn't trying to intrude or anything. It was warm and calm. Steady.

He didn't say anything else for a moment. Just let the silence stretch.

Then he added, "By aligning each other's flow, your aura starts to mimic the one it's in contact with. You match rhythms. It helps the mind calm down."

"You did this with Chronos?" I asked.

"Yeah," he said. "First time he was teaching me suppression. I kept over-correcting. He sat like this. Didn't say a word for ten minutes. I thought he fell asleep."

I let out a breath. Not quite a laugh. Okay, maybe it was more of a chuckle.

Raiden leaned back slightly, just enough for our shoulders to align.

"Stop forcing it," he said. "You're trying to command it when it's already listening."

I shut my eyes again. This time, my breath didn't catch. His aura moved through the air like a tide, slow, consistent. It didn't press or lead. It just flowed.

I focused on that. Let mine drift toward it. The first contact between them was rough, mine jittered, flickered, tried to twist free.

But I pulled it back in. Let it mirror his. Little by little, my aura stopped fighting me. And for the first time in a long time, my mind did too.

I kept trying to focus. But every time I settled into the rhythm, something in my chest pulled me out again.

A voice. A memory. A reminder.

This is what's expected of you. You can't afford to lose control. Don't embarrass the family. You'll marry well. That's your role.

Pressure in my spine. Pressure in my jaw. My aura sparked again, recoiling from the flow Raiden offered me. I pulled it back, but the flicker made my breath hitch.

I gritted my teeth.

"I'm messing it up," I muttered.

Raiden didn't shift. "No, you're not," he said, voice low, steady.

I hated how sure he sounded.

"You don't know that."

"I can feel it," he said. "Trust me. I've messed up way worse."

My aura twitched again. I clenched my fists.

"It's not just my aura," I said. "It's everything. Every day I feel like I'm pretending to steer when I'm already locked into a track someone else built for me."

"You know," Raiden said, "you're starting to sound like me before I started punching people."

I blinked. Then squinted over my shoulder.

"What?"

"Back then I couldn't awaken. Nothing worked. Didn't matter how hard I trained, how many fights I got into. Every time I got close, something yanked me back. Everyone else moved forward. I just got really good at pretending I wasn't pissed about it."

His voice was quiet, but not fragile.

"And now look," he continued. "I get to stand here with you. Equal ground. Probably gonna get stabbed in the ribs later. But it shows real growth."

I huffed. It was supposed to be a sigh, but it escaped halfway through as a laugh.

He leaned in slightly, just enough for his voice to brush past my ear.

"Point is—just because someone told you how your story ends doesn't make it true. I got told mine for years. It was wrong. Resonate with your revelation. It is your reason for Awakening, no?"

I didn't respond right away. But my aura did. It settled. The twitching stopped. It wasn't perfect. But it was quiet.

I could feel his flow, warm and quiet behind me. And for the first time in a long time, I didn't feel like I was chasing something I couldn't catch.

I write my own story. It is not written for me.

I breathed in. This time, it didn't catch. And for a moment, I let myself believe I wasn't broken.

I let the silence hold a little longer. Just enough to be sure. Then I opened my eyes.

The room was the same. The training mat. The distant footsteps. Illya probably trying not to comment from the corner. But the noise in my head had finally gone quiet.

I stood up. Raiden tilted his head to look up at me, still sitting with his legs crossed.

"You ready now?" he asked.

I nodded. "Let's begin."

He stood, and the second he was on his feet, that grin hit his face. Way too satisfied.

"You look dangerous," he said.

I raised a brow. "I was always dangerous."

"True," he said. "But now you're centered and dangerous. Way worse."

He rolled out his shoulders, aura rising to meet mine as I reached for the spear again.

This time, my grip didn't shake. And neither did my aura. I kept pressing forward.

Strike after strike, and for the first time… nothing fought me.

No stutter in my steps. No backlash from my own aura. The green pulse trailing behind my movements followed my intent like it finally understood me.

Or maybe I finally understood it.

Every step, every rotation, I guided aura through my legs, into my hips, up through my spine. It fueled my motion. Balanced my weight. Supported every strike.

Raiden adjusted quick, of course he did.

He met my thrusts with fast redirections, short deflections and sharp footwork that closed the gap inch by inch. He dropped low to slide past a spear flick meant to tag his shoulder, spun inside, and launched into a palm strike aimed at my ribs.

I spun out.

Aura tightened around my core and flowed through my pivot foot, giving me a clean, controlled rotation. The green glow chased my spin like ribbon on wind.

He pursued without pause.

I flipped the spear behind my back, caught it reverse-grip, and parried a hook aimed for my collar. Aura surged down my arms to reinforce the block, letting me absorb the impact and redirect the energy.

