The sparring arena near the Knight Department was a grand structure, built solely for training, competitions, and exams. It was split into two halves—one for the knight division and the other for the magic students—allowing both departments to conduct duels simultaneously. The stage was paved with caroconium stone, a mana-hardened material capable of withstanding even the most destructive spells and sword strikes.
Capable of accommodating over a thousand students, the arena buzzed with excitement. The first, second, and third-year students filled the seating areas, while the fourth years were absent—sent to the field for real-world assignments, a tradition at Venessa Academy.
This year, however, the spotlight was on the first years. Many hailed from noble houses, and the fiercest buzz surrounded one name—Silvia, the girl who'd defeated Sara Vaviniya, a top-ranked mage.
The arena seating was structured in tiers. The top ten students of each year enjoyed private booths in the upper balconies. The top hundred were placed in the lower-tier seats, while the rest filled the ground-level viewing area.
Despite everyone's anticipation for a Silvia vs. Sara rematch, the official match-ups told a different story:
Silvia vs. Latty
Sara vs. Rames
Kayle vs. Mariya
Jack vs. Shawn
Rose vs. Jin
A certain someone had subtly pulled the strings to avoid a repeat confrontation.
From their private booth, Kayle sat beside Silvia, his gaze calm.
"It was Olivia," Kayle thought. "She ensured the bracket kept Silvia and Sara apart. Smart move... avoids unnecessary chaos."
"I swear," Silvia grumbled, cracking her knuckles, "if that girl was up against me, I would've burned her to cinders."
"Yeah," Kayle said, lips curving. "She's lucky."
Silvia turned to him, her voice softer now. "You're up against Mariya. She's strong. Don't push yourself too far. If it gets dangerous, back down. Pride isn't worth an injury."
Kayle chuckled. "You're more worried than I am. I'll be fine."
"Hmph. I just don't want to carry your unconscious body off the stage."
"Thanks for the confidence." He teased. "Just don't overdo it yourself."
"As if I don't know my limits. I can control myself way better than you."
"I know," Kayle said quietly, his tone sincere. "You've grown."
Before Silvia could respond, she noticed Sara watching them from side, her eyes sharp, calculating. She quickly turned away with a sly smile.
Soon, the top-ranking students from the second and third years arrived in the private zone—nobles with impressive presence. Among them, three second-year girls approached Kayle.
"Hey~ You must be Kayle, the new academy sensation," said Beatrice Cyanfer, the top mage of the second year, flashing a charming smile. "You're even more handsome up close."
"And muscular," added Katty Lonen, ranked second. She boldly grabbed his arm. "Seriously, these don't feel like a mage's muscles…"
"Are you single?" purred Emma Nasoniya, third-ranked, brushing her fingers across his cheek. "Let your cute senior take you out to dinner."
Kayle blinked. "Um…"
"You can't just claim him!" Katty snapped. "I was here first!"
Emma laughed. "Well, he clearly prefers me. Right, Kayle?"
"I—uh—"
"You two can argue later," Beatrice interrupted, arms folded. "He's dining with me."
"Do I get a say in this?" Kayle wondered grimly.
Silvia, watching the scene unfold, felt her blood pressure rise. Before she could step in, a tall boy blocked her path.
"Hey there," he said, smiling confidently. "You're Silvia, right? I'm Albert Francis, second-year, fourth-ranked in magic."
"Ah—hello, senior. Nice to meet you," she said curtly, trying to sidestep him.
"Such grace," he said, ignoring her attempt. "If you need help navigating your first year, I'm available anytime."
"Thank you," she said quickly.
Just as he tried to detain her again, Jack stepped in with perfect timing.
"Hii~ Senior Albert! I've heard about you! Mind if I ask—"
Silvia used the distraction to rush back and insert herself between Kayle and the senior girls.
"Hello, seniors," she said sweetly, "I'm Silvia. It's lovely to meet you."
Beatrice raised an eyebrow. "Ah, the first-ranked prodigy."
"You look cuter in person," Katty added.
"You're famous," Emma smiled. "They say you defeated Sara in a single duel."
Just then, the duel announcements echoed through the arena.
"FIRST ROUND BEGINNING — ALL PARTICIPANTS TO THE STAGE!"
Everyone took their places. Matches started after a while the matches of top students started
---
[ Duel: Silvia vs. Latty ]
Silvia stepped onto the arena floor. Across from her stood Latty, a talented mage known for intermediate spell use, though not on par with Sara.
