It began in broad daylight.
Students were walking across the main courtyard, exchanging notes and gossiping about trial rumors… when Aerin Valmont stepped directly into Eris Vale's path.
At first, no one paid it much attention — two top-ranking students crossing paths wasn't unusual.
But when Meline appeared a breath later, stepping silently behind Aerin with her hands already resting on the hilts of her twin blades—
—every conversation in the courtyard died instantly.
Saphine froze beside Eris.
"Aerin?" she asked, confused. "What are you—"
"I apologize, Lady Ka'tarel," Aerin said politely, gaze never leaving Eris. "But before we discuss anything further, I need to confirm something."
Eris regarded him calmly. "And what would that be?"
Aerin's fingers tightened around the silver spear resting against his shoulder.
"Whether you are truly… human."
The spear hit the stone with a thunderous clang, and the courtyard erupted as Aerin lunged forward, Meline vanishing into a blur of silver behind him.
Students scrambled backward, forming a circle around the four of them — stunned, breathless. No one moved to intervene.
They couldn't.
Because what happened next was the kind of fight that didn't belong in the world of mortals.
The Clash
Aerin's spear struck with brutal precision — a single thrust that split the air like lightning. But Eris tilted his head slightly and the tip sliced past his cheek, missing him by millimeters.
Before Aerin could recover, Meline appeared behind Eris — twin short blades flashing in a crescent arc.
Clang! Clang!
Eris caught both blades with his bare hands, fingertips wrapped in a thin layer of swirling aether. He turned with effortless grace, deflecting Aerin's second strike using one of Meline's blades as a partial shield.
The crowd gasped.
It wasn't just speed.
It wasn't just skill.
It was control — frightening, delicate control — like watching someone rearrange falling raindrops into a pattern.
For the next several heartbeats, nobody blinked.
Aerin's spear swept in wide, fluid arcs — each strike imbued with a subtle resonance that distorted the stone tiles beneath them. Meline vanished and reappeared in rapid steps, blades humming.
But Eris … moved like a tide.No weapon. No armor. Only raw aether wrapped around his arms like translucent silk.He parried with open palms. Redirected forces. Redirected intent.
Aerin thrust — Eris leaned.Meline cut — Eris bent her wrist aside, pivoted, flowed into the next strike.
It wasn't defense.It was conversation.
Every blow they unleashed, he answered — not with brute force, but with clarity.
Finally, Aerin spun into a rising thrust aimed at Eris's throat — a move powerful enough to shatter stone.
Eris raised his right hand.
Aether condensed around his knuckles in a pulse of white light—
BOOOM.
His punch met the spear.
The resulting shockwave blasted dust and wind across the courtyard — students stumbled backward, shielding their faces.
Saphine stepped in front of a few younger students, eyes wide.That… wasn't a simple clash.
That was a Peak-level detonation.
If he wields the Grand Gaze… she thought, heart racing, …then why does he fight like this?
It made no sense.Echo-bearers were normally limited — their abilities defined by their view of the world.
But Eris fought as if he understood every view at the same time.
The Turning Point
Meline reappeared behind Eris with breathtaking speed — blades descending toward his spine.
Eris didn't turn.
He simply lifted his left hand behind him, catching both blades between his fingers —
—then pushed forward, forcing Meline to stumble directly in front of Aerin, blocking the incoming spear thrust.
Aerin froze — tip of his spear stopping inches away from Meline's back.
The courtyard fell silent.
Meline's eyes widened. She hadn't even realized he moved her.
Everyone could feel it now.
If Eris had wanted to, that single movement could have killed both of them.
But he didn't swing.
He just stood there… hands empty… looking at Aerin with calm, silent eyes.
The Invitation
The wind passed.
Aerin slowly lowered his spear.
Meline backed away, breathing hard.
Eris exhaled and released the aether. The glow faded from his arms.
"Enough," he said, voice gentle — as though they'd simply finished a friendly spar.
The students watching didn't dare make a sound.
Eris turned his gaze to Aerin.
"If you were truly my enemy, I wouldn't have used my arms at all."
Aerin's grip tightened—then loosened. His shoulders dropped in acknowledgement.
"…I needed to know," he said.
"You know now," Eris replied.
Aerin nodded silently.
There was no anger left — only respect. Even Meline sheathed her blades, eyes narrowed, still wary… but no longer trembling.
Saphine stepped forward, breathless.
"Can we please talk like normal people now?"
Eris gave a small nod.
"I was about to suggest a chat, actually."
Aerin let out a dry laugh. "After all that, you want tea?"
"No. Information," Eris said. He extended an open hand."A truce. Temporary. You help investigate the anomaly. In exchange, I do not treat you as threats."
Aerin stared at his hand.
Then glanced at Meline.
She hesitated… then gave a tiny nod.
Aerin took Eris's hand.
"Fine," he said. "A short truce."
Saphine exhaled in relief. "Good. Because if I had to watch the three of you try to kill each other again, I'd fail my Trial from pure stress."
Meline stared at her. "…You're oddly calm, Lady Ka'tarel."
"I'm not calm," Saphine muttered. "I'm just trying not to faint."
Eris raised a brow. "Shall I carry—"
"NO," she snapped. "Stop offering that!"
Meline actually gave the tiniest smile at that.
Students slowly began to breathe again. The crowd dispersed, whispering wildly. Rumors would spread across the academy in minutes.
Aerin rested his spear against his shoulder and looked at Eris one last time.
"Tomorrow," he said quietly. "We investigate. Together."
Eris nodded once. "Tomorrow."
And for the first time… all four of them walked away in the same direction.
To be continued...