He turned with the momentum and rolled into a backhand that should've connected. I ducked low, aura compressing around my spine and legs.

Then he flipped over me.

His hand caught my shoulder mid-air to stabilize himself, and for a half second, his azure blue aura flared.

He landed behind me.

I was already moving.

I planted one hand, pushed aura down into my palm and heel, and twisted into a sweeping low kick. He jumped as expected.

I kept the motion rolling.

Used the spin to launch myself into a vertical leap, no telegraph, just breath and flow.

My aura streamed through my legs as I rose, tightening in my calves and knees for maximum lift.

I came down hard with the spear angled for his chest. He pivoted and countered mid-slide, aiming to break my stance.

Instead, I let him.

Let him push me off-center, then redirected. Aura wrapped around my core and flowed back down, stabilizing the recoil into a deliberate fall.

He was too close now. Thought he'd trapped me inside my own range. That was the mistake.

I let my weight drop. Rolled. Kicked off the ground with aura pulsing through my legs and back, and flipped over his shoulder.

Mid-air, I twisted the spear down, clean, fluid, and as I landed behind him, I channeled aura through my arms to sharpen the strike.

The shaft stopped just beneath his chin. Inch from his throat.

He froze. His eyes flicked down at the tip of the spear, then back up to me.

My aura pulsed steady around my frame, bright, calm, alive.

I hadn't thought it. I hadn't held back. I'd moved and I won. I actually won.

He stared at me for a second, expression unreadable, then started laughing. Shoulders shook, head tilted back slightly, grin spreading wider by the second.

"Okay," he said, catching his breath. "Okay, that was clean."

I grinned. "You're just upset you didn't see it coming."

His grin stretched wider, sharper. Almost offended.

"Upset? No, no. I'm offended."

I tilted my head.

"That," he said, stepping closer, eyes gleaming with that familiar manic glint, "that is what you've been hiding from me?"

He pointed at the space where the spear stopped beneath his chin. "You've been sitting on that this whole time?"

The narrative has been taken without authorization; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident.

I shrugged, resting the spear on my shoulder. "You didn't earn it yet."

He clearly didn't believe me.

Then let out a short laugh. "So that's how it is?"

"I don't bring out my good moves for just anyone."

His sadistic smile widened, teeth showing now. "Good. Then next time, I'm not holding back either."

"You were holding back?"

He gave me a mock salute. "I had to, or else I wouldn't have been able to see all of this."

Before I could answer, Illya clapped once, loud and smug, as usual.

"Well, well," she said. "Looks like we've got ourselves a tie."

I turned toward her. She was grinning like she'd been waiting to say that for the last five minutes.

"One to one," she continued. "Which means final round decides it. Winner gets eternal bragging rights. Loser buys dinner."

I twirled my spear and looked over my shoulder at Raiden. "Better hope I'm not in the mood for something expensive."

His smile widened. "Oh, I know you are."

We stepped apart. Just enough distance to reset. No bind. No hesitations. No limits.

Illya stepped back, giving us space. "No holding back. No grace points. You stop just short of a killing blow, or I stop you."

I nodded. So did he.

The energy between us was different now. It wasn't tension, it was alignment. We both wanted this. Badly.

I let my breath anchor me. Then I released it slow.

Aura filled me from the center outward, no delay, no fight. It flowed into my arms, through my back and legs, syncing with every part of me. Green shimmered faintly around my frame, steady and clean.

Across from me, Raiden's stance lowered.

His smile was still there, but his eyes had already locked in. It was infectious, because I started to smile myself.

Illya raised her hand. "Begin."

My foot launched off the mat, aura channeling instantly through my legs. The spear came down in a tight diagonal slash, fast and clean. Raiden was already closing the gap.

We met halfway.

His forearm snapped up, deflecting my strike with a burst of aura reinforcement. The clash echoed sharp across the room, the feedback jolting through my hands, he'd matched the speed perfectly.

He grinned. "There she is."

I didn't reply.

The next exchange was faster, blows traded like conversation.

I spun low, sweeping the spear across the floor. He jumped over it, twisted mid-air, and came down with a palm strike that rattled the breath in my chest. I slid back with the force, dug my heel in, and shot forward again.

Aura compressed in my arms, lacing through my shoulders. The spear spun into a vaulting jab. He leaned to the side, and the tip grazed his jacket.

He laughed. Actually laughed. "You trying to nick me on style points?"

I flipped the spear to reverse grip and charged again. "If I wanted style points, I'd already have them."

He dodged left, I followed him with a shoulder-check he didn't expect. Our auras collided like a pressure wave.

