The room was thick with silence, the weight of unanswered questions pressing down like an unshakable force. Layron sat upright now, his body still aching from the brutal battle, but his mind—his mind was restless.
Shion leaned against the wall, arms crossed, the ever-present smirk absent from his face. The window light cast a glow across the room, illuminating the rough edges of the wooden walls. But even with the warmth of the sun, the air between them was cold.
Layron sat upright on the small bed, though every movement sent a dull ache through his body. The bandages wrapped around his torso were tight, holding together wounds that should've hurt far worse. Yet the worst pain wasn't physical.
It was the unanswered questions that gnawed at him.
"You're avoiding my questions." His voice broke through the stillness.
Shion leaned against the wooden wall, arms crossed. His ever-present smirk was absent, replaced by something unreadable. "You always ask too many of them."
"Maybe because I never get any damn answers," Layron shot back. "You're hiding something. You've been avoiding this since the beginning."
Shion's gaze held firm. No flicker of surprise. No shift in expression. Just that steady, unwavering stare.
"And if I am?"
Layron's jaw clenched. His frustration simmered beneath the surface, the weight of every unanswered question pressing down like chains.
"Then I'll keep pushing."
A pause.
Then—Shion moved.
It wasn't aggressive. There was no threat in the motion. But the air shifted. Like the world itself acknowledged his presence. Even the faint creak of the wooden floorboards seemed subdued.
Layron stiffened, his instincts flaring.
"You wanna know something, kid?" Shion's voice was dangerously calm. "Nobody can kill you."
The words struck Layron harder than any blow.
"...What?"
"Not unless the thing inside you dies first."
Layron's breath caught. The sheer certainty in Shion's voice left no room for disbelief. It wasn't a theory. It was fact.
Falkren, who had been eerily silent until now, finally stirred. The faint click of his mechanical wings echoed softly. His golden eye flickered, glowing like a dying ember.
[[He's not wrong.]]
Layron whipped his gaze toward him. "You knew this?"
Falkren tilted his head slightly. [[Suspected. Confirmed now.]]
"You both knew, and no one thought to tell me?" Layron's voice sharpened. "All this time—"
"Would it have changed anything?" Shion cut in. "You weren't ready to hear it."
"Like hell I wasn't!" Layron snapped, his fists curling against the sheets. "It's my body. My life. I deserve to know."
"And now you do." Shion's tone was flat, almost dismissive. "Congratulations."
Layron's frustration burned. "Then say it. Stop talking around it and just tell me."
Shion exhaled slowly. "You're impatient." His golden eyes narrowed. "That's going to get you killed one day."
"Or it's going to get me answers," Layron shot back.
Shion's smirk twitched. "You ever wonder why Zorthaal's been silent?"
Layron froze.
Zorthaal
Silent.
It was true. Since the moment he had fought the bear-like beast, Zorthaal had said nothing. No whispers. No presence.
Like the monster inside him had simply vanished.
Layron swallowed hard. "...Maybe it's because I'm getting stronger."
Shion scoffed. "Is that what you think?" He shook his head. "No, kid. He's not gone. Just because he's quiet doesn't mean he's disappeared."
Layron's voice dropped. "Then why hasn't he spoken to me?"
Shion studied him carefully. "Let me ask you something. The last time you heard Zorthaal's voice… when was it?"
Layron's brows furrowed. "It was..." He hesitated. "It was when I fought the bear. When I thought I was going to die."
Shion hummed lowly. "And after the bear?"
Layron's voice was quieter now. "...Nothing."
The words lingered.
"Not a single whisper," Layron continued, his fists trembling. "I thought maybe… it was because I was getting stronger. Maybe I didn't need him anymore."
Shion's expression darkened. "That's not how it works."
Layron stiffened.
"Zorthaal isn't some guardian spirit watching over you," Shion continued. "He's not your strength. He's not your ally. He's a force. A force that doesn't care whether you live or die. The fact that he's been silent isn't a sign of your strength — it's a sign that he's waiting."
Layron's chest tightened. "Waiting for what?"
Shion's gaze pierced through him.
