Handcuffed and silent, Ronan, with Kael and three officers, out of the academy gates, heading toward Flamecrest State.
Meanwhile, back at the academy gate, Sylphie, Darius, and Garrick made their way toward Ms. Amara's training ground. Darius's rage was palpable, his clenched fists shaking at his sides, eyes burning.
"We all know you care about Kael," Darius growled, voice heavy with fury. "But if anything happens to Ronan—I swear—I'll never forgive him. And if you try to stop me, Sylphie... I won't forgive you either."
Sylphie flinched, lips parting to speak, but Garrick quickened his pace and stepped up beside Darius.
"Don't be reckless," Garrick said firmly, trying to calm him. "What can we do right now? We don't have any backing. If you attack someone, you'll be expelled before you can even blink."
He glanced between his two friends. "And stop blaming Sylphie or Kael. Do you think we're not angry, too? Sylphie's more torn than either of us. One is like a little brother to her, and the other—someone she loves."
Darius opened his mouth to protest, but Garrick pressed on. "You think Kael's background makes him untrustworthy? Don't you remember why Ronan joined Kael's team in the first place?"
A wave of memories hit Darius like a crashing tide: Ronan's first meeting with them, the desperate fight for survival, Kael refusing to abandon a single teammate even in the face of death. Ronan had chosen their team, not out of gain, but out of shared values.
"Do I have to remind you what he said back then?" Garrick asked, softer now.
Darius's shoulders slumped, his anger wavering. He turned to Sylphie and muttered, "I'm... sorry for what I said."
Sylphie managed a small, understanding smile. "It's alright. I know where it's coming from. But we have to believe in Kael and Ronan. They'll be fine. Let's find Ms. Amara and Samantha. Garrick, can you head to the Mindward Tower and look for Ms. Rose?"
Garrick nodded and began to jog ahead. "I'm on it."
But he hadn't gone far when a voice interrupted him.
"Why the rush?"
They all turned toward the sound and froze. Oliver and Amelia stood ahead, flanked by several students, blocking both the path to Ms. Amara's training ground and the Mindward Tower.
Darius's expression twisted in fury. "What the hell is this?"
Oliver smirked. "You're not going anywhere. Not for the next few hours."
Garrick stepped forward. "Are you really picking a fight here? We all know individual duels are restricted outside of training grounds or arenas. You'll be punished."
Oliver chuckled darkly. "That's cute, Garrick. Don't worry—we've got this all planned out. You three attack, and we defend ourselves. Easy story."
Darius narrowed his eyes. "And you think the academy will believe that?"
Oliver spread his arms. "Why not? Plenty of eyewitnesses here to back us up."
Without hesitation, Darius stepped forward, his stance shifting into a combat-ready form.
"Sylphie. Garrick. It's up to you. I'll make us a path."
"Wait!" Sylphie shouted, panicked. "If you attack them, you'll be expelled!"
Darius threw back his head and laughed—a sound full of bitterness. "At this point, I don't give a damn. This academy's supposed to be a place to learn, not a playground for noble families. If rules protect only the powerful, then I'll take the punishment."
As he spoke, electricity began crackling across his body. Arcs of lightning danced along his arms. The air thickened as a dark cloud swirled into existence overhead, rumbling ominously. Within seconds, lightning flashed furiously through the sky.
Darius raised his hands, forming a seal. A fierce gust of wind surged from behind him, roaring like a tempest. Students shielding the path staggered, some nearly knocked off their feet. The wind was blinding, howling with fury, tearing at robes and forcing eyes shut.
Darius stood at the centre of the storm, lightning flaring in his eyes, unyielding. "I said... MOVE!"
The air crackled with energy, thick with tension. It almost felt like a heavy thunderstorm had taken form from pure emotion. Amidst the swirling chaos, Sylphie and Garrick dashed across the training grounds toward Ms. Amara's field, their expressions steeled with urgency.
From a distance, concealed just enough not to draw attention, Mr. Arnold and Ms. Rose observed the unfolding scene. Ms. Rose stepped forward, concern etched on her face.
