Veil of Sparks

Kael kept his distance as he followed Ren through the overgrown ruins. The stranger moved with an easy confidence, his spear resting across his shoulders as he navigated the uneven terrain.

"So, uh, where are we going?" Kael asked, the silence gnawing at him.

Ren glanced back, his smirk barely visible in the dim light filtering through the trees. "You'll see. Don't worry, Sparky—I'm not leading you to your death. Yet."

"Comforting," Kael muttered.

Ren chuckled, stepping over a fallen pillar. "Relax. I know a good spot for what we're about to do. Quiet, isolated, and far enough from the city that no one will bother us."

Kael frowned, glancing around at the dense trees and crumbling stone structures. The ruins stretched as far as he could see, a labyrinth of forgotten history that felt both eerie and suffocating.

"You really train out here?" Kael asked, stepping over a patch of uneven ground.

Ren nodded. "Sometimes. Keeps me sharp. Plus, it's good for dealing with unwanted guests."

Kael stopped in his tracks. "Unwanted guests? Like Umbrals?"

"Among other things," Ren said casually. "Better keep that Spark ready."

Kael sighed, gripping the hilt of his dagger as he followed.

The clearing Ren had mentioned was a flat stretch of land surrounded by broken stone walls and overgrown vines. A few scorch marks dotted the ground, evidence of previous training sessions.

Ren turned, planting his spear in the dirt as he faced Kael. "All right, let's see what you've got."

Kael blinked. "What?"

"Show me what you can do," Ren said, gesturing to the dagger at Kael's side.

Kael hesitated. He didn't trust Ren, not completely, but he'd already come this far. He drew the dagger, the blade catching the faint light.

"Okay," Kael said, taking a deep breath. "Here goes."

He swung the dagger in a wide arc, channeling his Spark as best he could. Blue lightning crackled faintly along the blade, arcing toward a nearby rock and leaving a shallow scorch mark.

Ren raised an eyebrow. "Not bad. Your control's a mess, though. That spark's gonna blow up in your face if you're not careful."

Kael lowered the dagger, his frustration bubbling to the surface. "It's not like I've had a teacher."

"Fair point," Ren said, smirking. "Good thing I showed up."

Kael rolled his eyes. "Right. Lucky me."

Ren wasted no time diving into Kael's training. His methods were brutal, unorthodox, and often infuriating.

"First rule," Ren said, twirling his spear. "Forget about strength. You're not strong, and you're not going to be—not anytime soon. So stop trying to fight like you are."

Kael frowned. "Then what am I supposed to do?"

Ren smirked. "Use your head. Be fast, be smart, and for the love of everything, stop telegraphing your attacks."

He demonstrated with a quick lunge, the spear's blunt end stopping inches from Kael's chest.

Kael jumped back, his grip tightening on the dagger.

"See?" Ren said, grinning. "Caught you flat-footed. Again."

Kael glared at him, but he couldn't argue.

The next few hours were a blur of movement, mistakes, and constant correction. Ren drilled Kael on footwork, reaction time, and reading his opponent's intentions.

"Watch my shoulders," Ren said, lunging again. "They'll tell you where I'm going before I move."

Kael dodged clumsily, the spear grazing his side.

"Better," Ren said, stepping back. "You've got instincts. You just need to trust them."

Kael wiped the sweat from his brow, glaring at Ren. "Easy for you to say. You're not the one getting smacked around."

Ren laughed. "Oh, I've been there. Trust me."

Ren's training wasn't just about combat. He pushed Kael to use his Spark in ways he hadn't considered, forcing him to think on his feet.

"Your lightning's wild," Ren said, tossing a rock into the air. "You're letting it control you. Take charge."

Kael focused, his hand crackling with faint blue light as he tried to summon the energy. The lightning arced toward the rock, but it veered off course, striking a nearby tree instead.

Ren snorted. "Close enough. Maybe next time you'll hit the target."

Kael groaned. "This is impossible."

"Impossible's just another word for 'too lazy to figure it out,'" Ren said. "Try again."

Days turned into weeks, and Kael's progress became undeniable. His movements grew sharper, his reflexes faster, and his Spark more reliable. The lightning no longer felt like a foreign force—it felt like part of him.

But Ren's lessons weren't just physical. He taught Kael how to think like a survivor, how to outmaneuver stronger opponents, and how to use his environment to his advantage.

"Big guys like to throw their weight around," Ren said during one sparring session. "Let them. Use their momentum against them."

Kael nodded, stepping aside as Ren lunged with the spear. He twisted, redirecting the attack and slipping behind him.

Ren grinned. "Now you're getting it."

One evening, after a particularly grueling session, the two of them sat near a small campfire in the clearing.

Kael stared into the flames, his body sore but his mind racing.

"You're not half bad," Ren said, breaking the silence.

Kael glanced at him, surprised. "Did you just give me a compliment?"

"Don't let it go to your head," Ren said, smirking. "You're still a pain in the ass."

Kael chuckled, leaning back against a fallen log. For the first time in a long time, he felt… almost normal.

But something about Ren still didn't sit right.

"You never told me why you're helping me," Kael said, his tone cautious.

Ren shrugged. "I told you—I like underdogs."

Kael didn't buy it, but he let the matter drop. For now, Ren was on his side, and that was enough.

The Recruitment Festival was getting closer, and Kael was finally starting to believe he might stand a chance.

Kael's hand sparked faintly as he held it up to the firelight, the crackling energy casting shadows on his face.

"Three months ago, I couldn't even hold a sword," he said softly.

Ren smirked, tossing a stick into the flames. "Yeah, now you can hold one and not completely embarrass yourself. That's progress."

Kael rolled his eyes, but a small smile played at his lips.

"Thanks," he said, surprising even himself.

Ren raised an eyebrow. "Don't get sappy on me, Sparky. I've got a reputation to maintain."

Kael laughed, the sound echoing through the ruins. For the first time, he felt like he might actually belong here.

Kael stared into the fire, the faint hum of the Celestial Grid pulsing in the distance. The Festival was only weeks away, and the stakes had never felt higher.

But for the first time, Kael didn't feel like he was facing it alone.