The Next Morning
A knock on my door stirred me from sleep.
Groggily, I muttered, "Come in."
To my surprise, it was my dad.
I immediately sat up straight. It was rare—almost unheard of—for him to come into my room this early.
"You ready for school?" he asked.
I gave a silent nod.
Then, from his pocket, he pulled out a pendant—a red ruby, oval-shaped, nestled in a simple silver frame.
"This was your mother's," he said, stepping closer. "She wore it everywhere. Said it protected her. Now I want you to have it."
He pressed the pendant into my hands, holding them tight.
"I believe in you, Keisa."
And just like that, he turned and walked out.
No more words. No explanations. Just the pendant and his belief.
As soon as he left, Kaiser's voice echoed in my mind like he'd been waiting.
"I've seen that necklace before," he said thoughtfully. "I just don't remember where."
"Come on," I muttered, brushing him off. "We've got a long ride to school. Too early for your cryptic nonsense."
I washed up, packed my things, and loaded them onto my horse. I didn't let myself look back—if I hesitated for even a second, I knew I might not leave.
The sky was still painted in the pale hues of dawn when I set out. Hours passed beneath the thudding rhythm of hooves. All magical academies were built atop secluded mountains—hidden from non-students, inaccessible to the uninvited and only special horsed where the only means of transportation there .
By late afternoon, I arrived at the cliff.
In bold, golden letters on the gate:
Emperial Academy
I sighed and rode down the hill toward the entrance. But just as I neared, I heard them—two familiar voices.
"Well, look who's back," one sneered. "Piece of shit."
"You kidding?" the other laughed.
I ignored them, intent on riding past, but they stepped in front of me.
"Your horse needs to be cleaned before you can enter ," one barked.
At that exact moment, a guy zoomed past us in a horse far dirtier than mine. And They said nothing.
I got down from my horse, staring at them silently.
"You wanna fight?" one growled. "Seems like you're itching to bleed."
I didn't answer.
In a blur, I moved.
They didn't even see it happen—I was too fast. I used the Crimson blade it's an A rank weapon but still it's inconspicuous to notice. I sliced through his clothes in an instant. By the time I stepped back, they hung from his body in tatters and in a flash the tatters caught flames
Terror flashed in his eyes as he started screaming rolling in the dirt His partner scrambled away in fear .
Then I remembered the system analysis of the crimson doom
Crimson Doom is a cursed or enchanted blade known for its terrifying combustion effect. Anything it slices—whether organic or inorganic—ignites instantly and burns to a crisp, leaving behind scorched remains or ash.
Key Traits:
Burning Edge Enchantment:
The blade is imbued with a searing magical property. The moment it makes contact with a target, intense heat is released, incinerating the material. Flesh chars instantly, and even metals or magical defenses may suffer heat-induced degradation
Flame Poison :
is a rare and dangerous elemental toxin that combines the corrosive properties of poison with the searing heat of fire. When introduced into a target—whether through physical contact, inhalation, or internal injection—it burns from the inside out, igniting cells while spreading a venomous corruption
"Next time," I said coldly, "I'm aiming for your head."
I walked off ignoring his screams and pleas and got on my horse and drove off, dust rising in my wake. I ignored the stares. The whispers. The lewd comments. I didn't care.
I drove straight to the dormitory. Everything looked the same, but the memories hit harder than I expected.
"Old memories," Kaiser muttered.
"Yeah," I whispered. "Sometimes, it feels like I can't control it."
Kaiser went silent.
I pulled into the stable. A staff member took the reigns from me with a dismissive snort.
I made my way to my dorm.
When I reached my door, I paused.
The nameplate read: Kingston Michiko—but underneath, someone had scrawled in red marker:
"Piece of shit."
I traced the words with my fingers.
"Probably a student," I muttered.
"This time," I said softly, "I'm going to change everything."
Inside, the room was exactly how I left it. My brother's sword—deep blue and gleaming—rested in its mount. My bed was made neatly, still covered with my blue duvet patterned with yellow puppies.
Only the wardrobe was empty.
I unpacked and cleaned up the cupboard's the shelf , dusted the rug even washed the bathroom by the time I was done i collapsed onto the bed, too exhausted to even think about dinner I slept off .
