After everything that happened, the school eventually found us—but strangely, none of the people we fought were ever seen again. It was as if they'd vanished into thin air, like ghosts who left no footprints behind.
"Eri… you didn't see anything?" I asked Erelya quietly, still shaken.
"Nah," she replied with a shrug. "You passed out cold. I couldn't maintain my form after that."
Before I could respond, a piercing scream split the air like shattered glass. It rang through my skull, so sharp and sudden I thought I'd gone deaf.
"Zayen…!" I shouted, forcing myself out of bed despite the pain wracking my body. "It might be an ambush!"
I ran, half-limping toward the source of the sound. Erelya floated beside me, her expression tense.
But when we arrived, what we saw was… far from an ambush.
"Is this the ambush?" I asked flatly, staring at Zayen lying sprawled on the floor, his trousers halfway down.
"Yes," he whimpered in a trembling voice.
"No… it's time for his shot," said a woman in a white coat—most likely a school doctor—holding a syringe the size of doom.
"Seriously?" I blinked, watching Zayen's entire body shake in fear as he locked eyes with the needle.
"You don't know how terrifying it is," he muttered, tears pooling at the corners of his eyes.
"I do. I just had mine," I said coldly, arms crossed.
"Actually, that's true," Erelya chimed in beside me.
"Huh?" I glanced at her, confused.
"There was once a mad scientist in the Demon Realm," she began, her face darkening. "When they finally caught him, his entire body was full of holes—needle marks everywhere."
She clutched her face as if the memory physically hurt.
"I've been traumatized ever since," she whimpered, her voice trembling like a leaf in the wind.
"Wow. Nice way to admit you're scared too," I said, giving her a pointed look as the room filled with the sight of two grown babies dreading a little shot.
"Ahem—I'm not scared, I just… don't like it," Zayen muttered, standing up and fumbling to fix his trousers.
"Me too. I-I'm not scared or anything," Erelya said quickly, looking away.
"Then take the shot," I said as the nurse approached Zayen again and pinned him down with practiced precision.
As we walked away, a blood-curdling scream erupted from the room behind us. It echoed down the hallway like a banshee's wail.
Erelya froze mid-step, her eyes wide. She whimpered like a puppy under thunder.
"Pfft…" I tried to hold back my laughter but couldn't stop the grin tugging at my lips.
We made it down the hallway and ran into Fae, who looked like she'd sprinted straight from a battlefield.
"Are you okay?!" she gasped, hurrying over to inspect me, her hands gently gripping my arms and shoulders.
"I'm fine," I said as she checked me over like a worried nurse.
"You sure?" she asked again, only letting go after another quick scan of my body.
"Fae, I told you he's fine," Theryn cut in, trying to wedge herself between us.
"Yeah, I'm alright," I said, already turning to walk away.
"Wanna eat with me?" Fae asked with a hopeful smile.
"Yeah!" Erelya jumped at the offer, eyes lighting up. Where there was food, there would always be hungry demons.
"No… I want to sleep," I muttered, rubbing my eyes.
"Okay, you go then. I'll just eat with Th—" Erelya began, but I grabbed her midair by the back of her cloak.
"You're coming with me," I said without giving her room to argue, dragging her off down the corridor as her little legs flailed behind.
"Tch! Can you believe that animal?!" Fae hissed behind us, stomping her foot like a furious cat.
"Forget it. Let's go eat," Theryn sighed, tugging her toward the cafeteria.
"I barely made it back to my room when I saw him…"
When I reached my room, a shadowy figure stood before the door—cloaked in black, a mask concealing his face. The dim hallway light barely caught the edges of his form, making him seem more like a phantom than a person.
"What are you doing here?" I asked, voice steady but guarded.
He didn't answer. Instead, he stepped forward, slow and deliberate, the soft scrape of his boots muffled by the thick carpet. Without a word, he extended a gloved hand and pressed a folded note into mine.
You're a candidate. Do your best.
"…Huh? What is this?" I glanced up, confusion rising—but he stood still, unmoving.
"So that's how it is?" I muttered, swinging a punch straight at his head.
"Last chance," he warned, his voice raw, hollow—like someone who hadn't slept in years. The weight in his tone was enough to chill my skin. He caught my punch with ease, his grip cold, unyielding… inhuman.
"Back off. He's above your league," Erelya's voice rang out—sharp, tense, all playfulness gone.
The masked man let go and took a step back. In the blink of an eye, he vanished—his form dissolving like smoke into the air, as if he had never existed.
I stared down at the note, eyes narrowing at the crude, smeared drawing.
"…Looks like a bleeding eye," Erelya murmured, her voice lacking its usual confidence. A flicker of unease twisted in her expression.
"Did you notice anything strange?" I asked.
"No," she whispered, still staring at the paper, as if some buried memory was clawing its way to the surface.
"…Alright. Let's just… move on," I said, slipping the note into my pocket.
"Yeah… let's eat," she replied, trying for a smile—but it barely reached her eyes.
"After a bath," I added, forcing some humor into my tone. "I probably smell like death."
