The Aftermath

Two days had passed since the tournament.

But Varek wasn't in class—he was at home.

He sat on the edge of his bed, his injured hand wrapped in fresh bandages. The wound from Keiran's light slash had mostly healed, but the memory of the shadow mana still lingered.

In the living room, his father and mother were deep in conversation.

Their voices weren't loud, but Varek could hear the concern in them.

"Are you sure it was shadow mana?" his mother asked.

His father sighed. "There's no mistake. If it awakened now… that means it was always inside him."

Varek clenched his fist.

He already knew.

That shadow mana—it wasn't just something he had picked up.

It was part of him.

And now, there was no turning back.

Keiran sat in his usual spot at the back of the classroom, but today, he couldn't focus.

His mind kept replaying the tournament. Varek, struggling. The shadow mana. The blood.

He clenched his fist. If I had just stopped sooner…

Around him, students whispered.

"Did you see it? That black energy… that wasn't normal."

"I heard it was shadow mana. Isn't that forbidden?"

"What if he loses control? What if he's dangerous?"

Keiran's jaw tightened. Varek isn't dangerous.

Then—

"It's better if he doesn't come back."

Keiran snapped.

He shot up from his seat, glaring at the group of students.

"The hell did you just say?"

The students froze, their eyes wide.

But before Keiran could do anything, a hand grabbed his shoulder.

Vikas.

"Not here," Vikas said calmly, pulling Keiran back.

Keiran hesitated, then exhaled sharply. "Tch."

Without another word, the two walked out of the classroom.

Outside, in the empty hallway, Vikas crossed his arms. "You're too hotheaded."

Keiran leaned against the wall, still fuming. "They were talking like Varek is some kind of monster."

Vikas sighed. "That's how people are. They fear what they don't understand."

Keiran looked at him. "Then explain it to me. What do you know about shadow mana?"

Vikas was silent for a moment before he spoke.

"Shadow mana isn't just rare. It's… cursed."

Keiran narrowed his eyes. "Cursed?"

Vikas nodded. "There's a reason people fear it. It's tied to something dangerous.

Keiran clenched his fists. "That won't happen to Varek."

Vikas gave him a serious look. "Then you better be ready to fight beside him. Or against him… if it ever comes to that."

Keiran's eyes darkened.

"I'll fight for him. No matter what."

Back at home, Varek sat in silence, listening to the voices coming from the living room.

His father, Thalion Solin, and his mother, Aeliana Solin, were deep in conversation.

Thalion's voice was firm. "There's no doubt about it. That shadow mana… it came from the Shadow Vault."

Aeliana sighed, concern heavy in her tone. "The Shadow Vault belongs to the demon group. It was never meant for humans, Thalion."

Varek's eyes widened. The demon group?

His fingers curled into his palm.

He had always known that his Bronze Vault was different. But this… this was something else entirely.

Thalion continued, "If the shadow mana awakened on its own, then it means his Vault isn't ordinary. It means…"

He hesitated.

Aeliana finished the sentence for him. "It means Varek is connected to the demons."

Silence filled the room.

Varek gritted his teeth. No. That can't be right.

He wasn't a demon. He was human.

Then why… why did the shadow feel like it was part of him?

Another day had begun.

Varek walked into the classroom, and the moment he stepped in, silence followed.

Eyes darted toward him. Some filled with fear, others with curiosity. But no one spoke.

Varek ignored them. He had no time for their whispers.

He walked to the back of the classroom and sat down.

As he settled in, his gaze drifted toward Keiran.

Keiran looked… distracted. He couldn't focus.

Then, after a moment of hesitation, Keiran finally spoke. "Varek… I'm sorry."

Varek raised an eyebrow. "For what?"

Keiran clenched his fists. "For what I did in the fight. I—"

Before he could finish, Varek shook his head. "It's okay."

Keiran looked up, surprised.

"If you didn't do it, I would've died," Varek said simply.

Keiran stared at him, then sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Still… it doesn't feel right."

Varek gave a small, tired smile. "You did what you had to do."

—

A few minutes later, Keiran and Varek left the classroom.

Standing outside, waiting for them, was Vikas.

Vikas crossed his arms. "Took you long enough."

Varek leaned against the wall. "You wanted to talk?"

Vikas nodded. "About the shadow mana. We need answers."

Varek was quiet for a moment. Then, finally, he spoke.

"When I was 10… I found a Shadow Vault."

Keiran and Vikas both tensed.

Varek continued. "I don't know why, but when I opened it… it entered my body."

Silence.

Then, Vikas asked the obvious question. "A Shadow Vault? Those are extremely rare. Where did you find it?"

Varek exhaled. "I don't know. It just… appeared."

Keiran narrowed his eyes. "And that Vault is where your shadow mana comes from?"

Varek nodded. "Yeah. And… I also found out something else."

Vikas and Keiran exchanged glances.

"The Shadow Vault belongs to the demon group."

Keiran's expression darkened. "How do you know that?"

Varek hesitated. Then, he answered, "I overheard my parents talking. They said it belongs to demons… or more specifically, to demon servants."

The air grew heavy.

Demon servants.

That wasn't just any kind of power. That was a direct tie to the most dangerous beings in existence.

Vikas sighed. "So that's why people are afraid of you."

Keiran clenched his fists. "That's why they're wrong."

Varek looked at them both. "I don't know what this means for me. But I do know one thing."

His bronze mana flickered around his hand.

"I refuse to let it control me."

A sudden announcement echoed through the Silver School's halls.

"Varek Solin, report to the principal's office immediately."

The classroom murmured. Whispers spread like wildfire.

Keiran and Vikas exchanged looks. Something was wrong.

Without hesitation, the two followed Varek out of the room.

—

The atmosphere in the principal's office was tense.

Behind the grand desk sat Principal Ron Credo, his expression unreadable.

Standing beside him were a few Silver School instructors, their gazes stern.

Varek, Keiran, and Vikas stood before them.

Then, the words fell like a hammer.

"Varek Solin, you are to be expelled from Silver School."

Keiran's eyes widened. "What?!"

Vikas gritted his teeth. "You can't be serious."

But Principal Credo's expression remained cold.

"After careful consideration, the school has decided that your presence is a danger to the students."

Varek remained silent.

He already knew. It was because of the Shadow Mana.

Keiran clenched his fists, stepping forward. "You think he's dangerous just because of his Vault? That's insane!"

Principal Credo sighed. "It's not just about what he has. It's about what he could become."

"A wielder of shadow mana… is too much of a risk."

Keiran slammed his hands onto the desk. "That's ridiculous! He saved people during the tournament! He fought fairly!"

Vikas crossed his arms. "You're scared of something you don't understand."

But Principal Credo shook his head. "This decision is final."

Silence filled the room.

Varek lowered his gaze. He had expected this… but hearing it still hurt.

Keiran turned to Varek. "Say something! You're just gonna let them do this?!"

Varek took a deep breath.

Then, finally, he spoke.

"…What happens if I refuse to leave?"