The forest gradually fell silent as the last of the Wind Faction assailants limped away, dragging their wounded pride through the underbrush.
Kairo stood alone in the clearing.
The bone constructs sank back into the ground like animals obeying their master. The earth swallowed them whole, hiding every trace of violence except the crushed dirt and the lingering tremors of fear the spectators couldn't shake.
From the shadows beneath a broken tree, whispers started again.
"He fought an entire squad alone… and didn't kill anyone."
"He wanted to ."
"That restraint is scarier than if he had."
Kairo ignored them.
He simply turned, cloak brushing the dirt as he walked toward the path leading back to Eclipse Faction territory. His steps were steady, but his mind wasn't in the forest anymore.
He saw Riven's bruised face. Lily's trembling hands. The look in their eyes.
And he remembered the promise he made, quietly, to no one:
If only i could shed a tear for this world.Not again.
Back at Eclipse Headquarters
The courtyard buzzed with anxious energy the moment Kairo stepped through the gates. Students stopped mid-training, mid-conversation, mid-breath.
Kairo. Alone. Slightly dusty. Expression unreadable.
Everyone knew why.
Even before he passed the entrance steps, Igron appeared from the old stone archway, arms crossed. His sharp eyes scanned Kairo quickly—checking for wounds, checking for strain, checking for anything off.
He found nothing.
"You handled it," Igron said simply.
"Yes."
Igron exhaled through his nose—relief disguised as annoyance.
"Next time, wait for me."
Kairo didn't respond.
Because both of them knew something:
If Kairo waited, the damage would've been worse.
They walked together into the main hall, where Riven and Lily sat on the long bench, bandaged but alert. The moment Lily saw Kairo, her expression flickered—guilt, relief, then warmth.
Riven cracked a thin smile.
"Did you make them cry?"
"Yes," Kairo answered flatly.
Riven laughed even though it hurt.
Lily covered her face as if embarrassed for the enemies.
But the moment eased when Igron stepped forward and addressed all three.
"This isn't over."
Igron's voice filled the hall.
"Retaliation was necessary. But you must understand what comes next."
Riven and Lily straightened.
"The academy will hear of this. The factions will talk. And now…"
His gaze swept across them.
"…your names will start carrying weight. Whether you want them to or not."
Riven frowned.
Lily looked down.
Kairo blinked slowly, trying to process
Igron continued, tone sharper:
"Some will want revenge."
"Some will want alliance."
"Some will want to recruit you."
"And the worst ones…" He paused.
"…will want to test you."
That last line made Riven's jaw tighten.
"Let them," he muttered.
Lily nudged him lightly.
"You just got treated yesterday—stop acting tough."
Igron ignored them and turned to Kairo.
"As for you… there will be consequences. What you did today wasn't small."
Kairo's eyes narrowed slightly.
"I did what was required."
"Yes," Igron said. "But power displayed is never forgotten."
He stepped closer, meeting Kairo's gaze.
"You sent a message today. Now others will send theirs."
Back in the Administrator Tower
Far above the academy, in the main tower where sunlight rarely touched, Vice-Principal Elaius closed a crystal pane filled with floating projections.
One showed the forest. One showed the fleeing assailants. One showed Kairo standing alone as the earth quieted around him.
A low chuckle escaped his lips.
"So the Eryndor boy has teeth."
He tapped the glass.
"Good. Let them all sharpen themselves."
Behind him, a councilor stepped forward.
"Should we summon him for disciplinary action?"
Elaius waved a hand dismissively.
"For punishing those who ambushed his faction members? No.
Besides…"
He smirked.
"…why punish talent? Especially talent so useful."
His eyes darkened.
"Let them fight. Let them bleed. The annual branch event is coming."
Kairo turned to leave, intending to check on his room.
But Riven spoke quietly:
"Hey, Kairo."
Kairo paused.
"Thank you."
Kairo didn't answer.
But the slight dip of his head was enough.
Lily smiled softly.
"We're lucky to have you."
He didn't respond to that either.
He simply walked away, cloak trailing behind him, vanishing into the hallway.
Igron watched him leave, murmuring under his breath:
"He thinks this was retribution."
"But all he's done… is start a war."
And as if answering him, a distant horn sounded from the edge of the academy grounds.
A messenger.
Running toward the administrative wing.
Carrying news.
Carrying consequences.
Carrying the first tremor of the storm that Kairo's retribution had awakened.