The wind blew quietly over the training ground. Kaen stood alone, punching a wooden dummy again and again. His hands were bruised, but he didn't stop.
"Hey! Bloodless Kaen! Practicing how to lose again?"
Some boys laughed from behind.
Kaen didn't reply. He just tightened the bandage on his hand and kept punching.
Each strike was filled with silence. A silence that screamed one thing inside him.
"Prove them wrong."
---
It was another day at Crimson Bloom Academy. The students had gathered for their daily training.
Instructor Soren shouted, "Today is Weapon Resonance Practice. Let's see how strong your blood really is!"
The students began. One by one, their weapons glowed with energy — red swords, spirit whips, and fire daggers.
Kaen stepped forward. He held his blade. He tried to channel his blood energy.
Nothing happened.
Silence filled the ground. Everyone stared. Some smiled. Some laughed.
Raiku, the strongest student in the class, stepped forward.
"Tch. Weak blood, weak boy."
Kaen looked at him but didn't speak. He just walked away, holding his weapon.
---
Later, Kaen sat alone near the edge of the academy.
A girl named Lyra walked up to him. She handed him a cloth.
"You'll hurt yourself like this."
Kaen wiped the blood from his hand. "It's fine. Pain makes me stronger."
"You sound like a fool."
Another voice came. A boy named Kairo. He jumped down from the trees.
"Or maybe a future legend," Kairo said.
The three of them looked at the academy together, not knowing that one day… they would stand side by side as a true squad.
---
Far above, on the rooftop, a man watched Kaen quietly. He wore an old cloak and had a scar under his eye.
"So… Valem's son survived," he whispered.
He lit a strange pipe. Smoke rose slowly.
"If he lives through this... I will teach him the truth."
---
That night, Kaen couldn't sleep. He kept seeing the same dream.
A world burning. Villages destroyed. Screams. Flames.
And then… he saw something.
A tall shadow. Red glowing eyes. Black wings.
It stepped out from the smoke.
"Kaen…" the voice whispered.
Kaen turned around, trying to run… but the ground cracked. Fire wrapped around him.
The figure walked closer.
"Will you beg for help… or will you watch them die?"
Kaen couldn't move. Couldn't breathe.
He woke up. His shirt was soaked. His heartbeat was fast.
He looked down. The seal on his chest was glowing red.
And he heard it.
A whisper.
Just one word.
"Velgrin."
---