STARLESS

In the middle of a dense forest, two figures darted between the trees, moving too fast for any normal person to follow.

They were fighting a Draconic Salamander—an overgrown lizard the size of a carriage, scales thick as iron and breath like wildfire. No wings, so not quite a dragon… but close enough.

The first figure, a young man, seemed to blink in and out of existence. One moment he stood ten meters away. The next?

He was directly above the beast.

His rapier, glowing with an eerie violet light, plunged deep into the creature's neck.

The second figure—a young woman—was just as deadly. Her movements weren't flashy, but sharp and efficient. She weaved through the shadows, practically invisible in the underbrush.

Capitalizing on the lizard's distraction, she flicked a knife through the air with the aid of telekinesis. It buried itself in the beast's right eye.

The Salamander shrieked in pain, flailing wildly.

While it reeled from the blow, the woman vanished back into the darkness, allowing her partner to take the lead.

Vael blinked again—this time appearing just inches from the monster's remaining eye. Without hesitation, he drove his rapier, now crackling with aura, straight into the socket.

Another roar, this one muffled by blood, echoed through the trees.

Then, from the shadows below the Salamander's belly, Kiera emerged like death itself. With precise force, she slashed her short sword along its abdomen, carving a deep, lethal line from end to end.

With one final, agonized groan, the beast collapsed, blood steaming against the cold forest floor.

Vael landed beside the corpse, brushing ash from his shoulder.

"Low third stage. Not bad, Kiera," he said, catching his breath.

"I'd say we did a pretty good job for two mid-second stagers, don't you think, Vael?" she replied, wiping her blade clean.

"Damn right we did."

It had been two weeks since Vael had told her the truth—that he was a regressor. In that time, both had advanced steadily to the middle of the second stage.

With their supply of rations long gone, they'd taken to hunting to survive. And every beast they fought was another step forward in strength.

The fact that the Salamander—two entire substages above them—had barely managed to use the full extent of its abilities before dying was a testament to just how well Vael and Kiera fought together.

After harvesting meat from the steaming corpse, they resumed their journey through the forest, silent for a while except for the crunch of leaves underfoot.

Eventually, Vael broke the silence.

"You know… we could go to that academy once we finally leave this hellhole."

Kiera raised an eyebrow. "An academy? Aren't those usually reserved for nobles?"

"Usually, yeah. But as part of the ceasefire agreement between the Kingdoms and the rebel territories, to keep up the illusion of peace, a new one was created—Soummara Academy. Just opened recently, actually. I think it's in Sylwenne's capital… Barmonia."

Kiera snorted. "Huh. Let me guess—the Kingdoms handle the staff, curriculum, and enrollment?"

"You're not wrong," Vael admitted with a grin. "But they do accept commoners and unaffiliated Awakened, especially ones with rare affinities or good combat records."

"Mmh… Still sounds like a trap," she muttered. "Doesn't take a genius to see how unfair this is for the rebels."

"You're absolutely right," said Vael, stepping over a twisted root. "But it's also the best school on the continent. And the way I see it, if we play our cards right, we might get something out of it too."

She was silent for a while, then said, "Well… if we go, we go together."

Vael smiled. "Wouldn't have it any other way."

Another two weeks passed, and the duo had practically perfected their teamwork.

Whenever Kiera tried to close the distance in battle, Vael would either occupy the enemy or use his newest ability — Ally Blink — to teleport her directly where she needed to be.

That's right: Vael had developed a way to Blink others without even touching them.

Kiera had improved too. Her newest technique wasn't a standalone power, but a seamless fusion of her two affinities:

Shadow Tentacles. Long, flowing arms of darkness controlled by her telekinesis — fast, precise, deadly.

And thanks to her Mind affinity, they didn't even need to speak during a fight anymore. Thoughts were enough.

Now, after traveling together for almost two months, their coordination was perfect. Movements flowed like water. Actions mirrored intent. They didn't fight as two people — they fought as one.

It was a day like any other.

They woke up in their small tent, huddled together for warmth beneath thick blankets.

As usual, Vael woke first. He lit a small fire, pulled some dried meat from Veltren's ring, and began cooking it over the flames.

The scent drifted through the camp, waking Kiera.

She stirred, sat up, and wordlessly joined him.

Breakfast was quiet, as usual — warm food, casual glances, a shared silence.

Then, they began to walk.

For hours.

But today… something was wrong.

The deeper they walked into the forest, the more the air changed — not just colder, but heavier. Stiller.

And the trees grew more familiar.

Too familiar.

They walked a bit further… and then they found it:

A clearing.

Perfectly round. Cleared earth. Flattened snow.

Human-made.

Vael's breath caught in his throat.

His chest tightened, his steps faltered. His pupils shrank.

Kiera instantly picked up on it. "Are you okay?" she asked, already reaching out toward his arm.

But he didn't answer.

He turned and sprinted toward the edge of the clearing, heart pounding.

Then, he dropped to his knees — and began to dig. Frantically. Like a wild animal.

Clumps of frozen snow and dirt flew behind him, staining his sleeves.

To anyone else, it would have seemed like madness. Maybe he had sensed something.

But Kiera didn't need to guess.

She heard the thoughts in his mind:

"No… N-no way…!"

"It can't be. Please, no. Not here."

And beneath all of it — desperation. Sadness. Raw panic.

Kiera stepped forward, her voice quiet. "Vael… what is this place?"

But he didn't answer.

Because he already knew.

This wasn't just a clearing.

This was Veltren's camp.

The place where Vael had been defeated — once for real, and once by choice.

And then he found them.

His knives.

He knelt beside them, fingers brushing against the familiar handles, worn smooth from use. The last remnants of the boy who had started this whole thing.

Finally, he broke the silence.

"This is where I lost on purpose," he said quietly. "To get captured."

Kiera's eyes widened with realization.

"We're close to your village."

He nodded, slow and heavy, like each motion weighed a ton. Memories he had buried began clawing their way back.

He lingered a few more seconds. Then, with a whisper:

"Let's go."