The first thing Kai felt was cold—an unforgiving, bone-deep chill that settled into his skin. His head was throbbing, and his vision was blurry as he struggled to make sense of his surroundings. The stone walls around him were damp and rough, the faint sound of dripping water echoing through the small, confined space. He blinked a few times, trying to clear his vision, only to realize that he was in a small, dimly lit cell.
A sharp pain shot through his temples as he tried to sit up. "Where… where am I?" he murmured to himself, rubbing his head as he tried to recall what had happened. The last thing he remembered was leaving the academy grounds, setting off on his journey to master the **Zenith Reflex**. And now… this.
He glanced around, noticing the heavy iron bars that separated him from a narrow corridor. The smell of dampness and rust filled the air, mixing with a distant murmur of voices. There were no windows, only a flickering torch mounted on the wall across from his cell, casting eerie shadows on the stone floor.
Kai stood up slowly, wincing as his muscles protested against the movement. "Hello?" he called out, his voice echoing off the walls. "Is anyone there?"
No response. He moved closer to the bars, gripping them tightly. They were cold and unyielding under his hands. "Hey! Can anyone hear me?"
A shuffle of footsteps echoed down the corridor, and a figure appeared from the shadows. It was a guard—a tall, burly man with a scar running down his cheek. His expression was unreadable as he approached Kai's cell, a ring of keys jangling at his side.
Kai's heart pounded in his chest as he tried to keep his voice steady. "What is this place? Why am I here?"
The guard stopped a few feet away, his eyes narrowing slightly. "You're in holding," he said gruffly. "And you'll stay here until they decide what to do with you."
Kai frowned, his mind racing. "Holding? Holding for what? I haven't done anything wrong!"
The guard's lips curled into a faint, almost mocking smile. "That's not for me to say, boy. I just follow orders."
Kai clenched his fists, frustration bubbling inside him. "Who gave the orders? At least tell me who's in charge!"
The guard hesitated for a moment, then shrugged. "Wouldn't make much of a difference if you knew. Orders came from up high. You're not going anywhere until they say so."
Kai's mind raced. *Up high?* Was this some sort of mistake? Did they think he was someone else? He had left the academy without much of an explanation, but surely the academy would have heard by now. They would know he was missing… wouldn't they?
"Listen," Kai tried again, his tone more urgent. "I have people who will be looking for me. I'm a student at the academy. If you contact them, they can vouch for me—"
The guard cut him off with a harsh laugh. "Academy? Out here? You must be joking. Nobody's coming for you, boy. You're far from home."
A cold chill ran down Kai's spine at the guard's words. "What do you mean, 'far from home'? Where am I?"
The guard's smile widened just a fraction, a sinister gleam in his eye. "Let's just say you're somewhere they won't find you."
Kai's heart sank. Whoever had placed him here had taken precautions. But why? And who? He backed away from the bars, his mind whirling. "You can't keep me here forever. I'll find a way out, and when I do—"
"You'll do what?" the guard challenged, his voice dripping with amusement. "I've heard it all before. Empty threats. You're not the first to end up here, and you won't be the last."
Kai's jaw tightened, his frustration mounting. "Just tell me who's behind this. Give me a name."
The guard chuckled again, turning away. "Not my place to say. But you'll find out soon enough. Or maybe you won't. Either way, you're staying put."
Kai watched as the guard's figure faded back into the shadows, leaving him alone once more. His breathing was heavy, his mind spinning with questions. Why would anyone imprison him like this? He hadn't done anything wrong—at least, nothing that would warrant being thrown into some kind of secret jail.
He turned back to the cell, leaning his forehead against the cold, damp stone wall. "This doesn't make any sense," he muttered to himself. "Why… why now?"
Time passed slowly, each minute stretching into what felt like an eternity. He paced the small space, his thoughts racing. The academy should know by now, he reasoned. Reina, Yuta… they would notice he was gone. But if this place was as remote as the guard implied, then getting word out would be nearly impossible.
The flickering light from the torch outside his cell grew dimmer, casting long shadows that seemed to dance along the walls. The air grew colder, and a sense of isolation settled over him like a thick fog. He knew he couldn't just sit here and wait. He had to find a way to reach the academy, to let them know where he was.
Kai's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of approaching footsteps. This time, they were lighter, more deliberate. A different figure appeared at the edge of his vision—slim, with a hood pulled low over their face, obscuring their features.
Kai straightened, his muscles tense. "Who are you?" he demanded.
The figure stopped just outside the bars, their head tilted slightly. A soft voice, almost a whisper, replied, "A friend… or an enemy. Depends on your perspective."
Kai narrowed his eyes, trying to make out the face beneath the hood. "Why am I here? Who's behind this?"
The figure chuckled softly. "You ask many questions, Kai. But you might not like the answers."
Kai's pulse quickened. "You know my name. That means you know more than you're letting on. Are you with the ones who took me?"
The figure remained silent for a moment before speaking again, their voice barely above a murmur. "I know a lot of things, Kai. Things that could help you… or things that could keep you here."
Kai felt a flicker of hope, mixed with suspicion. "If you can help, then why not just tell me? What's going on?"
The figure leaned closer, their face still hidden in shadow. "All in due time, Kai. For now, just know this: you're here because someone wanted you out of the way. Someone who fears what you might become."
Kai's eyes widened. "What I might become? What does that mean?"
The figure turned to leave, their voice drifting back to him like a ghost. "It means you're more important than you think. But that importance comes with a price."
"Wait!" Kai shouted, gripping the bars. "Who are you? Tell me something useful!"
But the figure was already fading back into the darkness, leaving Kai with nothing but questions and the cold stone walls of his cell.
As the footsteps faded, Kai felt a surge of determination. He didn't know who was behind this or why, but he wasn't going to sit here and let them win. He would find a way out—no matter what it took. And when he did, he'd make sure that whoever was responsible would answer for it.
For now, though, he needed a plan. And he needed it fast.