Chapter 25: A Moment of Breath
The sun dipped low, casting long golden shadows over the Emberlight Tournament Grounds. The cheers had faded, the dust of the arena settled, and the first day's matches were over.
Kai sat on the edge of a stone fountain in the garden courtyard behind the competitors' lodgings, the evening breeze cooling the last remnants of heat from battle. His muscles hummed from exertion, but his mind was sharp, processing every movement, every strike, every glance exchanged in the arena.
Three matches. Three victories. His name was now spoken across the grounds in reverence and disbelief.
"Black Horse," they'd called him.
He could live with that.
Footsteps approached.
Instructor Vale, her sharp figure silhouetted by the amber glow of the courtyard lamps, stepped in with a subtle smile. Ren trailed behind her, munching on a crisp fried skewer like it was the most natural thing in the world.
"Well," Vale said, arms crossed as she stopped beside him, "I think it's safe to say you've caused a stir."
Ren plopped down beside Kai, grin wide. "A stir? You practically scared the pants off half the audience. I swear I saw that first guy crying after you blitzed him."
Kai chuckled lightly. "I held back."
"Oh, we noticed," Vale replied dryly. She tapped a finger against her chin. "That's why I'm curious to see how you'll handle the real competition tomorrow."
Kai raised a brow. "Real competition?"
Vale nodded and motioned for them to walk. They strolled through the garden, the soft crunch of gravel beneath their feet blending with the distant sounds of crackling torches and murmured conversations.
"There are three others I want you to keep an eye on," she began. "They didn't fight today, but they're not unknowns."
Ren perked up. "Ooooh, here we go."
Vale held up one finger. "First—Riven Duskvale of the Hollow Star Clan. He's brutal. Doesn't waste movement. He's rumored to have reached Martial Master rank last year and prefers dislocating joints over flashy moves. Don't expect theatrics from him. Expect pressure."
Kai nodded silently, absorbing the name.
Vale raised a second finger. "Naela Ardent. From the Red Silken Pavilion. She's… dangerous. Fights with a style that uses heat-based ki to sear pressure points. Her strikes are slow—at first—but once she starts landing them, it's like your body just begins shutting down."
Ren shuddered. "Ugh. I've seen her training clips. She doesn't smile. Ever."
"And the third?" Kai asked.
Vale's lips curled in a more serious line. "Auron Veyron. Yes, that Veyron. Scion of the Dynasty. Emberlight Council's watching him closely, and not just because of his bloodline. He's powerful—arrogant, too—but he backs it up. His ki has… weight. Like standing under a falling mountain."
Kai's gaze grew colder. "So they sent one of their own."
"Of course," Vale said. "The tournament's not just about prestige. It's about visibility. Every clan and sect has something to prove."
Ren gave Kai a gentle elbow. "Guess you'll just have to give 'em something bigger to see, huh?"
Kai didn't answer right away. He looked up at the night sky, where the stars were just beginning to appear. His fists clenched slightly, not from tension, but resolve.
Tomorrow would bring harder trials.
But he'd come prepared.