—Dormitory, Outer Ring—
Emilio lay sprawled on his bed, staring up at the ceiling.
"Damn it... I can't even feel my body right. That instructor really knows how to break someone," he groaned, shifting slightly before wincing in pain.
"Ugh—my back...! This hurts like hell."
Today had been brutal. Instructor Silvius had pushed them harder than ever, drilling ether control over and over again until Emilio thought his bones would crack. Maybe the man was still pissed about today's drama.
"Haaaa..." He sighed and turned toward the empty bed across from him.
"I wonder how Kael's doing..."
A pause. Then he clenched his jaw.
"No. Let's not think about him. It's better this way."
Knock. Knock.
He sat up slowly, glaring toward the door.
"Seriously? It's already late. Who the hell knocks at this hour?"
His first thought: maybe it was that prince, come back for revenge but no way he'd lower himself to visit the commoner dorms himself, right?Or worse—he sent someone else.
Grumbling, Emilio got to his feet and swung the door open.
"Who the hell—"
He froze.
"Kael?"
There he was, standing quietly in the doorway.
Kael didn't say a word,his face was unreadable—blank and guarded. He scratched the back of his neck his eyes shifting away, one hand buried in his pocket. Something about him looked different,tired probably or Like something had changed.
Emilio wanted to ask what happened—Did Silvius finally let him go? Did he get punished harder?
But he stopped himself.
This was the same Kael who told him to back off. Who kicked away food and said he didn't need anyone. Emilio didn't want to be called "persistent" again. Still...
"Hey..." he said.
"Yeah... hey." Kael's voice was low.
Emilio turned and walked back inside without another word. Kael stepped in and closed the door behind him, locking it with a faint click.
Silence settled between them like a weight.
They didn't speak or even look at each other.
But Kael glanced at Emilio, who had already laid back down and turned his face toward the wall, away from him. No reaction. No welcome.
And honestly, Kael couldn't blame him after everything he said... it made sense.
Kael didn't understand friendship—not really. He never had any friends growing up, and his mother used to say friendship was just another word for "mutual benefit." People stick around as long as they get something out of you. That's how the world worked. So he never bothered.
But this… this was different.
He lay on his side, staring at the wall, his back turned to Emilio just like Emilio had done to him.
And still, that heavy feeling refused to go away. Guilt? Regret? It wasn't clear. All he knew was his stomach twisted like it was full of butterflies—annoying, frantic ones. He wasn't hungry; the headmaster had made sure he ate before letting him leave. This wasn't hunger. It was something worse and Something unfamiliar.
"Damn it," he muttered under his breath, frustrated with himself.
Normally, he wouldn't care. Hurting people didn't matter when you expected to be alone anyway. But this time… after everything the headmaster had said, after sitting tied to that tree like a forgotten dog, something inside had started to shift. He didn't like it. He didn't want it. But it was there, gnawing at him.
He turned his head, just a little, trying to see if Emilio would say something but Emilio was silent. Still. Maybe he was asleep?
Kael felt a tightness crawl up his throat.He hated this. This weird… heaviness.
Why do I feel bad? he thought.I don't owe anyone anything. I don't need to fix anything. So why…?
Kael didn't know what he was expecting. An argument? A punch? Anything would've been better than this silence. And still, he couldn't bring himself to say the words.
It was like an invisible hand was gripping his throat.
Just talk. Say something. Emilio… please hear me.
He screamed it in his mind.
But no sound came out.
He just needed a push.
Then—
[Brat. Just talk already.]
Kael jumped up like a bolt of lightning shot through his body.
"Gah!"
Emilio flinched and rolled over.
"What the—what happened?!" He looked around, half-alarmed, half-confused.
Kael froze.
"N-nothing. I just…"No. This was his chance. He had to speak.
"Emilio… don't you think this silence is getting kinda awkward?"
Emilio blinked.
"What?"
Kael facepalmed.
[You really suck at making friends. What a tragedy for the Veyrion bloodline.]The Ash Crow snorted in his head.
"Damn it, I'm trying!" Kael snapped out loud.
Emilio tilted his head, confused."Did that tree do something to your brain?"
Kael let out a shaky breath."Look… Emilio, the truth is… I'm… so…"
"You're what?"
Kael gritted his teeth. Then turned away, eyes low.
"I said I'm sorry."
Emilio's eyes widened.Then he laughed."That's the worst apology I've heard in all sixteen years of my life."
