The next morning, Kalem awoke before dawn, as was his habit. The place was quiet, save for the slow, steady breathing of Onyx, his massive bull companion. The scent of hay and leather filled the air as he sat up, stretching the stiffness from his muscles.
His mind was still turning over Tavrin's report from the night before—assassination recruitments were rising, and poisons were in high demand. The Blood Nights were drawing closer. But there was little he could do about that now.
For today, he had normal work to do.
Kalem made his way to the academy's forges, where he had secured limited access thanks to his growing reputation. The room was already alive with activity; other students were hammering out their projects, the clang of metal striking metal echoing through the space.
He greeted Garrick, the burly second-year student, often started to visit him early in the morning after his tanning.
"You're early," Garrick remarked, examining a half-finished gauntlet. "Working on something new?"
Kalem nodded, setting down his tools. "I'm refining the resonance blade. Testing a way to stabilize its cutting properties without draining too much mana."
Garrick let out a low whistle. "You're ambitious. If you ever start selling those, let me know first."
Kalem chuckled but didn't respond. He wasn't ready to share that knowledge just yet—not when he was still experimenting.
For the next few hours, he lost himself in his work, melting, shaping, and refining his materials. The resonance crystal he had embedded in his weapon still needed adjustments. He made a mental note to test it during the next combat trial.
After finishing at the forge, Kalem cleaned up and made his way to the library. He had a growing interest in crystallography and material alchemy, subjects that would help him refine his weapons further.
As he scanned the shelves, he felt a familiar presence nearby.
"Looking for something specific?"
Kalem turned to see Isolde, his tournament rival. She stood with a book tucked under her arm, her usual composed expression in place.
"Something on crystal refinement," he admitted. "You?"
Isolde held up her book—a tome on mana stabilization. "Same concept, different approach. Want to trade notes?"
Kalem raised an eyebrow. "You're offering to collaborate?"
She smirked. "Call it mutual benefit. Besides, I want to see how far you've gotten with that blade of yours."
He considered it for a moment before nodding. "Fine. But no stealing my ideas."
Isolde scoffed. "As if you're the only one with ideas."
They found a table in a quiet corner, discussing theories, experimental failures, and potential breakthroughs. Isolde had a sharp mind, and though she wasn't a blacksmith, her knowledge of magical stabilizers was valuable.
It was the first time they had talked at length outside of a competition. And, to Kalem's surprise, it wasn't unpleasant.
Later that evening, Kalem met Jhaeros and Nara at the training grounds for a spar. With final exams over and the tournament concluded, the sessions had become less formal—more about honing their skills rather than proving anything.
Jhaeros stood calmly, Velka, his dire wolf companion, watching from the sidelines. Nara rolled her shoulders, grinning. "Let's see if you've improved, Kalem."
He smirked. "I should be saying that to you."
They sparred for nearly an hour, exchanging blows, dodging strikes, and testing new techniques. Jhaeros was as fluid as ever, his movements precise. Nara, with her brute strength, forced Kalem to rely on speed and positioning.
By the end, they were all exhausted but satisfied.
As they rested, Lyra arrived, looking slightly out of breath.
"You guys hear the news?" she asked.
Kalem wiped sweat from his brow. "What news?"
Lyra hesitated before lowering her voice. "There was an attack in the city last night. A scholar from the Academy was found dead in the merchant district. Poisoned."
The group fell silent.
Kalem's stomach twisted. He had just spoken with Tavrin about poison sales increasing. Was this connected?
Jhaeros frowned. "Do they know who did it?"
Lyra shook her head. "Not yet. But the faculty is on edge. Security around the Academy is tightening."
Kalem exchanged a glance with Nara, who narrowed her eyes.
This wasn't just an isolated murder. It was a sign.
The Blood Nights had begun.