He staggered. Regained footing. Then spun into a sweeping hook that I ducked under by the width of a breath. I flowed with it, launched into a rising spin, aura pulsing through my legs to boost the motion.

I vaulted over his shoulder, twisted mid-air, and threw a feint jab as I landed, he didn't bite.

We both reset in the same breath, grinning like lunatics. There was no pause.

We crashed together again, fast footwork, close-range chaos, spear feints clashing against redirected strikes. Raiden's movements had no wasted effort. My aura followed me like a second skin.

We were dancing, but the tempo was war.

He slid under a sweep and tried to pin my leg with his foot. I flipped over him, landed clean, and slammed the spear down, he caught it with both hands and shoved it aside, laughing again.

"This is great," he breathed out.

I couldn't stop smiling. "You wanted the real me, you've got it."

"Careful, I might actually start liking you."

"We both know that wouldn't be enough for you."

We collided again, close range, too close for a full spear strike. So I adjusted.

One hand on the shaft. One hand to brace. My aura snapped into my core and braced me as I twisted, shoulder slamming into his chest to knock him back.

He took the hit. Recovered mid-fall. Rolled and came back swinging. I caught his wrist. Redirected. Spun him, and drove the butt of my spear toward his ribs.

Raiden caught it mid-spin and laughed again, out of breath, but fired up.

And something in me shifted. I felt it, under the pulse of aura, under the rush of the clash, even beneath the sweat and thrill and speed.

He was grinning like a man who'd just found a new god to challenge. And somehow, I wasn't angry, nor was I overwhelmed. I wasn't even trying to prove anything anymore.

I was just... free.

My foot stepped back, not to retreat, but to anchor.

He moved first. The moment he lunged, I launched.

We met mid-step, one of my strikes arcing high, his counter cutting low. The force of the clash snapped through my arms. I twisted into a backstep, caught his next strike with the shaft, then rolled over his shoulder when he pressed in.

The floor cracked where I'd just been.

He spun with me. Caught my landing with a quick elbow to the ribs that stole my breath. I ground my foot into the floor to brace, ducked under his next swing, then vaulted upward with a spinning kick he barely blocked.

Every time I struck, he was already reading it.

Every time I tried to outpace him, he was just a half-step ahead.

I slammed my spear down, he caught it mid-motion and wrenched it sideways, dragging me with it. I spun out of it, landed hard on one knee, and forced myself to rise before his next hit landed.

Too slow.

His palm slammed into my shoulder. I stumbled back, breath catching in my throat.

Pain flared. Not deep, but enough to remind me I wasn't untouchable.

I gritted my teeth, exhaled hard, and kept going.

Vault. Twist. Counter. Duck.

My aura moved better than it ever had, but his kept matching it.

My limbs burned from the pace. My joints ached from the angles I forced them into. He wasn't holding back, and every hit that landed hammered that point in deeper.

And still I smiled.

I took a few hops back and gave him a warm look.

My grip on the spear relaxed, just enough to let my body settle into perfect balance. The green glow around me pulsed gently, syncing with my breath.

This wasn't about winning. Not now. It was about showing him.

"Raiden," I said, voice steady. "Thank you."

His grin faltered, just a little. "Uh... for what?"

"For this."

He blinked. Then my aura exploded. I pulled inward first. Compressed every ounce of flow into my core. Let it churn, collect, tighten.

Then I released it. A crackle burst from my skin like the snap of lightning in slow motion.

Green aura flared outward in a single violent pulse, then surged into a spiraling storm around my body. It didn't flare recklessly. It expanded with precision, like I'd peeled back a seal on something that had been waiting too long to be acknowledged.

"Aura Release," I said quietly. I didn't need to say it outloud, but I did for him.

His expression changed instantly, eyes narrowing, hands rising, stance shifting to brace.

"What happened to not holding back?"

I gave a wry smile.

"Consider this... my thanks," I said. "For helping me remember who I am."

The energy pouring off me buzzed in the air, heavy and clean. My body vibrated with it, not from strain, but from acceleration. My limbs felt lighter. My mind, sharper. Every step, every twitch of muscle was flooded with intention.

This was what full potential felt like. But I could already sense it draining rapidly. Time to move. I launched forward, and the floor cracked beneath my foot from the force.

Raiden lit up.

That gleeful, unhinged smile stretched across his face like he'd been waiting his whole life for this.

"More!" he shouted. "More, more! Don't stop now!"

He charged. We collided in the center of the mat.

Aura slammed against aura. The shock ripped across the floor beneath us, but neither of us flinched.

He threw a hook. I slipped under it and drove the spear toward his side. He caught the shaft mid-motion and twisted, forcing me to spin with it or lose balance. I planted my foot, redirected, and launched into a quick flip over his shoulder.

