The sun rose over the Knight Academy's red-tiled roofs, casting gold streaks over its training grounds. A crisp breeze swept through the dorms, fluttering curtains and carrying the scent of morning dew and baked bread.
Inside Dorm 12, chaos was unfolding.
"Reikaaaa, wake uuuup!" Mira's voice shrilled as she kicked the door open, holding a suspiciously heart-shaped bento box.
Reika bolted upright, hair like a bird's nest. "Wh-What time is it?!"
"Training starts in fifteen minutes," Mira grinned, dramatically opening the box. "I made you lunch. My feelings are inside it."
He stared at the food like it might detonate.
Before he could respond, Farl, dressed in a sleeveless shirt and sweats, walked by. "If you eat that, have a healer nearby."
Mira hissed, Farl chuckled, and Reika tried to escape the scene, toothbrush still in his mouth.
---
Training Grounds – Later That Morning
Gran stood in front of the group, arms folded.
"I leave for a few days and y'all fight demon wolves unsupervised? What next? Tea with the Demon Lord himself?"
Everyone stood silently—except Kairo, who looked completely unbothered, arms crossed, hair fluttering in the breeze like a brooding anti-hero.
"To make sure no one gets soft," Gran growled, "we're having sparring matches. Random draw. Fight to first hit… unless you're dumb enough to challenge Kairo."
Kairo cracked a knuckle.
Mira whispered, "He hasn't lost a spar in a year."
Reika's name was drawn.
"Up against…" Gran looked down at the slip.
"Kairo."
A collective ooooh echoed around the yard.
---
The two boys stepped onto the training platform. Kairo summoned a blade from his Ren—a slim, curved longsword glowing with faint violet energy.
Reika unsheathed his sword. His grip was awkward, but his stance had improved.
Gran barked, "Begin!"
Kairo lunged.
Reika dodged, barely. Kairo was fast—fast enough that Reika only saw flashes. He swung, parried, ducked… then did a fake leap backward, baiting Kairo to strike high.
Kairo misread the move.
SHHHINK!
The blade pierced Reika's side—deep.
"REIKA!"
Time slowed. Blood splattered on the tiles. Reika collapsed, clutching his ribs, breath ragged.
Mira screamed. Farl stood frozen. Gran was already moving.
Then—blue fire burst from Reika's chest.
It wasn't hot. It didn't burn.
It healed.
The fire coiled around his wound, hissing softly as it knit skin and muscle back together, closing the gash entirely. His shirt still stained with blood, but the flesh beneath was unmarred.
Everyone stared in stunned silence.
Kairo's eyes narrowed—but he stepped forward and held up a bronze medallion dangling from his neck.
"Relax," he said coolly. "It's my medallion. Auto-heals wounds… dramatic flair and all."
"Y-You could've led with that?!" Mira shrieked, grabbing Reika.
Reika, pale and confused, muttered, "Wait, you healed me?" Reika obviously knew that it was his demon healing factor but he was caught up in the moment.
Kairo nodded, calm as ever.
Gran narrowed his eyes. "Medallion or not… you almost took the boy's liver out."
Kairo offered a faint bow. "I misjudged his footwork."
"Mm-hm." Gran didn't sound convinced. "You'll spar again soon."
---
Later That Day.
"Why do we have to cook again?" Reika asked, still sore, peeling vegetables.
"Team bonding," Mira chirped, still glaring at Kairo. "Also, I made you soup!"
He looked at the suspicious green fluid bubbling in her pot.
"...Is it supposed to be moving?"
Farl, at the stove, was sautéing vegetables like a pro. "It's best not to ask."
Kairo was chopping herbs with perfect precision, sleeves rolled up, looking like he belonged on a culinary poster.
Even Reika couldn't help but mutter, "Seriously… this guy can cook?"
"Shut up and stir," Kairo replied flatly.
Just as Mira tried to accidentally spill soup on Kairo's shirt, Vivi dropped through an open window, landing gracefully with arms folded.
"Food's late," she said. "Also—Kaien and Zariel are back."
"Really?" Reika perked up.
"They said it's time to talk about… that thing," she said, twisting her hair and giving Reika a very obvious wink.
Mira latched onto Reika's arm. "Be back early tomorrow, kay?"
Reika blinked, thrown off by the hug. But… it felt kind of warm.
"…Of course."
---
Kaien stood before the fireplace. Zariel was sitting nearby, sharpening a blade.
"The demon wolf incident wasn't random," Kaien said, voice heavy.
Kaien turned to Reika.
"And someone wanted you out there when it happened."
Outside, on the streets, Kairo walked alone, hands in his pockets. He muttered to himself, eyes narrowed.
"That blue fire… that wasn't my medallion. It was him."
He looked up at the night sky.
"…So what are you, Reika?"