Chapter 09 / The Academy Wing

July 19th, 15.003 La Paz, Ashveil Desert, Umbra [Vampire Continent]

The sun was merciless, baking the cobblestones until they burned to the touch. Summer had come early, and even the breeze rolling off the shore carried no relief.

On the beach, panic was already gathering. A crowd of kids pointed upward, shouting over each other. Floating above them, blazing like a lantern in the sky, Risha was curled tight inside a sphere of fire. Heat shimmered off the waves, and the smell of scorched salt hung in the air.

“He’s gonna cook himself alive!” Reno shouted, shoving sweaty hair out of his face.

“No—if we stop him!” Zevran snapped back. “You get the Commander, I’ll get Elon. They’ll know what to do.”

“No, you get Sukira and I’ll get Elon,” Reno shot back, because following orders seemed impossible for him.

They almost collided chest to chest, glaring at each other under the heavy light. It would’ve turned into a fight if not for Haru, who waved lazily from the shade of the seawall. “Spirits. Just run already, they are both in the north wing anyway.”

Nima, sitting on a bench under a small tree, added with a shrug, “I’m staying here. Not moving. Not in this heat. No way.”

That was enough. Reno huffed, spun on his heel. “Fine! I’ll fetch the blond.” He bent to knot his laces, then bolted toward the library, placed in the main tower of the Academy grounds.

Zevran spat into the sand and sprinted after him, taking the same direction before splitting off toward the training yards. He gave Reno a shove as he passed, just to tease him, and pushed harder. Sweat stung his eyes, but he didn’t slow. The Commander is the only one who’d know what to do.

Behind them, the fireball pulsed higher, drawing a chorus of frightened gasps. Nima and Haru stayed there, guarding. 

The training grounds were as busy as ever, dust lifting in thin spirals off the concrete. Sukira stood in the inner courtyard—reachable either by cutting through the building or skirting around it—at the edge of the sparring ring, arms crossed, while two cadets circled each other, far too slowly for her liking.

“Your footwork is pathetic,” she cut in flatly. “Reset. Again.”

The cadets groaned but obeyed, sweat plastering their gym clothes to their backs.

The gate slammed open. Zevran catching up his breath as he burst inside, chest heaving. “Commander—!” His voice cracked with the effort; he was trying his best to keep the composure in front of her.

Every cadet froze. Sukira’s gaze snapped toward him, softer than how she would look at any of the soldiers in the yard.

“What?” 

“It’s Risha,” Zevran panted, bent double. “On the beach—he’s—he’s on fire.”

The yard went still. Even the cadets forgot to breathe.

“Who’s Risha?” A cadet asked another.

“My kid.” She replied even when the question wasn’t directed to her. “Ryn, I’ll leave things in your hands”. 

Sukira didn’t waste a heartbeat, nor did Ryn who signed the cadets to keep the training going. She grabbed Zevran by the shoulder and yanked him upright. “Show me.”

He nodded, already spinning back toward the gates, her stride matching his without hesitation.

Up in the main building of the north wing, right next to the training grounds and right before the inner yard, the air was cooler, shaded by high windows and the quiet rustle of pages. Elon sat at his usual table, quill scratching over a neat column of notes. Across the room, a young girl hunched at her own desk, pretending to write but clearly watching him from behind her bob-cut of silver-and-red hair. A black cat lay curled on a chair beside her.

“ElooOoon, where are youUuu?” a loud voice echoed from afar. 

The slam of feet on concrete broke the calm.

“ElooOON! Eloooon!” Reno’s voice got closer and closer, too loud, too fast. He nearly tripped on the threshold, eyes wide, face as red as his hair with heat. “FINALLY. HERE YOU ARE”. 

Elon’s head lifted slowly, one brow arched. Of course I’m here. He never stood a foot in the library before and it shows. 

“Risha—he’s—he’s up there!” Reno pointed toward the beach with both hands, wheezing. “He’s in a—like—a giant ball of fire—!”

The quill stilled in Elon’s hand.

It was a matter of time. 

He stood without another word, already striding past Reno.

The crowd had grown by the time Sukira and Zevran pushed through the alleys and reached the shore, the air thick with heat and shouting. Children and a handful of adults stood back from the shoreline, hands shielding their faces against the waves of scorching air.

Above them, Risha hung suspended in the air. The fireball wasn’t just light — it was a storm compressed into a sphere, the flames folding over each other in slow, suffocating waves. It roared without sound, bending the air until the horizon blurred. Sand blackened beneath it in patches, and the smell of burning salt bit in every throat.

The first thing she did was asking the people around to leave the area, just in case. 

What a shitty déjà-vu. Sukira stopped dead at the edge of the beach, she had seen this before. Not from Risha, from Elon.

“What the hell happened?” she barked over the noise, to the two kids still standing there, refusing to leave.

Haru shifted uncomfortably. “He… uh… he confessed to a girl… and she said no.”

Nima folded her arms, face pale. “And then this happened.”

Sukira’s glare cut sharper. “Spirits save me.”

“Commander, is he gonna be okay?” Zevran asked, with a caring tone that was not very common from him. 

“He will. Thanks to him”, she replied, calmed, as she saw the right person arriving at the scene; she pointed at him with her chin. 

Elon was already there, shirt trailing, Reno at his heels. The sorcerer barely looked at the rest — his eyes went straight to the fireball, blue narrowing against the heat.

Sukira turned toward him, her voice like a whip. “This is completely your fault.”

“Why so?” He replied instantly. 

“A girl turned him down and now he’s throwing a big tantrum. Does it bring you memories?”

He almost smiled. A short laugh escaped instead.

She stepped closer, heat hitting her face. “It’s not funny.”

“It kinda is,” he said evenly, lifting one hand. “I’ll take him down”. 

The sphere rippled like a candle in the wind. Then, with a sharp plop, it burst — flames vanishing into nothing as if someone had pinched them out.

Risha plummeted like a stone. Sukira darted forward, catching his arm just before his body smacked full into the concrete edge of the seawall. The impact jolted her shoulder, but she pulled him up, shaking him once for good measure.

The boy coughed, dazed, eyes still too bright.

Sukira’s gaze flicked from him to Elon, cold as steel. “I’ll leave this one to you.”

