《Then Archery is my path》 Avelion structure On the planet Avelion, where ether¡ªcommonly referred to as mana¡ªpervades life itself, the Ferinian calendar marks the year 3104. For the past 20 years, Avelion has experienced a tenuous peace following the fourth major conflict between humans and elves. However, this doesn¡¯t mean that Avelion has been free of warfare. Battles between humans and therianthropes have erupted over ten times, though only three escalated to world wars. Thanks to advancements in aether technology, society has flourished. Human cities are powered by reactors fueled by the disintegration of aether bonds, eliminating electricity shortages. Most families own vehicles, and towering skyscrapers rise up to 100-150 floors, symbolizing a world transformed by mana. In 1809, the Human Territories Union (HTU) was established to govern the human domains. It¡¯s led by a council of ten: three war veterans, three scientists, and four representatives from the most influential clans. The Anatomy of Mana Every living organism on Avelion is born with two hearts. The first is similar to Earth¡¯s heart, circulating blood, while the second, more unique heart, pumps aether throughout the body. Ether is absorbed from the atmosphere through the lungs and reaches this aether heart, which then distributes it via aetheric arteries running parallel to blood vessels. These aetheric pathways feed aether into the muscles and skin, but they bypass the organs, creating a one-way channel. This distribution system underpins a person¡¯s "talent," determined by the number, size, and diameter of their ether arteries, which affect how efficiently they channel mana to their body. From the age of five or six, individuals begin to form a faint, transparent etheric aura known as Mana Ventis. This aura represents the natural expulsion of residual mana, which typically dissipates painlessly. However, with physical exertion, mana expulsion intensifies, and for the untrained, this can be a painful process. Most untrained individuals only utilize around 5-10% of their mana-carrying capacity. The Two Main Branches of Mana Two primary paths of mana manipulation define Avelion society: Mana Armis and Mana Domain. Mana Armis centers on concentrating mana within the body to create armor, while Mana Domain focuses on expanding one¡¯s etheric presence beyond the body.

Mana Armis: The Art of Etheric Armor

Mana Armis is the evolution of Mana Ventis into a protective armor layer, which has two stages: appearance and condensation. In the appearance stage, the armor is visible but lacks true durability. Only upon reaching condensation does it become stable enough for combat. The armor is composed of distinct components, categorized as minor, medium, or major parts of the body: Armor proficiency is ranked by points, defining four tiers of users:

Mana Domain: Expanding Etheric Influence

Mana Domain is the mastery of extending one¡¯s etheric field. When a person¡¯s Mana Ventis extends beyond a 10-meter radius, they achieve Domain status. This skill also has two stages: Manipulation, where users control aether within their domain, and Formation, where they create Mana Formations, akin to magic circles.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. Domain users are classified by their reach: Martial Arts and the Power of Breath Avelion¡¯s martial arts draw from three pillars: movement techniques, weapon techniques, and breathing techniques. Breathing techniques, in particular, are vital as they influence armor properties, weapon types, and even body constitution. They align with a person¡¯s elemental affinity, shaping how they interact with mana. Martial arts are ranked by stars: Mana Domain Tools: Enchanted Books Mana Domain users often rely on enchanted books¡ªsophisticated devices that help them calculate magic formations accurately. These ¡°books¡± facilitate precise mana manipulation, although they remain rare due to the complex materials needed for high-performance models. Like martial arts, enchanted books are also rated by stars, with only the first three available and no five-star books known to exist. Body constitution On Avelion, body constitution is a critical factor in mana potential and personal abilities. Each individual¡¯s "constitution" is determined by Martial Arts that they are using or if they are born with it. These constitutions fall into essential types ¡ª Ignis (fire), Terra (earth), Aqua (water), Ventus (wind), Umbra (shadow), Lux (light). The power each constitution provides aligns with its element, granting strengths in mana absorption, control, and endurance. Non-Etheric Armors and Weapons Mechanical armors, known as Non-Etherica, serve as a supplement to ether-based armor, with modular components that fit around the palms, limbs, and torso. While mechanical armor lacks the etheric power of Mana Armis, it compensates by enhancing its user¡¯s abilities. Non-etheric weapons follow a similar rating system: Chapter 1 - Happy birthday A young boy, no older than twelve, sits quietly beside a woman who bears an uncanny resemblance to him, though with an air of maturity that sets them apart. His short black hair falls messily over his forehead, and his green eyes¡ªonce bright¡ªnow seem clouded with fatigue, his gaze fixed on the ever-changing landscape outside the window. His clothes, a classic suit that feels a little too formal for his age, seem to weigh him down, mirroring the exhaustion etched across his face. The woman beside him is dressed in a flowing red gown, her elegance undeniable. Her eyes, the same shade of green, hold a depth of wisdom that contrasts with the boy''s childlike weariness. Though they share the same features, the subtle differences between them are impossible to ignore: her poise, the maturity in her expression, the way she moves with a quiet authority. If anyone were to glance at them now, they would never guess they were mother and son. ¡°Kail, how did you like today¡¯s festivities?¡± ¡°Meh¡­ same thing, different year. Only the people change. Why do they keep circling me, shoving their cards and compliments in my face? What¡¯s their problem?¡± ¡°Dear, you¡¯re a talent¡ªan exceptional one. Only one in a million could compare to you.¡± ¡°If you say so,¡± Kail replied, rolling his eyes. ¡°But let¡¯s not forget Astrel. The constitution he was born with is even rarer.¡± ¡°True, but you have superior ether arteries. In terms of potential, you¡¯re both remarkable. Speaking of talent, can you explain why I received such unpleasant news about you skipping training yesterday?¡± ¡°...Already? I thought I had at least a few days before you found out. I haven¡¯t even managed to get over my last blunder yet.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t try to charm me. You know how much I love and respect you, but that¡¯s why I expect you to keep a simple promise¡ªat least one week of consistent training.¡± ¡°Oh, fantastic¡­¡± Kail muttered under his breath. ¡°Guess I¡¯m not getting out of this one.¡± Just then, a rumble grew in intensity, shaking the car. Kail peered out the window, noticing they were in a mountainous area. Focusing up the slope, he saw stones and boulders tumbling down toward them. ¡°Mom! There¡¯s a landslide!¡± ¡°Yes?¡± His mother¡¯s voice stayed calm. ¡°Odd for this time of year. But don¡¯t worry¡ªwe¡¯re protected by the mana barrier. Nothing serious should happen.¡± ¡°If you say so¡­¡± But as they braced themselves, the crashing intensified, stones pummeling against the barrier. His mother¡¯s face grew tense as the shaking grew stronger and the sounds of impact grew louder. Then, a sickening crunch echoed around them. ¡°GET DOWN!¡± she shouted, a second barrier forming instantly. In the next instant, a massive, jagged boulder tore through the roof, crashing against his mother¡¯s barrier. But it was too much. In an instant, Kail felt his mother¡¯s hand pushing him aside. Then, pain¡ªsharp, unyielding pain. He screamed as the world blurred, the agony overwhelming. Beep¡­..Beep¡­..Beep¡­..Beep When Kail opened his eyes, a steady drip echoed in the silence. He lifted his left hand to his face, catching sight of his arm¡ªor rather, the stump where his right arm had once been. Confused and dazed, he tried to stand, only to realize his right leg was also gone. "Holy shit. Fuck. Fuck. FUCK!" Where the fuck are my limbs?! From my wrist to my elbow¡ªand from my knee down¡ªthere was nothing. No pain. No feeling. No warmth. When I tried to touch where my right hand and leg should have been with my left hand, it passed through empty air.If you encounter this tale on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. "Ha ha. HAHAHAHAHAHA! Yes, very funny. I get it¡ªI get the joke. Now come back to reality! The joke¡¯s over! IT¡¯S NOT FUNNY ANYMORE! YOU HEAR ME?! WHAT THE FUCK IS THIS?!" Beep¡­..Beep¡­..Beep¡­..Beep A nurse entered, and he instinctively tried to wipe his face with his right hand, stopping only when he remembered it was gone. Slowly, he used his left hand, desperate to regain some Nothing. No response. Nobody was there to answer, to react, to care. Only the damned medical devices beeped relentlessly: pulse, saturation, ECG. What the fuck do I even need them for now? "Bring back my limbs... please..." Then came the tears. Stupid, useless tears. Tears that couldn¡¯t change anything, couldn¡¯t fix anything, couldn¡¯t help anything. But still, they came¡ªbecause apparently, even tears were necessary. Fucking tears. And what else could a twelve-year-old boy, who¡¯d just lost his hand and leg, possibly do? The door creaked open. A nurse entered the room. The sound startled me. Instinctively, I tried to wipe the tears from my face with the sleeve of my right hand¡ª Am I really that stupid? I quickly switched to my left hand, brushing away the tears before the nurse noticed. She approached and gently helped me sit up on the bed. ¡°How are you feeling? Do you have any pain?¡± HA? Seriously? No, of course not! Everything''s just wonderful! But deep down, I knew she was only doing her job. She wasn¡¯t to blame for the state I was in now. ¡°No. I¡¯m... okay.¡± ¡°Your family is in the hospital. I¡¯ll let them know you¡¯re awake.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± She left, and for a moment, he sat in silence, his mind swirling. Mom¡­ she¡¯s fine, right? There¡¯s no way I¡¯d lose everything in one day. The Cindercrest Clan would never let anything happen to her. The door opened again, and Urif Cindercrest 190cm man with muscles that can be seen even in a classic suit with black buzz cut hair but with some shades of red due to the enormous concentration of his mana and red eyes. Even if he doesn''t look older than 40 in reality, this year he turned 67. The clan head stepped in, his presence filling the room. Like a machine, I turned my attention to him. My thoughts froze, and in the calmest voice I could muster¡ªdespite the storm raging inside me, a storm that was ready to tear apart anything, even myself¡ªI spoke. ¡°Where¡¯s my mother?¡± Urif¡¯s face was impassive, unreadable. ¡°She didn¡¯t survive.¡± For a moment, Kail just stared, his mind blank. He tried to process the words, but they felt like jagged stones scraping against his heart. A hollow feeling settled over him, and he swallowed hard, finally managing a response. ¡°I¡¯m sorry¡­ Is it possible to be alone for a while? I need to calm down.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Urif replied, his expression still unreadable. ¡°Understood.¡± One breath at a time, he told himself, just breathe. He lay there for 24 hours, lost in a fog of grief and numbness, until finally, he felt ready to listen. Later, Rebeca, Urif¡¯s secretary, entered. Her voice was soft but brisk, as if she wanted to get through the news with minimal pain. Despite her hardened exterior, shaped by years of training and discipline, there was a warmth in her blue eyes when she glanced at the boy. Her brown hair, pulled back neatly, framed her face with the precision of someone used to both structure and care. ¡°Good morning, Kail. How are you?¡± ¡°Acceptable,¡± he replied, his tone detached. ¡°Could you explain¡­ what happened?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Rebeca said, sitting down. ¡°On April 22, 3104, a landslide occurred near the Cindercrest route. The mana barrier weakened, likely due to a flaw, and while most passengers survived, the barrier around your car failed. Lady Elyndra didn¡¯t make it.¡± Kail¡¯s eyes stung, but he forced himself to stay composed. ¡°Mom said earthquakes weren¡¯t typical this time of year. Do we know what caused it?¡± ¡°Investigations are still underway, but we believe it was natural. It will take time to confirm.¡± He nodded stiffly, then asked, ¡°And Dad?¡± ¡°Mr. Renar was on Island, in a territorial battle with the Therianthropes when it happened.¡± ¡°Thank you, Rebeca.¡± Rebeca gave a small, respectful bow as she rose. Just before she left, she turned back, her face softening a little. ¡°Happy birthday, Kail¡­ even if it¡¯s a little late.¡± He stared after her, hollow and bitter. Happy birthday, Kail. The universe¡¯s gift: two amputated limbs and a mother ripped away in an instant. Not even in my nightmares was it ever this cruel. ¡°Thank you, Rebeca,¡± he murmured numbly, though the words tasted like ash. Chapter 2 -Thanks for the hope April 26, 3104 ¨C 3:16 p.m. The door to my living room opened, and a familiar figure, Mr. Urif, entered. He was accompanied by the same woman who had informed me of my mother''s death. "Hello." He could at least show some emotion. Probably not. Mr. Urif, the father of three children¡ªtwo girls and a boy my age¡ªwas known within the clan as my rival. I had the rare constitution of arteries that occupied 100% of my body, while he had the Magma Body constitution. But now, those comparisons felt like distant memories. "Hello, Kail. First of all, I want you to know that Renar disappeared following a confrontation with Therianthropes. At this moment, it is unclear whether he is alive or not. However, his disappearance has caused another issue. He used a significant amount of clan resources to further his advancements but did not settle all his debts." "Okay. Dad often had issues with repaying debts. That''s nothing new. Plus, disappearing while on duty isn''t unheard of, right?" "Exactly. But taking all these factors into account, the Elderly Council has decided that you no longer hold any significance to the family. This leaves you with two options: You can stay under the clan''s care, receive permanent treatment, and wait indefinitely for Renar''s return. The clan will cover all expenses for your treatment and upkeep. Or, you can voluntarily leave the family. In this case, Kail Cindercrest will be removed from the family records entirely." "WHAT? ARE YOU SERIOUSLY TRYING TO DISPOSE OF ME LIKE SOME WORTHLESS TOOL?" "Kail!" A burst of air swept through the room. It wasn''t harmful¡ªclearly, Urif had no intention of injuring me¡ªbut it was a testament to his immense mana control and the pressure he carried. "You know as well as I do how long it could take for Renar to return. It might be a month, or it could take years. Are you certain you can endure years in your current condition?" "No." I lowered my head, staring at the floor. "But I''m offering you another option. If you voluntarily renounce your place in the Cindercrest family, you will receive three things: A serum derived from Therianthrope plasma that will regenerate your limbs, though it will not restore your aetheric arteries. A custom-made Non-Etheric Armor, rated 3¡î. And a 4¡î weapon from the clan''s arsenal. These won''t fully replace the potential you once had, but they''ll give you a chance." I was speechless. What Urif offered was extraordinary. The combination of those items could elevate someone to the level of a functional ManaWarrior from scratch. But I also knew the truth about the Elders of the Cindercrest family¡ªthey were cold, calculating individuals