Chapter 31: Between Flames and Monsters: Power Struggle Begins
Between two towering mountains, a large clearing stretched out like a scar on the land. In that clearing, a wall of hardened clay rose defiantly, forming a crude circle. At each of its four corners, tall watchtowers stood like silent sentinels. Within that wall, around four hundred students had built their encampments—small shelters molded from the same clay, split into two camps. One half claimed the east, the other the west. In the heart of the division, two larger tents faced one another, tension thick between them.
Inside one of the tents, Kaelan Ignis of the Fire Phoenix Clan—the noble Ignisara line—stood stiffly, his blue eyes narrowed as he argued with a brute of a man. Towering at six feet, with a gorilla-like physique, his tanned muscles bulged with restrained aggression. His hair, wild and fire-red, framed his stern face like dancing flames. This was Varek Drakthorn of the Fire Dragon Clan—the fearsome Drakthorn lineage.
Kaelan's voice was firm, weary. "We don't have much food remaining. We must send teams to hunt."
Varek replied, voice like grinding stone. "That's what I'm saying. Let's go hunting. Whoever brings back more game, leads."
Kaelan's eyes flared, but he kept his composure. "We can't leave the camp. Monsters could attack again at any time."
A mocking smirk twisted across Varek's face. "Just say you're a coward. I won't argue with that."
Kaelan exhaled sharply, shoulders tense but not rising to the bait. "If you want to go hunting, I won't stop you."
At that, Varek crossed his thick arms over his chest and fell silent, his crimson eyes gleaming with suppressed fury.
A voice echoed from outside, urgent and respectful. "Sir Varek, Sir Kaelan! We saw a person coming from the forest—headed toward us!"
Kaelan stepped outside, his expression already darkening. "Which watchtower?"
"West watchtower, sir!" the student responded, snapping to attention.