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Chapter 9 - The first bond of blood.

Auren dug in immediately, tearing venison with quiet focus. Eiran twirled a shrimp on his form, savoring his meal with elegance that bordered on theatrical.

But then, mid bite, the kitsune stiffened. His fork froze halfway to his lips and his tails went rigid, every sense straining.

Auren had also noticed. His hand paused over the beef, his gaze flicked toward the door. That was when he felt the oppressive pressure, aura so heavy it sank into the bones of all students.

Several figures entered the hall together, their presences radiating unconcealed power. Each step they took rippled the air, Primis bent to them as their mere existence pressed down like a mountain.

Whispers erupts across the hall.

Auren's eyes narrowed. Recognition sparked inside him, not of the individuals but of their level. Their strength carried the same weight as Vorren, his elder brother.

Understanding clicked like ice fracturing,

"The Upper Class," Auren murmured under his breath.

The apex of Nexus Academy, students who were within their final academic years and have been forged into living titans. The ones who would set the pace of every battle, every competition and every legacy.

Eiran leaned closer z voice low but tinged with excitement. "Looks like the game just got interesting."

And Auren, though silent, felt it too. The striking challenge not from enemies, not from a system but from peers who carried the same hunger for supremacy.

The clammer in the cafeteria hall buzzed around Auren but he kept eating steadily. His cerulean eyes tracked every movement from the newly arrived Upper Class students.

Their presence had shifted the atmosphere entirely. Though they wore relaxed expressions, every flick of their aura pressed against the hall like a storm front hidden behind clear skies.

Eiran, sitting across from Auren with a mouth full of shrimp ignored the new presence. His onyx eyes narrowed occasionally, shifting between students as they formed their own invisible hierarchy.

The Upper Class cafeteria section was just as divided in status as theirs. As the two continued their meal, the noise around them dulled as a shadow fell across their table.

Eiran stiffened mid bite, fork hovering in the air. Slowly, he turned and his gaze locked with a pair of bright orange eyes glowing with predatory sharpness.

Auren followed his glance and studied the intruder. The guy was broad shouldered with streaks of blood red through his dark hair. A pair of rounded cat ears twitching subtly a top his head.

Jagged ram horns curled from the crown of his head and a jaguar's tail, segmented with hard carapace, swayed behind him. The hybrid nature of his bloodline was evident.

The guy's gaze carried weight, too direct and too knowing.

"Hanul," Eiran whispers, voice low and venomous.

Auren glanced at Eiran, brows knitting, "You know him?"

Eiran's lips thinned, "Yes. Auren, meet my Ex-fiancé."

Auren's fork clinked softly against his plate.

Hanul's smile sjarpene9as he leaned closer, addressing Eiran with poisonous familiarity.

"Still delicate as ever. You should have begged me to keep the engagement, fox. You wouldn't be sitting with some washed up wolf." His gaze watched Auren dismissively.

Eiran's tails bristled, six violet streams of fur puffing in fury. His hair shimmered faintly with Primis as he bared his teeth. "You annuled it because you couldn't get my heart."

"Mm. I wouldn't want a weak wife either." Hanul replied smoothly but his orange eyes burned crueler. "But perhaps.... You'll reconsider. One month. If you don't share my bed, I'll make your life here miserable. Beautiful tiys deserve discipline."

The words were casual but the venom behind them was sharp.

Auren's chair screeched back. His eyes turned glacial as the Arctic Dragon blood surged through his veins. He stood, a low growl reverberating from his chest. The or chilled, his presence crashing like winter against the room.

"Fuck off." His voice was a snarl. "If not, I will rip your throat out."

Auren was furious.

[How dare he treat someone like an object?!] It could be because Auren acknowledged Eiran as a first friend or because of his past, he hated Hanul immediately.

Hanul tilted his head lazily, unbothered by the frost crawling along the table. "Oh? The wolf has teeth."

In one swift move, Hanul shoved Auren aside with an open palm cracking either raw Primis. Auren staggered back a step, the force heavier than he expected.

The cafeteria hall gasped.

Eiran launched to his feet, illusionary smoke coiling from his tails like angry spectres. "Touch him again and you'll regret it."

