The courtyard had turned into a war zone.
From my vantage point at the broken classroom window, I watched Kaelen move through the remaining upperclassmen like a scythe through wheat. He was a whirlwind of violence, his movements fueled by raw adrenaline and a terrifying strength that didn't seem to have a limit.
He grabbed an upperclassman by the head and slammed his face into the stone wall, leaving a smear of crimson. He spun, delivering a roundhouse kick that sent another student flying into a fountain.
But he was taking damage. I could see the bruises blooming on his skin, the cuts deepening with every exchange. Yet, he didn't slow down. If anything, the pain seemed to make him fight harder.
I turned my head, scanning the windows around me. The entire first-year class was watching, their faces a mixture of horror and awe.
To my left, I spotted the rest of the Top 5.
Zarethis Darkroot stood with her arms crossed, a wide, predatory grin splitting her face as she watched the carnage. Her dark eyes shone with excitement.
Next to her, Sylas Whisperwind leaned against the frame, his expression intense, analyzing every move Kaelen made with a critical eye.
And Lyra Solis... her lips were twitching. It was hard to tell from this distance, but it looked like a mix of irritation and twisted enjoyment.
"Elara!" I gasped, turning as a hand touched my shoulder.
Elara stood beside me, her grey eyes focused on the courtyard below. She raised her hand, and a soft, golden light enveloped me, soothing the scrapes on my arms and the ache in my ribs from the earlier shove.
"Your wounds are minor," Elara said, her voice tight. "But Kaelen..."
"He's hurt," I said, panic rising in my chest. "We have to stop this! He can't keep fighting like this."
Elara shook her head, her expression grim. "The only way to stop this fight is if one side loses. The upperclassmen won't stop until they're incapacitated or Kaelen is."
"But there are more coming!" I pointed out. "Once any of the top second-years join in, it’ll be over!"
Elara nodded darkly. "Exactly. And the teachers won't intervene. They consider this 'playful banter.'"
I looked back at the Top 5. Zarethis was still grinning, Lyra was still watching with that strange expression, and Sylas was analyzing the fight.
I can't just stand here.
I pulled away from the window and marched toward the Top 5. They noticed my approach, their eyes shifting to me as I stopped in front of them.
I bowed deeply, my heart pounding. "Please," I said, my voice trembling but firm. "I need your help. Kaelen is getting hurt. He can't fight all of them alone."
Zarethis looked down at me, her imposing figure towering over me. She raised an eyebrow, a dark smirk playing on her lips.
"Why should we help him?" she asked, her voice dripping with amusement. "He got into this fight on his own. He’s a big boy; he can handle himself."
"But he's outnumbered!" I insisted, tears pricking my eyes. "He's bleeding! He needs help!"
Zarethis tilted her head, her gaze sweeping over me. "You’re cute, you know that?" She stepped closer, her dark eyes locking onto mine. "How about you go out with me instead? I’ll help him then."
I felt my face heat up, but I shook my head violently. "This is serious! He's getting hurt!"
Zarethis let out a low chuckle, turning her gaze back to the courtyard. "I've known Kaelen far longer than you have. Look at him."
I followed her gaze. Kaelen had just finished off the last of the lower-ranked upperclassmen. He stood amidst the pile of groaning bodies, his chest heaving, blood dripping from his chin. But as he looked at the new wave of enemies approaching, he didn't look scared.
He smiled.
"He loves the thrill of the fight," Zarethis said, her voice softening slightly.
I stared at Kaelen, watching him smash another upperclassman’s chin with a vicious uppercut. His eyes were glowing with that feral light, his movements savage and precise.
I can't accept this, I thought, my fists clenching. I can't just watch him get hurt for entertainment.
I felt powerless, watching him take hit after hit, his body accumulating wounds. Each time he flinched, I flinched. Each time he bled, I felt a pang in my chest.
I need to do something.
KAELEN'S POV
My body screamed in protest. Every muscle ached, every cut throbbed, and my lungs burned from exertion. But my mind was clear, sharp, and focused.
I stood amidst the wreckage of the lower-ranked upperclassmen, my chest heaving as I tried to catch my breath. The courtyard was silent for a moment, the only sound the groans of the fallen.
"Hey, I heard a ruckus was happening," a voice called out from the crowd of upperclassmen. "But who would've thought I'd see such a sight before me."
I turned toward the voice.
A boy stepped forward, separating himself from the group. He was tall and fit, wearing the uniform of a second-year student. His hair was slicked back, and he carried himself with an air of arrogance.
I didn't recognize him, but the mana radiating from him was intense. He was strong.
Before I could speak, he moved.
