The room was spacious, its polished stone walls reflecting the light of modern lamps embedded in the ceiling.

A dark wooden rectangular table stood at the center, surrounded by high-backed chairs.

Seated around it were five young adults, all with black hair and blue eyes.

At the head of the table, presiding over the meeting, was Kraus Cole, the leader of the Storm Clan.

At 53, his robust figure still commanded respect, with close-cropped gray hair and light armor gleaming under the light.

His blue eyes, identical to those of his children, surveyed the scene with a calm that contrasted with the tension in the air.

Standing by the table was Selena, the youngest of the group.

Her black hair, cut just above her shoulders, swayed slightly as she fiddled with a white phone in her hands.

On the wall in front of them, a large television displayed a slowly flashing loading screen.

All eyes were fixed on it, some with impatience, others with curiosity.

The silence was heavy, broken only by the faint hum of the TV.

Nira, one of the girls seated, leaned back in her chair with a mocking smile.

Her long black hair cascaded over her shoulders.

She crossed her arms and raised an eyebrow.

"How much longer are you gonna keep us waiting, Selena?" she said, her tone dripping with sarcasm. "Did your little tech toy break or what?"

Selena glanced up from her phone, frowning but staying composed.

Her fingers kept moving quickly across the screen.

"Chill, Nira," she replied, her tone calm but firm. "Just a few seconds. It's almost done. I didn't expect screen-sharing mode to be such a pain. These things aren't as simple as they look."

Nira let out a huff, glancing at the others as if seeking backup.

"Always with the excuses," she muttered, but didn't press further.

Before anyone else could complain, the TV sprang to life.

A roar filled the room—a chorus of screams from a frightened crowd, followed by a deafening sound: CRACK!

The sound of a lightning bolt striking echoed so loudly that several people flinched.

Kain, seated to Nira's right, sat up straight, eyes wide.

Jaren, beside him, jolted, while Dren, the quietest, merely tilted his head in surprise.

The only ones unfazed were Selena, still tinkering with her phone, and Kraus, whose face remained impassive, though his eyes narrowed slightly as he watched the screen.

On the TV, the video showed the clan's arena, filled with dust and chaos.

The shaky camera captured Rian Cole in the center, his tunic in tatters, facing an opponent.

Selena, noticing her siblings' glares, raised her hands in apology.

"Sorry, sorry!" she said, laughing nervously as she lowered the phone's volume. "Didn't think it'd be that loud. I'm turning it down, relax."

Nira rolled her eyes, crossing her arms.

"By the gods, Selena, can't you work that thing?" she said. "You nearly deafened us!"

Jaren, recovering from the startle, leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table.

"Yeah, a little care wouldn't hurt," he said, his tone annoyed. "Though I gotta admit, it's impressive you recorded that with your… what do you call it? Smart phone?"

Kain, who'd been silent until now, let out a crooked grin.

"Didn't expect that gadget of yours to catch something like that," he said, pointing at the TV. "Whatever Rian did to win that fight… it's not normal. What do you all think?"

The others exchanged glances, and the room's atmosphere grew tenser.

Dren, seated across the table, frowned, arms crossed.

His voice was low, almost a murmur, but everyone heard him clearly.

"I can't believe Rian was still standing after a lightning bolt like that," he said, eyeing the video where Rian rose from the ground, his tattered tunic revealing no serious injuries.

"That kind of power… it's not something someone like him should withstand. Not with his track record."

Jaren clicked his tongue, leaning back with a skeptical expression.

"Maybe he had one of Selena's weird gadgets," he said, shooting a glance at the youngest, who was still adjusting the volume.

"What do you say, Selena? Did you give him something to survive that lightning?"

Selena looked up, clearly offended.

"Don't be an idiot, Jaren!" she snapped. "No device I know of can do that, except lightning rods, and those just redirect bolts, not make you immune to them. It's crazy that he's fine after a damn lightning bolt hit him!"

