Chapter Thirty — Shadows Collide (First Exchange)
Location:
Valerius Imperial Academy – Grand Arena
Time: Continuous, moments after Chapter Twenty-Nine
The arena seals locked.
Runes flared across the stone floor, forming a massive circular barrier that cut the sky in half. The air grew heavy—so heavy that even instructors struggled to breathe.
Two brothers faced each other.
One born into privilege.
One forged in suffering.
Celsius tightened his grip on his sword.
Not yet… don't reveal everything.
Across from him, Kael smiled.
Kael: "You're holding back."
Celsius: "So are you."
Kael chuckled softly.
Kael: "Good. That means this will last."
Scene 1 — The First Strike
Kael moved first.
Not fast.
Not slow.
Perfect.
His blade vanished mid-swing, reappearing behind Celsius in a flash of fractured white shadow.
Celsius barely twisted in time.
Steel met steel.
The impact sent a shockwave through the arena, cracking the floor in a spiderweb pattern.
Spectators screamed as barriers strained.
Instructor (shouting): "Reinforce the seals!"
Celsius slid back, boots carving lines into stone.
Celsius (thought): His control… refined.
Kael tilted his head.
Kael: "Interesting. You adapted."
Scene 2 — Pressure of Bloodline
Kael raised his free hand.
White sigils ignited around him, orbiting like broken halos.
The pressure doubled.
Students collapsed to their knees.
Lyra clutched the railing, teeth clenched.
Lyra (whisper): "Celsius…"
Celsius felt his chest tighten.
Not from fear.
From recognition.
Eridiaries: That power mimics mine… but it's incomplete.
Celsius steadied his breathing.
Shadow seeped into his blade—but remained thin, restrained.
Celsius: "You're borrowing power you don't understand."
Kael's eyes gleamed.
Kael: "And you're carrying power that will devour you."
Scene 3 — Clash of Ideals
They exchanged blows.
Once.
Twice.
Ten times.
Each strike bent light and shadow, carving gouges into the arena floor.
Kael fought with elegance—every movement calculated.
Celsius fought with efficiency—no wasted motion.
Neither gained ground.
The crowd watched in terrified silence.
This wasn't a duel.
It was a preview of a war.
Scene 4 — The Interruption
Suddenly—
The arena trembled violently.
A horn sounded from the academy walls.
Not an alarm.
A war signal.
An instructor shouted:
"Incoming distortion—outside the eastern ward!"
Kael's smile widened.
Kael: "Ah. Right on time."
Celsius glared.
Celsius: "You planned this."
Kael turned away.
Kael: "This fight isn't for today."
He looked back over his shoulder.
Kael: "Survive the consequences first, little brother."
White shadow exploded.
When the light faded—
Kael was gone.
Scene 5 — Aftermath
The arena seals collapsed.
Instructors rushed forward.
Duke Magnus stood frozen, staring at the destruction.
Magnus (low): "…What have I unleashed?"
Celsius sheathed his sword.
Shadows receded.
His heart pounded—not from exhaustion, but anticipation.
This was only the opening move.
Eridiaries whispered.
Now the world begins to notice you.
Beyond the academy walls, something massive shifted.
And the real war crept closer.