"You actually do," Erelya teased faintly, following me inside.
I laughed softly. "Fair enough."
---
Far away, in a chamber buried in shadows…
"Did you give him the paper?" a cold, commanding voice asked.
"Yes, sir," the masked man replied, low and obedient.
"She's really there… can't believe it," another voice murmured, followed by a dark chuckle from the corner of the room.
---
Just as I started to settle in, a knock shattered the peace.
Knock. Knock.
"Kael! It's me!" he called out, clearly impatient.
"What do you want?" I grumbled, still lying down and refusing to get up.
"Open the door."
"Nope. Talk through the door," I replied flatly.
"…Alright, that's it! I'm kicking it down!" he barked. I rolled my eyes—definitely not the first time he's said that.
"I sense mana," Erelya said calmly, slicing her steak with one of her custom-sized knives. "If you want quiet, open the door."
After thirty minutes of shouting and threats, we finally reached a deal: he'd climb through the back window I'd leave open.
Panting, he crawled inside. "Hah… hah…"
"You could've just opened the damn door," he muttered, collapsing into the chair. "Anyway, our parents are coming tomorrow."
"…What about my mom?" I asked.
"Dunno. I just know someone's coming," he said while digging into the plate meant for me.
I swiped it back. "Then eat your own."
"We're getting a week off," he continued. "Let's go somewhere fun—"
"I'm going home to relax," I said quickly, cutting him off.
"Camping sounds fun too," he shrugged. "Let's hit Elarion's Grove. It's dangerous—perfect for training."
He paused, eyes gleaming. "Plus, the animals are delicious when cooked right."
"…Training?" Erelya asked, her playful demeanor shifting to something dead serious.
"Yes," he replied, not missing a beat.
"Then we're going," she declared, already imagining the food.
She was already imagining how the monsters would taste. Figures.
watching them both—the only two maniacs unfazed by real danger.
"…Yeah. We might," I muttered, shoving him toward the door.
"No. We will," Erelya yelled, as if that sealed the deal.
"Alright, tomorrow it is," he grinned, walking down the hallway like a man with a plan.
---
The next morning
BAM BAM BAM.
"Who is it…?" I groaned, still buried under the sheets.
"It's Zayen. Get dressed. Our parents are here."
I dragged myself out of bed, showered, and pulled on fresh clothes. Erelya nagged me the whole way to the cafeteria.
"They're already here? Seriously?" I muttered.
"Yup," Zayen said.
Then he lit up with a mischievous grin. "Ooh—I just thought of something fun."
"F-fun…" I echoed flatly, dragging my feet after him.
"Hey," he called, stopping at a table. "Wanna come camping with us?" he asked casually.
I stared like he'd grown a second head.
"Sur—" Fae started.
"No, we would not," Theryn snapped.
But after some desperate puppy-eyed begging, Theryn finally agreed with a sigh—though she looked anything but thrilled.
Lunch turned awkward after that. Still, we headed toward the principal's office.
"You two already got permission since you're recovering. But what about us?" Fae asked, clearly worried.
"You're not comi—" I began.
"I'll ask my dad. He'll say yes," Zayen cut in as we stepped inside.
Waiting for us were the principal, my father, and Zayen's dad… but also one very unwanted guest.
"Kael… how are you?" he said cheerfully.
"…Cedric. What are you doing here?" I asked, irritation rising fast.
"For an investigation," he said, already playing with Erelya like we weren't even there.
Some things never change. And that's exactly the problem.
Three years ago…
One of those brutal training drills with Dad—the kind that made my lungs burn, my arms go numb, and my soul briefly consider reincarnation—is where I met my adopted brother for the first time.
It was during that specific brand of torture, where every swing of the blade felt like the ground might just swallow me out of mercy.
Luckily, I wasn't shoved into another one of those cross-dressing pageants like when I met Lilia. But if I thought this one would be easier to deal with just because he didn't force me into heels, I was wrong.
Dead wrong.
"Is that all you've got?" he hollered from the edge of the training field, arms crossed and a crooked grin on his face, like he was watching a comedy show instead of my slow descent into death.
I barely managed to parry another one of Dad's blows, my wrists trembling like cracked branches in a storm.
That evening, at dinner…
"I'm sure you don't want that," he said nonchalantly, already reaching across my plate to swipe the largest, juiciest piece of meat like it had his name on it.
I stared at him, fork half-raised, rage quietly simmering.
Back then, I was still a scrawny little kid. At least Mom still had my back. She'd swat his hand and slide the meat back to me like I was the prince of the realm.
But as I got older, her responses changed. She'd smile faintly, shake her head, and say, "That's just how brothers are."
I didn't have a brother before this. But I was pretty damn sure this wasn't brotherhood.
This was bullying.
No—this was oppression in its purest form.
Sure, he had the occasional moment of usefulness. Like a fire extinguisher that only worked half the time—just enough to justify its existence, but never when you really needed it.
After dinner…
"Kael," Cedric said, lazily flicking a toothpick between his teeth like a smug villain in a tavern story. "Tomorrow, you and I are up against Dad."
