"Let the final battle begin!"
The words ripped through the air like thunder.
For a heartbeat, everything froze. It felt as if the arena held its breath. Then — light.
Kaelan Brightblade moved first. He lifted his hand towards the sky as if churning out the gold. Magic discharged from his hand and released unrefined power in an explosion of energy that ripped through the sand.
Kairen had only a brief view of it. His body reacted without thought — he tumbled to the side and rolled across the hot sand as the magic bolt hit its target. The arena floor exploded, leaving a giant crater gaping at the center, surrounded by rolling smoke.
The crowd gasped. All the cries and cries mixed into one noise.
Kairen's ribs burned as he pushed himself upright, his fist around his sword. He gasped for air but it seemed to contain magic and dust in it. Every breath tasted like ash.
Kaelan laughed, the sound echoing easily across the field. "Already diving for cover? Come now, Zephyrwind, make this worth my time!"
Kairen hesitated for a second, trying to control his breathing. Do not panic. Keep your mind off the other folks. Avoid thinking about her observing you.
He looked up. Sunlight struck Kaelan's golden armor and he glimmered, like the very figure carved out of sunlight. He looked relaxed, and confident; someone who already knew he'd secured the win.
Kairen's fingers trembled around the sword hilt. "Don't… underestimate me."
Kaelan grinned. "Then stop running and prove it."
Another circle of gold appeared at Kaelan's feet, spreading out like rippling water. He lifted both hands, and with a crack like thunder, several bolts of force burst from the air. They screamed toward Kairen.
He dodged the first two, barely — the air crackled as they passed. The third clipped his arm, sending pain shooting up to his shoulder. He landed on the sand, tumbled, the world spun.
The heat bore down on him, sweat stinging,
his eyes soon smelt burnt sand and he could hear unstable energy buzzing through the air.
He crouched behind a broken stone wing, his chest rising and falling.
He wasn't fast enough. Not strong enough. His sword felt useless — like a toy against this kind of power.
But then, somewhere deep under his skin, he felt it again — that hum.
Faint. Rhythmic. Coming from his back.
The mark.
It hadn't ignited yet. It was just sitting there, flawing like a heartbeat.
Kairen shut his eyes for half a second, a tiny lapse. His father's voice - barely a recollection - was faintly playing in his mind.
"Courage is not not being scared or frightened, Kairen. Courage means still standing even when you are."
He opened his eyes. "Right… even when you are."
Kaelan's voice rang out. "Hiding already? That's disappointing!"
Kairen stood, stepping out from cover. "I'm not hiding."
"Oh?" Kaelan smirked. "Then come show me what you've got."
He charged.
Sand flew out from beneath Kairen's boots as he dashed forward, sword lifted again over his head. Kaelan swung his staff, golden energy coursing up and down its shaft. The two iron tips met with a metallic ring that thrust into the rafters of the receiving arena. Gold and blue sparks flickered like cadent against the darkness.
Kairen advanced forward, teeth gritted, while Kaelan moved faster, smoothness and sharpness possessed by his every strike.
Kaelan's voice leaked sarcasm. "Swinging it with the finesse of a farmer chopping firewood."
Kairen spat back, swinging again. "At least I'm swinging it, unlike a prince who has never lifted a sword in his life!"
The two weapons collided, again and again—staff to sword and igniting sparks between them; unsure of where each sound originated.
The crowd was loud–it could have been that the air vibrated with the sustained noise.
Kaelan ducked low, turned, and dropped the butt of the staff into Kairen's stomach.
Kairen stumbled back and out of breath. Before he recovered, Kaelan thrust his palm forward—a golden blast hit Kairen in the chest.
Kairen flew back and fell into the sand. His sword slipped from his hand. Fire burned in his ribs.
Kairen lay still for a second staring up at the endless blue sky. The cheers of the crowd merged into one long roar.
Get up, a voice whispered inside. Get up, Kairen.
Kairen attempted to lift his body onto his palms but his arms were shaking. His chest was tight. His vision was becoming cloudy around the edges.
Then he heard her.
"KAIREN!"
His mother's voice.
He blinked and turned his head, and she was up now, her complexion white, her hands covering her mouth in shock.
And beside her — Dain.
"GET UP, MAN!" Dain roared, waving both arms wildly. "DON'T YOU DARE TO GIVE UP! HE IS JUST A WALKING LIGHTBULB!!"
Even in pain, a faint laugh escaped Kairen. His friend's ridiculous voice broke through the noise, grounding him again.
Kaelan's smirk returned. "That's cute. You've got cheerleaders."
Kairen's breathing was irregular as he tried to regain his balance. He cleaned his lip of the blood. "You speak too much."
The crowd howled with laughter and shock.
Kaelan's eyes narrowed. "Big words for someone who can barely stand."
He lifted his staff again. Magic circles had appeared, glowing brighter than before. The hotter air around him shimmered.