Following me in mid-turn, sliding under my landing and aiming low. I dropped into a roll, kicked off with my back leg, and drove a downward arc at his collar.

He blocked it. Aura snapped between us like static. I could see the surprise in his face at the force of my blow. The floor beneath his feet cracked.

I stepped in tighter, spinning the spear in both hands. He ducked one pass, countered, and went for my ribs with an elbow.

Meeting it with my forearm. The pressure stung. He used the contact to pivot and slam into the side of my spear, forcing it down.

Too hard. The tip struck the ground, then cracked.

I felt it before I heard it. The shaft splintered in my hands, broken clean through.

Raiden stepped in. I didn't back up. I dropped the remains of the spear, shifted weight, and turned inside his arm.

His momentum helped me. He was already moving forward.

I slipped past his side, twisted behind him, hooked his leg with mine, and used my full-body weight to drive him down.

He hit the floor hard. I landed on top, knees locked around his hips, one hand pinning his wrist, the other cocked and ready.

He stared up at me and laughed. Not softly. Loud. Breathless. Like this was everything he wanted.

His eyes were wide. Wild. Happy.

"I lost," he said, still catching his breath. "You actually got me. Still not happy you were still hiding something though."

I didn't say anything right away. I just kept staring down at him, fist still raised. Then slowly, I lowered it.

"…Yeah," I said. "I did."

He was still staring up at me. Still catching his breath. That grin hadn't left, nor had mine. I could've gotten up. Could've stepped back.

But I didn't want to. I leaned down instead, grabbed him by the collar, and kissed him.

His eyes went wide. I didn't give him time to react. Didn't give myself time to regret it either. Just stayed there, for a second longer than I probably should've.

Then I pulled back, let go, and stood up. My face was already heating up, but I kept my voice steady.

"I know you don't feel the same," I said. "That's fine. I just needed to get it out."

He was still on the ground, staring up at me like his brain had stopped working.

"We'll be heading to different academies soon," I added. "And I don't know if we'll see each other again anytime soon."

I didn't wait for a response. Illya's scream echoed across the training room.

"WHAT THE HELL—ELLAAAAA—"

She was already halfway across the floor, doing some unholy mix between a sprint and a dance, flailing her water bottle like she'd witnessed a live drama finale.

I didn't look at her. I was too focused on trying not to let my face burst into flames.

I didn't regret it. I meant every word. Even if I'd just shocked the most unflappable guy I knew into silence. Because this? This was my story now. And I was going to live it like I meant it.

Raiden Alaric

I was still on the floor. Just staring at the wall.

My brain, for once, had nothing witty to say. No clever lines. No sarcastic deflection. Just static.

She kissed me?

Pinned me down and kissed me. Then walked off like she hadn't just broken every logical process in my body.

Illya was still screeching somewhere behind me. At this point, I wasn't sure if she was crying, cheering, or hyperventilating. Possibly all three.

I hadn't moved.I blinked again. Still nothing.

Then someone stepped into my peripheral.

"Mind if I interrupt your existential spiral?" came Ivander's voice.

I turned my head slowly.

He stood over me with that same grip only now it felt different. Less lazy. Sharper around the edges.

He offered a hand.

I took it, and he pulled me to my feet with way more strength than someone that relaxed should've had.

"You're handling that better than I expected," he said.

"It is what it is," I muttered. "It just means I need to improve."

"Perfect," he said. "That's the kind of clarity we like." "Raiden," he turned to me fully, "would you like to join the Skyhaven Sect?"

My brow rose.

Illya stopped mid-flail. Ella turned around, clearly confused. A few others who had been pretending not to watch suddenly were watching.

"…What?" I said.

"I'd like to offer you a place," he repeated, like this was just a casual weekend.

Then he exhaled and changed.

His posture straightened. The easygoing air he always carried fell away like it had been an act.

His skin took on a refined golden tone, faint, but unmistakable. Bound by a deep azure clasp, his blonde hair, now a silvery shade, cascaded beautifully down his back. His eyes sharpened, turning emerald with hints of starlight woven through the green.

A presence settled over the room, quiet, clean, and commanding.

Then people started bowing. Not nods. Not polite dips. Full bows. Heads lowered. Bodies folded.

I was still confused.

I glanced at him, then around at everyone else.

"…Sooo," I said, "am I supposed to pretend I know who you are or—?"

He smiled like he'd been waiting for that line.

"Caelith Elaren," he said. "Patriarch of the Skyhaven Sect."

I blinked.

"Okay...." I said. "And?"

He tilted his head slightly. "That's all?"

