The next morning arrived with a chill in the underground chamber. A strange silence hung in the air, broken only by the rhythmic sounds of fists striking stone and blades cutting through the wind.
Kai sat cross-legged, the fire crystal glowing faintly in his palm. He'd meditated through most of the night, feeling the flow of Qi in his body slowly settle. The flame no longer lashed out uncontrollably — it pulsed now, steady and warm.
"You look alive," came the familiar voice of the masked warrior — his mentor, though Kai still didn't know his name.
Kai opened his eyes and nodded. "I didn't sleep."
"Good. Sleep is a luxury right now."
The warrior gestured for Kai to follow him to the center of the training ground. Several other young cultivators stood in a wide circle, their uniforms trimmed in silver and black, each marked with a small symbol — the insignia of the Veilguard.
As Kai stepped into the circle, the others turned to look at him.
Some curious.
Some indifferent.
And one… clearly hostile.
A tall boy with pale silver eyes and dark gray hair stepped forward. He wore a sleeveless robe that exposed lean, muscular arms. His aura was sharp, like a blade kept just slightly sheathed.
"New recruit?" he asked the mentor, not bothering to look at Kai. "Another firecracker?"
The mentor didn't respond. Instead, he addressed the group. "Today, Kai will face his first sparring trial. It will test his control, instincts, and response under pressure."
The silver-eyed boy scoffed. "He can barely stand straight."
The mentor turned to Kai. "You'll be fighting him."
Kai's heart skipped. "Wait—what?"
"You need to learn fast. He's one of our best mid-level trainees. Don't aim to win. Aim to survive."
The silver-eyed boy stepped into the circle, cracking his knuckles. "Name's Ren. Hope you don't cry, rookie."
Kai clenched his jaw, stepping forward. The other students gathered, whispers flying like wind.
"Didn't he just awaken yesterday?"
"This is unfair…"
"He'll be crushed."
Ren raised one hand, his palm glowing with pale, shimmering Qi. It wasn't fire. It was colder — like moonlight forged into steel.
Elemental Qi. Lunar Affinity.
Kai felt the temperature drop as Ren's Qi filled the space.
"Begin," the mentor said, stepping back.
Ren moved first — fast. A blur.
Kai barely dodged as a palm strike flew past his face. He staggered, rolling back and throwing up a hand defensively. Fire burst out — uncontrolled, wild — forcing Ren to backstep.
But it wasn't enough.
Ren closed the gap again, landing a solid kick to Kai's side. Pain flared through Kai's ribs, and he tumbled hard against the floor.
Laughter rippled through the crowd.
Kai gasped for air, his hands trembling.
No. Not like this. I didn't come here to lose again.
He remembered the monster.
The fear.
The helplessness.
He wasn't that boy anymore.
Kai pushed himself up. His flame flickered to life again, not from fear… but from purpose.
He raised both hands. "Come on, then."
Ren smiled, amused. "Good. Show me fire."
Kai stepped forward, and this time, his flame obeyed. A line of fire erupted from his palm — not clean, but strong. Ren dodged it, but the heat forced him off rhythm.
Kai struck — not with skill, but with heart. Blow after blow, his fire flared wild arcs of heat, forcing Ren to defend instead of attack.
For a moment… Kai held his own.
Then Ren's expression changed. His playful smirk vanished. His palm moved in a blur, and Qi gathered in his fingers like silver blades.
He slammed it into Kai's chest.
The flame inside Kai bucked — and for a heartbeat, everything went black.
He hit the ground, gasping, sparks flying from his limbs.
"Enough!" the mentor called out sharply, stepping in.
Ren stepped back, breathing calmly. "He's got guts. I'll give him that."
Kai lay on the stone floor, his chest burning, body aching… but alive.
The mentor knelt beside him. "You did well. He's two stages above you. And yet you lasted longer than anyone expected."
Kai coughed, then grinned. "Did I pass?"
"You did more than that," the mentor said. "You learned. And more importantly… you burned."
As the other students returned to their routines, Kai remained lying on the floor, watching the ceiling.
His flame had been tested.
And though it flickered — it hadn't gone out.