"Thanks," I said, genuinely relieved. Surely, with him beside me, the pressure would ease up, right?
How adorably naïve of me.
Dad doubled the difficulty the moment Cedric stepped onto the field with me, like he'd unlocked some hidden 'Hell Mode.'
While they moved like predators—controlled, efficient, devastating—I flailed like a fish tossed onto a burning skillet. I was a tethered puppy thrown into a pit with wolves, my body reacting just fast enough not to die.
But the real reason I hated him?
His face. His aura. His damn presence.
Wherever we went, girls would materialize from nowhere—like he was a walking love spell. They'd giggle, flip their hair, ask him questions they already knew the answers to.
The number of admirers he had could populate a small farming village and still have leftovers.
I wasn't ugly anymore—thanks to Erelya quietly sculpting my body in the background like a divine artisan—but I was still recovering from years of being… forgettable. When people looked at Cedric, they glowed. When they looked at me, they squinted.
It was emotionally draining.
---
Present day…
"Kael," Cedric's voice cut through the air, smug and loud. His face hovered just above mine, shadowed by sunlight pouring through the tall academy windows. "So, you're going home already? Just a few days into school?"
"Yeah…" I mumbled, eyes narrowing.
"Actually, we're going camping," Zayen said, cutting in like some kind of well-meaning savior. He was addressing Cedric now.
"Nice... but you'll need permission," Cedric said, already calculating, like a cat that just spotted a cornered bird.
"I'm not going," I snapped, crossing my arms tightly.
"Hm." Cedric stared at me for a long second, his golden eyes twinkling with mischief. I already hated what was coming next.
"Tell you what," he said. "If Kael tags along, you've got my permission. I'm guessing you need it to take the others?"
He turned toward Fae and Theryn with a smile that made me want to launch a shoe at his face.
"Thanks so much…" Erelya said. Her voice was flat with bitterness. Of course. Those two had a shared hobby: making my life a living performance piece of cosmic suffering.
"All that's left…" Zayen muttered, squaring his shoulders as he approached my dad—Sir Aldric. The man stood tall like an old monument, arms folded, his presence alone enough to silence a room.
"Sir Aldric," Zayen called.
"Yes?" my father replied, voice low and controlled.
"I'd like permission to take Kael camping," Zayen said, bowing slightly like a knight addressing royalty.
Dad didn't speak. He just… stared. Like he was weighing Zayen's soul against a feather.
Then Cedric chimed in. "Dad… it'll be good training," he said smoothly, snapping the silence like a whip.
And that was that. I saw it in Dad's eyes—my fate being locked in.
"Yes," said Thorne Orik—Zayen's father—his voice like thunder rolling off distant peaks. "Let them enjoy these moments. Such chances only grow rarer with age."
Dad nodded once. "Very well. You have my permission too."
My stomach dropped.
No, Dad. You were supposed to say no… I stared blankly ahead, cursing every last one of them in my soul.
---
After the adults spoke with Principal Liora and exchanged more formalities, we finally departed.
The carriage was large and enclosed in dark mahogany wood with golden leaf accents, rocking gently as it rolled over the cobbled road. Through the thin, curtained windows, the countryside rolled by in waves of green fields, soft hills, and forests washed in amber light.
By the time we arrived, the sun was slouching behind the hills, its rays casting a molten gold over the landscape. Shadows stretched long, turning trees into towering silhouettes.
The air smelled of pine and fresh soil. There was a crispness in it, like the world was holding its breath before something began.
"We're staying at an inn," Zayen said, hopping off as the carriage came to a stop.
"Which one?" I asked, voice low, wary.
He said the name.
And it hit me like a soft punch to the chest—nothing violent, but deep enough to ache.
It was a name that tugged at an old, quiet corner of my memory. Something bittersweet and warm. Like the smell of rain on old stone… or the sound of a voice you forgot you missed.
Nostalgia swelled in my chest, heavy and unexpected.
Got it! Here's a version with randomized answer orders for each question, no spoilers, and a call to action for readers to drop their answers in the comments — all with some light commentary for flow and hype:
⚔️ EXCALIBRO'S QUIZ TIME! ⚔️
Think you caught all the details in Of Needles and Nightmares.? Test your memory with these quick questions! 👇
What triggers Zayen's terrifying flashbacks?
🔹 A) A sudden shout
🔹 B) The instructor's needle ✨
🔹 C) A weird smell
🔹 D) The sound of footsteps
Hmmm… this moment really sticks out, right?
How do the other kids feel about the nurse?
🔹 A) They don't care
🔹 B) They think he's cool
🔹 C) They're scared of him 😰
🔹 D) They think he's funny
It's definitely not a popularity contest for Mr. Needle…
When the nurse raises the needle, what does Zayen do?
🔹 A) Try to run away
🔹 B) Freeze in fear 😨
🔹 C) Laugh nervously
🔹 D) Yell for help
That moment was intense — how do you think Zayen reacted?
Drop your answers in the comments! Let's see who's really paying attention 👀⚔️