The night after the battle, Kaiden lay in bed but couldn't sleep. His heart still raced with the memory of the beast's roar, the quaking ground, and his own trembling hands clutching the dagger. He could still hear Yuki's voice—"Kaiden! Do it now!"—echoing in his ears.
He had done it. His blade struck true. The monster fell. But something about the fight gnawed at him.
---
Earlier that day, when the beast had first appeared, Yuki and Leonardo had exchanged a look Kaiden didn't catch.
The massive creature smashed through buildings, its fangs glistening, its claws tearing the stone like paper. Yuki unsheathed his katana, lightning already crackling across the blade, while Leonardo spun his guns with a grin that masked the tension in his eyes.
"Don't hold back too much,"Leonardo muttered in Italian, just under his breath.
"Of course not," Yuki replied, his voice calm, almost amused. "We just need him to believe it's real."
They lunged. Yuki's Flash Step carried him right in front of the beast, his blade slashing in a streak of lightning. Sparks flew as the monster recoiled, but Yuki had angled the cut to miss its vitals. Leonardo followed, firing bursts of heated energy, each shot striking but never aiming for the killing blow.
To Kaiden, who stood watching, it looked like a desperate clash—two seasoned warriors fighting tooth and nail against overwhelming odds. He saw the sweat on their brows, the gritted teeth, the stagger in their movements. What he didn't see was the careful restraint in every strike.
They could have ended it. But they didn't.
Because this wasn't just a fight. It was a stage. A stage for Kaiden's first step.
When Yuki shouted for him to strike, Kaiden thought it was out of desperation. In truth, it was part of the plan. His strike was clumsy, fueled more by instinct than skill, but when the dagger pierced, both Yuki and Leonardo diverted their final blows just enough to ensure Kaiden's hit landed where it mattered.
The beast collapsed, and Kaiden thought he had saved them all.
But in reality, they had been saving him.
---
Morning sunlight filtered into his room. Kaiden sat up, staring at the dagger resting on his desk. His hand still felt the weight of it, heavier than it should've been.
Lorenzo entered quietly, carrying a cup of tea. "You didn't sleep, did you?"
Kaiden shook his head. "…I keep seeing it. That thing. And me, standing there frozen. I thought I was gonna die."
"You didn't," Lorenzo said simply, setting the tea down. "And you won't—if you keep walking forward."
Kaiden glanced at him. "…Was that monster… a test?"
Lorenzo didn't answer immediately. Instead, he gave a small smile, the kind only an old man who'd seen too much could manage. "Some battles are meant to teach. Not to kill."
Kaiden's eyes widened. "…So they were…?"
Lorenzo chuckled softly. "Those two? They'd never let you face death unprepared. But you needed to believe it was real. Otherwise, you'd never know what you're capable of."
Kaiden sat back, the realization sinking in. Yuki and Leonardo… they had played along, struggling, bleeding, shouting like the beast was overpowering them—just for his sake.
"…So I wasn't really—"
"You were," Lorenzo cut him off gently.
"Don't lessen what you did. You moved when it mattered. That's more than most can say."
Kaiden looked at the dagger again. His first weapon. His first kill. Even if it was staged, the fear, the trembling, the decision to strike—that had been real.
---
Two weeks remained until the entrance ceremony at the University of Flow Arts. But Lorenzo insisted they leave early.
"You'll need time to adjust," he said, sitting in the living room while Kaiden stuffed clothes into a worn duffel bag. "The university isn't just a school. It's another world entirely."
Kaiden groaned, holding up a shirt. "How many of these do I even need?"
"Enough to last. But not so much you look like a tourist,"Leonardo said, leaning against the doorway with his usual grin.
Yuki, seated across from Lorenzo, added with his calm tone, "Pack lightly. Flow users learn to travel fast. Baggage will only slow you."
Kaiden muttered under his breath, "Yeah, easy for you guys to say, you're not the ones lugging this stuff around."
Leonardo smirked. "We've carried heavier. Try marching through deserts with Ember Flow—it's like carrying fire in your veins. Trust me, you'll manage."
Kaiden stuffed the shirt in with exaggerated force. "Great pep talk, thanks."
Lorenzo chuckled, sipping his tea. "He's nervous. Let him complain."
"I'm not nervous,"Kaiden snapped, then sighed. "…Okay, maybe I am. What if I'm not ready? What if everyone there's already a master or something?"
Yuki's gaze softened. "Then you learn faster. Fear of being left behind is the sharpest motivator."
Kaiden blinked at him. "…That's… actually kinda inspiring."
Leonardo laughed. "Don't give him too much credit. He stole that line from an old drill sergeant."
"Discipline is timeless," Yuki replied coolly, making Leonardo snort.
Despite his nerves, Kaiden couldn't help but smile at their banter. These weren't just warriors—they were starting to feel like a family.
---
Before they left the house, Lorenzo stopped Kaiden at the door.
"You'll need this." He handed the dagger back to him, freshly polished, its edge gleaming.
Kaiden hesitated, staring at the weapon. "…I don't know if I can—"
"You can," Lorenzo interrupted firmly.
"The dagger isn't just steel. It's a reminder. Of the fear you felt. And the courage that followed."
Kaiden slowly took it, fastening it at his side. The weight felt different now—not just heavy, but grounding.
"Don't rely on it to win," Lorenzo warned. "Rely on yourself. The blade only answers when your will is clear."
Kaiden nodded. "…Got it."
---
The air buzzed with the energy of departure. The terminal was filled with travelers, students, and families saying goodbye.
Kaiden stood with his duffel slung over his shoulder, his heart pounding as he stared out the window. Beyond the glass, a massive airship waited, its sleek frame designed to cross the endless ocean. Its emblem bore the mark of the University of Flow Arts.
Leonardo adjusted his gloves. "Well, kid. This is it. The big leagues."
Kaiden swallowed hard. "…It doesn't even feel real yet."
"It won't," Yuki said, standing beside him, katana strapped neatly at his hip. "Not until you set foot on the island."
Lorenzo approached, hands behind his back. His expression was calm, but Kaiden could see the pride in his eyes. "You've done well to make it this far. The rest is yours to claim."
Kaiden bit his lip. "What if I mess up? What if I fail?"
Leonardo grinned, patting his shoulder. "Then you get back up. Failing's part of the process. Just don't stay down too long."
Yuki added, "Doubt is normal. What matters is that you walk forward despite it."
Kaiden looked between them—the mentor who believed in him, the swordsman who guided him, the warrior who pushed him—and felt something stir in his chest. Fear was still there, yes, but so was determination.
He clenched his fist. "…Alright. Let's do this."
The boarding call echoed through the terminal. Passengers for the University transport began lining up.
Lorenzo placed a hand on Kaiden's shoulder, his voice low but steady. "Remember who you are. Remember where you come from. The world will try to shape you, but don't lose yourself."
Kaiden nodded, fighting back the lump in his throat. "…Thanks. For everything."
Yuki and Leonardo flanked him as they walked toward the gate, the hum of the airship engines filling the air.
As Kaiden took his first step onto the boarding ramp, he looked back one last time. Lorenzo stood there, arms crossed, the faintest smile on his face.
The old man raised a hand in farewell.
Kaiden raised his own, his voice steady now. "I'll make you proud."
And with that, he disappeared into the crowd, the future of the Flow Corps—and his own destiny—waiting just beyond the horizon.