The m air was cooler than the previous day, crisp with the st of rain. Thick clouds gathered overhead, swallowing the sunlight and casting a dim gray over Iridius.

  Most people stayed indoors—on days like this, Malignants were more active, lurking in the misty fog.

  Abell woke up still angry.

  “Damn, stubborn old dy…” He muttered, rubbing his eyes. “Why is she ag like this? Am I really that inferior pared to Genevieve?”

  Frustration boiled over inside him, but it wasn’t just anger. It was doubt and fusion.

  “Still, gotta get up, I suppose.” He thought to himself.

  He left his room and found Keeko fixing up some food i. Her expression was somber.

  "I haven’t seen like this since what happeo Gen.” He thought.

  Her expression fused him due to her words the night before.

  “Good m, dear. How was your sleep?” Keeko asked softly, not looking up.

  Abell frowned. “Being all niow after yesterday?”

  He pivoted past her and headed straight for the door. “Don’t worry about food; I’m going to eat from the stalls.”

  She only looked away.

  Just as he opehe door —

  Hugo was oher side, holding his fist up in a knog motion.

  “Well, this is certainly awkward.” His star-shaped pupils shone from the entranbsp;

  The three stood in silence for a few seds.

  “Why isn’t he saying anything.” Abell thought.

  Keeko exhaled sharply, setting down her spatu. She walked to the door.

  Her expression caught Hugo by surprise.

  Keeko sighed, pg her hand on her head, “What is it, Hugo? What do you want?”

  “I came to discuss an important matter with you,” he said.

  “Is that so?” “Abell, leave. We have something important to discuss, okay?

  “Hmph, I already was.” Abell’s fists ched, but he didn’t argue.

  Hugo stepped in, fshing a grin at Abell. “Well, something’s off here. Don’t worry, whatever it is, I’ll fix it,” he whispered.

  Keeko gave him a sharp look. “Don’t push it, Hugo.”

  “Haha, yeah, yeah. Stubborn and moody as ever.”

  “Would you stop that? I am your elder.” She said.

  Abell rolled his eyes a, his footsteps heavy against the wooden floor.

  Hugo closed the door and pressed his back against the wall, arms folded. "We o discuss Abell joining the academy, Keeko."

  Keeko responded by turning away and crossing her arms.

  “You know why I left, Hugo. I refuse to have any association with Luminaries and this damned war. Now you want my son to bee a Luminary?

  “I think not.” She said sternly

  Hugo exhaled, stepping forward. “Listen, I get it. This represents a tremendous opportunity for him. The academy will develop his strength to prepare him for future challenges.

  Keeko’s jaw ched. “You think I don’t know that? The fight has already taken one of my children from me. I’m not ready to lose another.”

  Hugo’s usual smirk was gone. “You don’t have to be ready. He’s already chosen this path. You’ve seen it, haven’t you? He has more strength than ynize.

  Keeko inhaled sharply, gripping her arms tighter.

  “It’s not about strength, Hugo. I want him to be safe. I shielded him from that dangerous world. Are you askio send him into that world?”

  “Did you really shield him? You taught him how to fight against malignants,” he asked.

  A long silence filled the room.

  Then Hugo rested a hand on her shoulder.

  “I ’t possibly uand your fear as a mother. But sometimes I think… kids o choose their own path.”

  Keeko didn’t answer. She khe truth. Deep down, the choice had already been made.

  The rain hadn’t let up. Abell opehe thick wooden door toward the tavern, where fresh bread and the smell of moist soil hung in the air. Because of the storm, most vilgers stayed inside, so the tavern was quieter than usual.

  Several regur patrons sat he bar while versing softly about their beverages. The sound of the firepce crag produced shifting shadows across the stone walls.

  Abell stepped up to the ter. “Just some bread and stew.”

  Mira, the stout innkeeper, lifted one of her eyebrows. “Keeko, kick you out in the rain?”

  “Something like that,” he whispered while handing over several sols, the currency of Eudora, to the ter.

