The air felt frozen after the cataclysmic blast. Pip collapsed, his hands trembling as the energy cube dissipated into the void. Across from him, Kael was no better, curled in a deep crater, his breath coming in ragged gasps through his shattered ribs.
Yban approached, striking a precise nerve point to knock Kael unconscious. Lilit stepped up beside him, eyeing the two "mummies" before brushing the dust from her hands, her voice dropping. "Truly rare. These children... dared to stand against us to this extent."
Yban looked at his two students, his expression a mix of solemnity and admiration. "They are not losers. Despite their defeat, they forced the 7th and 9th Temple Envoys to fight with seriousness. Today, they have earned a recognition that not many ever receive."
***
Cold, white light hit Pip's eyes as he regained consciousness. His weary gaze swept the ceiling—that haunting color which had become witness to his 200th failure. His body ached with a soul-numbing numbness; both arms were swathed in thick bandages like a mummy's. He fought to sit up, every muscle screaming in protest.
"Here again... Another failure," he muttered, his voice raspy.
Frustration flared, burning through his exhaustion. Pip gritted his teeth and slammed his fist against the bed frame. "Damn it!"
His outburst was cut short by a gruff voice from the next bed:
"SHUT UP AND LET ME SLEEP!"
Kael awoke, glaring at Pip with eyes like daggers. Both looked at each other—two battered, bandaged losers, looking ridiculously pathetic.
Lilit stood hidden behind the door, quietly observing the two "mummies" bickering. Her heart tightened. Memories surged back like a slow-motion film—the grueling training sessions, the sweat and blood mixed with dust. She recalled Pip collapsing from exhaustion, his eyes still burning with defiance; she remembered Kael gritting his teeth, bearing pain that should have broken any human. Every scar on their bodies, to Lilit, was not just a mark of battle, but a testament to their growth. She had been harsh, pushing them to the brink, sometimes biting her lip in secret agony, but she knew it was the only way for them to survive this brutal world. Seeing them still bickering, still alive enough to scream, a profound sense of relief washed over her.
*Knock… knock.*
Lilit stepped inside with a gentle smile. She produced two cloaks, embroidered with exquisite, intricate care: "Students of Lilit and Yban." Pip and Kael stared, stunned. A wave of raw, unfiltered emotion surged through them, and tears welled in their eyes. Lilit moved in, pulling them into an embrace:
"Hush now. Congratulations, both of you... you've graduated!"
***
Time passed, and their wounds gradually healed. As they stepped down from their beds, Pip looked at Kael and remarked, "The Temple's medicine is stronger than I thought. It feels like my body has been completely rebuilt."
Clad in their new cloaks with a pride they could barely contain, the two stepped out of the Temple gate. They turned back, staring at the academy that had witnessed countless drops of sweat and bitter defeats, trying to etch the image into their memories.
Just as they turned to leave, a voice called out from behind:
"WAIT! YOU TWO...!"
Lilit stood there, her eyes fixed on them. Pip and Kael stood frozen, turning around. Seeing that familiar silhouette, they were overcome with emotion, unable to utter a single word. They rushed over, gently embracing their mentor. From a distance, Yban stood in the shadows, a faint smile on his lips:
"It seems... they have truly grown up."
Pip and Kael bid their final farewells, though Kael felt a tinge of regret that Yban had not appeared to see them off. Suddenly, a gentle wave of energy brushed past his shoulder. Kael froze, looking toward the source of the energy, where Yban stood. He smiled softly and bowed respectfully:
"Master..."
Leaving the warmth of their mentors behind, Pip and Kael walked toward the edge of the Temple's domain. Standing before the threshold of the vast, unfolding world, they did not hesitate. Pip took a deep breath, his eyes filled with resolve as he gazed toward the horizon where the real storms awaited. He declared, as a vow to himself and the world:
"Here I come!"