[Pffft. He's right, you idiot.]Ash Crow snickered.
Kael groaned and buried his face into the blanket.
"Just kill me already…"
He didn't expect that apologizing would feel this humiliating. He wanted to disappear—or combust. Either option was fine.
Emilio stared at him for a moment, blinking in surprise. He hadn't thought Kael would actually say sorry. And while it was probably the most awkward apology in existence, it was also the most genuine thing he'd heard from him.
Strangely enough… it made Emilio laugh.
"Man, you and Neira have a lot in common. Both of you suck at making friends."
Kael didn't respond. He just groaned louder and pulled the blanket further over his head.
Emilio sighed, shaking his head—but deep down, he was relieved.He had considered ignoring Kael entirely after what happened… but seeing him like this, clearly struggling, clearly trying, made it impossible.
"It's okay, amigo. We're friends, right?"
Kael peeked over the edge of the blanket.
"You're forgiving me that easily?"
"Didn't I tell you? Your family—Veyrion—they were heroes to me. I looked up to them my whole life. So no, I'm not judging you. I respect you."
Kael looked away.
"I see…"
There was a beat of silence before Emilio leaned back and smirked.
"Buuut… you still haven't answered me, though."
Kael frowned.
"Answered what?"
"Are we really friends now, or are you just saying that so it's not awkward?" Emilio asked bluntly.
Kael didn't know how to respond,this all friendship thing was annoying. But maybe… this was better than the silence. Better than always being alone. They were on the same team. They'd sleep in the same room. They'd fight together.
It would be smarter to maintain the relationship than push it away again. He'd play along for now but he had already chosen his path, and he would walk it alone.
"Sure thing. Friends…"
Emilio's face lit up. Hearing Kael say it meant more than he expected.
"Heh. Took you long enough."
But then Emilio narrowed his eyes, remembering something.
"Wait a sec. Earlier—you were talking to yourself, weren't you?"
Kael blinked.
"Huh?"
"Yeah, you were arguing with yourself before you apologized. Sounded like a full-on conversation. Thought you lost your mind or something."
Kael scratched the back of his head, clearly caught off guard.
"Oh… that. That was just my divine beast. He's… got a little bit of a personality problem."
"Wait, what?" Emilio tilted his head.
"Divine beast? You mean it talks to you?"
Kael nodded casually.
"Yeah, I can hear his voice. He doesn't shut up, honestly."
Emilio burst out laughing.
"What kind of beast did you contract?! Divine beasts don't talk to their wielders!"
Kael squinted.
"What do you mean they don't?"
"I mean—they're beasts, Kael. Magical, yes, but they don't normally talk back like some roommate in your head."
Kael blinked again, more confused now.
"…Wait. That's not normal?"
Emilio stared at him.
"Not even close."
*******
—The Next Day: Right Wing — Flame Wing—
"I'm sorry."
The words hung awkwardly in the air.
Neira and Serina stared in disbelief at the person who had just spoken.
Kael.
And not just Kael standing there—but Kael apologizing?
Serina blinked. "Wait… you're actually—?"
Neira looked like she'd seen a ghost. "Okay, what alternate dimension did I wake up in? Kael? Apologizing?"
Kael scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "Yeah. I am."
Neira folded her arms and scowled. "And you just forgave him that easily?" she said, shooting Emilio a glare.
Emilio gave a nervous laugh and raised both hands. "I mean, he did apologize."
Neira facepalmed. "You're both hopeless."
Kael glanced at Neira and flinched inwardly. Crap, he thought. I forgot she punched me that day. She's definitely not letting me off easy.
Neira met his eyes for a second and then looked away with an irritated "Hmph."
Serina giggled softly at the awkward tension. Despite everything, she was just happy Kael was okay.
That moment of calm didn't last.
The door to the training building swung open, and Silvius stepped outside, sharp eyes scanning the group. He zeroed in on Kael immediately.
"So. You're alive. Good. I hope you learned your damn lesson."
Kael nodded without a word. Arguing again would just waste more time—and time was something he couldn't afford to throw away anymore. If he wanted to grow stronger, he had to start now. And maybe… just maybe… Silvius could help him understand this so-called "beauty" of the sword.
Silvius caught the change in Kael's posture—calmer, sharper, more focused—but he didn't comment on it. Instead, he let a small grin tug at his lips and turned toward the building.
"Alright then. Enough standing around."
"Class starts now."