  After taking his pte, he directed his attention to the seating area but noticed Astrid and Misha sitting together. Misha’s eyes lit up upon seeing Abell. Astrid responded by signaling him to join her side. “Abell! e sit!” He hesitated. Then he saw who else was there. Torin. He leaned bato the bench with crossed arms while staring at Abell with a hostile expression. “Great, this guy.” He thought

  Abell released a sharp breath before approag Astrid aing his pte on her side of the table.

  "What are you doing here,” Torin asked.

  Abell paid him no mind.

  “I’m eating.”

  Astrid frowned. “ you two stop? This tension is so unnecessary right now.

  “Hard to take this guy seriously.” Trinned.

  “And what’s that supposed to mean?” Abell said, gripping his spoon

  Torin shrugged. “I saw you struggle against those malignats yesterday. It doesn’t seem like you're anything close to Genevieve.” He scoffed.

  “Him too.” Abell thought. “pario her.”

  “Hey, that’s too far, Torin.” Astrid scowled.

  “I’m just being ho,” Torin responded.

  Abell was fuming with anger, doubt, and frustration.

  “You want to see what I do? I know I’d beat you easily,” he said.

  “I promise you that.”

  A voice shouted from the ter. “Oi, not fighting in my tavern,” Mira said.

  Trinned, pushing his chair back. “Oh, I’d love to, but I must head back to the smithery.”

  Misha finally spoke, “Haha, you're a coward, Torin.”

  “Misha, do ertain this; keep eating,” Astrid said, rubbiemple.

  “Tch, I would fight, but I have errands to run for my father,” he said. “Maybe we’ll fight soon.” waving goodbye.

  Abell watched him leave, irritation bubbling within.

  “Don’t let him get to you, okay,” Astrid said.

  “Yeah, whatever.”

  A few hours passed.

  Abell wahe empty streets. The marketpce shut down after rai aeople from the square.

  A sharp metallik broke the silence. He turoward the fe.

  The town bcksmith, Freed, worked diligently. Freed swung his hammer against the indest metal, sending sparks into the shadowy fe. Freed was a rge bald bcksmith who created Iridius's best ons and, more importantly, Torin’s father.

  Abell stepped closer. “Need any help? Huh? Oh, Keeko’s brat. What brings you here?” “Just browsing.” The bcksmith raised an eyebrow. “Browsing swords? You don’t even use a physical one.”

  “Yeah, just… bored.”

  Freed chuckled. It looks like you and my son share a simir restlessness. How about a friendly battle? You two hardly talk—this might help.”

  Abell’s heart jumped. “A spar? with Torin.”

  Before he could answer, Freed shouted into his house.

  “Hey, Mary! Where’s the brat?

  Mary gracefully desded the stairs. “First, hello, Abell. And honey, please don’t yell; my ears are sensitive.

  “Torin is out gettiables. He should be back soon.

  “Why, what happened does Abell need something from him? She asked.

  Just then, the door creaked open.

  “Hey, Mom, I got the veggies you wanted. WOAH, why’s he here? "So you came here to get your revenge oorin asked.

  Abell gaze narrowed

  “You could say that. I did promise I’d kick your ass.”

  Torin shrugged. “Well, let’s see about that.”

  Mary stepped iweewo boys. “Why are you being so aggressive towards each other?

  “Torin, that is not how you wele a guest, and Abell, where’d you learn to talk so rudely.”

  “Hahahaha, I love it! " a freed voied. Mary, step aside. This is what o happen.

  Freed pced his hand on his son’s back. I tell you're itg for a showdht now. Let’s move to the babsp;

  The group headed to the smithery training yard.

  Torin’s face darkened instantly.

  “Get ready, Abell. I won’t hold back. When I beat you, I’ll finally have Astrid by my side.

  Abell rolled his eyes.

  “Why are ying her up?”

  “Well, it doesn’t matter.” I’ve been waiting for this, too.

  Thunder rumbled in the distahe rain became heavier when they moved outside.

  They locked eyes.

  A battle was about to begin.