The air had changed at the Academy. Weeks had passed since the initial rush of classes and tests, and the schedule had finally shifted into full motion. Combat training. Real Jin applications. Tactics. Even excursions into the Wastes were whispered about in the halls.
Kai had settled into a rhythm, his days a blur of classes, study, and private sessions with Tomura and Otsumo. His control over Rin had sharpened, and though he still lagged behind in raw knowledge and still has little knowledge on his ability, his intuition more than made up for it. He was starting to get the hang of controlling two applications of Jin at once, but still had not mastered it. He was close to the worst in his third year class in it, which is still impressive, but frustrating.
But it was during a free hour, between Ability Theory and Jin Control, that he saw it happen.
The courtyard lay nestled between the towering lecture halls, its usual serenity now tainted by the sound of footsteps, sneering laughter, and the heavy silence of students who knew better than to get involved.
Kai paused as he stepped into the open space. His eyes locked onto the scene playing out ahead.
A first-year student, smaller, with dark hair and a noticeable limp in his right leg — stood backed into a wall, surrounded by three figures. Two of them loomed, laughing quietly, while the third stood calmly in front of the boy, a picture of casual cruelty.
His blonde hair shimmered under the sunlight, cut short and swept back. His crimson-trimmed uniform hinted at a family with deep roots and deeper pockets.
Leonar Draz.
Second-year. Gifted. Rich. Untouchable. The kind of person who wore power like a tailored coat.
"I asked you something," Leonar said. His voice was light, almost polite. "Do you think trash gets to look me in the eyes and live through it?"
The smaller student looked up instinctively, a mistake.
A crack rang out.
Leonar's fist connected with the boy's stomach, sharp and deliberate. The boy gasped, collapsing to his knees.
Kai's foot slid forward, unconsciously.
The two lackeys chuckled, one clapped mockingly, the other gave a mock bow. The student on the ground was shaking now, trying to push himself up, failing.
"Look at you," Leonar said, brushing invisible dust off his knuckles. "You're not even worth a name. Just something to step over."
Before Kai could move again, a heavy thud echoed from the eastern archway.
Students parted like the sea.
Orin Draz stepped into the courtyard, a towering fourth-year with broad shoulders, sharp blonde hair, and armored gloves that clinked faintly as he walked. His uniform fit like it was stitched to war rather than ceremony, black and silver trimmed, bearing the Student Council insignia like a warning label.
He radiated controlled violence.
His eyes, cold and unreadable, locked onto his younger brother.
"Leonar."
The courtyard went dead silent. Even Leonar's goons stiffened under the weight of that voice.
Leonar turned, almost cheerfully. "Just a bit of discipline. Nothing permanent."
Orin didn't blink. His gaze passed over the crumpled student, then lingered on Leonar again.
"Try not to leave marks next time. We don't need more messes."
That was all.
No reprimand. No justice.
Kai's stomach twisted, but he couldn't help himself. He stepped forward, voice steady.
"That's really how this place works?" he called out.
Dozens of heads turned.
Orin's gaze slid toward him, his hulking frame still. For a moment, the air felt heavier.
Leonar snorted. "Oh, I forgot. The first-year who got special treatment. You're late to the party."
Kai ignored him and crouched beside the hurt boy, helping him gently to his feet.
"I don't care if you're a Draz or a damn Council member," Kai said, standing upright. "Next time I see you raise your hand to someone like this, I'll stop you."
A beat.
Then another.
Orin's massive gloved hand flexed once, metallic joints ticking, but he said nothing.
Leonar's face tightened, a trace of real annoyance flashing behind his smirk. "Big talk. But you're just noise."
Kai stepped closer. "Say that again."
The courtyard held its breath.
Orin tilted his head, watching the tension with the same curiosity one might reserve for a sparring match between two dogs. "Enough, Leonar. He's not worth bruising your ego over."
Leonar hesitated… then turned away with a quiet scoff. "You're lucky he's watching."
As they walked off, Kai finally exhaled.
The student he helped looked up at him with wide, grateful eyes. "T-Thank you…"
Kai offered a tight nod, but his eyes stayed on Orin's back as he disappeared through the archway.
He wasn't sure what chilled him more, Leonar's arrogance, or Orin's permission.
The courtyard buzzed long after the Draz brothers were gone. Whispers trailed behind Kai like a second shadow, some admiring, some wary, most just stunned.
The bruised student was helped away by a staff member, and before the tension could settle into awkward silence, the chime of the Academy's central bell echoed across the campus, low, deliberate, and unfamiliar.
Kai checked his schedule. One line blinked at him in bold:
Sparring & Combat Fundamentals — Sparring Grounds.
He sighed. "No rest for the dumb."
First-years gathered in uneven clusters. Most looked eager. A few looked tense. And some, like Kai, just looked calm, or at least focused.
Then came the sound of boots.
A man walked into the center of the arena, tall, long strides, his presence sharp enough to cut silence into the crowd. His hair was shock-white, pulled back in a loose tie. A heavy cloak rested across his shoulders, and a long silver-edged sword was sheathed on his back, humming faintly with old power.
He stopped in front of them, eyes sweeping the crowd like he already knew who would fail and who would bleed.
"I am Instructor Vael Thorne," he said. "You will refer to me as Instructor Thorne, or Sir."
"I will be overseeing your sparring instruction."
He scanned the group without emotion.
"You may have heard I'm a White Core breaker. That doesn't concern you. What does concern you is this—"
He pointed toward the racks of weapons.
