Kael stirred awake, the faint smell of medicine and the soft hum of machinery filling his nose and ears. His eyes blinked open to the glow of a single light overhead. It took him a moment to remember where he was. The last thing he recalled was dust, the beast's roar, the dagger in his hand, and then—nothing.
When his vision cleared, he realized he was lying on a narrow medical bed, white sheets pulled over him, his chest still sore from the impact of the beast's attack. Beside him stood Jorin, arms folded, his towering frame casting a long shadow across the room. The teacher's expression was unreadable, but his eyes had not left Kael for even a second.
"You're awake," Jorin said at last, his voice low, steady, but edged with something Kael had never heard before—concern.
Kael tried to sit up, but the ache in his body forced him back down. Jorin lifted a hand.
"Don't speak. Just listen."
The weight in the teacher's words froze Kael where he lay. He swallowed hard, nodding faintly.
"I saw you," Jorin continued. "What you did in that cave. How did you do it? That power. That blade."
Kael's mind reeled. Flashes of the moment returned—his mark burning against his arm, the strange surge of strength, the shadowed dagger that had appeared in his hand. But he had no answer, no explanation.
"I… I don't know," Kael whispered.
Jorin leaned closer, his expression sharp. "Then listen carefully. You can never tell anyone. No one. Do you understand? You cannot speak of that fight, or that you struck the final blow. To the others, I killed it. You did nothing. That is the truth we will live by."
Kael blinked, stunned. "But… why?"
"Because that was no ordinary beast," Jorin said, his voice heavy. He reached into the satchel at his side and set a jagged crystal core on the table. It pulsed faintly, earthy veins of power running through it. Kael felt the energy even from where he lay—it almost hummed against his skin.
"That," Jorin said, "is a Type 3 core."
The words meant little to Kael. He frowned. "What's a Type 3?"
Jorin's jaw tightened. He paced once, as though considering how much to say. Finally, he turned back.
"Beasts are ranked not only by their size or ferocity, but by their abilities. A Type 3 beast can wield elemental powers—earth, fire, water, lightning. Some are weak, others… terrifying. Normally, it takes a full team of trained fighters to bring one down. Even the weaker Type 3s can overwhelm a squad. And yet…" He looked directly into Kael's eyes. "You killed it. Alone."
Kael's chest tightened. His lips parted, but no words came. He hadn't felt strong. He hadn't even known what he was doing. The dagger had appeared, the strike had landed, and then darkness had taken him.
Jorin placed a hand on the table, the wood creaking under his strength. "No one must know. If the academy learns, they'll tear you apart with tests, experiments. If the Houses hear… they'll fight to claim you. Do you understand now?"
Kael nodded slowly, though confusion still clouded his mind. "So… what happens now?"
For the first time since Kael had woken, Jorin's stern expression softened. He reached into his satchel again and pulled out the faintly glowing core. He held it out, the crystal gleaming faintly in his palm.
"This," Jorin said, "is yours. You earned it. But more importantly—tomorrow, we begin training. In secret. Only with me."
Kael's eyes widened. Training. With Jorin. The thought both terrified and thrilled him.
Before he could respond, the door to the infirmary creaked open. Jorin tensed instantly, his eyes narrowing.
Standing in the doorway was Feyla. Her normally bright eyes were red, streaked with tears. She froze when she saw Kael sitting upright. For a heartbeat, her chest rose and fell in silence, and then she let out a shaky breath.
"Kael…" she whispered.
Her legs carried her forward before Kael could speak. She stumbled past Jorin and dropped to the bedside, her hands clutching at the sheets as though she needed to prove he was real. Her tears fell onto his arm.
"I thought you were gone," she said, voice breaking. "I thought you were dead. I came here just to… to say goodbye."
Kael, still weak, managed the smallest of smiles. His chest ached as he forced the words out.
"I'm here again."
Something in his tone made Feyla's lips tremble. She lunged forward and wrapped her arms around him, hugging him so tightly his ribs screamed. But Kael didn't mind. He let out a soft chuckle, awkward but warm, and slowly raised a hand to return the hug.
Jorin turned away, his arms folding once more, though Kael thought he saw something flicker across the teacher's face—something almost like approval.
For a moment, the room was quiet. Just the sound of Feyla's soft sobs and Kael's steady breathing filled the air. The chaos of the cave, the beast, the danger—it all seemed distant now. Yet in Kael's heart, the memory of the dagger, the glow of his mark, and Nathan's voice still burned.