The palace of Azura slept beneath a silver sky, but Kael did not.
Inside his guest chamber, he sat cross-legged, his breath even, aura rising and falling with each cycle of meditation. His injuries from the guardians' battle had nearly healed, yet more important was the storm within him.
Middle Tier Four.
At last, he had broken through. His body still buzzed with raw power, veins humming like rivers of fire, every heartbeat echoing the rhythm of a higher realm. Yet power alone was never enough. He needed clarity, control, and patience.
All through the night, he meditated. Visions of his past lives flickered in his mind—friends lost, masters betrayed, moments of laughter and sorrow. Each memory was a weight, but also a chain he vowed to shatter.
By the time dawn painted the sky gold, Kael opened his eyes, sharper than blades.
"Another step taken," he murmured. "But still far to climb."
---
The Message
Kael rose, taking a thin jade slip from his robe. It was one of the academy's communication artifacts, linked across continents. Infusing it with aura, he whispered:
"This is Kaelith Varion. I have made contact with the King of Azura. An alliance has been forged. I will return to the academy in two days' time—after I settle unfinished matters here."
The jade glowed, carrying the message across the realms before dimming to silence.
Kael exhaled slowly. "They must be ready. The Third Trial waits for no one."
---
The Azure King's Resolve
Later that morning, Kael stood beside Seraphina in the royal council chamber. The Azure King sat upon his throne, his aura vast yet controlled, like an ocean before a storm. Generals, ministers, and envoys filled the hall.
"The Shadow Clan moves," the king declared. "Scouts report their banners crossing into the continent's outer regions. They think Azura is a path to their goal. They do not know we are ready."
A murmur rippled through the council.
The king's gaze turned to Kael. "Our guest has brought us more than chance. He has brought us a common enemy. From this day, Kaelith Varion will fight beside us—not as outsider, but as ally of Azura."
Gasps spread through the chamber. To offer such recognition so quickly was unheard of.
Kael only bowed his head slightly. "Then I will repay your trust in battle."
The king's lips curved faintly. "Good. You and I will strike together."
The words sent a shiver through the court. To fight alongside their king was an honor reserved for the chosen few. Yet here was a foreigner, already entrusted with it.
---
The Shadow Clan Arrives
That night, beneath the blood-red moon, a caravan of shadows slipped into Azura's borders. Cloaked figures, their eyes like coals, moved with silent precision. At their head strode a man cloaked in black armor, his aura steeped in malice.
"Azura," he hissed, tasting the name like venom. "We will carve through this land before dawn."
Behind him, dozens of Tier Three and Tier Four warriors walked like ghosts, their presence hidden by forbidden seals.
One knelt. "Master, what of the academy boy?"
The leader's lip curled. "He will be crushed in the trial. There is no need to seek him. Focus on the treasure."
They did not know.
Kael was already here, watching from the heart of the continent.
---
Kael's Preparation
The next morning, Kael stood in the palace courtyard, training beneath the rising sun. His fists cut through the air like thunder, each strike shaking the ground. His aura condensed, no longer wild, but sharp, honed, and deadly.
Seraphina watched from a distance, arms crossed. "You fight like a man who never intends to fall."
Kael smirked. "Falling is for those who let go. I never will."
"Even if the Shadow Clan sends their elites?"
"Even if the heavens themselves descend," Kael said simply, sweat glistening across his body. "I will not bow again."
Her golden eyes softened, though her words remained firm. "Then you had best be ready. They are already here."
Kael froze mid-strike. "Already?"
She nodded. "Our scouts saw their vanguard entering last night. They hide, but not well enough. My father will move soon."
Kael clenched his fists. "Good. Then I'll meet them head-on."
---
The King's Call
That evening, the Azure King summoned Kael privately. The chamber was dim, lit only by braziers, shadows flickering like serpents along the walls.
"You know the trials begin in four days," the king said, his voice steady. "And yet, before that, the Shadow Clan dares to step into my lands. I will not allow it."
Kael met his gaze. "Then we fight."
The king studied him for a long moment. "Most men tremble before the thought of facing them. You do not. Why?"
Kael's eyes darkened. "Because I've lost too much already. Because every step I've taken since rebirth was for this. I will not run."
The king's aura flared faintly, testing Kael's resolve. The weight was crushing, a mountain pressing down—but Kael stood unmoving.
At last, the king smiled. "Very well. You will march with me. Azura will know you as one of its own. Together, we will shatter the shadows."
---
The Calm Before the Storm
For two days, Kael remained in Azura, meditating by night and training by day. Each strike he threw was heavier, sharper, more refined. The palace guards watched in silence, whispers spreading: the outsider was not just strong—he was relentless.
Yet beneath the calm, the storm brewed. The Shadow Clan's forces gathered in the outer forests, preparing their strike. The Azure King's armies assembled in secret, steel gleaming in the moonlight.
And Kael waited.
In four days, the Third Trial would begin. But before that, the shadow's fangs would clash with Azura's blade.
Standing on the balcony of his chamber, Kael looked out across the glowing city. The wind brushed against his face, carrying both promise and threat.
"Shadow Clan…" he whispered, eyes burning with unyielding fire. "This time, you will bleed."
Above, the stars shimmered faintly, as though the heavens themselves leaned closer to watch.