CH 18

As night settled in, the dorm grew quiet. Cael was alone, lying on one of the neatly made beds. The room was surprisingly spacious, with sleek furniture and soft lighting that gave it the feel of a five-star hotel.

He tucked himself under the blanket and just as sleep began to pull him under, the door creaked open.

Darain stepped inside.

Cael sat up slightly, eyes narrowing. Darain didn't even glance his way. He moved like a ghost, silent. He crossed the room and slipped into his own bed.

Cael watched him for a moment, brows furrowed. There was something off.

He didn't know Darain well—barely at all but the difference in his energy was stark. 

Did something happen back at the chief's office?

Cael caught himself before the thought wandered too far. He shook his head, turned over, and pulled the blanket up.

Not my business to overthink.

And with that, he closed his eyes, forcing the curiosity down, letting the weight of the day finally drag him into sleep.

The rain fell suddenly, sharp and cold. Cael found himself somewhere unfamiliar. Around him, the world twisted into something unrecognizable. It wasn't the dorm. It wasn't even a place he could name. The surroundings looked like something out of another world. The sky above was a swirling canvas of gray, growling with thunder, as if the heavens themselves were furious.

"Please…"

A woman's voice, soft and pleading.

Cael turned instinctively toward it.

There, not far from where he stood, was a woman kneeling in the rain. Her head was bowed, long hair drenched and clinging to her face. She was beautiful—otherworldly. Like a goddess carved from sorrow.

Before her stood a tall figure clad in radiant steel armor. His eyes were colder than judgment itself. 

"You've stained the bloodline with darkness," he said. His voice echoed through the storm, calm, but sharp enough to cut.

"There is still time. End the seed. Live."

The woman sobbed harder, her body trembling.

"Or birth the sin... and die."

Then—

"WAKEY WAKEY!"

The voice of Seren shattered the scene, bright and too loud.

It had been three days since the Dominars began using the Aetherion base as their training ground. Some, with extroverted charm and easy smiles, had already struck up friendships with a few of the Luminars.

But for Cael, things were different. Entirely different.

"Luminars and Dominars, please head to the cafeteria. And by 1 p.m., I expect everyone at the dome! Get your wands and weapons ready—we're going to have some fun. See you there!"

Cael's eyes slowly blinked open.

The ceiling above greeted him—plain and familiar. The dream drained away, but not the weight it left in his chest.

"So it was a dream?" he muttered.

But it hadn't felt like one. It had been too vivid, too real. The rain, the sky, her voice… the ache in his chest still lingered.

He sat up, brushing a hand across his face, then slapped his cheek lightly.

"Get a grip," he whispered to himself. "It's just a dream."

He rose from the bed and noticed Darain's bed was already empty. Again. 

Cael didn't dwell on it. Without another thought, he headed to the bathroom to freshen up. 

Done preparing himself, Cael grabbed his arnis bag and stepped out of the dorm. Just outside, Lucen was already waiting.

He wasn't surprised anymore—he was slowly getting used to this. Or rather, used to him.

Lucen followed silently behind as Cael walked forward, not really sure where he was going.

"Where are you going?" Lucen finally asked.

"Cafeteria. For lunch," Cael replied.

"You made a wrong turn. It's in the left wing," Lucen said, after they had already wandered far from their actual destination.

Cael paused, exasperated. "Why didn't you say so earlier? Now we have to walk all the way back."

"You didn't ask," Lucen said calmly.

Cael groaned. "You already knew we were supposed to go to the cafeteria, yet you kept your mouth shut. Aren't you tired of never talking?"

"Talking is much more tiring," Lucen replied without missing a beat.

Cael sighed. Talking to him was like arguing with air—there was no winning.

After retracing their steps and walking in silence, they finally arrived at the cafeteria. Cael's mouth instantly watered.

Whoa.

The food once again looked incredible—aromatic, well-plated, and far more appetizing than anything served at their base. Juicy cuts of expensive beef, fresh fruits, rich sauces, and even desserts that shimmered with enchantments.

"The favoritism is something else," Cael muttered to himself.

"The Luminars' parents are mostly responsible for funding this," Lucen said, making Cael glance at him. "Most of the students here come from wealthy and powerful mage families."

Cael looked around, taking it all in. That made sense now. "That red-haired guy—his family's rich, right? So why don't we get food like this?"

"Verault family doesn't donate to your base. And most of your group's parents… aren't exactly well-off," Lucen explained.

Cael nodded slowly. He wasn't wrong. In fact, Cael didn't even have parents to support anything. It made sense now—painfully, logically so.

He sat at one of the tables with Lucen and wasted no time digging into his food, the heaviness in his chest easing slightly with each bite.

"I haven't seen the red-haired guy," Cael said, chewing a mouthful of food.

"Darain? I saw him leaving your dorm," Lucen replied casually.

"What time?" Cael asked.

"As early as eight."

Cael just nodded, processing the information. Then something crossed his mind. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table, lowering his voice as if sharing a secret.

"What do you think's going to happen at the dome today?"

Lucen turned to him, brows slightly raised. He seemed to think about it, deeply, eyes narrowed in quiet contemplation. Cael waited, hopeful for some sort of insight.

After a long pause, Lucen finally looked at him and said, "I don't know."

Cael's lips parted slightly, his eyes shutting in frustration as he tried to keep calm. All that waiting, and that's the answer?

He sat back in his chair, letting out a quiet breath.

