Path of infinity : the star wanderers

Kael's thoughts spiraled as he stood frozen, his clenched fists trembling with frustration. Laura's words rang in his ears, her cruel laughter still echoing long after she'd left the arena. Tarek lay unconscious, Darin barely breathing after his outburst, and Jin stood silent, the weight of it all pressing down on them like a stormcloud.

Rudra released his grip on Kael's shoulder, the tension in the air thick enough to cut. "Enough for today. The match is over," Rudra declared, his voice steady but his expression unreadable. He glanced at Darin, still crumpled on the floor. "Take him to the infirmary. His Naadi surge needs monitoring."

Kael nodded silently, hoisting Darin's limp form over his shoulder. He glanced briefly at Jin, worry etched into his features, but Jin avoided his gaze. The burning rage within him had turned into something colder, something more dangerous—an all-consuming need for revenge.

As they made their way out of the arena, Kael couldn't help but steal one last look at Tarek. Her body had been carefully lifted onto a stretcher, medics rushing to ensure her safety. The sight of her, so still, so vulnerable, twisted Kael's stomach in knots.

"I’ll make her pay for this," Kael whispered to himself, the weight of the promise heavy in his chest.

They walked in silence down the long corridors of the academy, the walls lined with banners from past victories and champions. Each banner felt like a mocking reminder of their failure today. Kael’s mind wandered, replaying the events of the fight. He’d been so close—so close to striking Beni down, to winning.

Just as Rudra was picking up Tarek, a voice cut through the murmurs of the crowd.

" Rudra" Rudra turned to see the teacher of other team—walking toward them, his expression grim.

Kiran bowed his head slightly in apology. "r Rudra, I sincerely apologize for my team's behavior. Laura and the others... they went too far. I take full responsibility."

Rudra regarded him for a moment, his intense gaze weighing the words carefully before giving a slight nod. "It was an unsportsmanlike display," Rudra said. "You are the last person from whose student i would expect this. But since it did happen I expect you to ensure this doesn't happen again."

Kiran's jaw clenched, and he nodded. "I will. I’ll handle it." His eyes flicked over to Laura, who stood a few feet away, arms crossed and head held high in defiance.

"Make sure you do," Rudra said, his voice laced with authority, before stepping back to attend to the fallen Tarek.

As soon as Rudra walked away, Kiran approached Laura, his stern face turning even darker. "Laura, what were you thinking? Stepping on Tarek like that—have you lost your mind?"

Laura’s eyes flared with frustration, but she held her ground. "You don’t understand, Kiran," she said, her voice tight with resentment. "You don’t know what I’ve been through because of him. It’s not just about winning the match."

Kiran’s eyes narrowed. "Because of who? Jin?" he asked, his voice rising in disbelief. "What does Jin have to do with any of this? And why did you take it out on Tarek?"

Laura's fists clenched at her sides. "It's not just Jin. It's everything! Ever since he showed up, it’s like I don’t exist! Everything I do, everything I try—it’s always overshadowed by him even though he doesn't do anything!" Her voice cracked with frustration, and for a brief moment, the hardened exterior faltered.

Kiran exhaled sharply. "I get it, Laura. I do. But this—this isn’t how you handle it. You humiliated Tarek for no reason. What did she do to deserve that?"

Laura shook her head, her eyes blazing. "You don’t know what it’s like to be forgotten, Kiran. To be tossed aside for someone who didn’t even want to be with us!" Her voice wavered, and Kiran saw something raw and painful behind her anger. "I had to fight for everything—everything! And now it feels like I’m losing it all to him."

Kiran's expression softened, but only slightly. He stepped closer, lowering his voice so only she could hear. "I know it's hard. But this—what you did today—wasn't about proving you're better. It was about revenge. And that’s not going to make you feel any better."

Laura glared at him, refusing to back down. "You wouldn't understand."

Kiran’s gaze hardened again. "You're right. I don’t understand everything you're going through. But you’re letting this bitterness consume you. If you keep down this path, you’ll lose more than just matches—you’ll lose yourself."

For a moment, Laura looked like she wanted to say something else, but instead, she turned on her heel and stormed off, leaving Kiran standing there, watching as her figure disappeared into the shadows.

As Kael and Jin turned a corner, Kael broke the silence. "Was she always like this?" His voice was low, as if he didn’t expect an answer. He kept his eyes ahead, still carrying Darin.

Jin swallowed hard, his throat dry. "No. She wasn't. "

He knew Laura’s transformation hadn’t come out of nowhere. Something had changed within her after Jin had... after he had returned. He didn’t understand it fully yet, but he could feel the shift. Laura's bitterness, her venom—it all stemmed from something deeper, something Jin had been too blind to see.

Do you think she meant it? Her threat?" Kael asked, his brow furrowed.

Jin clenched his jaw. "It wasn’t just a threat. She’ll come for us. For all of us."

Kael sighed, his expression troubled. "Then we need to prepare."

Kael nodded in agreement, though inside he couldn’t shake the dread that had settled in his gut. They were all on the same team, all working toward the same goal—or they had been. But now Laura's threat loomed over them like a shadow.

After Laura stormed off, her footsteps echoing in the quiet corridor, she felt a vibration from the small orb she carried in her pocket. Her hand instinctively reached for it, and a glowing message lit up on the surface of the orb. She stared at it for a moment, her eyes narrowing, but she didn’t respond. Without a word, she tucked it away and continued down the empty hallway, her expression unreadable.

