Kiran sat cross-legged on the eastern training ground, surrounded by Zoren and his new group of followers.

  They were all different from last week's crowd of followers — Zoren was very similar to the average person when it came to using followers - he used them like he changed clothes (he discarded them the minute they demonstrated any evidence of weakness or independent thought).

  The sun was beginning to set, creating long shadows across the training ground, coloring everything with shades of crimson that he hated. He could feel the bloodline beneath his skin begin to grow restless, reacting to the red sunlight and his rising anxiety.

  "Alright Tovel, you feeling comfortable?" Zoren asked, standing several feet away, so his shadow would fall on Kiran's face. "I do hope you’re not finding our little wait too tedious.”

  Kiran remained silent; he focused on his breathing as he had for the previous hour. This helped in keeping the bloodline under control, although he could still feel the pressure from the bloodline wanting to be released.

  The familiar feeling of bones changing shape beneath his skin was making him want to scratch till he bled, however, he kept his hands still in his lap.

  He had not anticipated ending up here when he had decided to use the eastern training ground for some additional practice after classes.

  In retrospect, he should have known better. The eastern training grounds were located near the dormitories that housed the common-born initiates ; a place where someone looking for Tomas might set up watch.

  It turns out that Zoren was sick of searching for his prey and had decided to turn the tables and make the prey come to him instead. And when Kiran had arrived, alone and engrossed in his own thoughts, making himself an easy target, the decision had practically made itself.

  After all, everybody had now heard how Kiran and the 'Natural' were training buddies.

  The rune on Kiran's forehead flickered and attempted to develop into something tangible as his thoughts grew darker. He pushed it back down, while ignoring the way his bones were protesting.

  Even if he allowed the bloodline to dominate, it would still be insufficient. Zoren was at the peak of Rank 1, and his followers weren’t far behind. Engaging in combat with them would only worsen things.

  Moreover, he understood the political implications. The longer this dragged on, the more difficult it would be for the Academy to continue claiming ignorance. There were limits to what Zoren could accomplish in plain sight.

  Therefore, enduring a bit of embarrassment and humiliation in the short-term was preferable to escalating the issue to a point where the Academy would be required to react - and likely act in ways that would be detrimental to everyone involved.

  One of Zoren's newer followers, a thin boy with a shaved head named Kiran couldn't remember, stood up. "Perhaps we should send another message? It has been over an hour..."

  Zoren swiftly caught the boy with the back of his hand, knocking the boy backwards. "Have I asked for your opinion?" Zoren asked softly, never taking his gaze off Kiran. "Commoners, they all share the same arrogance. The Natural will show up to save the day, won't he, Tovel?" His twisted smile made the younger students wince. "And when he shows up...."

  Kiran really hopes not. This whole scenario was utterly ridiculous - using Kiran as bait to lure out someone who would likely be just as incapable of handling Zoren as Kiran was himself. If Tomas had any sort of sanity, he would avoid getting involved in this disaster.

  "He won't show up," Kiran said with certainty. "He barely knows me."

  The response caused Zoren to kick Kiran in the ribs, sending him tumbling onto his side.

  "Liar," the scarred follower yelled. "You two have trained together and look pretty chummy to me."

  Kiran rolled onto his backside and winced, trying to get to his feet. "We exchanged maybe ten words. Hardly—"

  Another kick stopped him cold, hitting him in the shoulder. The pain from the kick sent a surge of energy through his bloodline and, for a short time, bones started to bulge from his skin even as he tried to force them back into place.

  "Oh?" Zoren raised an eyebrow in excitement. "The famous Tovel bloodline breaking loose? Please, don't hold anything back on my account. I'd love to see if it lives up to the rumours."

  Kiran recognized this tactic as a ruse. He learned his lesson a long time ago and understood the risks associated with playing this game. His family's bloodline technique was extremely powerful, but it came with costs. The longer he used it, the larger the effect of the red sun on his mind.

