The night in Tildaroot Village bled crimson beneath a fractured moon.

Once known for its glowing petal-fields, the place now lay hollow flowers turned to ash, water turned to murk.

And in the middle of that ruin, Kaen Suro stood alone.

His breathing was ragged, every inhale pulling in dust and regret.

Flames flickered unevenly across his skin not from control, but from pain.

Across from him, a figure stepped out from the haze.

Wild yellow hair, ragged cloak of black hide, a body mapped with scars each one glowing faintly with Shinrei corruption.

His grin was feral. His presence, predatory.

"Name's Bakuza."

The sound of his voice made the air crackle, heavy, sharp, filled with the weight of old blood.

Kaen spat on the ground, staggering slightly.

"You… you came out of nowhere. Who the hell are you?"

Bakuza tilted his head.

"You must be the curse brat… the one my master mentioned."

"Master?" Kaen's brow furrowed, aura flaring half flame, half shade.

His Shinrei burned unevenly, sparks of light twisting into tendrils of black smoke.

He gritted his teeth and pushed forward, channeling both energies at once

Shade and Fire, the limit was broken that it's impossible to balance, and It's tearing through his veins like molten glass.

He roared, launching forward flame arcs cutting through the night but Bakuza caught his strike with one hand.

The collision sent a shockwave through the dirt, scattering embers and petals.

Bakuza smirked, eyes flashing crimson.

"You fight like someone trying to be two things at once. Fire that fears itself."

He twisted his wrist. Kaen crashed into the ground, coughing blood.

The dirt beneath him steamed half from his aura, half from his rage.

Bakuza crouched, one knee digging into the soil beside him.

"Don't take it personal. I just wanted to test how strong the cursed child really is."

Kaen wiped blood from his mouth, snarling.

"Are you the one spreading the Lunaris Dust?"

Bakuza chuckled low, guttural, dangerous.

"Heh. Guess it."

His Shinrei flared, and in an instant, his body vanished into dark mist the air trembling from the aftershock.

A heartbeat later footsteps.

Two blurs broke through the smoke.

"Kaen!" Lira Valenne's voice clear, calm, but trembling with alarm. Her silver hair shimmered as her Shinrei flared, tracing waves of lunar light to heal.

Behind her, Rael Eluron drew his sword, scanning the perimeter.

"The air's wrong… I can still sense residual Shinrei distortion."

Lira knelt by Kaen, her hands glowing.

"What happened?!"

Kaen didn't answer immediately. His eyes stared at the ground, jaw clenched, expression dark.

Blood trailed down his temple, dripping from his chin onto the ash-covered petals.

Finally, he spoke, voice low steady but sharp.

"A man named Bakuza… said he was testing me."

Rael frowned. "Testing?"

Kaen's eyes flicked toward the empty horizon, the place where his enemy vanished.

"Tsk… Im not strong enough…"

…

The capital of Equinoxis still shimmered with the afterglow of the ceremony. Golden banners flapped in the air, echoing cheers from two days ago when the Corzedar family's name was once again carved into the annals of history.

Now, beneath the quiet dawn, the Corzedar manor stood bathed in gentle mist.

Khael adjusted the strap of his Veinwalker mantle, dark navy with silver lining.

Maricar Corzedar stood at the steps, eyes soft with pride. "You always come and go like the storms you call, my son. At least this time, leave a smile behind."

Khael chuckled softly, "If I smile, you'll start crying again, Mother."

She lightly smacked his arm with her healer's staff. "Then I'll cry anyway."

Beside her, Lord Lito Corzedar the Wind General, the patriarch who once commanded armies by laughte clapped his hands on Khael's shoulders. "Remember, the Veinwalker Corps doesn't just need a fighter, Khael. They need a heart. Be both."

His deep voice carried the same warmth that used to fill the training yard.

From the side, Ren waved with unrestrained excitement, eyes shining. "Next time, I'll join the academy too, Big Bro! Then I'll fight beside you!"

Lyra giggled, clutching a small bundle of wind blossoms. "You always say that, Ren. You still can't open completely one Vein Gate."

Ren flushed red. "I'm just… warming up!"

Khael bent down and ruffled both their hair. "Then keep warming up until the sun burns out, Ren. Lyra, don't forget to help Mother with her Shinrei studies."

Lyra nodded, then placed the wind blossoms in his hand. "For luck. They don't wither as long as you believe in them."

Khael held them carefully. "Then I'll believe."

A light projection flickered beside them, Serenia's face, her silver hair reflecting the glow.

"You're on the news again, Dragon Knight," she teased through the holo. "Try not to blow up another supply base this time. And remember, tactics before instinct."

Khael smiled faintly. "You still think I act without reason?"

Serenia smirked. "No. I think you act with too much heart. That's why I trust you."

Then the signal faded.

Lord Lito crossed his arms. "Arden left you something before heading north. A letter."

He handed over a folded parchment sealed with wax, the Northern Guard's sigil.

Khael opened it quietly.