Back at the infirmary, the soft glow of healing lights filled the room. Rudra had carried Tarek inside, carefully laying her on a bed. Medics surrounded her, checking her vitals, while Darin lay unconscious nearby, his breathing steady but shallow. His outburst had taken a lot out of him, and the healers worked to stabilize his Naadi energy, ensuring he wouldn’t suffer any permanent damage from the surge.

Jin and Kael stood by the door, watching the scene in silence. The weight of everything that had happened in the arena still hung heavy in the air. Kael's fists were clenched tightly at his sides, but he remained motionless, his face a mask of frustration and confusion.

Rudra, after making sure Tarek was in stable hands, turned his attention to Jin. His gaze was sharp, cutting through the tense atmosphere with an unspoken demand for answers.

"Why did she do this?" Rudra finally asked, his voice low but filled with a quiet intensity.

Jin's face was impassive, but his eyes flickered with something—guilt, perhaps, or maybe regret. He didn’t answer, and the silence between them stretched longer than it should have. Rudra’s eyes narrowed, waiting for an explanation that never came.

Realizing Jin wouldn’t respond, Rudra sighed deeply, crossing his arms. "The least you could do is tell your teammates about your past," he said, his tone stern but not unkind. "They’re going to be with you for a long time, Jin. They deserve to know what they’re fighting alongside."

Jin’s face remained stoic, but inside, the words hit harder than he would ever admit. Still, he stayed silent, unwilling—or maybe unable—to share what Rudra was asking for.

Seeing that no answer was coming, Rudra shook his head slightly, his disappointment clear. "Just think about it," he said softly before turning back to attend to the injured students.

Kael glanced at Jin, but Jin’s expression remained unreadable. Without another word, the two of them quietly left the infirmary and headed back to their quarters. The walk was filled with a heavy silence, both of them lost in their own thoughts.

As they lay in their beds that night, Jin stared up at the ceiling, his mind racing. Why would she do this? he thought to himself. Laura had always been fierce, always competitive, but this felt different. It wasn’t just about winning the match—it was something deeper. Didn’t she already get what she wanted? he wondered. Wasn’t she satisfied with how things turned out after all these years? His thoughts swirled with confusion and guilt, but no answers came.

Meanwhile, Kael lay in his own bed, staring up at the dark ceiling, his mind replaying everything that had happened in the arena. His heart was heavy with the weight of the day’s events, but something felt off. Why did I get so emotional all of a sudden? he thought. I’ve always been emotional, but this… this was different.

He tried to grasp the fleeting emotions that had surged through him earlier, but they seemed to slip away like water through his fingers. Why am I not feeling the rage? he asked himself, confused. Why am I not consumed by the desperation to avenge my people, my uncle, my sister, my brother? He clenched his fists, trying to summon the anger, the burning need for revenge, but all he felt was an unsettling emptiness.

A memory surfaced, one from long ago, before everything had been taken from him. He and his father had been sitting by the edge of a lake, the soft sound of the water lapping against the shore filling the peaceful silence between them. His father had always been a man of few words, but when he spoke, his voice carried the weight of unspoken truths.

"Kael," his father had said, his deep voice cutting through the quiet, "always remember that no matter what happens, you are never alone you have Rai , Lyra , your uncle and villagers."

Kael, who had been gazing out at the shimmering water, turned to look at his father. "But Dad," he asked, his young voice full of curiosity, "where’s Mom? Why isn’t she with us?"

His father’s face softened, a rare smile tugging at the corners of his lips. "She’s in a faraway place," he said gently, placing a hand on Kael’s shoulder. "But she’s always watching over us, protecting us."

Kael had frowned, not fully understanding. "Will she ever come back?"

His father’s gaze turned distant for a moment, as if he were lost in a memory. "No," he said quietly, his voice laced with sadness, "but she’s always with us, in here." He placed a hand over his heart, his eyes filled with a mixture of pain and love.

Kael’s father had looked down at him, his eyes soft but filled with a seriousness that Kael didn’t quite understand at the time.

"While she is protecting us, we should protect the village, shouldn’t we?" his father said with a gentle smile, ruffling Kael’s hair.

Kael’s heart swelled with determination at his father’s words. Even as a child, he had always admired the quiet strength his father carried—the unwavering resolve that seemed to protect not just their family but the whole village. His father had spoken of threats from faraway lands, of dangers that would one day come for them. Kael didn’t know when or why, but he knew, deep down, that he wanted to be just like him.

"I’ll protect them," Kael had said with a fierce resolve, his small fists clenched as he stood up straighter. "I’ll become the strongest, and I’ll protect the whole universe from all those people you said will come!"

His father had chuckled softly at Kael’s proclamation, but there was pride in his eyes. He knelt down to Kael’s level, placing a hand on his shoulder. "That’s a big promise," he said, his voice gentle but full of meaning. "Becoming the strongest isn’t just about power. It’s about understanding the weight of the lives you protect. It’s about carrying that responsibility with you, even when it feels impossible."

Kael had nodded, absorbing every word, his young heart ablaze with the desire to live up to that promise. Even then, he had dreamed of becoming a protector, a shield against the darkness that threatened those he loved.

But now, lying in his bed years later, Kael couldn’t shake the feeling that somewhere along the way, something had been lost. Why don’t I feel that fire anymore?