Azure Dining Hall – Moonlight Stillness
Kiato looked up, eyes meeting Seraphina's.
Her expression was soft—vulnerable, like she had laid something sacred at his feet.
He swallowed, the warmth of the turkey still lingering on his tongue, and the weight of her words pressing against his chest.
"...Seraphina," he said, voice low and measured. "You're… incredible."
Her eyes widened faintly.
"You're sharp. Focused. You catch details others miss. You train harder than most top-tier recruits, yet you're still kind—even to those who don't deserve it. You have this grace about you… like frost dancing over moonlight. And in battle? You burn just as fiercely as anyone I know."
Seraphina held her breath. Her eyes shimmered—not with pride, but with fragile hope.
Kiato gave a small, almost rueful laugh. "Honestly, I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have someone like you nearby. You steady me. You remind me what peace feels like."
She leaned in, barely whispering, "Then why does it feel like you're still so far away?"
His smile faltered.
And then came the but.
"Because someone already owns the flame inside me," he said, the words dragging out like a wound reopening.
"Even if the world changed… I made a vow to her."
Her expression shifted—quiet, unreadable.
He continued, his gaze distant now, lost in another face, another time.
"Azura. Her name's Azura. She's the reason I first fought with my whole heart. She challenged me… broke me… healed me. I still see her in my dreams. I still hear her voice when I bleed."
He set his spoon down, fingers trembling slightly.
"I thought I lost her once. Maybe I still have. Maybe I'll never see her again. But I can't let her go. Not yet. Letting go would mean erasing the fire that made me who I am."
Silence. Deep and raw.
Seraphina blinked, lips pressed tight. The flickering blue lanterns caught the tears at the edges of her eyes, like crystals clinging to the rim of her soul.
Kiato reached across the table, gently touching her hand.
"I care about you, Seraphina. More than you know. You're precious to me. And I want us to be close… even if it's not what you hoped for."
She didn't flinch. Didn't pull away. But a tear slipped down her cheek, and she smiled through it—fragile, but proud.
"Of course you still love her," she whispered, voice trembling. "Of course you do."
She wiped her face, trying to laugh, but choking slightly.
"You always did carry storms in your chest, Kiato. I should've known you'd be loyal to your sky."
He stood slowly, stepping around the table. She stood too, and for a heartbeat, they simply faced each other—two souls caught in the stillness between dusk and dawn.
Then he pulled her into a gentle hug.
No romance. No confusion. Just the warmth of understanding between two warriors who knew pain, yet kept walking.
She leaned into it, quietly crying. He held her steady, like ice bracing fire.
"Thank you… for telling me the truth," she said.
"Thank you… for feeling something for me," he replied. "It means more than you think."
They pulled apart. Seraphina exhaled slowly, wiping the last of her tears.
"I'll be fine," she said, forcing a crooked smile. "I'm strong, remember?"
Kiato nodded. "You are. And I need you to be. As my comrade. My friend."
She stepped back, her aura already recalibrating—still warm, but distant now. Composed.
"I'll see you on the training grounds, Frostblade," she said with a smirk.
He gave her a respectful nod. "Looking forward to it, Lady Iceheart."
And just like that, the moment passed.
But something between them had shifted—deeper now.
Two hearts, still beating.
One in love with memory.
The other learning to accept reality.
And from high above, the moonlight glowed gently down—quiet, eternal, and watching.
Glacien Yard
Kiato approached Veylor at the far end of the yard, where the cold wind whispered like a ghostly chant. Veylor sat cross-legged, trying to connect with the spirit of his blade—but his focus was fractured.
His thoughts kept drifting back to Kiato.
Does he really carry that much burden… yet always wears a smile?
Kiato's sharp voice cut through his thoughts.
"You ready?"
"Fool. Where's my breakfast?" Veylor replied with eyes closed.
"Here. You can have it," Kiato said, dropping a well-packed meal on the ground beside him.
"This is nice. Make sure that crest doesn't reach my sight—I'm already tired of eating swallow," Veylor muttered.
Kiato grinned. "How about this—we duel. Winner keeps the crest."
Veylor's eyes flicked open, then narrowed. But his voice came out dull, disinterested.
"Nothing will change," he said, grinning humbly, but the tone beneath was sour.
Kiato stared, jaw slightly ajar.
Is this really Veylor? he thought. Then a smile tugged at his lips.
"Meet me at our battle court. We've got training to do."
He turned to walk, but a familiar voice called out.
"Kiato!"
I've been so busy… how could I forget?
He looked up.
Niva hovered above him, arms crossed, pouting like a scolded child.
"Idiot, you left me!" she snapped, landing atop his head.
"I just thought you needed a break," he smirked, pretending it was all part of the plan.
"What have you been up to?" she huffed, then added sharply, "Your flame ability is temporarily higher now."
Kiato froze.
"Temporarily… higher?" he whispered.
"Can I see it?"
A shimmering black screen appeared before him, glowing with silver glyphs:
[Ranking Status]
Name: Kiato Kenji
Physical Strength: 12.1%
Aura Potential: 39/100
Power Level: 9
Abilities Unlocked:
• Frost – 23.3% Potential
• Flame – 20% (+10) Potential
• Wind – Locked (0%)
• Earth – Locked (0%)
Overall Rank: ★ 1-Star Knight
Kiato stared at the screen, eyes narrowing.
"A temporary +10…" he muttered.
Then it hit him.
Flame is fueled by emotion.
"It really has been… a traumatic day," he whispered. Ignoring Niva's question, he smirked again.
"Come help me form a technique."
Niva perked up instantly, her curiosity overriding everything.
"What kind of technique?"
"I haven't decided yet. But it has to be flawless. Unseen. Overwhelming."
The seriousness in his voice made Niva flinch.
What do you really burn for? she wondered silently.
Suddenly, a massive axe slammed into the ground of ice just in front of Kiato.
He flinched, jolted out of his thoughts.
Ravien stood there, towering and furious. Behind him stood Zane, arms folded.
"We challenge your team to a duel," Ravien declared, his voice thunderous and commanding.
Kiato exhaled slowly, steadying himself.
"I don't have—"
But before he could finish, another voice rang out behind him, bold and defiant.
"We accept."
Kiato turned, startled.
It was Veylor.
"What do you think you're doing?" Kiato asked, exasperated.
But Veylor offered no answer—just a smirk.
Ravien grinned. "Now that's more like a man," he said, then added, "One hour. Duel arena."
As he walked away, Zane stepped forward.
"Same rules as the tryouts. Winner gets one request the loser can't deny."
He left without another word.
Kiato sighed and slumped to the ground.
"Well… the deed is done."
Veylor sat beside him as Kiato leaned back lazily.
"Let's talk about that two-man combo we've been planning," Kiato said, glancing at him. "Time to put our minds together—different breeds, one technique."
Veylor chuckled, eyes gleaming with challenge.
"What technique will it be?"
"What will they call it?"