Kyle lay sprawled on the training hall floor, staring up at the vaulted ceiling as each breath sent sharp, stabbing pain through his ribs.
’Definitely broken’, he thought, tasting blood in his mouth.
His entire body felt like it had been run over by a cart.
His left ankle throbbed where Cedric’s flames had seared through his boot.
His arms burned from blocking too many heavy strikes, and his ribs...
Yeah, those were definitely cracked.
The moment Cassian had called the match.
The room erupted into chaos.
As Eleanora rushed towards him.
The usually composed princess shoved past the others.
Her crimson eyes blazing with something between frustration and concern.
She dropped to her knees beside Kyle.
Her gloved hands already moving to assess his injuries with surprising precision.
"You idiot," she muttered. Pressing gently along his ribcage.
Kyle hissed through his teeth as her fingers found the worst of the damage.
"Two... maybe three," Kyle managed. Swallowing against the coppery taste in his mouth.
Sylvie skidded to a stop beside them, her round glasses askew.
Her hands fluttering uselessly in the air like startled birds.
"O-oh no, oh no—Kyle, your ribs—we need to—"
Eleanora didn’t even look up. "I will take him to the infirmary."
Sylvie blinked. Her mouth opening and closing like a fish. "B-but—"
"He needs proper healing, not just potions," Eleanora said firmly.
Already sliding an arm under Kyle’s shoulders to help him sit up.
The movement jostled his ribs, and Kyle bit back a groan.
"The academy healers are better for fractures. Potions are a last resort. You know how the body builds resistance if overused"
Reo whistled low. Rubbing the back of his head.
"Damn, Princess. Since when did you become a medic?"
Eleanora shot him a glare that could have frozen lava.
"Since I actually pay attention in survival training lectures."
Lyra, who had been leaning against the wall with her arms crossed, pushed off with a sigh.
The half-elf’s ruby eyes flicked over Kyle’s injuries with clinical detachment.
"I could try patching him up with nature magic, but..." She wrinkled her nose.
"I’m better at making plants grow than fixing ribs."
Letting Eleanora haul him to his feet. His legs wobbled dangerously.
And he had to lean heavily against her to stay upright.
"Hard pass," he muttered.
"I would rather not have my bones fused together by accident."
Cedric approached. Wiping sweat from his brow with the back of his hand.
A thin cut on his cheek—courtesy of Kyle’s ice—had already stopped bleeding.
And there was also a shallow gash on his arm.
Compared to Kyle’s battered state. He looked practically untouched.
"Hey," Cedric said, rubbing the back of his neck.
His usual confident demeanor was tempered with something almost sheepish.
"Sorry if I went overboard at the end there."
Kyle scoffed, though it turned into a cough that made his ribs scream.
"Don’t apologize," he wheezed.
"We both went overboard." He smirked weakly, bracing himself against Eleanora’s shoulder.
"Next time, It will not be the same outcome."
The tension easing from his shoulders. "Looking forward to it."
Luna, who had been bouncing on the balls of her feet since the match ended.
Finally exploded with excitement.
"That was insane!" she shrieked, throwing her arms up.
"Kyle, you absolute madman! You actually put a tough fight!"
Reo nodded vigorously. His brown hair ponytail bouncing with the motion.
Cassian, ever the dramatic, clapped Kyle on the shoulder.
Hard enough to make him wince.
"You are a damn monster, you know that?" he said, shaking his head.
Kyle rolled his eyes, though the motion pulled at his injuries.
Only Serena remained silent. Lingering at the edge of the group with her usual aloof expression.
But even she couldn’t hide the faintest glimmer of interest in her amethyst eyes as she studied Kyle.
Lyra suddenly snapped her fingers, her pointed ears twitching.
"Wait a damn minute. Why were you hiding the ice affinity this whole time?!"
All eyes turned to Kyle.
He shrugged, then immediately regretted it when his ribs protested.
"Didn’t get a chance to show it before."
Luna threw her hands up in exasperation. "Bullshit! You had plenty of chances!"
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"Interrogation later. Infirmary now."
The moment they stepped out of the training hall.
Kyle’s knees buckled.
The adrenaline was wearing off.
And the full weight of his injuries crashed into him like a tidal wave.
Eleanora caught him before he could faceplant.
Her grip surprisingly strong for someone so slender.
"Easy," she muttered, adjusting her hold around his waist.
"Try not to die before we get there."
Kyle huffed a laugh, then winced as his ribs protested. "Not planning on it."
Kyle limping heavily with every step.
The hallway stretched before them.
The afternoon sunlight streaming through the arched windows and painting golden stripes across the stone floor.
"You could have lost sooner," Eleanora said suddenly, her voice low.
"You didn’t have to push yourself that hard."
Kyle shot her a sideways glance. "Where’s the fun in that?"
If anything, her expression darkened. "You could have gotten seriously hurt."
"Eh." Kyle grinned weakly.
"It was still worth it."
Eleanora exhaled sharply.
Like she wanted to argue, but instead she just tightened her grip on him.
"You are impossible."
Back in the training hall.
Luna was grumbling as she counted out credits, her white hair flopping into her face.
"I can’t believe Eleanora was the only one who bet on Kyle lasting that long," she muttered.
Reo grinned. "Princess knows something we don’t."
Lyra smirked, twirling a strand of her emerald-green hair around her finger.
"Or she just actually pays attention."
Cassian stretched, cracking his neck.
"Either way. That was the best damn fight I have seen in months."
Serena, who had been silent the entire time, finally spoke.
"...He’s stronger than he looks."
The group fell silent.
Luna blinked. "Damn, Serena. Was that praise?"
Serena ignored her and walked away.
But the sentiment lingered in the air.
Kyle Valemont had just proven he wasn’t someone to underestimate.