Kaen's POV

It had been a month since that day.

The city still bore its scars cracked walls, burned streets, memories that refused to fade. But life had returned. Students crowded the hallways again, laughter spilled across the courtyards, and yet… the whispers of that battle, our battle still lingered like ghostly echoes.

I stopped before the new monument.

The statue of him.

Khael, the Dragon Knight.

The sculptor had captured him mid-strike blade raised, wings unfurled, a storm frozen in stone. Just looking at it made my chest tighten.

"They made him a hero," I muttered, staring up at the cold marble face. "Hell, he was a hero. If it weren't for him, so many would've…"

I didn't finish. No one needed me to. Everyone already knew.

Of course, Shigeo, Saya, and the rest of us had statues too smaller ones placed off to the side, like background figures in someone else's story. My lips twisted into a bitter grin.

"Figures."

I stepped closer, pressing my fist against Khael's marble chest. My voice came out rough, stubborn, burning with fire that refused to die.

"Soon, I'll be standing there with you. Not behind you. Beside you. We'll be equals."

A scoff sliced through the air.

"What a loser."

I froze, my jaw clenching. That voice sharp, mocking, far too calm to ignore.

Turning, I saw him.

Rael Eluron.

His smirk was the same, but his presence… wasn't. His aura cut sharper than before, like a blade freshly reforged in fire. His very Shinrei seemed alive beneath his skin, coiled and ready.

"Rael, you bastard!" I shouted, fists balling.

He only shrugged, silver eyes gleaming with smug confidence I hated.

"How will you ever stand beside him when you can't even surpass me?"

His words struck deeper than any punch. I clicked my tongue, glaring, heat rising in my chest.

"What did you just say?!"

Every part of me wanted to lunge at him, to smash that arrogance off his face. But deep down, I knew. This wasn't the same Rael I had fought before. His strength was leagues beyond mine now.

Tsk… I hate to admit it, but he's stronger than me. Much stronger.

Still, I forced a grin through gritted teeth.

"Fine. Then I'll surpass you too."

For a moment, his smirk faded. His expression hardened, eyes narrowing like steel, serious, and cold.

"We'll see, Kaen. We'll see."

And then, he vanished.

I stood there, blinking at the empty space he left behind.

Weird… That guy's usually all arrogance and smug smiles. Suddenly serious? What's his deal?

Not that it mattered. I shook it off.

Master told me to relax today… whatever that means. I don't even know how to "relax." Feels like a waste of time.

I wandered down the hallway, looking for something anything to distract me. That's when I spotted a familiar trio up ahead.

Saya Kurenai, her blonde hair tied in a neat braid that shimmered in the light. Her Affinity: Bloom, though hers leaned darker, always skirting that unsettling Blight variant. Sharp eyes. Sharper tongue.

Beside her, Kenji Gas. Curly wolf-cut hair, easy swagger, like trouble followed him around just because it liked him.

And finally, Shigeo Motome. Hands stuffed into his pockets, wearing that same look he always had half-bored, half-calculating, like he was already three steps ahead of everyone else.

Saya noticed me first. She lifted a hand and waved.

"Kaen!"

I raised a brow. "Saya… what are you three doing here?"

Her lips curled into a mischievous grin. She glanced sideways at Shigeo, like she was about to expose some secret of his.

"Hehehe."

Shigeo muttered under his breath, voice low and distracted. "…What a complicated world…"

Saya crossed her arms, smirking. "We got errands from our sensei…"

Kenji scratched the back of his neck, then cut in with that usual careless grin. "Well… also, don't forget about the—"

Saya snapped her fingers. "Right! We're also heading to another mission."

I blinked, confused. "Mission?"

Kenji grinned wider, slinging an arm around Shigeo's shoulders, dragging him in like they were lifelong buddies.

"Yeah. This guy right here wants to get stronger than before, after everything that happened."

Saya giggled, tilting her head at Shigeo. "He doesn't want Khael to carry all the weight on his own anymore."

Shigeo's eyes narrowed, irritation flashing across his face. A faint red streak of embarrassment burned his cheek. He shoved Kenji's arm off roughly.

"Shut up. When did I ever say that?"

But even as he denied it, I caught the truth buried in his gaze.

Heh… so even you feel it too, Shigeo. The weight of being left behind.

For a moment, silence settled between us. The halls felt emptier than they should like something vital had been torn away and never returned.

I clenched my fist tight.

"Now that we're talking about Khael… I really miss him. Damn it, I wonder what he's doing right now…"

The image of his dragon form filled my mind burning wings, stormfire eyes, a force that shook the heavens themselves.

What's he doing right now…? How much stronger is he getting while we're still stuck here?

Saya's voice broke through, softer than usual, though she still wore her teasing grin.

"You're right. I bet he's become much stronger than before."

Kenji nodded, cracking his knuckles, his grin cocky but determined.

"Damn right. That idiot's probably gonna come back and look down on us if we don't keep up."

I turned toward Shigeo. He'd gone quiet too quiet. His lips pressed into a thin line, eyes distant, like he was staring past us into some far-off battle only he could see.

Shigeo Motome…

For the first time, I realized he wasn't just hiding behind that lazy genius mask. His silence screamed louder than words.

Saya nudged him with her elbow.

"What? Cat got your tongue, genius?"

Shigeo finally exhaled, voice low, reluctant.

"…What a complicated world."

But his eyes betrayed him. Beneath that tired tone, I caught it, that same fire burning inside me.

He's just like me. He cares about Khael too. He knows we can't let him shoulder everything. We both know… we have to get stronger than before.

And in that moment, the air between us shifted. No words were spoken, but a quiet pact formed in the silence.

To be continue

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