"Did you want me to faint or something?"

"No," he said, clearly amused. "But most people react when someone like me makes them an offer."

"I just got pinned by shorty over there who kissed me and walked off like nothing happened," I said. "You're gonna need to get in line if you want to surprise me this week."

Ivander didn't react to the jab. If anything, he looked genuinely entertained.

"I'm offering because I see potential," he said calmly. "Not just talent. Not just power. But purpose. You think differently. You fight instinctively. And you adapt faster than most highborn ever will."

He took a step forward, not threatening, just deliberate.

"I'm not sending an invitation through channels or hoping word reaches you. I'm extending it personally."

He gestured with one hand, open-palm.

"You'd be brought into Skyhaven with full backing. A personal residence. Access to our internal training halls. And I would sponsor and train you personally."

The room was silent. They were all waiting for my response. They could only imagine how I would respond to a—

"Nah."

The silence cracked. Several people gasped audibly.

Illya choked on a laugh, halfway through a breath and immediately coughing. Ella turned like she didn't even process the word. Her mouth was slightly open.

Ivander raised one eyebrow.

"…No?" he asked, more surprised than offended.

I shrugged. "Your offer is great and all. But I'd rather do my own thing rather than be told what to do."

He studied me for a moment, like he was trying to gauge if I was joking. I wasn't, but he still was waiting on the sike.

"And I'm not really the type to work under someone who lets this whole arranged marriage nonsense slide," I added, my voice flattening. "You're the head of a relatively important sect, right? Patriarch, all-important title, big influence?"

He didn't answer.

"If that's the case then you've been lacking. Maybe keep a closer eye on your subordinates," I said. "Because while they're playing power games and trading their kids like chips, the rest of us have to clean up the mess. Or in my case, get caught in the crossfire because I am simply in the area."

The air shifted. No one spoke. Ivander didn't flinch. But the silence around him pulled tighter.

His jaw ticked, barely but I noticed it.

"Noted," he said.

I folded my arms. "I get that politics are complicated. But if you're gonna call yourself a leader, maybe try leading. I mean come on, Ivander—we were talking about the fights in the arena so in-depth, yet you can't run your own sect properly?"

He raised an eyebrow. "My name is Caelith."

"Listen, Ivander," I said, interrupting Ivander's rambling. "I do think you're a cool guy and all, but you're lacking socially. We sat in that viewing box for a while and you did nothing. I was the one who carried the room. My back is still sore from it."

More gasps rippled through the room. One guy somewhere in the back actually whispered my name like I'd just insulted a god.

Ivander didn't respond right away. He just looked at me, measured, steady.

Then he laughed.

Not a forced chuckle. A real one. Clean and short like something had just clicked.

"I'm even more interested in you now," he said. "This is the only time I'll make this offer."

The words weren't angry. A single line meant to linger.

I shrugged again. "I really don't care." I rolled my neck. "I don't need a crutch. I'll climb up myself. If you want to make that offer to someone, you have two talented girls right over there."

I pointed at Illya and Ella.

Both of them gave me the same shocked expression. Neither looked like they knew whether to thank me or slap me.

Ivander tilted his head again, studying me like he was seeing something new.

Then, finally, he nodded. Just once.

"I look forward to watching, but don't think I've given up just yet," he said.

"I thought it was the only time you were gonna offer this?" I said with a smirk.

He smiled, then he vanished. A blink of light, then he was gone. Just empty space where he stood a second ago.

Alright showoff...

The room finally remembered how to breathe.

Everyone started talking at once.

"Did he just—?"

"Was that really—?"

"Skyhaven's patriarch?!"

"What the hell was that—"

I was still standing there. Same spot. Rotating my wrists from the strain of blocking Ella's attacks.

Someone tried to get my attention. Someone else asked for my name. One guy actually started asking if I'd really said no.

I ignored all of them.

Ella and Illya were still frozen a few steps away. Illya blinked hard, like her brain was buffering again.

Then she finally said, "You—he—you just told the patriarch—"

"To fuck off," Ella finished, wide-eyed.

Illya nodded quickly. "Basically… then again, he can't force him. If he did, Sentinels would have swarmed."

They both looked at me. Ella's expression was caught between impressed, confused, and deeply concerned.

Illya just stared like she wasn't sure if she should bow to me or check my temperature.

"…You realize he could've given you everything," Ella said slowly.

"Yeah," I replied.

"And you just—"

"Didn't want it."

Illya squinted. "You didn't even ask what he wanted in return."

I looked at her. "Would it have mattered?"

She opened her mouth. Closed it. Looked at Ella. Then her face paled.

"Oh gods… I smacked his hand when his form was off… I wrote my will, right?!"

