Vale lay flat on his back, staring up at the endless blue sky above him.
Blood streamed freely down his face, soaking into the snow beneath him until the white ground around his head had turned a deep, uneven crimson. His chest rose and fell in ragged, uneven breaths, every inhale burning as though his lungs themselves were bruised. For a few moments, he was utterly detached from everything else, the crowd, the forest, even the pain.
There was only the sky.
Eventually, a small smile tugged weakly at his lips.
With a groan, Vale shifted, rolling slightly before forcing himself upright. He sat there unsteadily, barely managing to hold himself up, his arms trembling from exhaustion. His gaze drifted forward and landed on Eskar.
Eskar was still standing, or rather, still frozen in place, with one leg raised, a wide, feral grin stretched across his bloodied face. His posture looked triumphant, almost defiant, despite the state he was in.
The two of them locked eyes.
Neither spoke.
They were both far too exhausted.
Several silent seconds passed, heavy and unbroken, before Eskar's raised leg finally wavered. He lowered it slowly, his body swaying as his breathing turned shallow and uneven. He opened his mouth, eyes barely managing to stay open.
"That was…" he said, pausing to suck in a messy breath, "…a good match."
The words barely left his mouth before his eyes rolled shut.
Eskar collapsed backward into the snow, his battered body hitting the ground with a dull thud, blood staining the white beneath him as he lay completely still.
Unconscious.
Vale blinked, momentarily surprised despite his exhaustion. He stared at Eskar's unmoving form for several seconds, confirming what he already suspected.
Then he slowly turned his head toward the crowd.
His gaze landed on Callum.
Vale drew in another shaky breath, spat fresh blood into the snow, and spoke—his voice hoarse, but loud enough to carry.
"Is anyone gonna help him?"
Callum paused, then smiled awkwardly and scratched the back of his head. "Yeah… I guess we should help both of you, huh?"
Vale huffed faintly.
He turned his attention to Chimera.
The massive wolf lay nearby, watching him with calm, curious eyes, having never once interfered. Vale stared at her for a moment, then scoffed weakly.
"Thanks for the help," he said dryly, before spitting out another mouthful of blood.
Chimera tilted her head.
Then she leaned closer.
As she did, the snow beneath Vale began to glow faintly. A gentle warmth spread through the ground, seeping into his body. Vale felt it immediately, his jaw, his hands, his battered muscles slowly knitting themselves back together.
A sharp pain flared in his jaw as it healed, forcing him to hiss.
Yeah… that explains it.
He cautiously touched his jaw, fingers brushing over it as he tested for damage. It felt solid. Whole.
How did my jaw not break?
Vale exhaled and turned back toward Chimera as the warmth faded and his wounds fully closed.
"Thanks," he said sincerely.
Chimera loomed over him for a moment, her massive form casting a deep shadow across the snow. Then she turned away.
As she rose, the ground trembled beneath her sheer size. Each step she took shook the earth slightly, her enormous frame moving with effortless power.
Vale watched her go, wide-eyed.
Now that she was fully healed, her size was even more staggering. By his estimation, she must have been nearly two hundred and fifty meters long, her height easily reaching eighty meters, perfect proportions for a wolven form, even if she wasn't a true wolf.
A perfect one, he thought.
Vale let out a deep sigh and closed his eyes briefly.
When he opened them again, he scooped up a handful of snow and pressed it into his mouth, letting it melt slowly. He spat it out, along with the last of the blood clinging to his tongue, then grabbed more snow and wiped the dried blood from his face.
Callum laughed as he approached, the others still staring in awe at Chimera's retreating form.
"You sure have a unique way of cleaning yourself," Callum said.
Vale gave him a faint smile. "Yeah. I guess you could say that."
Vale reached out, and Callum grabbed his hand, pulling him to his feet. Vale wobbled slightly but stayed upright.
Callum raised an eyebrow suddenly. "Oh, right. Vale."
Vale tilted his head. "Yeah?"
"We haven't told you yet," Callum said, "but going forward, you'll have some people joining you during combat lessons."
Vale frowned. "Why? I thought I was supposed to get private lessons."
Callum laughed awkwardly. "That was the plan. But some students, like you, are way ahead of their class. It'll be better for everyone if you train with people closer to your age and skill level."
Vale's eyes widened slightly.
