She was shaking. I could tell she didn't want trouble—but she also wouldn't let someone like him treat me that way.
"This is a duel, right? Then let me use my secret weapon!" he shouted, charging toward Katia.
I think he was holding a flaming sword.
He leapt forward, aiming the tip of the sword at Katia's throat. Terrified, I shut my eyes, unable to bear the thought of seeing her impaled. But another sword's clang rang out, drowning my fear.
"Seth, your fight is over. You've lost to this Spirit," said an enigmatic voice.
A man appeared so quickly, I thought he had teleported. He was tall and musculate
"Stop this, Seth. You're embarrassing me right now," the man said. A blue aura flared up around him.
Like Seth, Komi, Juan, and me, this man shared our general features. But the tall guy stood out with his broad frame, brilliant black aura, and hair that shone with an almost supernatural gleam. Was it his shampoo, or the Spirit within him?
"Step aside, Kayne! This fight is between me and that hellish monster!" Seth shouted.
"Seth, don't make me repeat myself. You're embarrassing the Master with your childish behavior," Kayne replied, his voice sharp with authority.
His aura flared. The dining hall was still, yet everyone present trembled. Then Seth collapsed to the floor.
"Why do you always get in my way?" he cried, his voice breaking with rage and tears.
I felt a flicker of sympathy. Did he really deserve this?
"Because you're a disrespectful child. Words don't seem to be enough anymore. It looks like I'll have to use force," said Kayne coldly.
He focused his aura in his right hand and raised her ready to slap Seth.
"NO, DON'T!" I shouted.
Kayne turned to me with a piercing gaze and a cruel smile.
"Why do you care? How dare you speak to me like that—someone who couldn't even protect his friend? Let me remind you, if I hadn't stepped in, she'd be dead right now. Maybe if you lost her a second time, you'd finally learn how important it is to protect what you love."
He was right. I had done nothing to protect Katia. I'd been running from my problems from the start. But that had to change—starting now.
His words echoed in my mind, shaking me more than his aura ever could.
"Hey you! I won't let you talk to Marvens like that," Katia interrupted. "Sure, he didn't protect me—but I won't let you insult him. And for the record, even without his help—or yours—I could've taken down that little guy in under ten seconds."
"You sure talk a lot for a Spirit," Kayne replied.
The tension rose sharply. Their gazes locked like loaded weapons.
"Get on your knees and beg for forgiveness," Katia ordered.
But to everyone's surprise, Kayne didn't budge.
"Is that it? You want me to kneel? How laughable," he sneered. "Let me show you that you're no better than that pathetic Seth."
Kayne dropped his own sword and picked up Seth's from the floor. He moved slowly toward Katia, preparing to strike. I was frozen, but something inside me resisted.
I lunged forward, trying to summon a sword using my power. But I still didn't have control—nothing formed. I ended up crashing awkwardly into Katia, shielding her from Kayne.
"Well, well. A low-rank nobody dares challenge a Class S. This is getting interesting! An unknown-level Spirit and a pitiful Initiate of the Veil—against me, the great Kayne!" he declared with a smirk.
Class S? That explained why Katia's powers hadn't fazed him. No doubt—he was telling the truth.
"ENOUGH! STOP THIS AT ONCE!" the Master shouted.
A violet aura burst from him, engulfing the room and sucking our powers into it like a vortex. Kayne turned, sighing in frustration.
"Tch. Can't even have a little fun with the newbies," he grumbled as he walked off.
...
A few minutes after the Master left, I returned to my room with Katia. Juan and Komi rushed to meet us.
"Marvens, are you okay? You're not hurt?" Komi asked, worried.
"And you, Katia?" Juan added.
"Yeah, don't worry!" I said with a forced smile.
"Yeah, I'm alright," Katia confirmed.
I couldn't tell them I was still shaking, on the verge of fainting. Facing such intense energy had nearly crushed me.
"But your hand's trembling, Marvens," Komi noticed.
"Don't worry. I'm fine," I said, forcing another smile.
"Don't stress. Kayne wasn't targeting you personally. He just loves testing the newcomers. He did the same thing to me when I first arrived," Juan explained.
"Thanks for telling me. Now I know he's not inherently bad. In fact, I think I'll ask him to train me. I need to get stronger," I said, my voice firm.
"Are you insane?! He could've killed you—and Katia!" Komi protested.
"That's exactly why I need to change. I want to be strong enough to protect Katia," I answered calmly.
What Kayne had said stuck with me. He was right. I had to act.
"You don't have to do this. I can protect myself," Katia said softly.
"I'm sorry, but I can't grant you that request," I replied firmly.
As we approached my room, Komi, Juan, and Katia surprised me—they gave me hope again.
"If you're willing to suffer through Kayne's training, then I'm in too. No way I'm letting you get stronger than me!" Juan said with a mischievous grin.
"Me too," Komi added. "I refuse to let you suffer alone."
"And I want to stay by your side, no matter what," Katia concluded.
"Thank you, guys!" I said, eyes brimming with tears.
"Tomorrow, we'll ask Kayne to train us!" I shouted, fist raised.
"YEAH!" they all replied in unison.
That night, we went to bed early—because tomorrow would mark the beginning of a new chapter.