Red Spire

Nightfall.

It was snow and quiet.

A weak fire crackled between two travelers.

Yami sat beside it, legs crossed, cloak drawn tight. 

Cid leaned against a nearby rock. Hood pulled low. Eyes closed, but not asleep.

His voice broke the silence.

"When are we reaching Bolt Kingdom?"

"It's been three years."

"Three years since you started training me."

Yami didn't answer right away. He tossed another twig into the fire.

"Soon," he said finally.

"Very soon."

Snow fell heavier. The flames hissed. Cid said nothing else.

"You sense it?" Yami asked without looking up.

Cid nodded slowly.

"Three of them."

"Fast ones."

Yami smiled.

"You're finally starting to earn your meals."

A moment later.

Three shapes shot from the treeline. Blades drawn and mask on.

Yami rose, ready.

But Cid stepped forward.

"Mine."

He dropped the cloak. Calm as fuck.

The first attacker lunged, two daggers flashing.

Cid sidestepped. 

"Too slow."

Shhhk!

He slashed the first across the ribs.

Blood sprayed.

Second attacker came from behind, fast.

Cid twisted, raised his arm.

Clang!

Kicked the second on his groin. And...

Slash!

The second fell to the ground.

The third attacker came from above, sword dropping down.

Cid reacted in an instant blocking steel with steel but..

"Move!" Yami shouted.

The third smirked.

"Got you."

Fire flared in his hand.

For a split second, the flame stuttered mid-air like something bent its path. But not enough.

Boom!

It slammed into Cid's gut, a burning punch that launched him backward.

He crashed through the snow, smoking.

Yami stood up, hand on his sword. "Stay down, Cid."

But Cid got up.

Slow, shaky but alive.

The third blinked. "How are you still..."

Cid stepped forward, shirt scorched and breathing steadily.

"I figured it out," he said.

The third hesitated.

"What?"

Cid gripped his dagger. A rock lay be his foot.

He kicked it.

The third raised his arm to block

SWOOSH.

The rock curved mid-air, reversed course, and slammed into his throat.

The man choked and stumbled.

Cid moved fast. He was about to stab the third on his chest.

Flames erupted, forcing Cid back.

The third turned to run,

Cid hurled his dagger.

The man dodged left,

Too late.

The blade bent mid-air and buried itself in his leg.

But he continued running. But Yami finished him.

He dropped, dead silent.

"You..."

Cid wiped the blood from his mouth.

"I can change direction."

Yami raised a brow. Smiled.

"Pride's dangerous, kid."

Beat.

Yami taught Cid the control of his Power Attribute.

The days blurred together.

Fights. Cold. Training.

Each morning, Cid woke up a little stronger.

They finally arrived.

Bolt Kingdom.

Stone roads, bridges and huge towers like odin's arm into the clouds.

Cid stood at the gates.

Hood low, dirty cloak and eyes sharp.

Yami beside him, chewing dry meat.

"We're here," he said.

Cid didn't speak. Just stared at the castle walls ahead.

Inside the inner city, people made way.

Yami was recognised.

Not with smiles. With fear.

At the highest level of the castle, past a hundred armed guards.

They entered the chamber of the Table Senates.

Four thrones. Two were empty.

One; An old woman with silver eyes and six rings on her fingers.

The other; A tall man with the same jawline as Yami. But no smile, just cold precision.

"You are late," he said.

Yami shrugged.

"Training this beast took more time than ever."

The man stood.

"You brought the boy?"

Yami nodded at Cid.

"That's him."

The Senate's eyes scanned Cid. No warmth.

"You trained him?"

"I shaped him and now he bleeds better than most grown men."

"He awakened?" 

A pause. The woman leaned forward slightly.

Even her rings stopped clanking.

"Invert."

A small silence.

Then, for the first time, the Senate smiled.

"He'll do."

After the meeting, Yami leaned in to Cid.

"That was my older brother. Senate of Arms. Handles military, recruitment, and schools."

"He hates me but owes me."

Cid kept walking.

Yami nodded toward a spire rising past fog.

"Red Spire Academy. Top Power institution in the kingdom."

"Strongest survive. Weak get discarded."

"You're not ready that's why you are going."

Cid's fist clenched.

"How long do i have?"

Yami smirked.

"Starts in three days."

Three days later.

Red Spire Academy.

A coliseum beneath the ground. Dust in air.

Forty applicants. Cid stood among them. Hood low. Eyes forward.

At the far end, a voice echoed;

"You are not students yet."

"You are applicants."

"And we only want half of you guys."

Murmurs.

The floor rumbled.

The center of the arena opened.

A giant dial rose from the floor. Six hands like clock. Each one pointed to a symbol.

Fire. Force. Blade. Mind. Beast. Void.

The voice returned.

"We test your Power."

"Your will."

"Your limit."

The dial spun and stopped at blade.

A gate opened. twenty-five steel mannequins marched in. Each over six feet, blades in their arms.

The crowd stirred.

"Destroy them."

"Whoever lands a killing blow... passes."

Chaos.

One turned into smoke, one summoned chains and one girl moved so fast she blurred.

Cid waited. Watched.

Four mannequins were already down.

Five applicants were fighting one mannequin near him.

"I will wait till they wear it down."

"Then i'll steal their kill," he smiled with one side.

Cid turned to look at the other applicants. And say him.

A boy his age. A bit taller.

White hair, pale skin and cold pearly red eyes.

He was smiling, even as three mannequins surrounded him.

No weapon, just his hands.

One came at him.

BOOM.

It exploded into shards mid-strike.

"What the..." Cid thought.

The boy squished a hand gently, another mannequin twisted mid-air, crumpling like paper.

Cid narrowed his eyes.

His Power wasn't visible.

"He's not normal."

The boy met his gaze.

Nodded once.

Then smiled wider.

By the end, twenty-five students passed the first trial.

Scattered, sweating and silent.

Cid? He stole someone's kill and passed.

The dial lowered.

A new platform rose with twenty-five black emblems.

"Take one."

"And move to the next trial sight."

Cid walked toward it.

The white haired boy reached at the same time.

They both grabbed one side of the same emblem.

Silence.

Stared at each other.

Then the boy let go.

"You can have it," Elias said, voice soft.

He turned and took another.

Too polite. Cid narrowed his eyes.

The boy smiled walking away.

"I'm Elias," he waved.