Ella didn't say anything. Just watched me. I wasn't sure if she wanted to punch me or… Actually no, knowing her, it was probably both.

Ella shook her head, finally breaking the silence around us. She walked over, calm now. The usual sharpness in her expression softened by something quieter.

"So," she said, trying to change the subject, "you going to apply for the Academies?"

"Once I graduate," I said. "Then, yeah."

She nodded and raised a fist.

"Until I see you next time then?"

I smiled and bumped it. Our knuckles tapped, and for a second it felt like the only steady thing in the room.

I started to pull back then paused. An impish grin grew on my face.

"You're not gonna send me off with another kiss?"

She blinked.

I winked.

"…Or at least warn me this time?"

Her face and long ears turned red instantly.

Oh my goodness, the ears are twitching!

She rolled her eyes so hard her whole head tilted with it. "You're the worst."

"You're obsessed with me."

She turned, still pink in the face, and walked off before I could say anything else.

Illya was already following behind Ella, correction, screeching behind her.

"YOU ABSOLUTE LADYKILLER—" she shouted, waving her phone like it was a holy relic. "I GOT THE WHOLE THING. FULL ANGLE. CENTER FRAME."

Snap. Snap snap.

She was taking more pictures while jogging sideways like a paparazzi in sandals.

Ella turned sharply. "Delete those."

Illya ignored her entirely. "Ooooh, this one's going in my favorites—yep, tagging it 'Character Development.'"

"Illya."

"I know exactly which filter to use!"

"Illya."

Illya grinned, still backing up, still recording. "What? You also want me to delete the one of you kissing him?"

Ella froze. Her aura flared just slightly.

"Oh you little—!"

She took off after her. Illya shrieked, spun on her heel, and bolted across the training room laughing so hard she couldn't breathe.

"You brought this on yourself!" Ella shouted, gaining ground.

Illya cackled. "SO WORTH IT—"

They vanished down the far hallway, one chasing, the other nearly tripping over her own joy.

I let out a slow breath and smiled.

I might miss this place.

A loud boom echoed from somewhere deeper in the building, followed by several women screaming.

…Maybe not that much.

—

So, remember how Chronos gave me that car? Well, I want you to imagine how hard it was to explain why I had it.

My mom was convinced I had gotten involved in something illegal. She didn't say it out loud at first. Just stared at the car like it had committed a crime. Then she asked if I was selling "substances." Very carefully. Like I could deny it and she'd still find out.

My dad, on the other hand, immediately tried to claim shotgun. Said if I was doing crime, I could at least do it in style. Also, he asked if he could borrow sometimes.

Iris demanded I give her rides to school from now on.

To say the least it was… a process.

Soon graduation came and went in a blur. Photos, handshakes, half-hearted speeches that somehow still managed to run long. My parents were proud. Iris ate three cupcakes. I survived.

Also, color me impressed, but Wren, that fucker, was valedictorian. That dumbass skirt chaser was at the top of our damn class. I couldn't believe it.

Irena showed up toward the end. She found me just as the crowd thinned, walking up with that calm, forest-air energy that always preceded her. Seeing her aura was also an experience. I can now understand why everyone is so comfortable around her now, being able to see the way her aura flowed around her. I was in a trance just looking at it. She had to wave a hand in my face to get my attention, twice.

She congratulated me. Said she'd noticed my Awakening and hoped I was doing okay. I gave her a nod and told her I was fine.

She smiled like she didn't quite believe it, but let it slide. She was probably wondering how I was doing since I was involved with the Skyhaven Sect. But I don't think I have to worry about them anymore.

"I hope I see you again," she said before leaving. "Maybe at one of the academies."

I told her I wouldn't be hard to miss.

She laughed once, waved, and disappeared into the crowd.

The next day, Chronos found me.

Didn't say much, just motioned for me to follow. It was time to talk about the next step.

Time to visit the Ascendants Association.

—

We arrived just before noon.

The City of Dawn stretched in every direction, dense, vertical, and loud. Transit rails wrapped between buildings, glowing signs shifted colors mid-scroll, and half the sidewalks had security drones parked at the corners. Whatever you needed, this place had it. Probably overpriced.

In the center of it all stood the reason we were here.

Yggdrasil.

It rose straight out of the city, massive and slow-moving in a way that felt permanent. The trunk was wide enough to block the skyline, and the branches pushed high enough that the tips disappeared into cloud cover. Natural sigils ran along the bark in clean lines, glowing faintly, probably maintained by A.A. specialists.

Builders integrated structures into the tree, some wrapped around the branches, others suspended between limbs on anchored walkways. None of it looked ornamental. It was functional. The base of the tree had roots large enough to split highways. You didn't build around it. You adjusted to it.