Hanul's laugh was guttural, jaguar tail slamming against the floor with a thud. "Two pups barking. Amusing , Let's take this outside. Unless you're afraid to prove yourselves in a duel?"

Therion tradition was clear: Duels were binding. Victory earned authority. Defeat came with the weight of granting the winner one wish – no matter how shameful or painful.

Auren and Eiran eyed each other and agreed. They left the hall and walked to the courtyard. The students all flooded to watch the impromptu fight.

The courtyard outside the hall cleared fast, the students formed a wide circle, whispers spreading like wildfire. Teachers had already appeared at the edges, silent observers to prevent any extreme case.

Auren cracked his knuckles, eyes never leaving Hanul. Eiran stood at his side, tails lashing. Their stances were different, one cold and heavy with primal violence, the other sharp and fluid with unpredictability.

Together, they radiated something dangerous.

Hanul bared his teeth, orange Auren flaring.

The duel began.

Hanul lunged first, a blur if muscle and claws. Auren braced himself, ice spreading from his fists into a gauntlet. He met the strike head on. The impact shook the ground, Auren's feet gouging trenches into the courtyard stone.

Eiran darted sideways, smoke illusions spiraling into phantoms that clawed at Hanul's vision. Hanul snarled, sweeping his tail to shatter the illusions but Eiran was already weaving wind Primis, slicing at Hanul's flanks with invisible blades.

"Pathetic tricks!" Hanul roared, releasing a burst of speed. He vanished, reappearing behind Eiran in a flash. His clawed hand slashed down,

But Auren intercepted. Frost erupted into a wall that caught the blow. Cracks splintered across the ice, shards flying. The shockwave sent Auren stumbling back as Eiran supported his back.

"Focus, Eiran!" Auren said. His voice was calm but stained.

Eiran cooled his emotions, tails whipping and thick smoke erupted around them. Illusionary duplicates of himself flickered in the haze, each weaving different Primis.

Auren charged at Hanul his flames searing him whenever they touched his skin. Hanul snarled, claws shredding through the mirages only to be struck from behind by a blast of flame.

He stumbled, growling as light burns covered his skin. The fight spiraled into a brutal rhythm.

Hanul overwhelming Auren and Eiran with efficient ferocity. Auren anchoring the defense and offense with sheer resilience. Eiran was mainly offense, weaving illusions and wind blades to chop away at any openings.

Every strike left blood and bruises. Every dodge was razor thin. Finally, Hanul roared and charged with full force no longer holding back. Auren and Eiran moved as one.

"Now!" Auren's roar filled the courtyard. This is what they had been waiting for.

Eiran's tails flared, the illusions that seemed intangible because spacial binding Primis. Hanul's legs and hands were caught making him falger for half a heartbeat before he tore through them. But that was enough time.

Auren surged forward, claws wrapped in icy Primis and slammed his fist into Hanul's gut. Eiran's claws were covered in spacial Primis as he slammed his fist into Hanul's liver with an accurate liver shot.

Hanul hit the stone hard as blood dripped from his mouth. Eiran's blow disoriented him. He tried to stand but staggered and fell to his knee.

The courtyard erupted in shouts, half in shock, half in awe. The teacher on duty shelled forward, voice ringing clear.

"Hanul, defeated. The duel's outcome is binding."

Hanul's glare burned holes through them but Therion law could not be broken. A parchment was brought and under the teacher's supervision, Hanul signed the document swearing not to seek revenge or use others to do so unless, Auren and Eiran accepted another duel.

Only then we're they released, Hanul walked away and Eiran and Auren, battered and bloodied, went to the medical ward.

Lying side by side on the healing pods, their bodies glowing faintly with medicinal Primis, the silence between them broke into quiet laughter.

"Your illusions saved us," Auren admitted, his voice hoarse but steady.

Eiran grinned weakly, tails limp. "And your fists made sure we didn't die."

Silence fell once more before Eiran spoke, "I'm sorry for dragging you into that fight. Thank you for your help."

Auren stayed silent but then he responded, "You said I'm worthy to be your friend. Same to you."

At first Eiran didn't get it but when he did he burst out into laughter. It seems this is how they become each other's friend.

For the first time, their gazes met not as strangers, rivals or classmates but as friends who's bond was tied by the act of trust and as allies who had bled together.

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