"Match begin!"
Latty immediately launched a barrage of fireballs.
WHOOSH WHOOSH WHOOSH!
Silvia dodged gracefully, flipping to the side. But the fireballs were a ruse.
"Wind Slash!" Latty yelled, and invisible blades of wind screamed toward Silvia.
SSSHHHHHH—SHING!
Caught mid-movement, Silvia quickly reacted—she fired a fireball at the ground.
BOOM!
The explosion launched her upward, flipping her over the slashes. The audience gasped.
"She used recoil to dodge... brilliant."
From the air, Silvia cast a double fireball, hiding the second spell behind the first.
"Water Cannon!" Latty countered from below.
BOOOOOOM!
A thunderous collision lit the sky, fire and water clashing in a steamy explosion. Smoke filled the arena.
When the mist cleared, Latty stood, ready to counter. But—
FWOOOOOSH!
A second fireball came from behind the smoke—Silvia's hidden shot. Latty barely ducked, eyes wide.
"Wait—!"
IGNITE! Silvia's voice rang through the arena.
A circular burst of flame erupted around Latty.
FWOOM!
The flames closed in. Trapped, overwhelmed, Latty screamed—
"I surrender!"
The flames vanished, replaced by stunned silence—then an explosion of cheers.
"SILVIA! SILVIA! SILVIA!"
She stood calmly as the crowd roared her name.
"A clean victory," Kayle thought, watching her with quiet pride. "You're growing strong... just like you're meant to."
While the crowd roared in awe at Silvia and Latty's duel, Sara quietly slipped away from the noise and approached Kayle, who sat in the private zone, aloof and distant—like he always was when she was around.
Wearing a soft smile, she stood beside him.
"Mind if I sit here?" she asked, her voice sweet, like a practiced melody.
Kayle glanced at her, silent. Expressionless.
He didn't say yes—but he didn't say no either.
Sara took her seat.
She knew he wouldn't give her an opening easily. So instead, she gently reached over and touched his little finger, curling hers around it in a faint echo of closeness from the past.
She dropped her gaze and put on a guilty face.
"Kayle… I want to talk to you about something. Please. Just once. I won't take long," she said softly, pleading.
Kayle let out a quiet sigh of annoyance. He didn't want this conversation, not now—not ever.
With a cold expression, he said, "I don't think there's anything left between us to talk about. So… no."
But Sara wasn't backing down. "I know I was wrong. I lost my temper. I did something I regret. Please, Kayle… just listen. I swear it won't take long."
His jaw clenched slightly, the irritation visible in his eyes. But to end it quickly, he stood up.
"What now?" he said, flatly.
"This place is crowded. Can we talk outside? Just for a minute?"
"…Fine," he muttered and walked off.
---
Outside, Near the Marble Staircase
They stood under the shade of the academy's towering stone pillars, just near the wide marble stairs. The buzz of the arena felt distant.
Sara turned to him. Her voice trembled—not out of fear, but from the effort of keeping up her act.
"I… I want to apologize," she said. "For what I did last time. I was reckless. I was angry. I'm truly sorry, Kayle."
Kayle looked at her without emotion and replied curtly, "Okay." Then he turned to leave.
But she wasn't done.
She grabbed his hand tightly. "No—no, you didn't accept it properly! I'm seriously sorry for what happened."
She stepped closer, her face inches from his.
Kayle stepped back, but she held both of his wrists now, trying to keep him there. Her breath was uneven.
"I said I accept it. What more do you want?" he asked, frustration slipping into his voice.
"I want you to look me in the eyes… and say it."
She inched closer, her eyes narrowing as she tried to close the distance.
She tried to cling on him and their balance starting to break.
Kayle sighed—tired of this nonsense—and gently but firmly took her wrists, removing her grip. Then he stepped forward, into the light streaming through the large archway window.
---
Kayle in the Light
Sara's breath caught in her throat.
Until now, Kayle's face had been hidden in the shadows—but in the golden light, he looked like something sculpted from a dream.
His skin gleamed like fine-polished marble—flawless and radiant. His eyes—a mesmerizing fusion of emeraldgreen and crystalline blue—caught the sunlight and reflected it like living gemstones. They shimmered with an unnatural clarity, the kind you'd only see in precious stones or enchanted lakes.
