CHAPTER 62: ABOVE THE MIST

[Euphoria—]

"Damn it!" Sky’s voice tore through the quiet clearing, sharp enough to startle a flock of glowing birds from the trees.

"KRAAAAHH!"

The sound cracked through the mist, a piercing cry that echoed into the distance before fading into silence again. The wings of the birds shimmered silver as they disappeared into the rising mist.

He kicked at a loose stone, sending it skidding across the damp forest floor. "I can’t believe this. Valkyrie and him? What kind of sick joke is that?"

Tyson, who was crouched by the roots of an old oak, glanced up lazily. "You still crying about the pairing? Let it go, man."

Sky turned, eyes flashing like stormlight. "Cry? I’m furious, Tyson. I thought I was finally getting close to her again. We’ve been talking more, she’s been smiling again, opening up to me. And now...this?"

Randy chuckled from where he leaned against a tree trunk, arms folded. "I thought you two made it clear it wasn’t romantic. You said you just wanted to be friends again."

"Yeah, well..." Sky ran a hand through his hair, breathing out sharply. "Maybe I lied to myself..."

The air around them carried the damp scent of moss and rain. A faint hum of distant spell energy trembled through the forest, reminding them that somewhere beyond the treeline, the rest of the teams were on mission.

Klein, polishing his blade with lazy strokes, raised a brow. "You think Principal Darren did that on purpose?"

Sky scoffed. "Of course he did. That man’s been looking for an excuse to keep me grounded since day one. Every time I breathe, he’s watching like I’m about to do something wrong."

Iyo, who stood a few feet away, loud and observant as always, finally spoke. "You think he hates you that much?"

Sky’s jaw tensed. "No. I know he does. He didn’t even want me on this team. You saw his face when he found out I was assigned as a guardian for the mission. He said I’d ’learn patience by watching.’ Can you believe that?."

Bryan, sitting on a fallen log, gave a half-smile. "Maybe he’s right. You have the patience of a firework."

Tyson snorted out a laugh, but Sky didn’t join in. His eyes were locked somewhere beyond the clearing, toward the faint glimmer of magic lighting up the distant sky where the others were training.

Through the soft curtain of mist, he could see two silhouettes moving in perfect sync— Valkyrie and Bulb, heading to find the relic before sun down. Her aura flared in graceful waves of light, his burned in deep violet fire.

They were too close and looked too familiar. Which made Sky’s stomach turn.

"Look at them," he muttered, low but sharp.

Randy followed his gaze, squinting. "At what? They’re just sparring."

"No," Sky said, shaking his head slowly. "Not just sparring. You see how he looks at her? How he keeps circling closer when she moves?."

Bryan frowned. "You’re saying Bulb’s got a thing for Valkyrie?"

Sky met his gaze, voice steady. "I’m saying it’s obvious. And no one else wants to admit it."

Tyson laughed under his breath. "An Angel and a Devil? That’s insane. You know the Book of Hope forbids that. It’s basically a death sentence."

But Sky didn’t laugh. "Forbidden or not, it’s happening. I’ve been keeping an eye on him. He’s different around her. He doesn’t act like a Devil should. And you know the worst part?"

"What?" Randy asked cautiously.

Sky’s expression darkened. "I think Valkyrie might feel the same way."

Silence followed— dead silence. Even the forest seemed to pause. The wind whispered through the tall grass, brushing against the edges of their armor.

Bryan let out a slow breath. "Sky, that’s a serious accusation. You shouldn’t go around saying things like that."

"I’m not spreading rumors," Sky snapped. "I’m telling you what I see..."

Randy held up his hands, tone even. "Look, man, I get it. You care about her. But if you’re wrong, this kind of talk could tear the ranks apart. You could get her in trouble too."

Sky turned sharply toward him. "So I should just pretend it’s not happening? Pretend I don’t see it?"

Iyo spoke softly, "Maybe...you’re seeing what you want to see? Have you thought about that?"

That hit him harder than expected. His lips parted, but no words came out for a moment. The only sound was the distant shhhkt! of blades clashing far away as other guardians trained.

He looked back toward the glowing haze where Valkyrie and Bulb stood side by side.

"You think I’m imagining this?" His voice was low now, almost trembling with restraint. "Every time she talks to me, she looks distracted. Every time I try to reach her, she’s already somewhere else...like her heart’s not here anymore."

Bryan stood slowly. "Sky, maybe it’s not about Bulb. Maybe she’s just focused on the mission. Or maybe..." He hesitated. "Maybe she’s...focused on something else, something more important..."

That silence again. Heavy and suffocating.

Sky’s fists clenched at his sides. The veins on his arm flickered faintly with light, his aura threatening to flare before he forced it down.

"I’ll prove it," he finally said, his voice firm now. "If he’s feeling something for her or hiding something, and she for him...I’ll expose it. And I’ll make sure he’s out of the way."

Randy frowned. "Out of the way? That sounds... intense, man."

"I’m serious," Sky said, eyes sharp. "If the Council finds out first, they’ll destroy them both. I’d rather end it my way."

Bryan sighed, shaking his head. "You’re letting this get to you, Sky. It’s turning you into something else."

Sky turned to him, with glare fierce. "Like what?"

Bryan met his gaze. "...like a desperate man chasing a ghost. Come on now..."

Sky said nothing. His chest rose and fell with quiet anger.

Tyson finally broke the silence with a low whistle. "This is crazy. You’re talking about risking everything...your spot, your title, even your wings, for what? A girl who has told you numerous times, she has no feelings what so ever for you?"

Sky’s aura pulsed faintly, gold light flickering through the mist. "You wouldn’t understand, Bryan. You haven’t even loved anyone in your life..."

That hit Bryan like a stone to the chest— sharp, deep, and unshakable. He opened his mouth to respond but no words came out. For a moment, his thoughts drifted toward Soda. He liked her— more than he cared to admit, but maybe Sky had a point after all.

"I’ve never gone head over heels for anyone before," he thought, "so maybe I’m not in the position to judge..."

A few seconds passed. Then he finally spoke, voice steady but edged.

"Yeah, you might be right. Sky" Bryan said, his tone cutting through the air. "I’ve never been this crazy for a girl before... but at least when I fall, I fall responsibly."

He threw the words like a bomb. The air tightened around them. The group could feel the temperature shift— things were getting heated.

Iyo noticed it, and took a small step forward breaking the air. "Then help us...Make us understand before you do something reckless..." He shifted the conversation back to Sky.

Sky’s expression softened for half a second. "I’m not reckless Iyo, I’m right."

No one replied after that, everyone just looked in utmost concern for their dear friend. "What is Sky turning into?" Was the question that kept ringing in their heads.

The forest filled the silence: the chirr of hidden insects, the low rumble of thunder rolling across the sky. A faint mist curled around their feet, glowing faintly from residual spell energy.

Klein finally sheathed his blade. "Well, whatever happens, you’d better be careful. If Darren or Camila catches wind of this, it won’t just be Bulb in trouble..."

Sky didn’t look back. His eyes were locked on the horizon, where Valkyrie’s light flickered once more through the fog.

"I don’t care," he said softly. "And for the record Bryan, I’m not crazy, I know what I feel...If my suspicions are true, I’ll prove it. And if I’m wrong..."

He paused, voice tightening. "...then maybe I’ll finally know where I stand..."