The Vespera training yard was wrecked and battered. Cracks in the ground shattered earth, and a broken tree—Abell’s favorite hammock lay buried in the rubble. The night ended with Keeko standing victorious and Abell unable to move due to exhaustion.

  Now lying unconscious, Keeko attempted to carry him inside his room. But her arms began to give out. She had bruises on both of her arms, and her muscles ached and tingled from his attacks.

  “Ms. Keeko, Abell!” Astrid shouted. “We got this. Don’t stress yourself out, please.”

  As she ran to help with her injuries, Torin gazed at Abell, feeling conflicted. “The power of a Lux...” He thought

  “Ms. Keeko, you really shouldn’t be moving! With those injuries, it’s a miracle you can even stand.”

  Keeko couldn’t help but smile at the young girl’s concern for her. It somewhat reminded her of a young Genevive.

  “Okay, Astrid, I hear you. I’ll take it easy tonight,” Keeko said.

  Astrid jumped in shock at Keeko’s soft tone. Her face showed a look of amazement mixed with shock.

  “Don’t give me that look, Astrid,” Keeko said.

  “Yes, Ma’am, sorry, I didn’t expect that.”

  Astrid paused momentarily to glance at Abell, sleeping on the ground next to them.

  “He’s so reckless, even against his mother.” she sighed.

  “That’s what makes him, Abell, right Astrid?” Keeko asked. “Unlike Genevieve, He’s always been fearless, even in the face of major adversity.”

  “Fearless and a fool.” Torin scoffed.

  “You can say that again,” Hugo said. Then he walked up to Abell and examined his injuries, determining they were nothing too major.

  “I’ll take Abell inside. We can’t just leave him here.”

  Keeko gave him a hardened glare.

  “What? you don’t trust me even for this.” Hugo said.

  “Sure, go ahead.” Keeko sighed. “I’m not in the best condition right now anyways.”

  “See, I’ve got you.” he teased.

  Hugo carried Abell inside, analyzing him. A smirk crept up on his face as he placed him in his bed. His eyes lingered on him for a bit longer.

  “I found a diamond in the rough, professor,” he said aloud. “His lux, his recklessness, and his ability to continue during adversity. Truly incredible.”

  He turned to face the window, looking at Astrid, finishing to patch up Keeko and departing with Torin.

  “I just wish we had more Luminaries with his resolve.” he thought.

  He began to close the door, leaving Abell behind to rest.

  Keeko leaned against the broken tree in the field as she watched Astrid and Torin walk home. Her body ached severely, but more so, her mind ran wild. She couldn’t believe what she had seen.

  Footsteps.

  “That was one hell of a battle.” a voice called out.

  Recognizing it was Hugo, Keeko cracked an eye open as she sighed.

  He approached her carefully with hands in his pockets, and a smirk annoyed her.

  “You’re the last person I want to deal with right now, Hugo.”

  “Yeah, I get that a lot,” he said. “But you’re worried about him, aren't you.”

  “Oh, look at you, finally being attentive for once,” she said, her arms crossed.

  Hugo paused, a slight grin forming. “That boy, he’s got something special. His lux reminds me of my own. So much utility and possibilities.”

  “I’ve noticed that too... I thought it was just a blade.” Keeko said.

  An awkward silence began to form between the two before she spoke up again.

  “If that’s true... he’s going to draw the wrong kind of attention.” her gaze shifted to the full moon above.

  The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

  “If you decide to take him, please promise me you’ll protect him.”

  Hugo let out a slight chuckle.

  “Never thought I’d see the day that Keeko Vespera asks me for a favor.”

  “Huuugoo.” Keeko sighed.

  “Alright, alright.” Hugo jabbed a thumb at his chest. “You have my word. I’ll keep him safe. You have nothing to worry about.”

  Keeko let out a long sigh. “... I hope I’m making the right choice.”

  “Aww, is the Iron Wall finally warming up to me after all these years?”

  “That stupid nickname...Don’t push it, Hugo.” Keeko murmured.

  “Okay,” he smirked.

  Hugo helped her back to her room, and the night fell quiet.

  The first thing Abell felt was pain.

  His body ached, his muscles throbbed, and he could barely move. He opened his eyes, and immediate pain seared through his body.

  “Aghhh--dammit...”

  He tried to move, but his body refused to move.

  “The fight... I lost the sword.”

  He gazed at his palm, remembering how it changed sizes and even the last moment when it became one with his arm.

  “If I could have controlled it, I would have won.” he thought.

  Just then, Keeko rushed into the room with concern written on her face.

  “Abell, what’s wrong?” she asked urgently.

  “I’m fine. It’s nothing,” he lied through gritted teeth.

  Keeko was having none of it. “Don’t try to be tough. Let me check you over.”

  She gently examined his injuries. “Hmm, these are worse than I thought.

  We need to take you to Ms. Mary’s clinic.”

  “I’ll be fine,” Abell quickly protested, but Keeko was already moving him off the bed.

  “No arguing. You need to get these tended to,” she insisted, leading him through the door.

