CHAPTER 52: YOU CAN’T LOSE HER

Under the dim moonlight, a man could be seen swinging his sword — his eyes sharp with focus, sweat clinging to his bare upper body.

It was late at night, and given that he had only recently been injured during the assessment, he should have been resting.

But he couldn’t.

Kevin needed to train in the time he had. During the day, students would continue to hunt for his badge, their eyes burning with ambition.

How much did this contest matter? He was reminded of that the moment Lizel attacked him.

He didn’t resent her; as a warrior, it was her right to fight for her position. Yet knowing that more people would come for him at any moment, Kevin had no choice but to train in the silence of the night — when everyone else was asleep.

’I’ve lost my edge.’

Three consecutive losses — the Night Devil, William, and then Talobo, who cornered him and the others.

If he wanted to make excuses, he had plenty. But self-pity was a luxury he refused to afford.

He would rather grind himself down than pretend it was fine. That’s not what a warrior does — that’s what a coward does.

*SWISH!*

The blade sliced through the air — a precise slash, even though it was his thousandth swing.

"Fuu..." He exhaled deeply and lowered his sword.

Reaching for the towel, his gaze fell on the bracelet wrapped around his right wrist — the one he had given to everyone in the First Team.

Everyone wore theirs... except one.

Emma.

’Haah...’ His chest tightened as he recalled what he’d seen at dinner.

Emma was led by William into the privileged area, dining together.

Until now, it had always been Emma approaching him. But tonight... it was from both sides.

Kevin had long realized that Emma didn’t see him the way she looked at William.

He had once tried to fool himself, telling himself she was being manipulated — but Emma wasn’t a fool.

She didn’t care about who William used to be. All she saw was the man he had become.

His eyes lowered. ’I guess... it’s time to let go—’

[Are you a fool?]

The sudden voice made him flinch.

Kevin spun around — no one was there. The garden was still.

"Who is it?" he demanded, sword raised.

[You’re a fool to let her go. Emma doesn’t belong to that evil. She can only reach her true potential if she stands by your side.]

Kevin’s grip tightened. "And why the hell should I listen to someone who won’t even show itself?"

[Does it matter? All you need is to remember.]

"...Remember?" he muttered.

[For the past two years, when Emma stood beside you — did you ever lose?]

Kevin froze. His eyes narrowed.

[It’s not just her support. It’s the link between your souls. She completes you, like a handle completes a blade. Without her, you can’t sharpen your edge. Without her, you’ll grow blunt — useless.]

His fists clenched. "But... she likes someone—"

[The human heart is fragile. You just need to become the victor she sees in that devil. Be there — even when she says she doesn’t need you.]

Kevin’s shoulders trembled. "Can... I really do that?"

Even after admitting that Emma was out of his reach, he couldn’t let go of hope.

And hearing those words reminded him *why* he had always been drawn to her. She was his other half. Without her, he was incomplete.

A silence followed — and then, a golden orb appeared before Kevin.

It hovered in the air, the size of a child’s head, casting a warm glow across the dark garden.

[Only you can do it. You are destined to rise above all. It’s time you realize your mistake.]

Kevin’s eyes shone for a moment.

He knew what must be done.

....

"Mm..." William stretched, arms reaching toward the pale morning sky. The sun had barely crested the horizon when he opened his eyes and let out a long, irritated sigh.

"These guys." He rolled onto his back—just in time for a mace to thud into the spot where he’d been lying.

*SCHOFF.*

He sprang from the tent and stared at the boy who’d thrown it. "You little— I’ll have you repair my tent," William snapped.

The black-haired teen grinned, hefting his mace. "In exchange for that badge? Sure."

William’s smile turned sharp. "You think you’ve got what it takes?"

The boy shrugged, resting the mace chain on his shoulder. "Maybe not alone—"

An arrow hissed past William’s ear, making him throw his head back. "Fuck, are you trying to kill me?" he shouted, leaping and landing on a low branch to keep out of the way.

A girl with glasses smirked from the other side, bow in hand. "Don’t worry," she called. "You’ll be carried to the infirmary before you die."

William hummed softly, scanning the area until his eyes landed on a particular tree. "You’re going down first if you don’t show yourself now."

The bark at the front of the tree shifted, and a boy stepped out, breaking his camouflage.

He froze for a moment, taking in the three ambushers who were trying to snatch the badge from William.

"Your star isn’t here—it’s in the tent," William announced, pointing toward the half-ruined canvas.

The three students immediately whipped their heads toward the tent, their feet following instinctively.

A critical mistake. In taking their eyes off William, they left themselves wide open.

William’s lips curved into a faint smirk. As the three students shifted their focus toward the tent, he made his move—before a single foot had left the ground.

A subtle flick of his hand, and the black-haired boy’s mace lifted off the ground, suspended mid-air. It wobbled, as if confused, then spun violently out of his grip.

"Whoa—!" the boy shouted, but it was too late.

With a swift flick of his hand, William sent the mace flying like a missile.

*Khuak!* It slammed into the camouflage boy, sending him sprawling to the ground.

"You!" the girl cried, nocking two arrows at once and releasing them in a blur.

William tilted backward, letting them whiz past him harmlessly.

"Not again!" she growled, focusing fiercely, forcing the arrows to curve back toward him.

The blond boy smirked and raised a hand. The arrows froze inches from his palm, quivering violently under his control. Even the girl’s mastery couldn’t match William’s telekinesis.

"Here you go," he muttered, flinging the arrows back toward her before she could react.

*SQUELCH!*

One arrow pierced her thigh, and the other slammed into her chest, pinning her shirt to the tree behind her.

William’s eyes traveled towards the last one who was already searching for his badge.

William sighed, shaking his head.

Well, they at least helped in morning training.

°°°°°°°°

A/N:- Thanks for reading.