Crown of Ash, Throne of flames

Adelaide's eyes widened in shock before she wrenched herself free, her palm cracking against Henri's face with a resounding slap. He stumbled back, laughing, rubbing the red imprint left on his cheek.

"You won," she muttered, sighing as she touched her forehead.

Adelaide's fingers brushed the spot where his lips had been. For a heartbeat, the flames around her dimmed—not from weakness, but fear. Fear that this upstart, this nobody.. had seen the crack in her armor.

Henri released his attachment skill, his expression turning contemplative. "Ever since I reached Rank 2 and completed the Ascension Trial… the world looks different to me. Like a chain has been broken."

He gazed at his surroundings, the Rasvain energy in the air shimmering like a living force.

"The difference between a Rank 1 and Rank 2 isn't as vast as people think," he mused. "The true gap lies in how we see and interact with Rasvain energy."