The knock came again. Louder. More demanding.
Bolt's instincts screamed at him. Whoever was on the other side of that door wasn't here for small talk.
Kairos moved first, reaching for his weapon, but Bolt raised a hand. "Wait."
Aether shot him a look. "You can't be serious—"
"I want to see who it is," Bolt said, his voice steady.
Kairos sighed, stepping back but keeping his stance ready for a fight. Aether muttered something under his breath, but Bolt ignored him and unlocked the door.
The second it swung open, the air seemed to shift.
A man stood there. Tall, broad-shouldered, and exuding an aura of absolute authority. He had sharp, angular features, storm-gray eyes, and dark hair that barely brushed his shoulders.
Carlos Varte.
Leader of the Black Squad.
Bolt tensed. Everyone in the academy knew who Carlos was. His faction, Black Squad, wasn't just strong—they were ruthless. Feared. A group of elite fighters with no alliances, no loyalties except to their own.
And now, Carlos Varte was standing at his doorstep.
Carlos studied Bolt with a neutral expression, but there was something unreadable in his gaze. Finally, he spoke, his voice like distant thunder.
"You've been making waves, Bolt."
Bolt met his stare. "You could say that."
Carlos stepped forward, completely unfazed by the tension in the room. "We need to talk."
Kairos narrowed his eyes. "About what?"
Carlos's gaze flickered to him. "This doesn't concern you."
Kairos scoffed. "If it concerns Bolt, it concerns me."
Carlos smirked slightly, but there was no amusement in his eyes. "I see. You're one of those."
Bolt exhaled sharply. "Enough games. If you're here, just say what you want."
Carlos's expression hardened. "Fine. I'm here to make you an offer."
Bolt frowned. "An offer?"
Carlos folded his arms. "The academy is shifting. Factions are moving, alliances are breaking. The Crimson Fang wants revenge. Obsidian Claw is watching you. Eclipse is lurking in the shadows." His eyes gleamed. "And then there's you—an anomaly no one can ignore."
Bolt didn't respond, waiting for him to continue.
Carlos tilted his head slightly. "You have power. More than you realize. But power without direction? That's dangerous."
Bolt's jaw clenched. "And you think you can give me direction?"
Carlos's smirk widened just a fraction. "I think I can give you something better—protection."
Aether laughed. "Let me guess, you want Bolt to join you?"
Carlos didn't even look at him. His gaze remained locked on Bolt. "Black Squad doesn't recruit just anyone. But you? You're different."
Bolt felt something stir inside him—an uncomfortable mix of curiosity and wariness. "Why?"
Carlos's expression was unreadable. "Because I know what's coming. And if you're not ready, you will be swallowed whole."
The weight of his words settled heavily in the room.
Kairos folded his arms. "And if he says no?"
Carlos finally looked at him. "Then I hope he's ready for war."
Silence.
Aether shifted uneasily. "You can't seriously be threatening him right now."
Carlos exhaled slowly, as if disappointed. "It's not a threat." His gaze flickered back to Bolt. "It's a reality check."
Bolt was silent for a long moment, considering his words. He wasn't naïve. He knew the academy wasn't just a place of learning—it was a battlefield of ambition, power, and survival.
And right now, he was caught in the center of it.
"What if I don't need your protection?" Bolt finally asked.
Carlos's smirk returned, but this time, there was something dangerous behind it. "Then prove it."
Bolt's eyes narrowed. "What do you mean?"
Carlos stepped back toward the doorway. "Meet me at the training grounds. Midnight."
Kairos tensed. "You want to fight him?"
Carlos chuckled. "No. I want to test him." His eyes locked onto Bolt. "If you survive, then maybe you really don't need my help."
Then, without another word, he turned and walked away.
The door shut with a quiet click, leaving behind a heavy silence.
Aether ran a hand through his hair. "That guy gives me bad vibes."
Kairos shook his head. "You don't say."
Bolt exhaled, his mind racing. Carlos Varte wasn't just any faction leader. He was one of the most powerful students in the academy.
And now, Bolt had a choice.
To accept the challenge.
Or to walk away and risk looking weak.
He already knew what he had to do.
Bolt turned to Kairos. "Midnight."
Kairos sighed. "We're really doing this, huh?"
Bolt nodded. "Yeah. We are."
Aether groaned. "Of course we are."
---
The clock struck midnight.
Bolt stood in the empty training grounds, the cold wind biting against his skin.
Carlos was already there, waiting.
He smiled, but there was no warmth in it.
"Good. You came."
He raised a single hand.
And the sky split open.