Episode 10 – The Whisper in the Woods (Part 2)
The battlefield was set in silence and shadows.
Kael stood before the attacker he had slammed into the wall—yet the forest beyond trembled with more danger. He could sense it. And so could they.
From the tree line, multiple cloaked figures emerged—silent, faceless, merciless. They fanned out like predators, surrounding Kael and Lyra's home.
Kael's stance shifted subtly—shoulders loose, fingers twitching slightly, eyes sharp as blades.
The first enemy charged.
Kael ducked the strike, grabbed his wrist, twisted—CRACK—elbow bent backward. He kicked the second assailant across the yard into a tree trunk.
Two more flanked him.
One unleashed a fireball.
Kael raised a single hand—water surged from the air, forming a quick shield, steam hissing where fire met moisture. It wasn't just raw power—it was refined, precise.
His movements flowed like a dance of death—evasive, sharp, and utterly calculated.
---
Inside the house…
Lyra stood just beyond the broken window, watching in disbelief. The Kael she thought she knew—the quiet, steady friend—was moving like a seasoned warrior. And the way he used his water element… it wasn't normal.
Is that really just water magic?
But before she could speak—a shadow slipped behind her.
One of the attackers had circled around while Kael was distracted. His dagger gleamed under the moonlight as he crept closer to her.
Lyra turned just in time to see the blade lunging forward—
SHINK!
The dagger stopped mid-air—caught between two fingers.
A calm voice echoed from behind her:
"You're not worthy to lay a hand on her."
Principal Thorne stood there, his eyes glowing faintly with ancient magic. With a twist of his fingers, the dagger snapped, and a single gesture sent the attacker crashing through the wall and into unconsciousness.
Thorne stepped beside Lyra, placing a protective ward around her with a wave of his hand.
"You've seen too much tonight," he said softly, looking into her stunned eyes. "But perhaps… it's time you understood who you're walking beside."
---
Outside
Kael threw the last attacker to the ground, panting slightly. His clothes were torn, and a thin cut ran along his jaw, but his aura remained dangerously calm.
Principal Thorne stepped beside him.
"You fought well," he said with a slight smile. "Though I sense you were holding back."
Kael didn't respond—only looked toward Lyra, who stood frozen, eyes full of confusion… and awe.
Thorne turned serious.
"They were not ordinary men," he said quietly. "And they won't be the last."
Kael's hands clenched.
"I know."
Thorne looked toward the dark sky. "It's time. She'll be safest at the academy."
Kael looked at him for a long moment… and nodded.
---
Later that night…
Lyra sat beside the fireplace in her home, wrapped in a blanket. Kael sat across from her, quiet.
"You… saved me," she whispered.
"You would've done the same," he replied, avoiding her eyes.
"But you—Kael, you're not what you seem. You used water magic like it was alive. That wasn't ordinary… was it?"
Kael stayed silent.
Lyra's voice softened. "I'm not afraid of you."
He looked up, startled.
She smiled faintly, though fear still lingered in her eyes. "But I want to understand. Who are you really?"
Kael didn't answer.
Outside, the wind picked up, carrying the scent of smoke and the distant howls of night.
Inside, a bond of trust was reforging itself… stronger than before.
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To Be Continued…