"Some legends don't start with victory.
They start with someone saying: 'I don't wanna fight, bro.'"
⸻
The Arena of Trials — Training Grounds
The courtyard buzzed with mana and drama as students gathered in a circle.
Toren Valdar, miniature walking tank, stomped onto the battleground with the confidence of someone who'd never lost at rock-paper-scissors.
Kayden followed behind him, looking deeply betrayed by destiny.
Lyra Aelwyn facepalmed so hard her soul left her body.
"Kayden. Why. WHY did you accept a duel?!"
Kayden shrugged. "I didn't. He just… dragged me here."
Mira Dawnstep peeked from behind Lyra.
"Y-You can say no, you know…"
Kayden sighed. "Yeah, but he looked so emotionally invested…"
From across the courtyard, Kirti Elyndra walked with her escorts—three high-ranking knights who looked like they ate lightning for breakfast. She paused when she saw the gathering.
"Another duel?" one knight muttered.
"Students this age shouldn't even be sparring," another griped.
Kirti didn't hear them.
Her golden eyes fixed on him again.
That boy.
The one who made the crystal cry.
The one whose mana had brushed hers and made her heart twist.
She didn't know why—but she couldn't look away.
⸻
The Duel Begins (Reluctantly)
Instructor Marvek arrived, already exasperated.
"WHO scheduled this duel?!"
"Toren did," Ryn Thornwick said smugly.
"Does Toren have permission?"
"No."
Marvek sighed the sigh of a man who regretted every career choice he ever made.
"…Fine. The duel will be controlled, supervised, and if anyone dies I'm going to personally resurrect them just to yell at them."
Kayden raised a hand. "Sir, um… I'd like to withdraw—"
Toren stepped forward. "No. You're fighting."
Kayden blinked. "Okay but… I really don't want to—"
Toren's helmet glowed, mana circling him in visible heat waves.
"You outshined the elites. You humiliated the nobles. That crystal reacted to you like you're some divine reincarn—"
Kayden choked. "REINCARN-wha—??"
Toren thrust a finger at him.
"You're a threat. And I defeat threats."
Kayden whispered to Lyra, "Why does everyone think I'm powerful? I literally tripped over a pancake this morning."
Lyra whispered back, "Because you cracked a million-year-old crystal with a TOUCH, you cosmic glitch!"
⸻
Round 1 — Toren Attacks
Marvek raised his hand.
"BEGIN!"
Toren charged like a mana-fueled rhino.
Kayden did the only logical thing.
He screamed and jumped back.
"HEY WAIT—WHY ARE YOU SO FAST?! YOU'RE LIKE A BABY TANK ON CAFFEINE!"
Toren swung.
Kayden ducked.
Toren swung again.
Kayden tripped and rolled.
The crowd gasped and whispered.
"He's dodging everything…"
"But he looks like he's just panicking."
"Is… is that a technique?"
"No. That's called survival instinct."
Lyra shouted, "KAYDEN! DO SOMETHING!"
"I AM! I'M NOT DYING!"
⸻
Kirti Watches… Too Closely
Kirti stepped closer, curiosity spiking.
He was… unusual.
No stance.
No training.
No mana circulation.
And yet—
He avoided every blow with movements that felt… familiar.
Like someone who'd once danced through death itself.
Her chest tightened.
Why does watching him feel like remembering a battle I never fought?
⸻
Round 2 — The Accident That Changes Everything
Toren roared, unleashing Earth Pulse, a basic but powerful shockwave.
Kayden braced.
Not on purpose.
He just flinched and raised his hands.
BOOM.
A silver flash burst from Kayden's palms.
The shockwave split.
Like it didn't dare touch him.
The entire arena froze.
Lyra whispered, "That… that wasn't basic mana. That was barrier manipulation… with no chant… no stance… NOTHING…"
Marvek nearly dropped his clipboard.
"T-That's ancient-grade instinct casting. That's not even supposed to exist anymore!"
Kayden stared at his hands.
"Uhh… did I do that? Or did the universe glitch again?"
Toren, infuriated, charged again.
Kayden panicked and threw his arms out.
