Quiet before the spotlight

Dawn light seeped through the curtains, painting Kai's room in pale gold. His alarm buzzed insistently on the nightstand. With a groan, he rolled out of bed, every muscle protesting the movement. His ribs throbbed beneath the thin fabric of his T-shirt, a sharp reminder of last week's fire-wielding Mamodo battle. Sliding his legs into sweatpants, he paused at the mirror. Pale circles rimmed his eyes. He barely recognized the exhausted face staring back.

In the kitchen, the clatter of spoons and the scent of toast greeted him. Maddy sat on a stool, her long ponytail swinging as she rifled through a stack of glossy envelopes. His mother hovered nearby,clipboard in hand.

"Morning," Kai offered, swallowing hard.

Maddy looked up, eyes bright. "Guess what came?" She held two glittering tickets aloft—front-row seats to Lina Solaris's concert. "You said you liked her light shows!"

Kai forced a smile. He'd heard of Lina—the media blitz, the viral performances—but her music had never called to him. He wasn't the type for pop idols. Still, he took the tickets. "Thanks," he mumbled, setting them on the counter.

His mother cleared her throat. "About Saturday—you'll need to be back by Monday morning. And I'll need that trip itinerary by tonight."

"Sure," Kai said quickly. "It's a science workshop—renewable energy site visit." He watched her brow furrow. "Extra credit."

She folded her arms. "Don't let me down again."

"Won't happen."

As he left for the bus stop, tickets tucked in his jacket pocket, Kai felt the familiar weight settle in his chest. A school trip. A harmless lie. Better that than explaining the truth: that he and Zayn would be training and fighting across the country, far from anyone who cared for them.

Langdon Secondary was already bustling when Kai arrived. Lockers clanged, lockers squeaked, laughter ricocheted off brick walls. He paused in the hallway, leaning against the cool metal of his locker, and checked his reflection once more. No one had to know how badly he was hurting.

First period was Chemistry. Ms. Collings greeted the class with her usual enthusiasm, writing complex molecular diagrams across the board. Kai squeezed the strap of his backpack before opening his notebook. His pen hovered in the margins, ready to jot notes…but his mind darted elsewhere: the glow of Lina's stage lights, the guilt of what he'd done with Zayn, the cost of every Jikerdon he'd cast.

"Mr. Tamsin?" Ms. Collings's voice snapped him back. "Balance this equation."

It took him a beat longer than usual. Eyes flicking to the board and back to his page, he finally scrawled the answer. "A plus B yields C and D."

She nodded, satisfied. "Explain your reasoning."

Kai swallowed. "We need two moles of A for every mole of B to satisfy the stoichiometric ratio, so that we end up with equal quantities of C and D."

Correct, but delivered in a monotone. She made a note, her expression kind but concerned. Kai suppressed a grimace.

In English, Ms. Hampton led a discussion on Shakespearean sonnets. Kai noticed a quiet kid at the back scribbling in a sketchbook—always watching, always alone. He looked away, focusing on the hollow ache behind his ribs.

During the break, Declan plopped beside him in the courtyard. "How'd that trip stuff go? You actually stoked about Lina Solaris?"

Kai shrugged. "Mom's idea."

Declan raised an eyebrow. "You hate pop music."

"I'm flexible."

Declan laughed. "Sure. If you say so." He paused, voice dropping. "You okay, man? You've been… off."

Kai looked away. "Just tired."

He didn't mention the ring of smoke on his hoodie or the trembling in his hands when he opened his bag. The secret weighed too heavily.

Lunch brought no relief. The cafeteria buzzed with chatter about concert outfits and ticket rumors. Kai grabbed a slice of pizza and found a table at the back. He texted Zayn:

"Concert tickets. Family thing. I gotta keep mum."

No reply. Kai stared at the screen, heart tightening. He typed again:

"Training continues Sat. Can't explain."

His phone stayed silent beside him. He shoved it into his pocket. The pizza tasted like cardboard.

Afternoon classes were no better. In history, a pop quiz on the English Civil War had him writing by rote. His answers were right, but the spark was gone—like he'd dialed his own brain down to survival mode. Even art class, usually his refuge, felt cold and distant. He sketched a lightning bolt in the margin—then erased it, leaving only a ghost of a shape.

As the final bell rang, Kai felt both relief and dread. School had drained him dry—but outside awaited the next battle, the next lie, the next moment of truth.

The walk home was long. Kai's ribs sang with every step. He supported his tumble of books against one hip, hand pressed across his side. The sky turned orange behind chimneys. He passed the art studio where Maddy took lessons and a corner café where he and Declan once shared hot chocolate. These were normal places. He moved through them like a ghost.

Midway, his phone buzzed. A text from an unknown number:

"Be ready. Tomorrow morning. The abandoned library. 6 AM."

Kai's breath caught. Code. Lead for the next lead. He stared at the message, mind racing: the abandoned railway yard flicker, the maze trap… always new danger.

He finally replied, short and tense:

"Got it."

At home, the front door opened before he reached the handle. His mother stood in the hallway, concern etched into her features. "You look miserable."

"A long day." He forced a shrug. "Just tired."

She studied him, lips pressed together. "Dinner's almost ready." She stepped aside. "Don't stay up late."

"Mum—"

She cut him off with a weary smile. "Nothing you've said this week makes sense. But I trust you."

He didn't feel trusted—not really. He felt trapped by her kindness.

That night, the three of them gathered around the table. Steam rose from bowls of homemade chili, the scent of cumin and tomato filling the small apartment. Maddy chattered about Lydia's sleepover, her skirt choice for Saturday, even the popcorn flavors she wanted at the concert.

His mother laughed at Maddy's antics, and for a moment Kai almost believed he could slip into a normal life. He tasted the chili — too spicy, but good. He leaned back, running a hand through his hair.

"Your trip details?" his mother asked softly, clearing bowls.

Kai swallowed. "Email tomorrow."

She nodded. "Okay. Just…" She hesitated. "Be safe."

He looked at her—tired, worried, loving. He wanted to tell her everything: the tournament, Zayn's Mamodo identity, the spells that had ripped his world apart. But he couldn't. Not yet.

Instead, he nodded and smiled. "I will."

Upstairs, in his room, Kai placed the concert tickets on his desk. Moonlight caught their glossy surface, turning them silver. He pressed his palm to them.

"Just one night," he whispered to the darkness. "Just one night of normal."

He closed his eyes, bracing for the dawn and the world waiting beyond.