The palace was no longer safe.
Not after what happened.
Not after her.
---
The attack had ended—
But the fear remained.
It clung to the walls.
To the air.
To every whisper that passed through the halls.
---
Aria stood alone in a quiet chamber, staring at her hand.
The same hand that had stopped time.
The same hand that had… broken something she couldn't even understand.
---
"…What am I?"
Her voice was barely a whisper.
---
"You're dangerous."
---
She turned sharply.
Kael stood by the window, arms crossed, watching her.
His presence was silent as always.
But his eyes—
They weren't calm anymore.
---
"They weren't normal soldiers."
He continued.
"They didn't hesitate. Didn't react. Didn't fear death."
A pause.
"…But they feared you."
---
Aria looked down again.
"…I didn't mean to do that."
---
"I know."
Kael stepped closer.
Slowly.
Carefully.
As if approaching something unpredictable.
---
"But intention doesn't matter."
He stopped in front of her.
Close.
Too close.
---
"What matters…"
His voice dropped slightly.
"…is what you are."
---
Aria lifted her gaze.
"And what do you think I am?"
---
Kael held her eyes.
For a moment—
He didn't answer.
---
Then—
"Not human."
---
Silence.
---
The words didn't hurt.
They didn't shock her.
---
Because deep inside—
She already knew.
---
Before she could respond—
The door opened.
---
Leon entered.
---
Unlike Kael—
He didn't hesitate.
Didn't slow down.
Didn't soften his presence.
---
"We don't have time."
He said immediately.
---
Kael sighed slightly.
"…You really don't know how to knock."
---
"This isn't a conversation."
Leon replied coldly.
"It's a situation."
---
His gaze moved to Aria.
Sharp.
Focused.
---
"You need to learn how to control it."
---
Aria frowned slightly.
"I don't even understand it."
---
"Then you'll learn faster."
---
Kael let out a quiet laugh.
"…Of course that's your solution."
---
Leon ignored him.
---
"The next attack won't be the same."
He continued.
"They tested you."
---
Aria's eyes widened slightly.
"…Tested me?"
---
"Yes."
Kael said softly.
"They weren't trying to win."
A pause.
"…They were trying to confirm something."
---
Aria felt a chill run through her.
---
"…And they did."
---
Silence filled the room again.
---
Then—
Leon turned.
"Come with me."
---
"Where?"
---
"Training hall."
---
Kael raised an eyebrow.
"…Already?"
---
"We don't have a choice."
Leon replied.
"If she can do that…"
His eyes flickered briefly.
"…then she can do more."
---
Aria hesitated.
Just for a moment.
---
Then she nodded.
"…Fine."
---
Because deep down—
She wanted answers too.
---
⚔️ The Training Hall
---
The hall was vast.
Cold.
Empty.
---
Perfect for destruction.
---
Aria stepped inside slowly.
Her footsteps echoed.
---
Leon walked ahead.
Kael followed behind.
---
"Try again."
Leon said.
---
Aria blinked.
"…Try what?"
---
"What you did."
---
"That wasn't something I chose to do."
---
"Then make it a choice."
---
Kael leaned against the wall.
Watching.
Silent.
---
Aria took a deep breath.
Then another.
---
She raised her hand.
Just like before.
---
Nothing happened.
---
"…See?"
---
"Again."
Leon said.
---
She frowned slightly.
Then tried again.
---
Nothing.
---
Frustration began to rise.
---
"I told you—"
---
"Stop thinking."
Kael interrupted suddenly.
---
Aria looked at him.
---
"Last time…"
He said quietly.
"…you weren't thinking."
---
A pause.
---
"You were reacting."
---
Aria's expression shifted.
---
"…Then how do I do that again?"
---
Kael smiled faintly.
---
"Easy."
---
He pushed himself off the wall.
---
And in the next second—
He was right in front of her.
---
His hand shot forward—
Grabbing her wrist.
---
"Feel it."
---
Aria's breath caught.
---
"Feel what?"
---
Kael leaned closer.
His voice low.
---
"That thing inside you."
---
Her heartbeat quickened.
---
"…I can't—"
---
"Yes, you can."
---
Leon watched silently.
Carefully.
---
Aria closed her eyes.
---
And this time—
She didn't think.
---
She felt.
---
The fear.
The pressure.
The chaos.
---
And beneath it all—
That same presence.
---
That same power.
---
Waiting.
---
"…I feel it…"
She whispered.
---
Kael's grip tightened slightly.
---
"Good."
---
"Now don't lose it."
---
Suddenly—
Leon moved.
---
Fast.
---
His sword cut through the air—
Straight toward Aria.
---
Her eyes snapped open.
---
"LEON—?!"
---
Too fast.
---
Too close.
---
No time to think.
---
Only react.
---
And then—
---
It happened.
---
The air distorted.
---
Time slowed—
No.
---
It bent.
---
The blade stopped.
---
Right before her.
---
Again.
---
But this time—
She was aware.
---
She could feel it.
Control it.
Shape it.
---
"…I'm doing it…"
---
Kael's eyes lit up slightly.
"…Yeah."
---
Leon didn't stop.
---
"Then push it further."
---
He forced the blade forward—
Against the invisible force.
---
Aria's expression tightened.
---
"I can't—"
---
"Yes, you can."
---
The pressure increased.
---
Her body trembled.
---
The power surged.
---
Unstable.
Wild.
---
Then—
---
It exploded.
---
A shockwave burst outward—
Throwing both Leon and Kael back.
---
The entire hall shook.
---
Dust filled the air.
---
Silence followed.
---
Aria stood in the center.
Breathing heavily.
---
"…I…"
---
Kael stood up slowly.
Brushing dust off his clothes.
---
"…Okay."
He muttered.
"…That's new."
---
Leon rose as well.
His eyes sharper than ever.
---
"You're not controlling it."
He said.
---
"You're releasing it."
---
Aria looked at her hands again.
---
"…Then teach me."
---
For the first time—
She wasn't resisting.
---
She wasn't confused.
---
She was determined.
---
Kael smiled slightly.
---
"…Now that's interesting."
---
But before they could continue—
---
A voice echoed through the hall.
---
"Training already?"
---
All three turned.
---
A man stood at the entrance.
---
Tall.
Elegant.
Dressed in white.
---
Smiling.
---
But his eyes—
---
Empty.
---
"…Who are you?"
Leon asked coldly.
---
The man stepped forward slowly.
---
"You can call me…"
A pause.
---
"…the one who came to take her."
---
Silence.
---
Then—
He looked directly at Aria.
---
And smiled wider.
---
"…Princess."
---
Kael's expression darkened instantly.
---
Leon stepped forward.
Sword ready.
---
"…You chose the wrong place."
---
The man chuckled softly.
---
"No."
---
His eyes glowed faintly.
---
"I chose the perfect moment."
---
And in that instant—
The air twisted again.
---
But this time—
It wasn't Aria.
---
It was hem