Aethelos: The Bastard of Light

In the director’s office, Joseph spoke in a low, precise tone. · “The plan is simple. You do your part and I do mine. · No one else can know. Not your group. Not even Brock.” · Eli nodded seriously. · “Understood.” · “Then go. And don’t come back into the academy until I contact you.” · Eli left the office without looking back. He walked through the corridors and out the gates of Solaris with steady steps. Behind him, the director’s door closed once more. · As soon as he disappeared, Lito appeared in the hallway and entered without knocking. · “You two spent a long time together. Was the report that extensive?” · Joseph watched him without moving. · “Many difficulties happened that night, Lito. Is there anything you want to tell me?” · “What I can say is that Zakrom appeared and I tried to contain him, since Brock—” · “Yes,” Joseph interrupted. “He already told me. Including that you were humiliated. · I just hope that information doesn’t leak. It would be… embarrassing.” · Lito swallowed hard. · “There won’t be any leak. Just tell the people who know to keep quiet.” · Joseph gave a cold smile. · “Exactly.” · On the other side, in the Valley of the Wind, the fight had already begun. · Lygar faced Jared Hurrakaine. The wind user moved with studied precision, mixing power and strategy. He created a wind bow and launched three arrows at the same time. Lygar dodged the first ones, saw an opening and charged. · This is my chance. · “Dark Punch!” · The black fist cut through the air… but Jared smiled. In the same instant one of the arrows, still hovering in the field, shot forward and buried itself in Lygar’s shoulder. · He stepped back, gripping the wound. · “Those arrows are still in the field?” · Jared casually brushed dust from his clothes. · “Friend… if I didn’t hit you earlier, it was because I didn’t want to. · Now I did. Hehehe.” · Lygar clenched his teeth. · He’s good. But I’ll be better. · A few meters away, Yana was fighting Vincent. · Violeta’s son was absurdly fast. Electric attacks rained down without pause. Yana could only react, making trees and roots sprout around her for protection. · Vincent stopped for a second and let out a disdainful smile. · “Is this the kind of students that exist in Solaris? You’re weak. Very weak.” · The provocation hit hard. Yana dropped her defenses at once and shouted: · “Leaf Blade!” · A massive vine covered in sharp thorns shot from her hand toward the opponent. · Vincent didn’t even flinch. · “Exactly what I wanted. · Thunderbird!” · A bird made of thunder materialized and launched itself at the vine. The electricity ran through the thorns as if they were conductors and reached Yana’s hand. Her body trembled from the shock and she fell to her knees, lightly smoking. · While the students fought, Brock and Violeta watched from a few steps away. · “Your students are strong,” Brock commented. “You know they could have gone to Solaris. And you’re welcome there too.” · Violeta didn’t take her eyes off the fight. · “Going to Solaris means touching a past I don’t like. · The truth is we did things wrong… and you know that.” · Brock remained silent. · In the devastated clearing of the Valley of the Wind, Lygar was bleeding from the shoulder and Yana was still trying to regain control of her arms. · Jared and Vincent advanced again, unhurried, like people who knew the fight was under control. · The pressure kept rising. · And for the first time since they had left the academy, Lygar and Yana clearly felt they were at a disadvantage.