Tension in the Twilight

The courtyard behind Banter's East Tower was dimly lit by the dying sunlight. Red-orange streaks colored the clouds as the day waned, but the tension in the air was just beginning to rise. The tower cast long shadows across the worn cobblestones where students usually sparred or meditated. Today, it was nearly empty—except for two figures.

Kite Nocturne. Lilith Noire.

They stood several feet apart beneath a skeletal tree, its white leaves fluttering like faded paper. For a moment, neither spoke.

Lilith broke the silence first.

"You're not wearing your uniform."

Kite glanced down. True—he was in a simple black tunic, sleeveless, his academy cloak tied at the waist. His dagger hung at his hip.

"Didn't want to look too formal. I thought we were just strategizing."

Her red eyes flicked down, then back up. "And if I told you this was a test?"

He arched a brow. "Isn't everything here?"

She smirked faintly. "Good answer."

She approached slowly. Her movements were silent, measured. Every step screamed elegance honed by centuries of ancestral memory. She stopped beside him and took out a scroll—a thin parchment reinforced by crimson thread.

"The instructor left these in our shared terminal. Details of the trial. We'll be deployed at midnight."

Kite's eyes narrowed. "Midnight?"

She nodded. "Crimson hour. Perfect time for vampires."

He accepted the scroll, unrolling it carefully.

[Trial Objectives – Pair 7: Nocturne & Noire] Mission Type: Live Capture & Subdue Location: Sector 4 Training Grounds – Forest Ruins Enemy Class: Beast-Type Construct (Tier 2) Bonus Objective: Maintain synchronization ratio above 50% for the duration

He looked up. "Synchronization ratio?"

Lilith's eyes didn't leave his. "It measures synergy between bloodline pulses, reaction times, attack coordination. If we drop below the threshold, we fail—even if we survive."

Kite exhaled slowly. "No pressure, then."

She stepped closer.

He stiffened—only a little—as she reached forward and placed two fingers just over his sternum.

"I want to feel your heartbeat," she said softly.

He blinked. "...What?"

"I need to know if your blood rhythm reacts to mine. If we're going to link during the trial, even briefly, we can't be out of phase. Pulse harmony is essential in Crimson-class cultivation duels."

Kite didn't move.

Her touch was cold. But his skin burned underneath.

For a brief moment, neither of them breathed.

Then—

[Crimson Ascension System: Temporary Resonance Detected]

Synchronization Match: 58%

Resonance Type: Latent Harmony – Instinctual Trust

Skill Modifier: Minor reaction speed bonus in cooperative combat

Affinity Link Strength: 48% → 52%

She withdrew her hand slowly, her expression unreadable. "You're adapting faster than I thought."

Kite tilted his head. "You always this forward with your battle partners?"

"No," she said simply.

A beat of silence.

She sat on the stone bench nearby, crossing one leg over the other. "I've studied most of the current batch. You're different."

"Because I'm behind?"

"Because your system bends instead of breaking. You keep changing when you're supposed to collapse."

He frowned. "You sound disappointed."

"I'm not." Her voice dropped a notch. "I'm... intrigued. And that's dangerous."

He leaned against the tree, folding the scroll back up.

"Guess we're both problems," he said. "You're too perfect to be ignored. And I'm too broken to be predictable."

Her gaze met his again. This time, there was something warmer behind it. Still controlled—but real.

"I've killed battle partners before," she said. "On missions. When they froze. When they couldn't keep up."

Kite nodded. "I won't freeze."

She stood.

"I'll hold you to that."

A soft chime rang from their wristbands—midnight countdown alert.

They turned together toward the main gates.

[Trial Begins in 3 Hours] Mental Preparation Advised Pair 7 – Link Score Locked for Evaluation

Lilith looked at him one last time.

"When we step into the ruins, there won't be warnings. You see something moving—you react. You bleed? Keep going."

"And if you fall?" Kite asked.

She smiled faintly. "I won't."

He smirked. "Then I guess I better not either."

They walked into the darkening hall together—two predators preparing for blood.