Eryndor was still catching his breath when Kael stepped closer, his gaze steady. "You have questions," Kael began, voice low but firm. "About why I tested you in that alley, why I pushed you to the edge against Dorian, why your Ember Tier has been treated differently than other students."
Eryndor's heart tightened. "Yes… why me? Why all of it?"
Kael's lips pressed into a thin line. "Because you are not ordinary. The flow of your martial instincts, your ability to integrate elemental power, and the way you adapt… it is rare. I needed to see it for myself, under conditions where failure could break you—or awaken you."
Before Eryndor could respond, the courtyard's shadows shifted. A tall figure emerged from the edge of the arena, calm, poised, and radiating an unmistakable presence. Dorian Veynhart, the previous first-rank, stepped forward.
"You've survived much," Dorian said, his voice carrying across the empty arena. His gaze fixed on Eryndor, but his tone softened, almost personal. "Kael told me everything. About you, your Ember Tier, and… about her."
Eryndor froze. "Her?"
Dorian's eyes darkened with something unreadable. "Lyanna. My sister."
The words hit Eryndor like a lightning strike. He had known Lyanna as his companion, someone close, but he had never suspected…
Dorian continued, voice steady, almost reverent. "She speaks of you often. Times I would have never imagined. She trusts you, fights beside you, and—though she hides it—she worries for you more than anyone else. That is why she matters to me. That is why I came."
Eryndor's chest tightened. His mind raced, connecting threads he hadn't even considered. Lyanna had always been more than a friend—but Dorian's presence, calm yet commanding, made everything feel suddenly fragile, dangerous, and full of unknown stakes.
Kael stepped aside slightly, his expression unreadable. "This is the truth you needed to face. The trials, the trance, the battles… all led to this point. Choices you make now will ripple farther than you realize."
Dorian's gaze sharpened. "And there are truths you don't yet understand. Secrets about your Ember Tier, your martial potential… and about the ties between you, Lyanna, and the Veynhart line. She has always spoken of you with… a fondness you may not yet recognize. But recognize it you will, eventually."
Eryndor's pulse raced. The wind stirred around him, faint sparks of lightning teasing his fingers. The courtyard, the academy, the top ten—everything suddenly seemed like the surface of a much deeper, far more dangerous ocean.
Kael's voice cut through the tension. "Eryndor, prepare yourself. The next step isn't just about mastery. It's about understanding what—or who—you are really fighting for."
Dorian took a step closer, the faintest smile tugging at his lips. "And one more thing…"
Eryndor's stomach dropped. The wind swirled more violently, the energy around him crackling in anticipation.
"You're not ready to meet her full truth. But soon… you will."
A hush fell over the courtyard. The air seemed to thrum with unspoken power, secrets waiting to be revealed, and the tension of the unknown.
And then… everything went still.