"Little brother,

The North calls again. Don't wait for me, walk your own path.

You carry the Dragon's blood, but more than that… you carry the will of our family.

Never let your flame turn into pride. Keep it as light.

– Arden."

Khael exhaled slowly, folding the letter close to his chest. "...I'll live up to it."

Maricar smiled through her tears. "Then go, my son. The world awaits your wings."

As Khael turned toward the waiting skycraft bound for Veyl Academy, the morning wind spiraled around him playful, alive. His Shinrei responded, threads of dragonic current flickering in the air like ethereal feathers.

He looked back one last time, the family standing together beneath the rising sun.

"Goodbye everyone." he said, voice steady, carrying warmth and resolve.

The moment hung then the air shimmered, and Khael lifted into the sky.

..

..

..

After hours

The Veyl Academy loomed beneath the floating moons — grand, alive, and brimming with Shinrei currents that shimmered across its towers. Wind bridges linked each tower like veins of light, carrying Veinwalkers from one mission hall to the next.

Khael stepped through the marble archway of the Eastern Hall, his boots echoing against the polished stone floor. He'd just returned from Equinoxis; medals, honors,

and farewells still lingering in the back of his mind. But here, the noise of politics vanished.

Here, only the sound of power and discipline remained.

He exhaled, rolling his shoulders. Back to where I belong.

The corridors were alive with chatter students sparring in the courtyards, Shinrei flaring in color bursts across the training fields.

He passed by the Hall of Resonance, where first-year Veinwalkers practiced their Echo Arts, and then reached the Sector Nine Division Hall, the meeting ground of Team 9.

As the metal door slid open, a spark of lightning nearly hit his face.

"Oi—Ceyla!" Khael sidestepped just in time as a whip of blue electricity cracked past him, scorching the air.

A familiar voice snapped back, "Don't just walk in like a ghost, idiot!"

Ceyla Nox stood at the center of the training floor, hair messy and wild like a storm caught mid-motion, eyes flashing gray-black under the academy lights. She lowered her hand, electricity still buzzing across her palm.

"You almost fried me." Khael said, brushing off his sleeve.

Ceyla looked away, pouting. "Are you o- Hmmp… You could've knocked."

"I did knock."

"You knocked after the door opened!"

Their argument caught the attention of a silent figure sitting cross-legged on the mat, Juno Arkai. Calm, bandaged fists resting on his knees, breathing steady.

"Welcome back, Dragon Knight," Juno said, tone flat but respectful. "I assume the capital didn't bore you too much."

Khael smirked. "If endless speeches and nobles count as excitement, sure."

Ceyla rolled her eyes, flicking her lightning off. "Tch. You're Late.. Oh hero of the continent now. Don't get too comfortable walking among us mortals."

Khael looked at her, smiling faintly. "You missed me."

"I did not," she snapped immediately, cheeks faintly pink. "Who'd miss a windhead like you?"

Juno sighed quietly, standing up. "Same as always, I see."

Khael laughed, the tension easing. "Same as always."

But as the light banter died down, he noticed something odd. The mission board in their hall was empty. Usually, it was filled with requests field assignments, scout operations, or Shinrei investigations.

Khael frowned. "No missions today?"

Juno shook his head. "All new directives are delayed. The faculty mentioned something about the Florene Petalglade Region. Sector restrictions, possibly contamination."

Ceyla crossed her arms. "Probably another mess the higher ups wants us to veinwalker to clear.."

Khael froze. "How about the Team 3… Are they still in the mission?"

"Yeah," Ceyla said, half shrugging. "The mission report hasn't come in yet. Should've by now, though."

Juno noticed the flicker in Khael's expression. His eyes sharpened. "Something wrong?"

Khael quickly masked it. "...No. Just didn't think the mission would take them that long."

But inside, a ripple stirred something heavy. Kaen, what are you doing out there?

Ceyla sat down on one of the training mats, flicking her fingers idly, sparks jumping. "Anyway, since you're back, you can do the paperwork. I hate dealing with forms."

Khael raised an eyebrow. "You mean you can't write properly after blowing half the hall up."

"Excuse me! That was controlled training!"

"Controlled?" Juno muttered. "Half the east wing's light grid still flickers."

"Not my fault the academy's circuits are weak!"

Their bickering carried through the hall like familiar thunder and wind.

And for a brief moment, Khael smiled again, that same balance between chaos and camaraderie that made Team 9 what it was.

But then the intercom crackled.

"Attention, all active field teams. This is Instructor Varn. Team 9 — report to the central hall immediately. New directive. Priority: Silver."

Juno immediately grabbed his wrist wraps.

Ceyla blinked, lightning fading around her hand. "Priority Silver? That's near top-tier"

Khael's expression turned serious. "Let's move."

The three left the hall, wind whipping around Khael's shoulders as they crossed the bridgeway toward the mission core.

Somewhere beyond the horizon, a storm was already gathering.

And far away in the Florene Petalglade, Kaen's blood still stained the soil of Tildaroot.

To be continue

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