2025-11-14 23:40:21
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Chapter 151
Garrett woke Draven up at dawn. "Come on, little brother. Training time." Draven groaned and pulled his pillow over his head. "It's too early." "The sun's up. That means we're late." Garrett yanked the blanket off. "Up. Now." "I hate you." "I hate you too. Get dressed." "if you hate me then why do you want to train? You've hated me my whole life," There was silence. "I was given an obligation to do this, don't make me more angry than I am," Five minutes later, Draven found himself on the training grounds while the rest of the academy still slept. Garrett was already stretching, looking far too awake for this hour. "Why are we here?" Draven asked. "Because I want to see what you can do. Really do. Not the stories. Not the legends. You." "You could've waited until after breakfast." "Breakfast is for after training." Garrett tossed him a practice sword. "Show me what the tomb survivor can do." Draven caught the sword and rolled his shoulders. Fine. If Garrett wanted to see
Chapter 150
Draven found a quiet spot behind the library.A stone bench tucked between two trees where no one really went. Perfect for thinking. For processing.He sat down and let himself breathe.The pendant was warm against his chest. Not calling. Just present. Waiting.Draven closed his eyes and let the memories surface.Pyrion's tomb. The trials. The Dragonfire Sovereign Art burning in his hands before he destroyed it. The weight of that choice still sat heavy sometimes.King Aldrich's soldiers. Their memories flowing into the pendant. Centuries of loyalty and service. Knowledge that made him stronger but also more aware of his limitations.The mill. Running through the forest. The jump into the ravine. The cold water. The failure.Draven opened his eyes and stared at the trees above. Leaves rustled in the breeze. Birds called. Normal afternoon sounds.So much had happened in just a few months. He'd gone from a nobody student to someone people whispered about. The man who rejected power. The
Chapter 149
Two weeks passed.Classes. Training. Meals. Sleep. Repeat.The routine helped. Draven threw himself into academy life like it was the only thing that mattered. Elemental theory with Master Vex. Combat practice in the training grounds. Study sessions in the library.Normal student stuff.His team did the same. Jin focused on earth magic techniques. Lyra worked on wind manipulation. Sera spent hours in the shadow magic wing.They didn't talk about the mill. Didn't mention Varen or Rask. Just moved forward."Again!" Master Vex's voice echoed across the training grounds.Draven rolled his shoulders and raised his sword. Across from him, Jin grinned and lifted his axe."Ready to lose?" Jin asked."In your dreams."They'd been sparring for an hour. Both were sweating. Both were smiling.Master Vex watched from the side, arms crossed. "This is supposed to be technique practice, not a brawl.""This IS technique," Jin called back."Debatable."Draven moved first. Quick strike, testing Jin's gu
Chapter 148
The academy gates looked different when they returned.Same stone walls. Same guard towers. Same banners flapping in the wind. But something felt off.Maybe it was them who'd changed.Draven walked through the gates with his team behind him. Students passed by, laughing and talking about classes. Normal academy life. Like nothing had happened.Like they hadn't just failed to save two people."I need a shower," Lyra said quietly. "And sleep. Lots of sleep.""Same," Jin agreed.They split up in the courtyard. Jin headed to the dormitories. Lyra toward the bathhouses. Sera just disappeared without a word, the way she always did when things got heavy.Draven stood alone in the courtyard, watching students move around him.He should report to Master Vex. File the expedition paperwork. Explain what happened.But he couldn't make himself move.The pendant was cool against his chest. Silent. No ancient memories offering wisdom. Just his own thoughts circling endlessly.Varen and Rask were sti
Chapter 147
The mill came into view as dawn broke.It sat beside a dried-up riverbed, half-collapsed and covered in vines. The waterwheel was broken, missing planks like rotted teeth. Windows were dark and empty. The whole structure looked ready to fall apart with a strong wind.But smoke rose from inside.Someone was there.Draven crouched behind a fallen tree, studying the building. His team spread out beside him, all of them watching for movement."Two guards at the front door," Sera whispered. "One on the second floor, north window.""I see him," Lyra confirmed.Jin shifted his weight, axe ready. "That's only three. Where are the rest?""Inside probably," Draven said. "Or they really are running low on numbers after the camp.""Or it's another trap," Lyra pointed out."Definitely another trap," Sera agreed.Draven studied the mill's layout. Something about it bothered him. The guards were too visible. Too easy. Like they wanted to be seen."Lyra, can you take the window guard?"She pulled out
Chapter 146
Draven kept watch while the others slept, his eyes scanning the darkness between the trees. Every shadow looked like a threat. Every sound made his hand drift toward his sword.Something was wrong.He couldn't put his finger on it, but the feeling sat heavy in his gut. The rescue had been too easy. The mercenaries too disorganized. For a professional company, they'd fallen apart fast.Too fast.Beside him, Varen shifted in his sleep, muttering something unintelligible. Rask breathed heavily, his ribs clearly hurting from the beating he'd taken.Draven looked at them in the dim moonlight filtering through the trees.Then he froze.Varen's wrist. The rope burns were there, red and raw. But something about them looked wrong. Too perfect. Too symmetrical.Draven stood slowly, moving closer. He knelt beside the merchant, studying his face in the pale light.The cuts were real. The bruises were real. But the way Varen breathed, the way he lay there—It was too still. Too posed.Like a paint
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