Three days later – Combat Class Grounds
The sky was clear, but Kael felt the storm brewing inside.
He stood at the edge of the training field, surrounded by classmates.
Wooden dummies lined the walls. Instructors barked orders. Students laughed, casting spells like fireflies.
But Kael?
Kael just stood.
No partner. No wand. No spell.
Just... silence.
Again.
> "Hey Crestless," said Varyn, the son of a noble mage family, stepping forward with his silver staff. "Why don't you show us something today?"
Kael didn't respond.
> "Oh right," Varyn chuckled, "there's nothing to show."
Laughter followed, sharp and cutting.
> "Come on, fight me," Varyn said louder. "I want to see what a broken bloodline looks like up close."
Kael looked away.
> "Coward," someone muttered.
> "He's not even worth the magic."
But then—
Kael's symbol pulsed under his shirt. Soft. Cold.
And a voice whispered like shadows across his soul.
> "Are you going to let them bury you again?"
Kael bit his lip. "I don't want to hurt anyone…"
> "And yet they want to break you."
"You've been kind. Patient. Silent."
"But kindness to wolves makes you their meal."
Kael looked up. His fists clenched.
> "I'm not like them."
> "No. You're worse than them."
"Because you have a monster that refuses to wake up."
Varyn pushed him hard in the chest.
> "What? Too weak to even speak now?"
Kael stumbled back—but didn't fall.
His eyes… empty.
Then he said it.
Soft. Deadly.
> "You shouldn't have touched me."
Varyn smirked. "Or what? You'll cry?"
But in that instant—
The air dropped.
The ground trembled.
The sky dimmed—just slightly.
Everyone froze.
Varyn's smirk faded.
Kael stood straight, eyes shadowed, voice hollow.
> "You all laughed when I fell."
"But you never noticed… I always stood back up."
His symbol lit—just once.
A pulse. A flicker of violet.
And then—
Boom.
Varyn flew backwards as if slammed by a force no one saw.
He crashed into the wall. Hard.
Silence.
Students stared, mouths open.
> "What the hell… was that?!"
Kael stared at his hands.
> "I didn't… move."
Inside him, Azrion growled with pride.
> "You didn't need to."
"Your soul moved for you."
Later that night – Inside Kael's Mind
He stood in a dark dreamscape—cold winds, shattered skies.
In the distance, a broken throne made of black stone.
Azrion sat on it, crimson eyes glowing like dying suns.
> "So… the world finally saw your spark."
Kael stepped forward, trembling.
> "That wasn't magic… It wasn't me."
Azrion stood.
> "It was your pain."
"Given shape. Given voice."
"Your body didn't fight—but your soul did."
Kael's voice cracked.
> "I don't want to become a monster."
> "Then stop feeding the people who cage you."
"They don't want you to be strong. They want you to stay broken."
Kael fell to his knees.
> "I'm scared…"
Azrion's voice softened.
> "So was I."
"But fear is the forge of those who change the world."
> "You were born without a place in their world…"
"So make one of your own."
> "Make them kneel at the ashes of what they tried to destroy."
Kael opened his eyes, back in his cold dorm.
He looked at his shaking hand.
> "I don't understand what I am…"
> "You will."
"Soon."
Outside, the wind howled.
And somewhere high above, a divine being paused—eyes narrowing.
Something had awakened.
And it should not exist.
END OF CHAPTER 3