Chapter 6: Trail by Shadows
1959 Words
The night felt empty without him.
Elian didn’t speak the entire way back.
Not when they ran.
Not when they hid.
Not even when they finally reached the safehouse.
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Mike’s death echoed in his mind like a broken loop.
That moment.
That second.
The Devourer’s jaws closing—
Gone.
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It should’ve been him.
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The safehouse door shut behind them with a heavy, final thud. The sound lingered in the air longer than it should have, like the world itself was marking the end of something.
Marcus moved immediately, slipping into routine—checking windows, reinforcing locks, scanning every corner like danger might still be watching.
Nyx didn’t move.
She stood still for a moment.
Watching Elian.
Waiting.
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Elian didn’t look at her.
He just stood there.
Still.
Too still.
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“Elian…” Nyx said quietly.
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Nothing.
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His hands were shaking.
Barely.
But she saw it.
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“You couldn’t have saved him,” Marcus added, his voice firm, controlled—measured.
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That did it.
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Elian turned.
Slow.
His eyes burned—not with power this time.
But something worse.
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“Don’t,” he said.
Low.
Sharp.
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Silence fell instantly.
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“I was right there,” he continued. “I had power. I had control. I—”
His voice cracked.
Just for a second.
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“I still couldn’t save him.”
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Nyx stepped forward slightly.
“You didn’t know what you were facing—”
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“I SHOULD HAVE!”
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The room trembled.
Not violently—but enough.
A flicker of light surged from Elian, unstable, raw, uncontrolled. It pulsed outward like a heartbeat, reacting to his emotion instead of his will.
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Marcus stepped in immediately.
“Control it.”
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Elian laughed.
It wasn’t humor.
It was hollow.
“Control it?” he repeated. “That’s all I keep hearing. Control it. Use it. Master it.”
His eyes snapped to Nyx.
“You said it yourself. If I lose control, I become the problem.”
A beat.
“So what am I now?”
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Nyx didn’t answer.
Because she didn’t have a good one.
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“…You’re evolving,” she said finally.
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Elian scoffed.
“Yeah? Feels more like I’m breaking.”
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The room fell quiet again.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
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Then Nyx moved.
She reached into her jacket and pulled out the Codex.
The ancient book.
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“We don’t have time to fall apart,” she said. “Vesper got what she wanted.”
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Elian’s eyes narrowed.
“She didn’t get my power.”
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“No,” Nyx replied.
“She got confirmation.”
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That landed.
Harder than anything else.
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“She knows what you are now,” Nyx continued. “What you can become. She won’t come unprepared next time.”
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Marcus nodded.
“She’ll escalate.”
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Elian’s jaw tightened.
“Good.”
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Both of them looked at him.
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“I want her to.”
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There was no hesitation now.
No fear.
Just anger.
Cold.
Focused.
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Nyx studied him carefully.
Then said quietly—
“If you want to kill Vesper…”
She held up the Codex.
“…you’re not strong enough yet.”
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That hit.
Straight through him.
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Elian didn’t argue.
Because he knew it was true.
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“So what do I do?” he asked.
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Nyx flipped the Codex open.
The pages shifted.
Symbols rearranged.
Almost alive.
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“There’s someone,” she said.
“A Dawnblood.”
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Elian’s head lifted slightly.
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“Older,” she continued. “Stronger. Trained.”
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Marcus added quietly—
“Dangerous.”
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Nyx nodded.
“Her name is Akira.”
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The name hung in the air.
Heavy.
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“She doesn’t work with anyone,” Nyx continued. “Doesn’t trust anyone. And definitely doesn’t take orders.”
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Elian’s voice was steady.
“Then why would she help me?”
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Nyx closed the book.
“She won’t.”
A beat.
“Unless you prove you’re worth it.”
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**Tokyo — Three nights later**
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The city never slept.
Lights burned endlessly.
Neon reflected off wet pavement.
Alive.
Chaotic.
Relentless.
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But as Elian stepped into Shinjuku Goul Park—
Everything changed.
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The noise faded first.
Then the air shifted.
Cooler.
Heavier.
Like stepping into something that didn’t belong to the world outside.
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The trees twisted unnaturally, their branches stretching into jagged silhouettes against the dim sky. Shadows gathered beneath them—not soft, not natural—but thick.
Almost liquid.
Watching.
Waiting.
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Elian slowed.
His senses sharpened instantly.
“She’s here.”
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Nyx’s voice came low behind him.
“She’s been watching us since we entered.”
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Marcus adjusted his stance.
“I don’t like this.”
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Akira’s presence wasn’t loud.
But it was absolute.
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A voice slipped through the trees.
“Come alone.”
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It wasn’t a command.
It was certainty.
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Elian didn’t hesitate.
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Nyx stepped forward.
“Elian—this is exactly how people die.”
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He glanced back.
“I don’t have a choice.”
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Marcus’s jaw tightened.
But he gave a small nod.
“We’ll be close.”
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Elian shook his head.
“No.”
A breath.
“If I do this… I do it her way.”
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Silence followed.
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Then he stepped forward.
Alone.
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Each step felt heavier than the last.
Like the shadows were reacting to him.
Studying him.
Measuring him.
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Then—
She appeared.
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No sound.
No warning.
Just… there.
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Akira stood beneath a crooked tree, her posture relaxed, her expression unreadable. Her green eyes locked onto him instantly.
