The dormitory grounds were almost empty when Kaelen returned.
His footsteps echoed softly against the stone walls as he walked through the long corridors. His cloak dragged slightly on the ground behind him. He wasn't walking fast, but he wasn't slow either. His steps were calm, steady, and full of silent determination, like a drum beating deep inside his heart.
The memories of what had happened earlier were still fresh in his mind — the battle in the arena, Selene's defeat, the loud silence of the crowd, the sharp looks from the elders. But Kaelen didn't let these memories distract him. He pushed them aside easily.
He didn't care about applause.
He didn't care about revenge.
He cared only about one thing: strength — a strength that no one could take from him, no matter what they said or did.
When he reached his small room, he pushed the door open and stepped inside. He didn't light a lamp. The faint light of the moon coming through the window was enough.
The room was simple — just a bed, a cushion, a wooden box, and a rack for his sword.
Kaelen moved to the cushion in the center of the room and sat down cross-legged. His body relaxed, but his mind stayed sharp, like a sword that never dulled.
He reached for his chest without thinking — but there was nothing there.
The Ouroboros Pendant, his strange and powerful artifact, had long since disappeared into his body. It had merged with his dantian, the center of his power. Now, it was part of him. He could not touch it anymore. He could only feel its faint presence deep inside, like a sleeping dragon.
Kaelen closed his eyes and took a slow breath.
He pulled a small wooden box closer. Inside it was something important — the Dreadcoil Serpent Spawn's Core, a powerful item he had kept from an old battle.
Opening the box carefully, Kaelen picked up the Core. It glowed faintly, giving off a cold and dangerous energy. His fingers lingered on it for a moment. He could feel the strength locked inside.
A memory flashed in his mind — the face of his master.
His master, who had taught him, guided him, and believed in him.
But that face faded away quickly, leaving only emptiness.
Kaelen slowly closed his eyes again.
He had no one left now.
No family.
No master.
No friends.
Only himself.
And he had already decided: he would embrace this loneliness. He would walk the path of strength alone.
He started to breathe slowly.
Inhale.
Exhale.
With each breath, he tried to pull in a little of the Core's energy. It wasn't easy. The energy inside the Core was wild and poisonous. It wanted to fight him, hurt him. But Kaelen stayed calm.
He didn't rush.
He had learned that patience was the true weapon of the strong.
The energy moved slowly, like a snake, twisting inside his body. His dantian, where the Ouroboros Pendant now lived, reacted carefully. It helped him absorb the dangerous energy bit by bit, turning it into something he could use.
Minutes passed.
Then hours.
Outside, the world grew quiet. Even the birds and insects seemed to fall silent.
Inside the small room, only Kaelen's breathing could be heard.
Soft.
Steady.
Unstoppable.
The Core's power wrapped around him, testing him, trying to break him. But Kaelen didn't give up. He didn't even frown.
Tonight wasn't about getting stronger in one night.
It was about building a foundation.
A strong foundation that would never break, no matter how heavy the future became.
The night moved slowly.
The stars shifted in the sky.
Kaelen kept breathing, feeling the energy inside him grow, just a little at a time.
Finally, as the first light of dawn touched the sky, Kaelen opened his eyes.
His body ached from sitting so long. His muscles were stiff. His head was heavy.
But he welcomed the discomfort.
Pain meant growth.
He put the Serpent Core carefully back inside the wooden box and stood up.
He had barely taken two steps when he heard footsteps rushing toward him.
He didn't have to guess who it was.
He could tell from the way the person walked — hurried, angry, almost desperate.
Kaelen walked into the courtyard.
There, standing in the early morning light, was Selene.
Her silver hair was messy. Her eyes were red, either from crying or lack of sleep. She gripped her sword tightly, and her whole body shook with rage.
"You!" she shouted, pointing a finger at him. "Fight me again! Right now!"
Disciples nearby stopped what they were doing. They gathered quickly, whispering and watching, eager for another fight.
Kaelen looked at her calmly.
Selene's sword was drawn already. She was breathing hard. She looked like she hadn't slept all night.
Kaelen didn't even touch his own sword.
"Not interested," he said quietly.
Those two simple words cut deeper than any blade.
Selene's eyes widened in shock. For a moment, she didn't know what to say.
"You're a coward!" she screamed, her voice cracking. "You're afraid of me!"
Kaelen stayed quiet. His face was blank, like calm water that didn't ripple no matter how hard you threw stones into it.
"I already defeated you," Kaelen said in a quiet voice. "There's no point in fighting again."
The disciples watching began to whisper louder. Some laughed softly. Some shook their heads.
Selene's face turned red — from anger, from shame, maybe both.
Kaelen turned his back to her and started walking away.
"You can't ignore me!" Selene shouted. "You can't—!"
But Kaelen didn't even look back.
He walked away calmly, disappearing into the inner courtyard.
Selene stood there, her sword shaking in her hand. Her heart was pounding in her ears. But she couldn't do anything. If she chased him, she would only embarrass herself more.
Slowly, the disciples drifted away, some still chuckling under their breath.
Selene was left alone, staring at nothing.
Kaelen closed the door of his room behind him softly.
He took a deep breath.
He didn't feel proud.
He didn't feel happy.
Selene wasn't his enemy.
She was just another person lost in her emotions, trapped by her own pride.
Kaelen sat down on the cushion again.
He opened the wooden box and touched the Serpent Core once more.
He closed his eyes.
The Ouroboros Pendant inside his dantian pulsed faintly, like a heartbeat deep inside him.
Still sleeping.
Still waiting.
Kaelen smiled slightly.
There was no rush.
No one was chasing him.
No one was helping him either.
He was alone on this road.
And he would walk it until the end.
Hours passed.
Kaelen continued to meditate, slowly pulling in the Core's energy.
It was a long, boring, painful process.
But Kaelen didn't complain.
Every second he spent cultivating was another step forward.
Another brick laid in the foundation of his future strength.
Outside, the sun climbed higher.
Disciples trained in the courtyards, shouted, and laughed.
Kaelen heard them faintly, but he didn't care.
Their noise was like the buzzing of flies — annoying but unimportant.
He had his own path to walk.
The hours slipped by like sand through fingers.
Finally, Kaelen opened his eyes.
He stood up, his body stiff and sore.
He walked over to the simple rack near the window and picked up his old, battered practice sword.
It wasn't beautiful.
It wasn't powerful.
But it was enough.
Kaelen stepped into the open space in his room.
He took a deep breath.
Then he moved.
Simple strikes.
Basic footwork.
Clean parries.
Each movement was slow, careful, full of intent.
He wasn't trying to show off.
He wasn't trying to be fast.
He was carving the basics into his bones.
Over and over again.
Strike.
Step.
Parry.
Strike again.
His muscles burned.
Sweat rolled down his forehead.
His arms trembled slightly from exhaustion.
But he didn't stop.
He practiced until the sun began to set and long shadows stretched across the floor.
Only then did Kaelen finally lower the sword.
He was tired.
His body ached.
But his heart was steady.
He placed the sword back on the rack.
He sat back down on the cushion.
He closed his eyes again.
The faint pulsing of the Ouroboros Pendant inside him was stronger now, like a soft flame burning deep within.
Still small.
Still growing.
But alive.
Kaelen smiled faintly in the darkness.
Outside, the world was full of noise.
Inside his heart, there was only silence.
And strength.
Silent resolve.
Unbreakable patience.
An endless road.
And Kaelen — would never stop.
No matter how long it took.
No matter how heavy the burden became.
He would not stop.
He would not bend.
He would not break.
He would forge himself into something greater.