Kairen steadied his breath. He held his sword a little more tightly. You can do this. Watch. Don't react. Feel it.
Kaelan fired again — a blast of golden force screaming through the air.
But this time, Kairen moved differently.
His feet shifted before his mind caught up. The bolt missed by a hair. He felt the rush of heat graze his side. Another blast came — he dropped to a knee, letting it fly overhead.
Kaelan frowned, surprised.
"What…?"
Kairen didn't answer. His heart was pounding, but something inside him felt clearer — calmer. Every sound, every movement seemed louder, slower.
He could almost see where the next strike would land.
Kaelan fired again, frustration creeping into his voice. "Hold still!"
Kairen rolled aside, dust rising around him, and countered with a wide swing. Kaelan blocked it, but the force pushed him back a step.
For the first time, Kaelan's smirk faded.
The crowd noticed — a ripple of murmurs spread.
Kairen pressed forward, swinging again, pushing him back. "You're not untouchable, Brightblade!"
Kaelan's teeth clenched. "You really think you're my equal?"
"No," Kairen said, breathing hard. "I think you are scared."
Kaelan's eyes flared with rage. "Scared? Of you?"
He slammed his staff into the ground. The air cracked. Golden symbols erupted across the sand, glowing with fierce light.
Kairen froze.
Magic surged around him — a trap.
Dozens of glowing circles formed in the air, each one aimed directly at him.
"I can't wait to see you dodge this!" shouted Kaelan.
The circles fired all at once.
The blasts came from every direction — golden bolts raining down like a storm. Kairen ran, heart hammering. Sand exploded beneath his feet. One blast hit a nearby pillar, shattering it to dust. Another grazed his shoulder, sending him spinning.
Each step grew heavier. His lungs burned. Sweat and blood mixed on his face.
He stumbled behind the last remaining wall — panting, coughing, body screaming.
Then he realized. There was no way out. Every escape route led straight into Kaelan's line of fire.
Kaelan's shadow appeared through the smoke. "Cornered already? Pathetic."
He began gathering power again, both hands glowing bright gold. The light was so intense it hurt to look at.
Kairen's eyes widened. "No—"
Kaelan smirked. "You should've stayed down."
He thrust his hands forward. A sphere of light grew between them — bright, expanding, pulsing with dangerous energy.
The crowd went quiet.
Rayan stepped forward, worry glinting in his eyes, but he didn't say a word.
Kaelan's voice was sharp. "Let's finish this!"
He let it go.
The sphere flew through the arena, spewing a trail of golden flame behind.
Kairen attempted to dodge — too late. The blast struck him directly in the chest.
The noise was stunning. The world dissolved into light.
For an instant, there was nothing — no pain, no breath, no noise.
Then the world came back at once. Kairen's body hit the ground with a roll, spinning through dust and sand. His sword was yanked from his grasp, clanking across the arena.
He remained immobile, the ringing in his head consuming everything.
Elara's cry shattered the silence. "KAIREN!"
Dain's voice came next, raw with alarm. "GET UP, KAIREN! YOU HEAR ME!?"
In the bleachers, Lia clutched her hands together, mumbling under her breath, "Please… please be okay."
On the instructor's platform, Kellan's knuckles whitened as his hands clutched the railing. "Don't you dare…" he grumbled. "Not now."
The dust settled gradually.
Kairen's body was still on the ground, his uniform ripped, blood oozing from the corner of his mouth. His chest rose weakly — he was still breathing.
Kaelan dropped his hands, his yellow aura fading. "Pathetic," he murmured. "Over before it ever started."
Rayan took a step forward. His face was somber. "The winner is—"
"No."
It had been uttered so softly that initially no one believed what had been said.
There was silence afterwards.
Kairen's fingers trembled. His hand sank deep in the sand, shaking as he moved. He pushed himself up, as painfully as one can, with his arm trembling under the strain. He inhaled, gasping repeatedly while his head spun from the movement, but he didn't stop.
His mother's cry found him once more, breaking with strain. "Kairen…"
He hauled his knees beneath him, blood streaming from his lip. His body howled at him to remain prone. He paid it no heed.
Kaelan's smirk vanished completely. "Impossible…"
Kairen rose, one agonizing inch at a time, until he stood upright — swaying, but standing.
The crowd was silent. Even the wind seemed to pause.
Rayan's hand lowered slowly. His eyes were wide. "The battle… is not over."
Kairen lifted his head, meeting Kaelan's stare. His voice came out rough, broken, but steady.
"It's… not… over."
And as he said it, the faint warmth on his back ignited.
A sharp, burning pain tore across his shoulders. Light — pale and blue — flickered beneath his torn shirt, tracing along his skin in the shape of cracks.
The mark was waking.
Kaelan stepped back, eyes wide. "What… what are you?"
Kairen didn't answer. His eyes shone pale blue in the sunlight.
The crowd let out a veracious yell, again, this time not for Kaelan, for the boy who wouldn't go down.