The clang of metal against metal echoed across the Academy's nearly restored training grounds.
Sang-hoon twirled his lance in a defensive maneuver, narrowly deflecting an incoming projectile hurled by a training automaton. His grip tightened as the weapon vibrated in his hands.
Kaelith, now noticeably larger than when they first bonded, crouched a few feet away. His dark, shimmering scales caught the sunlight, and the faint flicker of shadowy flames danced at the edges of his maw.
The dragon's movements were more deliberate, his coordination sharper—a testament to their growing bond.
"Kaelith, flank left!" Sang-hoon shouted, thrusting his lance forward to block another automaton's strike.
The dragon darted to the left, his claws digging into the ground before he leapt onto the automaton's side. His weight and speed forced the construct to stumble, leaving its core exposed.
Sang-hoon seized the opening.
"Arvendale's Strike!"
A burst of light erupted from the lance's tip, striking the automaton's core. The construct froze before crumpling to the ground, its gears grinding to a halt.
Kaelith chirped triumphantly, his tail swishing with satisfaction.
"Not bad," Sang-hoon muttered, brushing sweat from his brow. "But we need to tighten our timing. That pause was too long."
Kaelith tilted his head, the low rumble of his growl sounding almost like reluctant agreement.
The past few weeks had been a blur of relentless training. Sang-hoon had pushed himself harder than ever, desperate to close the gap between his current abilities and the challenges he knew were looming.
The memories from Count Arvendale, fragmented as they were, provided him with insights into advanced combat techniques. Yet, mastering them in real life proved far more grueling than in the safety of a controlled environment.
Kaelith, too, had grown stronger. His size now rivaled that of a large hound, and his flames were more potent, carrying a faint undertone of shadow energy that hinted at his lineage.
Their bond had deepened, but Sang-hoon knew they were still far from perfect synchronization.
"Again," he said, resetting the automaton with a flick of a mana crystal.
Kaelith let out a soft whine but positioned himself nonetheless, his body coiled and ready.
Seraphina watched from the edge of the training grounds, her arms crossed and her Phoenix perched on her shoulder. The majestic bird tilted its head, its golden feathers gleaming in the sunlight as it observed Sang-hoon and Kaelith.
"Elyska's changed," she muttered to herself.
Her cousin Casen had returned earlier that morning with sparse but curious findings. There was little record of Elyska Grayson before his arrival at the Academy.
A few scattered mentions of a reclusive noble family on the western border. No notable accomplishments, no familial connections of influence—just a quiet, unremarkable life that didn't fit the actions of the person she was watching now.
Sang-hoon's every move screamed experience beyond his supposed years. His tactics, his ability to adapt mid-battle, and his uncanny intuition—it was as though he'd been through hundreds of battles before setting foot on the Academy grounds.
In a way she was right.
Kim Sang-hoon had previously served in the South Korean army.
Even though he didn't see action, he was part of the Korean Army's fencing team, representing his country at the Military World Games.
He won the bronze medal at the summer games.
This was why he was able to adapt so easily to Elena's spear movements and training.
And with the Count's memories, the spear gradually began to look more like a foil, the most commonly used weapon in fencing.
Seraphina's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of Sang-hoon's lance clanging against another automaton.
The automaton lunged, its blade descending rapidly.
Sang-hoon sidestepped with precision, spinning the lance in a wide arc to strike the construct's shoulder joint.
"Kaelith, go!"
The dragon obeyed, leaping forward and blasting the automaton's core with a burst of shadow-tinged fire.
Seraphina narrowed her eyes. There it was again—that unspoken synchronization, as though the two were linked by more than just the typical bond of beast and tamer.
She approached as Sang-hoon reset the automaton once more.
"You've been pushing yourself harder than anyone else."
Sang-hoon turned, surprised to see Seraphina. Kaelith growled softly, positioning himself protectively at Sang-hoon's side.
"Not hard enough," Sang-hoon replied, lowering his lance. "There's too much at stake to take it easy."
Her gaze lingered on him for a moment before she spoke again. "You've improved. But it's not just training, is it? You know something."
Sang-hoon tensed. "What are you getting at?"
"I've been watching you," she admitted, her voice even. "During the battle, you knew things—about Darien, about the attack. And now, you're preparing for something else. Something you're not sharing with the rest of us."
Sang-hoon's jaw tightened. "I'm just trying to be ready."
Seraphina took a step closer, her Phoenix shifting uneasily on her shoulder. "For what? Another attack? Or something worse?"
The weight of her questions hung in the air.
"I can't answer that," Sang-hoon said finally, his tone firm but weary.
"You mean you won't," she countered, her eyes narrowing.
Kaelith let out a low growl, but Sang-hoon placed a hand on the dragon's head to calm him.
"Seraphina, I'm on your side," he said, meeting her gaze. "Whatever's coming, I'm trying to stop it. Isn't that enough?"
For a long moment, Seraphina said nothing. Then, she sighed, turning away.
"For now," she said, her voice quieter. "But secrets have a way of unraveling, Elyska. Be careful they don't strangle you when they do."
She walked away, her Phoenix taking flight above her.
Sang-hoon exhaled heavily, gripping his lance tighter.
"We've got to be better, Kaelith," he muttered. "Because she's right—secrets don't stay hidden forever."
Kaelith chirped softly, his glowing eyes fixed on Sang-hoon. If the dragon could speak, Sang-hoon imagined he'd say something like, "Then we'll just have to make sure we're ready when they come out."
Sang-hoon nodded, resetting the automaton one last time.
"Let's go again."