The wind was tense—coiling between flame and frost.
Kael stood at the center of the clearing, flame threads flickering at his wrist. Thol Greymark, cadet of Glaciem, drew a long crystal-forged blade with steady hands. Frost mist danced around his boots.
> "Don't hold back," Thol said. "I won't."
---
> [Duel Confirmed]
▪ Combatants: Kael Virdane vs. Thol Greymark
▪ Duel Type: Political (Observation)
▪ Rules: No fatal blows. System-enforced
▪ Active Watchers: 3 Hidden, 1 Unregistered
[Note: Unknown Observer Detected — System unable to identify origin.]
---
The duel began.
Thol moved first, faster than expected. His boots crushed embers, launching a horizontal slash.
Kael ducked under the arc.
> [Skill Used: Shadowstep Lv.3]
▪ Displacement activated
▪ Afterimage trails engaged
He blurred sideways, reappearing behind Thol—but the knight was ready.
> [Skill Used: Frost Echo]
▪ Counter predicted
▪ Ice rebound activated
Shards exploded from Thol's cloak, Kael thrown back into the rubble.
"Cheap trick," Kael muttered.
> [Trait Activated: Dream-Echo Instinct (25%)]
▪ Predictive pulse triggered
▪ Pre-counter impulse stored
Kael rolled, launched forward with a flick of flame.
> [Skill Used: Ember Pulse Lv.2]
▪ Direct burst attack
▪ +20% to staggered targets
The blast hit Thol square in the chest—he slid back, coughing, frost flickering around his jaw.
They circled.
> "You're not like the other nobles," Thol said, wiping blood from his mouth.
> "You came alone. No banner, no shadow."
Kael said nothing.
> "You've got something inside you," Thol continued. "I've seen it before... in the Cradle of Echoes."
Kael flinched.
> "You've been touched by them."
Before Kael could respond, the system pulsed violently.
---
> [System Glitch Detected]
▪ Unauthorized Watcher Interference
▪ Tracking Path: Veiled Hollows
▪ Entity Designation: "Ash in Silence"
---
Kael's eyes widened.
The shadows behind the system were real.
---
Thol lowered his blade.
> "...They're watching both of us now."
The duel ended without a victor.
But a bigger war had begun.