After class that day, the hallway buzzed with chatter. Everyone seemed hyped after what had happened, voices echoing with energy. But me? Not so much.
"Hey… what was that thing you did back there?" Zayen called out, jogging after me like an excited puppy.
"That's my technique," I said bluntly, picking up my pace.
"Ooh… does it have a name?" he asked, wide-eyed.
"Obviously. The name is…" I paused, letting the silence stretch for effect. "Haiki no Tobari: Homura no Kanmuri."
"That's the first form. The flame version," I added, feeling smug as hell.
"Pfft. Like you can even wield the other forms," Erelya scoffed from my head, yanking on my hair.
"I totally can! Just… not right now," I muttered defensively.
"Is that a spirit?" Zayen asked, squinting at her tiny form.
"Yeah," I lied without blinking.
"Strange. I can't feel anything from her," he said, leaning closer.
"That's 'cause you're weak," Erelya shot back, her crimson eyes narrowing.
"Did you see that flaming cyclone earlier?" Zayen puffed out his chest, trying to look cool.
"That?" Erelya rolled her eyes. "I've seen people make it rain magma."
"Anyway, we're going," I said, already turning toward the stairs.
As we descended, I felt eyes boring into my back. Whispers swirled just beyond hearing range.
"…Something's off," Erelya muttered, glancing toward the hallway behind us.
"What is it?" I asked, sensing her unease.
"It's nothing. Forget it." She hopped off my head, landing gracefully before brushing herself off.
"Let me show you my technique!" Zayen said out of nowhere. He raised his hand, a bright flame bursting to life. "I call it—Everybody Burns!"
"…Trash name," I said flatly.
"W-What?! But it was inspired by you!" he pouted, visibly crushed.
"You know what? Let's be friends," he said, holding out his hand with a grin.
"Sure… but what does being friends mean, anyway?" I asked as I took it.
"Hmm… I don't know. I've never had friends either," Zayen admitted.
"Anyway, later!" he said, waving before disappearing down the hall.
---
Later that night…
I showered, slipped into bed, and let my body sink into the sheets—until I heard a knock at the door.
Knock knock.
"…Ugh. Who the hell?" I grumbled, dragging myself out of bed.
When I opened the door, no one was there. Only a small folded note lay on the floor.
> "I have something to tell you. Meet me at the school courtyard at six."
I raised an eyebrow.
Behind me, Erelya let out a shocked gasp.
"W-What do you mean someone likes you?!" she panicked, floating in circles.
"What's that supposed to mean?" I snapped, glaring at her.
"I didn't see this coming," she muttered darkly, almost to herself.
I threw the note aside and got back in bed, curious but tired. I'd go later—just not right now.
---
Later…
"Come on, let's go already!" Erelya said, yanking my blanket off halfway through my nap.
"Hah… chill. We've got time." I shoved her aside and rolled over.
"Hmph."
Thankfully, she didn't pull anything else, and I managed a proper nap.
---
By the time we arrived at the courtyard, the sky was painted in soft hues of twilight. I stretched, cracking my neck.
"Imagine if I get a girlfriend from this," I joked with a grin.
"Nope. Not happening," Erelya replied coldly.
"Why not?" I asked, giving her my best puppy eyes.
"Because I said so." She dismissed me without even looking.
---
The courtyard was empty at first. Then, out of the shadows, stepped a girl.
She was stunning—long, flowing hair, a body sculpted like temptation itself, and a voice that practically dripped honey.
"Follow me. Let's talk somewhere more private," she said, her tone smooth and inviting.
Erelya narrowed her eyes. "Hmm…"
As we walked, we passed Zayen.
Being Zayen—aka the king of not-minding-his-own-business—he tagged along without invitation.
The deeper we went, the more unfamiliar the path became. Twisting corridors. Silent halls. The school was massive, and I had no idea where we were anymore. One look at Zayen's face said he didn't either.
"We're here," the girl said, stopping in front of an old, secluded fountain covered in ivy.
The wind stilled. The trees seemed to lean in closer.
"What did you want to tell me?" I asked cautiously.
Then… her voice dropped.
"You can come out now."
The words came out… wrong. Too deep. Too masculine.
I blinked. Erelya burst out laughing beside me—tears in her eyes.
From behind the trees, dozens of figures emerged—armed with metal pipes, enchanted chains, glowing weapons.
"What the hell is this?!" I shouted.
"PFFFFT—Your beautiful girl was actually a dude!" Erelya howled, doubling over mid-air.
I stood there, blinking, betrayed by beauty itself.
"…I hate this school."
As the smoke cleared and the last transformation came undone, the illusion shimmered and cracked like glass. The figure before me took shape—a man with broad shoulders, nearly as large as my father's, stepping out from the mirage with a lazy stretch.
"Haah… that was stressful," he sighed, glancing toward a girl tucked quietly behind the others. Her eyes met his, and she gave the faintest nod. "Thanks. That spell did the trick."
"Sure," the girl at the back said gently, smiling.
"The hell is going on here?" I barked, trying to step forward.
"Shut up," he snapped before I could finish.
He flopped down onto the remains of a broken bench, legs wide, posture cocky. "Do you know why we're doing this?"
"No," I said coldly.
He smirked. "Your sister. Lilia Virehart. Former Disciplinary Chairman. That bitch nearly had our whole group shut down."
His tone turned venomous, veins bulging along his neck. The girl beside him reached out and rubbed his shoulder, trying to soothe him. He didn't look away from me.
"So what?" Zayen growled, stepping beside me. "That doesn't involve us."
"Yeah, it doesn't—"
CRACK.
