Chapter 43
Resting against the cool stone station wall, Rain tucked his hands deeper into his jacket pockets, fingers curling anxiously against the lining.
The morning sun wrapped around him like a warm embrace, its heat sinking into his skin, softening the tightness in his chest. He tilted his face upward, eyes closed, letting the light kiss his cheeks.
For a moment, he allowed himself to pretend the warmth was enough to thaw the ache lodged beneath his ribs.
It was mid-summer; far too warm for a jacket but Rain clung to the extra layer like armour.
The hood offered anonymity if he needed it, but more than that, it offered protection.
A barrier between him and the world. Between him and the bruised, tender parts of himself he wasn’t ready to expose again.
He hadn’t seen his teammates since Velday.
Since he’d lost control.
Since he’d accidentally projected his heartbreak across an entire bar.
The memory made his stomach twist.
Today, he needed the jacket.
Today, he needed every shield he could get.
It was their usual Rozday training time, though Rain was rarely punctual.
He hated dragging himself out of the house before 8 AM.
But today he’d arrived early—painfully early—because he wanted the awkwardness over with.
If anyone even showed up. After Velday, they probably assumed he’d quit, vanished, or imploded.
So here he was, bright and early, ready to prove he wasn’t going anywhere.
Even if being around Jay felt like pressing on a fresh bruise.
Today he would face everything head-on.
Training with his friends.
Then the palace.
Then his father’s wrath.
A whistle cut through the air, sharp and metallic. The incoming train screeched along the tracks, slowing as passengers shuffled toward the edge of the platform. Rain’s empathic senses stretched instinctively, brushing through the carriages like invisible fingertips.
He searched for familiar signatures and found them.
Thomas and Emily.
Relief washed through him, loosening the knot in his chest. He pushed away from the wall, choosing to meet them first rather than wait for the entire group to descend on him at once.
Emily hopped off the train, spinning to face Thomas; then spotted Rain.
She squealed.
Rain barely had time to brace before she launched herself at him. He crouched, arms open, catching her mid-jump and pulling her into a tight hug.
“Yay, you came! We didn’t think we would see you today!”
He set her down gently, a small smile tugging at his lips.
Thomas approached with a warm grin, clasping Rain’s hand firmly before patting his shoulder.
“Hey, man,” he said, voice steady and genuine. He jerked his chin toward the rear of the train. “The others should be at the back. With things still cray, we figured it was safest to ride separately.”
There was an undercurrent in his tone; unease, caution, the lingering tension of a kingdom on edge.
Thomas lowered his voice, leaning in slightly.
“Wanna dish any intel on how things are going down south?”
Rain exhaled slowly.
“Unfortunately, I haven’t been home yet. I’m heading back after training. I had things to wrap up before I face my father.” His jaw tightened. “I don’t know how that’s going to play out. I may not have much freedom for a while if he sees my actions as betrayal.”
He gritted his teeth.
“So, you know… getting all my ducks in a row before I enter the palace.”
Jay’s presence brushed against him.
Warm.
Familiar.
Painfully familiar.
Rain tensed, keeping his back turned. Jay’s aura wrapped around him like a hesitant touch; anxious, uncertain, riddled with insecure thoughts that filtered into Rain’s mind before he could block them.
Emily greeted the group behind him.
That was Rain’s cue.
He turned to face them.
Jay’s energy hit him like a punch; nerves, guilt, longing, fear all tangled together. Rain’s heart clenched painfully, the urge to pull Jay into his arms almost overwhelming.
Daphne broke the silence first.
“Hey, Blue buddies,” she said, voice awkward but trying.
Rain forced a gentle smile.
“You all look shocked to see me,” he joked lightly. “Let me get the awkwardness out of the way. I’m sorry about Velday. I didn’t mean to share how I was feeling with everyone. It’s… embarrassing. Hence why I left immediately.”
He risked a glance at Jay.
Jay looked like the blood had drained from his face.
Rain’s chest tightened.
“It had been a long emotionally draining three days,” Rain continued, “and I wasn’t expecting things to go the way they did. I wasn’t equipped to handle… um—anyway. I slept. I’m good as new. Ready to kick our asses into gear for next weeks end.”
No one believed him.1
But their worry eased.
“Good,” Wren said too brightly, looping her arm through Jay’s. He winced. “Because we’d hate for your two’s breakup to ruin all our friendships.”
Rain huffed a laugh.
Jay looked as-though he wanted the ground to swallow him.
“Come on,” Wren said, tugging Jay forward. “Racetrack time.”
