The grey light appeared from nowhere, as if the air itself had vomited them out.
Ryan stood on the cold stone floor of the hall, his team around him. Lin, Celine, Mara – they were all there. Their faces were pale, their eyes carried traces of exhaustion and terror, but their bodies were intact. The other dimension had taken the pain, but left no marks.
But Kayan was in front of them.
He stood a few steps away, his arms crossed, his eyes burning with undisguised anger. He was not happy that his team had returned. He was not happy about the victory. He was angry.
'What's wrong with this scoundrel?'
Kayan said, his voice unnaturally cold.
"You came back."
Ryan did not reply.
Professor Darius stood on the podium. He looked at them with his cold grey eyes, showing nothing. Behind him, the opposing team had also returned – their faces pale, some trembling, some staring at the ground in shame. The girl who had killed Kayan stood there, her face pale, her hands still clenched, as if she could still feel her flames.
Kayan stepped forward.
His steps were heavy, like someone walking on ground that could not bear his presence. He did not care about the stares. He did not care about the murmurs. He was focused only on Ryan.
He reached him. He grabbed his collar.
Ryan was slightly taller, but Kayan was stronger. He pulled the fabric hard, yanking Ryan toward him.
he asked, his voice trembling with anger.
"Why?,Why didn't you help me? You were there! You saw me! You could have saved me!"
Ryan looked at him. He did not try to free himself. He showed no fear. His eyes were blue, cold, like winter ice.
Kayan repeated.
"Why?,Answer me!"
Ryan paused for a second. Then he spoke, his voice calm, carrying no apology:
"Why should I help you?"
Kayan froze.
The answer was unexpected. He had expected an apology. He had expected an explanation. He had expected anything but this.
"What?"
Ryan repeated.
"I said: why should I help you?,Are you a child? Do you need someone to protect you?"
Kayan's grip trembled. His face reddened.
"You..."
Ryan cut him off.
"Your elimination was predictable,From the first moment that girl attacked you, I knew you would be taken out. It was stupid. It was reckless. You didn't even try to think."
Kayan shouted.
"I would have killed her! If you helped me there..."
Ryan said.
"Why would I help an idiot like you?"
Silence.
The words were heavy. They were like a knife.
Ryan added.
"I wasn't going to risk my team to save someone who doesn't know how to protect himself,You could have dodged her attack. You could have evaded. You could have used your fire to defend yourself. But you didn't. You stood there like a stone. And you paid the price."
Kayan trembled with rage. He raised his fist.
"I'll..."
"Enough."
Professor Darius's voice was like a whip. Not loud, but it cut through everything.
Kayan stopped. He looked at the professor. Darius looked back at him with his cold grey eyes.
he said.
"Release his collar."
Kayan hesitated for a moment. Then he relaxed his grip. Stepped back.
Kayan whispered, looking at Ryan.
"This isn't over."
Ryan did not reply.
the professor ordered.
"Everyone to your seats."
The students moved. They sat down. The tension still hung in the air, but no one dared to speak.
Professor Darius stood on the podium. He looked at the crowd. The students were still whispering, looking at Ryan and his team with different eyes – some with admiration, some with fear, some with envy.
Darius said.
"You have watched the battle,Now, tell me what did you think of the fight you witnessed?"