The aftermath of Doojin’s assault left Arkanis Academy in a state of tense silence. The once-bustling halls were eerily quiet, save for the soft hum of protective wards that the professors had hastily erected around the academy. Students whispered anxiously among themselves, casting wary glances at the infirmary wing where the most critical cases rested. Koha lay there, pale and exhausted, his breathing shallow, the remnants of forbidden magic lingering faintly in the air. His body trembled slightly, a subtle pulse of residual energy echoing through him like the faint heartbeat of a storm barely survived.
Sky, too, rested in the adjacent chamber, his lean frame sprawled across a reinforced recovery bed. Though conscious, he was visibly fatigued, his face pale, beads of sweat clinging to his forehead. The professors had monitored him closely, impressed by his resilience yet wary of his Italian forbidden powers, whose destructive potential rivaled even Koha’s own.
Rio, Yin, and Huo remained vigilant nearby, watching over their two comrades. Each bore the marks of the previous battles scars, bruises, and exhaustion etched into their expressions but none dared leave Koha’s side entirely. The air was thick with unspoken tension, a mix of relief, fear, and lingering adrenaline from their last confrontation.
Koha’s chest rose and fell steadily, though faint tremors ran through his body as he slept. His usual calm, reserved expression was softened by exhaustion, his shyness evident even in unconscious repose. The faint glow of mana that clung to his aura flickered softly, unstable yet subdued compared to the raw cataclysmic energy he had unleashed just days prior.
Huo, standing silently by the side of Koha’s bed, studied him carefully. The boy’s pale, fragile form stirred something deep within Huo a protective instinct that had always been a part of him but now felt magnified by the dangerous fragility of Koha’s body. Huo’s broad hands clenched briefly, his knuckles whitening, before he slowly leaned closer, careful not to disturb the mage’s fragile rest.
The warmth of the room, combined with the soft murmur of magical wards, made Huo’s movements deliberate, almost reverent. He reached out gently, brushing a stray lock of hair from Koha’s face. His fingers traced along the sharp lines of Koha’s jaw, lingering on the faint crimson streak from the sniper mage’s attack—long healed but still visible as a mark of both violence and survival.
“Sleep well, Koha,” Huo murmured in a voice low and reverent, filled with an emotion he rarely displayed. “You’ve endured enough for now.”
His hand rested lightly against Koha’s cheek, feeling the heat of his skin beneath his palm. Huo’s thumb traced the curve of Koha’s temple, careful, deliberate, almost intimate. Koha stirred slightly, his brows knitting together in a subconscious response, yet he did not wake.
Huo’s breath hitched as he leaned in closer, closing the small distance between them. For a moment, the world seemed to shrink to the quiet infirmary room, the gentle pulse of Koha’s mana mixing with Huo’s own heartbeat. Slowly, reverently, Huo pressed his lips to Koha’s forehead. The kiss was brief, gentle, yet laden with meaning an unspoken promise of protection, a vow to shield him from harm, and a quiet declaration of something more profound.
The touch lingered longer than it needed to, the warmth from Huo’s lips spreading across Koha’s skin like a gentle fire. Koha’s lips parted slightly, an unconscious murmur escaping him, and Huo withdrew, his own cheeks tinged faintly red. He stood there, frozen for a heartbeat, savoring the fleeting connection, before retreating quietly to the edge of the room, allowing the shy mage to continue resting.
Across the infirmary, Yin’s soft voice broke the silence. “Huo… you didn’t wake him, did you?” He said it quietly, a mixture of concern and understanding threading through his words. Yin’s torrent aura shimmered faintly as he observed Koha, his analytical mind noting every detail of the mage’s aura and health.
“No,” Huo replied simply, his voice low. “He needs rest more than he needs attention right now. But… he’s safe.”
Rio, who had been silently observing from the doorway, nodded. “Good. Let him rest. We’ve all pushed too far. Everyone’s exhausted.” His flame aura flickered slightly, a manifestation of his own lingering agitation and protective instincts.
The professors, meanwhile, moved quietly through the ward, monitoring wards, healing residual injuries, and ensuring the magical barriers around the academy remained intact. Despite the lingering threat of Doojin and his dark mages, the immediate danger had subsided, giving the students a brief reprieve a chance to gather themselves before the next battle.
