Aaron left the classroom, stepping into the academy's hallways before making his way outside toward the massive yard—stretching wider than two football fields combined.
—
Students were scattered everywhere.
Talking. Training. Moving in groups.
—
Aaron, however, headed elsewhere.
—
Toward the far edge.
—
The forest zone.
—
It looked like a contained section of woodland at first glance—trees of all sizes, from thin saplings to towering giants—but that was only the surface.
—
Once entered…
It expanded.
—
Space distorted, stretching the area into something far larger than it normally appeared.
A simulated wilderness.
The Perfect place to hide from any unnecessary attention.
Hidden.
—
The moment Aaron stepped onto the damp forest floor, cool air brushed against his skin, carrying the scent of earth and leaves.
—
He walked deeper.
Further.
—
Silence followed him.
—
Until—
—
Thud—
Crack—
—
His ears twitched.
—
The sound of fists colliding.
—
Aaron's gaze sharpened.
He moved.
—
Fast.
—
Each step placed with precision, silent against the forest floor as he closed in on the source.
—
(Mirror) — (Shadow Walk)
—
His form slipped into the shadows, phasing from one tree to another, unseen—until he reached the edge of the scene.
—
And there—
—
Jorien.
—
Holding someone by the collar.
—
The boy with glasses.
—
Jonathan.
—
"Jonathan, Jonathan…" Jorien muttered, almost mockingly, his crimson Veyrath eyes gleaming. "Next time I'm talking to Evelyn, how about you just… don't show up?"
—
He leaned in slightly.
—
"Your presence alone is irritating."
A pause.
—
"And stay out of my way."
—
Snap—
—
Aaron emerged from Jonathan's shadow.
—
His fist moved before words did.
—
Impact—
—
The punch landed clean.
Jorien staggered, crashing toward the ground as pain rang through his skull.
—
"Aaron…you again. I thought you were sent into recovery…." Jorien growled, pushing himself up, eyes blazing. "What did I tell you some time ago?!"
—
Aaron stepped forward, calm—but not cold.
—
Controlled.
—
"You didn't tell me anything."
A faint tilt of his head.
—
"Now let him go."
—
A beat.
—
"He didn't do anything to you… did he?"
—
His eyes shifted.
Crimson deepening.
Slitting.
—
"Or is that all your mind's capable of?"
A faint, dangerous edge entered his voice.
—
"Women… and your own ego."
—
"Tell me, dear Jorien."
—
Jonathan's eyes widened as he watched the two siblings face each other.
Neither moved.
Both waited.
—
A silent clash of will.
—
Then—
Jorien moved first.
—
His fist ignited.
Flames coiled violently around his arm as he drove it forward, tearing through the air—
—
Impact—
—
It struck.
—
A barrier.
—
Aegis.
—
The flames dispersed violently across its surface—but the shield held.
—
Jorien's eyes widened.
—
Aaron stood there.
Unmoved.
Smiling.
—
"Surprised…?"
A low chuckle escaped him.
—
"Haha…"
—
"I'll never remain weak."
—
The air shifted.
—
Pressure descended.
Heavy.
Crushing.
—
Adept Tier.
—
Jorien's body stiffened, trembling despite himself.
"I—I'm not… scared of you!"
—
Aaron tilted his head slightly.
—
"Really?"
—
[Phantom's Dash]
—
The word echoed—
From behind.
—
Jorien's breath hitched.
Every instinct screamed.
—
He turned—
And met those eyes.
—
Crimson.
Slitted.
Inhuman.
—
Aaron stood taller now, looking down at him as if he were something beneath notice.
—
Jorien reacted instantly.
—
Flames erupted outward—
Infernal fire consuming everything around them, devouring the forest floor in a chaotic blaze.
—
Jonathan stumbled back, then ran—retreating to a safe distance, watching in horror.
—
Within the burning chaos—
Two figures remained.
—
One, commanding the flames.
—
The other…
Walking through them.
—
Untouched.
—
Aegis shimmered faintly around Aaron, the fire bending away from him as if unwilling to approach.
—
Step.
—
Step.
—
Step.
—
Each movement slow.
Deliberate.
—
Jorien's fear grew with every second.
—
"Tell me, Jorien…"
Aaron's voice cut through the flames.
—
"Are you even a Veyrath?"
A pause.
—
"You don't seem like one."
—
Jorien's expression twisted, rage breaking through his fear.
—
"Says the one who was bedridden for years!" he snapped. "Wastrel trash—!"
—
"And now? Soul-branded filth!"
—
"Tell me—who's the useless one here?!"
—
Silence.
—
Then—
Aaron vanished.
—
He reappeared above Jorien, arm raised—elbow poised to crash down with brutal force—
Crack—
—
The impact rang through Jorien's skull as he crashed to the ground, pain exploding through his senses.
—
Fear etched itself across his face.
—
Aaron didn't stop.
—
He stepped in—relentless.
—
Fists came down.
Heavy—
Brutal—
Unforgiving—
—
Again.
And again.
—
Each strike drove deeper, forcing broken sounds from Jorien as he tried to scramble back—desperate, disoriented—
—
But Aaron was already on him.
—
Claws burst from his fingers, tearing through Jorien's clothes before digging into the ground beneath—pinning him in place like a nailed board.
—
Trapped—
And then—
—
The other hand came down.
—
Punch after punch rained without pause.
—
"Ah—!"
—
"Stop—!"
—
"Aaron… please—!"
—
Jorien's voice broke, panic overtaking him.
—
"St—Stop! Rowan won't forgive you!"
—
That name—
Stopped everything.
Pin drop silence filled the surrounding.
—
Aaron's fist halted mid-air.
—
Slowly…
He grabbed Jorien by the throat and lifted him off the ground.
—
"Rowan…?"
His voice dropped.
Cold.
—
"…Is he supposed to mean something?"
—
Jorien choked, barely able to breathe.
—
Aaron's grip tightened slightly before he leaned in. Whispering…..
"I know about the inheritor's race."
—
—
"And I know how far Rowan has already gone."
His eyes narrowed dangerously…
"Let me remind you of something, dear brother…"
—
"There was once an ancestor of ours who slaughtered a few of his own siblings… just to inherit this house."
—
A faint, dangerous smile formed.
—
"So listen carefully."
—
"Stay out of my way."
—
"Stay out of your pathetic little games… your bullying…"
—
His grip tightening once more.
"…or the next time you see me—"
Aaron paused….
"It'll be from the bottom of the hole in the ground….I dig for you!"
—
He let go.
—
Jorien dropped…..