who dismissed emotions entirely. They would readily discard even their most talented offspring if it served the clan''s interests. For them, I was no longer an asset¡ªjust dead weight. And at that moment, Kail felt like a black spot staining the familiar white ledger of his existence. "Thank you." Kail''s voice trembled, and though he was on the verge of breaking down into tears again, his tear glands were already dry. "This is the least I can offer you," Urif replied, his tone unchanged. "Additionally, if you leave the clan and manage to pass the entrance exams for Altgrad, I will cover the cost of your studies." The Altgrad Academy. The mere mention of it brought a spark of hope to Kail''s shattered heart. Altgrad was the most prestigious academy in the human territories¡ªa place where future Masters and Grandmasters were forged. But gaining admission was no small feat. Tuition required either immense wealth or a recommendation from one of the 12 major classes or the state. Kail was stunned. Before the accident, he had been competing for a recommendation to study in Eligard, another esteemed academy, and now he was hearing that Altgrad, a higher aspiration, was still an option. "Thank you¡­ really, thank you." "But you must understand," Urif continued, his voice taking on a grave tone, "this will not just be difficult¡ªit will border on the impossible in your current state. And if you renounce the family, you will no longer have the right to practice the martial arts of the clan."The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation. Kail nodded, his gaze dropping. "When I lost the General Artery from my extremities, it was already clear that my journey with them had ended." As a member of one of the 12 major classes, Kail had been privileged to practice one of their treasured martial arts: Volcanic Ascendant (5¡î) Move Technique: Magma Traces (4¡î)Sword Technique: Great Eruption (5¡î)Breathing Technique: Volcanic Core (4¡î) These martial arts centered around achieving impeccable body balance for sudden, explosive movements, mimicking the eruption of a volcano. The breathing technique, Volcanic Core (4¡î), altered a practitioner''s Standard Body constitution into the Ignis Constitution, enabling the use of fire-based techniques and enhancing resistance to high temperatures. However, most people were unaware of a deeper secret¡ªthe Ignis Constitution was one of six essential elemental constitutions (Ignis, Terra, Aqua, Umbra, Lux, and Ventus). Beyond these lay the rare Unique Constitutions, which granted unparalleled aetheric efficiency and resilience to additional factors. There were only two ways to acquire a Unique Body Constitution: To be born with it¡ªa stroke of extraordinary luck.To develop it through rigorous practice with a 5¡î technique. While Kail had managed to develop the standard Ignis Constitution through his dedication, he knew that method two was fraught with uncertainty. Unlike innate constitutions, which were gifts of birthright, developing one through practice didn''t guarantee success¡ªand now, his condition made it a distant dream. His body, once full of boundless potential, now felt like a prison. Yet despite the overwhelming loss, a flicker of determination stirred within him. -If you do stay, I can offer you some other martial arts. "Not. You''ve done too much. If I don''t doubt it, the 4¡î weapon will also fall out of your pocket. I don''t think the sandbags are ready to give me even a slice of toast." At the moment, I can''t do anything to you, but I will remember how you did it. -Rebeca will approach later with the documents that you will have to sign. The regeneration of the limbs will take about half a year. During this period, you are not allowed to practice any breathing techniques so as not to affect the process. If you need anything, you can tell her. "Thank you, for the hope at least." Then, for the first time, I saw him smile¡ªjust a little. After Mr. Urif left the palace, I started thinking about how to proceed. Any clan will not even glance at me if I approach them. That means there are only individuals or those already retired. I don''t know why anyone would accept an invalid, but I have no other way out anyway. I''ll have to request a list of former fighters. Plus, I can''t use martial arts based on Aqua, Shadow, or Lux¡ªthey differ too much from Ignis. I don''t even know if I''ll find someone... ahhh. We''ll see. April 27, 10:28 AM Rebeca entered the salon with a stack of documents in her hands. -Good morning, Karl. How are you? "Normal. You?" -It could be even better. You say this in front of a disabled child. How normal. -So, Karl, as you''re a minor, you''re not allowed to represent yourself. That''s why Mr. Urif, being your relative, has already signed all the documents. I''m here to tell you two things. Here''s your bank card. There''s around VA 15,000 in the account. (Water somewhere costs VA0.50, a meal at a caf¨¦ or street food around €10, and 3¡î equipment costs roughly this amount.) -I have access to this account, so if you need more money, just send me a message, and I''ll transfer it. Just don''t overdo it. Karl simply took the card without a word. Being from a major clan, he was used to hearing even larger amounts. -2. This is the token of the clan. You might have seen it with your father. This represents a key to those who owe the clan. No one can decipher or modify it. It''s set specifically to recognize Mr. Urif''s blood. When you decide you need the non-aetheric armor and the promised weapon, go to the central house and find Mr. Urif. As long as you hold this token, no one will be allowed to stop you. The token was shaped like a coin, slightly larger in width, engraved with the clan crest¡ªa knight in full red armor adorned with gold decorations, standing against the backdrop of a volcano. -Thanks, Rebeca. Could you also send me information on independent or retired ManaArmis professionals? Preferably those with Ignis, Terra, or Ventus constitutions. -Of course, I''ll send you a message. Then Rebeca hesitated, her expression shifting slightly. -Did something happen? -They''ve decided that Mrs. Elyndra will be cremated. The moment I heard those words, something horrible began to boil inside me. My left hand formed a fist so tightly that the quilt in my lap bunched up from the tension. -So... our dear elders decided that the person who raised them from financial ruin with her products doesn''t deserve a place next to their prestigious ancestors. Rebeca, can you please tell me why they acted like this? -She didn''t use ManaArmis. You''ve absolutely lost your minds. She literally saved you from collapsing into obscurity, gave you dominance over the market of biological and chemical preparations, brought in billions of euros invested into laboratories¡ªand you think this is justified? Without her, you could barely hold your position as one of the Twelve Major Classes. Animals. That''s what you are. Just animals. -Fuhh... in exchange, could you put a small part of what remains in some kind of necklace? -Of course. Please get some rest, Kail. As she left, I slumped back into the bed, the rage swirling inside me refusing to subside. I will not forget. Nothing. Chapter 3 - Pain April 28, 3104 The next day, I received a message: |Rebeca| Here are the data on professionals from the top 5000 to the top 200, where Grandmasters start. Attached was a 20GB file. "Great. Looks like I''ve got a new job while I''m still in the hospital." For the next two months, my routine fell into a strict pattern: 8:00 a.m. Wake up¡ªor more accurately, keep sleeping until 8:40 or 8:50. 9:00 a.m. Breakfast. 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Training to prevent muscle atrophy as much as possible. 2:00 p.m. Lunch. 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Sorting through the endless data sent by Rebeca. 6:00 p.m. Dinner. 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Intravenous infusion of medicine. This part was easy; the hard part came later. 10:00 p.m. The most horrible time of the day. At 10:00, the real ordeal began. After the infusion ended, they would place me on a trolley and wheel me to the basement of the hospital. Down there, they put me inside a transparent vertical cylinder¡ªa capsule. A mask connected to an external oxygen supply covered my face. Over the remains of my limbs, they applied a special material: hard on the outside, soft on the inside. This material was infused with an anesthetic, a muscle relaxant, and a compound that kept my wounds from closing completely. The First Week It wasn''t so bad. They administered strong anesthetics, and I slept through the process. But after that, they informed me I would need to remain conscious. Staying awake, they said, would reduce the adaptation period for my regenerating nerve endings. Weeks 2¨C4 Half of my forearm and about a third of my calf regrew during this period. I watched, fully conscious, as my new hand and leg slowly took shape. Fortunately, the substances they used kept me from feeling any pain. But something unexpected happened around the 40-day mark: my body began adapting to the drugs. It started with simple stinging sensations. At first, I dismissed them as minor and didn''t notify the doctors. Regeneration Progress: Hand = 44%; Leg = 30% By Day 50, the stings had turned into intense, persistent pain, even while I was in the capsule. I finally informed the medical team. They explained that while they could change the preparations, the pain wouldn''t disappear entirely. The variety of substances entering my body made total pain relief impossible until the nerve structure in my limbs was fully regenerated. Regeneration Progress: Hand = 57%; Leg = 42% Day 60 (2 Months) The pain was as intense as before, despite the doctors'' attempts to adjust the treatment. They said another recombination might grant me three days of relief¡ªno more. What kept me going was the sight of progress: my forearm was complete, and the calf was just a week away from being finished. "Just one more week," I reminded myself, "and this nightmare will finally be over." Regeneration Progress: Hand = 63%; Leg = 55% Day 65 This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there. The pain became unbearable. It wasn''t the sharpness of the sensation¡ªit was the relentless intensity. It felt like a knife repeatedly piercing the skin, a constant wave of torment with no reprieve. Regeneration Progress: Hand = 74%; Leg = 62% Day 70 The pain had grown so overwhelming that it was hard to focus on anything. It radiated from the regenerating areas to parts of my body that weren''t even affected. The smallest tasks felt insurmountable. Regeneration Progress: Hand = 79%; Leg = 69% Day 73 The pain reached a new level, as if jagged teeth were being forced into my flesh. Vomiting became a regular occurrence, and dizziness was constant. Sleep became a luxury, achievable only with heavy sedatives. Regeneration Progress: Hand = 89%; Leg = 77% Day 76 The hand was fully regrown. The doctors confirmed that the blood circulation, muscles, and tendons were all properly formed. However, they said nothing about the nerves. Perhaps they forgot, or maybe they didn''t want to discuss it. Regeneration Progress: Hand = 100%; Leg = 90% Day 79 The leg was finally complete. While the pain during this session was immense, there was a strange relief in knowing the treatment was nearly over. That thought made the experience feel lighter than it truly was. Day 80 When the time came for the nightly trip to the basement, a doctor entered the room instead of the usual nurse. "Your nerves aren''t fully developed yet," he informed me. "Can we proceed?" I asked, confused. "Your body has adapted to the new tissues, but the nerves haven''t fully extended." "Can''t they grow along the way?" "Not with nerves," he replied. "We hoped they''d accelerate, but they haven''t." "What if I end treatment now?" "You wouldn''t be able to control your fingers or the muscles in your calf." Silence filled the room. Finally, I nodded. "A few more days." The doctor agreed. "Three more for the arm, five for the leg." And so began the days I''d rather forget. Days 81¨C82 Movement became impossible. Any slight action caused unbearable pain. Intravenous feeding replaced normal meals. Even the thought of eating triggered violent vomiting reflexes. The IV drip contained everything I needed¡ªproteins, carbohydrates, fats, vitamins, and electrolytes¡ªbut being sustained this way only reminded me how fragile I had become. Day 83¨C84 It felt like hell. I couldn''t discern where he was or how much time had passed. The only breaks in his haze of suffering were the nurses entering periodically to change his IV preparations and the doctor checking his reflexes. Even though his vision blurred and refused to focus, sleep eluded him. The relentless pain and his time spent conscious in the capsule ensured that unconsciousness was impossible. Day 85 The only clear memory I retained was the doctor''s voice. "Well done, you resisted. It''s over." Then, emptiness. When Kail opened his eyes again, he was back in his room. The familiar white ceiling greeted him, but this time something felt different. He instinctively raised his hand¡ªand it moved. His hand. The realization hit him like a wave of clarity. He clenched his fist experimentally, flexing his fingers, and felt the strength in his grip. "Finally... this is what I lost." He laughed, the sound unrestrained, almost hysterical. "I have an arm and a leg!" His joy felt almost surreal, like something worth shouting into the void. He didn''t care who heard him¡ªthis was for himself. But the door to his room opened, interrupting his celebration. His doctor walked in, his expression caught somewhere between stern and amused. "What are you doing?! Have you completely lost your mind? Take care! Your limbs are extremely fragile. You could easily break a bone¡ªor worse, a muscle!" "You''re pulling harder on my limbs than I am! What kind of doctor are you?" "A very good one¡ªthe first in history to grow fully functional new limbs." Karl froze for a moment, taking in the sheer audacity of the man''s response. Then, he let out a weak laugh. "This is what I suffered for." "And I managed the preparations, the dosages, your condition, and the growth process." The casual way the doctor dismissed Kail''s ordeal left him momentarily stunned. Then, he slumped back into the bed, a mix of exhaustion and gratitude taking over. "Thank you... You''ve given me back the life I thought I''d lost." "Don''t exaggerate," the doctor replied, pushing his glasses up his nose. "I just did my job." Karl studied him for the first time. A man, probably around 30 years old, stood before him, with dark brown hair, piercing green eyes behind glasses, and a posture that screamed precision and confidence. "Still," Karl said, focusing again, "I had to endure hell for this." "That''s what they say¡ªonly the cheese in the trap is free. Speaking of challenges, though, how are you not experiencing any pain right now?" The doctor adjusted his stance before answering. "After the session on day 85 ended, we placed you in an artificial coma. During the following two days, we ensured that the effects of the regeneration stimulator had completely worn off. Then, we performed dialysis to remove all remaining stimulants and preparations from your bloodstream. Your tissues have returned to their normal metabolic state, so the pain is gone. You woke up once your body stabilized." Karl nodded slowly, processing the explanation. "So, now what?" "As planned, the next step is your adaptation process. You''ll also begin building muscle mass in your new limbs because¡ªlet''s be honest¡ªyour right side currently looks like it belongs to a malnourished vegetarian." Karl couldn''t help but chuckle at the dry remark, though it stung slightly. July 28, 3104 Chapter 4 - weaker than a girl The days of adaptation and rehabilitation were quieter. Of course, there was muscle pain, even from the simplest exercises, but that pain was accompanied by visible progress. The new limbs didn''t feel foreign. I could control them as though they were my original ones. However, to be fair, they were much weaker and far more fragile¡ªfor now. I resumed my search for professionals who could train me, but finding someone suitable was proving difficult. The list of necessary conditions was long: Expertise in martial arts tailored to the Ventus, Ignis, or Terra constitutions. Independence¡ªthey couldn''t belong to a clan or family that restricted their martial arts to descendants. Ability to teach despite my lack of two general aether arteries. Missing the forearm artery wasn''t entirely disqualifying, as many techniques required only one hand. However, the absence of the essential artery in the leg posed a far greater challenge. Balance, power transfer, and resistance to external pressure all relied heavily on the lower limbs. For one month, this was my sole focus. I sifted through files, and if anyone seemed promising, I would ask Rebeca for more details. But so far, no one fit the bill. In the meantime, rehabilitation progressed rapidly. My right hand and foot were now at roughly 50% of the strength of those on my left side. Still, I had to account for the fact that I wasn''t in the same condition as before the accident. I had lost around 10 kilograms, and my aetheric output had decreased by approximately 12¨C17%. August 27, 3104 Nickname: WindKing Name: Evans Hidklife Rank: 999 ManaMaster (retired) Specialization: Scout and professional in archery with a wind element affinity. Unique Trait: Missing the general artery in his left leg. Maximum Ejection Fraction: 83% Constitution: Ventus Background: Independent professional, participant in the 4th Elf War. I stopped and read that short paragraph three more times. 