It had been a day since the instructors and Carlos had stepped into the Blood Trials. The chaos had finally been halted, the brutal battles stopped, and every student—first and second years alike—was evacuated from the battleground. All were transported back to the First-Year building, many bruised, so unconscious, and all shaken.
Upon arriving, Instructor Silver wasted no ti. She imdiately contacted other military officials to assist in the investigation and began the questioning of all involved.
The testimonies were disturbingly consistent.
The majority of the First Years pointed fingers at the Second Years, their faces etched with terror and anger. And the bruises, broken bones, and the brutal condition of Darnell left no room for doubt—the Second Years had taken things too far.
Silver had been livid. Not just her—every instructor that reviewed the report boiled with fury. The actions of the upperclassn had crossed every boundary.
This resulted in swift and severe consequences.
The instructors banned all Second Years from ever stepping foot into the First-Year building again. The Blood Trials, a tradition ant to sharpen the will and test survival instincts, were officially and permanently banned. The situation had escalated far beyond anyone’s prediction, especially Kairos’. Whispers of the event spread like wildfire through the Academy, eventually reaching the highest ears—the commanding heads of the Military Base. The Three Mighty Generals.
But the true blow ca when the Crimson Vanguard family got involved.
Their anger was not political—it was personal. Ashen, one of the leading Second Years, had injured a student belonging to their lineage.
The military had wanted to dole out punishnt themselves, but the Vanguard family intervened with power and influence. They demanded to take Ashen into their custody, promising justice for the harm inflicted upon their own.
A crisis erupted between factions.
After long and tense negotiations, the Generals reached an uneasy compromise with the Crimson Vanguard family. They begged—not asked, begged—for Ashen to be allowed to complete his education at the Academy. Just until graduation. Then, and only then, would he be handed over for judgnt.
So, Ashen wasn’t out of the woods yet.
His na was tarnished, his reputation shattered beyond repair. Everyone knew what awaited him after graduation—rciless punishnt at the hands of one of the most powerful families for laying a finger on their bloodline.
Kairos had heard the rumors swirling in the hallways. He lay in bed, staring up at the ceiling as the moonlight filtered through the curtains. A small, vindictive smile played on his lips.
’At least that would serve him well for hurting my friend,’ Kairos thought, his eyes heavy with both satisfaction and exhaustion.
It had been exactly a day since the official investigation concluded, and the banning of the Blood Trials had been declared. All classes were dismissed that day. Most students still recovered in the school’s infirmary, and Darnell had yet to return.
Kairos’ thoughts drifted, and as they did, his consciousness slipped into his mind space—the realm where his shadow wolf resided.
Even summoned beasts needed ti to heal.
Upon entering, he saw the shadow wolf curled into itself, licking its wounds. Most of the critical injuries had already disappeared, fading like black smoke. But scars still lined its spectral form—evidence of a hard-fought battle.
Kairos felt a heavy pang of guilt.
’This is the first ti I’ve ever seen him this injured,’ he thought, slowly approaching his summon.
He knelt beside it and gently ran his fingers through its dark fur, massaging the ridges where scars remained. The wolf whimpered quietly in response, like a child comforted by a mother’s touch.
"Thanks for the work you did," Kairos whispered.
The wolf said nothing, only nudged its snout into his palm.
That simple exchange sparked a troubling question in his mind.
What would happen if his summon were to die in battle?
Would it respawn like a magical beast in so video ga? Or would it be gone... permanently? Would he then return to being an ordinary student, powerless and vulnerable?
The thoughts ca like a flood. Questions with no imdiate answers. Doubts crept into his heart, and as they began to overwhelm him—
Carlos tapped him on the wrist, snapping him out of his trance.
"Hey Kairos," Carlos said, his voice casual but his expression serious, "that was smart—sending the ssage through your phone with the image of the map. Good to see you’re not as dumb as Darnell."
