Kai’s POV “You’re getting quite popular.” I lift my head to the voice in front of my desk. It’s Orin as usual. I look at him but say nothing. He smirks. “What? You’re ignoring me now?” He laughs like he doesn’t believe I would dare do such a thing. Then he proceeds to sweep the books off my desk angrily. I watch as they scatter around the floor and not one person in the classroom tells him to stop. Instead they all burst into laughter. It’s like they’re genuinely enjoying what he’s doing. For a moment, I remember Vazaroth’s words. Maybe a little killing wouldn’t be bad because why should I try to protect people who don’t do the same for me? My fists lock under the desk. “Leave.” Although the words come out of me at a measured pace, any sensible person can hear the quiet anger in my tone. The room goes quiet. Orin eyes me for a second then smiles. “Do you even know who you’re talking to?” “I don’t care.” He smirks. “You’ve got some courage I’ll admit, but I’d advise against it…co

Kai’s POV For a moment, nothing happens. I stare at Ryder, still holding a piece of my necklace. Then my breathing starts to change. My chest starts to tighten and the noise around me starts fading slowly. The arena stretches out in a strange way, like the world is bending. I look back at Ryder. He suddenly looks farther now. Then almost immediately, closer. Then farther again. Then closer one more time. A voice whispers inside my head. “There you are. You’ve been hiding from me for too long.” Vazaroth. My blood runs cold. “No.” I hold my head. “Leave me alone.” His wicked laugh fills my head. “Wrong answer. ” I squeeze my eyes shut. “Go away.” His voice becomes clearer. “Go kill him. Go kill him now.” My eyes snap open. His voice continues to whisper in my ear. “He did this. He pissed you off. He came at you first. He looked for your trouble. Show them who you are, Kai. Show them you are not to be messed with. Show them you have the greatest power of all. Go. Suck his life essen

Kai’s POV “Congratulations to the students who placed among the winners in the last competition. You qualify for the—.” “DUNGEON EXPEDITION!” The students complete the professor’s words excitedly and a cheer explodes through the classroom. An expedition? What is that? I haven’t been here long enough to know so many things about the academy. “Another thing.” The professor's voice cuts into their excitement. His eyes then settle on me. “You’ll be having two extra students who did not join in the competition accompany you on the expedition.” One student stands immediately. “That makes no sense, professor. For you to qualify for the dungeon expedition, you need to have participated in the competition.” The professor looks at him with little interest. “Do you think I don’t know the rules?” “So why do we have those two students following us then?” The boy stares at me as he asks his question. “I think the real question should be who are these two students?” another girl asks. “Good q

Kai’s POV A monster jumps from the roof. “Left!” Someone yells. I turn to see a small creature charging straight at me. Before I can raise my hand, Jafser’s whirlwind hits it first and the creature crashes into the wall. Jafser grins excitedly. “Did you see that? I saved you.” I look at him, locking my jaw. “You didn’t.” “I absolutely did.” Aelia laughs behind us as we keep moving deeper into the dungeon. The next few monsters we see aren’t much stronger either. A pack of crawling creatures, a winged beast. Two creatures with sharp claws that barely last five seconds against Orin’s fire. Eventually, even Jafser gets bored. “Is this supposed to be a dungeon? I was expecting something more.” He really was. After all, he told me all about it. Orin looks ahead. “Trust me, keep moving. We haven’t reached the dangerous section.” “How much farther?” Jafser asks. “Until you stop complaining,” I reply in Orin’s place. He sucks his teeth at me. We make another turn on a different lane and

Kai’s POV “What do you want from me?” I bark into the empty cave, my throat burning in anger. “What, Vazaroth? My life!” I look around. I fling my fingers to my neck, ripping off the crystal necklace. “Fine. If you want me, come get me. Take my life like you want, JUST LEAVE ME THE HELL ALONE.” A sudden pressure starts to rise inside me like someone is driving nails into my skull. Then the pressure turns into heat. My blood grows hot. Too hot, crawling under my skin in slow, sticky waves. My heart starts to beat faster than usual, fast enough that I feel the impact in my teeth. Then, air leaves my lungs in a sharp, involuntary gasp. The world darkens around me. I drop to my knees on a surface that isn’t solid or liquid but there, cold enough to burn. The cave has become water. The cold sinks straight through my bones. I run my fingers into it but I don’t feel skin. Instead I feel something that coats it like oil and ice at the same time. My joints start to ache. I look down t