Kael groaned, blinking sleep from his eyes as he sat up.
From the hallway outside, deep voices barked orders, boxes scraped against the floor, and metal latches clanged shut.
Still drowsy, Kael stepped out of his room and peered down into the lobby.
Men in black formal coats, each wearing the silver crest of the Rui family, were moving through the dorm with practiced efficiency. They carried trunks, suitcases, and sealed containers, everything belonging to James, John, and Jonathan Rui.
Kyle was already downstairs, half-awake, leaning over the railing. Takeshi stood beside him, arms crossed.
Kael descended the stairs and rubbed his eyes.
“Mrgh… Kyle, what’s happening?”
Kyle exhaled sharply. “Looks like the Rui family’s pulling out their heirs from the dorm. And honestly?” He nodded to the men packing ruthlessly. “After your duel with James… I’m pretty sure they were expelled from the academy.”
Kael’s eyes widened slightly but he remained quiet.
When the packing finally ended, the Rui men filed out, stone-faced, disciplined, cold.
Last to exit the dorm room was James Rui.
He stepped into the lobby wearing fresh bandages around his torso and an arm brace strapped tight to his right arm. His face twisted the moment he spotted Kael, pure fury, pulsing behind bloodshot eyes. James opened his mouth, ready to spit venom—
—but someone placed a hand on his shoulder.
A woman.
She stepped forward from behind him.
She wore a flowing red dress, embroidered at the sleeve with the symbol of a wolf’s claw. Sunglasses hung from her hand, her fingers curled around the handle of a red parasol that matched her outfit. Her presence alone made the air feel heavier.
“Wait in the limo.”
Her voice held no softness, only authority.
James clenched his jaw, swallowed his rage, and obeyed.
The woman then approached Kael, Kyle, and Takeshi.
All three boys stiffened. Her aura was overwhelming, calm yet predatory.
She slid off her sunglasses and locked eyes with Kael.
“I saw your duel,” she said. “You are a strong young man… strong enough to defeat an heir of the Rui family.”
Kael swallowed, unsure how to respond.
The woman smirked slightly, tilting her head.
“Tell me… is your strength enough to rival the Rui family itself?”
Kyle immediately grabbed Kael’s arm and pulled him a step back.
Takeshi moved in front of them, posture low, ready to defend.
The woman let out a faint, amused laugh.
“No need to be so tense, boys. It was only a question.”
She placed her sunglasses back on, turned gracefully, and walked toward the waiting limo.
The door closed behind her.
And the Rui family was gone.
The moment the woman stepped out of sight, all three boys finally exhaled—
and their legs gave out.
Kyle collapsed to his knees first, gripping the railing as his breath came in sharp, uneven gasps.
Takeshi followed, one hand bracing himself against the floor.
Kael knelt last, heart pounding wildly inside his chest.
The air still felt heavy, as if the woman’s presence hadn’t fully faded.
Kyle swallowed hard, voice trembling.
“Wh–who… who was that woman?”
Takeshi shook his head, still trying to steady his breathing.
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“I don’t know… I’ve never felt spirit energy like that.”
Both of them turned to Kael.
Kael stared back, equally shaken. He shook his head slowly.
“I… I’ve never seen her before.”
But in Kael’s mind, something replayed over and over—
The moment she asked him that question.
Is your strength enough to rival the Rui family?
At that precise second—
the system chimed.
[SYSTEM ALERT]
?? EXTREME BLOODLUST DETECTED ??
Source: Unidentified Woman
Spirit Signature: Far beyond normal human limits
READINGS:
- Bloodlust Level: Severe
- Spirit Energy: Overwhelming
- Hostility: High
- Type: Unknown
EFFECT ON USER:
- Heart rate spike detected
- Fight-or-flight response triggered
- Spirit energy reacting defensively
WARNING:
This individual possesses enough killing intent to destabilize weak Spirit Users.
Avoid direct confrontation.
Recommend immediate retreat.
Kael felt the chill again just remembering it—
the invisible force pressing against his chest, making every muscle freeze.
Then, two familiar voices echoed in his mind.
Kylon’s voice, calm but urgent:
“Holder… back away. That woman’s spirit energy is not normal for humans.”
Kawa’s voice, harsher and more tense:
“Damn it, Holder, if she made one wrong move, you would’ve dropped dead. Run-away now!”
Kael clenched his fists, trying to stop them from shaking.
Kyle looked at him, confused and pale. He then put his hands atop of Kael’s shoulder.
“Kael… what did you feel?”
Kael didn’t answer immediately.
He stared toward the entrance where the woman had disappeared.
Whatever she was…
she wasn’t just a normal Spirit User.
And she had taken interest in him.
The boys barely managed to stand.
Still shaken, still trembling, they split off toward their rooms—
each step heavy, each breath tight.
By the time Kael reached his door, his hands were still pressed against his chest.
His heart hadn’t stopped racing since the woman left.
He slipped inside and closed the door with a quiet click.
Inside, two familiar figures were waiting.
Kylon, in his small salamander form, glowing faintly with protective warmth—
and Kawa, perched on Kael’s desk in his red macaw form, feathers puffed and alert.
The moment Kael stepped in, both of them rushed to him.
Kylon climbed up onto Kael’s shoulder, curling gently against his neck.
His warm body helped calm the shaking in Kael’s hands.
“It’s alright, holder…” Kylon whispered in his mind, voice soft and steady.
“You’re safe here.”
Kawa fluttered up to Kael’s other shoulder, wings spread wide as if shielding him.
His tone was sharper, but no less worried.