"For the right moment."
Layron's heart pounded. He hated how those words rang with truth.
Falkren's metallic voice hummed softly. [[It makes sense. Zorthaal's silence doesn't mean absence. It means restraint.]]
"Restraint?" Layron echoed.
Shion nodded. "Think about it. You survived a fight that should've killed you. Zorthaal's power surged, but he didn't take control. That wasn't an act of mercy — it was observation."
Layron's blood ran cold. "He was watching me?"
Shion's voice lowered. "He was judging you."
Layron clenched his fists, but no words came. The weight of that revelation bore down on him. Zorthaal wasn't a shadow to be ignored. He wasn't gone. He was watching. Waiting.
"That's why your next training is different," Shion said abruptly, breaking the tension.
Layron blinked, trying to catch up. "Training?"
"Mind and control training," Shion clarified. "You'll be given fragments of Zorthaal's power. Just enough to test your limits. If you can control it, you'll gain abilities no one else has. But if you can't?"
Shion's eyes sharpened. "You'll break."
Layron swallowed hard. "And if I refuse?"
Shion shrugged. "Then you'll live in fear of a power you don't understand. Your choice."
Falkren's eye gleamed. [[But there's more.]]
Layron tensed. "What now?"
[[Take rest for today. Anya will be returning from her two-day excursion in the morning, so get some rest.]] Falkren Added.
Shion's smirk returned. "You're not the only one being tested."
Layron frowned.
"Anya's coming with us."
The words hit Layron like a wave. "Anya? Why the hell would she—"
Shion cut him off. "Your sister's grown stronger. Her performance at the academy has skyrocketed. Physically. Mentally. It's not normal."
"The principal told us," Falkren added. [[Yesterday. While we were bringing you home.]]
---
The Principal's Encounter
Shion's voice lowered, his golden eyes gleaming. "The principal told us."
Layron blinked. "What? When?"
Falkren's mechanical eye flickered. [[Yesterday. While we were bringing you home.]]
The words lingered, stirring Layron's curiosity. He hadn't remembered anything past the fight. He'd collapsed, barely conscious. But now that he thought about it — how had they gotten him back to the village without anyone noticing?
Shion smirked at the confusion on Layron's face. "You didn't think we'd stroll through town carrying your half-dead body, did you?"
Layron narrowed his eyes. "Then what happened?"
Shion's grin faded. "Let's just say it got… complicated."
---
Flashback — The Day Before
"Kid's heavier than he looks," Shion grunted, adjusting Layron's weight. "Tch. And he had the nerve to call me old."
[[You didn't have to carry him.]] Falkren hovered alongside him, his mechanical wings fluttering with ease.
"Yeah, and leave him sprawled out for the crows? Real thoughtful," Shion retorted. "He's not dying on my watch."
The outskirts of the village drew closer. From here, Shion could see the distant glow of lanterns, hear the distant chatter of the villagers. But as they approached the narrow trail leading into the town—
A figure emerged.
A tall man, clad in flowing navy robes embroidered with golden symbols. His presence commanded respect — the robes were unmistakable.
The Principal of the Academy.
Shion cursed under his breath, immediately ducking behind a thicket of bushes.
"Of course," he muttered. "Out of all the people in this damn town."
Falkren landed lightly on a branch, his glowing eye narrowing. [[We can't let him see Layron like this.]]
"Obviously," Shion hissed. "They'd ask too many questions. And the last thing we need is the Academy sticking its nose where it doesn't belong."
Falkren clicked thoughtfully. [[Then I suppose it's time.]]
Shion glanced at him, puzzled. "Time for what?"
The air around Falkren shifted. His mechanical form pulsed, gears within him whirring with faint energy. Then—
The glow of his eye dimmed.
Phantom Shift
The metallic feathers reshaped. Wings folded inward. Plates of shimmering steel twisted and condensed. A faint, golden mist swirled around him, obscuring his form.
And when the mist faded—
A man stood in his place.
Not Falkren.
But Tensuke - Fake Gramps ( Falkren ).
