The flames around Elara didn't harm her, she struggled to break free from Ryen's grip before her eyes closed, and she passed out. Jasper and Alastair, witnessing the scene, were frozen in shock.
Across the arena, Lady Jasper's eyes widened as she sensed something was wrong. Her gaze sharpened, and her crystalline blue eyes flared, casting an eerie glow over her face. She gripped her katana, now radiant with the same blue hue, and stepped forward.
"We need to stop Ryen." her voice tense. She leapt forward, her katana raised. As she approached, the air around her thickened, a transparent blue aura surrounding her like a crushing force. The pressure multiplied, rippling outward in waves . Instantly, Jasper's aura shattered, she got slammed into the ground with a boom. She fell unconscious, her body sprawled as her glowing blue eyes faded to white.
Alastair spread his arms wide, and black whip-like tendrils extended from them, twisting and writhing with dark energy. With a fierce leap, he lunged toward Ryen. But Ryen simply raised his hand, his voice calm as he whispered, "Soul Shackle."
In an instant, shimmering blue, ethereal chains appeared out of thin air, wrapping tightly around Alastair and halting him mid-air. The chains glowed with an intense, otherworldly light, binding him completely and draining the strength from his movements.
The booming sound of Jasper's impact had drawn Regin and Silas, who arrived to find Alastair bound and Jasper unconscious on the ground. Ryen's gaze turned toward them, his eyes blazing with blue fire. But as he caught sight of Regin, the flames in his eyes faded. His face softened, and he collapsed, passing out cold on the ground.
As soon as Ryen passed out, the chains binding Alastair vanished, leaving him drained and gasping for breath. "Haah...haaa... What was that? Is he really this strong?" Alastair questioned, still trying to steady himself. Regin, equally stunned, kept his gaze fixed on Ryen and responded, "I don't know." Silas, usually composed and with answers for everything, looked shaken, a line of sweat trickling down his forehead as he muttered, "That skill... did you see it?" Regin nodded, still in shock. "Yes, I'm thinking about it too." Silas looked over to Alastair and said, "We need to go to Ryen's house immediately. Take care of the others while we're gone."
Alastair nodded, understanding the weight of the situation. Regin and Silas promptly left for Ryen's house.
The scene shifts to a stop outside a police station, where a man with dark skin, gray eyes, and neatly combed black hair emerged, dressed in an inspector's uniform. "Nice to meet you, Master Regin and Silas," he greeted them formally. Regin replied, "Nice to meet you too, Steven. Were you able to handle what we requested?" Steven nodded. "Yes, I made sure everyone left. But why the secrecy?"
Silas adjusted his glasses, his expression unreadable. "You'll understand when the time is right," he replied, and Steven nodded. Leading them into the station, Steven guided them to a back room, where a plain cardboard box sat on a table. Opening it, Regin pulled out a family photo of Ryen. Both he and Silas fell silent, shock reflecting in their expressions as they exchanged a look.
After setting the photo back into the box, they headed for the door. Puzzled, Steven called after them, "Wait, aren't you going to look through the rest? You told me to gather everything!"
Silas, his glasses reflecting the dim light, responded coolly, "No need. We've found more than we expected." As they exited, Steven muttered under his breath, "All this, for a photo? It took me all through lunch to get this ready..."
With that, Regin and Silas climbed back into the car, disappearing down the road, leaving Steven bewildered as he watched them fade into the distance.Steven glanced around to make sure the coast was clear before heading back to his desk. Once he was sure no one was watching, he opened a drawer, pulled out an adult magazine, and leaned back in his chair, flipping through the pages with a smirk.
In the heart of a dense, dark forest, a small cave lay hidden, illuminated only by the flickering light of a fire. Inside, The mesterious old man sat hunched beside the flames, his face etched with age and sorrow, while Caelic in a sleek black suit sat opposite him, looking irritable.
Caelic casting a disdainful glance around the damp cave. "Hey, old man," he muttered, voice dripping with annoyance, "all this just because of you. Now we're stuck in this crappy cave."
The old man's face twisted in sorrow, his eyes glistening as he replied in a voice tinged with regret. "I'm terribly sorry, Caelic. I can't do anything about my decaying body...or these root."
With a sigh and a soft smile, Caelic softened, saying, "Hey, don't get all teary. I can put up with this cave for a bit longer if it's for you." His tone, though light, couldn't hide his own unease.
In his usual pained voice, the old man asked, "How goes the plan? Have you executed everything as discussed?"
"Almost everything," Caelic replied. "But, can I ask—why did you choose the opening exam date? There will be so many powerful Meteorions present."
The old man's sorrow-laden voice revealed a grim strategy. "That's exactly why. With everyone there, they'll feel protected. Their guard will be down."
Caelic frowned, clearly puzzled. "I get that, but…wouldn't that work if we attacked with a larger group? It's just the two of us. Won't we be overpowered in seconds?"
The old man closed his eyes, a bittersweet smile appearing on his face. "I'm the one who will die, Caelic. You'll be taking the map; there's no need for you to worry."
Caelic went silent, his expression conflicted. "I understand…but why do you have to die?"
The old man's grin held a trace of resolve, though his voice remained heavy with sorrow. "If I die, you will live. If I try to survive, we both will perish. In this plan, my death is unavoidable."
Caelic clenched his jaw, saying nothing more as he stood and left the cave, leaving the old man alone in the flickering firelight, shadows dancing across his somber face.
In a dimly lit room in Caelum Mansion, Alastair sat beside Ryen's bed, a newspaper in his hands but his attention focused on his friend. Outside the tall windows, the morning light began to filter in, casting soft shadows across the floor. Ryen lay still, his breathing shallow as he began to stir.
Suddenly, Ryen jolted awake, sitting up with a shock. "Hey, what the hell are you talking about…" His voice trailed off as he turned his gaze to Alastair. A sharp pain flared in his head, and he pressed a hand to his temple, wincing.
Alastair set the newspaper aside, giving Ryen a calm, assessing look. "Rough sleep, huh? Did you have a nightmare?"
Ryen rubbed his temples, struggling to piece his memory together. "Did I…did I pass out during the spar?"
Alastair nodded slowly. Ryen's face turned red, his eyes dropping to his lap as he tried to remember. "Elara…" he murmured, "she's seriously strong. I only saw her leg coming at me for a kick…and I blacked out right there. Where is she?"
Alastair glanced over his shoulder. "She's resting in her room. Want to go see her?"
Ryen nodded, swinging his legs out of bed and climbing to his feet. "Yeah…I need to tell her she's really strong." He and Alastair walked down the hall and climbed the grand staircase to Elara's room, each step heavy with Ryen's growing confusion.