The battlefield had gone quiet.

  Doctors scurried about, tending to the wounded. Bandages wrapped arms, potions were poured, and exhaustion hung like mist in the air. Yet, despite the weariness, laughter echoed faintly—relief breaking through the heavy silence.

  Daniel leaned against the infirmary bed, watching crimson strands of hair fade back into black, his crimson eyes dimming into the familiar dark hue. A reminder: the storm within him had calmed—for now.

  Two hours of sleep later, Daniel stirred awake. The soft rays of morning brushed against his face. He glanced out the dorm window. Mountains cut across the horizon, the sky painted in golden streaks.

  "This world…" he thought, fists tightening. "I don’t want it destroyed. I was a fool before, reckless with magic I didn’t understand. But now… no matter what, I’ll protect it. I have to."

  He climbed to the rooftop, sat cross-legged, and closed his eyes. Silence wrapped around him. Why me? Why this magic? How did I know how to control it, as if I always could?

  Then came the voice. Soft yet commanding, echoing in his mind:

  “You are the chosen one. You possess the greatest magic of them all. Your magic sits above every other.”

  Daniel’s eyes shot open. “What?! My magic… the greatest? But how—”

  “Looks like someone’s trying to meditate in the morning.”

  Daniel turned. Victor stood with a steaming mug, a faint smirk curling his lips.

  Daniel groaned. “Nice. You broke my meditation. And the truth with it.”

  “Truth?” Victor raised an eyebrow, taking a sip. “You’re talking like some old prophet now.”

  “Forget it. Just… nothing,” Daniel muttered, brushing it off.

  If you spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

  Victor waved the mug teasingly. “Coffee?”

  Daniel blinked. “You can make coffee?”

  Victor chuckled. “This? Nah. Noir made it.”

  As if on cue, a ripple of light shimmered. A portal snapped open, and Noir stepped through, adjusting his collar.

  Daniel sniffed the air. “Whoa. What’s this aroma? Smells amazing.”

  “That,” Noir said smugly, “is coming from my portal. I just came from the kitchen. Meal’s ready—so hurry before those two DEVOUR everything.”

  “Tom and Jackson…” Daniel shook his head.

  Victor raised his mug. “Thanks for this, Noir. Think I’ll join the feast too.”

  Noir smirked. “Relax. I cooked for you too.”

  Victor grinned and followed.

  Downstairs, chaos awaited.

  Tom and Jackson tore into their plates like wild animals, bowls clattering, meat disappearing at lightning speed.

  “Slow down, you beasts!” Leo hurled a pebble at Jackson’s head.

  Jackson ducked easily, mouth full. “Heh! Fastest in the squad, remember? You’ll never hit me!”

  “Then stop eating like animals,” Leo snapped. “At least save some for Daniel!”

  Victor, sliding into a seat, raised a brow. “And what about me? You want me to starve?”

  Daniel entered just in time to hear that. He smiled, sitting down. “It’s fine. Let them eat how they want. It’s… actually kind of fun to watch.”

  Selena, sipping delicately from her cup, giggled. “Fun? More like disgusting.”

  Sasha, cutting her bread with calm precision, added, “If they eat any faster, I might confuse them for pigs.”

  Jackson pointed at her with his spoon. “Hey! Don’t compare this masterpiece of a body to a pig!”

  Tom snorted. “Yeah, pigs are cleaner.”

  Everyone burst into laughter, the tension of battle melting into warm camaraderie.

  For a moment, it felt like peace had truly returned.

  But outside, the air shifted. Clouds swelled, swallowing the morning sun. The wind grew sharp, biting through the walls of the dorm.

  From the horizon, a distant shadow stirred. Towering. Its eyes glowed faintly red, piercing across impossible distance.

  Victor’s hand froze on his mug. He turned slightly, eyes narrowing.

  Beside him, Leo’s smile faltered, gaze locked on the same spot. Neither said a word at first.

  The shadow lingered, watching. Then, just as quickly, it faded into the clouds.

  Victor finally broke the silence, voice low. “You saw it too, didn’t you.”

  Leo’s jaw tightened. “Of course. This was just a small victory. The real deal hasn’t even begun.”

  Victor’s eyes darkened. “It’s not that we can’t handle these underlings. I’m just… concerned about the kids.”

  Leo leaned back, exhaling. “Let fate decide. We’ll see soon enough.”

  The laughter behind them carried on, none the wiser.

  And so, the celebration continued.

  For now.

  ??Chapter End—

  Chapter 12 ?? Preview: Shadows of the Chosen

  Morning light crept through the dorms, but Daniel’s mind lingered on the strange shadow from yesterday. Victor and Leo acted normal during breakfast, yet their eyes carried a weight none of the others noticed. Noir casually teased Jackson for stealing food, but his smile faltered when he saw Victor’s distant gaze. After the meal, Daniel caught Leo whispering something in a language he didn’t recognize. Selena and Sasha planned to shop in town, dragging Tom and Jackson along, leaving Daniel with the veterans. On the rooftop, Victor finally spoke to Leo in hushed tones about “the seal” and “the true enemy.” Daniel almost overheard them but a sudden gust of wind—unnatural—pushed him back. That night, Victor and Leo left the dorm again, stepping into a hidden portal Noir unknowingly opened. Daniel stared from the shadows, unsure if he should follow, his crimson spark flickering faintly again. The chapter closes with Victor’s chilling words in the dark: “If fate repeats… he must never know.”