The training ground was silent, surrounded by cracked stone pillars and a sky darkened with clouds. Kaivaan stood alone in the center, the faint heat of yesterday's fire still echoing through his bones.
Oryan leaned against a broken statue nearby, arms folded, his eyes still hidden beneath black cloth.
"If you want to control that flame, boy," he said, "you'll need more than emptiness. You'll need clarity."
Kaivaan didn't respond. He stared down at his hand — no flames now, only the cold skin where they once flickered.
Oryan clicked his tongue.
"Enough waiting. I didn't bring you here for a lecture."
He turned his head toward the shadows.
"You can come out now."
From the opposite side of the arena, soft footsteps approached. A faint green glow lit the ground like fireflies dancing in mist. Then she appeared.
A girl — around Kaivaan's age, maybe slightly older.
Long white robes, glowing boots, and hair… none. Her head was clean-shaved, and her eyes glowed like emerald blades.
She didn't speak.
Kaivaan blinked, then stepped back instinctively.
"Who is she?" he asked.
"Noira," Oryan replied. "Light Magic. Perfected. She gave up her hair for it."
"Why is she here?"
Oryan smiled.
"To fight you."
Noira raised her hand. A blinding beam formed into a spear. Kaivaan had no time to prepare — she dashed forward, faster than his eyes could follow.
He blocked with his arm, and black flame flickered instinctively.
The spear melted midair. Her light and his darkness sizzled into vapor.
"You're slow," Noira said coldly. "Is that all your sacrifice gave you?"
Kaivaan growled and ignited both hands. Two dark fire orbs spiraled out, aiming for her sides.
She vanished.
Flashstep.
Suddenly, she was behind him. A burst of radiant chains wrapped around his torso, slamming him to the ground.
"Emotions give direction," she said, walking slowly toward him.
"Without them… your fire just thrashes around, like a blind beast."
Kaivaan's eyes flared. His back arched — and a wave of black fire exploded outward, breaking the chains and sending Noira sliding back.
He stood up slowly. Breathless.
Noira tilted her head.
"Interesting… just now, you hesitated."
"Was that fear? Or guilt?"
Kaivaan didn't understand. But in his chest… there was a flicker.
A feeling he couldn't name.
From above, Oryan nodded.
"Yes… his emotion is leaking back. Dangerous, but necessary."
Kaivaan roared — flames spiraled into a massive black serpent.
Noira summoned a spear of light, as bright as the sun.
They charged.
Dark met light — and the entire arena exploded in white and black dust.
When the smoke cleared, both stood — breathing heavily, but alive.
Behind Noira, a stone tree had been reduced to glass by Kaivaan's last burst.
She looked at it. Then at him.
"You held back."
Kaivaan said nothing.
Oryan stepped between them.
"Good. You're learning."
"Kaivaan, meet your rival. Maybe your partner. Maybe your doom."
Noira smirked, eyes gle
aming.
"I want to fight him again."
Kaivaan turned, walking away.
"Next time," he said, "I won't hold back."