The silence in Kai and Chiron’s upper-middle tier apartment was heavy, broken only by the rhythmic scrape of a whetstone as Chiron sharpened his longsword. The air was charged with the aftermath of the Silver-rank gathering and the aggressive challenge posed by the Lightning Clan’s heir.
Jin had followed them discreetly back from the pavilion. He sat on a low stool, nursing a cup of tea, his face etched with worry. He knew the true, deadly nature of the forces Kai had just antagonized.
“You played a dangerous game back there, Kael,” Jin began, setting the tea down. “Feng may be arrogant, but his Core Stage energy is real, and his bloodline is powerful. More importantly, when a Clan Master’s heir loses face publicly, the entire Clan takes offense. They will retaliate, not with a simple du
