Shadowbound: The Awakened Fool

"Three matches left."

The words echoed in Kairo's mind as he stood under the shadowed arch of the dueling corridor, looking out over the flickering sigil lights of the arena.

Three matches until the Final Ten.

Three matches until the Battle Royale.

He should've felt tension. But instead...

He was bored.

Another challenger had stepped forward. A wind-blooded prodigy from a lesser academy, someone with a silver coat, noble lineage, and the overconfidence of having never fought anyone outside his bracket.

"Let's make this interesting," the boy said with a lazy grin. "You win, I'll stop saying you're faking your rankings. I win, you tell the truth about your 'flame aspect.'"

Kairo didn't even shrug.

He just looked at the boy and said flatly:"Do you want it fast or humiliating?"

The boy blinked. "Excuse me."

A lightning pulse exploded at his feet, causing him to leap back mid-sentence.

He landed awkwardly, mana spiking. "You!"

Kairo stepped forward once.

The ground beneath the boy's feet turned to glass heat so sudden, it fused the stone without flame.

A spark of blue fire flickered at Kairo's palm.

Then vanished.

The boy froze.

"What was that?"

Kairo turned away. "A warning."

Backstage, Sera Jinn sat with a cloth pressed to her bruised ribs, watching the duel's aftermath.

She leaned toward Dalron Vex, who sat sharpening his gauntlets.

"He didn't even fight."

Dalron grunted. "He didn't have to."

Sera's eyes narrowed. "Did you see the flicker?"

"The blue?"

"Yeah. Everyone's pretending they didn't."

Dalron glanced at her. "What do you think it is?"

Sera exhaled slowly.

"I think he's hiding something too powerful to use... and that's the only reason he's not already number one everywhere."

In the observation wing above, two agents from the Magisterium spoke in hushed tones.

"He's already leaking elemental pressure."

"He's nearing forced manifestation."

"If that flame aspect emerges, and it's truly Mythic-tier, we'll need containment teams on standby."

"Not yet. Wait until the Battle Royale. Let the pressure build."

"And what if it backfires?"

Silence.

Then:

"Then we'll see what happens when wolves wake up in the dark."

Later That Night – Ranking Reveal

The final list glowed in golden sigils above the central plaza.

Spectators crowded around as names settled into place.

#10 – Mira Vellin (Obscured Flame, Illusion/Healer)#9 – Arvan Kael (Northern Veil, Ice Dragon Aspect)#8 – Lirin Solace (Emerald Tundra, Water Fans)#7 – Vellon Dae (Sunpier Academy, Fire/Barrier)#6 – Freya Vale (Obscured Flame, Phoenix Aspect Partial)#5 – Dalron Vex (Stonewall Dominion, Earth Rhino Aspect)#4 – Theren Lucal (Obscured Flame, Wind Serpent Aspect)#3 – Sera Jinn (Ember Crown, Flame Lion Aspect Matured)#2 – Cael Soren (Onyx Shard, Undeclared Affinities)#1 – Kairo Vale (Obscured Flame, Lightning Koi Aspect)

The plaza erupted into noise.

"Kairo's number one?"

"That can't be real. He barely fought!"

"He's hiding something."

"They all are."

Cael Soren stood at the edge of the balcony, unreadable.

He stared at Kairo's name.

Then turned and walked back into shadow.

The Rules: Final Trial – "Rumble of the Ten"

Ten combatants enter a circular arena.

No teams. No eliminations by referee, only by mana collapse or surrender.

The last five standing will be declared the Top Five.

Final rank determined by contribution, survival, and skill usage.

Use of full aspects permitted.

Outside interference strictly forbidden.

Tournament Day – The Calm Before the Storm

Inside the academy's private suite, Freya stood before Kairo with arms folded.

"You're not going to pull the same 'vanish-and-flash' trick during this, are you?"

Kairo leaned against the wall, eating an apple.

"No promises."

Freya narrowed her eyes.

"Kairo. Don't hold back."

He looked at her.

For a moment, no jokes. No distance.

Then he said softly:

"I'm not the one who should be worried."