Everyone remained silent. The only sound that filled the chamber was Chast's quiet sobs and his broken whispers calling for his "mom," his body slumped against Professor Valkiery.
The chamber dimmed. The shattered glass slowly dissolved into glowing dust, faint as fireflies spiraling through the still air.
Then soft sniffles joined Chast's sobs.
The professors turned toward Zayn, who finally seemed to come back to reality.
His expression was unreadable.
Rage?
Guilt?
Despair?
Agony?
No one could tell what was running through his mind —but they all knew Zayn was shattered inside.
"She died, and I wasn't there for her," he murmured under his breath. His voice trembled, raw and hoarse. His breathing was uneven, sharp.
He stared at his bleeding hands, shaking uncontrollably. "I couldn't stop it." The tears he'd been holding back finally broke free.
For the first time since the war, he let out the emotions he had been suppressing all these years.
"She died because I couldn't protect her!" His voice thundered through the chamber, and the ground began to tremble violently, sharing Zayn's grief.
Tears welled in the professors' eyes.
"Oh, Zayn," Professor Valkiery whispered, hugging Chast tighter.
"It wasn't your fault, Zayn. It's never been your fault," Professor Morrwynn said softly, her voice warm and comforting. She wiped her tears and knelt beside him, wrapping her arms around him.
"You were out there protecting Benguet. Nobody expected that to happen," Professor Vrynth added, his tone low but steady, his gaze full of empathy.
"I... I should've been there for her," Zayn mumbled between sobs. "Nobody protected her." He clenched his fists. The memory of Chastlyn's death still lingered — vivid, unrelenting — carved deep into his mind.
"You did protect her! You were fighting to protect her — and Labrynthia!" Professor Vrynth snapped, firm but resolute. Zayn needed to wake up; none of this was his fault.
Professor Morrwynn rubbed his back gently. "You all need to rest," she said softly, glancing at Chast, who had quieted but no longer leaned against Valkiery. His head hung low, his face hidden. "We'll continue the training another day."
They couldn't go on like this — not in their state. Pain and rage filled the air.
Zayn lifted his gaze, his eyes swollen and red. He nodded slowly. Together, they stood and turned toward Chast.
"Let's go, Chast," Professor Professor Valkiery murmured, tapping his shoulder.
But Chast didn't move.
Instead, he laughed — a chilling sound that echoed like thunder.
He straightened his back and lifted his head. His eyes glowed raven-black, and spheres of energy spun around his hands. Onyx mist loomed around him, crackling with electric sparks.
It wasn't Chast anymore.
It wasn't him.
It was as if something dark within him had awakened.
The professors gasped, terror flashing across their faces. They could feel the immense power radiating from him — wild, uncontrollable. They stood side by side, readying themselves for whatever might come next.
Zayn's jaw tightened. He straightened and clenched his fists.
"Chast," Zayn called out, stepping closer.
Chast didn't respond. His mind was somewhere else.
"Chast!" Zayn barked, sharper this time.
Chast remained silent. His eyes flickered, the black mist darkening, a violent wind whipping through the chamber.
The scene shifted — and suddenly, they were back above the stream where the Enigmatics were training.
Their sudden appearance struck the students like lightning. Everyone froze, eyes wide.
Chast's presence commanded the air. The students stepped back instinctively, fear widening their eyes.
Chast burst into a terrifying laugh as the world trembled. The stream surged into towering waves like a rising tsunami. Monoliths cracked. The bright sky darkened beneath rolling thunder and flashing lightning.
The girls screamed. The boys braced for battle.
"Chast!" Luke shouted, panic in his voice.
Chast turned toward him, smirking. He raised his hand, a glowing sphere forming and aimed straight at Luke.
"Enough, kid!" Zayn roared, teleporting in front of him.
Zayn's eyes ignited — abyssal and fierce — as obsidian and sapphire light coiled around him. Bolts of lightning crackled across his body, merging with his aura.
Their gazes locked, sparks swirling in the air between them.
"They're not going to kill each other, right?" Professor Vrynth muttered, unable to look away.
"This can't be happening. We have to stop them," Professor Valkiery said, shaking, clutching her robe.
Professor Morrwynn pressed her palm to the air, whispering an incantation. "We need the Empyreals — now!"
"First, get the students out!" Vrynth commanded, motioning to them.
The students gasped as their forms began to fade, vanishing one by one.
Moments later, the Empyreals arrived. They stopped short, stunned by the sight before them.
"What's going on here?" Jacob Benguet demanded.
The three professors exchanged grim looks.
"Chast awakened his magic," Professor Morrwynn replied simply, summoning a mirror.
The High Celestials stared in awe.
Finally. They had waited for this — but not so soon.
"How?" Xian Stormveil asked, grinning.
"The mirror will answer that," Professor Valkiery said, pointing toward it.
While the Empyreals watched, the three professors turned back to Chast and Zayn.
"That's enough, kid!" Zayn commanded.
Chast groaned in pain, gripping his hair.
"I... I can't!" he gasped. His body refused to move — the power flooding out of him was too much. Each spark tore through his veins like fire.
"Yes, you can!" Zayn barked.
Chast closed his eyes, forcing his body to obey.
"You're not doing it right! Remember your training — focus, listen, feel it!" Zayn's voice struck like thunder.
Chast inhaled deeply. Come on... listen to me, he thought.
But the magic raged on. The waves grew, the sky darkened, lightning fell like rain.
"Do it again!" Zayn shouted.
Ugh! He shut his eyes tighter. Focus... listen... feel your magic...
Breathe in...
Breathe out...
"Chast!" A voice echoed within.
It was him! His double.
"Focus, Chast."
"Where are you?" he asked.
"I'm here — inside you," the voice answered calmly. "I know you're in pain. We're in pain. But that pain made us stronger."
Chast smiled bitterly. "It's incurable."
"But it made you stronger. Because of that pain, you synchronized with your magic. You awakened it."
"It doesn't matter. I'm still in pain!"
"Look at the bright side, Chast. You forgot — your mother is alive."
The words struck him like lightning.
He had been drowning in despair... and he forgot.
His mother was still alive.
His eyes brightened. The tension drained from his body. Grief melted into relief.
"You're right! Mom's alive!" he said, smiling.
"Yes," the voice chuckled. "Now accept your pain — and let it go."
Chast nodded, still smiling.
"I won't always be here for you, but remember — I am you. I'll always be inside you. Only you can understand yourself. Only you can trust yourself. Trust your magic... because it already trusts you."
"It's only me... and my magic," Chast whispered softly, peace returning to his voice. His swollen eyes brightened with calm.
He felt light and his sorrow gone, his tension erased.
When he opened his eyes, the world was still. The sky cleared, the air glowed. His magic had settled inside him and no longer wild, but one with him.
His gaze met Zayn's. He grinned.
"Boss!" Chast jumped forward and hugged him tightly.
Zayn froze for a moment then chuckled and returned the embrace.
AUTHORS'S NOTE:
"Only through sorrow does the soul remember its name.
When grief burns the heart to ash, magic awakens from the embers."
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