83%? ManaMaster ace tier? How? It was widely believed that becoming a ManaMaster required all essential arteries and an ejection fraction of at least 85%. This didn''t make sense. Could it be a mistake? With that thought lingering, I sent a message to Rebeca asking her to confirm the information, then continued scanning through the files. Later, I arrived in the rehabilitation room. Although I could now walk unaided, my dear doctor (note the sarcasm) insisted that I use a wheelchair whenever I was in an area where he could see me. As I rolled in, I noticed someone new in the room. A girl. White hair, blue eyes, and around my age. "Unusual," Kail thought. He had not seen any other patient his age¡ªor younger¡ªin the hospital before.You could be reading stolen content. Head to Royal Road for the genuine story. This wasn''t an ordinary place; it specialized in treating pathologies related to hands and general aetheric arteries. Meeting a child here could only mean one thing¡ªthey came from a family or school deeply invested in such specialized care. The expenses alone could bankrupt a normal household. Ignoring the newly appeared presence, Kail began his daily exercises. Halfway through his set, he heard a voice. "What are you doing?" Kail didn''t answer. "Are you ignoring me? Why?" When he finally finished his set, he replied without looking up. "Why are you trying to start a conversation with someone who''s clearly busy?" "Because you''re the only one close to my age." "That''s neither a reason nor an excuse." "For me, it''s both. And it worked!" "Well done," Kail said dryly. "Now go find a job." The girl seemed undeterred. "My mom''s coming in about fifteen minutes. Talk to me until then. I have nothing to do." "I don''t owe you anything. Why would I?" Before Kail could react, he felt something soft and warm on his cheek. She had kissed him. "Now you''re mine," she declared. "So, what''s your name?" Kail blinked, speechless. "You do realize talking to strangers can be dangerous." The girl smirked. "But you look weaker than me. I don''t think you''ll cause any trouble. So, what''s your name?" "Who the hell is she?" Kail thought, suddenly finding yet another reason to push himself harder in training. "Kail," he said curtly. "Kail! Nice to meet you. You can call me Lia." "I can''t say the same." Lia ignored his coldness and continued, her voice brimming with curiosity. "Why are you in the hospital? For me, it''s hard to breathe sometimes, so I have to get medicine regularly. But after that, my skin hurts." Kail''s disinterest was evident, but she didn''t seem to care. "I have a broken arm and leg," he replied flatly. "Why?" "I got into an accident." "Really? When will you get better?" "I don''t know. Maybe never." Her eyes widened. "SERIOUSLY? Your situation is worse than mine! My mom says I''ll be fully healthy in one or two months." "Congratulations," Kail said, his tone laced with indifference. From the hallway, a woman''s voice called out. "Lia, come on! We''re going home." Lia turned toward the voice but looked back at Kail with a playful grin. "Mom''s calling me. By the way, Kail, you still owe me for the kiss!" She spun around and ran toward the exit. As she reached the door, Kail heard her exclaim loudly: "Mom! I met a handsome guy!" "Seriously? What''s his name?" her mother asked. "Kail!" Lia shouted, her voice echoing down the corridor. "What the hell was that?" Kail muttered, still processing the bizarre encounter. Kail wasn''t used to such playful and carefree behavior. Accustomed to speaking only with adults¡ªwhether they were from his clan or part of formal festivities¡ªthis kind of interaction caught him completely off guard. Placing a hand on his cheek, where the unexpected kiss had landed, Kail said to himself, "In general... it''s not that bad." Just then, a voice echoed from the corner of the rehabilitation lounge. "Look at him, how could you not fall in love!" It was only then that Kail noticed everyone in the room¡ªpatients and staff alike¡ªwas staring at him. A wave of embarrassment surged through him as his face flushed red. The lounge, which was usually quiet, erupted with laughter. These were mature men and women, many of them war veterans or elderly individuals nearing the final chapters of their lives. Their professions and circumstances seldom offered such lighthearted moments. "Boy, don''t be upset with this old antique shop," one of the veterans chuckled. "They''re not trying to offend you. It''s just rare to see something like this around here." Another patient added with a warm grin, "Honestly, it''s a good change of pace. Beats being stuck with all these medications and treatments." The hoots and laughter gradually subsided, leaving behind an air of cheer and genuine appreciation. Faces that were usually solemn or weary now carried smiles of gratitude. "You''re a good lad," said an elderly man sitting at a chessboard. He had paused his game to watch the commotion. "If you''ve got time later, how about playing a round of chess with an old-timer like me?" Another patient chimed in, "If you''ve got questions about the exercises, just ask me. I''ll gladly help you out." Comments of encouragement and good wishes came from all directions. The lounge''s atmosphere had shifted into something almost magical¡ªuplifting and heartwarming. The moment was interrupted when Kail''s doctor entered the room, his voice cutting through the chatter. "Alright, you hooligans, leave the boy alone. He''s still got exercises to finish." The group settled down with a few chuckles, returning to their activities. Kail spent the rest of the day with a smile on his face¡ªa smile that felt foreign, like something he hadn''t worn in years. The next morning, Kail opened his phone to check for updates. Among the messages was one from Rebeca: The information about Evans Hidklif is valid. However, after peace was declared between the Elven and Human territories, he completely disappeared and has not engaged in any professional activities since. Kail stared at the message, letting the words sink in. His curiosity about Evans grew even stronger. Chapter 5 - better than in the cinema August 28, 3104 "The only really good option¡ªand those thrown in the trash. I can¡¯t change anything. I have to look further." "Ehhhhhh." "What''s with that heavy sigh? Your treatment is going well, isn''t it?" "Yes, the treatment is going well, but what should I do next, even if the limbs are potentially whole or small?" "I can¡¯t even argue with that. You won¡¯t get further than ManaWarrior." "Mr. Han, it would be better for you to keep quiet than to say things like that." Han Stonehelm, a veteran of the war from 20 years ago, was now retired, with damaged Etheric Arteries in his chest. "But if you think that way, let me tell you¡ªduring the war, I knew a ManaMaster who still didn¡¯t have the Etheric Artery in his leg. Even so, he developed a speed that outclassed other scouts who had etheric armor on both legs. Poor guy, though. Toward the end of the war, a GrandMaster appeared and took the position of Chief of the scout team, so the medal that should¡¯ve been his went to someone else." Hearing this story, Kail grew much more interested and agitated. "By any chance, was that guy¡¯s name Evans Hidklife?" "I don¡¯t even remember anymore; it was a long time ago. But the Old Fox should know. At one time, he was in the same team." Saying this, Mr. Han turned and shouted across the room. "Old Fox!" From the chessboard table, a voice answered. "Go to hell, you stone with legs!" "Were you in a team with¡­?" Mr. Han turned to me and asked, "Remind me, what was his name?" "Evans Hidklife," I replied. Hearing this, Mr. Han turned back to the other side of the room and shouted again. "Evans Hidklife!" No immediate answer followed, but after a few seconds, a response came. "Yeah, there was someone like that¡­ in a past life. What do you need him for?" Mr. Han turned to me and said, "That¡¯s as far as I go. Just don¡¯t marry that beast in human skin; it¡¯ll leave you with nothing." "Thank you very much," I replied, heading toward the table where the answer had come from. Arriving there, I saw two strong women. Both were well-trained, with pronounced but not excessive musculature, similar to Mr. Han. ¡°Good day, gentlemen.¡± ¡°Ho ho ho, hello, bunny.¡± I don¡¯t know why, but that¡¯s what most of the elderly patients who frequented the room started calling me, including Mr. Collins, whom I approached. ¡°Let me understand. You were the one interested in Evans?¡± ¡°Can you tell me something about him?¡± ¡°Of course I can, but why would I do that?¡± Saying these words, Mr. Collins raised the queen from its previous place and approached the king, who was sitting alone in the corner of the gaming table. ¡°Mat, heh, the amateur. Look who you¡¯re playing against.¡± With these words, Mr. Collins took a silver lighter from the other side of the table. ¡°Go to hell, Old Fox!¡± With these words, his opponent got up, his face irritated, and headed for the exit of the hall. But his description isn¡¯t entirely wrong, because Mr. Collins actually had orange hair and eyes, though I don¡¯t think that¡¯s the reason for his nickname. ¡°And if I play with you, will you tell me?¡± ¡°Quite a cheap price for information about a former ManaMaster.¡± ¡°Then what do you want? But I¡¯ll tell you right away, I don¡¯t have any money, and I¡¯m no longer part of the clan.¡± ¡°Let me think¡­ Then, one week.¡± ¡°One week?¡± ¡°For one week, you will play with me whenever I¡¯m free.¡± Kail didn¡¯t think much about the proposal and accepted it. ¡°Okay, but I also have to do my daily exercises.¡± With a fox-like grin and smile, Mr. Collins said, ¡°Wonderful.¡±
Thus began my ordeal on the chessboard, though I had no idea what awaited me. e4 e5; moves were played ¡°So, Evans, what do you want to know about him? How did you hear about him in the first place?¡± ¡°I¡¯m looking for someone who could teach me martial arts with the body I have now, and from what I found out, Mr. Evans had a similar defect.¡± One thing must be made clear here: It is not possible to learn martial arts from scratch alone. This is simply a waste of time because you cannot learn a technique just from reading about it or seeing images. You need to take into account the body¡¯s balance, the muscles involved, the concentration of ether, and the way it circulates through the body. If you¡¯re using a weapon, you also have to consider how the ether circulates through it. If you''re a genius of the millennium, you can succeed in such a thing, but the average person cannot. That''s why we need someone to point out what¡¯s being done wrong. What¡¯s the point of building a new road when you don¡¯t know where it leads, what materials it should be made from, or how thick it should be?This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. ¡°What can I tell you? Evans really didn¡¯t have the central artery in his left leg. If I¡¯m not mistaken, it ended just above the knee. From there, he wore the exoskeleton (non-ether armor). Looking at what I¡¯ve learned, I can¡¯t say much. All I know is that the techniques he practiced were quite effective and advanced.¡± ¡°Speaking of techniques, can you tell me about the martial arts he practiced?¡± ¡°These don¡¯t come from any clan, family, or HTU. He was the only one with such techniques. In areas with many obstacles and low visibility, he was like a fish in water. I personally didn¡¯t see how he acted in direct battles, but the number of ElderMasters (ManaMasters for Elves) he eliminated from a distance exceeds the number of fingers you have.¡± ¡°Do you know what happened to him after the peace was declared?¡± ¡°I have no idea. I only know that if it hadn¡¯t been for the ManaGrandmaster who appeared near the end of the war, Evans would have received the recognition medal. But unfortunately, fate is unclear.¡± ¡°Mate, bunny, see you tomorrow.¡± It¡¯s like I found out a lot of things, but I got little meaning from them.
The next two months passed in rehab. Mr. Han coached me on strength training, often mentioning how he wished his own nephew were as focused. Chess games with Mr. Collins was brutal; he''d leave me with nothing but my king while he paraded his three queens around the board. Once a week, Lia would appear. As soon as I saw her, I would immediately try to make a 180-degree turn and move as fast as possible, hoping the nurse wouldn¡¯t shout at me for running through the hall. That never worked properly. She was always scolding me or yelling across the hall. She could have just asked the nurse or the doctor directly about my whereabouts. What¡¯s the problem with this girl? Why does she stick to me like that? Even the people at the festivities didn¡¯t push their business cards at me with such intensity. I don¡¯t understand it at all.
Finally, I narrowed down my search to Evans Hidklif and two other individuals who had adapted without certain Etheric Arteries: Alias: Blaze Slash Name: Hitoshi Kuriyama Rank: 583 Specialization: Knight Main Weapon: Katana Missing Ether Arteries: Left forearm Maximum Ejection Fraction: 89% Constitution: Ignis He relies on quick and deadly attacks. The katana is wielded with his right hand, while his left hand remains on the saya (katana case). He only uses both hands to attack out of necessity. His style focuses on deflections rather than direct power.
Alias: Sharp Rock Name: Hardy Miller Rank: 3564 Specialization: Knight Main Weapon: Sword and shield Missing Ether Arteries: Right leg, from the middle of the calf Maximum Ejection Fraction: 85% Constitution: Earth The model of an ideal knight, his technique revolves around deflecting with the shield and attacking the exposed openings with the sword. However, it strongly relies on the non-etheric armor for his leg.
Both are acceptable variants, but neither was superior in their chosen niche like Mr. Evans from Mr. Collins'' stories. Evans had enormous skill and involvement; the information he transmitted was the fastest, and the number of leaders he eliminated without direct combat was close to the record of some legends in human history.