Elon inclined his head slightly, already kneeling in front of Risha. His tone didn’t change — calm, steady, patient.

“Risha,” he said, “we need to talk.”

“Am I in trouble?” 

“You both are in trouble.” Sukira replied while leaving, and immediately turned, looking at the other four kids looking at Risha with admiration and concern at the same time. “You are all coming with me, leave them.” Risha’s friends quickly realized that Sukira was not a person to negotiate with, and soon, all left the shore leaving Elon and Risha under a single tree shadow. 

The boy’s face was flushed, his hair sticking to his forehead, eyes still burning with the leftover glow of magic.

For a long moment, Elon said nothing. He simply studied him, letting him check his vital signs as he taught him to do. 

Risha shifted under the stare. “…I didn’t mean to.”

“I know,” Elon said at last, tone even. “You understand that’s exactly the problem, right?”

The boy frowned, hugging his knees. “Yes. But it just… happened. She laughed at me, and then—”

“You lost control,” Elon finished for him, voice like a knife wrapped in cloth. He didn’t raise it, but the weight was enough to make Risha drop his gaze.

Elon crouched slightly so their eyes met. “I let you enjoy your school life. Afternoons on the beach with your friends. Your grades are good and you are a great kid. You’ve earned it. But I forgot something.” His hand tapped lightly against Risha’s chest. “You’re a sorcerer. That means your emotions don’t just belong to you. They bleed into the world. And if you can’t control them, they’ll burn everything around you.”

Risha’s throat bobbed. “So… no more beach? No more fun?”

He’s always so dramatic. “No, Risha,” Elon said, firm but not unkind. “It means you’ll have to resume our magic training. Every day after school.”

The boy groaned. “Every day?”

“Yes.”

Risha leaned back, playing his best card. “But we all hang out after class. And summer recess is coming. We’ll be here—If I disappear every day, they’ll notice.”

Elon’s brow arched. “And?”

“And I want both.” His grin crept back, cheeky through the sweat. “Friends and training. Can’t we… shift the time? A little later?”

Elon sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. Always negotiating. Always. “You’ll be exhausted.”

“I’ll manage.”

He considered the boy for a long beat, then relented just enough. “…Fine. A compromise. Some days will be right after school and some days will be later, before dinner.”

Risha’s grin widened in triumph. “Deal.”

Elon stood, straightening his shirt.

“I’ll add it to the calendar on the fridge.” Risha puffed his chest a little, proud of the system. “So you don’t forget.” He blinked. 

Elon almost smiled — almost. “Yeah… so I don’t forget.” 

Sukira came up with this calendar idea as Risha kept forgetting and getting late to all the appointments he signed on. For a 13 year old boy, he was incredibly occupied. Art classes, training sessions, school, sports club, and the list kept going. He even managed to pay visits to his aunties. 

“Thanks, dad,” Risha said, hopping to his feet, mimicking Sukira’s jump before voiding.

Elon shook his head, but the corners of his mouth betrayed him badly.

Risha didn’t wait another second. He bolted toward the square, probably to tell the others about his new schedule. His steps trailed behind him, leaving the shore empty but for the hiss of the waves.

Elon stayed still for a moment, the heat rolling over him in steady waves. Then, slower than the boy, he turned back toward the city and their apartment. His steps carried no urgency.

The months since New Year’s had been quiet ones, at least by La Paz standards. Quiet enough that he sometimes forgot the world expected him to do more. Politics, ministries, the endless games of power—they were all there, looming just across the sand, but he had kept his distance. On purpose.

Distance meant safety. Sukira kept throwing herself into suicidal missions, and he kept pretending not to notice.

And yet… sharing so many moments with Risha, often with her at his side, only sharpened the absence. 

He exhaled, slow, letting the thought dissolve into the noise of the small growing city.

Their apartment was small, but it worked. Jeda made the arrangements and they moved around six months ago. Risha filled every inch of it with his messiness, his chatter, flowers and drawings. He was happy; Elon never said it aloud, but he daydreamed with the idea of having her with them, too. A space that wasn’t Fenroth, wasn’t La Paz’s halls, wasn’t haunted by old promises. Just theirs.

Every time I told myself I don’t need her around, the silence makes sure to remind me I was lying to myself.

But the latest addition to his routine had been… stranger.

A girl—fourteen, silver hair laced with streaks of red—had appeared in March. She didn’t go to school like the others. He found her instead in the library one afternoon, head buried in a book from Elon’s personal shelves, pretending not to see him.

He had ignored her at first, too. That seemed to be what she wanted. Days passed, then weeks. By summer, she was practically a fixture there: always in silence, always choosing the corner farthest from his desk, homework spread out in careful rows.

And always with a cat. Black fur, sharp eyes that lingered too long on him. He knew better—it wasn’t a cat at all. It was a small Calamity compressed into that form, aura hidden but not gone. He had noticed it the first day. He hadn’t said a word.

If she needed a safe space, this is safer than anywhere else. And if I keep her close, at least I can overwatch. Better me than someone else.

Elon’s mouth pulled a small smirk. She thought she was hiding. She had no idea he’d let her.

♥︎

July 20th, 15.003

La Paz, Ashveil Desert, Umbra [Vampire Continent]

The tower library was always kept at a perfect temperature, likely some spell Elon had laced into the walls. Outside, the Ashveil summer pressed down heavily already, but here it was calm, cool, steady. Shafts of light cut through tall, narrow windows, laying stripes of brightness across the long tables and shelves.

Risha shoved the heavy door open with both hands, his bag bouncing against his back. He was humming a tune he’d picked up from Haru until his mind caught something — a presence.

Elon noticed the shift immediately, the way Risha’s eyes locked on the far corner. Oh no, he thought. Too late.

The boy dropped his bag right on the big main table and blurted, loud enough to wake the dust, “Oh—hi! My name’s Risha. What’s your name?”

The girl barely moved. She was tucked into the farthest bench, knee up, books spread in neat rows. Silver hair streaked with red framed her face. She looked up like he was an interruption, not a person.

“…Lola.”

Risha grinned, scanning her like she was a rare artifact. “You look so cool. I haven’t seen you around. Why aren’t you at school?”

