Corrupted Throne

The bushes rustled again.

Touka didn't move.

Her blade remained steady, cold steel catching the early light as she faced the undergrowth. Her voice, when it came, was flat—calm, but deadly.

"Who's there?"

Silence.

Then—

"Hey. Get out already. I know you're there."

Her eyes narrowed—icy, unreadable. The kind of stare that didn't blink, didn't question, didn't forgive.

She took a single step forward, sword lowered but ready.

Someone is there. I can feel it, she thought, her senses razor-sharp.

A slow chuckle came from the bushes.

Then a shadow emerged, stepping into the light with deliberate calm.

"You're sharp," the figure said, brushing leaves off his shoulder.

His cloak was travel-worn, mottled with dust and leaf matter, a dark hood pushed back to reveal sharp features and sly amber eyes. A faint smirk tugged at his lips as he raised both hands in mock surrender.

"Didn't think you'd notice me so fast."

"Oh… it's you," Touka said, lowering her sword with a faintly disappointed look.

Her eyes, cold and unreadable, briefly scanned him head to toe.

"What do you want?"

Regan grinned casually, brushing more leaves from his cloak.

"Ah, I was just thinking… would you train with me?"

Touka blinked slowly, her expression unimpressed.

"No. I'm not in the mood for training."

*What's with him…* she thought as she sat back down at the spot where she'd been resting before—on the flat, sun-warmed stone near the cliff's edge.

Regan followed her a few steps closer.

"Hey, maybe I can fix that mood," he said with a playful lilt.

She shot him a glare—flat, disgusted.

"You're too close."

Regan instantly stepped back, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.

"Ah—sorry, didn't mean to. Hahaha… awkward…"

He gave a nervous chuckle.

"Heheh… can I, uh… rest with you for a bit?"

"No."

Touka's answer was instant, her voice hollow as she stared at the horizon. The breeze teased strands of her hair as her gaze remained locked on the distant mountains.

Regan sat down anyway, ignoring the rejection with his usual forced charm.

"You're way too cold, you know…"

She slowly turned her head to look at him, deadpan.

"Hey. What do you really want?"

Her voice was sharper now—quiet, but cutting.

"I know you're not here to train with me."

Regan flinched slightly.

"Crap… how'd you know that?"

Touka tilted her head, eyes narrowed.

"I can read people. Just by looking at their faces."

She leaned back slightly, waiting.

"Now speak."

Regan hesitated.

"I-I'm here to… to get to know you better, you know?"

She gave him a blank stare.

"Say it clearly."

Regan scratched his cheek, avoiding her gaze.

"I mean… you're a woman and I'm a man and… well…"

Before he could finish, Touka stood up abruptly.

Her expression was unreadable—but her silence spoke volumes.

"I know where this is going," she said, turning her back.

"And I have no interest."

She began to walk away.

Regan scrambled up and stepped forward, grabbing her wrist without thinking.

Touka stopped.

Her eyes narrowed, her free hand twitching toward her sword.

I swear… I'll kill him, she thought.

"But… why?" Regan asked, desperation leaking into his voice.

"What do I lack?"

Touka turned her head just enough to look at him—then, slowly, a cold smile curled across her lips.

"Weren't you the one who froze up when Vairan picked up his weapon?"

Her voice dripped with quiet mockery.

"You didn't just flinch… you looked terrified."

She yanked her arm free.

"I like men who don't shrink in the presence of strength. Like Vairan."

Her gaze was sharp as a blade.

"You don't have even a single quality of one."

Regan stood frozen.

That bitch,he thought bitterly, clenching his fists.

"I'm not scared of him!" he called out, his voice louder now.

Touka paused mid-step. Slowly, she looked back over her shoulder.

A sly glint sparkled in her otherwise cold eyes.

"Then prove it to me."

And with that, she turned again and walked away, leaving Regan standing alone—his pride cracked, but his fire ignited .

Touka was making her way down the mountain trail, the sun dipping low behind the ridges, painting the sky in faint hues of amber and violet. She spotted two familiar figures ahead—Kairoz and Derius, also descending the path.

"Hey, look! It's that violet-eyed sus girl," Derius muttered with a grin, nudging Kairoz.

"Stop saying that out loud," Kairoz hissed, his eyes narrowing. "If she hears, she'll know I suspect her."

Derius rolled his eyes. "Man, she looks totally normal to me. Just her eyes are different. Chill."

As Touka's gaze met Kairoz's, she frowned slightly.

*Great. Just when I thought I'd get some peace and rest, she thought. Now I have to see the two people I'd rather avoid.

She looked away, pretending not to notice them, and kept walking.

Kairoz's eyes lingered on her briefly, but he exhaled and looked away. This time, I'll let her pass.

But then—

He saw Derius waving both hands high in the air.

"What… are you doing?" Kairoz asked, already regretting the question.

"I've had enough training for today," Derius said with a lazy grin. "Time to chill a little."

"She could be dangerous," Kairoz warned.

"Man, stop overthinking," Derius replied. "She looks completely normal."

Ignoring Kairoz's glare, Derius walked over to Touka with an easy smile.

"Hey, lady! Why don't we head down together?"

Touka blinked, momentarily caught off guard.

"Ahh… s-sure," she said quietly, unsure why she agreed.