October 21, 3104 Two days before my discharge, Lia found me again. "Hey, Kail!" "Hello, Lia." "Guess what the doctor told me?" "That you¡¯re completely healed?" "Yes! How¡¯d you know?" "You mentioned your treatment would end after two months, and here we are." "Yeah, that¡¯s right! And the doctor said I¡¯m going to become the strongest ManaDomain user ever!" I was taken aback. Our doctor wasn¡¯t the type to say things lightly. "What¡¯s your ejection fraction?" "Kail, that¡¯s not something you talk about openly. But I¡¯ll tell you." She leaned in and whispered, "110%." But how? how? 100% means that the entire surface of the skin removes ether, what the hell does 110% mean Then I remembered that the reason she came here was that it was difficult for her to breathe and after taking preparations her skin hurt Her central arteries have such a large diameter the pores she opened until now were not enough to remove the ether from the arteries She really can have the ejection fraction equal to 110%, not always but when she takes it by force to eliminate ether from the arteries, the amount of it eliminated in the atmosphere will exceed that eliminated by 100%, of course this comes with a lot of possible complications because you can''t withstand such an intense elimination, but the very fact that she can do such a thing makes Lia unique so unique that I wouldn''t be surprised if the Kingdom of Therianthropes and the Imperial Clan of the Elves intervened with some actions "Lia, seriously, don¡¯t tell anyone¡ªnot friends, not relatives. Please don¡¯t repeat what you just told me, okay?" "Kail, you¡¯re exaggerating, aren¡¯t you?" "I¡¯m absolutely serious. Promise you won¡¯t tell anyone." "Ahhh, fine." "Say it properly." "Kail, I promise I won¡¯t tell anyone about¡­ Mmm!" I covered her mouth to stop this fool from endangering herself without realizing it. "That¡¯s it. I believe you, no need to make it more specific." As I started to pull my hand away, I felt her kiss my palm. "Kail, if you wanted to get close to my lips, you just had to ask. Why so serious?" "You are definitely not normal." "I don¡¯t want to hear that from you, emo boy. Your only good quality is that pretty face of yours. Why do the prettiest people have to be the strangest?" "If that were true, I guarantee you¡¯d be at the top of the pedestal." For the first time in two months, I replied back to her jokes and the result was amazing¡ªher flustered expression was one of the most beautiful things I¡¯d ever seen. Wow, this is too beautiful and cute. It¡¯s way too easy to get addicted to this. Without another word, Lia turned and headed for the exit. And again, these old farts appeared from who knows where. I made sure they weren¡¯t near at the beginning. ¡°Better than in the cinemas!¡± ¡°I almost shed a tear.¡± ¡°Bravo, bravo, bravo!!¡± ¡°Ah, I feel young again.¡± ¡°That¡¯s how I met my wife.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t lie, you scumbag.¡± Extremely stupid comments started to surface. ¡°HahaHaHaHa!¡± Only Mr. Collins was dying of laughter and approached me. ¡°Our bunny seems to be a carnivore. Well done, boy! For such a show, you deserved it.¡± He held out his hand, which contained a letter and a map. ¡°The letter isn¡¯t for you, but the map is from Forest Elderwood. On October 23rd, I¡¯ve arranged a car that will take you to the entrance. After that, you¡¯ll be on your own. If you¡¯re lucky, maybe you¡¯ll get a teacher. If not, here¡¯s everything I could help you with.¡± Looks like I¡¯m lucky after all. Chapter 6 - a bit of camping October 23, 3104 It''s time for me to go. Most of them already knew I was leaving today, but I didn¡¯t say goodbye. Parting with people has always been difficult for me. The car was already waiting in front of the hospital. I turned back to look at the building where I¡¯d spent six months¡ªwhere I¡¯d lost everything, and yet, somehow, where I¡¯d found a glimmer of hope to recover what I¡¯d lost. When I glanced up at the rehabilitation room windows, I saw a group of elderly patients who seemed like they¡¯d never leave this place. ¡°Don¡¯t die, you old fakers¡± I muttered with a grin. As I got into the car, the smile faded, replaced by the expressionless look I¡¯d learned to wear¡ªa defense mechanism that became second nature after growing up in a clan of knights. I¡¯ve ended up with the same face as those scaly reptiles in the clan. The Cindercrest elders¡­as far back as I can remember, they''ve been hell-bent on ruining my life. My relationship with my father isn¡¯t exactly bad, but he was always chosen as the one to represent the clan in battles, which kept him distant. I can¡¯t say I have a bad relationship with him because, honestly, I¡¯m not sure I have a relationship with him at all. In twelve years, I¡¯ve seen him only twice. The first was when I caught a glimpse of him walking toward the central house while I was training with the new generation of the clan. The second was at the annual clan meeting, which I was invited to attend because I¡¯d become the most advanced junior of my cohort. They never considered my mother as a person¡ªjust as a means to an end. She was brought into the clan by my father, canceling a previous engagement, and although we were tolerated due to our achievements, we were never truly accepted. And they leaped at the first chance to get rid of us. ¡°I¡¯ll show you what you bastards threw away,¡± I whispered. Taking a deep breath, I relaxed my hands, which had been tense until now. ¡°But right now, it¡¯ll be tricky, considering what the doctor said.¡± October 22 ¡°Your max ejection fraction dropped from 100% to 75%. That¡¯s fascinating, considering most people are born with 75%, but you lost two limbs and still have so much.¡± ¡°But it¡¯s not enough. It¡¯s insufficient,¡± Kail replied. ¡°Insufficient for what?¡± ¡°For the Altgrad Academy! I need at least 80% to qualify.¡± ¡°You want to enter Altgrad without two major arteries?¡± the doctor asked, raising an eyebrow. ¡°Yes, I do!¡± Kail responded firmly. The doctor sighed. ¡°Ehhh¡­ you do realize that 90% of Altgrad¡¯s students have all their arteries intact? Not to mention, the academy set the 80% minimum to keep out the flood of applications. Even the weakest admitted students usually have at least 85%, and I probably don¡¯t need to explain how crucial every 1% is¡ªlet alone 10%!¡±Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. ¡°I know! If not for my original 100%, I¡¯d already be out on the streets!¡± Kail¡¯s voice faltered, and silence fell between them for a moment. ¡°But I still want to try. I really do. But with 75%, I can¡¯t even qualify!¡± The doctor looked into Kail¡¯s eyes and saw a rare fire there¡ªan intense drive he¡¯d only seen once before, in a little girl who defied her own limits. Most of his patients were exhausted from life, simply wanting to live their last days in peace. Yet, here was this fierce desire for more. Biting the corner of his lip, he finally spoke. ¡°It¡­ it might be possible to increase it.¡± ¡°What could increase it?¡± Kail asked, startled. ¡°But don¡¯t get your hopes up. This is nothing more than a wild theory.¡± ¡°What does it involve?¡± Kail leaned forward, intrigued. ¡°Your arterial system was once ideal because your central arteries were large enough to channel ether through 100% of your skin pores. But after you lost central arteries in your forearm, palm, leg, and foot, the size of the remaining arteries didn¡¯t shrink. So, while they still transfer ether, they can¡¯t cover all the pores, leaving unused ether in the system. If you could force the body to expel that ether, it might stretch the remaining arteries to cover a wider area, and your ejection fraction could increase.¡± I was stunned. Even if it was just a theory, it was still a chance. ¡°But!¡± the doctor added, raising a hand. ¡°I repeat, this is only a theory¡ªno evidence, no clinical examples, just the idea of a crazy doctor.¡± ¡°Thank you for the idea,¡± Kail said with a small smile. ¡°As the doctor is, so are the patients.¡± ¡°Haha, maybe so. But don¡¯t mention this to our old friends, or we¡¯ll both be in trouble.¡± October 23 Near Elderwood Forest We arrived, and the driver turned to me. ¡°Mr. Kail, if your attempt is unsuccessful, ask the person you¡¯re visiting if they can offer you a place to stay for three days. I¡¯ll be back here from 12:00 to 13:00. Good luck on your adventure.¡± ¡°Thank you very much,¡± I replied. No matter what others say about Mr. Collins, he¡¯s a good person. Now, I was alone with a bag of essentials: some clothes, snacks, and camping supplies¡ªa knife, two glow sticks, a lighter, and some rope. I hadn¡¯t packed much since Mr. Collins had said I¡¯d be covering a lot of ground. Fortunately, I¡¯d dressed well for the autumn weather. I opened the map. It only covered about 5% of the entire forest, and the instructions were simple: stay on the right path for around 20 kilometers, then wait there. ¡°Strange,¡± I muttered. ¡°No reference points¡­ I¡¯m not even sure if the starting point on the map matches where I am.¡± With no other choice, I moved in the direction of the sun, as it was the only way to ensure I was heading straight. And so, I began. By sunset, the sun had nearly disappeared from view. My plan to navigate using the opposite direction of the moon quickly failed when it hid behind thick clouds. ¡°Damn!¡± I muttered. With no other choice, I took a glow stick from my bag, bent it to activate it, then took out my knife to mark the trees as I walked to avoid getting lost. I kept moving forward. ¡°I¡¯m exhausted,¡± I murmured. I had no idea how far I¡¯d gone. Complete darkness surrounded me, and my glow stick would soon run out. Deciding it was best to rest and continue at sunrise, I searched for a place to sleep. I found a tall tree with plenty of branches for climbing. Carefully, I climbed up to a thicker branch about four or five meters off the ground. Wrapping the rope around my waist, I tied myself securely to the branch so I wouldn¡¯t fall in my sleep. "That¡¯s it for today," I murmured, drifting off to sleep. A cold wind blew in my direction, jolting me awake. ¡°What are you doing here?¡± Hearing a voice, I nearly slipped from the branch, saved only by the rope I¡¯d tied around myself earlier. I didn¡¯t sense him at all¡­ even now, standing right in front of me, his presence is barely noticeable. The man was about 183 cm tall, with gray hair and a beard, and black eyes fixed in my direction. He stood on a nearby branch, dressed in hunter¡¯s clothing in dark shades, a hooded cloak, a bow slung across his back, and a hip quiver at his side. I found him. I really found him. It was Evans Hidklif. Chapter 7 - nothing is simple October 24, 3104 "What are you doing here?" The sun had just begun to rise over the horizon, casting a faint light over the land. In front of me, the man I sought was already standing, unmistakably my target. He looked different from the images in the documents¡ªtwo decades can change a person¡ªbut I was certain this was him. "Good morning, Mr. Evans, I presume?" He didn¡¯t respond, his gaze fixed and unchanging. "Yes. What are you doing here?" he repeated, his tone flat but laced with a suffocating pressure that felt like a threat. "Mr. Collins sent you a letter." I reached into my inner pocket and handed him the envelope. Mr. Evans took it, his eyes scanning the letter¡¯s contents. When he finished reading, he simply said, "Follow me." Without another word, he turned and started walking in the opposite direction. We moved in silence through the forest, each step increasing the weight of the quiet that hung between us. I struggled to think of a way to break the tension, but the oppressive stillness left me at a loss. "Stop." The command was calm, yet absolute. In an instant, Mr. Evans grabbed me under the arm. Before I could react, he shot forward with incredible speed. I felt a surge of power gather in his right leg, and suddenly we were airborne. In less than a second, we landed on a branch ten meters above the ground, far from where we¡¯d started. Before I could process what was happening, he propelled us to another branch. We moved like this, leaping from tree to tree, covering an immense distance with each silent bound. After five or six jumps, he finally set me down, my feet finding solid ground again. "That was¡­ fast." We had crossed a vast stretch of forest in moments, yet I noticed that he moved without making a sound, as though the forest itself conspired to keep him undetected. "Come in." Hearing these words, I turned from the direction I had been looking, hoping to gauge just how far we¡¯d traveled. But it was impossible; the original point was no longer visible. As I shifted my gaze back toward Mr. Evans, I saw a house nestled in the forest. It was built from thick, rounded logs about four meters long, carefully fitted together without nails. The roof was steep and gabled, with wide eaves designed to shed snow, and there was a single window on one side. Inside, the house was modest and practical. The walls were plain wood, the floor made from wide wooden planks. A sturdy brick stove stood in one corner, clearly used for both cooking and heating. A rectangular table occupied the center of the room with a long wooden bench beside it. Next to a small bookshelf was a rocking chair, and in one corner, a bed stretched against the wall, bordered by a wardrobe that extended along its length. The only modern touch was an ether lamp. Everything, apart from the lamp, was crafted from wood, lending the space a timeless, rustic feel. "Sit wherever you¡¯re comfortable," Mr. Evans said. With few options, I took a seat on the bench at the table. Mr. Evans settled into the rocking chair, picking up a book that had been resting there. "Tell me what you want," he said, his tone impassive. I hesitated. Mr. Evans was an enigma, an iron wall, and I had no idea how to sway him. But I had no choice but to be direct. "Could you¡­ take me as your apprentice?" For the first time since we met, his expression shifted slightly¡ªan eyebrow raised. "Why?" And there it was: the question I dreaded. I had little to offer in return for his guidance. The modest payment from Rebeca was a pittance, I didn¡¯t possess extraordinary talent, nor did I have any valuable information or treasures to trade. "No, you misunderstand," he continued, cutting through my thoughts. "Why me?" His question caught me off guard. Could he read my mind? And what did he mean by "Why me?" "You¡¯re a veteran of the war," I said, carefully choosing my words. "Your accomplishments were extraordinary¡ªlegendary, even. That alone is reason enough." "But none of what you¡¯re saying appears in any official records, and it''s not recognized by the government," he replied, his tone skeptical. "I spoke with several veterans who served with you," I explained, holding my ground. "Their accounts might be exaggerated, but they were convincing enough for me." Taking a deep breath, I finally admitted, "I don¡¯t have the central arteries in my right leg, or in my right hand from the elbow down and from the knee down." "Even after all this time, it hurts to say this." For the first time, I¡¯d admitted it aloud, fully expecting him to dismiss me or, at best, call me a fool. Bowing my head, I waited.Stolen from its original source, this story is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. "What is your ejection fraction?" he asked, taking me by surprise. "Seventy-five percent." A heavy silence fell, pressing on me like an unseen weight. "Unfortunately, you won¡¯t be able to use my arts." Everything collapsed. The hope I¡¯d built up within myself now felt like a knife in my back, betraying me. But through the suffocating silence, I heard him speak. "Your arteries aren¡¯t large enough to withstand the circular intensity required by my breathing technique.