The light played across his sharp jawline, his smooth cheekbones, the calm power in his expression. His soft, steady breaths brushed against her face, warm and close.
Sara, who had come here trying to manipulate him, suddenly forgot where she was. Her heart thundered in her chest.
Her fingers trembled.
She was completely hypnotized.
Her plan—the guilt, the act, the closeness—all of it crumbled under the weight of his sheer presence.
He spoke gently.
"Hey… are you okay?"
No response.
"Sara?" he said again, frowning slightly.
She didn't blink. Just stared.
Kayle let go of her hands and stepped back.
Sara's knees buckled, and she dropped to the ground, blinking rapidly as if waking from a trance.
Realization and embarrassment hit her all at once. Her cheeks flushed crimson.
Kayle stood over her, calm and unaffected.
"I accepted your apology. That's enough. You don't need to apologize again."
Then he turned and walked away, leaving Sara sitting there—her hand pressed to her racing heart.
Sara sat on the stone floor, her knees pulled close as she murmured to herself.
"Wh…what just happened to me? I...I... It can't be. How can I, Sara, feel this way? His… his eyes… What's going on? Why is my heart beating so fast…?"
She gripped her chest as if trying to hold her racing heart still.
Moments later, Silvia and Latty returned to their seats, still flushed from their duel. Silvia glanced toward the stairwell.
"Kayle, I saw that girl—Sara. She was acting strange. She didn't even respond to Latty and was muttering to herself like a lunatic. I think she's finally lost her mind."
"I think so too," Kayle replied calmly, eyes already back on the arena.
Soon, the remaining duels finished. The victors were announced:
Silvia
Sara
Rose
Jack
Kayle
Though Sara had won her match, her performance was bizarre—almost robotic. She fought like her body was present, but her mind was lost somewhere else entirely.
After the final battle, Silvia and Kayle quietly slipped out of the arena, avoiding the seniors who had been trying to drag them to a "celebration dinner."
The sun rose on a new day: the day of the second-year duels.
Kayle arrived early, fully prepared. He and Silvia took their usual seats among the first-years, who chatted animatedly around them.
As Kayle scanned the crowd, his eyes locked briefly with Sara's.
She immediately turned away, her face flushed, as if trying to disappear.
Just then, a voice cooed near his ear.
"There you are, rookie," said Emma, looping her arms lazily around Kayle's neck. "You vanished last night. I told you I wanted dinner. I even booked a seat at one of the most lavish restaurants in Alofis—and you left me hanging. That hurt, you know. How are you going to make it up to me?"
She leaned in, her cheek nearly brushing his.
Kayle leaned slightly back, expression unreadable.
"Don't be so shameless, Emma. Is this how a senior behaves?" said Katty, clearly annoyed.
Emma grinned. "I'm just talking about last night's event. What's so shameless about that?"
"Both of you, quiet down," Beatrice snapped, arms crossed. "The duels are about to start. I'm also not done with you, Kayle. Last night was just round one. Don't think you can escape again today."
Silvia, watching the flirtation unfold beside her, clenched her fists.
Just then, Albert plopped down beside her and started ranting about how annoying the seniors were last night. Silvia nodded quickly, grateful for the distraction—but her eyes kept flicking to Kayle and his unwanted admirers.
An announcement echoed across the arena:
"The second-year duels will now begin!"
Everyone turned toward the stage. The crowd stilled, and the opening match roared to life.
Kayle sat quietly, watching every move with sharp focus. For a while, nothing was out of the ordinary.
Then the duelists were announced:
"Next match: Handry vs Mark."
Kayle stood.
"Where are you going?" Silvia asked.
"Restroom," he said casually.
She nodded, though her eyes narrowed.
Kayle made his way to the lower ring, where the general students sat closer to the arena ground. From this vantage point, he could better observe the spells and techniques being used.
The duel between Handry and Mark began fiercely. High-ranking elemental spirits were summoned—rare, powerful entities that very few second-years could control.
The battle intensified with each moment. Flames twisted into dragons, lightning tore through the air, and water spiraled like whirlpools from the sky.
The crowd gasped.
Professor Mark, overseeing the match, shouted, "Enough! Withdraw your spirits!"
But neither student responded.
The elemental spirits had broken their bonds—they had taken control.
The spirits began unleashing spells without command, their eyes glowing with primal fury.
Everyone realized something was terribly wrong.
