The morning sun hung low, its golden rays slicing through the mist that clung to the training grounds, turning the air into a shimmering veil that softened the edges of the world around me. It was Thursday now, and the weight of yesterday's encounter with Kazuyoshi still lingered in my bones, a strange mix of exhaustion and anticipation that I couldn't shake. My red-tied jacket felt heavier as I pulled it on, the fabric brushing against my skin with a faint rustle, its familiar scent of sweat and grass grounding me as I stepped onto the dew-slicked field. My shard-sense pulsed faintly, a steady rhythm beneath my chest, guiding me toward the weathered dummy I'd battered the day before, its splintered surface a testament to my relentless drive. The air carried the sharp tang of ozone from lingering spells, mingling with the earthy dampness, and the distant clatter of blades rang out as other students began their practice. I gripped my shard tighter, its turquoise glow flickering weakly, a mirror to the fatigue that dragged at my limbs. I attributed it to the sleepless night, haunted by those grainy visions—shadowed figures, a crimson glow, that overwhelming dread—though the cause remained a puzzle I couldn't solve.
I'd agreed to meet Kazuyoshi today, his offer of guidance echoing in my mind with a mix of curiosity and wariness. His crimson-red eyes, deep and mesmerizing, had left an imprint I couldn't ignore, and the memory of his cool touch as he caught me mid-fall sent a shiver through me despite the morning's warmth. My pendant warmed against my skin, its hum a quiet companion as I scanned the grounds, searching for his dark, graceful figure. The mist parted slightly, revealing Headmaster Aldric striding toward the main hall, his crimson robe billowing, but no sign of Kazuyoshi yet. I adjusted my stance, swinging my shard in a slow arc, the motion precise but lacking its former power, the glow dimming with each strike. Determination flared within me—I wouldn't let this weakness define me, not with the academy's mysteries pressing in from all sides. The shard drainings had left the classrooms dimmer, the students' energy sapped, and the whispers of a cabal threading through the faculty with their coded messages grew louder in my shard-sense's hum. Seraphina's presence, with her raven-black hair and emerald eyes, gnawed at me, her constant orbit around Kaname a thorn I couldn't remove.
As I paused to wipe sweat from my brow, a shadow moved through the mist, and there he was—Kazuyoshi Ryūsei, his dark hair falling neatly over those sharp, chiseled features that seemed almost too perfect, framed by an ethereal glow that caught the light. His crimson-red eyes locked onto mine, their depth pulling me in with an intensity that made my breath catch, his movements discreet and silent like a shadow slipping through the crowd. He approached with an easy grace, his tailored cloak swaying, and offered a slight, enigmatic smile that softened his strong jawline. "Good morning, Yuki," he said, his voice a smooth velvet that wrapped around the damp air. "I see you're eager to begin. Shall we test that potential I mentioned?" I nodded, my pride warring with the fatigue that threatened to buckle my knees, and followed him to a secluded corner of the field, the grass crunching softly underfoot.
He guided me through a series of movements, his instructions precise yet gentle, his presence magnetic as he demonstrated a fluid swing of an imaginary shard, the motion leaving trails of mist in its wake. "Focus your will here," he said, tapping a spot just above my pendant, his fingers brushing my collarbone with a coolness that sent a jolt through me. I closed my eyes, channeling my energy as he'd suggested, the pendant's warmth spreading like liquid fire. My shard-sense flared, and for a moment, I felt that overwhelming rush again, the unseen threads tugging at my consciousness. Panic surged as the power spiraled, the air crackling, but Kazuyoshi's steady hand on my shoulder grounded me, the energy dissipating before it could erupt. "Not yet," he murmured, his crimson-red eyes narrowing with a hint of curiosity. "You're tapping into something raw. We'll refine it slowly." The effort left me breathless, my body trembling, and I wondered at the strain—why did it drain me so?
Across the academy, Kaname sat in the council room, the air thick with the musty scent of ancient tomes and the metallic hum of suppressed magic. The table before him was strewn with maps and reports, their cryptic details a burden he shouldered with growing strain. Shiro, her long wavy blond hair catching the candlelight, traced protective runes with a healer's calm, her violet eyes focused. Ace leaned back, his cyan eyes glinting with mischief as his illusionary shards danced above the table, while Kazuhiro's silver hair gleamed as he scribbled notes with elemental precision. The transfer students—three newcomers with sharp gazes and restless energy—hovered around him, their constant questions and proximity a bothersome distraction that grated on his nerves. "What's the next move?" one asked, their voice cutting through his focus, while another adjusted a map with unnecessary fuss. Seraphina lingered near the door, her raven-black hair and emerald eyes a persistent intrusion, her sultry voice offering unsolicited advice that he brushed off with curt nods. The weight of his council-driven haze, compounded by their interference, threatened to fracture his resolve as the candlelight flickered, casting long shadows across the room when suddenly he throws his hands down onto the table so loud that it echos down the stone halls with a roar shocking everyone in the room into silence and turning towards Kaname.