¡± Huh? That¡¯s why? Phew¡­ I was already bracing myself for another mental breakdown. Mr. Evans tensed up, clearly displeased with my reaction. Believing that I initially did not even want to be his apprentice and only obliged to come to him with such a proposal. "You¡¯d better start explaining yourself," he said, his tone laced with a deadly seriousness, "or I guarantee that no one will help you leave this forest alive." It was the longest sentence he¡¯d spoken so far, and I had no doubt it was more than just a threat. His intent was real, and testing it would be unwise. "No, you misunderstood me," I said quickly. The pressure he was exerting didn¡¯t entirely fade, but it eased enough to allow me to explain further. I told him everything¡ªfrom the accident that led me here to the challenges I faced along the way. For a brief moment, I thought I saw a flicker of grief in his eyes, but it was gone as quickly as it appeared. "That¡¯s why," I continued, "even though I don¡¯t have the central arteries in my arm and leg, the remaining ones are reinforced and ideal for handling high-intensity ether." He stayed silent for a moment, then nodded. "Well, your story matches what Old Fox wrote in his letter. But you should know the consequences of becoming my apprentice." He continued, listing the terms: "You¡¯ll be bound to the Vaylith family. You won¡¯t join any clan. You won¡¯t join any guild. Relations with the HTU will be kept to a minimum. And, of course, you will not share the martial arts I teach you without my permission." The conditions weren¡¯t unreasonable, but they had serious implications. Being unable to join a clan made sense, but no guild affiliations and limited contact with the HTU? Finding a work contract could become a real challenge with those restrictions. "I assume you want me to become a mercenary?" I asked. "Mostly, yes," Mr. Evans replied. "You¡¯ll be allowed to interact with clans and guilds and fulfill their requests. However, you won¡¯t take individual requests from the HTU¡ªonly mandatory or rank-raising ones." It was unusual. HTU individual requests were often the most lucrative, since they were tax-exempt and didn¡¯t involve intermediaries taking a cut, unlike clan and guild jobs. Still, the chance to learn from Mr. Evans was worth the potential financial loss. Besides, it wasn¡¯t like I¡¯d be in high demand with the HTU just yet. "Alright, I agree," I said. "Good. Follow me." "Wait¡­ we¡¯re not going to do the Master-Apprentice ceremony?" "Not here." With that, we left the house and made our way around to the back. "What are your capabilities in archery and scouting?" he asked. "I¡¯ve passed basic archery courses, but I have no practical scouting experience. I only know the basics of camping." "Then it makes sense why you wandered into Stone Wolf territory," he said, shaking his head. "Stone Wolves can climb trees easily, and if needed, they can knock them down. You were lucky they¡¯re diurnal creatures. Otherwise, your journey might have ended there." I swallowed hard, feeling a chill as his words sank in. "How long has it been since you practiced the Cindercrest clan¡¯s breathing technique?" he continued. "About half a year," I replied. "Then the ether from your ManaVentis should be pure by now. Rebuilding your body constitution will be painful, though, and it¡¯ll take around two years." The ether in ManaVentis shaped elemental abilities within ManaArmis. Body constitution determined the type and characteristics of etheric armor, like strength, speed, and resilience. Each person¡¯s armor was unique, but those who practiced the same martial arts often displayed similar features. "From what I¡¯ve seen, you''ve managed to restore some balance to your body," he noted. "To some extent, yes. My right hand is now almost as strong as the left, but my right leg still lags behind. I can run evenly, but my strikes are weaker on that side." "That won¡¯t take long to fix." Finally, we stopped in front of a large, black stone veined with shades of green, carved with intricate wind-like designs and bearing countless names. A jagged break on the right side hinted that it had been part of something larger. I was stunned. The monument looked old but was surprisingly well-maintained, with only a few small cracks. "I recognize this¡­ I''ve seen something like it before." I remembered a similar structure in the Cindercrest clan¡ªa memorial monument, though much larger. But unlike the usual monuments made from alloys with ether-absorbing metals, this was different. Only the Twelve Great Clans were permitted to own such monuments. "Why is one of them here?" "The Vaylith family," Mr. Evans began, "is a branch of the Frostwind Vanguard clan. Twenty years ago, I was ordered to eliminate an elf from the Imperial clan. At the time, I didn¡¯t know his origins; we were in the middle of a war. But when peace negotiations began, one condition was the complete elimination of the killer¡¯s family. To protect me, the leadership erased all records of my existence. Only databases like the one in Cindercrest still hold any trace of me." "My family used every credit they¡¯d earned over the years to save my life. Being a branch of a major clan helped, but I was forced into isolation here, with strict orders not to seek out any descendants." "The recently appointed Grandmaster who took the Scouts¡¯ command post," I said, piecing it together. "Yes," he replied. "He was from the Frostwind clan, the one who gave me the original order. The Vaylith family had accumulated too many credits with the HTU, enough to break away and form an independent clan. But Frostwind saw that as a threat and decided to destroy us. That¡¯s all history now. You found me alone, so nothing the HTU stipulated has been broken." "Now, let¡¯s begin. I trust you haven¡¯t changed your mind?" "No." I was shaken by his story, but I¡¯d come too far to back out now. And whatever danger his past held didn¡¯t affect me directly. "Good." This ritual is mostly symbolic. Its purpose is to allow those who are about to embark on a new martial path to feel the elemental ether they will be wielding in the future. I bent one knee to the ground. Mr. Evans placed his hand on my head and said solemnly, "In front of my ancestors, as head of the Vaylith family, I declare Kail the bearer of the Vaylith family name and descendant of Cyclone''s Embrace." At that moment, I felt a new energy surge through my ManaVentis. Previously dormant, it now pulsed with a swift, unrestrained ether that forced my own ether to circulate with it. And that¡¯s how I first encountered the ether of the wind. Chapter 8 - are there any easy workouts? ¡°It¡¯s a problem,¡± the Master said firmly. ¡°Which?¡± ¡°You¡¯ll need some things for training. While the physical requirements can be compensated for, you¡¯ll still need a bow, arrows, and targets for archery practice. Also, from what I¡¯ve seen, you don¡¯t have many clothes with you, and winter is approaching.¡± Indeed, it was a problem, but I had a solution. ¡°The person who brought me to the forest said he¡¯d return in three days, not two. I could go back with him, leave the city, buy everything necessary, and then return.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good.¡± The Master went to the bookshelf, pulled out a notebook and pencil, and began writing a list that seemed excessively long. ¡°I thought you only mentioned a bow, arrows, and targets. Why is there so much more here?¡± ¡°Where were you planning on sleeping? Making a second bed would take at least half a year. Plus, if you intend to practice martial arts, sweating is a major issue in the forest. There are only two sources of water here¡ªrain and the river. You know the river is 20 kilometers from here, and it¡¯s frequented by predatory animals.¡± The explanation continued, covering why much more was needed. ¡°But I¡¯m not sure if I¡¯ll have enough money for all this.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t worry about that.¡± Evans took out a second sheet, this time using a pen from his jacket pocket. ¡°You¡¯ll give this one to the driver to pass along to Old Fox. You don¡¯t need to go anywhere¡ªjust hand over these two sheets.¡± Evans pointed to two pieces of paper, one of which was already folded to conceal its contents. From today onwards: It doesn¡¯t seem complicated. Back in the Cindercrest clan, I was required to undergo about 15 different training routines. Now, I only have to do six¡ªone monthly and one for punishments. Sounds manageable. "Today you¡¯re free. You can read some books from the shelf, but don¡¯t open the closet. If you want, you can explore the surroundings, but don¡¯t go farther than 1 km from the house. I¡¯m going to hunt." "I understand," I replied with a nod. Evans left the house, disappearing in an instant. I began browsing through the numerous books on the shelves, covering a variety of subjects, including botany¡ªprobably where I¡¯d need to start learning. As I flipped through them, I came across an unusual book. It wasn¡¯t a typical volume but resembled a diary. The temptation to open it was strong, but then I thought: "This isn¡¯t right." I put it back on the shelf. Unbeknownst to me, Evans was watching from a nearby tree, his face concealed by armor. "Is this luck, or is someone trying to take the last thing I have left? Ah, only time will tell." The door opened as Evans returned with a hare. "The wood and water bucket are behind the house. Could you bring them in?"This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. "Sure," I replied, returning the book I was reading to the shelf. I went outside, gathered the wood in both hands, and came back in. "Where should I put it?" "Just set it down near the stove." I went out again, filled the bucket with water from the barrel, and returned. "Leave the bucket near the table." I followed his instructions, then watched as Mr. Evans began preparing the food. He took out a cauldron from the cupboard, placed some minced meat inside, and added a bit of water from the bucket before setting it on the stove. He opened the stove, revealing some leftover embers from the previous fire. With a quick gesture of his hand, the embers reignited into flames, and then he added fresh wood from a new batch. Evans left the house and returned a couple of minutes later, holding some vegetables. He peeled them in the air before chopping them and adding them to the cauldron. For the next two hours, the food was prepared while Mr. Evans asked me various questions about the outside world, and I answered to the best of my ability. I wouldn¡¯t call the food wonderful¡ªit lacked spices, and the rabbit meat was tough¡ªbut it was still quite edible. As the day ended, Evans offered me the bed while he slept on the floor. At first, I tried to refuse, but it ended with me conceding.
October 25, 3104 The next morning, I was woken at sunrise by the master, who told me it was time to run. And so, we ran. There was no road or path, just a forest that seemed endless. The only change was the increasing number of trees and some colors shifting with autumn. We kept running, and I lost track of time. My body screamed in pain, my breath was ragged, and my pulse was racing, but the Master never stopped. This left me with no choice but to keep going until I tripped over a branch. "Get up!" he commanded. With no choice, I rose. Could I continue? Of course not. "Sorry, can we take a break?" The answer was¡­ "No. Run!" At least that was a clear answer, I thought. Reluctantly, I continued, pushing myself until I collapsed again, this time from muscle fatigue. "Get up!" I heard the same response, but this time with more intensity. Struggling, I got back on my feet and continued. The speed at which I was running meant that my teacher wasn¡¯t running anymore¡ªhe was walking at a quick pace to keep up with me. Third time lucky? I wouldn¡¯t say so. I tripped on a stone, causing myself to fall onto another one, and now my forehead was in pain and bleeding. "Get up!" I tried to pretend I¡¯d lost consciousness, but the result was¡­ "I said get up, now!" Along with the overwhelming murderous intent, I had no choice but to rise, my limbs trembling with the effort. The moment I stood and took a step, I collapsed, this time for real, slipping into unconsciousness. I was jolted awake by water splashing in my face. "AHHH!" I exclaimed in a slurred voice. "30 minutes, you rest. Then we will practice jumping." The sun was already fully risen above the horizon, and I was slumped against the wall behind the house. Never had 30 minutes passed so quickly. My entire body ached, and it continued to strain as the first 15 minutes passed. The muscles in my legs involuntarily contracted. "Come here." I heard Evans'' voice and staggered toward it. In front of me was a circle with a radius of 2 meters, and at the center was a tree log, about 30 cm high. "Take that in your hands and jump forward." I did as instructed but only reached half the circle. "Repeat until you reach the edge." I repeated it over and over, then I fell. "Get up!" I¡¯m seriously going to develop a new phobia, along with the one I already have for capsules. The only difference is that this new one will be related to a word. Having no choice, I kept jumping, but the distance I covered didn¡¯t increase. On the contrary, it seemed to decrease. On another attempt, I fell again, and this time the log aggravated the fall. Hitting it with my chest forced the air out of my lungs, and I started to choke. With a simple gesture of his hand in my direction, I felt a greater-than-normal concentration of air rushing into my lungs, and my breathing was restored. "Get up!" I was wrong. The issue was not resolved, but my escape from it was temporary. At one point, I heard¡­ "Stop, 30-minute break." There¡¯s such a thing?" The constant repetition made me believe I was trapped in a cycle that would continue until I died. "Come!" No, seriously, maybe we have a different perception of 30 minutes. I don¡¯t agree that they¡¯re finished. But I didn¡¯t find the courage to say that. "Take the spade and dig here. Don¡¯t use your legs, just your upper body." I began digging, but I didn¡¯t get far before I heard, "Incorrect, repeat." With the repetition of another phrase in case of incorrectness, the sunset arrived. When I saw the appearance of darkness, it¡¯s impossible to explain the euphoria I felt, as if I were being spoiled by it. "Stop, we¡¯re going for a run." Hell no. "Now." He seriously reads minds. Putting on the most fake smile I could manage, I said, "Good." Of course, I didn¡¯t even manage to cover a quarter of the distance I had run in the morning before I lost consciousness. I woke up to water splashed in my face once again. "Eat," Evans said, handing me a bowl of food similar to yesterday¡¯s. I didn¡¯t have the strength to speak, let alone get up to eat at the table. As soon as I finished eating, I went straight back to sleep. Chapter 9 - rough start October 26, 3104 I woke up in bed, every part of my body aching. My upper back, shoulders, and legs were in agony. "Get ready. We''re going." It all started again, as if the previous day had just been a nightmare that was now unfolding in reality. But the soreness in my muscles wouldn''t let me believe that. "Master, does the training really have to be this intense?" Evans turned to me with the same calm expression he''d worn throughout the previous day¡ªno aggression, joy, or disappointment. Indifference was the only thing I could read on his face, as if he didn''t care about my efforts. But in reality, he monitored every exercise I performed with unwavering attention. "You''re behind compared to your generation. Your physical constitution is wrong. You changed your specialty from knight to scout, and your body is weakened from lack of intensive training for half a year." He was right. Those were only the major issues¡ªthere were many more minor ones. "But since you''re still in a growth phase, if you continue and endure training at such an intense level, then maybe you¡¯ll be able to catch up. I can¡¯t speak for the major talents and descendants of the big clans, but I can guarantee it''s possible to be among the best in some Academies." "Even with those from Altgrad Academy?" "No." Hah, why do I have so many empty hopes? "You might be able to match those at the lower end of the lists, but nothing more than that. And by age 25, you won¡¯t be able to compete with them at all." "Why by 25?" "Most will have full ether armor on all limbs by then, and opening a major component is extremely difficult and time-consuming." Standard ManaArmis Development Path:
Age Range Progression
1-7 ManaVentis
7-18 4-3 minor components, 1-2 medium
18-25 4 major, 6-8 medium
25-35 4 minor, 8 medium, 1-2 major
35-50 Full Armor
"Today, you¡¯ll only run in the morning so that you¡¯ll have the energy to deliver the message tomorrow." "Can¡¯t you deliver it yourself?" "Think about it. If I could leave the forest, would I still be here?"This story is posted elsewhere by the author. Help them out by reading the authentic version. "I admit, that was a stupid question." The day was identical to the previous one, but toward the end, instead of running, Evans took me hunting. He explained where to look for tracks, how to identify them, how to navigate by them, and, based on the depth, estimate the speed at which the prey had moved. As he explained further, he suddenly fell silent and looked off into the distance. Then he pulled out a simple handmade wooden longbow and an arrow with a flat arrowhead. Carefully positioning the arrow on the arrow rest and bowstring, he drew back the string and raised the bow, which was initially pointed downward. In one smooth movement, he released the arrow. A moment later, the sound of something falling could be heard from a distance. "Let¡¯s go." We found a deer lying on its side, an arrow in its eye. It had died instantly, without any suffering. "No living being deserves to endure agony before death. Killing is not for pleasure or symbolism. It doesn¡¯t matter if you saved someone or protected yourself¡ªyou killed. That fact shouldn¡¯t disturb you or change your intentions. Life is a constant struggle; if someone kills you, it¡¯s because you failed to defend yourself. And if you kill, you bear responsibility for that death¡ªnot the one who handed you the weapon, not the one who trained or commanded you. You released the arrow, struck with the sword, or suffocated the person. You are the one responsible. Only you bear the weight of what happened and the consequences that follow." Dinner was stifling. Not a single instructor at SinderCrest ever approached this topic, even though they taught us how to kill. It¡¯s ironic that the only person to speak to me about the meaning of death is the one who hasn¡¯t yet taught me how to do it. Night fell, and the only sound was the crackling of wood smoldering in the stove.
