Chapter 49: First Fight
Inside the room, Ka’z quietly shut the wooden door behind them before glancing over his shoulder to ensure nobody had followed. Without another word, he lightly stomped the ground with his foot.
Mana surged beneath the floor as the earth shifted in response to his will. Stone slowly rose from beneath the doorway, forming a thick wedge that pressed tightly against the bottom of the door. It wasn’t an unbreakable seal, but anyone trying to force the door open from the outside would immediately alert them.
Only after satisfying himself did he finally turn around.
Za’r had already sat down on the haystack bed. Her hands rested neatly on her lap while she watched him with an expression caught somewhere between nervousness and anticipation. Her cheeks remained faintly pink from everything that had happened outside, and the way she avoided meeting his eyes for more than a second made it painfully obvious what she thought was about to happen.
Ka’z followed her gaze before suddenly realizing exactly what she was expecting.
His entire face flushed bright red.
"W... wait!"
He hurriedly waved both hands in panic.
"Hold on. That’s not what I meant."
Za’r stared at him for a heartbeat before covering her mouth. A quiet giggle escaped and within seconds she was laughing openly.
Watching her laugh only made Ka’z feel even more embarrassed until he eventually gave up trying to defend himself and laughed alongside her.
The awkward tension filling the room dissolved almost immediately. Eventually their laughter subsided. A comfortable silence settled between them.
Za’r tilted her head curiously.
"So... What was it you wanted to desperately show me?"
Ka’z nodded.
"Right."
He hurried toward the corner of the room where Shiki had been hidden beneath several old cloths. Carefully lifting the bronze staff into his hands, he returned before sitting opposite her.
"I should probably explain everything from the beginning."
Za’r nodded attentively.
Ka’z took a slow breath before recounting everything. He explained the strange premonition that had convinced him to spare Boi despite everyone wanting him executed.
He reminded her that the same mysterious instinct had warned him the night raid would fail long before it happened.
Then he described interrogating Boi after waking up earlier that day. He explained how the runes carved into Shiki had appeared completely natural to him.
Za’r listened quietly without interrupting until he finally reached the conclusion.
"So, You’re saying this heretic magic is actually the hidden language of dragons?"
"The key to true magic?"
She sounded even more confused than when the explanation had started. Like every child raised inside Vaal’kor, she had grown up listening to Tong’a’s stories.
Everyone admired dragons but those stories had always sounded more like legends than history. She had never imagined any of them were connected to the goblins’ forbidden rune magic.
She looked back toward Ka’z.
"Then... Why don’t you just tell Tong’a?"
She asked firmly
"In my opinion this seems pretty straightforward."
Ka’z immediately shook his head.
"Tong’a already believes rune magic is heresy. He may refuse to even consider it."
The confusion on Za’r’s face only deepened.
"So?"
She asked honestly.
"If Tong’a believes it’s dangerous... Shouldn’t you trust his judgment?"
Ka’z stubbornly shook his head again.
"No."
Without another word, he lowered Shiki onto the floor.
He stretched one hand forward before digging the sharp edge of his nail into his own palm.
Za’r’s eyes widened.
"What are you doing?"
Before she could reach him, Ka’z stepped backward.
"Just watch."
His golden eyes slowly began glowing. The familiar draconic light filled his pupils and a strange ancient authority entered his voice.
"Lumen Carn Kael."
The words echoed softly through the room Only a faint pulse of warm white light gently wrapped itself around the wound.
Za’r watched without blinking as the torn flesh slowly knitted together. The skin sealed itself.
Seconds later, nothing remained. Not even a scar.
Buzz.
Za’r’s heart violently trembled.
She stared at Ka’z as though he had suddenly transformed into someone else.
Until now.
"How is that possible?"
Her voice barely escaped and Ka’z immediately stepped forward. Placing both hands firmly upon her shoulders, he looked directly into her eyes.
"Babe."
His voice carried an excitement she had never heard before.
"Magic is for everyone. Using this method... Anyone with mana flowing through their body can learn magic."
"We won’t have to wait a hundred years hoping five children awaken as magic beasts."
His breathing gradually quickened.
"Our people can finally become strong. Strong enough to leave these caves and build homes beneath the open sky."
Za’r’s entire body trembled. The dream he describe was beautiful. It was everything every kobold secretly wished for.
For just a brief moment, her resolve wavered. Then, go inIt strengthened once more.
"Then explain it to Tong’a. Explain everything exactly the way you explained it to me. Including what you just showed me."
Ka’z frowned.
"What if they refuse?"
Za’r looked directly back at him.
"And if they do, ehat were you planning instead?" She asked. "Practicing in secret?"
Buzz.
Ka’z instinctively released her shoulders and his brows slowly furrowed. She had guessed it.
Seeing his reaction was answer enough.
Za’r sighed softly.
"You need to understand, this isn’t only your decision anymore. What you’re talking about affects everyone. Don’t they deserve the chance to decide alongside you?"
Ka’z stood completely silent. Every word struck exactly where it needed to.
"I know you’re afraid they’ll reject you. But if you’ve already accepted the possibility of secretly teaching everyone anyway..."
She tilted her head.
"...then what do you lose by asking first?"
"If they reject you... Then you can decide your next step.But at least you’ll know you gave them the opportunity."
Silence filled the room and Ka’z slowly lowered his head. He suddenly realized something uncomfortable.He had almost repeated the biggest mistake of his previous life.
Giving up before even trying.
He had already convinced himself the elders would reject him without giving them the chance to prove him wrong.
Slowly he nodded.
"...Okay. I’ll finish interrogating Boi. Then I’ll gather Everyon end show them everything."
Za’r’s shoulders visibly relaxed.
"Exactly."
She smiled warmly and a quiet sigh escaped her lips.
She had genuinely feared this conversation would become their first serious argument.
Instead, he had listened. She couldn’t have asked for more. Before she could enjoy that relief any longer Ka’z suddenly stepped closer, both of his hands gently cupped her cheeks.
Startled, Za’r instinctively looked upward. Only then did she realize just how close they had become. Their faces were separated by only a few inches.
She could feel his warm breath against her skin. Her heartbeat immediately sped up.
Ka’z smiled shyly.
"I want us to act like a couple tonight."He spoke almost in a whisper.