Path of the Unmentioned: The Missing Piece-Chapter 74: A Friendly Spar [1]

Kyle was lost in thought when—

SMACK!

The sharp slap between his shoulder blades nearly launched him out of his seat.

"What the—?!"

"Ready to get wrecked, pretty boy?" Luna chirped.

Her white bob bouncing as she leaned over his desk with a shark-like grin.

Kyle shot her a glare, rubbing the now-stinging spot between his shoulder blades.

"What the hell, Luna? Why do you always hit like you are trying to knock my soul out of my body?"

Luna shrugged, completely unapologetic.

"Where’s the fun if I don’t?"

Reo, sprawled across a nearby desk with his boots propped up, snorted.

"She’s got a point. You make this hilarious face every time."

He mimicked Kyle’s startled expression. Mouth open, eyes wide, with ridiculous accuracy.

Just then Cedric approached. Carrying himself with an same easy confidence as always.

His golden hair catching the sunlight as he smiled.

"You are late." Cedric said. Though there was no real annoyance in his tone.

Kyle raised an eyebrow.

"Since when is five minutes after class considered late?"

Cedric chuckled. "Since someone promised me a rematch yesterday."

Cassian, who had been eavesdropping.

Suddenly slung an arm around Kyle’s shoulders, nearly knocking him over with the force.

"Stop whining. This is gonna be epic."

Lyra popped up beside them.

Her emerald-green ponytail swinging as she rubbed her hands together.

"Oh, I’m definitely selling tickets. ’Golden Boy vs. The Lightning boy’, this will make me enough credits for a month."

From behind her round glasses. Sylvie peeked out like a startled rabbit.

"I-I don’t think gambling is allowed..." Her voice trailed off when Lyra shot her a look.

Kyle groaned.

"It’s just a friendly spar. Emphasis on friendly."

Luna pouted. "You are no fun."

Eleanora, who had been quietly observing the exchange alongside the ever-disinterested Serena, finally spoke up.

"Oh? A spar? May we watch as well?"

There was something too innocent about her tone.

Kyle narrowed his eyes. "You just happened to overhear?"

Eleanora smiled sweetly. "Pure coincidence."

Serena, standing stiffly beside her. She looked like she would rather be anywhere else.

"I was dragged" she muttered.

Cedric laughed, shaking his head.

"Alright, enough stalling. Let’s go."

As they filed out, Sylvie scurried to keep up, nearly tripping over her own feet.

"W-wait! Shouldn’t we have safety protocols? First aid kits? Maybe a healer on standby-"

Cassian ruffled her blue hair.

"Relax, Sylvie. They’re not gonna kill each other."

He paused.

"Probably."

Luna, of course, had suggested they fight in the common training hall.

Where the entire academy could watch and place bets.

Kyle and Cedric shut that down fast.

"This isn’t a damn show," Kyle muttered as they walked.

Cedric just grinned. "Where’s your sense of adventure?"

The private training rooms reserved for top-ranking students were nothing to scoff at spacious, polished floors.

Reinforced wall that could easily handle the attack from the peak gold rank individual, and completely soundproof.

Perfect for a match where neither of them planned to hold back.

As they stepped inside.

Kyle took in the familiar space.

The scent of polished wood. The hum of mana-powered lights, the faint shimmer of protective enchantments in the air.

Cassian clapped his hands together.

"Alright, rules?"

Cedric stretched his arms, rolling his shoulders.

"No lethal strikes, no broken bones. Everything else is fair game."

Kyle smirked. "So basically, ’try not to murder each other.’ Got it."

Luna plopped onto a bench, kicking her feet up. "Ten minutes before Kyle’s flat on his back."

Reo grinned. "Five."

Kyle flipped them both off as he and Cedric moved to opposite ends of the room.

———

They changed into the academy’s black combat uniforms.

The lightweight, flexible, and lined with cushioning enchantments to soften blows.

Kyle rolled his wrists, testing his grip as he picked up a practice tachi from the rack.

Kyle’s fingers brushed against the practice tachi’s hilt.

The smooth leather grip cool against his skin.

As he lifted the weapon, testing its balance with a few experimental swings.

A sudden, violent tremor shot through his left hand.

The black ring on his finger.

Zalrielle.

It pulsed with such intensity that his entire hand jerked involuntarily.

"Shit," Kyle muttered under his breath, nearly dropping the practice weapon.

The ring grew uncomfortably warm, the heat bordering on painful, as if scolding him.

He could practically feel Zalrielle’s indignation radiating through their bond.

It reminded him of that time in his past life when he had accidentally called his girlfriend by her sister’s name.

That same mixture of betrayal, anger, and wounded pride.

The ring vibrated again.

This time in a distinct pattern that somehow managed to convey the spiritual equivalent of folded arms and a pout.

Kyle winced as the temperature spiked briefly before settling into a simmering warmth that promised this conversation wasn’t over.

’Come on, Zal,’ Kyle thought, running his thumb over the ring in what he hoped was a placating manner.

’You know I can’t just transform you in front of everyone. What would I even say? "Oh this? Just my soul-bound weapon that wasn’t mentioned once in the original novel, no big deal."’

’And these practice weapons are enchanted with non-lethal magic. You, however, are definitely not non-lethal.’

The ring pulsed once, stubbornly.

Kyle could almost hear Zalrielle’s voice in his head.

’You would rather use that cheap, lifeless imitation than me?’ The jealousy was almost tangible.

Across the training grounds.

Cedric was stretching his arms, completely oblivious to Kyle’s silent argument with his jewelry.

The golden-haired swordsman rotated his shoulders.

The muscles in his back flexing visibly through his fitted training uniform. He caught Kyle’s eye and raised an eyebrow.

"Everything alright over there?" Cedric called, his voice laced with amusement.

"You’re looking at that sword like it insulted your mother."

Kyle forced a grin, shaking out his left hand where Zalrielle was now sending intermittent pulses of displeasure.

"Just getting a feel for it," he replied. Giving the practice tachi another experimental swing.

The weight was all wrong, too light, too balanced.

Lacking the familiar presence he had grown accustomed to with last two-three days.

As he adjusted his grip. The ring on his finger turned ice cold for a brief second.

A clear warning.

Kyle sighed internally.

"Whenever you are ready," Cedric said, falling into a relaxed combat stance.

His longsword gleamed under the training ground’s magical lights. The blunted edge still looking plenty dangerous.

Kyle took a deep breath and settled into his own stance.

The practice tachi felt foreign in his hands, like wearing someone else’s shoes.

He could practically feel Zalrielle’s disapproval with every movement.

The ring on his finger alternating between cold indifference and heated protests.

"Alright," Kyle muttered, more to himself than anyone else.

"Let’s get this over with."

As he raised the practice weapon.

He sent one last mental plea to Zalrielle. ’Just behave for now, okay? I promise I’ll make it up to you.’

The ring gave one final, grudging pulse.

The spiritual equivalent of an eye-roll. Before settling into a watchful silence.

Kyle could tell she wasn’t happy. But at least she had stopped actively trying to sabotage him.

For now.

———