October 27, 3104 "Get up." Today¡¯s the day I have to deliver the message to the driver. "To make it out of the forest by noon, we need to start now." When we left the house, I found myself in a situation I never thought I''d end up in again¡ªlying flat on my back, my head pointed toward the ground, speeding through the forest. ¡°We arrived from here, you alone?¡± ¡°Ok.¡± I turned around and started walking. ¡°Run!¡± ¡°What? Now as well?¡± I ran again, weaving through the trees, which created the illusion that I was moving in circles. But, surprisingly, after some time, I saw the exit and crossed through it. When I emerged from the forest and looked around, I spotted a black sedan in the distance. It was really there. ¡°Hello, Mr. Kail. Are you all right?¡± I glanced at my clothes¡ªstill unchanged after three days, torn in places, covered in dirt, with some bloodstains. ¡°Yes, I am fine.¡± ¡°From the looks of it, I assume you didn¡¯t succeed?¡± ¡°Quite the opposite.¡± The driver studied my appearance again. ¡°Are you sure?¡± ¡°Yes. More importantly, here are these two papers.¡± Kail pulled out two sheets of paper¡ªone covered in a list of things written top to bottom, and the other folded so the contents weren¡¯t visible. ¡°Can you please send these to Mr. Collins?¡± ¡°Of course, but what are they?¡± ¡°He¡¯ll understand. I have to go back¡ªotherwise, I¡¯ll have problems.¡± The decision to return to the forest lingered in Kail¡¯s mind, one he needed to think through more carefully before committing. ¡°You didn¡¯t run the whole way.¡± How the hell does he know? This was only at the start of the forest. ¡°No, I ran the whole way.¡± ¡°Lies.¡± He seriously reads minds? But then nothing happened, and my horizontal journey continued. The rest of the day was the same¡ªjumps and a spade in my hands. Unfortunately, today, I didn¡¯t escape the evening run. This time, it felt different¡ªeither I was hallucinating from muscle fatigue, or the wind resistance was weaker than usual. But, of course, I didn¡¯t complete the full circle, and I lost consciousness on the way. In the evening, I woke up again, with a bowl of food in front of my eyes, held by Evans. (They eat only once a day because meat and wild vegetables have a higher concentration of calories.) Chapter 10 - end of the medieval era November 25, 3104 It¡¯s gotten cold. The warmer clothes I came with are almost completely destroyed, but they''re still useful. I can run the whole morning route now, though I won''t comment on the evening one. I''ve managed to jump two meters forward while carrying a three-meter log. The pit I was digging is finally finished. I found out afterward that its purpose was to reach groundwater, though I have no idea how the masters knew about it. Even so, it didn¡¯t change anything¡ªI still didn¡¯t get rid of the spade. Now, instead of digging downward, I''m working along the length of the pit, pressing the earth down with my right hand to create some sort of drainage, though it seems pointless at the moment. Two notable events happened recently: The first one wasn¡¯t too difficult, but it still made my life harder. It happened on November 15, 3104. ¡°Master, can I use your bow for training?¡± At that point, I was exhausted from digging. Plus, the pit was already about ten meters deep. ¡°Try it.¡± Evans handed me his bow. I took it in my left hand and grabbed the bowstring with my right. It felt good in my grip, but when I tried to draw the bowstring, it wouldn¡¯t budge, no matter how much strength I used. It was completely unyielding. Is this thing made of iron or something? ¡°That¡¯s enough. No matter how hard you try, you won¡¯t be able to use it right now.¡± I returned the bow. ¡°Why not?¡± ¡°It only responds when wind aether flows through it. You don¡¯t have the Ventus constitution to channel wind aether.¡± That explains it. ¡°Wait a minute¡­ did you make this bow with the ability to channel aether?¡± ¡°No.¡± ¡°But you mentioned that if you ever needed to make a bow, it would take a long time. I thought you¡¯d already done it.¡± ¡°You¡¯re confused. By your logic, the books on the shelf were also written and printed by me. And as for the house and everything in it, those were built by a friend of mine who visits sometimes.¡± ¡°Do you have friends?¡± After I asked, I saw Evans''s face tense up. Ha! He¡¯s human after all. I finally saw some reaction on his face. ¡°I have a feeling that tonight, you won¡¯t be getting any sleep until you finish the route,¡± he said. True to his word, he made sure of it. Even as I started to lose consciousness, he did everything he could to snap me back so I could finish the route. It was the only day I managed to do it. The second event showed me just how easily my master could push me to my limits, or even worse, end me if he ever wanted. Why I keep getting myself into trouble, I still don¡¯t understand. November 20, 3104 ¡°Get up.¡± ¡°Yes, yes... uh, maybe a day off, Master? I don¡¯t remember the last time I did anything other than daily exercises.¡± Without even looking at me, he said, ¡°You want a day off?¡± Since he always speaks in the same even tone, I didn¡¯t pick up on the danger hidden in that question. And, being the genius that I am, my answer was, of course, ¡°Yes!¡± Hah. I wish I had more intellect. Unfortunately, the only talent I was born with was my body¡ªand maybe a bit of a mature attitude from dealing with adults constantly. But brains? Not so much.Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. ¡°Great,¡± he replied. ¡°If you can run the whole route, I¡¯ll give you a day off.¡± At that point, I could almost finish it, though the last 2-3 kilometers were always beyond me. As he¡¯d warned me on the first day, after the first week, he stopped running alongside me. Somehow, though, he still tracked my every move. If I ever tried to veer off-course, an arrow would fly towards me. I had to hope I wouldn¡¯t collapse from the impact. Though they weren¡¯t shot with lethal force, their flat ends still caused intense pain, and I had to keep running with each arrow stuck in me. They never missed, even when I tried to dodge or defend myself. By the time I had 19 arrows in me, the 20th was terrifying. Every time it hit, I lost sensation in that spot and ended up with deep bruises that lasted for days. But back to my foolishness. 20 minutes. That''s how long my journey took¡ªusually around five hours condensed into 20 minutes of pure agony. How do I know it lasted exactly 20 minutes? Simple: 20 arrows, each hitting with a force twenty times greater than usual. They all hit their mark, starting from the lower legs, then up to the pelvis, hands, shoulders, abdomen, and finally, the last one struck right in the forehead. And, of course, the next morning, I got up to start all over again. ¡°Get up.¡± It wasn¡¯t real. It was just a strange dream. ¡°Do you want another day off?¡± ¡°No, I don¡¯t.¡± Thinking about it, I suppose it was technically a day off¡ªwith the minor drawback that I was only conscious for 20 minutes of it. Now, back to the present. ¡°Get up.¡± Same morning voice, but this time with an unexpected addition. ¡°Tomorrow, the supplies I ordered will arrive. We¡¯ll head to the edge of the woods in the morning. You¡¯ll bring them here, and then I¡¯ll carry them back home. But you know you¡¯ll have to run from the forest to here with the supplies in your hands.¡± ¡°As if I thought there¡¯d be any other way. So¡­ no running tonight?¡± ¡°You run.¡± We¡¯re sorry, the first-day promotion is no longer valid. Please contact the administrator. I truly feel humiliated. The day itself was no different from the previous ones, but to my surprise, I managed to reach the end of the night route. I ate and went straight to bed. November 26, 3104 Using the same travel method, I reached the edge of the forest, where I saw... a truck? I''m done for. I greeted the driver from last time and began the transportation. All day. It took me the entire day to carry everything. My legs were definitely not in the best shape by the end. It was impressive that the teacher waited until I brought more items before making his move. Every time I came back with a load, the previous pile would be gone, and he¡¯d be standing in the same place, waiting. What kind of speed had he developed to pull that off? The next two days, I just ran in the morning and evening. During the day, I worked alongside Master to set up everything that had been brought in. Now, in the house, there¡¯s a shower with water pumped up from the pit I dug, powered by an aether generator outside, which draws energy from atmospheric ether. Of course, we sometimes have to feed it with our own aether, but that¡¯s no problem. The drain pipes go through the channel I made. We also set up training equipment¡ªbows, arrows, targets, weights filled with sand and metal¡ªa refrigerator, and new furniture. I even have my own bed now and a wardrobe with new clothes. November 29, 3104 ¡°One month earlier than expected, but now you won¡¯t be able to escape. Merry Christmas!¡± With that, Evans took a token from the locker and dropped it on the table in front of me. It looked similar to the CinderCrest token, but this one was green with a bow symbol at its center. Evans then approached the table, pricking his thumb with a quick flick. A drop of blood fell onto the token, which began to glow as a hologram appeared: Cyclone¡¯s Embrace (4 ¡î) Movement Technique: Wind Kingdom (4 ¡î) Archery Technique: Tornado Archery (4 ¡î) Breathing Technique: Tempest Flow (4 ¡î) ¡°Wow.¡± All three techniques were four-star¡ªhigh-quality martial arts without a doubt. They might not have been as prestigious as five-star techniques, but I certainly couldn¡¯t consider them inferior. It makes sense that the Frostwind clan didn¡¯t want to allow them to form their own clan. If a new clan appeared with martial arts of this caliber in the same field as theirs, the potential losses could be enormous. However, he didn¡¯t trust me completely. It was normal to prepare before practicing high-level martial arts to avoid injury, but training at this intensity for an entire month? That felt excessive. Maybe he thought I just wanted to learn the martial arts and then leave. He¡¯d been betrayed by others so much that he couldn¡¯t trust the word of a 12-year-old boy. What is their problem? Why are they so determined to dominate this field? Is it worth all the sacrifices and lives they¡¯re destroying? Chapter 11 - re-entering in martial arts "What''s the problem?" Master probably noticed my strange behavior after receiving the martial arts. "It''s nothing. These are wonderful martial arts. I was just thinking about the people from the major clans." "Master, how do you view their actions¡ªlike when they kicked me out of the clan or destroyed your family? Was it worth it for the clan?" "I have no idea. For a tree to grow taller, people cut the lower branches. Maybe what they do really does help the clan and society as a whole to develop. But they don¡¯t have the right to decide what¡¯s good and what¡¯s bad. I¡¯m certain they¡¯ve cut many branches that could have grown higher than the ones left now. But history is written by the winners. For those who lost, only resentment remains¡ªand discussions like this." "Indeed," I replied, unintentionally biting the corner of my mouth. "Now you can''t change anything. Go over the martial arts in 10 minutes, and we¡¯ll start training," Evans said before leaving the house. Not now, but someday. I started reading about the martial arts: Breathing Technique: Tempest Flow (4 ¡î) Let the wind around you penetrate within, circulating through your aether arteries with each breath. Instead of slowing, it gains momentum, enveloping you, guiding you through the world. This technique requires maintaining a constant aether circuit within the body. Its drawback is that for maximum effect, time is needed to both accelerate the circuit and decelerate back to a passive state. At peak speed, aether is expelled continuously over time, granting significant power and speed. This technique has 5 stages:
  1. Stage One: Wind Circulation The activation stage, beginning with a deep breath (all breathing techniques start with one), to fill the body with ether. The ether must then be transferred in small but consistent amounts from the body to the ManaVentis, forming a discontinuous circuit of aether intake and release.
This will be the first step in forming a new constitution. Movement Technique: Wind Kingdom (4 ¡î) Establish your own territory with a single step. Choose your stance to claim a domain of wind. Within this area, the wind becomes your subject, and you, the sovereign it cannot resist. The concept of this technique involves creating an imaginary hemisphere, representing a territory that can be traversed in a single movement or jump, assisted by the wind. The area should automatically form whenever the foot touches a solid surface. This technique has 4 stages:
  1. Stage One: Territory Formation Formation of an area no smaller than 5 meters in the shape of a hemisphere. Activation is achieved when the user perceives an imaginary, transparent green barrier with themselves at the center, indicating it is ready for use.
