Chapter 6 – The Bloodied Ring

Serena POV (as Kael)

Before it was time for me, the metallic taste of blood hung in the air. The sparring ring at

Dravenhold had seen that a hundred times over-after sweat, claws, and fists have sunk pride

into the soil. Today, the scent was thicker to the choking point, with already rust-stained sand

under our boots from previous fights.

I, too, installed bone-deep among the other first-years in gray stone benches encircling the pit,

fists clenched so tight that my knuckles ached. The crowd was rattling, buzzing like a swarm of

hornets, eager for the next display. Entertainment to them; survival for me.

"Next"!

The instructor's bark cut through that din. My stomach lurched when I realized he was watching

me.

For one heartbeat, I could not move. Then I swallowed, forced air into my lungs, and stood. My

legs felt heavy as I descended the steps into the ring. Boots sank into packed earth, the ground

trembling faintly from the echoes of the last clash.

I rolled my shoulders as if to mimic Kael's casual swagger. He had to look like he belonged, like

pain wasn't touching him. No weakness. No hesitation.

Then my opponent followed suit, dropping into the ring with the weight of a predator. A senior

wolf. Broader by half, arms corded with muscle, scar slicing from jaw to collarbone like a carved

warning. Instantly, the whispers around us swelled.

"Not a fair match."

"He'll crush the kid."

"Maybe the brat needs crushing."

This was not random. Seniors don't usually spar against first-years. This is a test. A punishment.

Someone wanted me broken-or exposed.

The senior cracked his neck and bared his teeth in a grin that didn't touch his eyes. "Ready?"

There was no way I could betray the intent of the mouth with words. I only raised my fists.

The gong slammed.

He came at me like a storm-claws flashing, fists blurring. I ducked, blocked another, tried to

guard against my ribs, but it hit me. White pain flared in and stole my breath. I stumbled, and

laughter of the crowd rumbled like thunder in my ears.

The concealment spell pulsed and flickered from the force. My heart was swelling, threatening

to flicker. Not now. Hold.

I countered, knuckles cracking against his jaw. He barely flinched. His grin widened, amused.

"Fast," he said, circling me like prey. "But gonna be enough"

Down came the next attack-all low and penetrating with my stabbing out at legs. I crashed

down, onto my side, cheek scraping against dirt as the ring shrieked with jeers and shouts.

Above me rose the senior, his dominance radiating, daring me to stay down.

I was tested and tempted to acquiesce to it. To fold, juicing itself right before the crack of that

spell. But Serena couldn't come into being here. Only Kael.

"No."

I breathed.

With an elbow smash into his throat, I surged up. He staggered, coughed, and shock crossed

his face. Forward I pressed, my fists and elbows striking wildly, everything a gamble between

survival and exposure. My ribs burned, my arms shook, but I didn't stop. Whispers cut through

the noise.

"Still standing, that one? Kael?"

"Impossible..."

"No one lasts this long."

The senior's eyes narrowed, fury in place of a grin. With a snarl, he lunged, sweeping me down

hard. The back of my neck hit the earth, breath wheezing off. Heat blistered into my chest, and

for one terrifying heartbeat, my body betrayed me-shoulders narrowing, chest softening. The

shadow of Serena flickered across Kael.

Panic exploded. I bite the inside of my cheek hard for blood, copper filling my mouth. The pain

anchored me, forced the weave tight again.

The senior raised his fist for the final strike.

Instinct roared, then I rolled, caught his arm, and with desperate twist drove my fist into his

temple with all the energy I had left.

He dropped.

Silence crashed over the arena. For a second, no one moved. Then the crowd erupted in

shouts, gasps, disbelief.

The instructor strode in, checking for the limp form of the senior. "Match over!" His voice carried

sharp authority, but even he looked faintly unsettled as the senior was dragged out of the ring.

My knees wobbled after such action, mouth rasping each breath against the ribs, my knuckles

streaked with blood, and it burned my eyes with sweat. But I stayed standing.

Across the ring, I could feel that-eyes on me.

Darius Blackthorn.

He stood with his arms folded, expression carved from stone. Not mocking, not dismissing.

Studying.

Heat flooded me-fear, fury, something even more dangerous that made my heart stutter.

The whispers didn't end.

"Too much stamina for a first-year..."

"There's no way that was luck."

"Something's off about Kael."

I clenched my jaw, forcing my face into blankness, and walked out of the ring. Each step was a

battle not to be limp, not to let the spell slip.

But Darius's gaze followed, burning between my shoulder blades all the way back to the

benches.

The other recruits' laughter rang sharp in my ears by the time we reached the dorms. Some

mocked, a few muttered in awe, while others kept staring at me as though I were something

unnatural.

I lay on my bunker long after the torches dimmed, ribs aching, hands raw. Staring up at the

wooden beams, I replayed the fight in my head-the way my body had betrayed me, the flicker of

Serena beneath Kael's skin.

It lasted only a breath, but if anyone had noticed...

My heart thudded harder.

The academy was filled with eyes, suspicion, and hungry rivals who would leave no stone

unturned to bring a person down. A single slip, and my disguise would shatter.

But it hadn't been the crowd with the most dangerous gaze.

Darius Blackthorn had cast it upon me.

And I did not know if he had seen too much.

And what’s worse than that… we stayed in the same room anything can happen at anytime.

“Congratulations.” Darius said as he walked into the room. “Also watch your back. You’re now

the hot cake.”