Mortala von Velthra

"Dragon Core: Dance!"

Kairos shouted, unleashing a spiraling wave of energy that split the ground where Katsu had stood a moment before.

Katsu rolled aside, arm snapping up just in time.

Ice surged to shield him.

He braced behind it.

The barrier shattering under the force, hurling him back across the training field.

Blood slicked his upper lip. The Leviathan's voice coiled at his ear, closer than his own breath.

"You need a damn weapon, Nori! Your father was a samurai—I learned the blade from him. Why are you still fighting empty-handed?"

Katsu spat, wiped his nose. "...Hmph."

Across the field, Group 32 watched from the sidelines. Rei unreadable, arms folded; Sydney's brows furrowed, concern flickering in her eyes.

"Why are they even fighting?" Sydney muttered.

Rei shrugged. "With those two, it was inevitable."

Katsu forced himself upright, feeling Sydney's worry like a distant heat.

Kairos circled, sword low.

"You're supposed to be one of the Academy's strongest,"

Kairos called out, voice carrying.

"The house heirs have still been on their trips to other countries—except for your friend Rei. Until they come back, you'd better stop coasting. Every shortcut you take now, you'll pay for later."

Katsu snorted, brushing dust from his sleeve.

"You talk too much."

"Oh, is that so? Stubborn brat! Dra—"

He didn't finish. Katsu was already in motion, blinking forward on a wave of water.

Power crackled at his palm as he closed the gap behind Kairos, momentum building for a strike.

"When you have to call out your spells," Katsu said, low and dangerous, "you give your enemy a window. And what do you think happens when your enemy doesn't wait for it to close?"

Red bled through his irises.

His hand drew closer—

But before the blow could land, Rei's glyphs flared. A lattice of runes weaving between Katsu and Kairos, stopping the attack cold.

Katsu blinked, energy coiling in his palm, the moment suspended.

At the edge of the field, Virenth lingered with the woman in the slate-blue cloak.

Her smile sharp, eyes fixed on Katsu.

She watched every movement like she was reading a puzzle only she could solve.

As the dust settled, she turned to Virenth.

Voice low but delighted.

"Who taught the boy flashstep?"

Katsu didn't hesitate. "My father."

Virenth's mouth twitched, catching the lie, but he let it slide. Kairos and the woman exchanged a brief look, neither the wiser.

Rei and Sydney crossed the grass.

Rei's eyes narrowed as he clocked the stranger beside Virenth.

"Since when does a rival House send someone to chat with Velthra's golden boy?" he asked, every word measured.

Katsu met Rei's gaze.

Something quick and sparking between them then they both looked away, stubborn as ever.

The woman laughed, letting the tension hang.

"I'm here for all of you, actually." She swept her gaze over the group, the air shifting as she finally offered her name "Rira of Soryuun."

Her tone turned official.

"The Academy is overdue for a proper ranking one based on skill, not just bloodlines or politics. Power needs clarity. There are levels here, whether you like it or not."

She counted them off with a gloved hand, voice reverberating over the field.

"Founder.

Demon.

Master.

Wizard—or Witch.

Archmage.

Mage.

Seer.

Movice.

Weakling.

Where you stand determines everything. And the student body deserves to know."

Her eyes found Katsu, assessing.

"If I had to guess, I'd put you at… Archmage, by eye. But that's just a guess. I need to test your direct mana output to be sure."

Sydney's brows shot up. She immediately glanced at Rei, who was already looking back, the same thought flickering between them.

"…I think he's higher," Sydney said under her breath. "I'm an Archmage, and he feels heavier."

Rei nodded, shrugging, feigning indifference. "Yeah. I'm ranked Wizard myself. But did you see our duel? Ended in a draw."

Rira's smile sharpened.

"Hmm. Yes. I did see the infamous duel where both of you were holding back. Hardly an honest showcase. How am I supposed to gauge power when nobody wants to show their real teeth?"

Katsu said nothing, feeling the Leviathan's presence just beneath his skin.

A power no one else in the Academy could sense, a level he'd never dare to reveal.

"But my Archmage estimate was just a guess. I need to test your direct mana output to be sure. I'll need a glyph for that. Tell me, Dravantiir—" she turned to Rei—"do you know how to make one?"

Rei stiffened, caught off-guard. "Yeah. I do."

"Excellent!" Rira clapped, her eyes glittering with anticipation. "Let's get an audience. The students deserve to witness this. Anyone who thinks they're brave enough—step up and get your power tested."

Students were already drifting closer, drawn by the promise of spectacle. The air sharpened with excitement, gossip pinging from ear to ear.