  If, by some miracle, he managed to defeat Zoren's followers, he would likely lose control and kill someone in the process. Murdering fellow disciples was also viewed as taboo by the Academy, and he didn't want to find out what the repercussions would be of committing such a heinous act.

  Besides, he comforted himself, Zoren wouldn't dare to cross any lines. Although House Tovel didn't really care for Kiran anymore, they still cared about keeping up appearances. House Zoren was significantly smaller, and therefore there were boundaries to how much he could push the Academy.

  On the other hand, Tomas had no such protection. If Tomas actually showed up ...

  There was a sudden movement in Kiran's peripheral vision that caused him to freeze, but it was merely another of Zoren's henchmen adjusting his position. Kiran realized they were all on edge. Although they presented themselves as confident, they knew they were treading on thin ice. If the right person happened to pass by...

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  "Young Master Zoren," the youngest member of the group, which Kiran believed was Hane, spoke up quietly. "Perhaps we should move to a more... private area?"

  "Are you scared, Hane?" Zoren asked in a soft tone, however, there was a menacing undertone to his voice that caused the younger student to flinch. "No need to be. I have taken steps to ensure we won't be bothered. The normal patrol routes have been... rerouted."

  That explained why there were no supervisors. Zoren obviously had connections and had arranged for this particular area to be left intentionally unattended.

  Kiran had to admit. Zoren was extremely talented - not only in terms of his cultivation abilities, but also in terms of utilizing the Academy's systems for his advantage.

  Time dragged on with excruciating slowness. The red sun continued to move across the sky, with its red hue intensifying as it approached the seventh hour.

  Kiran could feel the red sun's influence exerting pressure on his mind, and the bone rune was pulsating at an increased intensity. The bloodline was attempting to break free - to fight, to prove itself through violence.

  "Somebody is coming," another lackey cried out.

  Suspended high above them, a robed figure hung motionless against the backdrop of the red sun. The figure seemed to command attention, drawing all eyes towards the figure as if by some invisible force.

  The color of the robes was unmistakable - only a Rank 2 Skybound would dare to wear that color of blue within the walls of the Academy. The gold accents on the robe edges signified that the wearer was a direct disciple of an elder, one of the rare people allowed to fly within the Academy.

  The figure began descending, with their blue robes fluttering irregularly in the calm air. They descended softly onto the training grounds, disturbing not a single blade of grass. Their hood was pulled forward, creating shadowy darkness where their face normally would be - a typical enchantment to conceal the identity of higher-ranking disciples.

  Zoren's confidence facade cracked as he looked at the robed figure, confirming what Kiran had already suspected - this was not part of the plan. The confusion in Zoren's facial expression was plain. Regardless of whatever backing Zoren had for this confrontation, it didn’t involve a Rank 2 disciple.

  For a moment, Kiran felt a glimmer of hope. Could the Academy have actually sent someone to establish order? In all his years in the Academy, he had seen that as one advances in cultivation, the more unstable one tends to be. So, for all he knew, this could only add to the chaos.

  Zoren rapidly regained his composure and resumed a deep bow. His followers immediately followed suit, but their movements were stiff and unnatural.

  "Honored Senior," Zoren stated, though there was a slight quiver in his voice. "How can we be of service to you?"

  The hooded figure remained silent for a short while, and Kiran could have sworn he saw a fleeting glance of amusement in the shadows that hid a face. After a pause, the figure spoke, their voice was warped, as if it was coming from everywhere and nowhere at once.

  "I am curious about this gathering," the figure stated. "What brings so many students to the training grounds at this hour?"

  Zoren slowly rose from his bow, but he maintained a bent posture in respect. "Nothing significant, Honored Senior. We are merely waiting for a friend to arrive and train with us."

  Zoren's followers loudly supported his statement, however, they were all attempting to avoid eye contact with the hooded figure. The presence of the senior clearly unnerved them.

  The hooded figure shifted slightly, directing their focus on Kiran. "Really? I've heard some pretty different stories. Stories about an initiate being forced to attend this meeting?"