The spirits turned their attention toward the barrier protecting the audience—thin as glass, humming faintly with magical energy. They attacked it in unison.
Cracks formed in the shield.
Panic rippled through the crowd.
"Everyone out of the arena!" Professor Mark bellowed.
Students screamed.
Second- and third-years began pushing toward the exits. Senior students tried to help the younger ones evacuate.
Then it happened.
The spirits turned upward—and attacked the ceiling.
Stone and iron crumbled.
The protective barrier shattered.
A massive section of the roof collapsed with a thunderous roar, sealing off the gates and trapping all the first-year students, along with a few seniors, inside the broken arena.
The spirits were out of control. Screams echoed across the arena as students panicked, scattering in every direction. Some sprinted for the exits, others ducked behind debris, trying desperately to find cover. Seniors shouted commands, trying to calm the chaos.
CRASH!
A portion of the ceiling collapsed, shaking the ground. Dust and fragments rained down. Professor Mark dashed through the mayhem, helping pull students out from beneath the fallen rubble.
Silvia and the other students from the private seating zone leapt into the fray. Third-year seniors stepped forward, facing the raging elemental spirits without hesitation.
First and second-year students assisted in evacuation, following Professor Mark's orders.
"Sir! You help the seniors. We'll handle the rest!" Jack shouted.
"Get everyone to the professor's seating area!" Mark barked in response.
Then, everyone scattered into action.
Professor Mark and the seniors clashed with the spirits in a storm of magic. Meanwhile, hidden by invisibility, Kayle slipped away into the shadows and made his way backstage.
But the backstage area was a disaster zone—crushed by high-ranking wind and water spirits. The walls groaned and the structure looked ready to collapse.
Kayle took advantage of the commotion. With a wave of his hand, a gust of telekinetic force swept away the debris. Thud. Clatter. Crrrck. The path cleared, and he stepped inside.
Running his palm along the wall, he channeled mana into the stone. A faint pulse answered. He found a loose brick—pressed it—and a hidden passage creaked open with a grinding rumble. Without hesitation, he slipped inside the shadows below.
---
Back in the arena, chaos ruled.
The high-ranking spirits had fully manifested and were growing in size, glowing with raw power. Third-years activated formation tactics—shouts, chants, and flashes of magic burst across the battlefield as they attacked from multiple angles.
But the spirits didn't even flinch.
FWOOOOOSH!!
The wind spirit let out a shriek and summoned a massive tornado—the roar of rushing air filled the arena, hurling students aside like ragdolls. The formation scattered.
"No!" Mark shouted, dashing to assist.
But the water spirit moved to intercept him, and with a sickening gurgle, launched a massive Water Cannon spell.
BOOOOOM!!
A column of pressurized water exploded forward like a missile. Mark raised a glowing mana shield just in time. The impact sent waves rippling around him, the floor beneath his feet cracking.
"Tch... I can't fight freely while protecting students!"
His mind raced.
"The shockwaves are too dangerous. Even the caroconium stones won't hold forever. I need to end this—now!"
Reaching into his coat, he pulled out a metallic cube pulsing with golden veins.
---
Heroic-Grade Magic Engineering Tool
Name: Cross Bind Box
Restrains any 5th-circle mage or high-ranking spirit.
Duration: 3 minutes. One-time use.
---
> "Let's end this."
He hurled the device into the air. It burst open with a sharp clang, and golden chains whipped through the arena, wrapping the water spirit in a web of radiant binds. CLANG! CHINK! CRACK! The spirit howled, thrashing against the restraints.
"Now!" Mark raised both hands.
"Infernal Spear!"
A blazing, crimson spear of fire formed above him—its heat rippling through the air.
SWOOOSH—BOOM!
The spear rocketed toward the bound spirit. A thunderous explosion rocked the arena. Smoke engulfed the spirit's body, then began to clear.
The water spirit was dissolving, its massive form unraveling into particles of glowing mist.
But there was no time to celebrate.
Mark turned, his eyes locking on the wind spirit—still wreaking havoc, still unstoppable.
"One down. One to go."
He charged forward, teeth gritted, as the battle raged on.
The arena trembled with destruction.
Mark had reached the students—but it was already too late. The third-year seniors lay defeated, collapsed from their brutal clash with the wind spirit. Only the top ten second-year students were left standing, creating mana shields around the terrified first-years.
The wind spirit howled like a storm. WHOOOOSH! Its body surged with violent gales, lashing at the shields.
