章節 15: Brother
Jinwoo stood amid the wreckage of the battle, the faint hum of silence filling the arena as the final seconds ticked off the clock. Seven minutes. He let out a booming laugh, the sound reverberating through the empty stands. "I never imagined he'd last this long," Jinwoo muttered, shaking his head in disbelief, a grin tugging at the corners of his mouth.
Without wasting time, Jinwoo strode across the battlefield toward the two unconscious boys sprawled on the floor. With ease, he lifted Ethan in one arm and Seojin in the other, his muscles hardly straining under their weight. There was a glimmer of admiration in his eyes as he carried them to the academy's infirmary, placing each of them into recovery capsules. As the capsules began their work, he couldn't help but wonder just how much potential Ethan really held. Maybe more than any of us thought, he mused, a sense of intrigue growing within him.
Meanwhile, Yuna, who had been watching the entire battle from the sidelines, felt the atmosphere shift. Something about the way Ethan fought, his unwavering determination even when pushed to the limit, had sparked a change. She could feel it in the air, a subtle but powerful shift that hinted at something bigger. Smiling to herself, she pulled out her phone and quickly texted her childhood friend, Boram:
"Big changes are coming to the academy. You won't believe what just happened."
A quiet chuckle escaped her lips as she slipped her phone back into her pocket, her mind still fixated on the dark-haired boy who had shown such unexpected resolve.
Everyone at the academy was bound to take notice. Defeating someone from the prestigious Five Clans was no small feat, especially for someone like Ethan, who had only just awakened his abilities a few days ago. It wasn't just that he'd won—he'd proven that he could stand against the powerful bloodlines that dominated the academy.
In the days to come, whispers would spread like wildfire. People would talk about the boy who had defied the odds, who had unknowingly stepped into a game far bigger than any of them had imagined. Ethan had been thrown into a world where lineage and power dictated everything, yet he had fought with a strength that went beyond raw talent. And in doing so, he had set off a chain of events that no one—not even the Five Clans—could have predicted.
Yuna couldn't shake the feeling that this was just the beginning.
Hours later
Ethan jolted awake inside the recovery capsule, his heart pounding in his chest. For a moment, he was overwhelmed by the sensation of being enclosed, his mind still hazy from the battle. His breath quickened, panic bubbling to the surface, but as the capsule detected his movement, it slowly released its hold, hissing open with a soft click. Ethan exhaled a shaky sigh, sitting up carefully as the sterile light of the infirmary greeted him.
To his left, Seojin lay motionless in another capsule, his face serene despite the fight that had just transpired. Ethan stared at him for a moment, his mind racing to piece together what had happened. Then, like a flood, the memory returned—I won. The words left his lips in a whisper, tinged with disbelief. He had won the battle. He'd defeated Seojin, someone from one of the Five Clans, and the weight of that realization made his pulse quicken again.
The door to the infirmary slid open, and in walked Jinwoo, his expression calm, yet there was a flicker of approval in his eyes. This boy... he heals faster than expected, Jinwoo thought as he crossed the room, a mix of curiosity and pride tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"Well done," Jinwoo said, his voice warm but authoritative. "You passed the test." He handed Ethan a neatly folded uniform, the academy's insignia embroidered on the chest in gleaming silver. "Welcome to the academy. Your classes starts tomorrow."
Ethan stared at the uniform in disbelief, his fingers brushing over the fabric. Tomorrow? Everything was moving so quickly. He hadn't even fully processed what had happened, and now they were talking about training. But beneath the initial shock, a sense of pride welled up inside him. He had done it. He had earned his place. A slow, grateful smile spread across his face, and he met Jinwoo's gaze. "Thank you. I won't let you down."
Just as the words left his mouth, two small, furry figures appeared out of nowhere—Shadow and Oliver, his loyal cats. They leaped onto his lap, their mental voices buzzing with excitement.
"Master, you did it! But are you okay? You looked pretty beat up!" Oliver's voice was laced with concern, while Shadow
, ever the quiet one, sat silently, his golden eyes observing Ethan with quiet intensity.
Ethan chuckled, feeling a wave of warmth wash over him as he scratched behind their ears. "I'm fine," he reassured them. Their presence, familiar and comforting, helped to steady him after the chaos of the fight.
Jinwoo stood off to the side, watching the scene unfold with a contemplative expression. Something about Ethan stirred a memory deep within him, reminding him of someone long gone. He really does remind me of him, Jinwoo thought, his mind briefly drifting to a friend from the past, someone who had once shared Ethan's same fierce spirit.
A sudden movement drew Jinwoo out of his thoughts. Seojin was stirring in his capsule, groaning softly as the lid hissed open. Blinking against the bright lights of the infirmary, Seojin looked around dazedly before his eyes landed on Ethan. In an instant, he jumped to his feet, stumbling over to Ethan and throwing his arms around him in a tight, unexpected hug.
"You're my brother now!" Seojin declared, his voice filled with genuine warmth and respect. "You've earned it. From today on, I'll have your back."
Ethan blinked, completely taken aback by the sudden display of affection. He wasn't sure how to respond, still processing what had just happened. But then, Shadow's calm voice echoed in his mind, offering an explanation.
"In families like the Lees, respect and loyalty mean everything. By defeating Seojin, you've shown you're worthy of his friendship. Awakened like him don't trust easily—people usually just want something from them."
Understanding dawned on Ethan. This wasn't just a victory; it was a rite of passage, a bond formed through combat and respect. Ethan returned Seojin's embrace with a smile. "Alright," he said softly, still feeling overwhelmed. "Take care of me, then."
Seojin pulled back, nodding with enthusiasm. "And you do the same for me!"
For a brief moment, the two boys stood there, sharing a silent understanding. Jinwoo, watching from the sidelines, couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction. Yet, beneath that, there was also curiosity. Ethan was unlike anyone he had encountered before, and there was something about him that hinted at greater things to come.
But one thing was certain—Ethan's presence at the academy would stir up more than just talk. The academy was about to change, in ways no one, not even Jinwoo, could predict.
每周推薦票狀態
-- 推薦票
榜單 
-- 推薦票