Azure Dining Hall – Moonlight Stillness
Kiato looked up, eyes meeting Seraphina's.
Her expression was soft—vulnerable, like she had laid something sacred at his feet.
He swallowed, feeling the warmth of the turkey still lingering on his tongue, and the weight of her words pressing against his chest.
"...Seraphina," he said, voice low, measured. "You're... incredible."
Her eyes widened faintly.
"You're sharp, focused. You pick up on details others miss. You train harder than most of the top-tier recruits, and still manage to be kind to everyone—even when they don't deserve it. You have... this grace about you, like frost dancing over moonlight. And in battle? You burn just as fiercely as anyone I know."
Seraphina held her breath. Her eyes shimmered—not with pride, but with a fragile hope.
Kiato gave a small, almost rueful laugh. "Honestly, I don't know what I'd do if I didn't have someone like you nearby. You steady me. You remind me what peace feels like."
She leaned in, barely whispering, "Then why does it feel like you're still so far away?"
His smile faltered.
And then came the but.
"...Because someone already owns the flame inside me," he said, the words dragging out like a wound reopening. "Even if the world changed… I made a vow to her."
Her expression changed, quiet and unreadable.
He continued, gaze distant now—lost in another face, another moment.
"Azura," he said. "Her name's Azura. She's… she's the reason I first fought with my whole heart. She challenged me, broke me, healed me. I still see her in my dreams. I still hear her voice when I bleed."
He set his spoon down, fingers trembling slightly.
"I thought I lost her once. Maybe I still have. Maybe I'll never see her again. But I can't let her go. Not yet. If I did… it'd be like erasing the fire that made me who I am."
Silence. Deep and raw.
Seraphina blinked, her lips pressed tightly. The flickering blue glow from the lanterns caught the tears forming at the edge of her eyes, like crystals clinging to the rim of her soul.
Kiato reached across the table and gently touched her hand.
"I care about you, Seraphina. More than you know. You're precious to me. And I want us to be close… even if it's not what you hoped for."
She didn't flinch. Didn't pull away. But a tear finally slipped down her cheek, and she smiled through it—fragile, but proud.
"Of course you still love her," she whispered, voice trembling. "Of course you do."
She wiped her face, trying to laugh but choking slightly.
"You always did carry storms in your chest, Kiato. I should've known you'd be loyal to your sky."
He stood slowly, stepping around the table. She stood too, and for a heartbeat, they simply faced each other—two souls caught in the moment between dawn and dusk.
Then he pulled her into a gentle hug.
No romance. No confusion. Just the warmth of understanding between two warriors who knew how to endure pain and keep walking.
She leaned into it, quietly crying. He held her steady, like ice bracing fire.
"Thank you… for telling me the truth," she said.
"Thank you… for feeling something for me," he replied. "It means more than you think."
They pulled apart. Seraphina exhaled slowly, wiping the last of her tears.
"I'll be fine," she said, forcing a crooked smile. "I'm strong, remember?"
Kiato nodded.
"You are. And I need you to be. As my comrade. My friend."
She stepped back, her aura already recalibrating itself—still warm, but distant now. Composed.
"I'll see you on the training grounds, Frostblade," she said with a smirk.
He gave her a respectful nod. "Looking forward to it, Lady Iceheart."
And just like that, the moment passed.
But something in them had changed—grown deeper.
Two hearts, still beating.
One in love with memory.
The other learning to accept reality.
And from somewhere high above, the moonlight glowed gently down on them—quiet, eternal, and watching.
At Glacien Yard ,
Kiato approached Veylor at a far end, he was trying to connect withe his blade's sprit. But was being drawn out focus by the taughts of his encounter with Kiato earlier that day,
Does he really have that much burden yet he always wears a smile
Kiato's sharp voice intercepted his tought's
"Your ready?"
"Fool, where my breakfast" Veylor scolded eyes closed.
"Here, you can have it" kiato dropped the well packed food on the ground for him.
"This is nice, make sure me hide that crest from me because I'm already tired of eating swallow"
"How about we have a duel, who ever wins keeps the crest".
Veylor's eyes widened but all to soon his expression carried disintrest,
"Nothing will still change" Veylor grinned humble but his tune unpleased.
Kaito stared at him mouth fully opened in shock,
Is this really Veylor
He taught, then a smile formed on his face,
"Meet me at our battle court, we've got some training to do"
Walking to his training court a voice very familiar called out,
"Kaito..."
I've been too busy how could I forget
He taught as his gaze fixed on that of Niva,
"Idiot, you left me" niva scolded as she flew sitting arms folded on his head, her face tilted Like a crying baby,
"I just had to allow you rest a bit" the smarked acting like he was completely aware.
"What have you been up to" niva asked then added
"You flame ability us temporarily higher now."
Kiato froze,
"Temporarily higher" he asked himself.
"Can I see" he voiced out
A shimmering black screen with silver glyphs materialized:
[Ranking Status]
Name: Kiato Kenji
Physical Strength: 12%
Aura Potential: 39/100
Power Level: 9
Abilities Unlocked:
• Frost – 23.3% Potential
• Flame – 20%(+10) Potential
• Wind – Locked (0%)
• Earth – Locked (0%)
Overall Rank: ★ 1-Star Knight
Kiato's gaze fixed at his flame potential,
"a temporary +10", he muttered.
Then he remembered
Flame is fueled by emotion
"It really has been a traumatic day since the beginning" he whispered, ignoring niva's question he smarked,
"Come help me form a technique"
Niva followed completely forgetting she asked something.
"What's it all about".
"I haven't decided but something flawless, something unseen, something overwhelming."
The seriousness in his words made niva finch,
What do you really burn for
She taught.
A heavy axe blowed smash in front of kiato, furiously and deliberately.
It was Ravien, behind him stood Zane.
Kiato flinched at first in chock waking up from his taught. Before he could say Anything Ravien's voice hallowed,
"We challenge your team to a duel",
His eyes fixed on kiato like he was superior to him with a commanding stature.
Kiato exhaled taking a deep breath,
"I dont have....."
But he was intercepted mid speech bey a voice from behind, bold amd clear,
"We accept".
It was veylor.
Kiato turned back in frustration the he sparked,
"What do you think you are doing"
Bit Veylor gave no answer.
Ravien smiled,
"That's more of a man" he said then added
"An hour time at the duel arena".
Then he walked away, zame taking over the speech,
"Rules are same as those of the tryouts, winners get to ask for something and losers can't say no".
Then he walked away too. Veylor smiled,
"I like the price".
Kiato rested lazily on the ground,
"No the deed is done"
"Let's talk about that tow man combo we planed on forming" Kaito drawled offering Veylor a sit in front of him the began to put together both minds of different breed and forming the unknown,
What will it be?
What will they call it?