Path of the Unmentioned: The Missing Piece-Chapter 78: Between Two Selves

The hallway stretched before them.

Quiet except for the occasional echo of distant footsteps and Kyle’s labored breathing.

Eleanora’s arm remained firmly around his waist.

Her grip steady despite the awkward angle.

Kyle could feel the warmth of her through his torn combat uniform.

The faint scent of lavender and something distinctly her. Something expensive and refined, like the perfumed oils nobles used.

"So," Kyle began. Wincing as a particularly sharp jolt of pain shot through his ribs with each step.

"You are not gonna ask?"

Eleanora didn’t look at him, her gaze fixed ahead. "Ask what?"

"Why I hid being a deviant."

She exhaled softly. Adjusting her hold as they rounded a corner.

"Everyone has secrets, Kyle. I’m not going to pry."

Kyle frowned.

That was...unexpectedly understanding.

He’d braced for at least some irritation. "Not even mad that if I’d used ice in the VR exams, we might have scored higher?"

This time, Eleanora did glance at him.

Her ruby eyes unreadable. "No. I’m not angry."

There was something in her tone.

Something that made Kyle pause.

Not anger.

But...something else.

Something he couldn’t quite place.

Before he could press further. A familiar voice cut through the hallway.

"Well, well. What do we have here?"

Instructor Seraphina leaned against the wall ahead.

Her pink braid draped over one shoulder, arms crossed.

Her sharp eyes flicked from Kyle’s battered form to Eleanora’s supporting grip.

Her one eyebrow creeping upward.

Eleanora stiffened almost imperceptibly.

But her voice remained even. "Instructor."

Seraphina pushed off the wall.

Striding forward with that effortless confidence Kyle had always associated with her.

"What happened?"

"Training spar with Cedric" Kyle muttered. "Got a little carried away."

Seraphina snorted, reaching out to prod at his ribs.

Kyle hissed, batting her hand away.

"Broken?" she asked, though it sounded more like a statement.

"Two, maybe three," Kyle muttered.

Seraphina sighed dramatically. "Honestly, Kyle —"

Eleanora cleared her throat. "We were just heading to the infirmary."

"Were being the key word," Seraphina said.

She was already nudging Eleanora aside to slide her own arm around Kyle’s shoulders.

"I’ll take it from here, Princess."

Eleanora’s grip tightened briefly before she forced herself to let go.

"He needs proper healing. The infirmary—"

"—is exactly where I’m taking him" Seraphina finished smoothly.

"But first..."

Her free hand glowed a soft green as she pressed it lightly against Kyle’s side.

Nature Magic.

A cool, soothing sensation spread through his ribs, dulling the sharpest edges of the pain.

Kyle sighed in relief.

"Thanks, Seraphi—I mean Instructor." Kyle corrected himself.

Eleanora’s lips thinned. "Academy regulations—"

"Relax," Seraphina said, rolling her eyes.

"This is just to take the edge off. We are going to the infirmary so I can fix him properly."

She shot Eleanora a look that was just a fraction too sweet.

"You can go back to whatever princely duties you have. Wouldn’t want anyone getting the wrong idea, seeing you two alone like this."

Kyle felt Eleanora tense beside him.

"It’s fine" Kyle said quickly, glancing at Eleanora.

"You should go. Wouldn’t want rumors starting."

Eleanora hesitated.

Her gaze flicking between Kyle and Seraphina.

Something unreadable flashed in her eyes.

Something that.

If Kyle didn’t know better he might have called jealousy.

Finally, she nodded stiffly.

"Very well. Don’t push yourself, Kyle."

With that, she turned and walked away, her posture rigid.

Seraphina waited until Eleanora was out of earshot before snorting. "Well that was dramatic."

Kyle rolled his eyes. "Shut up."

Seraphina just grinned. Adjusting her grip as they started moving again.

"So you had a spar with Cedric?"

"Yeah."

"And you decided the best way to fight him was to let him turn you into a human punching bag?"

Kyle groaned.

Seraphina’s smirk softened slightly as she studied him. "You are frustrated."

It wasn’t a question.

Kyle didn’t answer.

"You lost. It happens." She nudged him.

"You are what, two-three months into awakening your affinity? And you already at peak Adept Mastery."

"And you are one of the strongest first year. That’s not nothing, Kyle."

Kyle sighed, rubbing his face. "I just...I could have done better."

Seraphina hummed.

"Maybe. But beating yourself up won’t change it." She paused, then added slyly.

"Though I could be persuaded to cheer you up. I do remember a certain someone being particularly fond of my spicy venison stew after bad days..."

Kyle shot her a look. "Are you bribing me with food?"

"Absolutely."

Despite himself. Kyle felt the corner of his mouth twitch.

"Aurelia told you my cooking improved, didn’t she."

Seraphina’s grin turned wicked.

"Oh? So you are offering to cook for me now? How forward."

Kyle rolled his eyes.

But the weight in his chest had lightened slightly.

They walked in comfortable silence for a few moments before Kyle told her the details about his sparring match.

"So... ice, huh?" Seraphina said.

Kyle tensed.

Seraphina felt it and sighed. "Relax. I’m not going to interrogate you."

She tilted her head.

"Though I am hurt you didn’t tell me. Here I thought we were friends."

The exaggerated pout she gave was so ridiculous Kyle couldn’t help but laugh.

Then immediately regretted it as his ribs protested.

"Ow. Ow. Don’t make me laugh."

Seraphina’s smirk returned. "That’s Instructor to you."

Kyle groaned. "I didn’t hide it. I just...didn’t bring it up."

"Uh-huh." Seraphina’s tone was skeptical.

"And the fact that deviants are rare enough to draw attention had nothing to do with it?" fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm

Kyle didn’t answer.

Seraphina sighed.

"Look, I get it. But you know I don’t care about that stuff right?" Her voice dropped, just a fraction.

"Aurelia and I have been friends since our school days. And I know you since were what seven, eight? You think I would judge you for something like this?"

There was a sincerity in her words that made Kyle pause.

"...I know," he said finally.

Seraphina studied him for a long moment before nodding.

"Good." Then, with her usual irreverence.

"Now come on, deviant. Let’s get you patched up before Aurelia skins me for letting you get hurt."

Kyle snorted but didn’t argue as they continued toward the infirmary.

Seraphina’s steady presence at his side making the walk just a little easier.

———

Kyle ribs was still aching despite her nature magic dulled the worst of the pain.

As they walked.

His mind wandered.

Not to the fight.

Not to his injuries.

But to something deeper.

When he had first woken up in this world.

He had been Ethan. A normal guy from Earth, a stranger in Kyle Valemont’s body.

But now?

Now, it was different.

The sword trial had changed something.

The flood of Kyle’s memories that he got.

Hadn’t just been observed.

They had settled into him, seamless as breathing.

Those weren’t just memories anymore.

They were his.

Ethan’s skepticism, his wit, his stubbornness.

They hadn’t disappeared.

But they weren’t at war with Kyle’s life anymore, either.

The two had bled together, like ink spreading through water.

Until he couldn’t separate where one ended and the other began.

He was both.

Kyle Valemont. The boy who grew up in this world.

And Ethan. The soul who remembered another.

Maybe that’s why it was so easy to fall back into their old rhythm.

Why he didn’t stiffen when Seraphina had slung an arm around him like it was the most natural thing in the world.

"You are quiet" Seraphina remarked, nudging him. "Regretting your life choices yet?"

Kyle snorted. "Only the one where I agreed to spar with a human wrecking ball."

Seraphina laughed, the sound warm and rich. "Ah, so the usual, then."

———