The laughter faded, but the warmth in the smithy lingered while the rain began to let up. Abell rubbed the back of his neck, still embarrassed from letting out his true emotions. While Torrin still cringed from the awkwardness.

  Freed wiped his hands on his apron, smiling at his son. Then he looked at Abell—not unkindly, but with a face that made him straighten up,

  "I gotta say that was a good fight," Freed said, nodding. "Real good. But I gotta say..." He paused, glancing at Mary.

  "What?" Abell asked, sensing the shift.

  Freed crossed his arms. "At some moments you felt off, kid..."

  Mary nodded in agreement. "I noticed it too." Her voice was quieter than Freed's, "You seemed... cold at moments like you enjoyed getting hurt."

  "I thought you were weird, but I can see it’s true," Torrin said, letting out a small chuckle.

  Abell blinked. "Isn’t that normal?" he paused. “Being on the edge and pushing past my limit, there's no better feeling.”

  "Hmm," Mary said, stepping closer. Her healer's eyes studied him as if he were a patient with symptoms she couldn't quite diagnose. "I guess we’ll leave it there for now," she said in a motherly tone.

  She placed a hand on Abell's shoulder. " It’s getting late. Your mother's probably waiting for you. Go get cleaned up."

  Abell nodded slowly. He looked at Torrin, then Freed, then Mary.

  "Thanks," he said quietly. "For the fight. I need the motivation."

  Freed let out a hearty laugh. "Go on, kid. Rest up."

  Abell turned and stepped out into the cool evening air. Behind him, inside him, was a newfound resolve.

  "You think he'll be okay? I’m afraid he likes combat too much." Mary said.

  Freed's response was uncharacteristically quiet,

  "I don't know. But I know his mother's got her hands full."

  Abell walked through the streets of Iridius, his body aching but his mind restless. The rain had stopped, leaving puddles that reflected the fading light. A few villagers nodded as he passed, but he barely noticed.

  That was fun, too much fun. I wonder whether the academy will have stronger people?

  Mary's words circled in his head.

  Was that really how he'd fought? He replayed the moments—blocking Torrin's strikes, pushing through the pain, the rush when he landed that final blow.

  He smiled

  There really is no better feeling. Fighting is all I’m good at anyway.

  His pace quickened. The ache in his muscles disappeared as adrenaline kicked in again. By the time his house came into view, he was running.

  He didn't care what His Mother, Mary, or anyone else thought.

  I know what I need to do.

  Abell reached the door, his hand on the handle. He took a breath and steadied himself.

  Then pushed it open.

  Support the creativity of authors by visiting the original site for this novel and more.

  When he stepped inside, Keeko and Hugo were mid-conversation at the table. They turned as he entered, eyes immediately scanning his drenched, muddy state.

  Keeko raised an eyebrow. "Ugh, Abell. What trouble have you gotten into now?"

  Abell ignored the question and blurted out what was on his mind.

  "I may not be as strong as Genevieve, but I don’t care. I want to see what this country has to offer. I want to test myself. Against Malignants. Against everything and everyone."

  He stepped closer.

  "Let me go, there’s no way I’m staying here any longer."

  Keeko paused. His voice didn't shake, and his eyes didn't waver. He was dead serious on leaving.

  She let out an exasperated sigh before she could respond, Hugo interrupted her.

  “You seem pumped. What happened to you?” he asked.

  “Well, I had a fight with Torrin—”

  Keeko slammed her fist on the table and rubbed the temples of her eyes. “Why ? You know I’m not on the best of terms with Mary.”

  “It’s not my fault, it just happened, okay.” Abell protested. “Anyways, the fight taught me I have much to learn.”

  Abell closed the distance between him and Keeko.

  “Please let me go.”

  Keeko looked at him, then at Hugo, "Listen, I've already spoken to Hugo," she said. “I’ll let you go...”

  YESSSS.

  "But I'm not letting you walk away that easily." Her eyes closed for a moment, then opened sharply. "You want to leave? Then you have to earn it. Tomorrow night we’ll have one last training session. I won't hold back."

  Abell's face lit up. "Really?"

  "If you win, you go," she said simply. "But don't expect mercy."

  "Then I'll win. That's a promise."

  Hugo stretched and stood up. "Welp. Would you look at that? A familial dispute solved by yours truly. I told you, Abell, I’d fix it."

  "Shut up, Hugo. You’re getting overzealous." Keeko said..

  "Alright, I get it. My services are no longer needed here. I’ll take my leave."

  Without any other words, he turned with a shrug and wandered off before anyone could stop him.

  Weird, he left so suddenly.

  "Tch, what a piece of work," she said. "Now you go rest," she turned to Abell. "Our fight is tomorrow night. I hope you'll be ready."

  Abell only nodded, his expression giving off faint feelings of excitement, nervousness, and determination.

  I’ve gotta win this, I need to.

  He stepped outside, and the moon shone as bright as ever. But tonight, it didn't feel so far.

  The path he wanted was finally in reach. One step closer to Genevieve. He looked up at the sky, exhaled deeply, letting the cool night air fill his lungs.

  Tomorrow night.

  I will be ready

  Meanwhile, outside the village—

  Hugo walked along the edge of Iridius, way past the last few houses where the forest began. The moon illuminated his path, but his expression was rather serious.

  He stopped near the treeline and pulled out a small communication device, a luminal crystal that glowed faintly in his palm.

  A voice crackled through. "Hugo, any news?"

  "Eh, nothing really, just the occasional Grade-B," Hugo said quietly. "I don’t know where that thing is hiding."

  "Dammit, we can’t have people seeing that thing. It would cause public outrage and fear.” The voice said. "Three villages have been hit this month. All within a fifty-mile radius of your location.

  Hugo's jaw tightened. "I know, we just have to wait for it to make a move.”

  There was a long pause on the other end.

  "Okay, fine. And concerning Fractured Dawn, two members seem to be in Western Eudora as we speak. Their reason for being there is unknown, but we speculate their target is Hallion.”

  "Interesting, " Hugo said, simply. “But I can’t do anything now, so..”

  "Mr. Creed, please take this more seriously. They are also another big threat to the peace of this country."

  Hugo chuckled, dejectedly. “ I am, ma’am, don’t worry.”

  "Keep your eyes open. If you see fractured dawn, capture them. They are priority number one. "

  Hugo didn't respond immediately. His gaze lingered on the village behind him.

  "Hugo?"

  "You know? Your voice is very soothing. I like it when you get all serious, hehe."

  “Excuse me, Mr. Creed, if that’s all you have to say—”

  The crystal's glow faded immediately.

  Hugo stood there for a moment longer, staring at his palm.

  Just my luck to have to deal with all this stuff. What do the other Clarions even do besides sitting on their asses?

  He turned back toward the village, his hand resting on his hips.

  Welp, at least I met my protege doing all this.