  Zoren threw Kiran a veiled warning gesture - a signal that suggested severe repercussions for straying from the official storyline. But Kiran had already decided what to do. If this senior was truly here to help him, then lying would only worsen the situation. And if they weren't... Well, the truth couldn't possibly make things worse for Kiran.

  "They've kept me here since classes ended," Kiran quickly added, succeeding in giving a low bow despite sitting. "I should be studying for the exam, but instead I'm wasting time as a pawn in their petty game."

  Zoren took a sharp breath in, but Kiran didn’t care. He had faced worse than anything Zoren could throw at him.

  The hooded figure's hood shifted slightly, and Kiran felt the weight of hidden eyes examining him. Then the figure held out a hand and a familiar rune briefly flickered on the palm - a rune for the wood element that made Kiran's breath catch in his throat.

  The grass surrounding them began to rustle, despite there being no wind. Small shoots and vines sprouted from the perfectly manicured lawn, twisting and growing at an extraordinary speed. They encircled the hooded figure, resembling a procession of devoted servants.

  Zoren involuntarily stepped backward and his carefully constructed fa?ade crumbled. “Honorable Senior,” Zoren stuttered, “it appears there has been some miscommunication. I apologize for any offense—”

  “Does an ant dare to deceive me?” The voice of the hooded figure sounded angry enough to cause every person in attendance to flinch. As their anger became apparent, the plants surrounding them began to grow closer to Zoren and his followers, displaying a carnivorous-like ability.

  “No! Yes—I mean…” Zoren immediately fell into another bow, this time deeper than before. “This was a fleeting lapse in judgment! Forgive this junior for his carelessness.”

  His followers saw their leader lose all composure and rapidly backed away from the scene, abandoning their earlier bravado.

  “Tovel can go,” Zoren said quickly, gesturing toward Kiran while continuing to remain bent in a subservient position. “I will bother him no longer. He is free to leave—”

  "You dare assume," the hooded figure countered, causing the plants to close in on Zoren and his followers as a result of their words. "Who can stay and who can leave?"

  "No! Of course not!" Zoren's voice had risen to nearly a squeal. "I was incorrect in my assumption, Honored Senior!"

  The figure remained stationary for an extensive length of time, and then, with a casual wave of their hand, they dispelled the plants that had gathered. The vines and shoots returned to their original positions as if they had never moved.

  "Leave," the figure declared bluntly.

  Zoren and his followers didn't require additional encouragement. They leapt to their feet and sprinted away, jostling each other as they frantically sought to flee. As they ran, Kiran heard a couple of pieces of their panicked conversations:

  "Young Master, what about Senior Baldric? He's Rank 2, he can assist us!"

  "Shut up!" Zoren yelled back. "Senior Baldric will not take action against the direct disciple of an elder. Are you crazy?! He'll slap me to death for asking!"

  As they disappeared into the distance, Kiran quickly rose to his feet.

  "Thanks for your help, honorable senior," Kiran said, offering a deep bow.

  "There is no need to bow, Kiran," the figure responded in a completely natural voice. "This is simply what friends do."

  Kiran's head snapped up in shock, his eyes wide open in astonishment. That was a very familiar voice!

  The senior removed their hood and revealed Tomas' smiling face. A vine poked its head out from behind Tomas' neck and waved a friendly greeting.

  "How...?" Kiran stammered. "Those robes... flying... You are Rank 1!"

  However, before Tomas could respond, there was a massive explosion that shook the earth beneath them. The force of it was so great that both Kiran and Tomas struggled to maintain their balance.

  "What was that?" Tomas asked, frowning, as the vine around his neck tensed, ready to defend its master.

  Kiran turned white. He knew the type of explosion this was. His family had taught him everything there was to know about them in their studies of siege warfare and protecting the academy. He knew exactly what this sounded like.

  "I think," he said slowly, almost inaudibly, "the academy is under attack."