The next morning, the world felt strangely… lighter.
Liam sat at the breakfast table, slowly working through a plate of scrambled eggs. His ribs still ached, and his knuckles were tender, but something buzzed beneath his skin — not pain, not fear — something sharper.
Pride, maybe.
Dreck sat across from him, sipping black coffee, eyes fixed on Liam over the rim of his mug.
"You made a name for yourself yesterday," he said, voice low.
Liam shrugged. "Not like I wanted to."
A corner of Dreck's mouth twitched — the closest thing to a smile Liam had seen in days.
"Doesn't matter if you wanted it or not," Dreck said. "You earned it."
Liam poked at his eggs, feeling a strange warmth bloom in his chest. Compliments weren't something he was used to — especially not from Dreck.
A sudden knock at the door — three sharp raps.
Liam tensed, but Dreck only grunted and nodded toward the hallway. "It's fine. Go on, get it."
Liam stood, sore muscles protesting, and shuffled to the door. He cracked it open cautiously.
Kaela stood there, backpack slung over one shoulder, a crooked grin on her face.
"Morning, champ," she said with a mock salute.
Liam snorted. "You don't look much better than me."
Kaela rolled her eyes. "Please. I'm at least twenty percent less bruised than you."
Behind her, a few kids loitered on the sidewalk, throwing curious glances at the house. Word had spread fast. Liam and Kaela weren't just survivors anymore — they were something else entirely.
Kaela jerked her thumb toward the street. "Walk with me?"
Liam didn't hesitate. He grabbed his bag and stepped out, throwing Dreck a quick glance. His uncle raised his mug in silent farewell.
As they walked, Liam looked sideways at her. "Did you notice Lucas's lesson yesterday? It felt like he was talking directly to us."
Kaela nodded. "Yeah. I thought that too."
Liam furrowed his brow. "But how did you fight like that — even with your eyes closed?"
"I used Ambient Awareness," Kaela replied, as if it were obvious. "I could feel the movement of the bat and the person swinging it. They were slow."
"You know Ambient Awareness?" Liam blinked in surprise.
Kaela grinned smugly. "What did you take me for? Come on, you know I'm stronger than you."
Liam scoffed. "Keep dreaming. You're not even close."
"Oh, we'll see about that."
It was the first time Liam had ever bragged like that to someone other than his parents or Dreck.
Maybe… just maybe, Kaela meant something more to him now.
They chatted easily on the way to school.
The walk felt different.
No jeers, no stares. Instead, people nodded at them. Some even smiled. A group of younger kids ran past, giggling and dodging imaginary attacks.
"Look! I'm Liam!" one kid shouted, ducking an invisible swing.
"And I'm Kaela!" another spun dramatically, collapsing onto the grass.
Kaela chuckled. "We're legends now."
Liam groaned. "Please kill me."
"Heroes," she teased, elbowing him — and instantly regretting it. "Ow."
They reached the school gate as the first bell rang. Clusters of students stood around, buzzing with energy. A few waved. Kaela awkwardly waved back.
Inside, Lucas was already at the board, scribbling a phrase:
> "Strength is built in silence."
He glanced over his shoulder at them, a flicker of approval in his eyes, then returned to his notes.
Classes blurred — history, science, group projects. No one bothered Liam. No threats. No tension.
It felt… strange.
At lunch, they slipped behind the gym, to the place they'd secretly trained weeks ago.
Kaela unwrapped her sandwich with mock caution. "Feels fake, doesn't it? Like Brody's gonna jump out any second with another can of pepper spray."
Liam burst out laughing. "He's probably still in bed, mourning his pride."
They sat in silence, watching clouds drift lazily above.
Then Kaela asked, softly, "If I may ask… why did you start training in the first place?"
Liam's smile faded.
The air changed.
Instantly.
Like a pressure drop in the atmosphere — thick, suffocating. The wind stopped. The warmth of the sun faded.
Kaela's breath caught in her throat.
Then it hit.
A wave of killing intent.
Like a tidal force erupting from Liam's body — cold, sharp, and ancient.
Kaela's sandwich slipped from her fingers. Her body locked up, spine rigid, mouth dry. Her instincts screamed at her to run.
But she couldn't move.
Across the school, students froze mid-conversation. A girl screamed and collapsed. Books dropped. Teachers stumbled against walls, gasping for air.
Goosebumps rippled over every inch of skin within the school grounds.
In the teacher's lounge, Lucas's eyes widened. His chalk shattered in his hand.
He stood slowly and whispered to no one in particular:
"Such mighty bloodlust… What in the world are you hiding, Liam?"
Outside, Kaela was trembling.
"L-Liam…?"
Liam blinked, then looked at her — confused, almost dazed.
And just like that, it was gone.
The air returned to normal. Birds chirped. The leaves swayed.
Kaela gasped and stumbled back, staring at him.
He looked down at his hands, as if waking from a dream.
"I—I didn't mean to—" he whispered.
Kaela didn't answer. She just stared, still shaken.
The bell rang, slicing through the silence.
They walked back in silence, neither sure what to say.
Back in class, Liam didn't hear a word of the lecture. He was somewhere else — trapped in memories of blood and screams. Lucas glanced at him again, more serious this time.
Maybe… maybe he had felt that surge, too.
The rest of the day passed quietly.
No more questions. No more smiles.
Just silence.
---
Later that evening, after homework and chores, Liam sat on the porch steps, watching the sunset smear the sky in fire: crimson, gold, violet.
He hugged his knees to his chest.
For the first time in weeks, he let himself just… exist.
No training.
No threats.
No fear.
Just wind in his hair and the sharp bite of the evening air.
Dreck joined him minutes later, placing two mugs of cocoa on the step. They sat quietly, sipping side by side.
"You did good yesterday," Dreck finally said.
Liam blinked. "I… thanks."
"You're learning to move," Dreck said. "To feel. Not just think."
He leaned back, eyes on the darkening sky.
"Most people go through life reacting too slow. Living too scared. You're ahead."
Liam felt something release in his chest — a knot he hadn't known was there.
He wasn't there yet.
Not even close.
But he was getting better.
Stronger.
And for now… that was enough.
As night fell and stars shimmered to life above them, Liam let himself believe, for a moment, that the worst was behind him.
But in the shadows far beyond the city, someone else h
ad seen the fight.
Someone who recognized the Kairos blood in Liam's veins.
And they were coming.