The Blood Nights had ended, but the scars they left—both seen and unseen—lingered.
Kalem's second year at the academy wrapped up quietly, with no further major incidents. There were still whispers of unresolved mysteries, assassins that had escaped, and hidden hands pulling strings behind the scenes, but none of that stopped life from moving forward.
The academy remained as demanding as ever, its trials relentless. As the months passed, Kalem and his companions focused on training, refining their skills, and mastering new techniques.
For the first few weeks after the Blood Nights, Kalem found himself constantly analyzing everything he had learned. Every fight, every mistake, every weakness. His burns and injuries healed, but he carried the lessons forward.
He spent more time in the forge, crafting new designs, improving old ones, and experimenting with materials he had salvaged from the assassins' equipment. He refined his weapons, adjusted his armor, and tested new ways to integrate alchemical enhancements into his gear.
Jhaeros trained Velka tirelessly, ensuring the dire wolf recovered her full strength. He also honed his own combat skills, incorporating new footwork techniques to complement his speed and precision.
Nara pushed her limits, modifying her gauntlets and incorporating more aggressive fire-based techniques. She spent hours sparring, burning through gloves and protective wraps in her relentless pursuit of power.
Isolde deepened her understanding of ice magic, refining the precision of her attacks. She no longer simply created ice—she shaped it with intention, forming weapons and barriers mid-battle.
Lyra, true to her nature, spent much of her time researching. She analyzed the remains of the Macab's influence, dissected the lingering traces of dark magic, and compiled notes on how to counter such threats in the future.
Even Garrick, who had emerged mostly unscathed, adjusted his combat style. Though he had always relied on his overwhelming defense, he began incorporating more offensive tactics, understanding that sometimes even the sturdiest walls needed to push forward.
Before they knew it, their second year ended. There was no dramatic conclusion, no grand finale—just the quiet realization that they had made it through.
With their third year beginning, the challenges changed.
The academy no longer focused on basic survival and fundamentals. Now, it pushed them toward specialization. Students were expected to define their paths, to master their crafts, to refine their combat styles.
Kalem found himself diving deeper into his engineering and alchemical studies, applying his knowledge to create more efficient tools and weapons. His understanding of mana flow had evolved, allowing him to integrate energy dispersion into his designs.
Jhaeros and Velka became an even more formidable pair, their movements synchronized to an almost unnatural degree. Their opponents often found themselves struggling to react to attacks from two fronts.
Nara, now more confident in her fire techniques, experimented with fusing heat into her strikes, allowing her blows to sear through defenses with sheer force.
Isolde continued refining her ice mastery, learning how to shift temperatures mid-battle, freezing the very air around her to disorient opponents.
Lyra delved deeper into alchemical reactions, developing countermeasures against various poisons, curses, and magical afflictions.
Time moved forward. Their skills sharpened. Their bonds strengthened.
And before they knew it, they had reached the halfway point of their third year.
Yet despite the relative calm, Kalem couldn't shake the feeling that something was looming on the horizon.