seared into his memory with unnatural clarity. Soulborne ability? Or something else?
Hours passed.
A tap on the shoulder stirred him from his trance. "We're closing," said a librarian softly.
Kael nodded, eyes still scanning the paragraph before him. "So much to learn… so little time."
He stepped out into the cooling dusk. Just as he turned the corner to head back, something caught his eye.
A wide, open structure. Glass-paned and humming with magic. Inside, dim lights illuminated racks of weights, combat dummies, and movement-assisting contraptions he couldn't name.
The gym.
The door was unlocked.
Kael stepped in, eyes wide. It was empty—except for one person doing reps with magically charged resistance bands.
He took one look at the equipment and completely lost composure.
He darted from machine to machine, inspecting levers, enchanted pulleys, and resistance simulators. "What… this targets your back and core? What even is that?!"
The lone student looked up.
"You new?"
Kael froze mid-gasp. "Uh… yeah."
The trainee grinned. "Name's Riven. You?"
"Kael Ryuu."
"Well, Kael, welcome to hell." He tossed him a towel. "You'll be needing that."
Kael caught it—grinning for the first time that day.