The Academy's training yard had emptied, leaving the late afternoon sun to cast long shadows across the stone floor. Most students had returned to classes or the dorms, but Ren stayed behind, gripping his staff, heart still racing from the day's drills. The warmth beneath his skin pulsed faintly, restless.
Lucien was already there, leaning casually against the rail, shadows coiling at his boots, eyes storm-gray and calculating. Public Lucien: calm, perfect, untouchable. Private Lucien: tethered to Ren's pulse, the thread he couldn't resist.
"You shouldn't push this alone," Lucien said quietly, voice low enough that only Ren could hear. "I'll help you focus, but you need discipline. The pulse… it can overwhelm if untethered."
Ren smirked, brushing a strand of hair from his eyes. "You always hovering, huh?"
"Observation is tactical," Lucien replied, corner of his mouth twitching faintly. "And I am beside you for a reason."
Selene Marlowe and Kael Ardent lingered near the far edge of the yard, watching the pair with barely concealed interest. Selene leaned against the rail, silver hair catching the fading sunlight, eyes fixed on Lucien. Kael offered casual smiles, pretending to adjust shadows for practice, but his gaze never strayed from Lucien.
Ren noticed. And that little spike of awareness in his chest—jealousy? admiration? something else entirely—made his pulse beat faster. He clenched his hands on his staff, forcing the warmth beneath his skin to stabilize.
I can't let him see… not now. Not ever.
Lucien moved beside him, shadows coiling protectively. "Focus on channeling, not pushing," he said. "The pulse responds to intent. Let it flow naturally."
Ren exhaled sharply, letting the warmth thread outward, guided by shadows. He felt it: the strain, the pull, the tiny ache building in his chest. With Lucien there, guiding, tethering, it was almost… enjoyable. Dangerous, yes, but almost intoxicating.
"Good," Lucien murmured. "Now, let's push a little further."
Ren's lips curved faintly. "Always with the lessons, huh? You'd make a terrible teacher in a normal school."
Lucien's storm-gray eyes flicked to him, the corners of his mouth twitching faintly. "I deal in reality, not normality," he said softly, shadows twitching lightly at his boots.
The session continued, pulse and shadows weaving together, training Ren to stabilize and direct his healing energy even under extreme focus. Sweat pricked his brow, muscles ached, but he felt it—the thrill of control, the bond, the quiet tension threading between them.
Occasionally, Ren's gaze flicked to Selene and Kael. Selene had begun leaning forward, whispering comments meant for Lucien's ears. Kael approached with feigned casualness, offering tips and helping set up energy simulations. Both clearly interested, both oblivious to the private bond forming before their eyes.
Ren's chest tightened. He felt something simmering inside him—protective, possessive, tinged with jealousy. But he kept it hidden, throwing teasing comments toward Lucien when the other students weren't watching.
"So…" Ren said quietly, pulse steadying. "Do I get bonus points for surviving your endless shadow lessons, or is that just… implied?"
Lucien's lips twitched faintly. "Implied," he said, and the shadows around them pulsed lightly in response to Ren's energy.
Ren swallowed, chest tight, forcing a casual air over the fluttering warmth beneath his skin. I can't let him see how much this matters… not yet.
By the end of the private session, Ren's hands ached, chest still warm from exertion, pulse thundering faintly. Lucien stepped closer, shadows receding just enough for him to breathe, voice low:
"You improved control today. Fewer fluctuations, better precision. Few could manage the pulse under distraction."
Ren smirked, teasing edge slipping into his voice. "I had… excellent guidance."
Lucien's storm-gray eyes lingered, corners of his mouth twitching faintly, shadows responding to Ren's energy. Public Lucien, calm and polished. Private Lucien… everything Ren wanted and needed.
Above, the Rift pulsed faintly, jagged and hungry. Xylos' shadow lingered beyond the horizon.
Selene and Kael were still at the yard's edge, whispering and casting glances, unaware that the bond they were trying to disrupt was already forming—and already strong.
Ren exhaled slowly, chest tight, pulse steady. He would hide it from Lucien. He had to.
But the heat of it—the awareness, the jealousy, the bond—was already there.
And it would not be so easy to hide for long.