[Not the real chap, comeback later]
❖ Scene: The Silence Before the Strike
The corridor to Kai's assigned chamber was dimly lit by flickering crystal sconces embedded into the rock. Most of the participants had retired early, nursing their bruises and egos after the brutal third trial. A sense of calm lay over the academy.
But Kai didn't sleep.
He sat cross-legged in the center of his room, shirtless, eyes closed. His twin daggers lay at his side, polished and perfectly aligned. A faint violet glow shimmered around his skin — a subtle ward from his skill Warding Veil, ready to absorb sudden impact.
Nearby, Vex lounged atop a low shelf, tail flicking silently. The Phantom Lynx's ears twitched.
Then —
Tap.
Tap.
Tap.
Soft. Deliberate. Steps, barely audible, moving through the corridor outside.
Kai's eyes snapped open.
He didn't move immediately. He didn't need to.