Sharp.
Unblinking.
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“So,” she said calmly, “you’re the one Vesper wants.”
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Elian didn’t look away.
“I need your help.”
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A faint smile touched her lips.
“I don’t help,” she said.
“I test.”
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The shadows behind her stirred.
A low, guttural sound rolled through the park.
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Elian didn’t turn.
He already knew.
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“Survive,” Akira continued.
“One hour. No weapons. No backup.”
A pause.
“Or die.”
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Elian’s jaw tightened.
“That it?”
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Her smile sharpened.
“If that’s too much… you can leave.”
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He didn’t move.
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“Begin.”
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They came instantly.
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The first Goul lunged from the darkness, twisted and feral. Elian barely dodged, claws slicing through the air where his head had been.
Then another.
Then another.
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Within seconds—
They surrounded him.
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Breathing.
Snarling.
Waiting.
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Elian steadied himself.
*Don’t rush.*
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One attacked—
He moved.
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Clean.
Controlled.
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He ducked, pivoted, slammed his shoulder into it—sending it crashing into another. But they didn’t stop.
They kept coming.
Relentless.
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Claws tore into his jacket.
A sharp pain grazed his arm.
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Too close.
Too many.
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He exhaled slowly.
*Think.*
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Fighting them head-on would kill him.
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So he looked beyond them.
Past the chaos.
Past the movement.
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Search.
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And then—
He saw it.
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The alpha.
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Larger.
Still.
Watching from the shadows.
Controlling everything.
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Elian’s breathing slowed.
“That’s it…”
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He shifted his stance.
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Then moved.
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Not away.
Not to safety.
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Straight through them.
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The Gouls reacted instantly, lunging to tear him down. One caught his shoulder, spinning him—but he recovered, forcing his way forward.
Pain burned.
He ignored it.
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The alpha roared.
Too late.
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Elian collided with it, slamming it into the ground. They struggled—claws, teeth, strength.
It wasn’t mindless.
It was aware.
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Good.
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Power stirred inside him.
Not wild.
Not explosive.
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Controlled.
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Light flickered along his arm.
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The alpha hesitated.
Just for a second.
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Enough.
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Elian drove his hand forward.
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Light surged—
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Then—
Silence.
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The alpha collapsed.
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And just like that—
Everything stopped.
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The remaining Gouls hesitated.
Then retreated.
Gone.
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Elian stood there, breathing hard.
Body shaking.
But standing.
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A slow clap echoed.
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Akira stepped forward.
Her expression calm.
But her eyes—
Sharper now.
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“Good,” she said.
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She circled him slowly.
“You didn’t panic.”
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Elian wiped blood from his lip.
“I almost did.”
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“But you didn’t.”
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Nyx and Marcus stepped out from the shadows.
Relief.
Tension.
Both.
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“You’re insane,” Nyx muttered.
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Elian ignored it.
His eyes stayed on Akira.
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“I need your help.”
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Akira sighed faintly.
“And I told you… I don’t help.”
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Elian stepped forward.
“I’m not asking for a favor.”
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That caught her attention.
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“No?”
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“I’m asking for a chance.”
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Silence stretched.
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“You think that was enough?” she asked.
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“No,” Elian said.
“I think it proved I’m not dead yet.”
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A flicker of interest.
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“But I will be,” he continued quietly, “if I stay like this.”
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He stepped closer.
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“She already took someone from me.”
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His voice tightened.
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“And I couldn’t stop it.”
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Nyx went still.
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“I don’t understand my power,” Elian admitted. “I react. I survive.”
A beat.
“That’s it.”
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He shook his head.
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“That’s not enough.”
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Akira watched him.
Carefully.
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“I don’t want to survive anymore,” he said.
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“I want to win.”
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The air shifted.
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Akira uncrossed her arms.
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“And you think I’m the one who gives you that?”
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“Yes.”
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“Why?”
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“Because you’re not afraid of her.”
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That made her pause.
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“You didn’t hesitate,” Elian added.
“You tested me. That means you know what it takes.”
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Akira stepped closer.
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“You’re angry.”
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“Yes.”
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“Reckless.”
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“Yes.”
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“Not ready.”
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That one hit.
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Elian didn’t look away.
“I know.”
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Silence.
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“And that’s why I’m asking.”
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Then—
He dropped to one knee.
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Nyx inhaled sharply.
Marcus stiffened.
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“Train me,” Elian said.
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No pride.
No ego.
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“I’ll do whatever it takes.”
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Akira circled him slowly.
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“Whatever?” she repeated.
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“Yes.”
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Her voice lowered.
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“Training with me isn’t survival,” she said.
“It’s breaking.”
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She stopped in front of him.
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“Your body will fail. Your mind will fight you. Everything you think you are… will be stripped away.”
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Elian didn’t move.
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“I won’t stop,” she continued.
“Not when it hurts. Not when you’re tired. Not when you want to quit.”
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Their eyes locked.
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“I won’t quit.”
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She studied him.
Long.
Carefully.
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Then—
She smiled.
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“Good.”
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She extended her hand.
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“Because I don’t train the weak.”
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Elian took it.
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She pulled him to his feet.
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“Training starts now.”
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And from that moment—
Elian stopped being who he was.
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And began becoming something far more dangerous.
- Writer