Her hair’s all shiny, her clothes look like a pop star, she has her nails painted in different flashy colours… is she listening to music while studying? Risha thought, impressed.

“Because I don’t want to.”

His jaw dropped. “Woooah, you can do that? Just… skip school? Reno would love that. Don’t tell him, though. He really needs to learn things.”

He leaned closer, hand half-reaching toward her hair—until she shot him a look. Not dangerous, not angry. Just ‘don’t you dare’.

He flinched back, laughing. “Okay, okay. No touching. Got it.”

The personal space issue is not getting better. Elon, crouched behind a shelf, leaned closer despite himself. Curiosity betrayed him.

Lola adjusted her notebook, voice calm as glass. “I’m not skipping. I deliver my homework. I sit the exams. I just don’t go to class.”

Risha blinked, dazzled. “That’s even cooler. Like an it-girl loophole”. Risha was already touching the books and her things spread on the table. 

Her lips twitched, though she didn’t smile.

Then his tone dropped a little, but still too bright: “...Is that a Calamity you’ve got there?” His voice was lively; not a soul in the whole Citadel would dare to pronounce the word ‘Calamity’ this lightly. 

Both Lola and the sleek black cat at her feet jolted. Its fur bristled, eyes flashing red for the briefest second.

“What are you saying?” she snapped, suddenly defensive. “Are you dumb? This is clearly a cat.”

Agh, kid. Elon pressed a hand to his forehead. You don’t ask a demon if it’s a demon.

“…Oh. Must’ve sensed it wrong,” Risha said quickly, smiling wide as he bent down to give the “cat” a pat. He didn’t press, though his certainty was obvious. Instead, he plopped onto the bench beside her — maybe too close — and fished something from his pocket. “Candy?”

She stared at him like he was insane. The cat stared harder.

Elon only shook his head faintly. So much for the peace I built here.

She took the candy in silence. Risha kept going. “I have a dog. Big one. He’s probably having breakfast right now, but maybe you can meet him next time.”

That caught her off guard.

“He behaves, I promise. He won’t do anything to your cat.” Risha tilted his head. “What’s his name?”

Her gaze sharpened, but she answered. “…Rex.”

“Cool name,” Risha said instantly. “You both have really cool names. My dog’s called Cloud. My name’s Risha—”

“You already said that.”

He scratched his cheek, laughing at himself. “Right, right! Sorry. Okay, I gotta go. Extra classes. My dad’s teaching me how not to set everything on fire.”

Lola blinked, silent.

…He has a lot of power, she thought, gaze flicking from Risha to Elon, who hadn’t bothered to hide his presence anymore. So he’s his father. Makes sense. He carries even more weight than the boy — more than anyone I’ve ever felt.

Risha waved as he bounded toward the exit, where Elon was already waiting. “Hope you’re here next time. Byeee!”

Lola stared at the space he’d left, still a little stunned. No one had approached her since she arrived in La Paz. Until him.

♥︎

July 21th, 15.003

La Paz, Ashveil Desert, Umbra [Vampire Continent]

The door creaked open again, earlier this time. Risha’s grin appeared first, but today he wasn’t alone.

Padding beside him was a huge bloodhound, fur complex but short, scars scattered all over him, but nothing too serious; tail swishing lazily. Cloud’s claws clicked against the concrete floor, a step behind Risha.

“Hi, daaad.” Risha threw away his bag and wave to Cloud, they headed to the back of the library at unison. “Just a second”

“Risha, there’s no need – he left already”. Elon said outloud, exhausted, lowering his voice mid sentence, realizing Risha was already on his way to meet the girl at the back. 

“See?” Risha said proudly, tugging Cloud’s ear. “He’s also very cool. And he doesn’t bite. Well… he does. On command. Most of the times… I mean–”

From her corner, Lola froze, Rex’s fur standing on end instantly. The little black cat hissed, eyes glowing faint red before she smoothed it over.

Risha crouched, rubbing Cloud’s neck. “Cloud, this is Lola. And Rex.”

The wolf tilted his head, sniffed once in their direction, then flopped down right in the middle of the aisle.

Risha beamed like he’d just won a war. “See?–”

“Of course I see, he’s giant." Lola replied. Risha had the tendency to repeat himself. “He’s cool, you were right.” 

Cloud snorted, unimpressed.

“I guess, I’ll leave you with your homework. Tomorrow is the last day of school before the recess, and the last exams! Good luck with that.” 

Risha left even before she could reply. 

This guy is a lot. Lola thought to herself as returning to her unfinished exercises. 

Elon looked up from his desk, pinching the bridge of his nose. The peace and quiet of this finished library lasted exactly three months. Now it’s gone.

♥︎

July 22nd, 15.003

La Paz, Ashveil Desert, Umbra [Vampire Continent]

The last bell of the school year had only just rung.

“Oi, Risha, let’s go to the beach to celebrate the end of school”. Zevran said as already taking his long-sleeve shirt off, and staying with his plain cotton t-shirt that had under. 

Risha just pouted. 

“Uh? No million words coming out? Are you feeling okay, Riri?” Nima approached him and touched his forehead. 

“Even you are teasing me??” Risha cried out. “I need to go to magic class. But later?” 

“I will be there until I drop dead from exhaustion. This is the first day of summer!!!”  Reno exclaimed. 

“Nobody should drop dead from anything.” Haru added, already adjusting the backpack on Reno’s back. “But definitely let’s meet later at the usual spot at the shore”. 

Risha waved them off with a pout that wasn’t leaving his face and headed directly to the Academy wing. The tower where the library was already felt like another world. Cool air, quiet walls, the faint scratch of quill on parchment — the same calm Elon had forced into this place for months.

Risha didn’t share that calm. He was sprawled across the long table, one hand tracing lazy shapes in the air, the other trying to balance a pencil on his nose. Cloud slept under the bench, tail flicking.

“Focus,” Elon said, tone clipped.

Risha groaned dramatically. “But it’s summer.”

“Fireball brats don’t care what season it is.” Elon flipped open a thin journal, the pages already lined with neat notes.

Risha sat straight on his chair after that friendly reminder of his last big nuisance. 

I want to try something. “Tell me again — what is dark magic?”

