Sei's eyes widened as he saw the shadowy figure pass straight through the wall. A strange unease crept into his chest. He tried pinching his cheek, but it was clear it was no dream, nor was he drowsy.
He immediately turned to his bed. Fari lay curled up, her tail twitching lazily.
"Fari," Sei whispered.
"Mmh?" Fari's ears twitched, but she didn't bother opening her eyes.
"Get up. We're going."
At that, Fari cracked an eye open. "Huh, where to at this hour?"
"I will explain later. Just come on and be silent."
Fari grumbled and leapt onto his shoulder.
Sei moved slowly through the dorms, careful not to make any sounds or get caught by anyone. Outside, the air was cold and crisp, brushing against Sei's skin. The crescent moon illuminated the surroundings, with a few clouds passing by.
He stopped at the wall where the figure had vanished. It looked solid, ordinary. Just stone. He brushed his fingers along the stone. It felt solid—until it didn't. His hand slipped through like it was passing through fog.
His breath caught.
"What is this?" he frowned.
"It seems like an illusion created with Light," Fari explained.
Sei's heart pounded. The air felt heavy. He clenched his fists, then stepped forward—and the world turned dark.
The air reeked of damp earth and old rocks mixed with stagnant water. The tunnel stretched ahead, narrow and winding, the walls rough to the touch.
Sei's footsteps echoed as he walked through the uneven ground, Fari's small form sat alert on his shoulder, eyes darting around.
"Where does this lead?" Fari whispered.
"I don't know."
The tunnel opened up after what felt like an eternity, and Sei found himself stepping into an unfamiliar alleyway.
The air smelled different here—city air, laced with faint traces of smoke and metal. Streetlights flickered weakly above, and in the distance, there was the chatter of people. It was nighttime, yet it felt so lively. Sei stood in one of the alleyways of the Capital, where people never sleep.
He walked a little forward, a bit nervous and scared. Soon, he saw.
Two figures stood under a crooked lamppost, their forms hidden by black uniforms, faces concealed behind sharp white masks. They were speaking in hushed tones—one of them, Sei realized, was the one that came from the academy.
A small object passed between them, glowing faintly in the dim light.
Sei barely had time to react, heart jumping into his throat. He ducked behind a crate, holding his breath.
But it was too late.
The figure from the academy turned sharply. His mask gleamed under the faint light. Their eyes locked.
'Shit, I am caught'
The figure disappeared in an instant. Panic surged over Sei's chest.
Suddenly, the figure appeared in front of him like lightning, lunging forward with a dagger of stone in his hand—a Tetra Energy construct. The alley trembled under the sudden surge of energy.
Sei's body moved before he could think. His hands shot up, palms out, and a shimmering wall of water erupted from the ground, its surface rippling like a living shield. The stone dagger slammed into it with a resounding clank, spraying droplets against the cold pavement. The water shield held, barely.
'Damn, I wasn't supposed to use hydro energy.'
"Sei!" Fari's voice cut through his mind, sharp and urgent, as she leapt to a nearby rooftop, her tiny claws scraping against the tiles. "Stay focused. Channel Tempest energy!"
Sei gritted his teeth, heart hammering. The air stirred around him, swirling faster. He clenched his hand, a blade of wind taking form in his hand, crackling with tension.
The attacker's eyes narrowed behind the mask, their form a blur as they lunged again. Sei moved on instinct—parrying with the wind-blade, dodging a second dagger that grazed his sleeve. The air sang with each clash. The attacker was relentless, their movements precise, like a predator cornering prey, giving Sei no room to breathe.
The daggers had an advantage against the sword, and the opponent was much more experienced in combat. His movements were precise, not giving away an inch of space. Sei stood his ground, but his small body couldn't handle the force behind the attacks, and with each strike, he stumbled back.
'Shit, shit, I can't win. Damn it, I need to do something.'
Sei planted his feet firmly into the ground, trying to stay in place, and with a surge of determination, he channeled more energy. The attacker hesitated, stepping back, then vaulted onto a wall, using it as a springboard to launch forward with terrifying speed, daggers gleaming like twin fangs.
'Fuck, I can't dodge that.'
As the daggers moved closer, Sei's heartbeat grew faster. There was no way his small body could handle the impact, but still, there is always a way.
'You think I am that easy, huh?'
A grin pressed on his lips in the face of danger. His navy blue hair catching the dim light of moon. As the dagger was just inches away from his body, Sei flicked his wrist, summoning a paper-thin curtain of water from the moisture in the air. The daggers struck it mid-motion, their trajectory deflecting. The attacker, unable to stop their momentum, crashed into the wall behind Sei with a bone-rattling thud.
Sei took this as an opening and swung his hand, the air raging around his invisible sword.
SLASH!
The man jumped back, dodging the attack. But blood gushed, and dark red drops hit the ground, a bruise on his left arm.
The energy around the man suddenly condensed. Before he could react, a fist-sized rock materialized and slammed into his stomach, the impact like a cannonball. Sei's breath exploded from his lungs as he crashed into the wall behind him, the wind-blade dissipating into a faint breeze.
He struggled to raise his head up. Fari jumped back to his side.
"You brat, didn't your parents teach you not to follow strangers?" The man spoke from behind the mask, his voice thick with anger as he rose, clutching his wounded arm..
Sei locked eyes with him, forcing a smirk despite the pain. "Why not follow a fool?"
"You," the man growled, stepping forward,
"Stop right there, don't come closer." Fari stood in front of Sei, her little body trembling.
The man stopped, his masked gaze flicking to Fari. A cold laugh escaped him. "A talking squirrel, interesting," he sneered, his voice dripping with arrogance. With a swift kick, he sent Fari skidding across the alley, her tiny form tumbling into a pile of crates.
"Fari!" Sei roared, rage boiling over as he glared at the man. "You fucker."
THUD!
A brutal kick slammed into Sei's gut, blood spurting from his mouth as he doubled over. "A kid should not curse at adults," the man said, looming closer. He bowed down, his mask inches from Sei's face. "I have a question, kid. Earlier, you used both hydro and tempest energy."
Sei's eyes widened, his heart racing faster than ever.
The man's gaze pierced through the mask, sharp and unyielding. "What are you?"