Veil of Sparks

Kael's muscles screamed in protest as he slammed into the dirt for what felt like the hundredth time that day. His dagger clattered to the ground, spinning out of reach.

"Too slow," Ren said, twirling his spear lazily. "Again."

Kael groaned, pushing himself up. His knees wobbled as he staggered to his feet, sweat dripping from his chin. The clearing was littered with scorch marks and broken branches, the aftermath of hours of relentless sparring.

"Maybe I'm slow," Kael said between ragged breaths, "because I've been getting my ass kicked for two hours straight."

Ren grinned, leaning on his spear. "It's called conditioning, Sparky. You'll thank me later."

Kael wiped the sweat from his brow, glaring at Ren. "Yeah, I'll be sure to send you a thank-you note from my grave."

Ren barked out a laugh, but his expression softened slightly. "You're not gonna die, Kael. Not if you keep this up."

The weeks of training had been brutal but effective. Kael's movements were faster, his strikes sharper, and his Spark—though still unpredictable—was beginning to feel like an extension of himself.

But the Recruitment Festival was only two weeks away, and the pressure was starting to weigh on him.

"How are the trials set up?" Kael asked, picking up his dagger.

Ren leaned against a nearby tree, tapping the shaft of his spear against the ground. "They change every year. Keeps people from gaming the system."

Kael frowned. "So no way to prepare?"

Ren shrugged. "Not exactly. The basics are the same: combat trials, endurance tests, and some teamwork crap. They'll be looking for skill, control, and how well you can think on your feet."

Kael's stomach twisted. "Great," he muttered. "Because I'm so good at teamwork."

Ren smirked. "Don't worry. You've got time to work on your sparkling personality."

Kael rolled his eyes.

Later that evening, Kael sat by the campfire, staring at the faint sparks dancing along his fingertips.

His Spark felt stronger now, the lightning crackling with a steady rhythm that matched his heartbeat. But it was still wild, threatening to spiral out of control if he pushed it too hard.

"Why'd you stick around, Ren?" Kael asked suddenly, breaking the silence.

Ren glanced up from where he was sharpening his spear. "What do you mean?"

"You could've just kept walking," Kael said, his tone cautious. "Why bother helping me?"

Ren didn't answer immediately. He stared into the fire, his usual smirk replaced by something more guarded.

"Maybe I see a bit of myself in you," Ren said finally. "Someone who's got the odds stacked against them."

Kael studied him, unsure if he believed the answer. But before he could press further, Ren stood, his grin returning.

"Don't get too sentimental on me, Sparky," he said, tossing his spear over his shoulder. "We've still got work to do."

The next morning, Kael woke to find Ren already up, pacing near the edge of the clearing.

"What's the plan today?" Kael asked, stretching.

Ren stopped pacing, his expression unusually serious. "We're heading into the ruins."

Kael raised an eyebrow. "The ruins? Aren't we already in them?"

"Deeper," Ren said, gesturing toward the denser part of the forest. "There's an old training site I used a while back. It's got what you need."

Kael frowned. "And what's that?"

Ren's grin returned, sharp and teasing. "Pressure."

The deeper ruins were a stark contrast to the relatively open clearing Kael had grown used to. The trees were denser here, their gnarled branches twisting overhead to block out the sunlight. The air felt heavier, charged with an energy Kael couldn't quite place.

"Why does it feel… weird here?" Kael asked, his voice low.

Ren didn't look back. "The Threads run strong in this area. It's closer to the Celestial Grid, which makes it great for training Sparks. But it's also why most people stay away."

Kael hesitated. "Why do they stay away?"

Ren paused, glancing over his shoulder. "Because the Grid doesn't just power Sparks. It powers the Umbrals, too."

Kael's blood ran cold.

"You brought me to a place with Umbrals?" he hissed.

"Relax," Ren said, waving him off. "There haven't been any sightings here in months. Besides, you're not going to get stronger swinging that dagger at trees."

Kael's jaw tightened, but he followed silently.

The training site Ren had mentioned was a small courtyard nestled between the ruins of what looked like an old temple. Broken pillars jutted from the ground, their surfaces carved with faded runes. The air hummed faintly, a low vibration that made Kael's Spark tingle.

"This is it," Ren said, planting his spear in the ground. "The perfect place to push yourself."

Kael looked around warily. "And by 'push myself,' you mean what, exactly?"

Ren grinned. "You're going to fight me."

Kael blinked. "What?"

"You heard me," Ren said, stretching his arms. "No holds barred. You've got your Spark, I've got mine. Let's see what you're made of."

Kael hesitated, gripping his dagger. "This feels like a bad idea."

Ren chuckled. "Most good ideas do."

The fight was chaotic from the start.

Ren moved like a predator, his spear striking with precision and speed. Kael barely managed to dodge the first few blows, his dagger feeling pitifully small in comparison.

"Come on, Sparky," Ren said, darting forward. "You're not gonna beat me by running away!"

Kael gritted his teeth, his Spark crackling to life as he swung the dagger. The blade sparked with blue lightning, but Ren deflected it easily, twisting his spear to knock Kael off balance.

Kael stumbled, catching himself just before hitting the ground.

"Focus!" Ren barked. "You've got power—use it!"

Kael's frustration boiled over. He lunged forward, channeling his Spark into the dagger. Lightning arced toward Ren, forcing him to jump back, but Kael didn't stop. He pressed the attack, his movements sharper, more deliberate.

The courtyard echoed with the clash of steel and the crackle of lightning. Kael's heart pounded in his chest, the adrenaline pushing him to move faster, think quicker.

Finally, he saw an opening.

Ren overextended on a swing, and Kael darted inside his guard, slamming the hilt of his dagger into Ren's ribs.

Ren let out a grunt, staggering back with a grin. "Now that's more like it," he said, lowering his spear.

Kael froze, his chest heaving. "Wait… we're done?"

Ren nodded. "For now. You've got the spark, Kael—literally and figuratively. You just need to trust yourself."

Kael lowered the dagger, his hands trembling from the effort.

Ren clapped him on the shoulder. "You're getting there, Sparky. Slowly, but surely."

That night, as Kael sat by the fire, he stared at his hands. The faint crackle of lightning danced across his fingers, steady and controlled.

For the first time, he felt like he was starting to understand his Spark—like it wasn't just a wild force, but something he could shape.

And with the Recruitment Festival only two weeks away, Kael knew he'd need every advantage he could get.