Risha’s gaze was on the ceiling, repeating the answer like it was from memory. “It’s… a river underground. Strong current. Pulls more power but harder to control. Not evil, but… scary if you don’t learn it right.”

“Almost.” Elon inclined his head. “And the danger?”

“The current drags you under.”

“Exactly.” Elon let the silence stretch, letting the boy’s words sink deeper. Then he leaned forward, tapping the page. “And what do you need to stand against the current?”

Risha chewed his lip, then shrugged. “…Discipline?”

A voice cut in from the back corner of the shelf behind them.

“Discipline? I’m already laughing.”

Bingo.

Risha’s head turned to the voice that was coming from behind. Lola stood leaning on the wall of books right on the boy’s back, Rex sitting still at her feet. She was chewing gum, arms crossed. 

Risha blinked, surprised. “You know about dark magic?”

“Aha.” She blew up a globe that popped immediately after. “Following that underground river metaphor… You don’t just stand against it. You learn how to breathe under it. That’s the trick.”

Elon’s eyes narrowed, but his voice stayed even. “And how would you know?”

Her jaw tightened. For a second, she looked ready to retreat back into silence. Then she lifted her chin instead. “I just… feel how the dark magic runs through me, naturally. No one taught me. I figured it out myself. If I hadn’t, Rex wouldn’t be a cat right now. He’d be…” She faltered, glancing down. “…something else.”

The “cat” shook itself, and a ripple of black energy bled out — subtle to most, but sharp and clear as any of the books from the table to Elon and Risha.

Risha’s expression flipped instantly from suspicion to awe. “Woooah. So I was right!! So you are—” he was already trying to grab the ‘cat’. 

“Hiding it from you two was useless,” Lola cut in, her tone sharp, but not cruel.

The air turned heavier, and for a moment the walls seemed to listen.

Calamities were predators. Some were small — little more than twisted shadows or mindless beasts that gnawed at corners of the world, leaving pain behind without reason. Others grew larger, medium and strong enough to level streets, tear through homes, and chase prey for days. They fed on fear, anger, hate. And unlike Blessings, they gave nothing freely.

Most curses struck fast, tore, and left. But every so often, one hesitated.

Lola’s gaze fell on Rex. Her voice, when it came, was low but steady.

“Six months ago, in Concordia… a medium Calamity attacked the vampire quarter from Dominara’s city. It was looking for someone, but the smaller ones that followed it didn’t care. They broke into homes, killed whoever they found. My mom was gone on a business trip, my dad was already here at La Paz. My brother and sister—” She stopped, drawing a breath, then pushed forward. “They didn’t survive. I hid. In my room. This thing found me there. And for some reason… he didn’t kill me. He hesitated. That’s not what Calamities do. Another one turned on him, and I—” her fingers clenched over her knee, “—I protected him. With magic. I didn’t even know I could, or even that I was a magic bearer. Since then… he’s stayed with me.” She pet the ‘cat’, now placed on top of the table. 

The cat’s eyes glowed, like coals under ash.

“He’s my guardian now. Weird, maybe wrong, but who cares. So… please. Don’t tell anyone. He’s good. He won’t hurt anyone.”

Silence hung a beat too long.

“Okay, but only with a condition”, Elon closed his journal with deliberate calm, his stare steady. “You learn to control your magic.”

“He says that a lot.” Risha leaned in with a grin, resting his face on both hands, fighting the will of touching the ‘cat’. “Welcome to the club.” 

Risha laughed, unbothered. Lola, for the first time, let out the faintest huff of amusement.

For months he’d let her sit in the background. Now she’d stepped forward herself.

“Then you’ll join us here, everyday” Elon said. Not a question.

Lola blinked. “Every—?”

“We’ll start again from the beginning. For both of you.” His gaze shifted briefly to Risha and then to Lola. “You need the repetition, and you need the foundation.”

Risha pumped a fist. “At least we will be both bored.”

Lola rolled her eyes. “…Fine.”

Elon allowed the faintest nod. So much for silence. But maybe this is better.

♥︎

July 23rd, 15.003

La Paz, Ashveil Desert, Umbra [Vampire Continent]

Elon pushed open the door to the main Academy building earlier than usual, dragging a type of excitement that hadn't been felt in a while. He sensed Sukira, making herself a coffee in one of the small rooms on the first floor, right next to the gym machinery area. 

“Good morning, Sunshine”, she offered a cup and he agreed. “Is that… Happiness? What is it?” 

“Don’t sniff, I told you a million times”, but yes, “We started with classes again and a girl is joining us today–”

“The one with the Calamity?”, she interrupted him. 

He smiled automatically, lips on his cup, blowing the vapor of the hot infusion. She’s incredible. Non-magic users wouldn't be able to sense that. Even most magic trained users couldn’t.

“Yep. That one”. 

“Interesting.” She leaned on the kitchen counter. “Did you reprehend the kid after the firestorm drama scene?” 

“...” Only the sound of him sipping the coffee. 

“Great job, dad”. She shocked her head slowly, showing her disagreement. 

“Keep the Calamity situation a secret for now, I’ll manage if something runs off.” 

“Umh.” She narrowed her look, doubting. “This is my wing, you know that, right? I’m in charge of all these areas’ facilities. I need to keep everyone safe. You playing the teacher on one of my rooms with a fucking Calamity doesn’t give–”

“Please?” He asked her with that deadpan voice of his, but stroking a piece of hair from her bangs, that was getting to her eyes. Her hair is getting very long. 

It was the first time in months he approached her. She avoided him since their last interaction, where she was bleeding out with an opened dark magic wound. 

“Commander, sorry to interrupt, but Gael needs to–”

“You can’t interrupt and then just say ‘sorry to interrupt’ as nothing. Unless it is urgent. Nothing that’s under Gael’s responsibilities is urgent”. 

The tenant bowed in forgiveness and left. 

“You are really hard to deal with, Commander”, he joked. 

She gave him a smirk, a sweet one. One that shouted how she missed these interactions of theirs. 

“I’ll keep the secret.” She said already walking towards another room that needed her attention. 

Her skin... its always so cold. He thought to himself as caressing his own hand with his lips, as if the cold he sensed from her skin would magically be transferred to his mouth. 

