The chamber echoed faintly with each footstep.
Tap tap tap tap
The Elite Class stood scattered across the stone-tiled arena. Their uniforms catching the cold light, pulsing from the crystalline veins installed in the walls.
This wasn't a standard training hall. It was older, colder, enveloped with marks of duels long past.
It was a place of challenge, not comfort.
Aelana sighed. "Figures they'd drag us underground for this. One day in and I already miss the sunlight."
"Don't worry," Veyna replied, smirking. "You'll be seeing stars soon enough."
Near the back, Fayl Kera leaned against a pillar, hands tucked behind his head. "You think they're gonna let us use weapons? Or is this one of those feel your inner spirit types?", his rough hair resting on his shoulders.
"You'd lose either way," Mira muttered, too softly for most to hear.
Not far from them, Rowen Delca toyed with one of his silver rings, the shadows of his boots twitching. He didn't have anything to say.
Selle Varn gave a light scoff. "This chamber's hardly fit for our level. My family's dueling courts are twice as refined."
"Must be nice," Torin Vale replied, stepping past her. "To be able to buy standards".
Selle's smile turned sharp, but she didn't have anything further to say.
Caelun Redd stood off to the side, unbothered and average looking as he always was. His fingers twitching at his side, like he was tapping to music.
Aelana glanced toward Izan Thorne. The one in question, standing silent, back straight; eyes half-lidded. "You always this talkative?", she asked.
He didn't say anything.
Fayl chuckled. "That's a yes, then."
Across the room, Jacob Lacura stood near Lyria and Naeva, one hand gesturing in the air as he spoke:
"They say he made a third-year cry last year". "Let's see if the rumours live up", he continued, half amused.
Lyria didn't respond, but Naeva tilted her head, "You think he'll go easy?"
"Hope not." Jacob smiled faintly.
Across the ring, Kalen Voss hadn't moved.
He stood near the centre, alone, arms folded, gaze fixed on nothing in particular.
His brow was furrowed, but not in concentration; more like resistance.
The voices around him blurred into background noise.
He wasn't thinking about what was being said.
He was thinking of his father's voice last night, sharp and cold...
The weight of his name clinging to his back like gravity itself. Heavy. Inescapable.
Then a laugh echoed too close. He didn't flinch, but his jaw tightened.
Even here, he was still "the Voss boy".
Huff
He exhaled slowly through his nose, letting his shoulders settle.
'Let them talk. Let them all talk.'
Just past the back row, Enyx Virell leaned against a worn pillar, arms crossed, red hair falling in lazy curls over one eye.
He wasn't trying to hide; he just didn't care to stand with the rest.
His fingers tapped a rhythm against his elbow. Not nervous, but bored.
"Is it me", he muttered, "Or is this place allergic to proper lighting?"
Nobody responded. Aelana glancing his way, rolling her eyes.
Enyx gave a half smile, like he'd won something.
'They're all stiff', he thought. 'Too polished'.
The flame inside was tempered, not wild like some of the others. Watching. Growing.
'Let's see what makes an Elite...elite.' he thought as he glanced at his peers.
A dynamic was building around the room.
Circles of noise and blemishes of silence.
Fayl tapped his foot, rhythm slow and steady.
"You know....I almost miss the tension. That Silent kid. He brought drama".
Veyna gave him a sharp look. "And disgrace".
"No," Fayl said, lips quirking. "That came after."
Kalen's arms were crossed. Still. Eyes lowered. Listening.
But then-
Footsteps.
Tap Tap Tap
Firm. Rhythmic. Coming closer.
The conversations slowly evaporated as they all turned towards the door.
The door creaked open.
Creakkk
A presence entered, dragging the air taut like a drawn bowstring.
Korreth Halden.
He didn't wear a cape. Armour. Just a fitted black training coat with the Eldris insignia stitched above his heart. A thin silver line running down each sleeve.
His short grey hair, and his face carved with weathered lines, speaking more of discipline than age.
He didn't look at them as he crossed the plain.
He first scanned the room; the floor, ceiling, walls. Only once everything had been acknowledged, his gaze fell on the class.
A sharp look.
Prompting the ones who were slouching, to straighten up.
He didn't speak yet.
Tap tap tap
He walked past the ones in the front, slow and silent. Stopping in the centre of the ancient hall.
His steps carried uncanny precision.
"So this is the great Elite Class...."
He glanced at all of them. One by one. Some longer than others. Jacob longer than most.
"Line up", he proclaimed, turning to address them.
The students obeyed. Lining up on the faded boundary of a ring.
Korreth began to slowly walk the line, hands behind his back, gaze cold as he towered over a-lot of them.
"You think title makes you elite? You think your surname does? Magic? Spirits? A talking beast on your shoulder?" he shook his head.
"Today, you use Ki. Only Ki. No magic, no spirits, no beasts. If you can't control the internal force inside, you're not ready for anything further".
A short silence followed Korreth's declaration.
Then came the shift.
Aelana Cael stiffened. Hand dropping from her hip. "Ki only...." she muttered under her breath. She was ranked among the top in Magic. But in ki? she was barely D-Class. Her pride didn't appreciate that reminder.
Seris Halden stared at the centre with thinly veiled contempt. "Of course it's Ki", she muttered.
She was also D-Class. Everyone knew.
Her uncle didn't even look at her as he gave the instruction. Seemingly hurting her more than she'd admit.
Whilst those two sulked. The other lesser Ki users like Selle Varn, Naeva Solene and Rowen Delca just sighed.
With the others like Mira and Caelun not giving much of a reaction.
Selle Varn leaned to Fayl. "If I had known Ki was required, I wouldn't have worn earrings."
Fayl chuckled softly, "You're assuming you'll be standing after."
The conversations trailed off as a heavy silence fell across the chamber.
Jacob stood near the centre, arms folded loosely, a neutral smile ever apparent as his ocean blue hair rested, ruffled to the side.
In comparison, Kalen stood off to the side. His gaze flickering briefly to Seris discussing something with Veyna; eyes flickering for a second at her pristine silver hair, before shifting them away.
A soundless signal passed through, as Korreth pointed at one of the students.
"You're up first", he stated, pointing at a towering figure.
Torin Vale stepped forward.
Heavyset, but calm-eyed.
He was ready.