Whispers of Worlds Beyond: A Series-Chapter 53: Fire and Arrows [4]

As Aiden gasped for breath, he summoned every ounce of strength he had left. Flames burst to life in his palms, weak but fierce, casting an orange glow that danced against the darkened dome. Karro smirked, his pale face illuminated by the flickering light.

"Still trying, are we?" the man said, his voice laced with mockery. "How amusing."

Aiden gritted his teeth.

His fire grew, brightening slightly as he willed it to strengthen. He thrust his palm forward, sending a stream of flames toward Karro. The heat surged through the air, aimed directly at the man’s chest.

The guy moved swiftly, almost too fast for Aiden’s eyes to follow. With an elegant sidestep, he evaded the fire entirely. "Pathetic," he hissed.

Before Aiden could react, he lunged forward, his hand striking out like a viper. Aiden barely had time to dodge, the man’s nails grazing his cheek. He stumbled back, clutching his face as a thin line of blood began to trickle down his skin.

"Is that all you’ve got?" The guy taunted, his eyes gleaming with cruel delight.

Aiden clenched his fists, anger igniting within him. The fire in his palms flared brighter, surging with his emotions. "You talk too much," he spat, launching a barrage of fireballs toward the man.

This time, the man didn’t dodge. Instead, he raised his hand, and the fireballs dissipated in midair as though they had been snuffed out by an invisible force.

"What—?" Aiden’s eyes widened in disbelief.

The guy chuckled darkly. "You’re not the only one with tricks, boy."

Before Aiden could process what had happened, the man closed the distance between them. He moved like a shadow, silent and swift. Aiden barely managed to raise his arms in defense before his fist collided with his stomach. The force of the blow sent him flying backward, his body slamming into a tree.

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Aiden groaned, his vision swimming as pain radiated through his back. He struggled to stand, his legs trembling beneath him.

The man approached slowly, his steps deliberate. "You’re out of your depth, Aiden Chase," he said, his voice cold and unfeeling. "You can’t win this."

Aiden glared at him, determination burning in his eyes. "I’m not giving up," he said through gritted teeth.

Summoning the last of his strength, Aiden unleashed a wave of fire, the flames roaring with intensity. The man raised an arm to shield himself, the flames licking at his sleeve but failing to harm him.

"You’ve got spirit," He admitted, lowering his arm. "But it’s not enough."

Before Aiden could react, he appeared in front of him, his hand shooting out to grip Aiden by the throat. He lifted him effortlessly off the ground, his strength inhuman.

Aiden struggled against Karro’s iron grip, his fire sputtering weakly in his palms. His chest heaved as the man’s fingers tightened around his throat, cutting off his breath. The crimson gleam in Karro’s sunken eyes made Aiden’s blood run cold.

Ivara, still clutching her injured side, staggered to her feet, her face pale but resolute. She notched another arrow despite her trembling hands, aiming it directly at Karro’s head.

"Let him go!" she shouted, her voice shaky but defiant.

Karro barely turned his head, his sinister smile widening. "Still trying, are we?" With a casual flick of his free hand, he sent a wave of force toward her, knocking the bow from her grasp and sending her crashing into a tree. Ivara let out a sharp cry of pain, clutching her ribs as she collapsed to the ground.

"Ivara!" Aiden gasped, his voice barely audible through the pressure on his throat. Anger flared within him, reigniting the flames in his hands. He tried to push them toward Karro, but the man’s presence drained the energy from him, leaving his fire flickering weakly.

"You’re persistent," the man said, his tone almost mocking. "But it’s pointless. You’re no match for me, Aiden Chase."

Aiden’s vision blurred as he struggled to breathe, his body growing weaker by the second. Was this it? Was this how it ended?

Before he could deliver the final blow, a soft sound echoed through the darkness.

It was faint, almost like the rustling of leaves, but it carried a strange power that made even the man pause.

"Well, well," a calm, authoritative voice called out. "Hello, Karro."

The man whose name is Karro, head snapped toward the sound, his grip on Aiden loosening slightly. His predatory smile faltered as he turned to face the newcomer.

Emerging from the shadows was Headmaster Kairos, his tall, imposing figure silhouetted against the faint light of his glowing staff. His eyes, sharp and commanding, locked onto Karro with a mix of disdain and warning.

"Let go of my student," Kairos said, his tone calm but laced with steel.

Karro’s smile returned, though it was strained. "Ah, Headmaster Kairos," he said smoothly, though his grip on Aiden didn’t falter. "Always the protector. Always meddling where you don’t belong."

Kairos raised a brow, taking a step forward. "And you," he said, his voice cutting through the darkness like a blade, "always overstepping your bounds. Tell me, Karro, why are you here? Why have you chosen to disrupt my academy, harm my students, and destroy the peace we uphold?"

Karro chuckled, a low, chilling sound. "Meddling is a habit of yours, isn’t it?" he said. "This doesn’t concern you, Kairos."

The headmaster’s eyes narrowed. "You have no right to say that when you’ve stepped foot on these grounds, harmed those under my protection, and brought chaos to this place. Release the boy. Now."

Karro’s grip on Aiden tightened for a moment before he let go, shoving him to the ground. Aiden collapsed, gasping for air and clutching his throat.

Kairos stepped closer, his presence radiating authority. "Your arrogance knows no bounds," he said. "You’ve broken sacred rules tonight, Karro. You’ve gone too far."

Karro’s smile faded, replaced by a sneer. "You think you can stop me?" he hissed.

Kairos raised his staff, the light intensifying. "I will do what I must to protect my students," he said firmly.

For a moment, it seemed as though the two were about to clash, their power radiating in waves that made the very air tremble.

But before Kairos could act, Karro’s form began to shift. His body twisted and contorted, his pale skin darkening as leathery wings emerged from his back.

Kairos watched him go, his expression unreadable. "You can’t run from me, Karro," he said softly. He raised his hand, and the world seemed to shift.

Aiden blinked as time slowed, the air growing thick and heavy. The darkness of the dome twisted and rewound, pulling Karro’s bat form back into his humanoid state.

Karro landed back in the clearing, his eyes wide with shock and anger.

Kairos’s gaze hardened. "If you dare lay a finger on my students, I won’t hesitate to do to you what they did to your wife."

Karro’s expression darkened, his body trembling slightly.

"You wouldn’t dare."

Kairos didn’t respond. His golden eyes bore into Karro.

Karro shuddered, then, in a flash, disappeared, leaving behind a faint glow of energy.

Kairos sighed, snapping his fingers. The dome dissolved, the darkness fading into light. He stepped forward, kneeling beside Aiden, who was barely conscious.

"You’re safe now," Kairos said softly, his voice gentle.

Aiden’s vision blurred, and he reached weakly toward the headmaster. "Ivara," he whispered. "She’s hurt."

Kairos nodded. "I’ll take care of her. Rest now, Aiden."

With those words, Aiden’s world faded to black, his body succumbing to exhaustion.