The group followed. Jasmine drifted beside Rain, her energy warm and comforting without needing words.
Rain felt a swell of gratitude.
He’d expected judgement.
Distance.
Coldness.
Instead, they offered acceptance, compassion and understanding.
He wasn’t used to it.
He wasn’t sure he ever would be.
At the racetrack, Jasmine led them through stretches. Rain watched the team carefully, their strengths, their weaknesses, their injuries.
The next tournament had three races. Every member had to run, and their times would be combined. Only the top three teams advanced further into the competition.
Sean was strong but slow.
Jay was fast but injured.
Rain was powerful but couldn’t use his abilities without risking harm.
“I suggest we jog three laps to warm up,” Rain said, addressing Wren and Jasmine. “Then time our 100, 200, and 300 metre runs and determine what order we wish to play.”
“Fastest to slowest?” Wren asked. “We can bank good time early?”
“Or send the slowest first and make up time,” Jasmine offered.
“That’s risky,” Rain said. “Wren’s plan is better. And I don’t think my power can help us this time. We’ll need to win on our own merits.”
Jasmine’s eyes widened.
“What if there are falls? Can you help prevent that?”
Rain sighed.
“Maybe. I could cushion a fall. But I can’t be everywhere at once. And trying to speed someone up from a distance? Too dangerous. My nudges push people faster than their legs can handle. And in a crowded arena, with my empathic power stretched thin… the risk is too high.”
He lifted his hands in surrender.
“No shortcuts this time.”
“Ok, so we win this the old-fashioned way. No problem!” Jasmine said through gritted teeth, punching the air in a half-hearted cheer. Her ponytail bounced with the motion, but the strain in her smile betrayed her nerves.
“Alright, let’s hit it, guys. Three laps around the field, meeting back here.”
She flashed a quick grin and took off, her strides long and confident. Wren followed close behind, her braid whipping against her back like a metronome.
Rain fell into step a few seconds later, easing into a fast jog. The morning air tasted crisp, tinged with the faint scent of cut grass and the rubbery tang of the track. His boots thudded rhythmically against the ground, each impact sending a small jolt up his legs, grounding him, steadying him.
He kept a deliberate distance from Jay.
Being near him was suffocating.
Being far from him was agony.
But this middle ground, was survivable.
He could have put up his shield, shut out Jay’s emotions entirely, but he couldn’t bring himself to sever the connection.
Even muted, Jay’s aura tugged at him like a frayed thread caught on his ribs.
The warmth that used to pour from him, he feel of home, was gone.
But what remained was still… familiar. Still Jay.
During warm-ups, Jay’s emotions had flickered wildly:
Regret.
Longing.
Annoyance.
Resolve.
Fear.
More longing.
It was a storm Rain couldn’t ignore, no matter how hard he tried.
Now, with distance between them, Rain could finally breathe.
His lungs expanded fully for the first time that morning, and the tension in his shoulders began to melt.
He focused on the rhythm of his steps, the burn in his calves, the wind brushing against his cheeks.
He let the physicality of the run bleed out some of the stress coiled inside him.
By the time he finished his laps, he felt… good.
Lighter.
Almost himself again.
He even felt the familiar itch; the pull to get back into a session with Raymon, to push his body until his mind quieted completely.
Half the team was still on the far side of the field. Jay lagged behind, clutching his side, his posture tight with pain.
Rain’s stomach dropped.
That wasn’t good.
They waited for the others to return. Jasmine pulled out her portable Connekt, tapping through menus until the timer screen glowed bright.
“Rain, why don’t you go first? You barely picked up a sweat with your superior genetics,” she teased, wiping sweat from her brow.
Rain smirked and stepped into position. He crouched low, fingertips brushing the track, muscles coiled.
“Ready… set… GO!”
He exploded forward, the world blurring at the edges. Wind tore past his ears, his feet barely touching the ground. He stopped at the 100-metre mark, chest rising steadily.
“9.5 seconds!” Jasmine called. “Predictable!”
Wren took off next. Rain walked back toward the group, rolling his shoulders.
“10.5! Amazing! Emily, you’re next!”
Rain’s gaze drifted to the sidelines.
Jay sat hunched over, wheezing, one hand pressed to his ribs. Even without his empathic sense, Rain would have known he was in pain. But with it… the ache hit Rain like a blow to the sternum.
He sighed and walked over, lowering himself beside Jay. He placed a hand on Jay’s shoulder, letting the pain flow into him.
Jay startled, sucking in a breath that was half relief, half panic. His eyes snapped to Rain’s, wide and uncertain.
Rain didn’t speak.
He just absorbed.