Big brother?

Killian stared at the two, especially at George who walked past him like he was just another trainee in the hall and not someone that he had dragged half-dead two weeks ago.

Did I just get ignored? I almost forgot how that felt.

He breathed out, tilting his head slightly.

"Still I can’t believe the Director has a teenage son, and there’s George?" He muttered. The Director still looked like she was in her late twenties, with how agile she spoke.

He turned away first, folding his arms and he continued to the exit because whatever that situation was, he didn’t want to be involved.

"Are you getting in or not?"

Killian stopped at the door, loosening his folded arms.

"Have it to yourself." He didn’t turn back. "Why do you care—"

"Killian?"

Killian frowned at that, turning properly this time at George. "I said, have the room to yourself. I’d come back when—"

"Didn’t I drop you off at the hospital? What are you doing here?" George looked at him with a slight crease in his brows.

Killian blinked once, wondering why his tone changed from cold to something familiar. "I came back to train." Obviously.

George kept his gaze for a moment, then his shoulders relaxed slightly. "Do you always do that? You just finished a mission."

Killian didn’t answer, and George nodded like he expected it. "Come in then."

Killian hesitated for a second before stepping inside, his eyes narrowing slightly, wondering if it was another illusion. I should just leave the brothers to do their thing.

He turned to leave. A notification dinged.

[Mission Completed!]

[Congratulations! Rewards Received.]

[+2000 WCoins]

Killian stared at it for a second before exhaling. It reminded him that he didn’t have time left before the academy and his mana still wasn’t stable.

He had to keep it stable now or he might never have the chance. He clicked his tongue, and walked to the meditation door.

He found the Director’s son still by the door.

Killian ignored him, walking past without a word, but the boy spoke to him anyway. "Hey."

Killian didn’t stop, but flexed his fingers visibly. "I don’t have anything to say to you. I’m not Keith."

There was a pause as he entered the room.

"I figured that out during the duel," the boy said, his voice a little lower. "Sorry about that, Killian."

Killian shifted his eyes to the door. He thought I was Keith? Is this a universal misunderstanding?

He glanced at George, then back at the boy. "Do I look like Keith?"

George answered with a teasing tone.

"You are not exactly identical, but most people don’t look that closely. It is easy to mix you both up, especially when you both wear black, stay quiet, and glare a lot."

Killian glared at him, then looked away with a small frown. "I’ll grow my hair out."

The boy laughed at that. He stepped forward, stretching his hand out. "I’m Theodore, I saw you the day you came for registration, but I lost sight of you before I could say hi."

Killian looked at his hand, and back at his face. "So the misunderstanding was because you couldn’t see properly. I could see through your illusion but you couldn’t tell me from my twin. You should get glasses."

Theodore blinked at him, and nodded at George. "You were right, his words are really mean."

George sighed. "I told you, he looks innocent but he is still a Dominic."

Killian’s brows pulled in together. What’s that supposed to mean? He moved away from them, already looking for a place to practice. At the back of the rooms, he saw cylindrical chamber rooms to the walls, and having blue substances flow inside it. "This?"

"Yes," George followed him, setting up the chamber, and leaving it open. "Go in."

Killian stepped into the chamber carefully. The cold hit against his skin as soon as the door closed, but it didn’t stay for long before he felt the warmth of his mana rise inside him.

The sensation felt like his mana slowly spread around his body’s meridians, pushing back the cold.

The chamber was sealed fully, but Killian could still hear George’s voice clearly. "Focus on your mana moving and guide it to your chest, to your HEART."

Killian shut his eyes, trying to feel it. When he focused, he noticed it immediately.

"I feel most of it under my legs," he said quietly. "Some in my head, and there’s this... itch in my throat."

George hummed, and rested against the chamber. "Those are wrong places, Killian. When a fire element is unstable, it gathers around your upper limbs and shoulders."

Killian stood still, feeling it again. But he was beginning to make sense of the flow.

I see. It’s not the fire that is unstable, but the Void is messing with it. Is it because he’s gone?

He exhaled slowly, steadying himself and feeling the flow of mana circulate under his lower abdomen.

It gently raised up his torso, flowing toward his chest, and toward that spot that resisted him the most.

"Are you okay?" George spoke from outside. "Should I get a fire user for you... uh, Theo, he didn’t say..." George sighed, "He left to get a fire user for you."

Killian ignored his voice, willing himself to relax. The Void is unstable. That might also be why the tendrils have been acting too freely. I should’ve noticed.

He took a deep breath, in and out. His mana settled on his stomach area. The temperature in the chamber began dropping as his mana moved upwards.

Killian could guess George noticed it from the meter. "Are you really okay in there? If your mana is messy, you can just rest and it will recover."

Killian still focused. The flow went up steadily, moving through his meridians like bloodstream and filling up his pathways. Then he held back a breath.

His HEART made a beat, forcing him to exhale. He choked on air, and clutched his chest feeling an influx of mana rushing towards his HEART as it beat rhythmically.

Yes. It opened.

Finally, he should be back.

"Killian? Are you—"

"Yes," Killian coughed, gasping heavily. "I.. am okay. Let me out, please."

The chamber doors were pulled open. "What were you doing?" George raised a hand for him to hold, while looking around the chambers.

Killian jumped down himself, and wiped his mouth with the back of his hand. "I am fine. As you said, I just need rest."

He took a while to regulate his breathing and heartbeat before he exhaled gently. I have to practice again to see how it acts now.

He looked at the door. "Is he coming to the academy too?"

George raised a brow, then turned to the door. "Theo? Yes. He passed his duel. A total of five students."

That meant Keith’s and Evelyn’s match wasn’t cancelled. Killian nodded. "Evelyn wanted to have a farewell party."

"I said ’no’. Parting gifts will do."

Killian frowned a bit, mumbling. "Of course, you did." He pushed his hands in his pockets. "I will see you in a month then—"

His steps slowed as he reached the door. The words he wanted to say crept back into his throat as the sounds creeped into his ears. He recognised it immediately.

Father’s footsteps.

A tall man with dark brown hair, and calculating brown eyes showed up at the door. His eyes found Killian’s red eyes immediately, and a slow grin creeped to his face.

"Oh? I heard there was a newbie Fire User having trouble. Is it you, Killian?"