The Aftermath of Power
A cold breeze swept through the Examination Grounds, yet my body burned with something far more potent.
The pillars of shattered stone stood as a testament to what had just happened—what I had just done.
S-Rank.
The highest classification. The very symbol of unparalleled power.
Silence clung to the air, thick with disbelief.
"Impossible."
"Kael Ardent? The cursed one? S-Rank?"
"The crystal must be broken!"
But the crystal wasn't broken.
And neither was I.
For the first time in this new life, I had proven them wrong.
And yet—
As I lifted my gaze, I saw him.
Crown Prince Adrian Ardent.
The golden-haired heir of the empire, beloved by all, the perfect prince.
His lips curled into a slow, deliberate smile, one that sent a cold shiver through my veins.
"Not bad, little brother."
His voice carried through the hushed arena like a blade carving into my skin.
Brother.
He had never called me that before.
Not once.
I clenched my fists. It wasn't recognition. It wasn't praise. It was something else—something unreadable.
Before I could dissect the moment further, a soft, musical laugh cut through the tension.
"How interesting," a feminine voice murmured.
I turned just as Eleanor Vael stepped forward.
---
A Divine Invitation
Eleanor was a vision of ethereal beauty, her silver hair shimmering in the sunlight. The faint scent of sacred incense followed her, the divine magic within her veins exuding a warmth that seemed at odds with my own cursed presence.
Yet—her emerald eyes held no fear.
Only curiosity.
She tilted her head, studying me like a puzzle yet to be solved.
"You broke the pillar," she said, amusement lacing her voice.
I held her gaze, silent.
Most people looked at me with contempt.
She looked at me with intrigue.
"It takes more than raw strength to shatter an enchanted construct," she continued. "You weren't simply strong, Kael Ardent. You were something else entirely."
Her voice was soft, almost intimate, but it carried across the arena.
More eyes turned to me.
More whispers.
I kept my face impassive, but inside, something tightened.
This was dangerous.
I had wanted recognition, yes. But too much attention? Too many questions?
That could lead to the truth of my Mark being exposed.
And I wasn't ready for that.
"Perhaps you'd be willing to join me for tea later?" Eleanor smiled, her fingers brushing a strand of silver hair behind her ear.
The invitation was unexpected.
And I wasn't the only one who thought so.
A sharp laugh cut through the moment.
"Tea? With a cursed prince?"
Damien Crowe.
---
A Predator's Gaze
Damien moved with a lazy elegance, his dark cloak fluttering behind him. His crimson eyes gleamed with amusement, but there was something dangerous lurking beneath.
Something unsettling.
"You're awfully bold, Eleanor," he mused. "Inviting a man touched by the abyss for tea. Do you enjoy courting danger?"
Eleanor didn't falter.
She merely smiled. "I find danger... intriguing."
The tension between them crackled, and I suddenly understood something.
These two weren't just rivals.
They were hunters—both accustomed to seeking out the strongest prey.
And now, somehow, I had become their target.
I exhaled, forcing my heartbeat to slow.
"I'll have to decline," I said, my voice even. "I have no time for idle conversations."
Eleanor's expression didn't change, but her eyes glinted with something unreadable.
Damien, on the other hand, let out a low chuckle.
"How cold," he murmured. "I think I like you already, Ardent."
I didn't respond.
I had no interest in their games.
I had come here to prove myself, not to entertain the whims of nobles.
But as I turned away, I felt something strange.
A soft, almost imperceptible tug in the air.
A ripple of energy.
And then—
Pain.
---
The Cursed Awakening
It was sudden.
A sharp burning sensation seared through my arm, traveling up to my chest.
My vision blurred—
The Cursed Mark was reacting.
No.
Not now.
Not here.
I clenched my jaw, forcing my body to remain still.
The Mark was unstable, writhing beneath my skin like a living entity.
Something about this place—this moment—was triggering it.
I had to get away.
Now.
I turned on my heel and walked away, ignoring the stares, ignoring the whispers, ignoring the weight of eyes on my back.
But just before I stepped beyond the threshold of the examination arena—
A hand grasped my wrist.
A touch that was both soft and firm.
I looked up.
And my breath caught.
Eleanor.
She had followed me.
Her emerald eyes were no longer amused.
They were concerned.
"Kael," she said, her voice quieter now, just for me. "Are you alright?"
Her fingers were cool against my burning skin.
For a moment, just a moment, I felt the pain ease.
It was an unfamiliar sensation—
Comfort.
But I couldn't allow it.
I pulled away.
"I'm fine."
Eleanor hesitated.
Then, with a soft sigh, she stepped back. "If you ever need anything..." she trailed off, before offering a small, knowing smile. "I'll be around."
And with that, she was gone.
I exhaled slowly.
Something had changed today.
I had proven myself.
But I had also gained something I wasn't sure I wanted.
Attention. Interest. Intrigue.
And in this world—those things could be more dangerous than any blade.
As I walked away, I couldn't shake the feeling.
The feeling that this was only the beginning.
The beginning of something far greater.