Shadowbound: The Awakened Fool

Obscured Flame Academy pulsed with anticipation.

Red banners fluttered from every tower. Spell-lights lit the campus with a warm glow, hovering in elegant patterns above the rooftops. Students from every division crowded the outer courtyard, their voices mixing with music, laughter, and the occasional crack of magical fireworks.

It was the first day of the month.

And that meant one thing:

The Festival of Flame.

An old tradition. Half celebration, half test of strength. Students volunteered to demonstrate techniques, perform spells, or duel in front of instructors, guests, and nobles who watched from the viewing gallery.

For most, it was a chance to impress.

For Kairo Vale, it was a trap.

"Your name was drawn for the third duel."

Instructor Calden's voice was bored as he handed Kairo the match slip. The older man didn't even look up from the roster crystal.

Kairo took the slip silently.

"Opponent?"

"Ronan Veshtar."

Kairo's eyes narrowed slightly, but he nodded once.

He turned and walked away, disappearing into the crowd before Calden could register the glint of tension in his shoulders.

High in the viewing tower, Elira Dawn sat behind the observation rail, arms folded, watching the proceedings below. Her eyes followed one person.

Kairo.

He stood in the preparation ring, still, calm, coat hanging open over his academy uniform like it didn't quite belong to him.

He looked like someone out of place.

But not out of control.

Her fingers tapped the glass before her.

Next to her, a nobleman leaned in.

"Is that the late-admission boy?"

"Yes," she replied curtly.

"He doesn't look like much."

"He isn't."

Yet her eyes never left him.

Across the arena, Ronan Veshtar stepped onto the dueling platform.

He wore full dueling garb, enchanted gloves, wind-threaded boots, a half-cloak etched with his family crest.

And under it all, a spell seal burned faintly on his chest, cloaked, illegal, forbidden.

No one else noticed.

But Kairo did.

He walked calmly to the opposite side of the platform and climbed the stone steps without hesitation. No gear. No armor.

Just him.

The announcer's voice rang out across the arena:

"Third match: Ronan Veshtar, Wind Division Elite, versus Kairo Vale, Late Admission."

A ripple of laughter moved through the audience.

Late Admission. It sounded like an insult.

The mana field activated.

Twin sigils ignited beneath the arena, casting a soft glow. A containment barrier shimmered to life around the ring.

The referee nodded to both students.

"You may begin when ready."

Ronan smiled first.

"You should've stayed in your hole, Vale. You're out of your depth."

Kairo didn't reply.

Ronan moved.

A burst of wind flared beneath his boots as he surged forward, palm extended, glyphs flickering down his arm. A concussive blast launched straight for Kairo's chest.

Kairo stepped aside.

Effortlessly.

The spell passed him, crashing into the arena wall behind with a burst of air and dust.

The crowd cheered.

Ronan frowned.

He launched again, this time flanking, low to the ground, a whirling kick coated in wind-forged blades.

Kairo turned his foot.

Pivoted.

Avoided the strike by an inch, hand flicking forward just once.

Ronan staggered.

A thin line of blood appeared on his cheek.

He hadn't seen the movement.

"What the hell…?"

He stepped back and hissed something beneath his breath.

The hidden rune on his chest activated.

Dark glyphs flared beneath his feet.

The air around him twisted spirals of corrupted wind forming scythe-shaped currents.

The referee shouted, "That's!"

But Ronan launched.

Kairo didn't move.

The moment Ronan struck

Everything stopped.

The barrier flickered. The wind halted mid-air. The corrupted spell shuddered, lost its shape, began to collapse.

Kairo raised one hand.

His fingers curled.

A circle of shadow bloomed beneath him, unseen by most.

But Elira saw it.

She rose from her seat.

Kairo's hand swept forward.

And the spell exploded.

Not outward. Inward.

The wind collapsed around Ronan, turning on him, lashing back into his body like blades made of his own mana.

He cried out, stumbling to his knees as the glyph on his chest overloaded and cracked.

Smoke. Burnt ozone. Silence.

Then the announcer's stunned voice broke through:

"…Winner: Kairo Vale."

The crowd erupted.

Some cheered.

Some whispered.

Some stared.

Elira Dawn's hand clenched the rail.

He inverted the spell. Without touching it.

That wasn't flame.

That was something else.

Ronan was dragged from the arena by instructors, his injuries severe but survivable. He said nothing. Didn't meet Kairo's eyes.

Kairo stepped down from the ring in silence.

Freya watched from the other side of the field, her expression unreadable.

Ren ran to meet him.

"Bro! That was insane! Did you how did you?"

Kairo only offered a faint smile.

"I got lucky."

But somewhere in the crowd, a figure in a dark robe turned and walked away.

A Night Crow.

And he did not look pleased.