He walked slowly towards the library as soon as he finished his coffee.

Against the far wall, where bare concrete had always stood, now gleamed a polished, wide board, powered by some hybrid system of magic and wires. Below it, pinned neatly with a piece of scotch, was a scrap of paper:

Finally, Sunshine. If you have questions about how it works, ask Tech. 

No signature. There didn’t need to be.

Elon exhaled through his nose.

Three months of peace, ruined one piece of hardware at a time.

♥︎

“Since our new student has joined,” he said, tone flat but carrying, “we begin again. From the start.”

Risha groaned, flopping into his seat. “Again?”

“Yes,” Elon said. “Again.”

He tapped the board, neat handwriting appearing in white script as it followed his movements.

“Magic touches all races equally. But not everyone carries it the same way. Some are bearers. Some have resistance. Some carry only traces.”

“Every spell, every spark, starts from intention.”

He drew a clean circle.

“There are branches.” One by one, the names appeared:

Elemental Magic — fire, water, air, earth. White Magic — healing and protection. Telepathic Magic — movement, teleportation, illusions. Runic Magic — symbols, enchantments, alchemy. Dark Magic — summonings, transformations, corruption.

“Affinity,” Elon continued, “decides what feels natural for a magician to use. Like Lola with Dark Magic. It simply happened: affinity.”

“But study expands reach. A rare few –sorcerers– can bend more than one freely, and even they have more affinity with some types than others. Most people never come close.”

Risha perked up. “Like you and me.” He blinked at Lola, who was surprised at the beginning. That’s why they emit that amount of magic energy. Everything made sense now for her. 

Elon gave him a single look. “Yes. But potential means nothing without discipline.”

He tapped the board again.

“Elemental is the oldest, raw and simple. No spells. Just control. White is subtle, tied to Blessings and a user’s good will. Runic is craft, lines and symbols, the most complex type of magic, but the one that’s easier to get better simply by studying it and practice. Telepathic bends thought itself, it requires a lot of concentration and temple. Dark, or Black Magic, reaches deeper, closer to Calamities. Strong, unstable, feared. It requires a lot of strength”.

Elon stopped writing. “Questions?”

“Yeah,” Risha said instantly. “Want to come to the beach later? Everyone’ll be there. Summer break starts today.”

Elon stood there, shocked by how easily Risha could snap off from reality. He sighted.  

Lola blinked, caught off guard, too. 

“C’mon,” Risha insisted. “You’ll meet my friends: Reno, Haru, Nima, Zev. Cloud too. You’ll like it.”

She hesitated — then Rex flicked his tail, as if nudging her forward.

“…Fine.”

Risha beamed. “Yes! We’ll meet around 18! It's toooO hot before that.”

Elon sighed, rubbing his temple. Quiet is gone. Completely gone.

♥︎

The tide was low, sand still hot from the day’s sun. Towels, bags, and sandals were scattered in a chaotic half-circle around the gang, laughter rising louder than the waves.

Reno was mid-sprint, chasing Risha with a bucket of water. “Hold still, coward!”

“Over my dead body!” Risha shrieked, darting out of reach, Cloud barking at his heels. Haru, caught in the wake, chased after both of them, hat flying.

Nima had already claimed the shade of a parasol, legs tucked under her as she scribbled in a notebook. She didn’t even look up when Haru nearly tripped over her. “If you spill that on me, I’ll hex you all,” she warned.

Zevran sat at the edge of the group, polishing the small training knife Sukira had given him, quiet and focused. Which only encouraged Reno to circle him like a shark, trying to break his composure.

Into this chaos, Risha bounded back, arms flailing. “Guess who’s hereeee!”

Everyone turned.

Lola stood a little back, Rex perched primly on her shoulder like an accessory. Her silver-and-red hair caught the last rays of sun, earrings glinting. She looked more like she was arriving at a photoshoot than a beach hangout.

Reno nearly dropped his bucket. “Wait—wait—new recruit?!”

“She’s with me,” Risha announced proudly.

“So that’s all we need to know,” Haru said, sweeping his hat off in mock salute. “Welcome!”

Reno squinted, stepping closer. “No, no, hold up. We don’t just let anyone in. There’s a test.”

Lola arched a brow. “Who’s this tiny monster?” she asked Risha. Reno was, indeed, the smallest of the group in size; vampires just grew slower than the rest. 

“Damn right I’m a monster,” Reno said, puffing out his chest. “And for getting into our squad, you… you gotta—uh—” His eyes darted around before landing on one of the buckets with water. “—carry that thing up the jetty before I can catch you.”

“As if.” Before anyone could protest, Lola rolled her eyes, handed Rex to Risha, and snatched the cup of water from Haru’s hands. With a flick of her wrist, she splashed Reno square in the head.

By the time he recovered, she was dusting her palms.

“Done. I’m in?” she said flatly.

Reno froze, then burst out laughing. “She’s crazy! I like her.” He doubled over. “Totally in. She’s already more fun than you are, Zev.”

Zevran didn’t look up from his knife. “You’re an idiot.”

“Boooring.”

Lola smirked, flicking her hair back as she sat down near Nima, who wordlessly shifted to give her shade. “Guess I’m staying, then.”

Risha threw both arms in the air. “Victory! We’ve officially leveled up: three magicians, two fighters, and one genius. And to deadly pets. We’re unstoppable now.”

Cloud barked once, as if to confirm. Rex yawned, curling into Lola’s lap like royalty.

“We could even take Elexi if it showed up,” Risha added with a grin.

That pulled the laughter down a notch. Haru chuckled nervously. “Uh, maybe not yet, Cap.”

But Nima’s pencil stilled on the page. Her shoulders drew in a little, gaze falling to the sand. Everyone has their ‘thing.’ 

Zevran’s voice broke the pause, steady. “What are you, Lola? Human? Vampire?” He wasn’t prying — just asking, straight as fact.

“Oh! The rough one has manners, not like that demon over there”. She looked at him, surprised. The demon she was talking about was Reno, who was trying to pull Rex's tail now. Then smirked faintly. “Halve. Human and vampire.”

“Nice.” Zevran nodded, satisfied. “We are also halves, human and elf. I’m Zevran, his older brother.” He pointed out at Nima, sitting right next to her. 

