[4/5]
Kaela’s chest rose and fell in heavy heaves, each breath drawing from her the last remnants of her stamina. She had taken out two opponents—cleanly, without harming them too much—but it had cost her. Her body scread in exhaustion, her limbs trembling under the weight of effort.
She needed a mont. Just a second to catch her breath.
But she wasn’t going to get it.
Another first-year student had been watching the battle from the sidelines. A girl, lithe and sharp-eyed, who had waited for an opportunity to strike. And now, seeing Kaela falter, she launched forward—eyes fierce, grip tight around a gleaming tal staff.
The staff sliced through the air with deadly precision, aid directly at Kaela’s face.
Normally, Kaela would have dodged. She was fast, sharper than most. But not this ti. With exhaustion dulling her reflexes, all she could do was throw her arms up in a weak guard.
The staff connected with a sickening crack. The force flung her backward, her body twisting midair before crashing hard onto her back.
She didn’t move.
Kaela had been knocked out.
Lloyd ground his teeth. Kairos clenched his fists. Both rose from their seats in an instant, eyes wide with panic as they rushed toward the fallen girl.
Lloyd reached the ring first, his position in the stands giving him a head start. Without hesitation, he stepped onto the field—uncalled, unauthorized, but not caring in the slightest.
Spectators turned, murmuring in confusion. Whispers swept across the platform.
Who was this man?
The announcer moved swiftly to intercept, his figure blocking Lloyd’s path. With one hand, he reached out toward the hovering orb, ready to deactivate it, though it still glowed faintly.
"You are not allowed here!" the announcer barked, planting himself in front of Lloyd.
Lloyd’s jaw tightened. "She’s my student. Let get to her!" he growled, trying to shove past.
But the announcer stood firm, stepping side to side, always in Lloyd’s way. And then—
Footsteps.
Soone darted past them, too quick to stop.
Kairos.
He sprinted across the field, ignoring the rules, the whispers, the announcer—everything. His only focus was Kaela.
So nearby guards began to move, ready to restrain him. But Lloyd raised a hand. In a flash, they paused, frozen by an unspoken recognition of authority. The announcer hesitated, confusion dawning in his eyes. He had made a mistake.
Kairos knelt beside Kaela. Her body trembled. Her hands, held to her chest, were sizzling—smoke rising off her skin.
"Sorry... I’m sorry," Kaela whispered, voice cracking. She turned her face away, ashad.
Kairos stared, the sight of her pain twisting sothing deep inside him. His expression hardened, and he rose to his feet, fury boiling beneath the surface. His integration flickered into life—power thrumming through his veins as he turned toward the girl who had struck Kaela.
The attacker had already been disqualified by another fighter. She was walking away, smug and unbothered.
Kairos took a step forward—
Clamp!
A firm grip caught his shoulder.
"Take Kaela and go to the Infirmary. Care for her first."
Lloyd’s voice was low but commanding, spoken just loud enough for Kairos to hear.
Kairos hesitated. Rage battled with reason. He wanted to make the girl suffer, to put her through the sa sha and agony Kaela had endured. But Lloyd was right.
He turned back to Kaela. She was still whimpering, still in pain.
"I’ll help you. Co..." Lloyd said gently, lifting her and easing her onto Kairos’ back.
With Kaela secure, Kairos sprinted from the stadium, urgency propelling every step.
He burst into a wide hall, scanning for the next door. A few guards pointed the way, and he dashed past them, racing through the corridors of the military base. His breaths were steady, pace unrelenting.
Not once did he speak.
His only thought was to get Kaela to safety.
Then, finally, she broke the silence.
"I’m sorry... but I was trying to get rid of my weakness."
Kairos clenched his jaw.
"You were only trying to kill yourself," he replied, his voice sharp, nearly trembling with restraint. "What would’ve happened if you’d gotten badly injured? Think before you act. All you were doing there was facing your fears—not your weakness."
Kaela dug her face deeper against his back. He could feel her trembling, and he knew tears were welling up behind her silence.
This was awkward.
He had never known girls cried over things like this.
’Am I being too harsh?’ he thought.
"But you did well... taking down those students," he added softly. "I could’ve sworn you would’ve won."
No response.
"It’s not like I want to scold you. Just... don’t do anything that stupid again. We all care about you."
Still, no reply.
He sighed. They were alone now—far from the prying eyes of the stadium, the guards, the crowd. And with the quiet ca an opportunity.
"Do you know anything about the history of your darkness ability? Or about mine?"
Silence.
Nothing.
Kairos frowned, irritated. "Seriously! What the hell... What happened to your voice box?!"
He shook her slightly, just enough to get her attention, then turned to look into her eyes when—
She was asleep.
Not just that. Her wounds had already healed.
His eyes narrowed. ’Is this another effect of being attacked with a core weapon?’ he wondered.
[Nice work, boss... Mate is secured,] the voice of the shadow wolf echoed in his mind.
Kairos rolled his eyes. ’First thing you say in days and it’s nonsense.’
[But Boss? Did you notice sothing? We’re being followed...]
Kairos held his breath.
His gaze flicked left... right... casually, subtly.
’By who?’
[There are many of them. So with bloodlust toward you. Another one sensed . And others... they’re just watching, interested.]
Kairos’s brows furrowed.
’Interest? Are they here to take ? Those bastards... They’re using the festival as cover. With the crowd and being alone now... If soone kidnapped —whether a faction or the military—there’d be no proof. Nothing. By taking Kaela out of the fight... I just lit the starting signal.’
He grit his teeth.
Kaela was unconscious. Getting her away safely now would be nearly impossible.
Fighting?
That might be the only option.
But at a ti like this, he needed his friends.
And they were nowhere to be found.
This was no longer a decision he could think through.
Run... or fight.
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