And finally: Archery Technique: Tornado Archery (4 ¡î) Imbue arrows with the destructive power and imperceptible speed of the wind. This will guide the arrow directly toward the enemy, with wind blades that will tear them apart. The bow enables arrows with different properties, allowing them to interact and multiply in speed and power through their interactions. There are 5 stages:
  1. Stage One: Guided Arrow The arrow becomes faster, with greater penetrating power, and can ride wind currents. Understanding these currents allows for more efficient use.
These techniques were incredible, suited for both close and ranged combat, perfectly aligned with my specialization. With renewed inspiration, I headed for the exit. "What do you think?" "These are truly exceptional martial arts. Only the five-star techniques could surpass them. But unfortunately, they ended up with a master who won¡¯t be able to show their true power." "I wasn¡¯t the best at representing them either. But right now, only the two of us can practice them. I hope they don¡¯t die with us, which is why you must marry a talented woman." "HAH? You realize you¡¯re saying this to a 12-year-old boy, right?" "Doesn¡¯t matter. Start running." After I finished the route, which seemed to be ingrained in my muscles by now, I moved on to the next Wind Kingdom training. This involved jumping with a tree log. But when I approached the circle, the log was gone; instead, a jacket with weights was waiting for me. After all the time I spent hugging you, you decided to disappear without a word, my beloved log? I think I¡¯m really starting to lose it. "From now on, you¡¯ll be using this weighted jacket. Just so you know, you¡¯ll be wearing it 24/7."Stolen from its rightful author, this tale is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings. "Maybe¡­ not?" "You don¡¯t have a choice." And with that, I gained a new 20 kg friend, making everything much harder. After I finished with the jumps, it was finally time for archery. I grabbed the bow and arrows from the house and headed towards a tree with a target on it, stopping about 20 meters away. With my left hand holding the bow and my right readying an arrow, I started shooting. The first arrow hit the center. Surprisingly, it felt easy compared to the other exercises, even with the new weighted jacket. Again and again, I hit the target. It felt really good. I remembered my basic archery training: Back then, archery was considered pointless, and even the instructors taught it with a certain disdain. Despite that, I enjoyed shooting the bow. But with all the focus on mastering the sword, I eventually forgot about it. Now, after a few years, I found myself enjoying archery once more¡ªuntil I heard Evans say: "Go 15 meters further back." "Can¡¯t I just savor this a bit longer?!" Still, I stepped back as instructed. But something unexpected happened. Even after increasing the distance to 35 meters, I was still hitting the target. I took another 10 steps back and managed to hit most of my shots, though not all. Then I heard him say: "Another 15 meters." This time, I started missing. Most shots went wide, with only a few hitting the edges of the target. Then Evans called out: "Stop." He walked over, pulling the arrows out of the target as he approached me. "You have talent in archery, but you need to learn to feel the wind currents." What? Did he just¡­ praise me? Or did I go deaf for a second? Master continued explaining something, but I couldn¡¯t hear him¡ªI was still in shock from his praise. Realizing this, Evans slapped the back of my head, snapping me back to reality. "Listen." "What?" "The wind. Listen to it. Watch the trees, falling leaves, grass¡ªanything that shows its direction. Once you understand how it moves, imagine it and project it into your mind. Use not just the bow but also the wind to guide the arrow where you want it to go." For the first time, Master was giving me an explanation, and I intended to make the most of it. He returned the arrows to the ground quiver and moved back to his spot, watching me. I began observing my surroundings. I noticed the trees swaying slightly to the right and focused on the faint, slow breath of the wind. It was always there, quietly whispering its presence to us, though we often ignored it. "I¡¯ll listen to you and learn to use you." It wasn¡¯t easy at first; nothing seemed to change. But with each new arrow, I adapted, continuing to listen to the wind''s subtle voice. Eventually, I started aiming closer and closer to the target''s center, understanding more each time. "Another 10 meters." I moved back to 60 meters, but I wasn¡¯t discouraged. I was beginning to see the wind. Soon, I was hitting the target consistently. The world around me appeared different¡ªbefore me were invisible wind currents: some larger, some smaller; some faster, some slower. I could see and understand what was important. With each arrow, I experimented. Some arrows only grazed the currents, while others traveled through them. I noticed that each arrow created its own current, strengthened or weakened by its interaction with others. "Another 10 meters." Without hesitation, I moved another 10 meters back. The number of currents grew, and I resumed shooting, noticing a pathway¡ªa perfect route for the arrow. It intersected with many currents, but crucially, it didn''t disrupt any of them. In fact, it even aligned with some. Eager to try it, I reached for another arrow¡­ but they were all gone. ¡°No! Just a little more, and the path will disappear!¡± Then, as if answering my silent plea, an arrow came flying toward me, riding the wind currents, interacting with each one as it moved. I caught it, nocked it onto my bow, and released it along the path I''d seen. The arrow shot forward, gaining speed with each current it crossed. Faster and faster it flew, until it struck the target, embedding deep into the tree behind it. I let the bow slip from my hands, breathing heavily. My vision blurred, and I braced myself on my knees to avoid collapsing. Just as I felt my balance slipping, Master caught me. ¡°What did you see?¡± he asked, and for the first time, I saw an unfamiliar expression on his face¡ªwas it concern? Without thinking, I answered him. ¡°The wind.¡± He looked stunned. Once I¡¯d caught my breath and managed to stand on my own, Master regained his usual calm, indifferent expression. I approached him and asked, ¡°What was that?¡± After a moment¡¯s silence, he said, ¡°This is called Windweave Vision. Don¡¯t let it go to your head¡ªeveryone who practices wind-based martial arts develops it eventually. Just¡­ not usually this early, not before changing their body constitution.¡± He paused, giving me a strange look. ¡°It¡¯s ironic for you¡ªa boy from a fire-specialist clan¡ªto have such talent in controlling wind.¡± ¡°Speaking of constitution,¡± I said, ¡°when can I start practicing the breathing technique?¡± ¡°If you want, we can start now.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s start.¡± We headed back toward the house. ¡°Wait a minute,¡± Master said, disappearing inside. When he returned, he was carrying two meditation boards. ¡°We¡¯re going to do this outside?¡± I asked. "Yes," Master replied. "I don¡¯t want the whole house smelling like metabolic waste." (Practicing breathing techniques involves opening up pores that have long been inactive, releasing accumulated waste from within.) "Watch first," he instructed. Evans took a deep inhale, then began a series of short inhales followed by slow, lengthy exhalations. The ether in his ManaVentis activated, circulating like the wind in various directions. When two currents of aether met, they formed a small vortex, which then split back into two currents, moving in harmony. "Now it''s your turn." "Okay." I took a deep inhale and began trying to distribute the aether through my arteries. It was my first attempt in over half a year. But¡­ I transferred the aether too quickly. The aether from my first breath dissipated before the second could connect, and the circuit failed to form. The session ended there for the day. Chapter 12 - ManaArmis December 30, 3104 With Windweave Vision, things became much easier than before, but the weighted jacket continued to make my life difficult, so my results hadn¡¯t drastically changed. (At this stage, the aether released from my body is still of the fire element. As I continue practicing the breathing technique, it will gradually shift to a neutral state, eventually becoming wind-element aether. My constitution will only be considered "Ventus" when all aether released is solely of the wind element.) Master also started asking me about medicinal and poisonous plants, so each night, after my exhausting day, I had to read botany books before bed.
January 10, 3106 A year has passed. I turned 13. I''ve continued to make progress, and my weighted jacket has become heavier¡ªnow 35 kg. The monthly improvised hunts are still the same. I still haven¡¯t managed to catch Master. I wanted to move on to the next stages of my techniques, but without achieving the Ventus constitution, that wasn¡¯t possible. The fire element in my aether has been almost entirely replaced, but there are still traces of it in my body that prevent me from fully transitioning to air mana. I''m tired of this lack of progress. I¡¯ve reached the current limit of my body''s capabilities. I need ManaArmis, but it won¡¯t form without the proper constitution. With the 35 kg jacket: I still had about one-third of my body left to purify and shift to non-elemental aether. Master mentioned that my pace was remarkable, with his initial estimate of two years reduced to around one year and five to six months. But even with this progress, I was growing impatient. Today''s meditation felt different. I could now sustain the aether circuit for 25-30 minutes, but today I pushed past that, reaching 32 minutes. Yet, it wasn¡¯t just the duration that felt unique¡ªthe speed of the circuit began to increase on its own, as if it had its own desire to move faster. Intrigued by this change, I let the circuit continue undisturbed. I knew that if anything went wrong, Master Evans would be there, watching and ready to intervene if needed. By the 40-minute mark, the circuit''s speed stabilized at a level that felt almost... comfortable. Then, I noticed that the remaining parts of my body that still emitted pure ether were quickly shifting, converting at an accelerated rate. At 55 minutes, only a few patches remained unchanged. However, a new challenge arose as the circuit¡¯s speed picked up again. It became harder to maintain, and I started running out of aether. I felt the strain in my chest as my body struggled to keep up. Just as I was reaching my limit, Master sent a surge of aether-filled air directly into my lungs, allowing me to keep the circuit active. At 60 minutes, nearly my entire body, except for my right hand and leg, was in intense pain from overexertion. Sustaining the aether flow with such intensity was grueling, but it was worth every moment. The entirety of my skin was now covered by Mana Ventis, infused with wind mana. As a final confirmation, the once-static aether within my Mana Ventis began to flow, forming small vortices. The Ventis Constitution was complete.
The following week was one of celebration and newfound strength. The very next day, I managed to activate: Archery Technique: Tornado Archery (4 ¡î) Stage 1: Guided Arrow Imbuing the arrow with wind mana, it started to glow faintly green¡ªa sign that the technique had been successfully activated. It wasn¡¯t perfect yet, but even so, the power and speed with which the arrow shot toward the target were vastly greater than before.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! It took me a little longer to master the movement technique, but five days after completing my Ventis Constitution, I succeeded. Movement Technique: Wind Kingdom (4 ¡î) Stage 1: Territory Formation A hemisphere appeared around me, with walls defined by the wind. It wasn¡¯t a solid barrier; rather, it marked the outer limits of my territory. The wind¡¯s presence was like an extension of my senses, outlining the area I could control in a single movement.
But the most exhilarating moment came on the seventh day. I was meditating, focusing on forming armor on my left hand. Since my aether channels were now fully opened, the energy flow didn¡¯t close as easily, except during significant breaks in concentration. After 15 minutes of channeling nearly all my aether into my left hand, I achieved a high enough concentration. The wind currents there began to condense, spinning into an enormous vortex before finally stabilizing. And then, it appeared: ManaArmis Left Hand (Minor) - 1st Form It was an early manifestation, just the base form of my armor, appearing as a transparent dark green hue. It wouldn¡¯t take its final shape until I reached the 2nd stage of my breathing technique. At the center of the armor, a swirling tornado symbol could be seen from above, almost resembling a black hole. Smaller metal plates covered the fingers, while the palm was adorned with designs reminiscent of wind patterns. The joint between my hand and forearm was protected by a more metallic-looking structure etched with wind symbols. Finally¡­ I¡¯ve seen my armor again. That feeling of growth¡ªI had missed it. Once you''ve experienced it, you can¡¯t live without it.
Master Evans approached me with a contemplative expression. "Kail, now we need to decide what to develop next." In a typical situation, I¡¯d simply continue forming the minor armor components. But unlike others, I only had one more minor component left before needing to think strategically about my focus. "Master, what do you think I should do?" I asked, seeking his guidance. "Once you complete the minor armor on your leg, it would be wise to shift focus to your right arm," he advised. "Right now, you use a standard bow, which is adequate for training. But in real combat, you¡¯ll need a more powerful bow, and that will require strength in your shoulder and back. The armor will grant you that strength, but¡­" "You¡¯ll need a reinforced exoskeleton to protect your fingers from a high-quality bowstring, or you¡¯ll slice right through them," Master Evans continued. "As it stands, my clan owes me two three-star exoskeletons, so my only challenge now is to open the middle armor in my arm." "Excellent. From today onward, in addition to shooting at targets, you¡¯ll begin hunting. You must learn to kill living organisms¡ªbut remember, for every second your prey suffers before death, you¡¯ll run additional laps." And then, to top it off, Master reminded me of the laps I owed for my recent incorrect answers. I had about three or four questions wrong, so he added a few more laps to that.
The very next day, I tracked a wild boar. I found its trail and followed it, eventually spotting it about 35 meters away¡ªa manageable distance for me. I took an arrow, drew the bowstring, aimed carefully at the boar, and released the arrow. But just as the arrow left my grip, the boar sensed danger and bolted, and the arrow only managed to hit its hind leg. Without hesitation, I began to chase it, but the boar was clever, using trees to block my line of sight. Still, with an arrow in its leg, it couldn¡¯t gain much distance, losing stamina and blood with every step. Eventually, it stopped weaving through trees and sprinted in a straight line. This time, I took aim and fired another shot. The arrow struck true, and the boar collapsed. When I approached, the boar was still breathing, suffering with one arrow lodged in its thigh and another in its abdomen. I couldn¡¯t let it suffer any longer. I took another arrow and drove it into its skull, ending its pain. I didn¡¯t feel grief or guilt over the kill, but disappointment overwhelmed me. All that training, and I still made such a mess of it. Pathetic. Master Evans appeared by my side. "He sensed your intent to kill. That¡¯s why he ran," he observed. "Why didn¡¯t you use any techniques?" "It¡¯s just a boar. I thought I could handle it without them." "You misjudged. Never underestimate your prey. When you go in for a kill, always use your full power. Always." "Understood." "You owe me 120 laps. Starting tomorrow, you¡¯ll run three laps in the morning and two in the evening. But today, you¡¯ll run until I tell you to stop." "Yes, sir." I accepted it¡ªI deserved it.