“Nima.” She salute Lola. “Finally another girl. No offense to you guys but…” She made a mocking face.  

The moment broke as Reno tried to dump his bucket over Haru again, kicking off another round of chaos. 

“He. He’s clearly a vampire”. Lola pointed out, as looking at Reno: red eyes and messy, crispy red hair with big fangs. Of course he’s a vampire. 

“And us, we are simply humans”, Risha said while clinching at Haru’s collar, not a pinch of pity nor sadness in his words. Just a fact. 

For all the noise, they looked — just for a moment — like they really were invincible.

The sun had dipped low, throwing the Civil Quarter into warm orange light. The ocean breeze carried the smell of salt and grilled food from the dinner halls, mixing with the laughter of children still running barefoot across the cobblestones.

The group trailed back together, damp hair and sandy feet leaving a trail behind them.

“I’m starving,” Reno groaned, dragging his bucket behind him. “Dinner hall better have stew tonight.”

“You always say that,” Haru replied, hands behind his head. “And then you complain the stew’s too salty.”

“Because it is too salty!” Reno shot back, grinning.

Cloud padded silently beside Risha, while Rex rode Lola’s shoulder like a king.

“So,” Lola asked after a beat, “where do you all live?”

Risha puffed his chest. “Me? Apartment. Moved in with Elon a few months ago. Used to live in the rooms area, but my uncle Jeda hooked us up.”

“That’s leveling up,” Haru said, kicking a pebble.

Lola nodded. “Apartment for me too. I got here a few months ago. I live with my dad. You might know him, his part of the Triad. Lucius?” She said it casually, but her tone dipped when she added, “Anyway, my mom's still in Concordia. Politics and stuff.” She omitted the loss of her siblings. 

Zevran chimed in. “Same here. Apartment with our dad”.

Nima added, quieter, “I’m there too. With him.” She didn’t mention their mother, and no one pressed.

“Rooms for me,” Reno announced, tossing his bucket over his shoulder. “Civil Quarter dorms, next to my older siblings: Axis and Ryn. We’ll probably move to the Command Tower eventually, once it's finished. They are both part of the Elite and they will need to be always on duty. I will also be part of the Elite, so better I move, too”.

“Yeah, he can’t live alone in an apartment,” Haru snorted. “Imagine…”

“Shut up.” Reno shoved him, but laughed anyway.

Haru smirked. “I’m in the rooms too. Right across from him. Orphan, so… I’ll stay there until I’m old enough to ask for an apartment. But dinner hall’s mine. Every night.”

“Dinner hall’s ours,” Reno corrected, already breaking into a run toward the smell of food. He grabbed Haru's t-shirt and Haru took his hand to avoid tripping.

That left Risha, Lola, Zevran, and Nima walking slower through the quieter lane of apartments.

“Oh, and don’t forget,” Risha said, wagging a finger at Zevran and another one to Reno, right in opposite directions, “Sukira’s training tomorrow morning. Don’t be late or she will scold us all.”

“Who’s Sukira?” Lola asked.

The answer hit her all at once, overlapping voices:

“The coolest person alive!” Reno shouted from up ahead. “She’s the Commander of the Academy wing,” Haru called back. “She’s amazing,” Nima added, eyes alight for once. “The best warrior alive,” Zevran agreed with a rare smile.

Risha grinned, finishing it proudly: “She’s my mom.”

The others didn’t correct him. Lola blinked, surprised, and glanced at Elon’s figure on a distant balcony of the apartment's building. So that blond sorcerer and the commander of the troops are his parents? Makes sense, I guess. He acts like both.

They all laughed again, noise rising into the warm evening as the group split off toward their homes, the Citadel lights flickering on one by one.

♥︎

July 24th, 15.003 La Paz, Ashveil Desert, Umbra [Vampire Continent]

The first floor of the Academy buzzed faintly — weights clinking in the gym corner, voices echoing down the hall. The smell of coffee drifted out from the small kitchen tucked beside the machinery room.

Sukira stood there, mug in hand, scanning the day’s schedule on her phone when Elon stepped in. He didn’t bother with greetings, just:

“Today you’ve got the morning training,” he said flatly, nodding toward her mug. “I saw that on the fridge.”

She raised a brow. “Spying on me now?”

“It was your idea. Worked better than I thought. He actually uses it.” Elon poured himself coffee, the faintest smirk tugging at his mouth. “Good idea.”

Sukira leaned back against the counter. “He’s thirteen already. Pre-teen chaos. His first heartbreak last week… Now he’s got his little squad, three clubs, and still finds time to visit everyone once in a while. He’s amazing”

Elon let out a quiet huff — almost a laugh. “He’s… growing too fast.”

She shrugged. “That’s human kids.”

“What do you think about the rest?” he asked, sipping slow.

“Zev’s steady but… there’s something about him I quite can’t figure out yet. Reno’s… Reno.” She shook her head faintly. “Haru might be as smart as Tech, but with a heart. Nima’s quiet, but sharp, I hope she can solve the magic thing. I’m pretty sure Risha talked to you about it. He can’t stop talking about it. And Lola—” she tilted her head, “I still don’t know her. But she’ll show us who she is sooner rather than later.”

Elon set his cup down, blue eyes steady on her. 

She returned the staring gaze. Their old game. It felt like ages since the last time they’ve done this. 

“And what do you think about having dinner together tonight? Come to the apartment.”

She blinked, caught for half a beat. Then smirked, soft but clear. “Fine.”

He almost smiled — almost — but she was long gone, stepping back toward the training yards.

♥︎

The last months hadn’t left Sukira much room to breathe. Every time Aaron called, she went — there were always simple but physically draining missions: killing a beast that went out of control, re-placing a mother that was wandering too close to the borders, moving a relic from a small town to another, even overseeing evacuation routes before being used. She didn’t keep count anymore.

Between missions, Sami and Tech roped her into endless prototypes. Weapons that tried to mimic a natural trait, armor that burned, gadgets that sparked in her hands. She gritted her teeth and endured, because someone had to test them before they reached the cadets. If it broke her skin, better hers than others.