  The Main Street was busy as usual. Vendors were setting up their stalls, calling out to passersby.

  The smell of freshly cooked food wafted through the air. Abell felt embarrassed as people stared at him, noting his injuries. “

  Hehe, it looks like Abell finally got taught a lesson by someone,” a man said.

  “I wonder what happened to him. He looks hurt. I hope it wasn’t malignant, " a concerned woman said.

  “I think his mom finally disciplined him; people heard loud noises last night at their residence.” A noisy woman commented.

  Keeko shot them a sharp look.

  “People these days should mind their own business.” she spat.

  The clinic was quiet when they arrived. Only Mary and Astrid sat at the front.

  Mary took one look at Abell and sighed. “You again?”

  Astrid took one glance at him and looked highly displeased.

  “You need to be careful, Abell; our bodies may be enhanced due to the luminous orb, but please take it easy.” she sighed.

  “Sorry, I can’t help it,” he said.

  “Take him to the back, Astrid.’ Mary said, looking unimpressed.

  “Yes, Ma’am.”

  The next few moments were grueling.

  Astrid used alcohol to clean his wounds, causing him to wince. The cool touch of luminleaves eased the pain slightly, but his body still ached all over.

  Mary and Keeko left to talk up front, leaving just him and Astrid.

  A silence settled over them. Then Astrid finally spoke.

  “So... It seems like Ms. Keeko is okay with you leaving now.”

  “Yeah, I think she is, but I still lost. I’m not satisfied,” he said.

  Astrid crossed her arms.

  “Is that all you have to say?”

  “You’re still mad, huh.” he groaned, running a hand through his messy hair.

  Without warning, Astrid punched him.

  “Agh—dammit, Astrid!” he hissed.

  “Good, you’re not dead.”

  Abell shot her a glare. “I’m injured. There’s a difference.

  “You really don’t get why I’m mad, do you?”

  He hesitated, then sighed.

  “You keep saying that, but I don’t know what you want me to say.”

  Astrid leaned in, eyes sharp. “You’re leaving. You’ve been planning it for who knows how long, and you didn’t even tell me until two days ago.”

  Abell blinked. “I didn’t know we were friends.”

  Astrid stared at him.

  Then, she grabbed a fresh roll of bandages and threw it at his face.

  “OW—WHAT THE HELL?!”

  “YOU’RE SO STUPID!” she yelled.

  Abell barely dodged the second bandage roll.

  “Stop throwing stuff at me!”

  Astrid let out an exasperated sigh, rubbing her temples. “Do you seriously think I was just practicing my doctor thing all these years?”

  “I mean… yeah?”

  Astrid’s eye twitched.

  “You’re impossible,” she muttered.

  Abell rubbed his arm, feeling awkward. “…So, what, we’re friends?”

  “YES, YOU IDIOT.”

  Silence filled the room for a few seconds.

  “Sorry, then,” he said.

  Astrid sighed.

  “I know you have to go. I get it. But just…” She paused, looking away. “Don’t forget about this town, okay?”

  “That’s a promise,” Abell smirked.

  Before Astrid could respond, a thunderous voice echoed through the clinic.

  “ABELL! WHERE ARE YOU.”

  Torin busted through the door.

  “My disciple! Who could have possibly done this to you?” he said.

  “Please, Torin, no jokes.”

  “Tell me, Abell, I’ll find the person and avenge you!” he yelled. “Only I have the right to beat on you like this.”

  “What!?” Abell shouted

  Astrid facepalmed, already knowing how this interaction would play out. She intervened immediately.

  “Torin, we watched the fight. You know who did this to him.”

  Torin froze at her bluntness. “Oh, right, hehe.”

  Abell shook his head, barely holding back a laugh.

  Torin quickly recovered, crossing his arms.

  “ANYWAY! I’ve come to make an announcement!”

  Abell blinked. “What?”

  Torin turned dramatically toward Hugo, who had just entered the clinic.

  “I want to go to the academy too!” he said as he pounded a fist against his chest.

  Astrid and Abell stared blankly at him.

  “You…” Abell hesitated. “Torin, you don’t have Lux, though.”

  “I don’t care,” he said

  Abell could tell—Torin meant it.

  Hugo, watching the exchange, scratched his chin. “Hmm…”

  Torin clenched his fists. “I know I don’t have Lux, but watching that fight—watching you—it made me realize… I have to try.”

  Abell hesitated. He wanted to tell Torin that he didn’t need to do this and had nothing to prove. But…Looking at his face, Abell knew there was no talking him out of it.

  Hugo finally spoke.

  “Alright, I’ll think about it.”

  “WHAT?! You have to think?!” Torin said.

  Hugo grinned. “Yes, I’ll tell you by tomorrow.”

  “HU—GO!” Torin shouted.

  Abell laughed.

  Despite everything—the pain and the e exhaustion—he felt… lighter.

  His friends.

  His home.

  He would miss this.

  But he had to go.

  He glanced out the window. The world stretched beyond Iridius, calling to him.

  “I’m ready.”

  And this time, there was no turning back.