Then he closed them and sighed.
"That's cool, I guess," he said.
His gaze drifted back toward Eskar, still unconscious in the snow. His expression tightened slightly.
"Oh my," a voice suddenly said behind him.
Vale stiffened and turned toward the sound.
Vale turned toward the voice, and his eyes widened slightly in surprise.
A man clad in simple monk's robes was walking toward him with effortless, almost unreal grace. Each step he took across the snow seemed deliberate, measured, and impossibly light. The snow itself appeared to part beneath his feet, untouched, as though it recognized him and chose not to resist.
Vale felt a familiar warmth spread through his chest.
A soft grin tugged at his lips.
"Samuel," he murmured under his breath.
Brother Samuel approached calmly, his posture relaxed, his eyes closed, a gentle smile resting on his face. In his hands, he carried three ravens, their dark feathers stark against the white snow. Ember stirred at Vale's side, ears flicking as she recognized them, her curiosity immediately piqued.
Samuel paused briefly beside Eskar's unconscious form. His smile faded just a fraction as he turned his head toward the boy, studying him in silence. There was no judgment in his expression, only understanding.
Then Samuel turned back to Vale.
Vale's grin faltered.
As Samuel drew closer, a flicker of nervousness crept in. Something about the man's presence, his quiet authority, his impossible calm, made Vale feel like he was being seen far more deeply than he was comfortable with.
Without a word, Samuel gently handed the ravens to Vale.
Vale took them carefully into his arms. The birds shifted slightly, settling against him. Ember leaned closer, sniffing them curiously, clearly pleased to see them again.
Samuel remained silent for several seconds.
Then he spoke.
"I see you resolved his conflict," Samuel said softly.
Vale blinked.
Samuel inclined his head slightly. "For that, I must thank you."
With those words, he turned and began walking toward Eskar.
Vale stiffened.
He pivoted sharply, boldness overtaking hesitation. "Where will you take him?"
Samuel paused mid-step.
He turned his head just enough for one eye to open, revealing a deep crimson gaze that seemed to glow faintly against the snowy backdrop.
"To my temple," he replied calmly.
His eyes shifted back toward Eskar. "This child has lived a difficult life. I do not intend to make it any harder."
Before Vale could respond, Samuel bent down and effortlessly lifted Eskar, slinging the unconscious boy over his shoulder as though he weighed nothing.
A bright blue portal flared into existence before them, its surface rippling with energy.
Vale's eyes widened.
So… he really is leaving again.
Vale looked at Eskar one last time, watching his limp form resting against Samuel's shoulder.
"Hey, Brother Samuel!" Vale called out.
Samuel stopped and turned his head.
Vale hesitated, the words catching in his throat. Several seconds passed before he finally spoke.
"Take good care of Eskar, will you?"
Samuel's expression softened.
He smiled, small, but sincere.
Then he stepped forward.
The portal swallowed both of them whole, collapsing instantly behind them, leaving nothing but disturbed snow and silence in its wake.
Vale exhaled slowly.
He turned back toward the others.
Several people had already left, Cleo, Fe, and Tharion among them. The clearing felt emptier now, quieter, as though the forest itself was settling after the violence.
Vale sighed and drew in a deep breath.
"Wanna go?" he asked.
Callum chuckled lightly. "Of course."
They walked together through the thick snow toward the remaining group. After a short while, they reached them, and Evelyn turned as she noticed their approach.
Vale opened his mouth, then closed it again.
He raised a hand to his chin, thinking.
Evelyn frowned, confused, and glanced at Callum. She pointed at Vale with her thumb, silently asking a question.
Callum shrugged. "I don't know."
Vale chuckled softly.
Evelyn sighed. "Spit it out, Vale."
Vale straightened. "Miss Evelyn," he said, "I'll be getting new combat partners, right?"
Evelyn blinked, momentarily confused by how he knew that, then nodded. "Yes."
Vale inhaled. "When will I meet them?"
Evelyn paused.
Her eyes flicked downward to the wrist pad on her arm.
Then they widened.
"Oh no."
She stiffened. "Shit."
She stared at the display, panic creeping across her face. Slowly, she looked back at Vale, forcing an awkward, nervous smile.
"We… were supposed to welcome them," she said carefully.
She swallowed.
"Four hours ago."