And the cadets kept coming. Every dawn, she took them through drills: running, rolling, sparring until their lungs gave out. From now and then, Risha appeared before going to class. When Reno and Zevran joined, she moved the sessions from the Civil Quarter backyards to the Academy yards, and they settled on a simple schedule. Organized but not too intense to keep the kids away from their true responsibilities. She pushed them hard as hard as a group of 13 years old could give, but nothing else. 

In her spare hours she spent chasing leads on Elexi. Every whisper, every rumor, she followed. None of it led anywhere. The Calamity’s coming back rumors were still out there, feeding, hiding. Waiting. But there was no real trace of its location. 

She told herself she didn’t mind the routine. Missions, tests, drills, dead ends. But some mornings, staring at the kids stretching in the yard, she felt the weight of it — the cycle that never seemed to break and how she was not used to it at all. 

Above all, she stood away from seeing Elon. It's been around eight months since she stood in the middle of the night on his door, asking for help. Eight months were she reduced their interactions merely throughout Risha. It broke her, but she endured, as she understood he traced a boundary, and she was not going to cross it. That’s why today’s invitation to dinner took her completely by surprise. 

She stood in the training yard now, watching the three boys stretch under the morning sun. Their laughter echoed against the stone, already breaking form before the first lap. Sukira folded her arms, void energy humming faintly at her skin.

“Line up,” she barked, voice sharp as steel.

They scrambled.

Behind her, a soft voice cut in.

“Commander.”

Ryn leaned against the gate, her white uniform always a mess, she looked like the bassist from a rock band. “It’s almost time for the cadets’ hour.”

Sukira didn’t turn. “They’ll finish first.”

Ryn gave the faintest bow before slipping away.

Sukira’s eyes stayed on the three in front of her. “Run.”

The drills began, as usual. 

Groans filled the yard but feet started moving. Risha muttered under his breath, “This is boring.”

“You can leave whenever you want,” Sukira called back, tiny smirk on her face. 

Reno lasted two laps before throwing his arms wide like a dying soldier. “Running is cruelty! Why can’t we do something useful?”

“You can’t fight if you can’t breathe,” Sukira said, not missing a beat.

Zevran didn’t answer at all. He kept his pace steady, posture perfect, eyes focused straight ahead.

When they finished, she lined them up for dodges. “Roll. Again. Lower. Keep your eyes open.”

Risha exaggerated every movement, sighing loudly after each roll. Reno crashed into the dirt twice and cursed, earning a sharp “language” from Sukira. Zevran executed every move clean, quiet, precise.

Finally, she gave them sparring drills — light, fast exchanges, mostly to test reflexes.

That’s when Reno got ideas. He lunged at Zevran with more energy than form, trying to stun him with a shoulder-check. Zev sidestepped smoothly, and Reno went down hard, skin scraping against the concrete.

“Spirits—!” Reno hissed, clutching his arm.

Sukira started forward, but Risha was already kneeling beside him. A soft glow bloomed from his hands, warmth spilling into Reno’s skin. The scrape closed in seconds, leaving only a faint mark.

Reno blinked, then flexed his arm with awe. “YOU COULD DO THIS THE WHOLE TIME AND YOU LET ME GET INJURED A MILLION TIMES?” 

Sukira’s eyes softened for a fraction of a second before she masked it again. “That’s enough for today. You three are loud, sloppy, and undisciplined.”

They winced.

“But,” she added, “you’re also stronger than last month. Keep showing up”

The three exchanged quick, proud glances.

Reno whispered to Risha, “It means she likes us?”

“I heard that,” Sukira said dryly.

They all burst into laughter, even Zevran's mouth twitching with a smile as the training wrapped up.

♥︎

The apartment was small but warm, the kind of place that always smelled a bit of fresh flowers and coffee. Elon had set the table simply: bread, roasted vegetables, a pot of rice still steaming.

A knock came at the door.

When he opened it, Sukira stood there. Not in her uniform, not her usual boots. Tonight she wore a short black skirt embroidered with tiny pearls, a simple boat-neck shirt with a hint of neckline at the back, and flats. She looked almost unfamiliar like this — casual, but still carrying that quiet steel.

Risha darted past Elon to greet her. “You came!”

“Hi, kid,” she said, ruffling his hair before stepping inside. 

Dinner was loud in the way only Risha could make it. He talked through half his bites, asking a dozen questions: about Sukira’s last missions, about Tech’s laboratory and if he was allowed to enter there, about where she found Cloud and how old was he. Sukira answered as many of the questions she could, Elon stood there silently, enjoying the moment. Usually, it was him the one being harassed by interrogations. She smirked every time Risha tried to push for more details.

When the plates were scraped clean and Risha was sprawled in his chair, he suddenly straightened. “Oh! It’s Friday…

” 

Both Elon and Sukira raised identical brows.

“Umh, I was thinking that maybe– you see, Lola invited us to watch a movie at her place.” He stooped, as he was asking permission to go to the end of the world. “Can I go?” Risha asked, hopeful.

Elon and Sukira exchanged a quick glance, and laughed. 

“You already asked,” Elon said.

“And we already said yes,” Sukira added.

Risha blinked, then laughed, covering his face. “PPPfffff. Right. Forgot.” He hopped to his feet, already heading for the door. “Okay, bye!!”

The door banged shut behind him, leaving the apartment suddenly quiet.

Sukira leaned back in her chair, hands folded loosely in her lap. She looked almost out of place here, in her skirt and pearls, softer than the Commander everyone saluted on the training yards. But her eyes still carried that sharpness — always ready, always wary.

Elon gathered the rest of the plates without a word, carrying them to the sink. It gave him an excuse not to look at her too quickly.

“I didn’t think you’d actually come,” he said finally, voice quiet.

“You invited me,” she answered simply, a small smirk tugging at her mouth. “Would’ve been rude to refuse.”

He glanced over his shoulder, lips twitching at the corners. “You? Worrying about manners?”

Her laugh came short and real. “Don’t push it.”

The sound lingered in the room, strange after months of nothing but reports and clipped exchanges.

For a moment, neither spoke. Elon dried his hands slowly, buying time. Sukira traced the rim of her glass with one finger, buying hers.

“How’s… all this?” she asked at last, nodding toward the apartment. “Risha seems happy.”