Seeing an opening, Mark jumped high into the air.
"Move back!" he shouted to the second-years.
He extended his hands. "Blazing Chains!"
With a snap of energy, flaming chains erupted, wrapping around the wind spirit's neck. The creature roared, smoke rising from its burning skin as the fire seared into it.
RRAAAAGGHH!!
Mark yanked the chains, pulling the massive spirit backward. But it retaliated immediately—charging forward with its mouth wide open, trying to devour him whole.
Mark created mana shield.
And
CHOMP!
Its jaws clashed against Mark's shield, the clashing sound echoing like thunder. The wind spirit's enormous teeth gnashed and pressed, pushing Mark back across the arena.
Mark grit his teeth, his glasses cracked from the force.
"You beast… Do you think I'm just some pushover because I wear glasses?" he growled.
Seizing the moment, Mark twisted the mana shield, jamming it between the spirit's jaws, forcing its mouth wide open. Then—
He used Intermidiate level Earth Magic.
"Stone arm!"
His arm morphed into a long, jagged pillar of earth, and he slammed it into the shield wedged inside the wind spirit's mouth.
CRACK! — FWOOOSH!
The force of the punch pierced through the spirit—a massive hole blasted clean through its back. The creature froze, its form flickering with unstable energy before slowly dissolving into glittering mana mist.
Mark landed hard, panting. The students who had summoned the spirits still lay unconscious on the ground. He didn't stop.
He rushed to the fallen third-years. Some had broken bones, others lay covered in bruises and blood. The second-years, too, were barely standing.
At his overturned table, Mark found emergency healing potions. Most were shattered, but a few remained intact. He handed them to the worst-injured students.
"Are you all okay?" he asked.
"Yes, sir. Just exhausted and injured," Beatrice replied weakly.
"Don't worry. Other teachers will arrive soon."
Nearby, the students discussed what had happened.
"I still can't believe they lost control of their summoned spirits…" Jack muttered.
"Yeah. Even if they're top-100 students, how could those spirits hold their full forms for so long?" Latty said.
A red-haired girl with burning eyes—Rose, rank 8 in the mage department—nodded.
"Something's not right. Even with high spirit resonance, this shouldn't be possible."
"You're right," Mark said grimly. "The academy will investigate this."
Suddenly—
BOOOOM! — SPLASH!
A high-pressure Water Cannon slammed into Mark's back. He was flung like a ragdoll into the wall.
CRUNCH!
A metal rod pierced through his leg. He screamed in agony.
"AAAAARGHHH!"
Everyone turned in horror. The spirits had manifested again—without any hosts. They moved on their own, pulsing with dark, unnatural energy.
Fear swept over the students. The third-years were unconscious. The second-years had no mana left.
"This can't be...! The spirits shouldn't exist without hosts!" Beatrice said, panicked.
"Even the private zone has collapsed," Katty added. "We're completely sealed in."
"You guys stay behind. We'll keep them engaged," Beatrice said, stepping forward.
"No, seniors! You're out of mana—you'll die!" Silvia objected.
"We don't have a choice!" Beatrice cried.
"Then we'll fight too!" Silvia declared.
"Don't be reckless!" Beatrice barked.
"We're not kids anymore!" Jack shouted.
One by one, the top-ranked first-years stepped forward.
Latty. Rose. Rames. Mariya. Sara. Shawn. Jin. Jack.
They all stood—shoulder to shoulder.
Beatrice stared, stunned.
> "Okay. Let's do this together."
The top 10 first-years stood at the front, second-years backing them up.
The spirits attacked.
WHOOOSH! — CRACKLE! — BOOM!
Magic exploded across the battlefield.
Silvia and Sara each took on a spirit—fire and water against water and wind.
FWOOOOOM!
Silvia hurled massive fireballs—each the size of a boulder—at the water spirit. Explosions erupted as the spirit countered with water cannons.
Behind her, students launched coordinated spells: lightning bolts, barrier reinforcement, wind pressure strikes.
But the water spirit was furious.
It summoned a massive wave, a tsunami roaring across the arena.
"SCATTER!!"
Students dove in all directions. Silvia and Sara were flung back by the blast.
As they lay on the floor, they looked up in horror.
Their friends—seniors and classmates—were being flung through the air, slammed into walls, screaming in pain.
Silvia's eyes widened.
She remembered the flames.
The village. The screaming. Her friends tied to the stake.
