Sovereign of The Abyss

Chapter 8

“Whit whee whoe whoe whoe whit whee,” Miko whistled as he washed in the shower.

“Hahh,” he exhaled softly as he washed his face, finally turning off the shower.

He sat down on a bench, looking around at lockers before fixing his gaze on the large mirror before him.

“After the encounter with the abyss,” he shivered. “Think I might have mirror-phobia,” he said as he giggled.

**

Soon after, he stepped out of the school bathroom.

“Well, now that I’ve officially got no place to return to, I guess the school is now home,” he said as he looked around.

“Hiyahh!“

“Hiyuh!”

“Wind spike!!!”

“Fire ball!”

“Looks like the school is busy today, not everyone went back home,” Miko wandered through the quiet halls of the training arena late at night.

As he approached the large doors of the practice room, faint sounds of combat echoed from within—fire crackling, wind slicing, and bright light beaming.

He hesitated before pushing the door open slightly, peering inside.

Akiya stood in the center of the room, flames swirling around her like a living entity. She launched a series of fireballs at a moving target, each one hitting dead center. Her precision was flawless, and the fire burned with an intensity that seemed almost untamed.

To her right, Liam moved with ease, a sharp gust of wind following every flick of his wrist. He used the wind to lift targets into the air, slamming them down with a force that made the ground shake. His normally lazy demeanor was gone, replaced with focus and control.

In the corner, Anna was surrounded by floating orbs of water, each one shimmering like liquid light. She manipulated them with grace, sending them to heal invisible wounds on a training dummy. Her expression was calm but intense, and the water moved as if it understood her emotions.

Miko’s breath caught in his throat. They were incredible. Watching them train, he realized just how far behind he was. He wasn’t just the weakest link—he was the reason they had never advanced in the clan games.

“You gonna stand there all night or actually say something?” Akiya’s voice cut through his thoughts, startling him. She had stopped mid-move, the flames around her extinguishing as she turned toward him.

“I—uh…” Miko stepped inside awkwardly, scratching the back of his head. “I didn’t mean to interrupt. I was just passing by.”

Liam smirked, brushing his wind-blown hair from his face. “Sure, you were. Come to spy on us, huh?”

“No!” Miko said quickly, shaking his head. “I just… couldn’t sleep.”

“You sleep in school? Since when did we have dorms?” Akiya laughed.

Anna approached quietly, her soft footsteps barely audible. “You can join us, you know,” she said gently, her tone lacking the mockery of the others. “We were about to wrap up anyway.”

Before Miko could decline, Akiya clapped her hands together. “Perfect timing! We were just about to grab something to eat. You coming?”

Miko hesitated. He didn’t feel like he belonged, not after seeing how skilled they were. “I don’t want to bother you guys…”

“Oh, stop being dramatic,” Liam said, rolling his eyes. “We’re getting snacks, not planning a battle strategy. Let’s go.”

Akiya grabbed Miko by the arm and started dragging him toward the cafeteria. “Come on. You can’t say no to late-night snacks.”

The group settled at a corner table in the dimly lit cafeteria, the atmosphere much more relaxed now. Akiya had piled her tray high with food, while Liam leaned back in his chair, lazily sipping a drink. Anna sat quietly, her hands folded in her lap, a cup of tea in front of her.

“So, Miko,” Liam started, a teasing grin on his face, “what did you think of our little training session?”

Miko fidgeted with his drink, avoiding their eyes. “You’re all… amazing,” he admitted quietly.

“Damn right we are,” Akiya said, grinning. “I mean, we have to be if we want to stand a chance in the clan games.”

“You’ve all been carrying the team,” Miko said, his voice barely above a whisper. “I’m the reason we’ve never advanced, aren’t I?”

The table fell silent for a moment. Even Liam’s usual smirk faded as he exchanged a glance with the others.

Anna was the first to speak. “That’s not true, Miko,” she said softly.

“Yes, it is,” Miko said, looking up at her. “I was chosen because of my connection to Elena, wasn’t I? That’s the only reason I’m here.”

Akiya sighed, crossing her arms. “Look, I won’t sugarcoat it. Yeah, you were picked because of her. But that doesn’t mean you’re useless. You just… haven’t figured out your potential yet.”

Liam nodded, surprising Miko. “She’s right. You’re not the first person to start at the bottom. You just need to work harder to catch up.”

Miko’s shoulders slumped. “Easier said than done.”

Anna’s quiet voice broke through the tension. “We’ve all struggled, Miko. You’re not alone in that.”

He looked at her, curious. “You? But you’re amazing. I saw you out there. You’re perfect.”

Anna shook her head, a distant look in her eyes. “Far from it.” She hesitated, her fingers tightening around her cup. “Do you know why I still choose to fight after getting a power such as healing?”

Miko shook his head, the others leaning in slightly as if they hadn’t heard this story before either.

Anna took a deep breath. “When I was a child, a portal to the Abyss opened in my neighborhood. It came out of nowhere, swallowing the entire street. Wraiths poured out, attacking everyone.” Her voice wavered, but she continued. “I was just a kid. I couldn’t do anything. I watched my friends, my neighbors… everyone I cared about die.”

The table was silent, the weight of her words sinking in.

“I survived because I hid,” Anna said, her voice trembling. “But hiding meant I couldn’t help them. I couldn’t save anyone. When the portal finally closed, I swore I would never let that happen again. I’d carry their hopes and dreams, and I’d destroy every last wraith I came across.”

Miko stared at her, stunned. He had never imagined someone as calm and composed as Anna carrying such a heavy burden. “I’m sorry,” he said softly.

She shook her head, offering a small, sad smile. “Don’t be. It’s why I’m here. Why I fight. We all have our reasons, Miko. You just need to find yours.”

Akiya nodded, her usual fiery demeanor tempered by the serious tone. “She’s right. Everyone starts somewhere. The question is, are you gonna sit around feeling sorry for yourself, or are you gonna do something about it?”

Liam smirked, leaning back in his chair. “I mean, the clan games are coming up. Perfect opportunity to prove yourself, don’t you think?”

Miko looked around the table, their faces filled with encouragement. For the first time, he felt like maybe, just maybe, he could belong here.

“I’ll try,” he said finally, his voice steady. “I’ll work harder.”

Akiya grinned, clapping him on the back. “That’s the spirit!”

Liam raised his drink in a mock toast. “Here’s to not embarrassing us this year.”

Anna smiled softly. “We’ll help you, Miko. You’re not alone.”

As the group laughed and joked, the weight on Miko’s shoulders felt a little lighter. He wasn’t there yet, but for the first time, he believed he could be.