~Chapter Eight ~

                                    

                                          
Kevon led a still-shaken Jahvi back toward their dorm room, the atmosphere between them very heavy with unspoken unease. 
Jahvi’s body slightly shook as he walked, his hands trembling from the adrenaline still coursing through him. He’d narrowly escaped what could have been a brutal mauling, and it was clear the fear hadn’t left his system yet.
Kevon’s mind raced as well, though he kept his emotions buried beneath a cold exterior. He replayed the events in his head—the blinding light, Torin’s rage, the laughter of the other shifters, and the way Leonardo had just simply silently stepped aside, letting Kevon intervene. Was this place a school or a battle ground?
Despite the fact that he and Jahvi had made it out alive, something gnawed at Kevon, a lingering sense of foreboding maybe. 
Torin wasn’t going to let this go. Shifters, especially Alphas, didn’t take humiliation lightly. There would definitely be problems following them from now on.
They reached their room, and Kevon pushed the door open, his face immediately hardening when he saw Mike already inside, lounging on his bed with a smug look on his face as he scrolled through his phone. 
His sword, the one made of pure emeralds, rested beside him, catching the dim light from the window. Well at least he had placed the dame thing down.
The smirk on Mike’s face widened as they entered. "Well, well," he drawled, his voice dripping with condescension. "Look who managed to survive the first day. I’ve got to say, I’m surprised. Thought you’d both be torn apart by now."
Kevon’s glare was immediate and sharp, his hands twitching slightly with remnants of his magic as he clenched them into fists. 
It has only been a day at most but through out all their encounters Mike always knew just how to get under his skin. 
Jahvi, still rattled from the confrontation with Torin, stiffened at Mike’s words, but managed to mumble a response.
"Mike, that’s… that’s mean." He said softly, his voice barely above that of a whisper.
The nature fariy's eyes darkened at that, the amused smirk instantly fading from his face. His gaze sharpened, and the green hue in his eyes began to glow with an eerie intensity. The playful, mocking tone vanished, replaced by something much colder, much more dangerous.
"Mean?" Mike said, his voice low and menacing. "You think I’m being mean?"
Jahvi took a small step back, clearly intimidated by the sudden shift in Mike’s demeanor. Kevon narrowed his eyes, stepping slightly in front of Jahvi, but Mike wasn’t finished.
"I’m not being mean," Mike continued, sitting up straighter, his emerald eyes blazing. "I’m just speaking the truth." His gaze flicked to Jahvi, and Kevon could feel the scrutiny of the stare. "You’ve got wings for crying out loud. You’re a fairy, aren’t you? Why didn’t you just fly away? Instead, you stood there, trembling like a leaf, waiting for Torin to rip you apart. If that’s not pathetic, I don’t know what is."
Jahvi opened his mouth to respond, but no words came out. His ea fluttered helplessly at his sides, and Kevon could feel his friend’s embarrassment radiating off him.
"And you," Mike said, turning his piercing gaze toward Kevon. "You had the chance to take Torin down. You could’ve attacked directly. Why didn’t you? Instead, you played it safe, using some weak shockwave to knock him off balance. You think that’s going to keep you alive here?"
Kevon’s glare deepened, his blood boiling at Mike’s words. He clenched his fists tighter, his fingers tingling with the urge to summon his energy. But he kept his emotions in check. Mike wanted a reaction. He always wanted a fight.
"You have no idea what you’re talking about," Kevon said, his voice cold and even. "If I’d attacked Torin directly, he would’ve tried to tear me apart. There’s a difference between being reckless and being smart."
"Smart?" Mike sneered, rising to his feet. He took a step toward Kevon, his hand resting on the hilt of his emerald sword. "I think you’re just scared. You could’ve shown everyone what you’re really capable of, but instead, you held back. And now, Torin thinks you’re weak. You and the little light fairy here."
Jahvi winced at the insult, his shoulders sagging under the harsh edge of Mike’s words. 
Kevon could feel the suffocating tension in the room rise, the threat of violence hanging in the air. Mike’s glowing eyes, the mocking tone in his voice, the way his hand tightened on his device—it all pointed to one thing.
Mike wasn’t just trying to get under their skin. He wanted to prove a point to them. To push them until they broke or provoke them— it did not matter as long as he was right.
"Look," Kevon said, keeping his voice as controlled as possible, "I’m not going to stand here and explain myself to you because quite frankly it's non of your business. I did what I had to do to keep us alive. If that bothers you so much then that’s your problem."
Mike’s lips curled into a sneer, and he took another step closer. "You think you can last here by playing it safe? By holding back? This place will eat you alive, Kevon Al'hostrafii. The world is cruel and so you can’t afford to be weak. Neither of you can."
"I’m not weak," Kevon growled, his patience wearing thin.
Mike’s eyes gleamed dangerously, and for a moment, it seemed like he might draw his sword. But then, with a sharp laugh, he stepped back, shaking his head. "We’ll see about that."
He turned and walked toward the door, his voice cold and cutting as he left the room. "You’ll both figure it out eventually. Probably too late, though, that here it's either kill or be killed."
The door slammed shut behind him, leaving the room in an oppressive silence. Jahvi let out a shaky breath, sinking down onto his bed, his face pale and drawn. He cried, burying his face in his hands.
" I… I could’ve done more," Jahvi whispered, his voice barely audible. "I should’ve flown higher. Faster. Anything at all to get away from Torin."
Kevon turned toward him, feeling a rare ounce of sympathy. "You did what you could. Torin was out for blood. You’re even lucky to have gotten out of there in one piece."
Jahvi looked up at him, his eyes wide and uncertain. "But Mike’s still right, isn’t he? I’m not strong enough. What am I supposed to do if I can’t even hold my own in Combat Training?"
Kevon stared at him for a long moment, unsure of how to answer. Jahvi wasn’t wrong, and Mike’s harsh words, as much as Kevon hated to admit it, held a kernel of truth. This academy, this world, thrived on power, and neither of them had shown any real strength that day. Surviving was one thing, but thriving here? That was a different matter entirely.
But Kevon wasn’t ready to give up. He couldn’t. Not after everything he had already been through.
"We’ll figure it out," Kevon said quietly, though the determination in his voice was undeniable. "We’re not out yet."
Jahvi gave a small, hesitant nod, though the fear still lingered in his eyes.
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