Aiden took a step back, his fingers still curled tightly, his breath evening out as the stinging from the scratches settled into a dull ache. His eyes stayed locked onto Emranne.
"What ga are you playing?" he snapped. "If this is so intimidation tactic, you better stop now."
Aiden conjured up flas.
Emranne didn't react imdiately. She rely blinked at him, arms loose at her sides, like she wasn't the least bit fazed by his accusation.
Aiden took a step forward, fire flickering at his fingertips. "Lopt knows it was you who killed Savion. What, because I'm a Chase you'll kill too?"
That got a reaction. A small one. A barely noticeable flicker of sothing in her dark eyes.
Then, her lips parted, and she let out a breath.
"You never took my advice. I told you not to trust Lopt."
"You-" His voice ca out rough, his throat dry.
"I didn't kill Savion." Emranne said. "But you're too caught up in Lopt's words to even consider that, aren't you?"
The torches lining the training hall flickered again, their light casting long shadows against the stone. Aiden felt sothing cold settle in his chest.
If she was lying, she was damn good at it.
Aiden barely had ti to process Emranne's words when a low, drawn-out hissing sound echoed through the training hall. It was unnatural, like sothing between a whisper and a growl, reverberating against the walls. His muscles tensed instinctively.
Then, ca a thud.
It ca from just outside the hall like sothing- or soone- had landed. The silence that followed was thick, suffocating.
Aiden shot a glance at Emranne, but she was already moving.
Without hesitation, she lifted her hand, and in a flash of violet light, her athyst ring unraveled, reforming into the sharp, elegant curve of her sword. She didn't even flinch, didn't waste a second, and just moved into position- stance firm, blade raised, body angled ever so slightly in front of him.
Aiden blinked.
The door creaked open.
The hall's torchlight flickered wildly, casting long, stretching shadows over the floor. Aiden's pulse hamred in his ears as he saw sothing standing in the doorway.
The figure stepped inside, broad-shouldered and towering, his presence filling the room instantly. The dim torchlight cast deep shadows across his muscular fra, making him seem even larger than he already was.
Then, he grinned.
"Ah, there you are," he said casually, his voice carrying an amused lilt. "I've been looking for you."
Aiden, still on edge from the strange atmosphere, narrowed his eyes- until he finally took a proper look at the man's face.
Lopt.
His usual sharp, foxlike features were still there, hidden beneath the illusion of a much bulkier form. Aiden exhaled, his muscles loosening ever so slightly.
Of course, it was just Lopt.
Emranne, however, didn't lower her sword.
"What are you doing here?"
Lopt placed a hand over his chest as if offended. "Why, looking for him, of course." He tilted his head toward Aiden, the grin never leaving his face. "Can't have my favorite mischief-maker going into his duel unprepared, now, can I?"
"What do you an?"
Lopt clapped his hands together. "One last practice before your duel," he said cheerfully. "You're fighting Lochan, aren't you? He's a tough one. I figured you'd appreciate a good warm-up. After all, it'd be a sha if you got embarrassed in front of everyone."
Aiden scoffed. "As if I'd let that happen."
"Then prove it."
Lopt turned on his heel, about to lead Aiden away, when a voice cut through the air.
"I'm joining."
Both Aiden and Lopt stopped.
Emranne stood where she was, her sword still in hand, her dark eyes unwavering as she looked straight at Lopt.
Lopt blinked. Then he grinned.
"Oh? That's funny. I don't rember inviting you."
"I don't need an invitation."
Lopt let out a sharp laugh, shaking his head like he had just heard the most ridiculous thing.
"Oh, Emranne, here I am, graciously offering my ti and effort to train our dear Aiden, and suddenly you want in?" He clicked his tongue. "Feels like soone's getting possessive."
"I just want to see how Aiden fights."
Lopt narrowed his eyes slightly, his smirk never leaving. "Just that?"
"Yes."
He humd, dragging the mont out as if he were deep in thought.
"So let get this straight," he said after a beat. "You, Emranne- top of the class, first-ranked, sword-wielding nightmare stuffy whatever, want to watch Aiden train?" He tapped his chin.
"Sothing about that doesn't sound right to ."
"I don't see what's wrong with it."
Lopt's grin widened. "Oh, Emranne, you are a terrible liar."
Emranne gave him a flat look. "I never lie."
"And yet here you are, spewing falsehoods in broad daylight- or, well, dim training hall light."
Aiden glanced between them, confused at how easily they fell into this banter.
Emranne took a step forward. "I'm coming with you."
"And I'm saying no." Lopt leaned down slightly, looking her right in the eye. "You're not invited."
"You let Sevan and Adrian train with you."
"They're fun," Lopt said imdiately. "You, on the other hand, are...how do I put this nicely?- boring."
Aiden half-expected Emranne to ignore him, but to his surprise, she actually responded.
"You're one to talk. You use the sa pranks every year."
Lopt gasped, putting a hand over his heart. "Excuse you, my pranks are tiless classics."
"They're predictable."
"They're legendary."
"They're outdated."
Lopt narrowed his eyes, a playful glint in them. "And what would you know about pranks, Emranne, hm? I highly doubt you've ever pulled one in your life."
"Just because I don't waste my ti on them doesn't an I don't understand them."
"Ooooh, so you do think pranks are a waste of ti. There it is." He clapped his hands together. "Ladies and gentlen, this is why she's not invited."
Emranne crossed her arms. "I didn't say that."
"You implied it."
"I said I don't waste my ti on them."
"Which is basically saying they're a waste of ti."
"No, it isn't."
"Yes, it is."
"No, it isn't."
"Yes, it is."
Aiden let out a sigh, rubbing his temple. "Are you two done?"
Lopt grinned at him. "Not even close." Then he turned back to Emranne. "Look, Emranne, I get it- you're curious about our dear Aiden here. But do you really want to suffer through my training? You do know how I train people, right? And plus, you're not allowed to be with Aiden. I won't let you."
"I can handle it."
Lopt raised an eyebrow. "You say that, but can you really handle it? I'm not sure your first-place rank ans much when you're up against ."
"I wasn't expecting you to go easy on ."
Lopt smirked. "Good. Because I never go easy."
"Neither do I."
The tension between them stretched for a mont before Lopt finally let out a chuckle. "Fine. You're in. But don't say I didn't warn you, Nyx."
"I wasn't expecting a warning in the first place."
Lopt grinned at Aiden. "Well, let's go toodaloo."
Lopt led Aiden outside, but he could feel how Lopt's hands that guided him were too strong that it almost felt like Lopt is keeping him in place.
What Aiden failed to notice was a small rock in front of him, not big enough for him to see and so he tripped on it, Lopt's suprise loosening his grip on Aiden's shoulder.
Aiden could feel himself falling in slow motion, seeing the rock near a familiar silhouette of a tree and cursing it from the corner of his eye. He decided to shut his eyes as he felt getting closer, and closer to the ground...
And he woke up.
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