Sydney glanced from Rei to Katsu.

A playful edge in her voice.

"I'm a level behind you two, maybe, but honestly? I could burn you both to cinders before you blink."

Katsu gave her a look. "Sydney, if you could do that, I'm Merlin reborn."

She grinned, rolling her shoulders. "Just means I want to fight you next, Nori."

Rei's lips twitched.

"Bet. I'll use fire this time. Since it's your favorite dance, and you taught me the steps."

Sydney groaned, nudging him hard. "You're embarrassing. Both of you."

Rei glanced, turning back to the Masters talking.

"I didn't even say anything."

Katsu chuckled, but his eyes were already on the glyph forming in Rei's hands, the crowd tightening around them.

More students, a handful of teachers, even a few upper-years craning for a better look.

Rira raised her voice, carrying over the rising din.

"Let's start with Velthra's newest. Nori, step up."

Katsu felt the eyes—all of them.

Sydney elbowed him once for luck, and Rei just nodded, serious for a heartbeat.

As he stepped forward.

This moment is a testament to your status, my king. Show them your true strength or hold the truth.

He set his jaw, reached for his magic, and pressed his palm to the waiting glyph.

Ready or not.

The crowd held its breath.

A spark.

…

"Son… hey! Katsunori!"

His eyes snapped open.

He was small again—just a boy, maybe three, maybe not even. Too young to remember the world, but old enough to feel the weight of it pressing down.

His mother's arms wrapped around him, trembling. She smelled like cold wind and old wool, hair tousled from sleepless nights.

"Life's tough, isn't it?" she whispered, voice half-laugh, half-sigh. "Trapped in such a tiny body—can't run, can't fight, not yet. Not until you've grown. But me… I don't think I can grow here. Not in this frozen place."

She swallowed, glancing toward the window—endless white, the hush of the tundra always lurking outside.

"I tried to tell Shizune we should move on. That maybe there's more for us somewhere warmer, somewhere kinder. But he wants to stay. And… I can't take you with me, not if I go."

Her voice cracked. Tears stung her eyes, silent at first, then spilling down her cheeks. She pulled him closer, as if she could anchor him there forever.

"I love you, Katsunori. Remember that, okay? Listen to me—no matter what happens, your life belongs to you. You don't have to become what anyone else wants. Not out of ignorance, not just because you're special—though you are, you always will be. You have free will, my son. Not because you're a Nori, not because you're a magician, or even because you're mine… but because—" Her voice broke into a softer ache. "Because you're human. That's enough. If you never find me… well, maybe I'm gone. Maybe I'm not. Shizune thinks hiding in the tundra keeps us safe—maybe he's right. No one finds you out here. But is that living?"

She closed her eyes, tears streaking down wind-chapped cheeks.

"Safety isn't peace, Katsu. And peace isn't always safe. Think of a pig on a farm—rolling in the mud, surrounded by family, thinking it's free. But one day, its owner comes. Picks it out. Ends its story."

She pressed a kiss to his brow, her hands shaking.

"Don't let comfort make you forget who you are. Don't trade your life for quiet. Promise me that."

She held him tighter, as if that promise alone could hold back the world.

Shai levan, shai levan.

Sleep in silence, sleep in silence.

Dua'ra ven suun'kai.

Let the hidden soul awaken.

Mirai vesh, eshan dei.

Dream deep, let the blood remember.

Lun ven, teshk lan.

Open the path, break the bond.

Tairen vall, en silvae.

Child of stars, rise in moonlight.

Falares nar, esh'ka lun.

Shackles fall, by old oath and song.

Shai levan, shai levan.

Sleep in silence, sleep in silence.

Seren dei, volai shuun.

Be free, O silent power.

Katsu's eyes broke into red, everyone watched his mana circled him. Then suddenly it shifted, it completely calmed. The Leviathan was silenced.

A strong aura covered him now, not one visible to the naked eye but felt just that much more.

He held his breath.

Suddenly his mana burst out, not the Leviathans… his. Ancient Magic was in the palm of his hands, it always was. But never like this…

Never so…

Freely.

Rei looked up to Katsu, he was… confused.

"His aura disappeared… but I can feel… something." Syndey marveled

"... What? His aura is still there." Rei shot a glance at Sydney "Hothead, I just told you his aura is still there."

"Ok static brain I don't see what you see!... Schizo."

But Rei wasn't seeing things.

And Sydney was blind… not in the literal sense.

It's this moment now that Katsu finally embraced.

What it meant to be the Son of Shizune Nori…

and Mortala von Velthra.