Thud.
The body bounced once as it hit the floor, then went completely still.
The judge rushed over, quickly checking the fighter's vitals before raising his hand and signaling to someone. Moments later, two men arrived and carried the body away.
The judge returned to his seat and announced,
"Kael wins, by knockout. That brings his record to eighteen wins and one loss."
Kael gave a brief nod toward the judge, then swept his gaze across the arena. His expression stiffened slightly as he took in the growing number of spectators.
'Not good. Looks like the fighters really have started to enjoy watching my matches lately.'
The crowd had grown several times over since his early fights. It could no longer be called a handful of spectators, now it was a proper audience. Some even saw his fights as the highlight of the day.
"Yet another win."
"As expected of him."
"How the hell was he even able to twist his body like that?"
"It's not even the force behind his punches that makes him dangerous..."
The moment the fight was declared over, chatter began to ripple through the crowd. People turned to those beside them, eagerly dissecting the match, while others simply blurted out their thoughts in admiration.
Kael walked over to the judge to confirm the details of his next fight before turning away from the arena. The spectators stepped aside quietly, creating a clear path for him to pass. It was common practice here. Fighters were given space to leave and recover after a match.
As Kael walked, he cast one last glance toward the crowd. His gaze met that of a spectator with a long scar running down his chin. The man did not flinch. His eyes stayed fixed on Kael, analyzing him without restraint.
'Lucian…'
'Watch as many fights as you want.'
Kael turned his eyes forward again and kept walking, his expression unchanged.
After Kael's fight with Lucian, the man had come to spectate every one of his matches, never missing a single one. Always there, quietly watching from somewhere in the crowd.
'It took me too long to recognize his position within the club. I exposed too much of my skills.'
Kael's expression darkened slightly as he walked.
If Lucian really was tied to the Valthorne family, then some changes might need to be made soon.
Kael was not particularly concerned about Lucian knowing his full name. There was no history behind it, no records that mattered. The real issue came down to a few critical questions. Was Lucian working directly with the family, simply gathering information to pass along? Or was he acting on his own, making his own decisions?
And if that was the case, just how much did he know about the assassination?
Could he recognize him?
Kael stared at the floor absentmindedly as he walked, unwrapping the cloth from his hands. Like always, he kept one ear open, catching bits of conversation around him as he moved through the halls.
When he entered his sleeping quarters, he tossed the cloth and his shirt onto the bed, then made his way to the wardrobe. He pulled out a towel and draped it loosely around his shoulders.
Talia was lying on her bed, nose buried in the same book as always. Darian stood in the middle of the room, throwing a few slow punches into the air, practicing his form.
He paused as Kael stepped in, a smile already forming on his face.
"How'd the fight go?"
Kael moved around the room gathering what he needed for a shower.
"I won," he said simply.
Darian rolled his eyes with a small chuckle.
"Alright, no need to be so chill about it. Was it another knockout?"
Kael gave a small nod.
Darian tried to keep his tone casual, but the excitement in his voice betrayed him. He could barely hold still.
"Yes!"
"I don't know how you do it. If you keep this up, you'll hit tier two in no time. Especially with how often you ask for fights."
As he spoke, he bounced on his feet, throwing playful punches in Kael's direction, a quick uppercut, a sharp jab, a wide kick. Shadowboxing around him like a restless kid.
Kael sighed quietly but didn't react. He had gotten used to Darian's antics by now.
Kael stepped into the shower and turned on the water. Steam slowly began to gather on the glass surfaces as he tilted his head back, letting the warm stream run over his face. For a moment, he lowered his guard and let his thoughts drift.
'I've almost perfected using the Woodstalker Mote in hand-to-hand combat. I've even managed to throw off their punches, make them more inconsistent…'
'The situation in Velthoria is continuing to escalate, steadily. Syleena seems to be doing her part well. As expected…'
'The Eireindaile family… have they responded yet? No. Why haven't they? I need to look into it…'
As his thoughts wandered, Kael started to lose track of time, completely absorbed in his own mind. He was only pulled back to the present by two loud knocks on the door.