“I told you, that woman wasn’t normal. Her spirit energy felt like a damn predator staring at its prey.”
Kael exhaled shakily, resting his back against the door.
“I… I couldn’t breathe,” he muttered. “For a moment it felt like… if she wanted me dead, I’d just fall.”
Both spirits went quiet.
Then Kawa spoke again, voice low and serious, rare for him.
“We’ll keep watch. No one with killing intent that strong is getting near you again.”
Kylon nodded.
“We’re here.”
The two spirit creatures stayed close on either side of him—
their small bodies warm, their energy steady, their presence protective.
For the first time since the encounter, Kael’s heartbeat finally began to slow.
A few hours later, Kael forced himself out of bed and prepared for class.
His chest still felt tight, but he pushed it down. There was school. There was routine.
There was normal, or whatever passed for it at Aurora Academy.
When he stepped into the dorm lobby, Kyle and Takeshi were already there.
Uniforms crisp, bags slung over their shoulders… but all three shared the same uneasy silence.
None of them mentioned the woman.
None of them needed to, the fear still lingered behind their eyes.
They walked together to the classroom.
The moment they entered, they froze.
The entire room was filled with students from the Smithing Course, sparks flying as they hammered metal, tuned machinery, and rearranged equipment.
Workbench noise echoed everywhere.
Kael blinked.
“Uh… Anya? What’s happening?”
Anya, who was organizing a crate of components, looked just as confused.
“I—I don’t know. They didn’t tell me anything either.”
Before anyone could say more, Cain entered.
With a single clap, his calm yet commanding voice cut through the noise:
“Alright, everyone, settle down.”
Cain looked at his class, hands behind his back.
“The Battle Course classroom is currently under renovation,” he announced.
“This was personally proposed by General Ryker. He wants this room upgraded to properly accommodate the next set of lessons we’ll be taking.”
All of them exchanged confused glances.
Serafina timidly raised her hand.
“Sir Cain… what kind of lesson will it be?”
Cain paused. His expression softened, but only slightly.
“That,” he said, “is a top-secret training module. Restricted only to Battle Course students who are being prepared for deployment to the front lines.”
The class fell silent.
Cain added, “I will reveal the details when the time is right. For now, all combat and practical lessons will be held in the training grounds.”
A mix of nervousness and curiosity rippled through the group.
Kael exchanged a glance with Kyle and Takeshi.
A renovated room… secret lessons… front-line readiness…
Whatever was coming next, it wasn’t simple.
And Kael could still feel, faintly, the echo of that woman’s overwhelming spirit energy.
Something big was approaching.
And the Academy was preparing them for it.
Meanwhile…
The Rui family limo rolled through wrought-iron gates and into the courtyard of a massive, castle-like mansion. Its towering spires and obsidian walls cast long shadows across the stone path.
The doors opened.
John and Jonathan stepped out first, silent, stiff, terrified.
James and the woman emerged last.
The woman tapped James’ shoulder lightly with her folded umbrella.
“John, Jonathan,” she said without looking at them, “go inside.
James and I will have a private conversation.”
The two bowed quickly and hurried into the mansion.
The woman turned to James and pointed toward the far wing of the estate.
“Go. You know where.”
James swallowed hard.
Of course he knew.
He lifted his chin, trying to appear composed, and walked toward the isolated structure.
A dojo.
Massive sliding doors.
Paper walls reinforced with dark steel.
A faint scent of incense lingering in the air.
Inside, the center held a simple sparring mat.
At the far end stood a shrine.
And on that shrine lay a broken sword.
The woman entered in absolute silence, but her presence filled the room like a crushing weight.
She motioned for James to follow.
He stepped in.
She stopped a few steps away from the shrine and spoke without turning around.
“James… do you know the significance of this blade to the Rui family?”
James lowered his head immediately.
His voice trembled despite his effort to hide it.
“Yes, Ma’am.
It was the sword given to our ancestor by the First Spirit User.
She used it to train… to grow strong, so she could serve as his aide.”
The woman finally grasped the broken sword.
Her fingers curled around the hilt with practiced familiarity.
In a single motion, swift, fluid, and precise, she swung the blade.
The tip halted just at James’ neck.
A cold fraction of an inch from cutting him.
“You are correct,” she said softly.
“But you, of all Rui descendants, showed the opposite of its legacy during your duel.”
She circled him, the sword still aimed at his throat.
Her steps were slow, deliberate.
“Strength,” she continued, “is the foundation of the Rui family.”
Her spirit energy suddenly surged.
The air thickened.
James collapsed to his knees, trembling violently as raw pressure crushed down on him.
“And you showed weakness.”
James, panting, fear overtaking his rage, whispered,
“Please… forgive me, Matriarch.
I will never show weakness again. I swear it.”
The Matriarch withdrew the blade from his neck and returned it to the shrine with reverent precision.
Then—
Snap.
Four figures stepped out from the corners of the dojo.
Tall, masked, clad in black with claw insignias on their shoulders.
Silent as death.
James’ breath hitched.
His eyes widened in horror.
“No…” he whispered.
The Matriarch didn’t look at him.
“If you truly seek forgiveness,” she said, “you must face the consequences.”
She raised her hand toward the four masked figures.
“The Claws of Rui, do not go easy on him just because he is one of the heirs.”
The masked warriors bowed in unison.
James froze, shaking, pale, terrified beyond words.
The Matriarch turned to leave.
At the doorway, she paused just once.
“You will train until I am satisfied with your strength, James.”
And with that, she stepped out, closing the dojo doors behind her…
Leaving James alone with the claws of the Rui.