h4Chapter 510: A Move I Only Ever Taught One Person/h4

    Theyy there, sweat soaked and smiling, letting the moment stretch. Not as fighters anymore.

    Just... brothers.

    "I can’t remember thest time we did this," Carl said suddenly, his voice soft with nostalgia.

    As he stared up at the night sky, a thousand memories shed through his mind,ughter, reckless adventures, childhood promises whispered under trees. So much time had passed...

    "We’re all grown up now," he added. "More responsibilities. Less time."

    "Yeah," Somto replied quietly. "Things haven’t been the same for any of us."

    There was a beat of silence.

    Then Arthur spoke.

    "Confusion."

    The word came out low but clear, pulling the attention of the other two. Carl and Somto turned to look at him, eyebrows raised.

    Arthur did not meet their eyes right away. He stared at the sky like it held all the answers, and all the questions.

    "As time passed," he continued, "it didn’t just bring responsibilities. It brought... confusion. About what we want. Who we’re supposed to be."

    Somto nodded slowly. "Yeah... it really did."

    He let out a quiet sigh. He never imagined his mission would shift course, not even slightly. But it had, and somehow, he didn’t mind. It felt right.

    The three of them went quiet again. A calm stillness settled between them, filled with unspoken thoughts and shared exhaustion.

    Then, Arthur spoke again.

    And this time, his words didn’t just break the silence.

    They shattered it.

    "I’m in love with Nnenna."

    The confession dropped like thunder, raw and sudden.

    Carl jolted upright, no longer lying back, eyes wide. "Wait, what?!"

    Somto turned his head, his face unreadable.

    Arthur stared straight ahead, not flinching, notughing. The words had been caged in his chest since that morning, since the fight, since the look in her eyes.

    Something about the quiet night, the dark sky, the soft glow of the training groundnterns, and the silentpany of two friends who were more like brothers, made Arthur feel like he could talk.

    Really talk.

    Carl stared at Arthur in disbelief, mouth slightly open.

    "How??" he asked, but didn’t wait for an answer. "You’ve been a stone wall for years, Arthur. Even now, you won’t admit you’re in love with that person, so why the sudden change of heart? What happened?"

    Arthur sat up too, his expression unreadable in the dim light.

    But Carl saw it.

    A flicker of emotion.

    Conflicted. Torn. Something deeper than guilt or regret.

    Carl went quiet, giving him space.

    Arthur rarely spoke from the heart. This, this was rare.

    "I don’t know," Arthur finally said, voice low.

    He exhaled, fingers threading through his hair.

    "She reminds me so much of... that person."

    He paused, struggling to find the words.

    "Today, during the duel... that move she used to break my defense, it wasn’t just any move. It was mine. I created it back in my teens."

    Somto looked up sharply. Carl stayed frozen, listening.

    Arthur continued, softer now, almost whispering.

    "A move I only ever taught one person. Just one."

    He swallowed.

    "That person."

    "Yet Nnenna used it today..." Arthur said quietly, eyes narrowing in disbelief. "How is that even possible?"

    His voice trembled, not from fear, but from something harder to name. A creeping unease.

    "I’m sure I never shared that move with anyone else. Not even you guys," he added, ncing at Carl and Somto. "It was too painful to use. Every time I remembered it, I saw her."

    His hands clenched at his sides.

    "So it can’t be someone else who taught her. It just can’t be. Which means... if it wasn’t me... who did?"

    His question lingered in the air, thick with tension.

    His face was clouded now, eyes darting like he was trying to piece together a puzzle that didn’t make sense.

    Carl’s expression mirrored his. His brows were furrowed, concern growing in his eyes. "That’s... really strange," he muttered. "This is definitely a mystery," Carl said, brows still furrowed. "It’s possible that Nnenna met that person somehow. Maybe that’s where she learned it. When she wakes up, you should ask her."

    "I doubt it," Arthur said, shaking his head slowly.

    His voice was firm, but heavy with something unspoken.

    "That move... she promised me it would stay between the two of us."

    He paused, eyes distant now, lost in an old memory.

    "She doesn’t break her promises," he added quietly. "She wouldn’t have taught it to Nnenna."

    Neither of them noticed the deeper frown tightening on Somto’s face.

    His jaw had locked slightly. His arms folded. His gaze drifted toward the ground, troubled.

    Carl turned back to Arthur.

    "But what about your feelings?" he asked, voice softer now.

    Arthur looked up slowly.

    Carl hesitated, but pressed on.

    "If you’ve really... let go of that person, and you truly love Nnenna... I think you should tell her."

    He paused again. His throat tightened. But he still forced the words out.

    "Tell her. When she’s of age."

    His voice cracked ever so slightly at the end, a sh of pain flickering in his eyes.

    Like each word cost him something.

    Like his heart was being squeezed with invisible fingers.

    But he meant it.

    Even if it hurt.

    "She’s never mentioned liking anyone to me," Carl said gently. "So... you might have a real chance here."

    But Arthur didn’t reply.

    Instead, his gaze shifted, to Somto.

    There was something in his eyes. Not hesitation. Not fear. But... conflict.

    Carl noticed the silence. It stretched too long.

    His brows knit slightly as he looked between them. Arthur’s expression was strange, like he regretted saying anything now. Like he felt guilty.

    Carl followed his gaze to Somto.

    Somto’s face was unreadable, shaded by the darkness around them. The faint glow from the training lights did little to soften the sharpness in his eyes. His expression blended into the starless night sky, dark, still, but heavy.

    Why does Arthur look like he feels bad that Somto had to hear this?

    Was it because of Nnenna?

    Carl blinked.