Iron Sky Sect — Outer Disciple Courtyard
By the second week,
the entire sect had heard the whispers.
"The boy surrounded by six goddesses."
"A lucky commoner."
"He won't last."
"They'll leave him eventually."
Laughter followed them wherever they walked.
Snide glances.
Mock bows.
Jealous sneers from rich, privileged cultivators.
But Kaelen?
He ignored it.
Mostly.
Until they crossed a line.
The Provocation
During a public training session,
Fei Yuzen — grinning like he already won —
strode up to Selina with a bouquet of spirit-forged lilies.
He knelt dramatically before her, in front of hundreds.
"A flower for a flower."
Selina blinked in horror, glancing at Kaelen.
Mira stiffened.
Lyra's wings twitched.
Aria's hand tightened on her blade.
Kaelen?
Kaelen smiled.
Cold.
Sharp.
Silent.
Kaelen's First True Reaction
He walked over slowly.
Took the lilies from Fei's hand.
Crushed them into dust.
And let the powder fall between his fingers.
"Touch her again," he said quietly,
"and I'll bury you so deep even the sect won't find your bones."
Fei paled.
He laughed it off — loudly, for show.
But when Kaelen's eyes burned golden-crimson,
Fei's laughter broke halfway through.
He retreated, muttering under his breath.
POV: Aria Valen
She watched Kaelen return to stand beside Selina — not saying a word.
Just standing there.
Solid.
Protective.
Unshakable.
Her heart squeezed painfully.
You don't even realize…
You're not just protecting us.
You're claiming us.
POV: Mira Nightshade
In the shadows, Mira smiled faintly.
"He doesn't even know he's winning hearts without lifting a finger."
POV: Selina Dawnweaver
Selina felt her face burning.
Not from shame.
From something warmer.
Safer.
You're not just our Sovereign.
You're our shield.
Our home.
The Enemies' Response
Jin Rokan snarled when he heard.
"That lucky bastard needs to be broken."
Taro Lin smirked.
"He's amusing. Let's make it public."
Plans were being set.
Tournaments.
Humiliations.
Bets on when the "boy surrounded by beauties" would fall.
They didn't know.
They had no idea.
Kaelen wasn't playing their game.
He was paving his own.
A dominator's road — written in silence, loyalty, and inevitable conquest.
Kaelen's Thoughts (Late Night)
Sitting atop their private training tower,
Kaelen stared into the dark.
He thought about the fights.
The sneers.
The laughter.
But most of all,
he thought about Selina's wide eyes when Fei knelt.
Aria's stiffened shoulders.
Lyra's trembling wings.
He clenched his fists.
I don't like seeing them hurt.
I don't like anyone else near them.
He frowned.
Why?
Why does it burn?
Final Line
Far below,
the girls sat together in the common room,
talking softly about the day.
And above them,
Kaelen whispered to the stars:
"Whatever this is…"
"I'll protect it."
"Even if I have to tear through the heavens to do it."