It took a moment but Cain ended shaking his head. No he coukdn't do that. It would only raise suspicions if all the training equipment disappeared.
It was one thing if he claimed that he broke a weapon now and then, it was another to claim he broke them all, especially after returning from the dungeon.
Holding the hilt in his hand he came to a conclusion, if he was going to consume weapons, he was going to need to find a way to buy them himself.
Wiping his forehead with the back of his hand, he began to formulate a plan. He wanted to leave no trace that may come back to haunt him.
Cain jolted, body tensing instinctively as he heard the sound of approaching footsteps.
Someone was coming.
His mind moved fast, wondering who else would be wandering the training grounds this late at night. A teacher? Another student? Someone sent to follow him? The possibilities swirled too fast to sort through. Whatever the case, it wasn't worth the risk.
He vanished in an instant, blinking to the top of the lone tree that stood like a silent sentinel over the training field. Its dark branches spread out unevenly, offering enough cover to hide if one kept still. Cain crouched low in the foliage, the hilt of the training sword still clutched loosely in one hand.
His heart beat steadily, calm now that he was hidden, but his eyes were sharp as he watched the clearing below. Whoever it was, they weren't in a hurry. The footsteps were measured. Purposeful.
Cain narrowed his gaze, adjusting his weight silently on the branch as he waited for the intruder to reveal themselves.
It was a girl. Tall, poised, confident in the way she walked. The moonlight caught the glint of her red hair, tied into a high ponytail that swayed with every step. Even from this distance, Cain recognized her immediately.
Jayden Dawn.
Valedictorian of the Freshman Class. Magic Swordsman. Fire specialist. And a woman who, despite her chosen element, was known by everyone as the ice queen. She never smiled. Never laughed. Never entertained small talk. Her tone was always flat, her eyes distant. She had no need to impress anyone because her skills did all the talking for her.
Cain narrowed his eyes, curious.
Jayden hadn't noticed him. She walked to the center of the field, her movements fluid but not rushed. With a calmness that didn't quite match the late hour, she began to stretch. Her arms reached high over her head, body leaning side to side, loosening muscles with the same meticulous attention that Cain usually only saw from elite athletes. Every motion was efficient. Controlled.
He watched from his perch in the tree, saying nothing. It wasn't every day someone like her trained alone, especially not this late. Whatever the reason, Cain had no intention of interrupting. There was something fascinating about seeing her like this. Quiet and alone under the full moon.
She rolled her shoulders back, then bent at the waist, touching her toes with the kind of easy grace that made it clear she'd done this countless times before. Her ponytail slid over one shoulder as she moved, the red strands catching faint light. The tip nearly brushed the curve of her ass, but it was tied just high enough to avoid it.
Cain's brow furrowed slightly. For someone known to be so cold, her movements held a subtle elegance. There was strength, yes, but there was something else too. Precision. Purpose.
He shifted just slightly, adjusting for a better view as he waited to see what she would do next.
Jayden paused mid-stretch, then reached up with both hands and tugged the band from her ponytail.
Her long, crimson hair tumbled free, cascading down her back in a gleaming wave that reached her hips. But that wasn't what made Cain's eyes widen.
In the space where the hairband had once sat, two pointed, fur-covered ears perked up. Dog ears. Soft-looking and expressive, one twitched slightly as she tilted her head. A heartbeat later, a thick, fluffy tail uncurled from just above her waist, flicking once behind her as if stretching from being kept hidden too long.
Cain blinked, frozen in place.
Jayden's entire demeanor changed the moment the hairband was removed. The stiffness melted from her posture, her expression softening in a way Cain had never seen. Her eyes, usually cold and unreadable, now shimmered with something warm and alive. Her lips even curved slightly—not quite a smile, but close.
She resumed her stretching, this time with a different energy. Her movements were looser, more relaxed, like someone finally free to breathe after holding it in all day. Her tail swayed with each twist and bend, and her ears moved in sync with the shifting sounds around her.
Cain's breath caught.
It wasn't just a change in appearance. It was like watching a completely different person.
He had never heard a word about Jayden being a demihuman. But now, the truth was undeniable. That hairband—it wasn't just a band. It was a magical artifact designed to suppress her traits. A disguise.
His mind reeled. Demihumans were technically allowed at the academy, yes. But acceptance on paper meant nothing. In reality, they were treated like second-class students. Whispers behind their backs. Isolation. For the girls, the rumors were worse. Cain had heard enough to know just how bad it could get.
And Jayden, the untouchable valedictorian, had been hiding this the entire time.
Cain's fingers clenched around the hilt still in his hand, the weight of the realization pressing down on him. He had stumbled across her biggest secret. One that could ruin her if the wrong person found out.
He didn't move. Didn't make a sound. But he couldn't tear his eyes away from the girl who, for the first time, looked like she was simply allowed to be herself.
Perhaps he was too fascinated by the site in front of him as he tried to adjust his position only for the branch to snap and he lost his footing.
With no tine to stop himself or react, he fell out of the tree but still managed to land on his feet.
Unfortunately though, he landed a mere few feet away from Jayden who was now clearly aware of his presence.