The words hung in the cold morning air, sharp and venomous.
For a heartbeat, the five children stared at him, their minds struggling to process the cruelty of his statement.
Then, Aurelion moved.
He didn't just run. He exploded. The blue gold sparks erupting from his feet were not just for show. They were the engine of his Kinetic Flow Steps, propelling him forward with a velocity.
He became a blur, a phantom streaking down the final stretch of the stone path, the distance between him and the stunned group widening with every steps.
The shock that had frozen them in place was shattered by a furious cry.
"AURELION!"
Ylva Silverfang launched herself forward in pursuit. A shimmering, silver energy bled from her own feet.
Her speed was incredible, far surpassing any of the other children, but it was still not enough. She was chasing a ghost.