Kairoz let out a long sigh and followed them.

The three began walking down the winding path together, the silence filled with crunching gravel and a cool mountain breeze. Kairoz walked a little behind, watching quietly.

"So," Derius began, glancing sideways at Touka, "what's a pretty lady like you doing up here all alone?"

"I was just… getting some fresh air," Touka replied, her voice calm but distant.

"Awww, you should've told me earlier," Derius teased with a grin. "I would've joined you. Way better than staying up here with this prideful bastard."

Kairoz shot him a sharp look.

"What?" Derius smirked. "Don't look at me like that. Did you already forget the beating I gave you earlier?"

Kairoz came to a halt, fingers twitching toward his swords.

But then—he noticed Derius wink.

Kairoz sighed and kept walking, shaking his head.

Touka smiled faintly. "Haha… it would've been fun, maybe. But I just wanted some time alone."

"Alone? That's boring," Derius said with a grin. "Maybe you just don't know how fun it is when there are two people around."

Touka gave him a dry look. "Haha… maybe I don't.

By the way—what were you two doing up here?

Was it the kind of 'fun' you were just talking about?"

Derius raised his hands quickly. "N-No, no! Not that kind of fun!"

He shot Kairoz a sidelong glance, then smirked.

"I mean, that part was fun—where I was beating his ass."

Kairoz's eye twitched. His hand moved slightly toward his sword.

"I think that's enough now," he muttered.

But before he could draw, Derius gave him a pleading expression with a slight smile—a silent "don't ruin this".

This better be the last time, Kairoz thought, exhaling sharply.

Touka glanced at Kairoz's slightly rumpled clothes and scuffed boots.

"…You really did beat him?" she asked Derius, half-surprised.

"You must be pretty strong."

"Lady, I'm the strongest," Derius said proudly, puffing out his chest.

"If you stick with me, no one will touch you. Not even the guy behind us."

He pointed his thumb at Kairoz, who quietly kept walking behind them.

Why are there so many weirdos in this town? Touka thought, resisting the urge to roll her eyes.

"Ohhh—you're sooo cool," she said flatly.

"Damn right I am," Derius grinned. "Unlike the guy behind us… totally uncool."

She raised an eyebrow. "By the way… are you from the Capital?"

Before Derius could answer, Kairoz spoke from behind.

"Aren't you a little too eager to know about the Capital?"

"I— I was just asking," Touka muttered, slightly thrown off.

"Heeey, Kai! Stop ruining the moment!" Derius snapped over his shoulder.

"Ugh, just ignore him," he added, turning back to Touka.

"He's a jerk. Doesn't know how to talk to girls."

"I was just curious," Touka said quietly.

"Awww, stop making that face," Derius said, teasing.

"I'm not some noble like him, but I've been to the Capital plenty of times."

"Oh wow… what kind of place is the Capital?" Touka asked, curious but casual.

Derius paused mid-step and flashed her a smirk.

"It'd take too long to explain it all right now," he said. "But don't worry—I'll tell you the whole story. In detail. When we're alone."

Kairoz, walking behind them, looked at Derius with open disgust.

Unbelievable.

"Ohhh, I can't wait," Touka said, giving a playful smile—whether real or fake, it was hard to tell.

"Looks like we're almost there," Kairoz muttered from the rear, eyes forward.

"Hey! You want us to get separated, don't you?" Derius snapped, turning his head slightly.

Touka chuckled softly. "Haha… I think we do have to part ways for now. My friends are waiting for me."

"Awww, but why?" Derius pouted. "Come on—let's form a squad together! You, me, and Captain Grumpy back there."

She shook her head. "No… I have to go. For now."

"For now?" Derius raised an eyebrow, then grinned. "Heheh. Then I'll see you soon, Lady Violet Eyes."

"Sure," Touka replied simply.

She glanced back at Kairoz and gave him a short gesture—a quick wave or nod—before turning away and heading toward Samaira and the others waiting near the practice yard.

Derius watched Touka walking away, a hint of sadness slipping into his voice.

"She's gone…"

Before he could sigh too much, Kairoz stepped up beside him—and drove a solid punch straight into his gut.

THUMP!

"Don't try your luck with me, bastard," Kairoz muttered coldly.

"Ahhh—!" Derius doubled over, clutching his stomach. "Y-You… b-bastard…"

Kairoz didn't look at him. His eyes were still fixed on Touka as she moved toward Samaira and the others in the distance.

Derius slowly got back on his feet, wheezing—then broke into laughter.

"Hahaha… you're seriously messed up," he chuckled, wiping his eyes.

Kairoz turned to him with a raised brow. "Are you going crazy now?"

But Derius only smiled wider. "Hahaha… maybe. But you know what? You're right, Kairoz."

He looked toward the horizon, where Touka had vanished behind the group.

"She's a bit too perfect."

"I told you," Kairoz said, folding his arms.

"She's smart. Calculated," Derius added, his smile fading slightly. "Hasn't made a single mistake since we met her. Not one."

It's going to be fun, hehe.

Suddenly—DING! DING!

A distant bell rang across the training grounds.

Kairoz turned toward the fortress.

"Sounds like the next lecture."

"Yeah," Derius said, already heading toward the main hall with him.

"Finally… maybe now they'll teach us something we don't know—

something real—about Kendra Energy."