"I need every single one of you who is not in the student council out of this classroom, we have important matters to handle and you being here is an ENDLESS distraction! GET OUT!"
Stunned even further by Kaname's reaction they scatter, even Seraphina thought it be best to give him some space as she was first to bow and leave.
Once everyone was gone and the door shut closed Kaname falls back into his seat with a big sigh and places his head into his hands and groans. "You good bro?" Ace chuckles patting him on the back.
The focus drifted back to the training grounds, where I stood with Kazuyoshi, my mind racing. He handed me a small, rune-etched stone, its surface cool against my palm. "Hold this during practice," he said. "It may help stabilize your energy." I nodded, slipping it into my pocket, the weight a strange comfort. As we continued, my shard-sense picked up a faint tremor—not from the ground, but from the academy's depths, a pulse that hinted at the cabal's movements. Kazuyoshi's gaze sharpened, as if he'd sensed it too, but he said nothing, his expression unreadable. The session stretched on, the mist thickening as the sun climbed higher, and my muscles ached with every swing, the rune stone warming slightly against my thigh. By midday, sweat plastered my hair to my neck, and my breaths came in ragged gasps. Kazuyoshi stepped back, his crimson-red eyes assessing me with a quiet intensity. "You've done well for today," he said. "Let's break for lunch. You need to replenish your strength."
I hesitated, then nodded, my stomach rumbling in agreement. We walked toward the dining hall, the mist thinning as we crossed the courtyard, the cobblestones slick under my boots. The chatter of students filled the air, a mix of laughter and complaints about the shard drainings, and I caught snippets of their exhaustion—classrooms growing colder, lights flickering. Kazuyoshi moved beside me with that silent grace, his presence drawing curious glances from passersby. Inside, the hall buzzed with activity, the scent of roasted meat and fresh bread wafting from the long tables. We found a quiet corner, and he gestured for me to sit, retrieving two trays with practiced ease. The food—warm bread, a slice of seasoned pork, and a bowl of vegetable soup—tasted better than I expected, the warmth spreading through me as I ate. Kazuyoshi ate sparingly, his movements elegant, and we spoke little, the silence comfortable yet charged with unspoken questions. I stole glances at him, his chiseled features softened by the candlelight, and a strange flutter stirred in my chest—part admiration, part unease. I pushed it down, focusing on the meal, but his crimson-red eyes met mine briefly, and the flutter intensified, confusing me.
After lunch, he insisted on walking me back to my dorm, the afternoon sun breaking through the mist as we left the hall. The campus paths were quieter now, the gravel crunching underfoot, and the air carried a faint floral scent from the gardens we passed. His cloak swayed with each step, and I found myself noticing the way his dark hair caught the light, enhancing his ethereal handsomeness. "You have potential, Yuki," he said, his voice low. "With time, you could master what stirs within you." I murmured a thanks, my mind buzzing with excitement—his guidance was opening doors I'd never imagined, and I yearned to be his friend, to learn so much more from him. Yet, as we neared my dorm, a weird sensation crept in, a pull I couldn't name, making my skin tingle. I ignored it, attributing it to fatigue, but each time the feeling surfaced, my thoughts betrayed me, drifting to Kaname—his onyx-black hair, his green eyes clouded by that council-driven haze. My mood soured, a pang of longing mixing with frustration, and I didn't understand why. Kazuyoshi stopped at my door, bowing slightly. "Rest well," he said, and with a final enigmatic smile, he turned and strode away, his cloak trailing like a shadow.
Inside, I collapsed onto my bed, the rune stone cool against my palm as I pulled it from my pocket. Excitement bubbled within me—today had been a step forward, and Kazuyoshi's mentorship felt like a lifeline. I wanted his friendship, his knowledge, the chance to unravel the mysteries of my shard-sense. But those odd feelings lingered, and each time they flickered, Kaname's face intruded, ruining my mood with a ache I couldn't place. I stared at the ceiling, the dormitory's quiet pressing in, and wondered why my heart tugged toward him despite our distance. Slowly I fell into a deep sleep.