The journey back from the ocean felt longer than it truly was. The four walked in silence most of the way, the moonlight painting their weary faces in pale silver. Every step seemed to echo the memory of what had transpired—blood, fury, and Koha’s cold, merciless judgment.
Rio carried most of Koha’s weight on his shoulder. Though Koha insisted he could walk on his own, his body betrayed him. His forehead was bandaged hastily, blood seeping faintly through the cloth, and his aura—once so terrifyingly overwhelming—was now nearly extinguished.
Huo trudged beside them, shield strapped across his back, his usual sternness deepened into quiet contemplation. Yin followed closely, his arms clutching a tome tight to his chest, lips pressed together as though he were wrestling with questions too dangerous to voice.
No one dared to break the silence.
Not until the distant towers of Arkanis Academy came into view. Their tall spires pierced the night sky, torches flickering along the walls, a warm light beckoning like a promise of safety.
Rio exhaled, his voice finally piercing the quiet. “We’re home.”
Koha’s eyes half-lidded, whispered back. “…Is it really home?”
The others glanced at him, but he said nothing more.
The gates creaked open at their approach, guards bowing their heads in recognition. The academy rarely slept, and even at this late hour, students wandered the courtyards or trained beneath the moonlight. Yet when they saw Koha’s group enter smeared with blood, exhausted, Koha leaning heavily on Rio whispers broke out immediately.
“Is that… Koha?”
“He’s hurt—look at his head.”
“I heard they were on a coastal mission. Did something happen?”
“No, don’t you know? Rumor says a dark mage tried to assassinate him.”
The voices rippled like wildfire, following them through the academy grounds. But Rio shot the crowd a glare sharp enough to silence most of them. He wasn’t about to let Koha be treated like a spectacle.
The group reached the infirmary wing, where healers rushed forward. A middle-aged woman in pristine white robes, Healer Marien, immediately took command.
“Lay him down, quickly! Bring salves, mana stabilizers, and a cleansing circle—now!”
Koha tried to push her away. “I don’t… need this.”
Marien narrowed her eyes. “You will not argue with me, boy. You nearly lost your life. Do you want that wound to fester?”
Rio smirked faintly as Koha reluctantly complied, lying on the cot. “Better listen to her, Koha. You’re scary when you’re angry, but she’s scarier.”
For the first time since the battle, a tiny chuckle escaped Yin’s lips. Even Huo’s shoulders eased slightly.
Marien placed glowing hands above Koha’s forehead. Warm light poured from her palms, seeping into his wound. The blood crust evaporated, the cut knitting together. Koha winced but did not resist.
Within minutes, the bleeding stopped entirely. The light faded, leaving his skin whole again.
“There,” Marien said firmly. “Now rest. Your mana reserves are in shambles. Don’t even think of moving until sunrise.”
Koha muttered, “…Thank you.”
The healer’s gaze softened, but her voice remained stern. “Don’t thank me. Just survive, Koha. We can’t afford to lose you.”
Hours later, the four sat in their shared dormitory. The moonlight spilled through the tall window, casting silver lines across the wooden floor. Koha sat propped against the wall, a blanket draped over him, his sword lying at his side. Rio lounged lazily on his bed, tossing an apple up and down. Yin sat cross-legged, flipping through a tome but clearly not reading. Huo polished his shield in silence.
For a while, none spoke. The events weighed too heavily.
Finally, Rio broke the quiet. “…Alright. Someone has to say it. Koha, what the hell was that out there?”
Koha’s eyes remained closed. “…What do you mean?”
“You know damn well what I mean.” Rio sat up, apple forgotten. “The ocean your spells your eyes glowing like some executioner of the gods. You nearly drowned us in your power, Koha. And that sniper mage” Rio hesitated, remembering the gruesome sight. “he wasn’t just killed. You erased him. Completely.”
Yin’s hands trembled against his tome. “I’ve read about high-tier annihilation magic… but what Koha used wasn’t even in the records. It felt… forbidden. Like the world itself was bending.”
Huo finally spoke, voice low. “If you lost control, Koha… it’s not only enemies who’d be destroyed.”
The weight of their words hung in the air.