"You'll be using those. Live weapons only. I don't believe in wooden sticks or dulled blades. If you're not ready to fight with the real thing, you're not ready to be here."
A few students stiffened.
"That barrier won't stop a killing blow. It's there to keep bystanders safe, not you. You're responsible for your own bones. Injuries are expected. Some may be severe. Tap out if you must, but remember that doing so means you lost. And losing teaches faster than winning."
He let the silence sit, eyes cold and unimpressed.
"Fights will be one-on-one. Randomized or challenged. If you have a score to settle, this is your place. If you don't, you'll still fight."
He turned, stepping back toward the arena's edge.
"When you're called, step forward. Until then, get familiar with your tools. And with each other. That'll matter soon."
And just like that, he was done talking.
Around Kai, the mood shifted again. Students began drifting toward the weapon racks, murmuring quietly, eyes darting to the field.
No one looked at him now. No whispers. No stares.
For the first time in weeks, Kai was just another face in the crowd. And it felt nice.
Kai moved toward the weapon racks with the others, boots quiet against the worn stone floor. Rows of steel gleamed under the daylight, each weapon polished and deadly. No cheap training gear. No safety edges.
Just real weapons, meant to be wielded by someone ready to kill or survive.
He slowed as he passed the first rack, eyes scanning across the options.
Straight sword.
Katana.
Twin daggers.
Spear.
Quarterstaff.
Chakram.
Scimitar.
Greatsword.
War fan.
Bow.
Hook swords.
Chain-blade.
Short axe.
Falx.
Gauntlet blades.
Dozens of choices. All different weights, grips, and balances. Some designed for finesse, others built for sheer power. A few stood out as clearly exotic, strange Rin channels etched along their surfaces, meant for techniques far beyond simple physical combat.
Kai stood still for a moment, listening to the low chatter around him and the sound of weapons being lifted, tested, and spun.
He stepped forward and reached for the quarterstaff. Basic, but useful.
Totally badass, Kai thought, a grin spreading across his face.
He pulled the staff from the rack and moved toward a small, isolated corner to get a feel for it. He spun it, jabbed with it, getting used to its length and balance. That was when the first sparring matches began.
They were impressive. Blades flashed. Rin flared. Techniques exploded across the training yard as students clashed with a wild mix of weapons and abilities.
"So, how about we go a round?"
Kai turned toward the voice. It was Leonar, the insufferable prick from the courtyard, wearing the same smug grin.
Kai gave a small shrug. "Sure, why not."
They waited for their turn, then stepped into the ring.
Kai glanced to the edge of the arena and spotted his roommates cheering him on. There were others too, clearly hoping to see Leonar get his teeth kicked in.
Instructor Vael raised his hand to signal the start.
Leonar charged instantly, launching a wave of fire toward Kai. A common ability, but still powerful.
Kai responded with practiced control. He shaped a wall with his Jin, blocking the flames completely.
Leonar scoffed. "Not bad, but do you really think someone like you could beat someone like me? I come from a powerful family. My brother is on the Student Council. You have nothing."
He fired off another wave, larger this time. Kai simply raised the wall higher, blocking it again.
"Is blocking all you know how to do?" Leonar growled, circling the wall and lunging with a punch.
Kai stepped back, pivoted, and jabbed the staff into Leonar's gut. A precise burst of blue Rin surged along the staff as it struck, amplifying the hit.
The blow knocked Leonar back several feet, pain written all over his face.
"You damn filth," he spat.
Leonar retaliated with a sharp, narrow beam of fire aimed directly at Kai. He raised another wall, but this time he was a second too slow. The beam punched through and struck his left arm, searing through flesh and sending waves of pain through his body.
Leonar charged again, flame igniting along his fist, intent on finishing it.
Kai's thoughts flashed back to what Tomura had told him.
If it's buried, you'll have to force it to the surface. Pressure. Pain. Conflict.
Don't force it. Abilities don't like to be dragged out. Let it surface when it's ready.
How the hell do I force it but not force it at the same damn time?
He formed a wall and waited. The moment Leonar got close, Kai activated a technique he had learned on his first day of advanced training.
Twin Edge Wall.
The shimmering barrier suddenly extended forward with jagged spikes. Leonar dodged a few, but not all. One pierced his leg, another his arm. He staggered back, clearly hurt.
"How's that?" Kai said, grinning. "Bastard."
Leonar rushed again, this time managing to close the distance. Kai raised his staff one-handed, his other arm still burning from the earlier hit.
Leonar hurled a ball of fire, too fast for Kai to fully block. It crashed into his side, flame spreading along his ribs. He gasped, teeth clenched in pain. Then Leonar closed in and landed a brutal punch to his face, knocking Kai off his feet.
Kai hit the ground hard, landing on his back, staring up at the sky.
That was when it happened.
Something deep within him stirred. A strange pulse, almost like a second heartbeat. He felt something reach out from inside him, tethering to Leonar and pulling Rin away from him.
Kai stood up slowly. The pain in his arm and side dulled, as though muted by something new. He felt stronger, clearer, more alive than before.
Leonar took a step back. "What the hell?!"
Kai said nothing. He spun the staff in his hand, flames now licking up its length, reacting to the Rin he had absorbed. Then he brought it down with all his strength.
The impact sent a shockwave blasting outward, fire and wind exploding from the point of impact. The force rocked the entire ring, even making Instructor Vael flinch.
Leonar was thrown across the arena like a ragdoll, knocked completely unconscious.
Kai raised his arm, panting, then dropped to one knee, his body finally catching up to the toll.
"Well done," Vael said, signaling to two students nearby. "Get them both to the infirmary."