Chapter 4 – The Prophecy's Chains
The arena burned.
The Fallen Narrator swung its rusted blade in wide arcs, each strike heavy enough to split stone. Students scattered, screaming, some already bleeding, others crushed. The chains dragging from the monster's arms rattled like war drums.
Kael's group darted behind shattered pillars for cover.
Sanae clutched her glowing sword-hilt, trying to steady her breath. Her eyes darted from the monster to Kael, to the other students, then back again. She had reforged weapons for everyone, yet they looked pitiful against that nightmare.
Liora leaned on the stone, her fingers trembling. "I… I can sing, but if I push too far again, I might lose control."
Eryx cracked his knuckles, his silver hair catching the light. "Then don't hesitate. Weakness gets you killed."
Kael didn't answer. His eyes were locked on the diary pressed against his chest, hidden inside his cloak. Its words shifted again, dripping across the page like fresh blood.
> The blade will break. The song will shatter. Two will fall. One will awaken.
And the names hadn't changed.
Sanae.
Liora.
Kael's heart hammered. Damn it. It's locked. The prophecy doesn't want to move.
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The Fallen Narrator turned its hollow helm toward them. Words writhed across its armor, sentences from countless broken tales.
> "Heroes rise… only to fall… and fall again…"
Its voice was a thousand whispers, like every story trying to speak at once.
Then it lunged.
Eryx stepped forward first, his aura bursting outward like silver fire. He slammed his fist into the monster's chest, the impact shaking the arena. The Narrator staggered—but only for a second before swatting him away like an insect.
Sanae gasped and ran forward, raising her blade. "Wait! I'll—"
Kael grabbed her wrist, pulling her back just as the rusted sword came down, splitting the ground where she'd been standing.
"Don't!" he barked. "You'll die."
Her eyes widened. "How do you know—?"
Kael froze. He couldn't tell her. Not yet.
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Across the arena, Ryo stood with arms crossed, watching silently. His expression didn't flicker, not even as students screamed and fell.
Kael caught his gaze for a moment. The teacher gave the slightest tilt of his head, as if to say: This is the lesson.
Kael cursed under his breath. No. Not this time. I'm not letting the script eat them.
He slammed his palm onto the ground, flames erupting into a wall that blocked the monster's next strike. His voice trembled with fury.
"If this world insists on killing them…" he whispered, eyes burning, "…then I'll kill the world itself."
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End of Chapter 4
Summary:
The trial begins, and Kael's team faces the Fallen Narrator.
The diary reveals the prophecy clearly: Sanae and Liora will fall.
Eryx shows his strength but is overwhelmed.
Kael saves Sanae at the last moment, but he struggles to fight fate without revealing his secret.
Ryo observes silently, forcing the students to fight without help.
Kael resolves to defy the prophecy, no matter the cost.
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