Nira, who'd been watching the video closely, leaned forward, her long hair falling over one side of her face.

Her blue eyes gleamed with a mix of curiosity and suspicion.

"Could be witchcraft," she said slowly, as if testing the idea. "Wouldn't be the first time someone used dirty tricks to stand out."

Kain let out a short laugh, backing Nira's theory.

"Exactly," he said, crossing his arms. "These past few days, Rian's been acting weird. Pointless fights, taking on people he wouldn't even look in the eye before. He was always quiet, weak, with shitty skills. And now this? Something's off."

Jaren nodded, though his expression was more thoughtful than accusing.

"I haven't had a chance to run into him face-to-face," he said, rubbing his chin. "But the rumors I've heard are… curious. Him suddenly deciding to be a fighter and climbing the ranks so fast… I didn't see that coming. Not from Rian."

Dren tilted his head toward the TV.

"Maybe he's been training in secret," he suggested, though he didn't sound fully convinced. "Maybe trying to live up to the Cole name."

Selena, done adjusting the volume, turned to them, setting her phone on the table.

"This isn't the first time a lightning bolt's hit near Rian," she said, her tone blending intrigue and caution. "I heard that in an earlier duel, when he ranked up to Warrior, another bolt struck. Not as strong as this one, but… it's weird."

She paused, glancing at her father, Kraus, who sat silently, his brow furrowed as he watched the video.

All eyes turned to Kraus, awaiting his reaction.

The Storm Clan leader set down the metal goblet he'd been holding on the arm of his throne-like chair and leaned forward slightly.

His deep, authoritative voice cut through the air.

"Rian's physique has improved," he said, pointing at the screen with a slow gesture.

In the video, Rian's tattered tunic revealed his chest and part of his abdomen, showing defined muscles honed by physical effort.

"The last time I saw him, he didn't look like that. He's been working."

Selena, glancing back at the video, nodded slowly.

"That's true…" she said, pointing at the screen.

Nira frowned, clearly irritated by the observation.

"That doesn't explain the lightning," she said sharply. "Training your body doesn't make you immune to a bolt."

Kain leaned forward, his smile not reaching his eyes.

"Exactly," he said. "Witchcraft or not, Rian's hiding something. And if it's not magic, it's gotta be some kind of trick."

Jaren, still watching the video, clicked his tongue again.

"If it's not witchcraft, maybe he's got an ally," he said thoughtfully. "Someone helping him in secret."

Kraus let out a deep laugh, making everyone look at him instantly.

"Magic…" he said, his tone mixing disdain and amusement. "You and your theories. A mage needs a staff to channel mana and specific words to cast spells. Did you see Rian with a staff? Hear him chant anything?"

The siblings glanced at each other, clearly stumped.

Jaren, however, didn't back down.

"Father, what if mages have developed new magic?" he suggested cautiously. "Something that doesn't need staffs or words? It's not impossible, is it?"

Kraus studied him for a moment, his expression hard to read.

Then he let out a shorter laugh.

"I doubt it," he said firmly. "Magic doesn't evolve that fast. But…"

He paused, turning to Selena.

"You, Selena. Keep an eye on Rian. I want to know what he's doing, who he's talking to, where he goes. Everything."

Selena nodded quickly, a mix of nervousness and determination in her eyes.

"Understood, Father," she said, picking up her phone from the table. "I'll watch him."

Kain, who'd been observing with a tense smile, raised a hand.

"Can I check his room?" he asked bluntly. "If he's hiding something, we might find clues there."

Kraus looked at him for a moment, sizing him up.

Then he nodded.

"Do it," he said curtly. "But be discreet. I don't want Rian knowing we're investigating him. Not yet."

Nira, who'd been watching the video intently, frowned.

Her eyes were fixed on Rian's face on the screen.

'There's something about his look I don't like,' she thought, feeling a pang of unease.

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