Later that evening, the group gathered in the central training hall, the soft glow of enchanted lanterns illuminating the polished stone floor. Koha, still weak from the previous fights and forbidden spell usage, sat on a cushioned platform, absorbing mana slowly while Sky stood nearby, observing the boy with his piercing gaze. His Italian heritage was evident not only in his refined posture and facial features but also in the elegance with which he carried his weapon a sleek, mana-infused bow capable of firing elemental arrows.
The professors had decided that a careful training session would help Koha regain control over his residual power and stabilize the forbidden spell within him. The goal was to strengthen his elemental balance while teaching him to manage his ultimate surges without risking catastrophic consequences.
“Koha,” one of the professors said gently, approaching him. “We need you to focus on grounding your energy. Your aura is… still unstable.”
Koha nodded quietly, lowering his gaze to the platform beneath him. His fingers trembled slightly as he manipulated a small sphere of water, a simple elemental exercise designed to reinforce control without invoking catastrophic forces.
Sky stepped forward, bow at the ready, and observed silently. “I am curious,” he said in Italian-accented English, his voice sharp and clear. “Your power… it is… formidable. I have never witnessed such potential in a mage of your age. Control it, or it will control you.”
Koha’s faint blush tinged his pale cheeks as he avoided Sky’s direct gaze. Despite his shyness, he nodded, acknowledging the warning silently. He focused on his water sphere, allowing it to rotate calmly between his hands, observing its smooth surface and practicing small, precise manipulations of its flow.
Huo, standing nearby, watched both Koha and Sky carefully. He noted the intensity in Sky’s expression, the controlled yet dangerous energy radiating from him, and the subtle way his eyes lingered on Koha. Though Huo felt the same protective instincts he had displayed earlier, he could not help but recognize that Sky’s power and presence were formidable and that the new mage would become a key player in the battles to come.
Yin moved closer, his hands weaving intricate patterns in the air as he manipulated water and light to form protective barriers around the training hall. “Do not worry about your aura affecting others, Koha,” he said softly. “We will ensure your energy is contained as you practice.”
Rio circled the platform, flames trailing behind him in small arcs of controlled energy. “Focus on your core,” he said. “If you can control even a fraction of your forbidden power without letting it spill, you’ll be able to fight alongside us safely next time.”
Hours passed with slow, careful training. Koha’s sphere of water grew larger, more complex, incorporating smaller elements of ice and arcane energy. Every rotation and manipulation was precise, a testament to his growing control. Sky observed silently, occasionally offering tips on refining the flow of energy, though his tone remained curt and professional.
By midnight, the training hall was quiet. Koha rested on the platform, exhausted but calm, his aura now steady and warm. Huo approached quietly, kneeling beside him. He gently brushed a hand across Koha’s forehead, checking for any signs of fatigue or residual instability.
“You did well today,” Huo whispered. “Your control… it’s improving. Just… rest now. You deserve it.”
Koha’s eyes fluttered open slightly, meeting Huo’s gaze with a timid yet grateful expression. “Thank you,” he murmured softly, voice barely above a whisper.
Huo smiled faintly and leaned closer, pressing a gentle, fleeting kiss against Koha’s temple before settling beside him. The mage’s small smile in response was enough for Huo to feel a warmth deep in his chest a quiet victory, not of combat, but of trust and connection.
Sky, observing from the side, finally stepped back, bowing slightly in acknowledgment. “You are… different from what I expected,” he said, his voice carrying both respect and caution. “Powerful, yes but… there is more within you than raw force. Control it, and you will become unstoppable.”
The professors nodded in agreement, noting Koha’s progress. “Tomorrow,” one of them said, “we will continue training. But tonight… rest. Recover. Your body and spirit need balance as much as your magic.”
And so, under the dim glow of protective wards and the watchful eyes of allies, Koha drifted into a peaceful sleep. Huo remained at his side, a quiet guardian, while Sky, Rio, and Yin prepared for the challenges ahead. The academy had been scarred by war, yet the bonds between its defenders both magical and personal were strengthening, preparing them for the inevitable trials that lay ahead.
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