The Next Morning – After the Flashback
I woke to chaos.
Shouting. Screaming. Mutters. Laughter.
I groaned, glancing at the clock. 7 a.m.
"Can't I get a few more hours of sleep?" I muttered, dragging a pillow over my face.
"Get your lazy ass out of bed and see what's going on," Damien snapped.
I rolled my eyes. "When did you get so cocky?"
But I got up. Because I had to.
The noise was coming from the notice board. A crowd had formed, chattering like wildfire. Half-asleep, I followed the sound.
They noticed me right away.
"Piece of shit!" someone yelled.
Laughter exploded around me.
My fists clenched at my sides, and I felt it again—that dangerous heat boiling beneath the surface. My eyes flickered—blue to red, red to blue. The air around me shimmered faintly with aura.
Then Damien's voice came, sharp and steady, slicing through the haze.
"Don't. Not yet."
I exhaled slowly, forcing my fingers to loosen. The heat faded.
I turned to the notice board.
The Interschool Golden Orchid Competition.
That's what all this drama was about?
I scoffed under my breath and walked away. The whispers and taunts followed me like shadows.
Back in my room, Damien spoke again.
"So, what's the big deal with this Golden Orchid Competition?"
"I don't want to talk about it."
"Come on—"
"I said I'm serious."
"Fine," he muttered. "Then let me show you something. It's a memory fragment I found—somehow. Just close your eyes. Meditate."
"I'm not in the mood."
"Just do it!"
With a reluctant grunt, I lay back, closed my eyes, and let my mind slip into that familiar meditation state. But instead of my usual training space...
I found myself somewhere else.
A house I didn't recognize.
Damien stood beside me—in my form. Same face, same posture. But his eyes were crimson. Mine were blue.
"You ready?" he asked.
"I guess."
We stepped inside.
And I froze.
My mother and father were in the kitchen. My mom stirred a pot on the stove, her face glowing with sweat and joy. My father lounged on the couch, laughing at some fighting tournament playing on the small kitchen TV.
Then he got up and walked to her. He wrapped his arms around her from behind, kissed her cheek. Then her lips.
"How's my baby doing?" he asked gently.
"Exhausted and tired," she replied with a smile.
"Not you," he said, crouching down and pressing a soft kiss to her belly. "I meant that little guy in there."
She pouted playfully.
He laughed, kissed her again. "And how's my big baby?"
She giggled in that childlike voice she always used when she felt safe. "Tired. And stressed."
"Go upstairs," he said, brushing her hair back. "Take a cold shower. I'll finish here."
"Aww, thanks, baby," she said, pecking his cheek and walking off.
I couldn't take it.
"Damien…" My voice cracked. "Take me back."
"Are you sure?"
"TAKE ME BACK!" I screamed. Tears ran down my face, hot and endless.
He nodded, eyes soft, and reached for my hand.
The memory collapsed.
I gasped awake—back in my room.
But the tears didn't stop.
They poured down my cheeks, thick and heavy. Each breath was ragged. Each sob tore something deeper.
"Aaaggghhh nooooooo!" I screamed into the silence. The temperature in the room spiked—heat rolling off my body in waves.
"CONTROL IT!" Damien barked. "You can't afford to lose it now!"
"I can't," I whispered. My body trembled, eyes flickering wildly. Blue. Red. Blue. Red. Again and again. Outside, the weather twisted with my emotions—a massive gust of wind slammed against the windows before heavy rain began to pour.
Thunder growled across the sky.
Damien's voice came again—calm but commanding. A tether pulling me back from the brink.
"You are Kingston. You're not perfect. You're not the best. But you kept going. You kept believing. You kept fighting to become more.
This—this is just a small storm to weather.
You are Kingston
You. Can. Do. This."
My hands clutched my head as I screamed, my voice raw and broken.
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"
Then—my eyes stabilized. The red vanished. Blue returned.
A massive bolt of lightning cracked through the sky—and struck.
It hit the center of my room.
White light. Thunder. Power.
I was thrown back onto the bed, my body weak and shaking.
And then... everything went black.
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