A steel pipe came down like lightning, slamming into the side of my head. I barely registered the blur of movement before the world tilted. Pain exploded through my skull. I hit the ground hard, ears ringing, blood running warm down my temple.
Zayen shouted, "What the hell is your problem?!" and thrust a hand forward.
Fwuuum. A fireball surged from his palm, bright and blinding, heat rippling in waves.
The bastard who struck me—clearly a swordsman—dodged easily, flipping backward with predatory grace. The other thug stepped forward and tanked the spell, skin shimmering as he reinforced himself with mana.
"You think this brat's worth protecting?" scoffed the one with the pipe. "There's no way he matters to that witch."
A heavy silence followed.
Then Erelya stepped forward.
Her voice was razor-sharp.
"You get one pass," she said, eyes glowing faintly red. "Touch him again, and I'll erase you."
The pipe guy froze. Just for a moment.
I pushed myself up, blood dripping onto my hand.
"You're all dead," I muttered, rising shakily to my feet. Fire kindled in my chest—fury, power, something else.
Zayen stepped in front of me. "They're too skilled. We need a plan."
"No need," I said, wiping blood from my face.
Zayen stared at me like I was insane. "You understand how stupid that sounds, right?"
I smirked. "You and me. I go right, you go left. Beat down everyone you meet."
"…I can't believe this," he muttered, but I saw the grin breaking through.
Then he vanished.
Just—gone.
A gust of wind kicked up dust where he had been. I could barely track the blur as he reappeared behind one of them, grabbing a head with both hands. A golden flame bloomed in his palm.
BOOM. The body dropped like a sack of stones.
"Tesoryn: Jin Kakaku." (Tesoryn: Edge Reflex.)
Runes ignited all over Zayen's arms, flaring with amber light. His body blurred with each movement. One by one, enemies collapsed as he surged through them like a phantom.
"Damn," I muttered. "He's way too physical to be a mage."
"He's reinforcing his body with mana," Erelya explained with a grin. "Smart boy."
"Well…" I cracked my neck. "Guess I should help too."
Haiki no Tobari: Homura no Kanmuri. (Dominion Veil: Crown of Embers.)
A corona of flames erupted around me. My limbs felt lighter. Heat coiled beneath my skin like molten magma. My cloak whipped in the air behind me as I surged forward, fire rippling across the stone.
The battlefield was chaos—burned bodies, shattered tiles, smoke rising into the broken dome above.
We tore through them.
I was fire. Zayen was lightning. They didn't stand a chance.
Eventually, only one remained.
He stepped forward from the shadows—the same one who started this. The leader. Calm. Silent. Watching us with a predator's eyes. His long coat fluttered with the wind, and a single rune blinked to life across his collarbone.
Zayen stood beside me, chest heaving. "That's him. Final one."
"Looks like it."
"He's not going to be easy."
From the sidelines, Erelya cupped her hands around her mouth. "You two got this! Go get him~!"
"Tch… so unhelpful," I muttered under my breath. But I wasn't about to die again—not today.
The man unsheathed his weapon—a sleek, obsidian blade with a silver edge, humming with energy. The stone beneath his feet cracked from the sheer pressure.
"You're both impressive," he said quietly. "But we're Ashthorn. And I'm not some bottom-tier lackey."
"Then stop talking," Zayen said. "And fight."
He moved first.
Faster than a blink. The air itself screamed as he dashed between us.
I blocked his strike with my forearm, flames exploding on contact. Zayen spun in from the side, fists glowing white-hot—but the leader parried him mid-air and sent him skidding back.
I launched a barrage of fireballs. He slashed through them—clean—each one bursting harmlessly in the air.
He was cutting through my magic.
I leapt, then spun mid-air and drove a fist toward his head—only for his blade to nick my shoulder mid-flip. Blood sprayed, and I winced, landing clumsily.
"Careful!" Zayen shouted. "He's timing our rhythm!"
"He's a fencer," I realized aloud. "Reads movement like an open book."
Zayen's eyes glinted. "Then let's move faster."
We switched it up, randomizing our attacks—fire, fists, feints. He blocked, dodged, countered—but we pressed on.
I hurled a wall of flame behind him to cut off his retreat. Zayen blurred forward and landed a flaming uppercut.
He stumbled.
"NOW!" I roared.
Zayen dove in with a rising knee. I channeled everything—rage, pain, Erelya's burning gaze—and summoned one final spell.
A massive sphere of fire formed above me, pulsing like a newborn sun.
I brought it down.
He screamed.
The entire courtyard lit up as the inferno crashed down—stone melting, wind howling, the sky glowing crimson. We shielded our eyes from the blaze.
Then—silence.
He lay still. Scorched. Beaten.
The flames flickered out.
Suddenly, a voice rang out—sharp and low. I froze.
"This is not the end," he whispered—then collapsed.
"Hah…" I gasped, sinking to my knees. "We did it…"
"Yeah…" Zayen muttered, dropping beside me. "Too long in this form…"
"Sleep?"
"Sleep."
He hit the ground, out cold.
I chuckled. "Sure…"
Then everything went black.
🔥 EXCALIBRO'S QUIZ TIME! 🔥
Just finished the chapter? Let's see if you caught these key moments:
1️⃣ What weapon does the Ashthorn leader use that shocked everyone?
2️⃣ How did the leader really feel about Kael's sudden fiery attack—was it fear, respect, or pure annoyance?
3️⃣ What secret skill did Kael reveal that changed the whole fight?
Drop your answers below — and don't hold back! Think you nailed it or missed something? Let's see who's the ultimate fan! 👀💥