I'd heard the Association had their HQs like this on every continent. This was just the one I was finally standing in front of. Apparently, Yggdrasil only exists on Earth, which therefore indicates Earth as Realm 0. Not sure how that came to be, but I'm not here for politics. Although it is interesting how Yggdrasil appears on each continent. I'll have to check the Veritas Vault later.

Chronos stepped up next to me, hands tucked into his coat.

"This is it," he said. "This branch handles the Academies. You'll get your options here."

"Any chance they serve food first?" I asked my stomach growling. We came straight here, without breakfast. Which wouldn't have been an issue if I didn't skip dinner last night. How did I manage to skip dinner? Well, my mom just so happens to be out of town for a few days, and I was lazy. If she was home, she wouldn't have let me leave the entrance without eating.

Chronos looked like he was about to answer, then paused.

"…Actually, I'm not sure this year."

He looked genuinely puzzled. Which, for him, meant it was probably worth finding out later.

The Association branch in front of us wasn't small. It wasn't even "government large." This was institutional. Wide front plaza, high arching entrance, reinforced paneling set directly into Yggdrasil's bark. The building had a polished steel-and-wood aesthetic, modern materials sealed tight with natural integration. The building wasn't flashy. The design was clean and structured, like the kind of place that prioritized function over spectacle.

A few guards stood near the doors, uniforms pressed and weapons holstered. They didn't wear any rank indicators, which meant either they were too important to need them, or this place didn't bother with formalities.

The crowd was mixed.

Some people walked in alone, calm, confident, well-dressed. Someone had already processed their paperwork, indicating they were in highborn society.

Others showed up in groups. Some were squads based on the way they moved in sync. Others were students surrounded by mentors, siblings, or way too many assistants trying to look important.

One girl passed us wearing a white uniform with gold trim. Her hair was braided tight down her back, and the badge on her collar was pinned to show she'd already been accepted into an academy. She didn't look at anyone. Just walked straight through the front doors like it was routine.

I kept my hands in my pockets and followed Chronos toward the entrance.

Another thing I'd learned, Ella didn't need to come here for the aptitude test.

She was already part of a sect, which basically stamped her file before it ever hit a desk. Irena didn't need to either. Her family clan handled everything in-house. Their process didn't involve forms or interviews. If you had the right family name, most of it got handled before you ever showed up.

Meanwhile, I got to stand in line.

The inside of the building was just as polished as the outside, open lobby, clean floors, soft lighting, and more sigils embedded in the walls than I could count. Everything smelled like pine and bureaucracy.

Chronos walked straight toward the front desk without saying a word.

The receptionist looked up as we approached. Her uniform was fitted, navy with silver trim. High collar, minimal flare, but cleanly tailored. No nameplate. Just the insignia of the Association etched into a brooch on her chest.

She looked at Chronos, then me.

"How can I help you?" she asked.

"I'm here for the aptitude exam," I answered.

"Name?" she followed up.

"Raiden Alaric."

She tapped a few keys, paused, then looked back up, more carefully this time. Her expression shifted. Slightly more attentive. Like I'd gone from student to someone worth making eye contact with.

Her eyebrow lifted.

"You've been flagged under priority access."

Chronos sighed behind me.

"Is that... good?" I asked.

"Of course it is," she said. "You've been granted provisional clearance to access multiple internal divisions. Authorization level is... high. Very high."

I blinked. "H—how high are we talking?"

She turned the screen toward us. I didn't catch all the details, but I saw words like Multi-Zone Clearance, Priority Veritas Vault Access, and Authorized Escort Level 3.

I stared at it.

Chronos pinched the bridge of his nose. I did the same a second later.

The receptionist looked between us. "Is something wrong?"

Chronos didn't answer.

I muttered, "Selena."

Her head tilted slightly. "Are you perhaps referring to Dr. Selena Brighton?"

"Yeah. That one."

She nodded like that explained everything. "Well, she gave you the highest status her rank allowed. It's unusual, but not illegal."

"Of course it's not illegal," I muttered. "It's just her being... her."

Then again… Selena and legal aren't often used together in the same sentence.

Chronos still had his hand over his face.

The receptionist hesitated. "Should I... adjust anything?"

"No," Chronos said. "Too late. Damage is done. Even if you did, she'd change it herself later."

The woman didn't ask for clarification. Probably wise.

"Okay…" she continued, refocusing on the screen. "Well, you're eighteen so you do qualify for taking the exam."

I nodded. "Yeah, I'm not really sure how this is supposed to go. I don't exactly have a reference to go off of."

She gave a small, understanding smile. Then tapped through a few menus and turned her full attention to me.