A broad frame. White, swept-back hair. Eyes that gleamed with the wisdom of countless battles. His presence alone carried a sense of authority, the very air around him shifting with a weight that demanded respect. Even though no weapons were drawn, there was no mistaking it — this man had known war.
Shion blinked, a grin tugging at the corner of his mouth. "Well, well. You really went all out, huh?"
Tensuke's voice was deep and steady. "We need to be convincing."
"Guess you're not wrong," Shion muttered.
Tensuke ignored him, stepping out from the cover of the bushes. The Principal's eyes immediately locked onto him.
"Sir- Tensuke," the Principal greeted, his tone laced with respect. "I hadn't expected to see you here."
Tensuke nodded. "Unexpected circumstances brought me here. And you, Principal?"
The Principal's expression didn't waver. "I was merely ensuring the roads were clear. There have been… rumors."
Tensuke's brow furrowed. "Rumors?"
"Sightings of strange occurrences," the Principal replied. "Some speak of distant roars. Others claim the sky itself cracked for a brief moment."
Shion stiffened behind the bushes, careful to keep his breathing silent.
"Interesting," Tensuke said calmly. "But I've seen nothing of concern. Just a peaceful afternoon."
The Principal's gaze lingered, as though trying to pierce through Tensuke's composed facade. "I also heard a report about one of my students. Layron."
Tensuke's eyes darkened just slightly. "What of him?"
"He's been absent for many days now. But there were whispers — that he had dropped out from the academy, is it?
Tensuke, however, remained composed. "Layron is fine. And yes he won't be able to come to the academy cause he told me that he is not fit for it".
"Safe," the Principal repeated, though doubt lingered in his tone.
"And speaking of growth, I've heard news about Anya."
"Her growth has accelerated, "Far faster than expected." Principal said.
The Principal's eyes narrowed. "That is confidential Academy information."
"Is it?" Tensuke's gaze was unyielding. "I think we both know that girl's development can't remain a secret for long."
The tension was palpable.
Finally, the Principal spoke. "Her progress is… remarkable. Her physical aptitude and mental resilience have both increased dramatically. The instructors are baffled."
"And yet," Tensuke said slowly, "you don't know why."
The Principal remained silent.
"We will," Tensuke stated firmly. "Very soon."
The Principal's jaw clenched. "If anything happens to her—"
Tensuke held his gaze. "It won't."
A long pause. Then, with a stiff nod, the Principal turned and disappeared down the path.
Tensuke exhaled quietly, the tension lifting as he stepped back into the shadows.
Shion finally emerged from the bushes, whistling lowly. "Smooth. Almost forgot how convincing you can be."
Tensuke didn't respond.
"Anya, huh?" Shion's grin returned. "Guess this trip's gonna be more interesting than I thought."
---
Back to Present
Layron stared at Shion, disbelief flickering in his gaze.
"You met the Principal? And he knows about Anya?"
"Knows enough," Shion said casually. "But he doesn't know what's really happening. Not yet."
Layron's fists tightened. "And now you're bringing her into this?"
"She's already part of it, kid," Shion replied firmly. "Whether you like it or not."
Falkren's voice hummed softly. [[We'll see if her strength is something natural — or something far more dangerous.]]
Layron's stomach twisted. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because we weren't sure if Tensuke would even allow it." Shion's eyes glinted. "But now we're going to find out if she has potential. And like it or not — she deserves to know."
Layron's fists trembled. "But what if it's too soon? What if it hurts her?"
Shion's voice lowered. "Then she'll have you."
Layron blinked.
"You're the one she looks up to," Shion continued. "So if you're scared — good. But it's her choice."
The room fell silent once more.
Tomorrow.
That was when everything would change.
Layron's gut twisted with uncertainty, but he forced himself to meet Shion's gaze.
"Fine," he said. "I'll do it. But I'm not letting anything happen to Anya."
Shion smirked. "We'll see."
Falkren ruffled his wings. [[Then it's settled.]]
Layron took a deep breath. His path was clear. But the questions — the doubts — remained.
And somewhere within him, buried beneath the silence, a presence stirred.
Waiting.
Watching.
---
TO BE CONTINUED....