Eclipsed

Chapter 71

The sound of Kael's scythes slicing through the air reverberated across the open space outside the palace walls. His movements were fluid, calculated, each strike a testament to his years of disciplined training. The Hiraigen techniques were becoming second nature to him, every angle of attack and counterattack flowing seamlessly together. Yet, despite his focus, Kael couldn't shake the image of his enemies—Yoruzen and Ren—haunting his mind. He could almost feel their presence, the urge to take them down burning in his chest.

It was in the midst of his training, drenched in sweat and fully immersed in the rhythm of combat, that he noticed a figure approaching from the corner of his eye. A kid—no older than eleven—standing at the edge of the training grounds, watching him with intent curiosity.

Kael paused mid-strike, his gaze snapping toward the intruder. The boy was unarmed, yet his stare was fixed on Kael's movements with surprising seriousness.

"Are you Kael?" the boy asked, his voice tentative yet bold.

Kael smirked, lowering his weapons and wiping his brow. "What do you want, kid?"

"I was wondering..." Quinn hesitated, his hands fidgeting nervously at his sides. "Could you teach me how to fight?"

Kael blinked in disbelief, then let out a short laugh. "Fight? You?" He glanced the boy over, his expression a mixture of amusement and disdain. "You're just a child. This isn't a game."

But Quinn, far from deterred, stepped forward with determination in his eyes. "No, I'm serious! I don't want to be the one holding everyone back. I want to help."

Kael's smirk faltered for a moment as he observed the boy more closely. "Very observant for someone your age," he muttered. But then his tone turned dismissive. "Still, you're out of your league here. Just go join the schools around here or something. I'll ask Miyako to find you something else to do."

Quinn's shoulders tensed with frustration. "No! School's boring! I want to help now, not later!" His voice cracked with the intensity of his plea.

Kael rolled his eyes, letting out a frustrated sigh. "Ugh, fine." He reached into his pocket, pulling out a small, gleaming dagger. He tossed it toward Quinn, who fumbled briefly before catching it. "Now, try and defend yourself."

Before Quinn could fully process what was happening, Kael was already charging at him, his scythes moving with deadly precision. Quinn's heart raced as he instinctively raised the dagger, holding it shakily in front of him. The weapon felt like a weight he couldn't control.

Kael's scythes swung, their blades cutting through the air with a hiss. They aimed for Quinn's chest, but at the last moment, Kael deliberately altered his trajectory, making sure the blades missed by inches. The force of his swing sent the ground beneath them trembling as the scythes struck the earth.

Quinn stood frozen, heart pounding, eyes wide with terror. He didn't know what to do. The cold steel of the dagger felt like nothing in his hand compared to the storm of power Kael exuded.

Kael's gaze locked with Quinn's, and for a moment, time seemed to stretch. "Listen, kid," Kael's voice was low, almost menacing. "You want to be a part of this hunt for Ren, you better not get in the way. Fix yourself up now or get the fuck out of here."

The harsh words cut deep, and Quinn's legs wobbled, his breath shallow. He took a step back, instinctively lowering his guard. "Y-yes..." he stammered.

Kael chuckled darkly, the tension momentarily breaking. "Hey, didn't mean to scare you. Now, get lost."

Quinn stood there, rooted to the spot for a moment longer, before turning and walking away, his mind racing with confusion and fear. He needed time to process what had just happened, but for now, all he wanted was to escape the weight of Kael's intensity.