---
The school hallways were filled with chatter, but Ryan Caldwell felt like his body had been through a battlefield.
Every muscle ached. Every step reminded him of the brutal training under Lucien Falkner the day before.
As he reached his locker, a familiar voice rang out.
"Damn, you look like someone threw you off a building."
Ryan turned to see Lena Davenport leaning against the lockers, arms crossed.
"Gee, thanks," Ryan muttered.
Lena tilted her head. "What the hell have you been doing?"
Ryan hesitated. He knew he had to keep his training with Lucien a secret. "Just… pushing myself a little."
Lena smirked. "Right. If you die before midterms, don't expect me to write your eulogy."
Ryan chuckled despite the pain.
---
At home, Evelyn Mercer sat at the dining table, stirring her tea while her younger brother, Ethan, scrolled through his phone.
She had noticed something strange.
Ethan had always been energetic, reckless. But lately, he seemed... different.
More cautious. Quieter.
"Hey, Ethan."
Her brother looked up. "Yeah?"
"You've been acting weird lately."
Ethan blinked. "What? No."
Evelyn studied him. "You sure? You're not in trouble or anything?"
Ethan hesitated for a fraction of a second—but Evelyn caught it.
"I'm fine," he said, forcing a smile.
She wasn't convinced. Something had changed. And she would find out what.
---
After school, Ryan arrived at a secluded training spot behind an old gym storage building.
Lucien was already there, waiting with his hood up.
"You're late," Lucien said flatly.
Ryan straightened. "By two minutes."
Lucien barely glanced at him. "Two minutes is enough to get killed."
Ryan swallowed hard.
Lucien pushed off the tree. "Show me what you remember from yesterday."
Ryan took a stance and threw a punch.
Lucien sidestepped effortlessly.
Ryan tried a kick—Lucien caught it with one hand and swept Ryan's leg, sending him crashing onto the dirt.
Ryan groaned but forced himself up.
Lucien studied him. "Your movements are sloppy."
Ryan wiped sweat off his forehead. "Then fix them."
Lucien narrowed his eyes. "Fine."
For the next hour, Lucien drilled Ryan on footwork, reaction speed, and control.
And for the first time, Ryan felt like he was actually learning something real.
---
As they took a break, sitting on a fallen log, Lucien suddenly turned to Ryan.
"You knew something about Vermilion Oath, didn't you?"
Ryan stiffened.
Lucien's tone was sharp.
"I—" Ryan hesitated. "I don't know much. But I overheard something."
Lucien's eyes didn't waver. "Overheard what?"
Ryan exhaled. "There's a group… they're looking for something. Or someone."
Lucien remained silent.
"They called it Project Red Fang."
For the first time, Ryan saw a flicker of something in Lucien's eyes.
"You know what it is, don't you?" Ryan asked.
Lucien didn't respond. Instead, he stood up. "That's enough for today."
Ryan frowned. "Wait, what—"
Lucien turned away. "Come back tomorrow. Same time."
Ryan clenched his fists but nodded.
As Ryan walked off, Lucien remained still, deep in thought.
Project Red Fang…
Something that was supposed to be buried.
Yet, someone still knew.
Lucien's fingers curled slightly. This wasn't a coincidence.
---
Lucien exhaled and turned to leave—
But then, he felt it.
A presence.
His instincts flared.
His posture remained relaxed, but inside, he was already calculating.
A faint rustling in the trees.
Then—
A blur of movement.
Lucien's eyes snapped to the side as a figure burst from the shadows, launching a rapid strike toward his throat.
Lucien reacted instantly.
In a single motion, he sidestepped, his arm snapping up to deflect the attack.
Clang!
A hidden blade grazed his sleeve. The attacker was fast. Precise.
Lucien's eyes narrowed. They weren't just some random thug.
The shadowed figure didn't stop—they pressed forward with a flurry of attacks.
Lucien blocked each one with perfect efficiency, analyzing their movements.
Then—
The attacker suddenly shifted, changing their rhythm.
Lucien's gaze sharpened. They're testing me.
The next strike came—a feint—followed by a real attack aimed at his ribs.
Lucien twisted, barely dodging—but the attacker adjusted mid-air, spinning into a heel kick aimed straight at his head.
Lucien raised his arm just in time—
Impact.
A shockwave of force rippled through his body.
Lucien staggered back a step—just a step—but the fact that he had been forced to move meant one thing:
This wasn't just an ordinary opponent.
The attacker landed gracefully, their figure still cloaked in shadows.
They didn't speak.
Lucien exhaled, rolling his shoulders.
"…Not bad."
The attacker lunged again—
Lucien moved to intercept—
Then—
---
TO BE CONTINUED.
---
End of Chapter 15.