The tension was thick, palpable, almost electric. Around the edge of the circle, the rest of the squad watched silently — Nox smirking as usual. Elias stood apart, observing with a gaze that could peel flesh from bone.
"This is your first real test," Elias called. "Iria — pressure him. Kaien — survive."
Iria grinned, fire licking up her arms. "With pleasure."
She launched forward. The stone cracked under her feet as she surged with flame. Kaien barely had time to react — his shadow coiled upward like a serpent, forming a barrier of black tendrils that hissed against the fire.
She struck. A fist wreathed in fire slammed into his guard. Heat washed over him, singing his coat, but the shadows held. Barely.
Kaien slid back, heels dragging. He raised a hand, fingers flicking, and the shadow beneath Iria's feet writhed and grabbed at her ankle.
She snarled, incinerating it with a pulse of flame. "Clever. But slow."
Kaien moved again — faster this time. He vanished into the shade of a fallen arch, reappearing behind her. A blade of darkness formed in his hand, jagged and pulsing. He swung — but Iria pivoted, catching the blade between burning palms.
"Don't play predator when you're still prey," she growled.
Flame exploded outward. Kaien was thrown back, crashing against the far wall. His breath caught — smoke filled his lungs.
"Enough," Elias said, not loudly, but the word rang with weight.
The fire vanished. Iria stood, panting, sweat on her brow. Kaien pulled himself up slowly, coughing.
But Iria was staring at him — and for the first time, her expression wasn't disdain. It was curiosity. And something close to respect.
"You're holding back," she said quietly.
Kaien looked at his hands. The shadows were still coiled around his fingers. Alive. Hungry.
"I know."