Lyssandra knew that sword would land. Kael was about to lose—maybe worse. Her eyes widened. Why do I even care about the son of a traitor?
"Come on, Kael! Let's go!" she shouted, reaching for him.
But he yanked his arm away. "No." Kael shoved her aside. "Save yourself."
"What?" she gasped. She stumbled back—right into Ryven's arms.
He caught her. She looked from Ryven to Kael. The boy wasn't even looking at her anymore—his eyes locked on Selviane, whose blade was already descending.
"No!" she screamed.
"Don't be stupid!" Ryven shouted. "You can't save him! He doesn't need your help!"
"You idiot! He saved me! That's why he pushed me!"
Kael stood frozen, heart pounding. She was in the way. That's what he told himself. I didn't want to get involved with a noble. That's all. But deep down, something else clawed its way up.
Fear.
[Brat. Dodge.]
"I… I can't move my legs…" Kael whispered, staring at the ground in disbelief.
[Don't tell me…]
The Ash Crow felt it too—Kael was paralyzed. Not by injury. But fear.
Kael gritted his teeth. "Move… Come on, move!" He punched his legs, again and again. "Move, damn it!"
Selviane could feel it — Kael's aether flaring out of control. His fear had broken his restraint.
"Tch… what a shame," she muttered. "The son of a traitor, just like his father. Not strong enough to stand with the heroes of his generation."
"…What?"
Something snapped.
Kael froze — not from fear this time, but fury.
Those words cut deeper than any blade. His father… the only person he ever looked up to… mocked by a teacher who knew nothing.
[Brat. Calm down!]
But it was already too late.
The boy who seconds ago couldn't move, whose legs trembled from fear, suddenly stood tall. His aether cracked the air. The rage boiling inside him erupted — raw and unfiltered.
Selviane's eyes narrowed. Her sword descended.
Swoooosh—
She froze mid-swing.
"Ugh…" Her eyes widened. A chill ran down her spine. Something monstrous stared back at her — not Kael, but behind him.
A colossal shadow. The silhouette of a crow, wings unfurled, radiating pure killing intent. It wasn't a boy anymore—it was a warning.
BOOM.
Wind exploded outward.
Dust swallowed the field.
Kael flinched, closing his eyes against the blast. Then slowly opened them… He was still standing. No pain. No impact. No sword.
"…What?"
Selviane lowered her blade and calmly pulled off her blindfold. "Well then… that's the end of class," she said, almost too casually. Her eyes, though calm, lingered on him. "You failed—but next time, I won't show mercy."
Kael just stood there, confused and breathless.
"Kael!" Lyssandra ran over, breathless. "Are you okay?"
"You again?" Kael muttered.
"What do you mean 'you again'?!" she snapped. "Just be grateful I ran back to check on you, you cold bastard!"
Kael frowned.
Ryven stepped in with a grin and a slight bow. "Still… thanks for saving her."
"I didn't save anyone," Kael replied flatly.
Ryven laughed, while Lyssandra clenched her fists in frustration, clearly fuming.
Off to the side, Selviane watched the exchange in silence, arms crossed, lips curled in a faint smile.
Lucian approached her, his gaze never leaving Kael. "Instructor… did you feel something strange from him?"
Selviane didn't look at him. "What are you talking about, Lucian?"
"Right before your final strike. I felt something… powerful," he said quietly. "That's why you didn't finish the blow, isn't it?"
"I don't know what you're implying," she replied smoothly.
Lucian narrowed his eyes but didn't push further. "Figured you wouldn't say. But I'm not imagining things."
He looked back toward Kael, eyes sharp. That power… it wasn't normal. Was he hiding it this whole time? Is he bonded with the Ash Crow?
He remembered what the king had told them — no traces of the Ash Crow were ever confirmed, even during the Duke's arrest.
But now?
Lucian sighed. He had wanted to ignore the son of a so-called traitor. But now… now he couldn't afford to.
If Kael ever becomes a threat, I'll be the one to end it.
Groans echoed through the yard as unconscious students began waking up, rubbing their heads and blinking at the scene.
"Ugh… what happened?" one muttered.
"Is she gonna attack again?!" another whimpered, staring at Selviane in fear.
"No," she said sweetly. "You're all dismissed. Head to your next class."
Nobody moved at first.
She kept smiling — calm, collected — but behind her back, her fingers trembled. She could still feel it… that terrifying presence.
The Ash Crow.
She had heard the legends. But today, she saw it with her own eyes.
And now it was inside that boy.
As she turned away, her smile returned — smaller, but real this time.
"I'm looking forward to seeing how you grow, young Veyrion."