“He is,” Elon admitted. “Clubs, friends, training. Already taller… and louder.” His tone softened despite himself. “I can’t keep up sometimes.”

“He’s becoming his own person. I’m glad you have this space to witness it all”. Her tone was raw and honest, nothing else but what she was saying was being hidden under. 

He leaned against the counter, studying her, a bit of sadness in his eyes. You could be here with us, and witness it, too.

“And you?”

She blinked, caught. “Me?”

“You’ve been busy, from what I heard.” He said it without judgment, but the weight was there.

“I’ve been busy, yes.” Sukira’s smirk faltered. She looked away, fingers tightening slightly on the glass. “But I’m always available for you two. You know that.”

The words hung, fragile. Both of them knew where this could go if they pressed — back to blood, dark magic, the night he’d asked her to stop looking for him. The wall between them.

But Elon only nodded. 

Her shoulders eased a little. 

For the first time in months, the silence that followed wasn’t cold. It was… tentative. Like a step toward something they’d both missed. The silence kept stretching, not uncomfortable but heavy with all the things left unsaid. The lamplight painted long shadows across the small apartment, flickering on the pearls on her clothes, her pale skin full of tattoos and scars, the half-empty glasses between them.

Sukira’s gaze stayed on the table, fingers still circling the rim of her glass. Finally, her voice broke the quiet.

“I missed you.”

Elon’s head snapped up. Of all the words he expected from her, those weren’t on the list. His hand stilled against the counter. His eyes went wide open. 

She didn’t look at him, she kept playing with the glass. “Even if it’s just like this. In silence. For me, it’s enough.”

He let out a short, unsteady breath. “Silence isn’t enough for me.”

That pulled her eyes up, sharp. She recognized the weight in his tone — the warning, the edge of a fight.

Now, she looked, she turned her whole body, now facing him, still on the kitchen corner.

“Bring it on, then”, she said, a bit of a smirk coming up. "I'm ready".

“Do you think I really don’t know what you’ve been doing these past months?,” Elon started, heavy in tone, and in looks, an appearance that only stirred with her. “Not even a month ago Eloise came shaking after stitching half of you back in” he went on relentlessly. “I hear how people talk about your latest ‘adventure’ on the streets, on the market…”

Sukira’s lips parted, then closed. She leaned back slightly, the instinct to retreat flashing through her posture.

“Since the last time you came to meet me at my door, I woke up every day thinking if you are even alive. Oh, fuck you, and your ‘I missed you’.” He grabbed his forehead with a hand. “I miss you every second of every day. But I told you I wouldn’t follow anymore. That I wouldn’t watch it happen again.” 

“…If that’s still how you feel, then don’t follow. Let’s keep our distance. Leave me be.”

He almost laughed, bitter at the simplicity of it. “Leave you be? After everything?” He shook his head. “Jeda was right. Staying away doesn’t change anything. It doesn’t stop me from caring. It just makes it worse.”

Her brows knit. She stood up, trying to get closer. 

“No.” But he also stepped closer, resting both hands on the table, steady as stone, trapping her on the edge with his arms. His movement betrayed him completely, he didn’t think. Just act. 

A small silence. He was putting his thoughts in order, and she just enjoyed the warmness of his body. 

“I want to take back what I said that night”. His head was looking at the floor, still pinning her to the table with his arms, not letting her move from there. 

She took a piece of his hair that was dropping on her elbow, and tucked it in his ear. She brushed her cold fingers on his pendant, the one she also was wearing. She smiled.

“I’ll be here to stop you from throwing yourself away like you are disposable. And when you do, I’ll be there to drag you back. Every time.”

Her throat tightened, the sharpness in her eyes faltering into something softer, more dangerous. She pulled back his head to match hers, grabbing his chin. “Don’t lie to me.”

“I’ll be here. It does not matter the hour, the circumstances, nothing. If it's a dagger injury or if you’ve been possessed by a spirit of the woods. I don’t care. I don’t care if you keep running to Jeda for favors, as long as you always run back to me”. 

His voice was steady now, the deadpan certainty she knew too well. “I promise.”

She let out a short, almost disbelieving laugh, leaning back with a shake of her head. “A human promise? Those break.”

His mouth curved — not into a smile, but something firmer. “I don’t care about your beliefs. I’m making you a promise. I’ll stand by it.”

She leaned closer without meaning to. He didn’t hesitate.

Elon reached up, fingers brushing the edge of her lips, sticky because of blush. His touch was warm — too warm. Heat pressed into her skin like the first breath too close to a fire. She flinched, not away, but into it. The contrast seared.

Her body ran cold, always, something common for vampires. His warmth broke through it, invasive, unbearable, magnetic.

His other hand slid to her hip, steady, grabbing her like he could stop her from slipping into smoke and ash, as she could do it in any second. He pulled her closer, slow, deliberate, until the edge of the table caught her legs. Sukira let herself be guided, and he sat her there gently, never breaking her stare.

Her lips parted, breath sharp in her throat. The heat where his hand pressed burned, enough that she knew it would leave a faint mark later. Proof.

“Elon…” Her voice was quiet, strangled between warning and surrender.

He didn’t move in. Not yet. Their mouths hovered a breath apart, air thick with tension, her cold wrapping around his heat, his warmth flooding through her veins like fire in ice.

It wasn’t just romantic — it was fact. A collision of what they were. Neither of them dared to close the distance. His eyes locked on hers, unwavering. For the first time in eight months, the wall between them cracked. 

And then an intrusive, loud sound snapped them off: a yellow alarm, part of the security protocol. Sharp. Relentless. It filled the apartment, cutting through the silence like a blade.

Sukira’s breath hitched, then she laughed — quick, bitter, full of bad timing. Her arms wrapped him, he was about to surrender. 

“I need to go.” She whispered to his ear. 

He didn’t release her right away. He pressed his forehead into her shoulder, hands still holding her as if he could keep her there through her will. “I know, Commander.”

Her smirk softened, almost tender. He let go of her. And then she voided herself away. Black-red dust scattered in the air, cold rushing in where her body had been.

Elon stayed where he was, standing at the table, hand still outstretched, lips close to nothing but the echo of her absence.

♥︎