Koha opened his eyes slowly. The silver gleam of moonlight reflected off his irises, still faintly glowing. “I know.”
His voice was calm, but beneath it was something raw. “I felt it. When the bullet hit me… when I closed my eyes, something inside me opened. A wrath I couldn’t contain. I wasn’t thinking about you three. I wasn’t thinking about the world. Only about annihilating him.”
The room grew colder, though no spell had been cast.
Rio leaned forward, his tone gentler now. “Koha. You scared the hell out of us. But… you’re still here. You didn’t turn that wrath on us. That counts for something.”
Yin closed his tome, finally meeting Koha’s eyes. “You’re not alone in this. Whatever that power is, we’ll help you control it. That’s what friends are for.”
Huo nodded, expression firm. “If it takes all three of us to keep you steady, then that’s what we’ll do.”
For the first time, Koha looked at them not with cold detachment, but with a flicker of gratitude. “…Friends.”
The word lingered in the air, unfamiliar yet warm.
The next morning, sunlight poured into the academy halls. But instead of the usual cheer, the atmosphere was tense. Whispers followed Koha wherever he went. Students stepped aside, some in awe, others in fear.
“Is that him?”
“The one who drained the ocean?”
“They say he summoned blades from all elements at once…”
“No, I heard his eyes turned into magic circles. He saw through shadow magic itself!”
“Scary… I wouldn’t want to fight him.”
Koha ignored the voices, walking calmly beside Rio, Yin, and Huo. But inwardly, a storm brewed. He didn’t want to be seen as a monster. And yet, he knew what they feared wasn’t wrong.
At the faculty chamber, Headmaster Kael awaited them. The tall man’s robes shimmered with enchantments, his eyes piercing yet unreadable.
“You four may enter,” Kael said, voice steady.
Inside, the chamber was lined with stained-glass windows depicting legendary battles. Professors sat in a half-circle, their gazes heavy on the group.
Kael clasped his hands. “First, congratulations on surviving your mission. The coastal threat has been neutralized. However…” His eyes turned to Koha. “…reports of your power have spread faster than wildfire. What happened out there, Koha?”
The room grew still.
Koha met the headmaster’s gaze. “…He tried to assassinate me. I… lost control.”
A murmur rippled among the professors. Some leaned forward with intrigue, others with concern.
Kael’s expression did not change. “Lost control… yet destroyed a mage armed with forbidden weaponry. Tell me, Koha do you fear your own power?”
Koha hesitated. “…Yes.”
Silence followed.
Finally, Kael spoke again. “Fear is natural. It means you have not surrendered to it. But take heed, Koha: power that inspires only terror will isolate you. Learn to master it. Or it will master you.”
His gaze shifted to all four. “The council has decided to grant you reprieve. Rest, recover. No missions for one month.”
Rio’s eyes lit up. “Finally, some breathing room.”
Yin adjusted his glasses, relief evident. “Time to study without constant mortal danger…”
Huo exhaled. “We’ll use it wisely.”
Kael nodded. “See that you do. You are dismissed.”
That night, the four sat on the academy rooftop, watching the sunset paint the sky in hues of crimson and gold. For once, no battle awaited, no mission loomed.
Rio bit into bread he’d smuggled from the dining hall. “So… a whole month off. What do we even do?”
Yin smirked faintly. “Study. Train. Try not to die.”
Huo chuckled softly. “Relax. You make it sound like a chore.”
Koha sat silently, gazing at the horizon. The wind brushed his hair, cool against his skin. For the first time in days, his body didn’t ache.
Rio leaned back, folding his arms behind his head. “Hey, Koha.”
Koha glanced at him. “…What?”
“You’re stuck with us. Whether you like it or not.”
Yin nodded. “That’s right.”
Huo’s voice was steady. “We’re not afraid to stand beside you.”
Koha looked at them, one by one. And slowly, just barely, he allowed himself a small smile.
“…Thank you.”
The sun dipped below the horizon, the first stars glittering in the sky. And for that brief moment, the four were not warriors, not hunted, not wielders of terrifying magic.
They were simply friends, resting beneath the same sky.
ns216.73.216.13da2
and then Add to home screen.