"Kael, what the hell are you doing in there? I need to go."
"Hello?"
"Ughhh."
He could hear frustrated grumbling from the other side, but he didn't bother to respond. Thankfully, just as he had gotten used to them, they had gotten used to him.
Soon, Kael stepped out of the shower and dried himself off. He wrapped a towel around his waist before leaving the bathroom. As he did, Darian brushed past him in a half-jog, giving him a weird look before almost slamming the door shut behind him.
Kael made his way to his bed and began loosely tying his hair up, using the window's reflection as a mirror. He slid a plain metal pin through it to keep it in place.
Two beds over, Talia lowered her book slightly, her eyes drifting toward him. She might've tried to be subtle, but really, could anyone blame her? Her gaze rested on him a little longer than it probably should have. His build was lean, not overly muscular, but shaped by movement and discipline. His skin had a pale tone that caught the light just enough. As he reached up to adjust his hair, the muscles along his back shifted beneath his skin like slow waves beneath a calm surface.
She had no way of knowing, but his awakening had cleansed his body, refining what was already striking and turning it into something breathtaking.
Even though she knew it was dangerous, her eyes found his. He was still looking at the window, unaware, but those deep green eyes were just as sharp and unforgettable as ever.
Kael gave his hair a loose twist and slid the pin into place. As soon as he did, Talia raised her book again, already drawn back into its pages like nothing had happened.
Kael, as always, had noticed. He made a habit of tracking every small detail in his surroundings, even if it put a constant strain on his mind. It was necessary. He had caught every one of her movements, just as he always did, though he never said anything about it.
He changed into a fresh set of clothes and lay down on his bed with a book of his own.
The sun had sunken below the horizon, casting a warm golden hue across the world like a blanket of light.
Inside the room, the three of them lay in silence, each buried in their own book, until Darian finally broke the quiet.
"Haven't you guys read enough?"
Neither Kael nor Talia responded. They remained still, eyes locked on the pages in front of them, as quiet as statues.
"HELLO?"
Darian called out louder this time, glancing between Kael and Talia. He frowned at their lack of reaction, then marched over and shook them both, more forcefully than necessary.
"Come on. Let's go to the cafeteria. I'm craving something sweet."
"Fine."
Talia finally spoke, not bothering to look up.
"Great!"
Darian beamed like he had just won a prize.
Only a handful of people could get that excited about a cafeteria visit, but here he was, grinning from ear to ear. He yanked Kael out of bed, and the three of them headed out together.
As they walked, casual conversation bubbled between them.
Grabbing their pastries, they made their way to a round table with three chairs and sat down.
"Kael, you've gotta try these sometime,"
Darian said, already halfway through his first bite.
Both he and Talia had chosen filled croissants and steaming cups of tea. Kael, as usual the odd one out, had picked a simple lemon tart and a plain teacup.
As they sat and enjoyed their pastries, a sudden shadow was cast over them. Then a strong voice rang out loud enough for the whole cafeteria to hear.
"Kael Sinclaire. I challenge you to a duel."
Heads turned instantly. Every eye shifted in their direction.
In tier three, fights were usually assigned through ticket draws. But it wasn't uncommon for someone to issue a direct challenge. If the other party accepted, it would be arranged as an official match. People did it to settle disputes, prove themselves, or make a name.
As soon as the name was spoken, quiet murmurs spread through the room.
"Is that Kael? The one in black?"
"Kael? Who is he with?"
"Is that guy serious? Kael went toe to toe with Lucian."
Kael turned his head toward the voice. A tall man stood a few paces away, arms crossed, shoulders broad, bruises still visible on his face. He stared down at Kael, waiting for an answer.
"No."
The man blinked, caught off guard. A challenge turned down? That didn't happen. Not in front of an audience. Reputation was everything. Refusing meant losing face. Where was his pride? His honor?
However, Kael. Had none.
With Kael declining the challenge, the man had no choice but to walk away, visibly thrown off. Starting a fight by force was strictly against the rules.