The combat field was empty, but the scent of iron stayed in the air. Nclai stood alone near the edge. A breeze tugged at his coat, and his eyes looked forward.
His hand no longer shook.
It mostly stopped.
...
[System Update Complete]
Crimson Sovereign Protocol: STABLE
Sync Ratio: 5.1%
Traits:
• Bloodline Sensitivity (Passive)
Linked Trait: Sanguine Reflex Lv.1
Status: Pending Reclassification. Instructor Review In Progress.
He let the prompt fade.
His ribs still ached from Seros's knee, but it wasn't pain he remembered. It was the reflex. That flash of something older than himself. Of motion without thinking. Of memory without learning.
Not his.
Not entirely.
...
The halls outside the field had gone quiet by the time Lyra caught up to him.
She skipped the dramatic entrance this time. Just fell into step beside him, holding out a cloth bundle.
"Food," she said. "Since you didn't die."
He took it without comment.
"You know, you really suck at saying thanks."
"I didn't ask for it."
"I know," she grinned. "That's what makes it sweet."
They walked together in silence, past dim torch-lanterns and old sigils etched into the walls. Somewhere nearby, junior students laughed. The distant kind that came from dorm windows and cheap wine.
Nclai's fingers tightened slightly on the cloth.
"I felt it again," he said quietly.
Lyra tilted her head. "Felt what?"
"The memory. The thing in my blood. It moved on its own."
"…You mean the one that lets you dodge like a ghost?"
He nodded.
Lyra hummed. "That's kinda hot."
He stopped.
She blinked. "What? It is."
He gave her a look.
She smirked. "You're the one who wanted to walk around all mysterious and aloof. I'm just saying it works."
He sighed and kept walking.
Behind him, she stuck out her tongue.
...
Later that night, in his room, Nclai stood before the mirror.
The bruises had faded faster than they should've.
Not healing.
Correction.
He pulled his coat off and placed it carefully on the rack. Then sat.
...
[System Reminder: Next Trait Unlock. Sync ≥ 10%]
• Codex Access: Locked
• Next Ability: Unknown
• Auto-Analysis Enabled. Monitoring combat encounters for sync gain.
...
He stared at the notice for a long while before closing it.
Not tonight.
Not yet.
...
Far above the dormitories, Instructor Seros stood in the upper observatory, arms folded, watching the Academy grounds disappear into night.
One hand ran across the faint spiral tattoos on his forearm.
He'd seen it. Felt it.
Not just bloodline talent.
Legacy.
The kind that didn't wait to be taught.
Seros narrowed his eyes.
"Let's see how far you can go before the rest start noticing."
...