I finished loading the last crate of fruit onto the carriage, my muscles tensing under the weight. Strangely, it wasn't as hard as it should've been. In fact, it felt easy. Too easy. The Arcana Core's energy still pulsed beneath my skin, a steady hum that made every movement feel lighter, sharper—like I wasn't fully human anymore.
I wiped the sweat from my brow and scanned the warehouse one last time. Everything looked fine. I turned to climb onto the coachman's seat when the air shifted. Subtle—barely there—but it made every hair on my neck stand up.
Then a hand shot toward me.
I reacted without thinking, dropping off the carriage and twisting away in one smooth motion. It was instinctual, effortless—and terrifyingly fast.
"Hey, bastard!" a voice barked behind me.
I knew that voice.
"Where have you been? What's with the makeup?"
Ryn.
He stood there with his usual crew, all sneering and smug. But I wasn't the same Kael they'd pushed around for years.
He reached for me again, aiming to grab my shoulder, but I raised my hand and blocked his palm mid-air. It wasn't aggressive—just firm. Deliberate. His sneer wavered for a split second.
Then he snarled and threw a punch at my face.
I saw everything—the twist of his shoulders, the clench of his fist, the exact path his arm was taking. It was like the world slowed down for me. I tilted my head just a little, and his fist whooshed past, missing by inches.
He stumbled forward, thrown off balance by his own momentum. His face flushed red with rage. "You think you're tough now, huh? Let's see how tough you are against all of us!"
His friends moved in, fists raised.
But I didn't panic.
Everything felt quiet—sharp. Like my mind had clicked into place. My body just… moved. I ducked, sidestepped, and parried with careful precision. I didn't want to hurt anyone, but even the lightest touch sent them stumbling back. Their shock was written all over their faces. Like they couldn't believe it was me.
Ryn was the last one.
He lunged again, wild and sloppy. I sidestepped, grabbed his wrist, and twisted it just enough to send him dropping to his knees with a yelp.
"Enough," I said, my voice calm. Steady. "I'm not your enemy, Ryn. But if you keep coming after me… I won't hold back next time."
I let go of his wrist and stepped back. For a moment, none of them moved. They just stared—pale, wide-eyed, no longer mocking me, but afraid.
I climbed back onto the coachman's seat, my pulse still racing even though I felt eerily calm. As I flicked the reins and started back toward the kiosk, I glanced back once. Ryn and the others were still frozen in place.
I should've felt triumphant.
But all I felt was… watched.
Something shifted on a nearby rooftop. A figure—cloaked and still—watched me ride away, a faint glint flashing in their palm like glass catching the sun.
---
The ride back was uneventful, the clatter of the wheels oddly soothing after what had just happened. My thoughts kept circling—Ryn's punch, my reflexes, the way their bodies had flown from the lightest touch. Just yesterday, I would've been the one on the ground, curled up and bloody.
But now…
Now I was something else.
When I reached the kiosk, Mom was already there, her hands busy with the fruit but her eyes scanning the street. She spotted me and straightened, relief softening her expression.
"You're back," she said, her voice warm but edged with concern. "Everything go all right?"
I nodded and gave her the best smile I could manage. "Yeah. Just a small delay. I'm fine."
She studied me—really studied me. Her eyes narrowed just slightly. "You look… different. Did something happen?"
I hesitated for a beat. "No. I just… I think I'm ready for the cadet exam. This time… it'll be different."
Her expression changed—less concerned, more proud. She placed a hand on my shoulder, and I leaned into it.
"I believe in you, Kael. No matter what happens, I'm proud of you."
Her words hit deeper than she probably knew. I swallowed hard and nodded, trying not to let the lump in my throat show. I wasn't doing this just for me anymore. I was doing it for them. For us.
As I started unloading the crates, my shirt shifted slightly, and I felt that now-familiar pulse from the Core, like a heartbeat that wasn't mine. I pressed my palm against my chest, where the mark still faintly glowed beneath the fabric. Dangerous. Powerful. But mine.
---
The rest of the day passed in a blur of trade, laughter, and idle chatter from customers. I helped Mom where I could, but my mind kept drifting.
Back to the alley.
Back to that moment I'd seen Ryn's punch before it even landed.
Back to that… figure on the rooftop.
A sense of fear and curiosity engulf me, I thought to myself, maybe the empire is finding out what is happening.
As the sun dipped low on the horizon, I found myself sitting on the steps in front of the kiosk, staring at my hands. Same shape. Same skin. But they didn't feel like mine anymore.
I clenched my fists.
Just for a second, I thought I saw it—a faint blue shimmer, just beneath the skin.
"Kael!" Mom called from inside. "It's getting late. You should head home."
I stood up, brushing the dust off my pants. "Yeah. You're right. See you tomorrow."
She smiled. "Goodnight, Kael. And… thank you. For everything."
I smiled back, heart full and heavy all at once. "Goodnight, Mom."
---
The streets were quiet as I walked home, my footsteps echoing softly against the cobblestone. But my thoughts weren't quiet. They churned with questions, with images I couldn't shake.
The Arcana Core.
The power it gave me.
The price it might demand.
I didn't know what I was becoming. I didn't know where this path would lead.