The trek back to the surface was silent. Dante's thoughts swirled, consumed by the faint flicker of familiarity he had seen in the cavern. Could it really have been Ista? No, she had fallen. He had seen her body—but what if?
Damien's voice broke the silence. "You've been brooding since we left. Spill it."
Dante glanced at his friend, the usual humor in Damien's eyes replaced with sharp focus. "I thought I saw her," Dante admitted.
"Ista?" Damien's brows furrowed. "Dante, we both know—"
"I know what I saw," Dante interrupted. "Or at least, I think I do. It doesn't make sense, but something in that chamber…" He shook his head. "Never mind. We'll figure it out later."
Damien sighed, patting Dante on the shoulder. "If she's out there, we'll find her. But right now, we need to focus. Marik's up to something, and he's not going to wait for us to catch up."
As they reached the surface, the bustling life of the academy greeted them. The sight was almost jarring after the oppressive atmosphere of the cavern. But there was no time to rest.
The Training Grounds Instructor Kai stood at the center of the training field, his arms crossed. His piercing gaze swept over the assembled students, stopping briefly on Dante and Damien.
"You're late," Kai said, his voice like steel.
"Had to deal with something," Damien quipped, earning a sharp glare from Kai.
Dante stepped forward. "We're ready."
Kai's lips twitched into the barest hint of a smile. "We'll see about that. Pair up. Sparring drills. And don't hold back."
As the students moved to form pairs, Dante found himself facing Ethan Grayson. The boy smirked, twirling his blade with practiced ease.
"Ready to lose again, Valen?" Ethan taunted.
Dante didn't respond, his focus entirely on the fight. The Bloodline Chronicle System activated, overlaying data in his vision.
"Opponent Analysis: Ethan Grayson. Sword proficiency: Advanced. Weakness: Overconfidence in mid-range combat."
The spar began. Ethan moved with blinding speed, his blade a blur of silver. But Dante had grown sharper, faster. He parried each strike with precision, his movements fluid and deliberate.
Finally, Dante saw an opening. With a swift feint, he disarmed Ethan, sending his sword clattering to the ground. The crowd murmured in surprise.
Ethan scowled but extended a hand. "Guess you're not as weak as I thought."
Dante shook it, his expression neutral. "Guess not.After the sparring session, Kai gathered the students. A large screen lit up behind him, displaying names and numbers—the updated student rankings.
Dante's heart pounded as the list scrolled.
Ethan Grayson Lila Toren Damien Cain Dante Valen.Dante whistled. "Fourth place, huh? Not bad for a guy who just started taking this seriously."
Dante ignored the jab, his eyes fixed on the screen. Fourth wasn't good enough. Not if he wanted to take on Marik, or whatever lay ahead in the Nexus Vaults.
Kai's voice broke through his thoughts. "You've all improved, but improvement isn't enough. The competition will test you beyond your limits. Prepare accordingly."Later that night, Dante sat in his dorm room, his mind restless. The faint glow of the Bloodline Chronicle System illuminated the dark room.
"Analysis complete. Memory reconstruction indicates anomalies surrounding Ista Valen's status."
"What do you mean?" Dante asked, his voice low.
"While physical evidence suggests termination, energy patterns linked to Ista Valen persist. Location indeterminate."
Dante's heart raced. She was alive. She had to be.
But why hadn't she returned? What was keeping her away?