She had been powerless then. She had almost died.
Not again.
"Not this time... NOT AGAIN!!"
A furious scream erupted from her throat.
FWHOOOOOOOM!
Mana surged around her like a storm. Her hair rose, eyes glowing red. Flames danced around her.
Silvia had awakened.
"W-What is this…?" Rose whispered, stunned.
"She's radiating red mana!" Latty said.
Silvia stepped forward, no longer chanting.
Fireballs burst into existence mid-air—one, two, five, ten—raining hell down upon the water spirit.
Sara stared, wide-eyed.
"I can't sit here when she's fighting like that..."
She stood—and behind her, Jack, Rames, Latty, Mariya, Rose, Shawn, and Jin followed.
Sara, Rames, and Mariya pushed forward.
Jack, Rose, and the others supported with ranged spells.
Beatrice and the second-years could only watch, stunned by the courage of these new students.
Then Sara's voice rang out:
"Its core. We need to destroy the core! Hold it for 40 seconds!"
Rames and Mariya nodded.
BZZZT! — THWOOOSH!
Rames shot a lightning bolt, Mariya a water blast.
Sara gathered her mana, then summoned a massive water trident—spinning with raw force.
She hurled it—CRACK!!
It pierced the wind spirit's core.
KRRRSHHH!!
The wind spirit let out a final scream before dissolving into dust.
On the other side, Silvia's rage was peaking.
The water spirit tried to retaliate with a massive beam, but she dodged, jumping high.
"IGNITE!!"
A column of flames erupted beneath the spirit—so intense it lit the ceiling ablaze.
BOOOOM!
The arena shook as fire engulfed the enemy.
The flames were so powerful and scorching that they pierced clean through the arena wall, carving a gaping hole in the stone like a lance of fire from the heavens.
The water sprit burnt to smoke and it's core to ashes
Silvia, having poured every ounce of mana into her final attack, lost consciousness mid-air. Her body began to fall, slowly spiraling toward the ground.
"Silvia!!" voices cried out as students watched, helpless.
Then, like a gust of wind, a figure appeared in the sky.
Kayle.
With wind acceleration magic pulsing at his feet, he raced through the air and caught Silvia gently in his arms. The wind whipped around him as he descended, landing softly amidst the debris.
Holding her close, he smiled.
"I knew you could do this," he whispered, brushing a strand of hair from her face.
Just then, a thunderous blast shook the air as the blocked exits blew open, scattering debris. Professor Olivia and Professor Lucy rushed in, their expressions turning grim as they took in the devastated arena.
"It's Professor Olivia and Lucy! We're safe now!" the students shouted in relief.
The professors wasted no time. Olivia examined the fallen students while Lucy called in academy staff and healers.
"Take the injured to the infirmary immediately!" Olivia commanded. "Mark too—he's hurt badly!"
Stretcher teams rushed in. Professor Mark, still conscious but bloodied, was carried away for treatment.
Kayle didn't wait.
Still carrying Silvia in his arms, he sprinted toward the infirmary.
James saw him pass and immediately followed, worry written across his face.
---
The infirmary was crowded and chaotic. Rows of beds were filled with unconscious or wounded students. The medical staff moved quickly, casting healing spells, applying salves, and adjusting mana infusion devices.
Kayle sat beside Silvia's bed, her face pale, her breath shallow but steady.
James sat beside him.
Hours passed.
Evening settled in. Outside, the sky turned violet and gold. Inside, the air buzzed with quiet urgency, clinking glass, and low murmurs from nurses.
Silvia remained unconscious.
James glanced at Kayle, who hadn't moved for hours.
"Kayle… you haven't eaten anything all day," James said softly. "I know you're worried, but the physician said she's out of danger. She just needs to rest."
Kayle's eyes stayed on Silvia. His voice was low.
"I'll stay here."
James placed a hand on his shoulder, understanding.
"I'm going to grab something to eat. Want anything?"
"Just… coffee."
James nodded and walked away, leaving Kayle alone with her.
Kayle sat in silence for a while longer. The infirmary lights flickered softly, casting a warm glow across Silvia's sleeping face.
He reached into his coat pocket and slowly pulled out a necklace—a slender chain with a black diamond pendant engraved at its center.
He held it gently in his palm, staring at it for a long time.
The black diamond shimmered faintly in the light.
Aeon thought " this is the one of the part of those seven pieces".