Vladislav couldn't forget it—the sharp flicker of warning, something almost feral—back when he tried to chase that masked rebel in the woods. Akio had stopped him.
Said to "focus." But it wasn't just his voice Vladislav remembered.
It was his gaze.
Like he'd seen something... he didn't want Vladislav to get involved with.
He hadn't told anyone, but it nagged at him. And now, that stare brought back another memory—before Akio ever joined their group before any of them knew he existed.
It was in Akio's eyes.
That same look
Before the chaos… there was something softer.
Years ago
It started with Ami.
She wasn't loud. Wasn't flashy. But she noticed things.
One day, Vyacheslav had nearly slipped while carrying spellbooks—nobody moved. Except her. No hesitation. Just helped him up, then walked away like it was nothing.
Vyacheslav didn't say much about it.
But days later, when she was partnerless during a battle trial, he stepped beside her.
"You need someone?" he asked.
Ami blinked, surprised. Then nodded.
From there—it was slow. Months of quiet nods, training side by side, sharing thoughts between drills. Not quite friendship. Just… respect.
Then, one day, she brought tea to the training room because he hadn't eaten.
And he grumbled—but drank it.
That's when it changed.
Years passed. No one even realized they'd become best friends. Not even Vladislav—until one afternoon when he caught them quietly reading in the same chair, shoulders touching, neither saying a word.
But things shifted the day he arrived
The training field buzzed with energy, golden afternoon light hitting every blade of grass like it was enchanted.
Vladislav regrouped with his crew—Sofia was mid-joke, Leo nearly wheezing from laughter, and Selene and Asher finally chilled again after the rebel mess. Wei? Calm as ever. They were all finally breathing.
Then—
WHAM.
Gasps.
Cracks in the earth.
A tall figure had just slammed someone into the dirt.
Vladislav's stomach dropped.
It was Vyacheslav.
And the one on top of him?
Akio.
Rage poured off the guy like a leaking volcano. His fists clenched, expression feral.
"HOW DARE YOU TOUCH HER WITHOUT ME KNOWING?!" he roared.
Vyacheslav barely blocked the hits. "I didn't touch her. We talked."
"YOU BREATHED NEAR HER. THAT'S ENOUGH."
Vladislav's instincts kicked in. "HEY! That's my brother!"
"Yo…" Leo's voice trailed off as he stepped closer, eyes wide.
Sofia squinted. "Wait—is that… Akio?"
Leo nodded slowly. "That's him. Dude's a Leovarn upperclassman. Threw a chair at a professor once. Supposedly."
"He definitely did," Sofia whispered, half-impressed. "Snapped it clean in half across the wall in the sparring hall. I was there. He didn't even flinch."
He shoved his drink into Selene's hands and charged, slamming into Akio's side.
Akio turned, ready to swing—but froze mid-punch.
Their eyes locked.
Same Leovarn. Same protective rage.
"You're... his brother?" Akio asked, hand still twitching.
"Vladislav. And yeah. So maybe swing at someone who hits back."
A breath passed. Then Akio smirked.
"You're brave," he said. "Good."
Asher was halfway to dialling the guards.
Wei took one step forward, calm and deadly. "If there's a problem, talk. Don't attack. We're classmates, not gladiators."
Behind them, Selene exhaled slowly, her eyes still fixed on the spot. Akio had struck the ground.
"Wei's right," she said quietly, arms crossed. "Talk first. Always."
Tension. But also... mutual respect.
Finally, Ami stepped through the crowd like gravity shifted for her alone.
"Akio... stop."
His body relaxed instantly.
"You okay?" he asked gently.
"I'm fine."
Vyacheslav sat up, brushing dirt off like it was a casual Tuesday.
"This," he said flatly, "is Akio. Ami's older brother."
Asher leaned toward Selene. "More like her attack dog."
Selene elbowed her. "Shh, he'll hear you."
Vladislav crossed his arms. "You always greet people by turning them into dirt craters?"
Akio grinned. "Only the ones who get too close to my family."
Then Wei stepped closer. Not aggressive. Just... solid.
"We protect our people too."
Akio's smirk flickered into something thoughtful.
For a moment—just one—Vladislav saw it again.
That same look.
Like Akio was watching for danger only he could see.
But then it was gone.
And now, as the stars shimmered behind the sky dome, Vladislav stared at the ceiling.
Something about Akio didn't sit right.
Not in a bad way.
Just... familiar.
Protective. Angry. Watchful.
But there was more beneath that rage.
And Vladislav wasn't sure if it was loyalty...
...or something darker.