The next morning dawned bright over the Cloud Dragon Sect. The bells from the eastern tower chimed softly, echoing through the mist-covered peaks.
In the outer training ground, two figures were already there long before others—Vishwa and Joseph.
Joseph stretched his arms and yawned. "You know, normal people sleep after a full day of training."
Vishwa tied his sash tightly. "Normal people don't aim to be top disciples."
"Ugh, you sound like Elder Kaien," Joseph groaned. "Fine, let's get this started. Today, I'm definitely beating you."
Vishwa smirked faintly. "You said that yesterday."
Joseph pointed dramatically. "Yeah, but today I have the fire of determination!"
"You also said that yesterday."
"…okay, fair."
Both of them burst out laughing, shaking off the morning chill.
The Training Begins
They stood across from each other in the sandy practice field.
Joseph took a deep breath and entered his stance. Flames flickered faintly around his fists. "Let's make this interesting. No holding back."
Vishwa's eyes darkened slightly as the shadows around his feet stirred. "Alright. First to land a clean hit wins."
"Deal."
Joseph charged first. "Flame Palm!"
A streak of orange fire burst from his hands, heat shimmering in the air. Vishwa's body flickered—his outline blurred as he slipped half into the void. The flames passed right through, harmlessly scorching the dust behind him.
Joseph blinked. "Hey! That's cheating!"
Vishwa reappeared a few feet away. "You said no holding back."
"Fine! Then don't blame me when you get roasted!"
Joseph lunged forward again, punching in a quick rhythm. The air hissed with heat. Vishwa ducked, dodged, and vanished for a heartbeat each time Joseph's fist neared him—each movement smoother than before.
From the sidelines, a few early risers from other dorms stopped to watch.
"Hey, isn't that Dorm Seven's new kids?" one whispered. "They're actually good."
The Clash
Vishwa circled Joseph, his breathing calm, watching for an opening.
Joseph grinned, sweat glistening. "You can't keep hiding forever!"
He slammed both hands together—fire roared between his palms, forming a wave of heat that rushed forward.
Vishwa's eyes narrowed. He stepped into the void again—only this time, he didn't reappear immediately.
Joseph's grin faltered. "Wait… where'd you—?"
A soft voice came from behind him. "Here."
Before Joseph could react, a faint push sent him stumbling forward, his hair slightly singed by his own flames.
He turned, jaw dropping. "You—! You used Void Walk behind me?"
Vishwa tilted his head slightly. "It's the point of the technique."
"That's so unfair! You're like… teleporting!"
"Not teleporting," Vishwa corrected. "Just walking through the thin layer between space and shadow."
Joseph huffed. "Still cheating."
But his grin returned just as quickly. "Alright, ghost-boy. Let's see how you handle this!"
He punched the ground. Fire burst from his feet, propelling him forward in a blur.
Vishwa's eyes widened. "That's—new."
"Improvised move! I call it—Flame Dash!"
The fiery burst nearly caught him, but Vishwa twisted at the last second, slipping halfway into the void again. This time, though, he staggered out, coughing. The void shimmered oddly around him, his energy visibly drained.
Joseph froze. "Hey—are you okay?"
Vishwa nodded weakly. "Yeah… just need to rest a bit. That took more energy than I thought."
Kaien's voice echoed from nearby—he had been silently observing them again. "And that, boys, is why you train gradually. Push too far, and you'll hurt your spirit."
They both turned and bowed quickly.
"Yes, Elder!"
Kaien's lips twitched in amusement. "Still, not bad. You two complement each other well. Fire and Dark—power and precision."
Joseph grinned proudly. "See, we're awesome."
Kaien's tone sharpened slightly. "Be careful with pride, young flame. Your fire is powerful but reckless. Learn to control it before it controls you."
Joseph rubbed the back of his neck. "Yes, Elder Kaien…"
"And you," the old man turned to Vishwa, "your affinity with the void is rare. But the void doesn't like uncertainty. If your heart wavers, it will consume you."
Vishwa nodded slowly. "Understood."
Kaien left, his robes fluttering like mist.
Aftermath
The boys sat under a tree, sipping water.
Joseph sighed. "Man, he always talks like some wise mountain spirit."
"He's the librarian," Vishwa said. "It's his job."
"Yeah, but still. 'If your heart wavers, it will consume you…' What does that even mean?"
Vishwa looked at the ground. "I think it means… if you hesitate when using power like mine, it'll backfire. The void reflects your will. If you're uncertain, it'll twist against you."
Joseph frowned, then smiled. "Then we'll just train until your will's unshakable. Easy."
Vishwa looked at him, surprised, then chuckled softly. "Easy, huh?"
"Yeah! You and me, we'll get stronger together. Fire and darkness, baby!"
"Please stop saying that."
"Nope, too late. It's our new slogan."
They both started laughing again until a shout from across the field interrupted them.
"Hey! Dorm Seven duo!" a tall boy called. "Instructor's calling for the sparring rankings this afternoon. You two better show up."
Joseph blinked. "Wait, rankings?"
"Yep," the boy said, smirking. "Losers clean the training hall for a week."
Joseph turned to Vishwa, whispering, "We're so not losing this."
Vishwa sighed, standing. "Then we'd better start practicing again."
Later That Evening
The sunset bathed the sect in a soft orange hue. The boys were back in the field, repeating their techniques over and over.
Joseph's Flame Palm grew more refined—each strike less wild, more focused. His flames no longer scattered aimlessly; they flowed like part of him.
Meanwhile, Vishwa's Void Walk became sharper. He no longer stumbled; he could vanish for a full heartbeat and reappear behind an opponent with silent precision.
At one point, Joseph tossed a pebble. "Catch!"
Vishwa turned—and the pebble passed right through his chest before clinking against the wall behind him.
Joseph stared, jaw dropped. "You… didn't even flinch."
Vishwa smiled faintly. "Guess I'm getting used to it."
Joseph grinned. "Man, you're scary sometimes."
"I'll take that as a compliment."
They practiced until stars began to appear, their laughter echoing across the quiet grounds.
Night Talk
Later that night, back in Dorm Seven, Joseph flopped onto his bed. "We're totally gonna crush those rankings tomorrow."
Vishwa sat by the window, staring out at the moonlit peaks. "Maybe. But it's not just about winning."
Joseph turned his head. "What do you mean?"
"Elder Kaien said something true. Power without control is dangerous. We can't just rush ahead because we want to be strong."
Joseph was silent for a moment, then smirked. "You're getting all philosophical again."
Vishwa shrugged. "Someone has to balance your fire."
Joseph laughed softly. "Yeah, yeah. But still… thanks, man. Feels like we've come a long way from that village already."
Vishwa nodded. "And this is only the beginning."
The wind from the mountains blew softly through the window, carrying the faint scent of pine and cloud mist.
Fire and darkness—two young warriors standing on the edge of greatness, unaware of how far their paths would take them.