Kairos sat up in bed, his gaze silently urging Carlos to continue.
And he did.
"That idiot... Why in hell did he just go and fight Second Years without informing any of us? Then he had the nerve to claim it was for our own good. He could’ve gotten himself killed. I an, I don’t care much for him, but if you do, I know you have your reasons."
Kairos’ lips curled into a small, strange smile. There was a warmth in his chest—a feeling he didn’t often experience but decided to rember.
"But he did hold them back... for us," he replied quietly.
Carlos blinked, then shrugged. "What I really wanted to talk about is your summon. How well did it do in the fight with the Second Years? And... did you use your shadow skills?"
His eyes glead with curiosity.
Kairos scratched the back of his head, smiling sheepishly. "Uhm?... Let’s see. The shadow skills were incredibly helpful, but I almost lost my summon in the process... Oh yeah—Carlos, what happens if your summon actually dies in battle?"
Carlos’ deanor shifted. Though he remained calm, his tone carried weight.
"If your summon dies, it’s gone. Forever. But..." He paused. "There have been rare cases where a summon cos back after a decade or two. Extrely rare, though. That’s why Summoners always fight alongside their beasts—so they can call them back before it’s too late."
He looked Kairos in the eye.
"If you lose your summon, you lose your integration. You beco exposed. Vulnerable. So I suggest you be more careful moving forward."
Kairos nodded, the gravity of that truth settling inside him like cold steel.
So even though Summoners wielded imnse power, they also bore a critical weakness. If their summon died, they lost everything that made them special.
"I see... So I must be more careful," Kairos muttered to himself.
Carlos leaned back on his bed. "So Summoners actually prefer to use integration to fight, keeping their beasts hidden until a critical mont. That’s one reason why the Beast Summoners’ class should be held in higher regard than the summons themselves."
With that, Carlos stretched, yawned, and rolled to his side. "Looks like Darnell won’t be back tonight either. Let’s head to the forest tomorrow and train. I want to see how deep your shadow abilities go."
Kairos gave a small nod before lying down himself. His eyes dimd, and his mind wandered again—to power, to his friends, and to survival. He wanted to grow stronger. Not just for vengeance or reputation... but because he had nothing else. No backing. No protection. Just his will.
And with those thoughts lingering, he slowly fell asleep.
---
anwhile...
In a dark, dimly lit office, the air was heavy and suffocating. The silence was broken only by the sharp thud of a fist slamming into a desk.
Ashen stood still, his body tense, his eyes staring at the intricately carved flooring beneath his feet.
Another slam. General Albert’s fist struck the table again, making the wooden surface groan beneath the force.
"You bastard!" he roared. "Who gave you the order to harm students to that extent?! I gave you a mission, and you disobeyed it! And to top it all off—you hard the daughter of the Crimson Vanguard family. A direct descendant! Are You MAD!!!"
His voice dripped with sarcasm and unfiltered rage.
Ashen’s voice trembled. "Bu—But I didn’t land a single hit on her—"
"Shut it!" Albert snapped. "You still have the mouth to speak? Do you even realize your fate?"
Ashen winced, his face crumpling with grief.
"When you graduate, you’ll be handed over to them—tortured, punished for your sins. And if you dare breathe my na to them... if you so much as whisper it... I’ll destroy your family and end your pathetic life myself."
He spat at Ashen, the glob landing with cruel accuracy.
With a dismissive wave, he barked, "Get out. You disgust ."
Ashen bowed silently and turned. As the door closed behind him, he clenched his jaw, his lips trembling from the sheer pressure of his frustration. His teeth pierced his own skin, and a sharp sting rippled through him.
’That bastard... He’s ruined everything I worked for. Everything I built.’
And in that hollow, blood-soaked hallway, Ashen made a vow.
’I’ll kill him. I’ll fucking kill him! Kairos Veyl... You are my target from now on. I will make you suffer a wretched death before I leave this academy!’
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