"There are eight parts to the exam. Each one measures a core aspect of an Ascendant candidate. Your performance determines which academies you're qualified to apply for. Higher results open more doors. Some academy ambassadors are also observing today's tests, so you may be invited to try out for a specific academies if they take interest."

"Hold on, so even if I qualify, I still need to try out? Like, sports?"

She nodded. "Yes, all students must take essentially an entrance exam in order to attend. The more advanced the academy, the more difficult it is to attend. So the entrance exams help trim the fat."

"Sounds straightforward enough," I said.

She gave a soft hum like she knew I'd regret those words.

"First is verification. You'll be taken to a testing chamber and asked to exude your aura at full capacity. It's used to confirm your rank, affinity resonance, and total output. No combat, just aura expression."

She tapped the end of the display. The text scrolled to another page.

"Second is reflex and reaction. You'll be in a live-response chamber, circular room, holes in every wall. Projectiles come from all angles. The more you avoid, the higher your score. Impact is safe, but you'll feel it."

Chronos glanced sideways like he remembered training me in that exact setup. He did of course, and was probably waiting for a moment to say, "I've been training you for this."

"Third is agility. A timed obstacle course. No shortcuts allowed. You're tracked by rune markers that'll catch if you cheat or skip a section."

This I gave a subtle grin, and there was a bit of a bite to it. I never got to finish that damn gauntlet because of Vaelik.

"Fourth is strength. Standard progression. You'll be asked to lift, break, or hold various weights and structures calibrated to your physical output. Overexertion is flagged by the system and stopped automatically."

That's pretty self explanatory.

"Fifth is stamina. Long-form test. You'll be asked to run at increasing speeds for extended periods while maintaining aura output. The test ends when you stop moving."

Chronos wagged his eyebrows. Motioning again basically telling me that he planned for this since the beginning. Yes… yes he did. He had me running laps around his estate for years. This will probably be a cake walk.

"Sixth is speed. Sprint-based. You'll be racing against other examinees in a flat course with mild elevation shifts. No contact allowed during the race."

Chronos gave me a quick sideways glance. "Try not to trip anyone."

"I make no promises."

The receptionist continued.

"Seventh is combat simulation. You'll be asked to use a variety of weapons in a scenario against A.A. combat dummies. Each one is calibrated to respond differently depending on your performance. Technique, adaptability, and control are what's judged here."

This made me grin a bit. The training dolls I typically used have become a bit lax so this is neat.

"And eighth—final—is a live sparring match against one of our instructors. No weapons unless cleared, and you'll be evaluated on everything: control, pressure management, reading flow, and restraint."

This actually made me grin. Fighting an instructor of the A.A? It really must be my birthday again. Speaking of which, I already know what to ask of Chronos after we finish up here.

"These results are compiled into a full profile for academy submission," she said. "Once finished, you'll be debriefed and given a list of schools you qualify for. If an ambassador is interested in recruiting you directly, you'll be notified immediately."

"Simple enough," I said.

Chronos smirked. "Just wait, you'll probably take this a little more seriously once you get in there."

"Oh? And what would that be?"

He chuckled. "Now why would I ruin the surprise?"

—

Leaving Chronos behind with a wave, I was led through a side corridor toward a prep room. It was wide and lined with lockers. One of the staff handed me a folded tracksuit with the Association's insignia stitched near the collar. They also gave me a dedicated locker that used my aura signature as a lock. Which was actually very cool.

The fabric was light but firm, with cooling mesh built into the sides and sleeves. Black base with gray paneling along the shoulders and ribs. Reinforced stitching ran across the joints, built to stretch without tearing. Comfortable, but clearly made for movement first. I was kind of expecting hanfus but then again it's just an aptitude test.

I changed, secured my clothes in the locker, and stepped out to follow the next staff member down a hallway.

At the end was a massive chamber entrance, tall enough to fit a dropship. In front of it, maybe two dozen examinees stood around, talking, stretching, sizing each other up.

I saw high elves in tailored performance gear, a few beastkin, some with digitigrade legs and patterned fur. Others had physiques more similar to humans. A group of twins, possibly dryads, had glowing tattoos spiraling up their necks, and a smaller kid off to the side looked like he had literal vines for hair. I also saw some dwarfs, humans, wood elves, dark elves, and some mixed races.

A few glanced at me as I approached.

Then I looked up.

Above the chamber entrance, a giant display screen flickered to life.

LEADERBOARD — APTITUDE TEST BATCH #03-821

Names. Numbers. Ranks.

Chronos' "surprise."

My grin stretched wide.

"Now that's what I'm talking about."

My chase begins now.

[End of Book 1]

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.