The sun blazed over Nova Academia, casting sharp shadows across the training fields.
Kael gripped his practice spear tighter, feeling the rough wood bite into his palms. Across from him, Tetsu twirled his own weapon easily, a grin tugging at his lips.
"Last round, Kael," Tetsu called. "Winner buys dinner."
Kael smirked, rolling his aching shoulders. "Hope you like cafeteria sludge."
They circled each other, feet crunching over dry grass. Around them, the shouts of other students filled the air, Will sparks flaring in bursts of color. Fire, wind, lightning — power everywhere Kael looked.
Everywhere except inside him.
He lunged forward, spear aiming low. Tetsu parried, twisting with casual strength, and Kael stumbled, thrown off-balance.
"Still too slow," Tetsu teased, stepping back.
Kael's frustration flared. He steadied himself, tightening his stance. "Again."
They clashed, wooden weapons striking with dull cracks. Dust kicked up around their feet. Kael gritted his teeth, forcing himself to push harder, faster—but Tetsu barely broke a sweat, skin shimmering with the faint shine of his Steel Will.
Finally, with a deft sweep, Tetsu knocked Kael's spear aside and tapped him lightly on the chest.
"Dead," Tetsu said with a wink.
Kael let out a shaky breath and dropped to one knee.
No matter how hard he trained, the result was always the same: defeated by those with real power.
"Don't sweat it, man," Tetsu said, offering a hand. "You're getting better."
Kael ignored it for a moment, staring at his trembling hands.
Better wasn't enough.
He grabbed Tetsu's hand finally and pulled himself up. "I'll catch up."
"You will," Tetsu said confidently, slinging an arm around his shoulders. "Just takes time. You're stubborn enough."
Kael managed a laugh, but inside, doubt gnawed at him like acid.
They cleaned up their gear and wandered toward the quieter training fields behind the academy — a place few students bothered with. Ancient ruins dotted the landscape here, half-swallowed by nature. The air felt heavier, the breeze cooler.
"I heard some of these stones are relics from before the Fracture," Tetsu said, nudging a cracked pillar with his foot. "Back when the world still made sense."
Kael touched one of the ruins thoughtfully. Strange glyphs spiraled across its surface — symbols he couldn't read, but somehow felt familiar.
He pulled his hand back sharply, a faint tingling crawling up his arm.
"You okay?" Tetsu asked.
"Yeah," Kael muttered. "Just...weird."
They kept walking.
Above them, crows circled, cawing harshly.
Far in the distance, thunder rolled.
Kael glanced up. The sky had darkened, clouds gathering unnaturally fast. A chill ran down his spine.
Something was wrong.
Tetsu noticed it too. His easy smile faded as he scanned the treeline.
"You feel that?" he asked quietly.
Kael nodded.
The fields were too silent now. Even the ever-present sounds of training had dimmed behind them.
An electric tension hummed in the air, like the world holding its breath.
Tetsu gripped his practice spear a little tighter. "Let's head back."
Kael hesitated, looking back at the ruins one last time.
The shadows seemed longer now, stretching and twitching at the corners of his vision.
Something unseen watched them from the woods.
He shook it off and followed Tetsu toward the academy.
Neither of them saw the broken branches at the treeline.
Neither of them noticed the massive footprints sinking into the earth behind them.
Not yet.