Still, the question lingered. What was going to happen later?

His curiosity didn't fade—it only grew stronger.

Long after lunch,

Cael lay stretched out on the open field of the Aetherion base, more napping than resting. A book covered his face, shielding his eyes from the sky.

Lucen, sitting beside him, nudged his arm.

"It's time," he said simply.

Cael groaned softly, removed the book from his face, and sat up slowly. He glanced toward the dome, where students—Luminars and Dominars—were already making their way in.

He stood, dusted off his pants, and began walking.

Inside the dome, the students had taken their seats—like strangers to one another. As always, most Luminars sat on the right, while Dominars settled on the left. Cael quietly took a spot on the left side, his eyes scanning the crowd.

Where did he go? he thought, searching for a familiar face.

His thoughts came to a halt when Seren stepped forward into the center of the dome. Cael's eyes followed him—and then noticed the Pillars seated at the top platform, watching from above. Behind them stood several well-known Night Watchers.

Cael's brow furrowed.

The Pillars… and even the Night Watchers? What's going on?

His heartbeat quickened.

Why is my heart pounding like this?

Whispers spread quickly throughout the dome as other students also noticed the Night Watchers' unexpected presence.

"Silence, everyone."

Seren's voice rang out across the dome. The murmurs stopped instantly.

"I want all of you to pay close attention to what I'm about to say," he continued, his tone light—but his eyes sharp and commanding. "I don't like repeating myself."

The room fell completely still. All eyes were on him now.

"Do you all still remember your previous duels?" Seren's voice echoed through the dome. "Dominars against Dominars, Luminars against Luminars—it was all for evaluation and observation."

He took a moment to pace, letting the silence settle.

"As you all know, in the future, you'll be working side by side as Night Watchers of the Dawnbreak Covenant. That means cooperation, trust, and knowing each other's strengths."

He raised his hand and gestured toward the upper stands.

"As you can see, the Pillars and some of our most renowned Night Watchers are present today to witness your potential and your progress."

Murmurs rippled through the crowd.

"But this time," Seren continued, turning to approach a table where two large boxes sat, "this won't be like before. No more choosing your opponents. No more Luminar versus Luminar or Dominar versus Dominar."

He placed his hands on the two boxes. "Inside these are small balls marked with numbers. Both boxes contain matching sets."

He tapped each box lightly. "One box for the Luminars, the other for the Dominars. If you draw the same number as someone from the opposite group—you duel."

The dome quieted as realization dawned on the students.

A few Dominars exchanged uneasy glances.

"Aren't we at a disadvantage?" one of them whispered.

"That's what I was thinking… Most of them have long-range powers. We're screwed," another muttered.

Seren tapped the box again, silencing the growing whispers.

"I know some of you are nervous," he said, smiling faintly, "but trust me—this will be more than just a fight. It's a chance."

He raised the short baton he always carried and smacked it against his palm. A sharp crack echoed.

"Now then… shall we begin?"

"Wait," a Dominar suddenly stood up, raising her hand. "I think we're at a disadvantage."

Her voice cut through the quiet buzz of the dome. Seren turned to her, his expression unreadable, eyes sharp.

"And?" he replied coldly.

The girl hesitated but continued, "If this is supposed to be fair, shouldn't we—"

"In the real world, you will never know who or what you'll face," Seren interrupted. His voice was calm, yet heavy with meaning. "This duel isn't about winning or losing. It's about thinking strategically. Surviving under pressure. Adapting."

Then he looked away as if her argument had already wasted enough of his time.

"Let's begin!"

With that command, the students began lining up—Luminars to the right box, Dominars to the left. One by one, they drew their numbered balls in silence.

High above them, the Pillars and Night Watchers watched closely. The Dominars, though trying to hide it, radiated nerves. The Luminars, in contrast, carried themselves with honed confidence, the product of practiced control and powerful lineage.

"It'll be hard for them to win if they let fear eat them up," Gabo said, arms crossed, eyes fixed on the students. The blood manipulation user sighed, shaking his head.

"You're right," Davor added, his chin resting on his palm. "Fear paralyzes. It makes you hesitate. And in battle, even a moment's pause can cost everything."

"Anyway…" Ravika's voice broke in playfully, her head swaying from side to side like a curious giraffe. "I'm curious about the black mist child. Where is he? Where, where?"

"Lucen said he's emo," Kaelira chimed in with a smirk, squinting down toward the students. 

"The one over there," Nyra pointed casually. "Wavy hair. Covers half his face."

"Where?" Ravika leaned forward.

"There," Nyra gestured again. "That's Cael."

Ravika finally spotted him. "Oh! That guy?" She pointed to the student quietly waiting his turn, dark hair tousled, eyes unreadable beneath it.

"Yeah. That's him."

Meanwhile, it was finally Cael's turn.

He stepped forward, reached into the box, and pulled out the first ball his fingers touched.

23.

He stared at it for a second, then stepped back. The line began thinning quickly as the rest of the students found their seats on the wide benches circling the dome.

Seren returned to the center.

"Now that you all have your numbers, we will begin," he announced, baton tapping against his palm. "Please come to the center—Number One."

A groan followed.

"Shit, why me?!" the Dominar boy muttered under his breath. He bit his lip, visibly anxious, hands fidgeting as he rose.

Across from him, his opponent—a Luminar student—stood with poised confidence, his body relaxed, expression calm. He wore his self-assurance like armor.

The duel was about to begin.