"Those who wear no rank often wear the most dangerous masks."
—High Scholar Vennor
The Silver Ball
The Skyhold Acdemy Grand Hall shimmered with a thousand floating candles. Tonight, it was not a battlefield. It was the night of the Silver Ball—a formal gathering where Ranked and Unranked were forced to mingle.
Kairo hated it.
He tugged at the collar of his formal robe, the academy's deep blue stitched with gold leafing. His face was hidden beneath a half-mask, custom-forged by Lyra—a swirling obsidian design with three tiny rune etchings: concealment, calm, silence.
"Stop fidgeting," Lyra whispered, stepping beside him in a midnight-blue gown laced with silver threads.
Kairo looked at her and forgot how to speak for a moment.
"You look…"
"Dangerous?" she smiled.
"Yeah. That."
She elbowed him softly. "Tonight is for politics. So smile and dance a little. Pretend you're not being hunted by every Rankkeeper in this building."
Kairo exhaled.
"Easy."
The Game Begins
The Ranked students arrived in waves—each more extravagant than the last. Magical carriages. Elemental escorts. One student even arrived riding a lightning beast.
But the one who turned every head was Zephyr Vayne.
Ranked #2.
He was tall, composed, with a sharp smile and robes that shimmered like starlight. His family crest, a twin phoenix, burned across his shoulder.
He danced with ease, flattered professors, and, without trying, commanded attention.
Until he saw Lyra.
"Lady Vale," he greeted smoothly. "You've been hiding your beauty in battlefields."
She stiffened slightly. "Zephyr."
His eyes drifted to Kairo. "And who's this masked shadow?"
Kairo extended a hand. "Kael Rune."
Zephyr took it—and squeezed, his smile never fading. "Odd. You don't feel Unranked."
"Neither do you," Kairo said.
Their grip lingered too long.
A silent challenge.
Whispers in the Mirror Garden
Later, Kairo slipped away.
The garden behind the hall was lit with reflection orbs—magical mirrors that hung in the air, showing illusions from students' memories.
Kairo passed one and paused. It showed a younger version of himself—alone, bleeding, surrounded by skyfire ruins.
He touched the orb.
"I thought you might come here."
Lyra's voice.
She walked beside him, watching the illusion.
"You've been hiding a long time, Kairo. You can't keep doing this forever."
"I'm not ready."
"You don't have to be ready. Just... trust someone."
He turned to her.
"I do."
Silence.
Then she stepped closer.
"Kairo…"
He leaned in.
Their lips brushed—just a breath away—
A sharp sound broke the moment.
Steel drawn.
The Duel in the Garden
Zephyr.
He stood behind them, unsmiling now. His own mask gone.
"Unregistered magic," he said coldly, pointing at Kairo. "And tampering with the Memory Orbs. That's an expellable offense."
Kairo narrowed his eyes. "You followed me."
"You interest me. And that's rarely good news for anyone."
He drew a silver rapier blazing with wind runes.
Kairo reached for his blade.
But Lyra stepped between them.
"Stop. This isn't the arena."
"No," Zephyr said. "But it's tradition."
He cast a rune into the air.
Duel ring established.
The garden shimmered. Walls rose. A magical barrier sealed them in.
Kairo stepped forward.
"You want a duel? Then let's dance."
The Wind and the Spark
Zephyr attacked with elegant ferocity. Wind blades danced through the air, slicing trees and stone alike.
Kairo blocked, ducked, countered. But Zephyr was Ranked for a reason. He was fast. Controlled. Deadly.
"You're holding back," Zephyr said. "Why?"
Kairo didn't answer. He couldn't risk Breaker fire—not here, not in a garden full of Memory Orbs.
So he switched tactics.
He used rhythm.
Strike. Retreat. Misdirection. A dance of redirection, like in the Forgotten Schools.
He baited Zephyr into overextending.
Then—
A flick.
Zephyr's rapier flew from his hand, buried in a tree.
Silence.
Kairo stood, breathing hard.
Zephyr stared at him.
Then he laughed.
"Interesting. You're full of secrets, Kael Rune. I'll enjoy unraveling you."
He turned and walked away.
🏁 6. Echoes
Lyra approached slowly.
"You shouldn't have beaten him."
"I didn't," Kairo said. "He let me win."
She frowned. "Why?"
Kairo looked up.
The sky reflected in the orbs. But something flickered—a dark sigil above the academy.
"Because someone else just entered the game."
He pointed.
The sigil burned crimson.
And it bore a symbol not seen since the Sky War.
The mark of the Heaven Breakers.