Nova: "Aera… please tell me what's going on. What's wrong with him?"
Aera hesitated, her eyes sliding toward Caden lying on the bed, his breathing uneven.
"Let's just say… it's something connected to his past."
Nova frowned.
"Of course… another secret. Great." Her tone grew sharp. "But he's burning up, Aera, look at him! We need to call someone, anyone!"
Aera took a deep breath.
"Vendal High. That's a good idea, Nova. Call them."
Nova's face instantly hardened—cold as ice.
"I hate those people. I'm still a student at Vendal High, yes… but for personal reasons, I will never contact them for help. And you shouldn't either."
She stood up abruptly, her chair scraping the floor, and disappeared into her room, slamming the door.
Silence fell over the apartment.
Aera stayed still, unable to speak. She understood Nova… but Caden didn't have much time left.
Meanwhile — Vendal High
The academy was unusually dark. The hallway lights flickered faintly.
Ren and Emron sat in the training room, still shaken.
Emron, holding a glass, muttered:
"With all that… I don't think I'm strong enough. What they showed earlier… it wasn't human."
Ren leaned against the wall, exhausted.
"I get it. But we can't give up. We're the hopes of our nations."
Emron sighed, then tried to smile:
"Yeah… you're right, bro. I just got overwhelmed for a moment."
Ren:
"The tournament in Korea… we have to be ready. We need to make our families proud."
Emron nodded, then turned to Ren with a spark in his eyes:
"By the way… you know that girl? Ji-soo. They say she leads the Five Pillars."
Ren straightened slightly.
"Yeah, I've heard of her. Bad reputation… dangerous, smart, a strategist… and extremely popular."
Emron burst out laughing:
"Wow, you know a lot for a guy who hates media and girls. Just admit it—you've got a crush!"
Ren: "You're insane! I've never even seen her!"
They kept bantering until Ren's phone vibrated.
Emron: "Hmm… who is it? Wait—A GIRL?"
Ren: "Emron, shut up…"
He glanced at the screen. His face drained of color.
"It's… Vaden."
Emron squinted. "Wait… Caden is calling you? WHAT??"
Ren answered immediately.
"Hello… Caden?"
A heavy silence. Then a voice. Not Caden's.
Ren went pale.
He jumped to his feet: "We have to go. Now!"
Emron: "What did he say?!"
Ren:
"It wasn't Caden. We need to see the Grand Master right away. Caden is… in very bad condition."
The two rushed out.
In the shadows of the hallway
A silhouette hidden against the wall had witnessed everything.
Its eyes glimmered in the darkness.
"My queen… did you hear that?"
A whisper slid through the air, barely audible.
"What should I do now?"
A shiver ran through the empty corridor.