“Wow.”

This was all Sorn could say about the massive outdoor training field he was in the middle of. Most of the class had spread out throughout this area, whereas some went their own route, leaving the Academy altogether. Now stood next to Crystal, he watched as there were Elementals as far as the eye could reach. Creating ice structures, sparring, or even target practicing. It was clear that this upcoming tournament was being taken extremely seriously. Asking this question to Crystal only confirmed his beliefs.

Crystal: “The past winners of the tournament are still held today to high regard. You’ve already met Varian and Lyra. With them were both his little brother and his best friend. I wasn’t alive at the time, but many of the Elders told me they considered that day to be the rebirth of the Spear Subclan’s forgotten peak. My brother-”

She paused for a moment. This clearly wasn’t her favorite topic.

Crystal: “Dragan killed Varian’s little brother alongside many of the Spears he was leading. If you’ve ever wondered why he has shown distaste for me, that’s why.”

Sorn: “I’m sure your brother had his reasons for doing what he did.”

Crystal: “I believe so too. But Varian has taken the responsibility of raising Keilan since that day.”

Sorn: “Oh.”

It seemed the more time he spent in the fortress, the greater his desire to assist Crystal became.

Crystal: “Anyways, besides that, I heard about your power. Why didn’t you show me any of that, hm?”

Sorn knew he was being teased, but chose to give an answer regardless. Before he could do so however, the answer decided to show itself.

Toren: “Well, well, if it isn’t my lovely wife and her new little pet. Do tell me how your scar is fairing!”

There was the culprit himself. Standing with his lackey that was so irrelevant Sorn didn’t even know what his name was, they both had matching smirks on their faces.

Crystal: “Be nice Toren.”

Toren: “Of course m’lady. You know I would do nothing of harm to you.”

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He bent his knee to go into a lunge position and kissed the back of her hand. Sorn had no clue what brought upon such a sudden change of tone.

Crystal: “Really? Your and Neville’s words in the trial suggested otherwise.”

The boy standing in the background, who was presumably Neville, decided to take this chance to pipe up.

Neville: “Your Majesty, that was all but a way to earn Lord Varian’s favor. We trusted he would be kinder and spare the boy, and that we could trust his knowledge.”

Crystal: “Absolutely Beville. Now, if you don’t mind, we all have a tournament to prepare for.”

Beville didn’t seem to happy about his new name, but Toren simply smiled, ignoring Sorn completely. The two walked away, joining their other Blade Dance brothers in the sparring area.

Crystal: “Thanks for deciding to stick with me instead of the Marauders. I hate training alone so I’m really happy to have you along!”

Sorn: “Of course, I also would rather not participate in a wrestling death match for the purposes of ‘training’.”

Sorn was glad to see this get a giggle out of her, but he also had a more serious matter he wished to address.

Sorn: “What do you think of him?”

Crystal: “Who? Toren?”

Sorn nodded.

Crystal: “Hmm, we’ve been engaged since we were both seven but we’ve never been the closest. He’s generally a nice person though.”

Sorn: “Do you even find him attractive?”

Crystal shrugged as she responded.

Crystal: “I haven’t thought much of it. He’s nice to me but despite that I can tell ues a bit selfish, rude, and arrogant. But I guess he’s kind of handsome.”

Sorn: “Then, why marry him?”

Crystal seemed somewhat confused by the question.

Crystal: “What is a marriage if not a merge of ideals to benefit two specific parties? The Dancing Blade are the third most influential Subclan, it's only natural for me to marry someone so important. That’s really all there is to it.”

Sorn: “Did the Emperor do the same?”

Crystal: “I never knew my mother and my father doesn’t talk about her.”

Sorn had no retorts left. He didn’t know why this bothered him like it did. Despite the explanation, it just felt wrong. But then again, what did he know about love?

Probably more than I’m willing to give myself credit for.

Crystal: “Anyways, we’ve wasted too much time. Show me that power of yours.”

It wasn’t hard for Sorn to recall the feeling given how he felt slightly agitated in the current moment. Like before, wisps of green formed around only his limbs. However, this time it was far thicker than before and Sorn felt much more energized.

He blinked once, and he was suddenly in a completely different world. The sky was green, and the surrounding was filled with what looked like floating broken chunks of a building. Sorn found himself to be on top of one of these chunks.

“It appears as though you’re beginning to accept your powers. That’s very good.”

Sorn turned to see a man facing the opposite direction of where he was. He was sitting on the edge of the floating chunk in a crisscross position. Sorn suddenly found himself unable to move his legs anymore. He could only stare at the pattern on the back of the coat the man was wearing. The pattern was odd, three stacked triangles with a single eye on the top. His neat white hair was tainted with a light green due to the glow of the surrounding sky.

Sorn: “Who are you? What’s going on here?”

The man chuckled.

“Fear not, boy. You are here because you desire power. Power that is mine and I am giving to you. However, be warned. This power could corrupt you, if you truly desire it.”

Sorn: “What do you mean? If this power is yours then why did I have it before ever meeting you?”

“Refrain from asking such pointless questions. I can do as I please, I need not explain myself to you. You wish to go back to your world, correct? I’m sure that girl is worried for you. I only require you to accept this power directly.”

Sorn didn’t have to think for long before giving an answer. The man was implying acceptance would bring consequences. Sorn had a feeling the man already knew this, and perhaps this dialogue was only for his own amusement. Or perhaps he was goading him in some strange way. Regardless, without this power, Sorn was useless. And being a nobody after everything that had happened to him was unacceptable.

Sorn: “Give me the power.”

End.