He blurred, closing the distance in a heartbeat. I barely had time to raise my arm before his fist connected with my face.
CRACK.
Pain exploded through my skull. I skidded backward, my boots scraping against the cobblestones. I shook my head, trying to clear the stars from my vision.
"Pathetic," the upperclassman sneered. "Is this the 'beast' that caused all this trouble? You look like a stray dog."
I spat a glob of blood onto the ground and looked up. "Who are you?"
"I'm Ren," he said, his voice dripping with condescension. "And I'm here to teach you your place."
Before I could respond, he was on me again. He moved with blinding speed, his fist connecting with my ribs. I gasped, the air leaving my lungs, but he didn't stop.
He grabbed my collar and spun me around, slamming me into the stone wall of the nearby building. My head cracked against the stone, and I saw stars.
"Basic spell will do," he whispered, his hand glowing with intense heat.
He pressed his palm against my chest.
Fire erupted.
I screamed as the flames engulfed me, the heat searing my skin and burning through my clothes. The pain was excruciating, a white-hot agony that made my vision blur.
Ren laughed, stepping back as I stumbled away from the wall, batting at the flames on my chest.
"See?" he said to the crowd. "This is what happens when you challenge your superiors."
I fell to my knees, the fire still licking at my clothes, the pain overwhelming my senses.
BELL'S POV
I couldn't take it anymore.
I watched Kaelen fall to his knees, engulfed in flames, and something inside me snapped.
I ran.
I sprinted down the stairs, my feet pounding against the stone steps, ignoring Elara’s shout behind me. I burst out of the building and into the courtyard, the chaos unfolding before me.
Kaelen was on the ground, rolling to put out the flames, his body battered and bruised. The upperclassman, Ren, stood over him, a cruel smile on his face.
"STOP!!!" I screamed, my voice cutting through the noise.
Ren paused, turning his head to look at me. His eyes narrowed, and without a word, he flicked his wrist.
A bolt of mana shot toward me, designed to silence and incapacitate.
But before it could reach me, a golden shield materialized in front of me, shattering the bolt into harmless sparks.
Elara stood beside me, her hand raised, her grey eyes blazing with fury. "Don't you dare touch her."
Ren laughed, a harsh, grating sound. "Another first-year? You think your little shield can protect you?"
I stepped forward, ignoring the fear that clawed at my throat. "You're pathetic," I spat, my voice shaking but loud enough for everyone to hear. "You're a second-year, a top student, and you're beating up a first-year who's already exhausted. You call that strength? That's cowardice!"
Ren's smile vanished, replaced by a scowl. "Watch your mouth, little girl."
"I won't!" I yelled, tears streaming down my face. "You're nothing but a bully! You think you're strong, but you're just a coward hiding behind your rank! Kaelen is ten times the man you are!"
Ren's eyes darkened. He took a step toward me, his mana flaring. "You first-years need to know your place."
He coated his fist in a ball of fire, the heat radiating even from this distance. He raised his arm, aiming for my face.
I stood my ground, bracing myself for the impact. I couldn't dodge, and I couldn't defend. I could only accept it.
Please, Kaelen...
"!"
Suddenly, two large, bruised arms shot out from behind Ren.
They locked onto his neck in a vice-like grip, lifting him off his feet.
Ren gasped, his eyes bulging as the arms tightened. He dropped to his knees, clawing at the arms crushing his windpipe.
I looked past him and saw Kaelen.
He was standing, his body battered, his clothes charred and smoking. Blood dripped from a cut on his forehead, running down his face like war paint. His eyes were wild, glowing with a terrifying intensity.
But he was smiling.
It was a violent, bloody grin that sent a shiver down my spine. He looked like a demon, a beast that had been pushed too far and had finally snapped.
Ren struggled, throwing his elbow back into Kaelen’s ribs, but Kaelen didn't even flinch. He took the blow with a smile, his grip tightening.
"You..." Ren choked out, his face turning purple. "Let... go..."
Kaelen leaned down, his bloodied face inches from Ren's ear. He didn't say a word. He just tightened his grip.
Ren’s struggles grew weaker, his eyes rolling back. Finally, his body went limp, and Kaelen dropped him to the ground with a heavy thud.
Silence fell over the courtyard.
Kaelen stood over me, his chest heaving, his body covered in blood and burns. He looked down at me, his violent smile softening slightly.
He opened his mouth as if to say something, but then his eyes rolled back.
He fell forward, his massive body collapsing toward me.
I caught him, or rather, I braced his fall as best as I could, his weight pressing me down to the ground. His head rested against my shoulder, his breathing shallow but steady.
The courtyard remained silent, the upperclassmen too stunned to move, the first-years too awed to speak.