And then—
The impossible happened.
The air SHIVERED.
Silver lines formed in front of Kayden—
like invisible strings plucked by fate.
A ripple blasted outward, sending Toren flying backward like he got hit by a teleporting elephant.
He landed with a thud.
Silence.
Marvek squeaked,
"W-What spell… was THAT…?"
Kayden blinked.
"I don't know?? I just didn't want to get punched??"
The ripple had been a Dimensional Echo, a type of spell only wielded by—
Kirti's eyes widened.
Him.
The rhythm of the move.
The pulse.
The shape of the aura.
She had seen something like it once—
in dreams she didn't understand.
Her heart hurt again.
"…Why do I feel like I've seen him fight before?"
⸻
Toren: Broken But Not Defeated
Toren struggled up, rage blazing.
"NO! I REFUSE TO LOSE TO SOME—SOME… FARM CHILD!"
He activated his Full Mana Guard, plates glowing hot red.
Kayden frowned.
"Dude you should sit down you look like a heating pan—"
Toren roared and rushed him.
Kayden sighed.
"Okay. Fine."
He stepped forward.
Just ONE step.
The ground cracked.
Wind exploded outward.
Children stumbled back.
Even the knights guarding Kirti tensed.
Marvek swallowed. "What… is his physical reinforcement level…?!"
Kayden raised a hand—
not a fist, not a spell.
Just a hand.
Toren froze mid-charge as if someone pressed pause.
The mana in his body… short-circuited.
His knees buckled.
His armor deactivated.
His body collapsed gently to the ground, unconscious.
Kayden had tapped ONE pressure point.
Accidentally.
Children screamed.
Some fainted.
Ryn Thornwick vowed to never bully again.
Kayden stared at his own hand in horror.
"WHY CAN I DO THESE THINGS?? I AM EIGHT. I AM SUPPOSED TO BE LEARNING HOW TO SPELL POTATO."
Lyra whispered, trembling, "Kayden… you are the potato."
⸻
The Arena Reacts
Mira Dawnstep approached shyly.
"H-Hey… that was… cool…"
Kayden sighed apologetically. "Thanks but I swear I don't know what I'm doing."
Sora Kelwyn, an older noble girl, smirked.
"I'm impressed. Who trained you?"
Kayden:
"My mom taught me how to bake bread."
Sora:
"…Never mind."
Toren was taken away by healers.
Marvek cleared his throat.
"WINNER—Kayden Lyth—"
"LYTHMOOR!" Kayden shouted.
"Yes. That. Kayden wins."
The crowd cheered.
Some glared.
Some whispered.
But Kirti…
She simply stared.
Not with fear.
Not with admiration.
With recognition she didn't understand.
"Silver mana… dimensional displacement… instinct casting…" she murmured.
"…Who are you?"
⸻
Their Third Near Encounter — Destiny Teases Again
Kayden walked toward the resting area, exhausted.
He passed Kirti.
She stepped toward him.
They stopped.
Just inches apart.
Kayden looked up.
Kirti looked down.
Their eyes met.
And for a second—
the world vanished.
Their souls trembled.
Golden met silver.
Light met starlight.
Memories flickered—
a battlefield, a dying sky, two hands reaching…
Kirti's breath shook.
Kayden felt dizzy.
Then—
A knight interrupted.
"Lady Kirti, your father is arriving."
She stepped back abruptly.
Kayden blinked, confused.
Kirti whispered, barely audible—
"…What are you to me?"
Kayden blinked.
"Huh?"
Before either could speak again—
Trumpets sounded.
A procession entered.
The Highlord himself.
And the moment shattered.
⸻
End Scene — Foreshadowing
From the shadows of the arena stands, two mysterious figures watched.
One cloaked in black.
One cloaked in white.
"Did you feel it?" White asked.
Black nodded.
"Yes. The Silver Star awakens."
"And the Golden Flame flares."
White smiled beneath the hood.
"This era won't be peaceful."
Black replied coldly:
"No. Because destiny just reunited its two lost children."
⸻
To be continued in Chapter 5 — "The Girl with the Golden Eyes"