Charles stood in the arena's center, body trembling, the air thick with an electric hum still ringing in his ears.
Crack!
The echo of the lightning strike lingered in his head, and the cloud of dust and sand was just starting to settle.
'What the hell just happened?' he thought, staring at his hands, where a faint electric spark flickered before fading.
His body buzzed with energy, like a bolt had coursed through him, leaving his muscles humming, but at the same time…
'I'm so damn tired…' he thought, legs shaking like they might give out any second.
In the background, the announcer's voice cut through the crowd's stunned silence.
"Unbelievable! Rian Cole stands tall, and Syris Kael is down for the count!" he shouted, barely containing his excitement. "Rian Cole wins his second fight!"
"Ooh!"
The arena exploded in cheers, some spectators clapping wildly, others leaping up, chanting his name.
"Rian! Rian!"
But Charles didn't care.
'Screw this victory,' he thought, trying to clear his head. 'How am I even alive?'
Out of the corner of his eye, he glanced at his body. His tunic was shredded, scorched rags hanging off him.
The burnt smell stung his nose, but when he looked at his arms and chest…
'What?' he thought, blinking.
His skin… was untouched.
Not a single burn mark or trace of the wounds he'd felt minutes ago, when Syris's flames had engulfed him.
'This makes no sense!' he thought, touching his arm with trembling fingers.
'What kind of broken power does Rian have?'
He glanced at the ground, where Syris Kael lay unconscious, body smoldering, the sand around him charred.
It wasn't pretty, but it was inevitable.
'I'm alive…'
Charles's legs gave out, and he felt himself falling back.
But then—Thud!—hands caught him from behind, firm yet gentle.
A familiar, warm, spiced scent hit his nose.
He turned his head, confused.
"You okay?" a soft voice asked, laced with worry.
It was Kaira, her red eyes fixed on him, black hair spilling over her shoulders.
She was so close Charles could feel her body's warmth, and for a moment, he forgot the chaos around them.
'What's she doing here?' he thought, blinking in confusion.
Kaira, catching his bewildered look, softened her gaze.
"Easy," she said, offering a tight smile. "Your fight's over. I'll help you walk, 'cause… well, you don't look great."
She paused, eyeing him up and down.
"Though, honestly, I don't get how you won."
Charles let out a weak laugh, more from surprise than amusement.
"Thanks," he mumbled, leaning on her carefully.
'She's so small,' he thought, relaxing a bit, and to his surprise…
'Kaira's pretty damn strong!'
As they walked, Charles's head rested near Kaira's hair, and that spiced scent hit him again.
'Damn, she smells so good… what shampoo does she use?' he thought, his mind fogging for a second.
Kaira, meanwhile, gritted her teeth as she supported Rian.
'Get a grip, Kaira!' she thought, fighting the urge to lean closer.
The burnt scent from his clothes and hair was oddly alluring to her.
'God…' she thought, shaking her head slightly.
She glanced at Rian, his face exhausted but calm.
Quickening her pace, Kaira ignored the medics approaching with first-aid kits.
"I've got this," she said, raising her voice to stop them. "I'll take him to the infirmary later, but for now, leave it to me."
The medics hesitated but nodded and stepped back.
Kaira led Charles out of the arena, into quieter back hallways where the crowd's noise faded to a distant hum.
Patter patter!
The rain still fell outside, but the walls shielded them.
Charles could barely keep his eyes open but forced himself to keep going, leaning on Kaira.
When they reached a small, secluded room, Lira was already there, waiting with arms crossed.
She pointed at a wooden bench against the wall.
"Set him there," she said, her tone sharp.
Kaira nodded, easing Charles onto the bench carefully.
Thud!
Charles slumped down, panting, as Lira shut the door with a Clack! that echoed in the room.
Kaira spun toward a locker in the corner, opening it to grab a first-aid kit.
"I'll clean your wounds," she said, kneeling before Charles, opening the kit with shaky hands.
But then, both she and Lira froze at the same time.
'What?' they thought, staring at Rian.
Though his tunic was a charred, tattered mess, and his hair was a sweaty, tangled wreck, Charles's skin…
Was flawless.
"What the hell are you?" Lira muttered, baffled.
Charles looked up, exhausted but alert, catching the tension in her face.
'Crap,' he thought, a knot forming in his stomach.