"We need to intervene. If that storm hits any of the students, they'll die," she said, her voice tight.
But Mr. Arnold raised a hand, stopping her. With a disappointed sigh, he muttered, "I expected more from you, Rose."
Ms. Rose, overhearing the exchange, turned abruptly. "Sir?"
Mr. Arnold's gaze was sharp. "Your family really is something. A child abusing their influence to suppress others... and you? If you truly wanted to intervene, you should've acted when Oliver, Amelia, and the others blocked Sylphie, Darius, and Garrick. You watched then, so you will watch now."
His tone shifted, cold and commanding. "Wait. And watch."
Above them, the thunderstorm raged fiercer than before. High-speed winds spiralled from every direction without pattern, clouds roaring with fury, split occasionally by jagged streaks of lightning.
Down below, Darius knelt, blood splattering from his lips as he coughed violently. He glanced toward the path Garrick and Sylphie had taken and whispered, "I hope I bought you enough time."
Then, as if responding to his collapse, the storm vanished in an instant.
Ms. Rose murmured, eyes narrowed in awe, "That wasn't a skill... He used both his elements at once."
Mr. Arnold nodded. "Kael's team really is full of gems."
As the wind died down, Oliver's panicked eyes searched the field. His gaze landed on Darius, who was trembling and bloodied. Sylphie and Garrick were nowhere to be seen.
"Bastard!" Oliver yelled, rushing at Darius.
Darius barely dodged the first punch, stumbling sideways, his breath ragged, knees shaking. But Oliver was fast. He closed the distance again, his fist driving into Darius's chest.
Darius braced, arms crossed, but the impact still flung him backwards. He crashed into a student who had been guarding the pathway to the Mindward Tower. As Darius skidded to a stop, he smirked through the pain.
Oliver's eyes widened as he realised what he'd done. "Don't let him reach the tower! Capture him!"
Darius, heart pounding, pushed himself to his feet and ran. Every step felt like he was dragging his body through quicksand. His vision blurred, and his legs barely moved.
"I can't keep going…" he thought. "Activating two elements at once at the Adept Tier... I get it now. The teachers were right. It's not meant for someone like me. Not yet."
His pace slowed, the world swaying. A single tear traced down his cheek.
"Sorry, Kael... Sorry, Ronan... I'm not strong enough."
Suddenly, two figures appeared beside him. Darius turned his head and collapsed, recognising them: Ms. Rose and Mr. Arnold.
With his remaining strength, he crawled to Mr. Arnold's feet. "Sir... Ronan... he's in danger. Please... help him."
Mr. Arnold knelt, helping Darius to his feet. "I know. Don't worry. He'll be fine."
Tears mixed with the sweat and grime on Darius's face. "Thank you... Thank you, sir."
He staggered to a nearby bench and collapsed onto it, finally letting his battered body rest.
Mr. Arnold turned to Oliver, Amelia, and the rest, his expression unreadable. "Now then... what punishment suits you best?"
He paused, letting the silence stretch. A sinister smirk curled his lips.
"Here's what will happen. For the next two months, all the resources allocated to you will be redirected to Kael's team. Unless... you challenge them in the arena."
Confusion and anger flickered on their faces.
"You may challenge any member of Kael's team in one-on-one matches," Arnold continued, "but the opponent must not be more than three levels below you. You may challenge a person twice per day, with a five-hour gap between attempts."
He raised a finger. "One last thing. Each challenge requires two essence stones. Win, and you get them back. Lose... and they're gone. If you manage to defeat every member of Kael's team before the end of this month, you will retain your allocated training resources. That leaves you with only twenty days to make it happen."
Oliver clenched his fists, fury radiating from him, but he said nothing. One by one, they turned and stormed off.
Mr. Arnold sighed and looked down at the unconscious Darius. Without a word, he lifted him gently and carried him toward the Mindward Tower, the storm now a memory—but its consequences just beginning.