Steam curled lazily around the tiled walls, the steady hiss of running water filling the training showers. The warmth dulled the aches in their battered bodies, providing a rare moment of solace.
Arnik leaned back against the wall, letting the water cascade over his bruised frame. Deep purple splotches marked his skin, ribs ached with every breath, and his knuckles—raw and swollen from relentless strikes—throbbed in protest. But he welcomed the pain. It meant he was still standing. Still fighting.
Kai stood nearby, rigid despite the clear strain in his posture. His fingers, red and swollen from pushing precision magic past its limits, trembled faintly under the stream. A few nails clung on precariously, cracked and ready to peel away. But his face remained impassive, betraying only the faintest tension in his jaw.
For a while, neither spoke. The sound of water was the only thing between them.
Kai broke the silence first."You look beat up, Arnik."
Arnik let out a dry chuckle, running a hand through his soaked hair."Understatement of the century. Feels like I fought a brick wall. And lost. Every round."
Kai smirked faintly."Not surprised, considering you dive headfirst into danger without thinking."
"It's my style. You know that." Arnik's grin was lopsided as he tilted his head toward Kai's hands."What about you? Those look like they went through a shredder."
Kai flexed his fingers slowly, testing them."Comes with the territory. Precision magic isn't forgiving."
Arnik let out a low whistle."Looks like it's tearing you apart."
Kai's smirk faded, his tone flattening."It's a small price to pay for results." His voice dipped lower. "The pain reminds me I'm still alive."
Arnik's brow furrowed."That's a little dark, don't you think?"
Kai let out a humorless laugh."Maybe. But it's true. Every bruise, every ache… it means we're still here. Still fighting. Still able to make a difference."
Arnik nodded slowly, the weight of those words settling in his chest."Yeah. I get that." He ran a hand over his face, feeling the water drip from his chin."We've got to get stronger, though. Fast. There's no other choice."
Kai nodded, expression grim but resolute."Agreed."
Arnik tilted his head, eyes narrowing slightly."That reminds me… what about Markus?"
Kai stiffened. His gaze dropped to the tiled floor, like the words were buried there, waiting to be found.
"Markus…" His voice was quiet now. Almost hesitant."We haven't seen him since—"
"The fall of Earth," Arnik finished, the words landing heavy in the air. The memory pressed down on them like a weight.
Kai's jaw tightened, his glasses catching the dim light as he adjusted them."He's out there somewhere. I know it. He wouldn't just—"He stopped, exhaling sharply."He'll turn up. He has to."
Arnik nodded, but a flicker of doubt sparked in his eyes."Yeah… Markus is too stubborn to go down that easily." His tone was light, but the heaviness beneath it was unmistakable.
They fell into silence again. The sound of water hissed and steamed around them. Their thoughts were thick, heavy, unspoken.
Then—
Laughter.
Light. Muffled. But close.
Kai's body went rigid.
Arnik's stomach sank.
Their eyes met—realization hitting like a thunderclap.
"Kai…" Arnik started, his voice low and tight.
"Arnik…" Kai echoed, dread creeping in.
Their voices overlapped, sharp with horror.
"We're in the wrong bath."
A long pause.
Then—
"Did you hear something?" A voice. Nearby. A woman's.
"Yeah… I think so."
Kai's breath caught."We need to leave. Now."
Before either could move—
Rose and Aika rounded the corner.
The world stopped.
Steam hung thick in the air, the warmth pressing down on them like a heavy blanket. Silence wrapped around the four of them, suffocating and absolute.
Arnik and Kai were frozen in place, backs pressed against the wall like they could somehow vanish into it.
Rose's eyes landed on them—confusion, dawning realization, and then—
Pure, unfiltered fury.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TWO DOING HERE?!"
Aika's eyes went wide. Her face turned an instant shade of deep red as her gaze drifted downward.
Then—barely audible, soft as a breath—
"So big…"
Aika fainted on the spot. With a quiet thud, she toppled backward into the bath, vanishing beneath the water with a loud splash.
"Aika!" Rose screamed, diving after her without hesitation.
That was it.
That was their cue.
"RUN!" Arnik barked, grabbing Kai's arm and yanking him toward the exit.
"I'm trying!" Kai yelped, tripping over himself as he scrambled to keep up."Stop pulling me!"
Behind them, water sloshed violently as Rose dragged Aika onto the edge of the bath. Her soaked hair clung to her face, her eyes burning with unholy rage.
"PERVERTS! IDIOTS! SLEAZEBAGS!"
Kai risked a glance back.
Mistake.
Rose was already on the move, towel barely clinging to her, a storm of fury radiating off her in waves. She looked like a demon unleashed.
Kai's stomach flipped."She's going to kill us!"
"She looks like a demon!" Arnik yelled, half in terror, half in sheer disbelief.
Kai stumbled, gasping for breath."Arnik—I can't make it!"
Arnik skidded to a stop, grabbing Kai by the arm and dragging him upright."No soldier left behind!"
"GET BACK HERE!" Rose's voice boomed behind them, her footsteps pounding against the wet floor like a war drum.
Arnik and Kai rounded the corner.
Kai flailed, pointing wildly."There! The supply closet!"
They dove inside, slamming the door behind them just as Rose's footsteps thundered past.
"WHEN I FIND YOU, YOU'RE DEAD!"
Silence.
Panting. Heavy breathing. The thrum of adrenaline in their ears.
Kai and Arnik stood, backs pressed against the door, chests heaving.
Slowly, Arnik turned to Kai.
Kai turned to Arnik.
The absurdity of it all hit them like a slap to the face.
Arnik clapped a hand over his mouth, shoulders trembling.
Kai let out a wheezing breath, barely holding it together.
And just like that—
They broke.
Laughter burst out in ragged gasps, their bodies shaking as they tried—and failed—to hold it in.
Kai wiped a tear from his eye, breathless."We are so dead."
Moments later, they cracked the door open and slipped back toward the dorms, moving fast.
If they were lucky, they'd live to see tomorrow.
If not…
At least they'd die laughing.
In the girls' dorms…
Aika sat cross-legged on Rose's bed, watching in mild amusement as Rose stormed around the room like a caged animal.
"There are a bunch of perverts!" Rose snapped, her voice sharp and cutting. She whipped around and kicked at the floor, her pink hair swishing with each furious movement."IDIOTS, IDIOTS, IDIOTS!"
Finally, she collapsed onto the bed, burying her face in a pillow with a muffled groan.
"They didn't see anything… we were wearing towels!" Aika offered gently, trying to soothe the storm.
But Rose shot up, eyes blazing."They were in our bath!"
Aika let out a soft sigh, reaching out to stroke Rose's hair gently."Knowing Arnik… it was an accident."
Rose's shoulders slumped. She stared at the ceiling, lips pressing into a thin line. The frustration slowly melted from her expression, replaced by something softer.
Her thoughts drifted. A flicker of heat bloomed in her chest, and her gaze dropped to her hands.
"…I guess I didn't mind him seeing that much…" she murmured, barely above a whisper.
Aika blinked."Did you say something?"
Wack!
A pillow smacked Aika square in the face.
"Go to sleep!" Rose hissed, her cheeks burning bright pink.
Aika giggled quietly, sinking back into the bed with a soft smile. Rose groaned and turned away, shoving the pillow over her face—still blushing hard.