That night, I ran through the forest, thinking over how I could improve. I couldn¡¯t let myself repeat the same mistakes. As I moved through the dark, I plotted and planned, vowing to become a more efficient hunter. I lost count of the laps I ran¡ªmaybe five or six¡ªbut by the time the sun¡¯s rays began to break through the trees, I finally heard: ¡°Enough. Go sleep for three hours, then start the exercises again.¡± The circle I practiced jumping in increased from 3 meters to 5 meters. Now, I was required to perform three types of jumps: with both feet, on the right foot alone, and on the left foot alone. I wasn¡¯t allowed to use any techniques. For now, my focus was on adapting to the techniques I¡¯d learned: Chapter 13 - real friend In the middle of archery training, Master turned abruptly toward the direction of the forest¡¯s exit. Moments later, sounds of someone pushing through the trees and bushes began to grow louder. ¡°Evans, you don¡¯t take care of my traps at all,¡± came a gruff voice. The speaker was a 60-70-year-old man with a long ginger beard, a bald head, a tall stature, and a swollen belly. Master responded calmly. ¡°Long time no see, Henry.¡± He looks familiar, I thought to myself. ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Kail, Mr. Evans¡¯ apprentice,¡± I said, introducing myself. The man¡ªMr. Henry¡ªwidened his eyes in disbelief, looking back and forth between me and Mr. Evans. ¡°Evans, is this true?¡± he asked. ¡°Yes,¡± Master answered, his tone short and direct. Mr. Henry erupted into laughter. ¡°HaHaHa! Well, I¡¯ll be damned! You haven¡¯t lost all your luck, old man!¡± ¡°To some extent, yes,¡± Master replied with a hint of sarcasm. ¡°Finish whatever you¡¯re busy with, and let¡¯s celebrate your first apprentice! I¡¯ve got just the right liquid for the occasion.¡± ¡°Kail, finish the training, then go hunting. That¡¯ll wrap up the day,¡± Master instructed. ¡°Understood,¡± I replied, noting that I still had 15 shots left to complete my archery session. Since my first hunt, I had yet to let any of my prey survive the first arrow. Finding two rabbits, however, took longer than expected, and by the time I returned, the sun was already close to setting. Entering the house, I was met with a scene I had anticipated but never imagined I¡¯d see Master participate in. ¡°Ooooooo, here¡¯s today¡¯s hero!¡± exclaimed Mr. Henry enthusiastically, a pint of beer in his hand. ¡°Come in, tell me how you found this gloomy man!¡± I walked in, carrying the two rabbits I had already cleaned. Placing them on the table, Master swiftly cut them with wind blades, and I added them to the boiler along with some wild vegetables. Once everything was settled, I joined the two men at the table. One was cheerful and very talkative¡ªMr. Henry¡ªwhile the other, of course, had his usual emotionless expression. ¡°Well, tell me, how did you find this old man and end up here?¡± I began recounting my journey from the hospital for war veterans to the Elderwood Forest. ¡°Since then, I have been training here under the Master¡¯s supervision,¡± I concluded. ¡±Wow, I didn''t know that old fox knew so much. It¡¯s no wonder he leads one of the biggest guilds!¡± ¡±What do you mean?¡± I¡¯m sure I know all the guild leaders. ¡±You¡¯re not supposed to tell anyone. This isn¡¯t public information.¡± ¡±Then how do you know¡± ¡±Hohoho, back in the better times, I led the Iron Spark Guild myself. Of course, I know the state of other guilds.¡± That¡¯s why he seemed familiar to me. The Iron Spark Guild is the largest guild specializing in all kinds of weapons, non-aetheric armor, enchanted books, and any other war-related items. After two hours, I went to sleep since the next day wasn¡¯t a break day. Meanwhile, the two veterans continued their conversation late into the night.
January 21, 3106 By morning, Mr. Henry had already disappeared. When I asked Master about his whereabouts, he replied that Henry had gone to check on the traps. The day passed without any major events¡ªjust the usual training. By evening, Mr. Henry returned from the forest. ¡±I checked all the traps and repaired those that were damaged as much as possible. Some couldn¡¯t be fixed since I don¡¯t have the right materials.¡± Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website.¡±Why are there traps in the first place? Master is so strong that I doubt anyone would stand a chance against him.¡± ¡±Let¡¯s just say there are people who¡¯d rather Evans disappear completely. They¡¯ve already tried to eliminate him a few times.¡± ¡±Who would want Master dead?¡± ¡±Different groups with different reasons. This one, for example, has a specific grudge against Evans.¡± Mr. Henry didn¡¯t give me a direct answer, though it was obvious he knew more than he was letting on. The next morning, he bid farewell to me and Master. Just as he had appeared, he vanished into the trees.
May 15, 3106 I turned 14 today. During the monthly improvised hunt, I was once again searching for Master, expecting the same pattern as in previous months. Without much hope of finding him, I ran through the forest, scanning for tracks and following the air currents. Suddenly, I noticed an unusual current. It was different¡ªnot just in direction but also in speed. Curious, I decided to follow it. As I continued to follow this current, it became more and more pronounced. At first, it was like a thin strand of hair, but now it resembled a tangled ball of rope. During previous impromptu hunts, I¡¯d occasionally spot Master, but he would vanish the moment he noticed me approaching. However, this time, I had a lead¡ªa distinct wind current trailing behind him. Unlike the other transparent currents, this one was dark green, clearly marking the path Master had taken. Determined not to lose sight of it, I decided to activate: Movement Technique: Wind Kingdom (4 ¡î) 1st Stage: Territory Formation ¨C 3m I surged forward, covering ground instantly, then continued pushing myself until I could use the technique again. Yet, despite my efforts, the current gradually grew fainter and eventually vanished entirely. Thus marked my first attempt to track down Master during a hunt. Since then, I made it my mission to observe him every month. But no matter how much progress I made, he always managed to disappear faster than I could catch him.
February 5, 3107 I was deep in meditation, preparing to unlock the armor on my left leg. Forty minutes had passed since I began using the breathing technique. I could feel my pores reaching their limit, just one more push, and I¡¯d break through. Just a little further, and I would gain my second piece of armor. At the fifty-minute mark, I succeeded! My left leg was covered in a black, foul-smelling substance. My body was drenched in sweat, even though I hadn¡¯t performed any physical exertion. The breathing technique, however, placed significant stress on the body. The circuit demanded continuous control, and my pores had undergone an intense effort. Mana Armis: Left Foot (Minor) ¨C 1st Form Appearance The armor took the shape of a sleek, futuristic shoe, adorned with wind sigils across its entire surface. The sole had an ergonomic design, optimized for comfortable and swift movement. "I did it! I opened it!" Now, the objective was to incorporate the breathing technique into combat so that I could reliably use the armor in real situations. Breathing Technique: Tempest Flow (4 ¡î) 2nd Stage: Wind Acceleration This allowed me to increase the circuit speed in a specific area, enabling the effective use of aether armor. The difficulty lay in the fact that the circuit''s speed wasn¡¯t uniform throughout the body. It required intentional focus: areas without armor had to maintain a slower circuit, while areas with armor demanded a much faster one. Controlling this variation was significantly more challenging than the steady flow required in Wind Circulation. The hardest part, however, was maintaining this control during combat. If the circuit was interrupted for even a moment, the armor would vanish entirely. After a week of rigorous training, I finally managed to activate it. This enabled the condensation of armor for both my left hand and foot: Mana Armis: Left Foot + Hand ¨C 2nd Form Condensation Unfortunately, the moment the armor materialized, I lost my concentration, and it disappeared.
Over the course of a month, I dedicated myself to practice. By the end of it, I could maintain the armor for up to 10 minutes. This significantly improved the results of my techniques: With Mana Armis:
April 23, 3107 ¡°AAAAAAAAAAAAAA!¡± While I was hunting, a piercing scream broke through the forest''s usual quiet. I cautiously approached the area from which it had originated. What I saw shocked me. Three unfamiliar men dressed in prisoners¡¯ robes were struggling in the clearing. One of them was missing a hand. The second man¡¯s body was covered in cuts of varying depth. The third had his leg caught in one of the traps set across the territory¡ªit was likely he who had screamed so loudly. Perched on a high branch some distance away, I silently observed them. How did they get this deep into the forest? And what are they looking for? This forest holds no special value, aside from wood for furniture. But these men are clearly no carpenters. They looked frustrated and uneasy, visibly stressed by the traps and their unfamiliar surroundings. After some effort, they managed to free their companion from the trap and continued walking, heading in a particular direction. Strange, but this has nothing to do with me. I thought to myself and prepared to leave. But then, I heard one of them speak: ¡°Are you sure we¡¯ll be free if we kill this old man?¡± ¡±YES! How many times do I have to repeat it? The person has major connections, and getting us out of prison means nothing to him.¡± Look, if this doesn¡¯t work, you¡¯ll answer with your life! It seems I¡¯ve found my prey for today, I thought, my grip tightening on my bow. Chapter 14 - a little hunt I started watching with much more attention. The breathing is controlled¡ªseems like they have some martial arts skills, but nothing extraordinary since they haven¡¯t noticed me yet. Considering the number of wounds they¡¯ve got, they must have fallen into multiple traps. The man missing a hand looked the liveliest. His amputation seemed old, and he had no visible fresh injuries. The one with the deep wounds was the quietest and hadn¡¯t spoken a word, likely being dragged along by the other two to disarm traps. The last one, with a visibly traumatized left leg, had no open wounds but was clearly unable to use his leg anymore. Okay, I should start. From a branch about 150¨C170 meters away, I took an arrow, placed it on my bow without fully drawing the bowstring, and began charging it with aether. In 7 seconds, I was ready. The arrow took on a green tint as it absorbed the aether. I drew the bowstring and released the arrow. Archery Technique: Tornado Archery (4 ¡î) 1st Stage: Guided Arrow The arrow gained additional speed as air currents directed themselves toward the prisoners, enhancing its trajectory. It hit its target¡ªthe man missing a hand. The force caused him to lower his head as though bowing under pressure, and he was on the verge of collapse. In his chest was an arrow, half embedded and half protruding. ¡°No!¡± These were his last words before he fell lifeless to the ground. Movement Technique: Wind Kingdom (4 ¡î) 1st Stage: Territory Formation ¨C 4m I jumped diagonally to the ground and immediately started running to change positions. After covering about 200 meters to the left¡ªwhile maintaining the same distance from them¡ªI climbed another tree using the movement technique. No, you bastards don¡¯t get away that easily. The two remaining prisoners chose different tactics. One hid behind a tree, hindered by his injured leg, while the other started running in the opposite direction of where I had released the arrow. ¡°Who are you, fucker? Come out and fight like a man!¡± That¡¯s a weak argument. I began preparing another arrow when I noticed the air currents around one of them converging toward his body. He¡¯s using a breathing technique! I paused, carefully observing his movements before deciding not to react hastily with another technique. Instead, I waited. "Come to me, motherf****r," he yelled. Does this ever actually work on anyone? "Are you afraid to show yourself because you''re so ugly, or are you just a little chicken?" Once again, I shifted my position, carefully maneuvering to bring him into my line of sight. Here you are, handsome, I thought, spotting him clearly now. He had minor armor covering his hands and feet. Time was slipping by, and the aether current around the third prisoner was fading fast. Not wanting him to escape, I decided to act quickly. Breathing Technique: Tempest Flow (4 ¡î) 2nd Stage: Wind Acceleration Mana Armis: Left Foot + Hand ¨C 2nd Form Condensation The arrow was already charged. I aimed and released: Archery Technique: Tornado Archery (4 ¡î) 1st Stage: Guided Arrow The arrow struck true, piercing his skull and eliminating him instantly. Without deactivating my breathing technique, I sprinted after the third prisoner, determined not to fall into a state of fatigue. After covering more than 500 meters, he came back into view. But something was off¡ªhe wasn¡¯t running anymore. He stood there, almost as if he were waiting for me. Unsure of the situation, I stopped about 200 meters away and began charging my next arrow with aether. When I halted, he began sprinting toward me. Sensing his intentions, I bolted to the right, ensuring he remained in my visual field. Wind currents began converging around him, and his armor materialized fully. His speed surged dramatically. Forced to run at my own maximum speed, I found him steadily closing the gap between us.Love this story? Find the genuine version on the author''s preferred platform and support their work! Archery Technique: Tornado Archery (4 ¡î) 1st Stage: Guided Arrow I released the arrow in his direction, but he dodged it with relative ease. Not wasting time, I prepared a fourth arrow, which now took only 4 seconds to ready. The distance between us shrank alarmingly fast. With just 50 meters left, I had the fourth arrow prepared but chose to hold my fire, unwilling to waste the shot. When he was a mere 20 meters away, I suddenly stopped. My pursuer, unable to react in time, continued charging forward at full speed. I turned my entire body to face him just as he closed in, and when there were only 4 meters between us¡ª Movement Technique: Wind Kingdom (4 ¡î) 1st Stage: Territory Formation ¨C 6m Radius I launched myself into the air. Now we were back-to-back, separated by only 2 meters. Executing an acrobatic maneuver, I bent my back to its limit, aiming my bow and locking my gaze on him, ready to deliver the decisive strike. Archery Technique: Tornado Archery (4 ¡î) 1st Stage: Guided Arrow In a fleeting moment, I released the arrow and fell to the ground, rolling several times before regaining my balance. As I stood, I saw the arrow embedded in his leg, pinning him to the ground. "You f****r!" he yelled angrily. Despite his injury, he yanked the arrow out of his leg and began approaching me again. His speed was slower now, his face twisted in pain. I grabbed the fifth arrow and started preparing it. However, I felt the circuit within me wavering¡ªeight minutes had already passed since I activated it. I was nearing my previous record of twelve minutes, but that was achieved in a calm, controlled situation. After stabilizing the circuit, I suddenly noticed a hand lunging toward my face. Movement Technique: Wind Kingdom (4 ¡î) 1st Stage: Territory Formation ¨C 6m Radius I activated the technique instantly, shifting to his back while simultaneously nocking the arrow onto my bowstring. I released it, though this shot lacked the power of the technique since I hadn¡¯t charged it with enough aether. Still, the arrow struck its mark, piercing his forearm as he raised it to shield his head. "AAAAAAAARGH!" he screamed before leaping toward me. I sidestepped to the left just in time, and he crashed face-first into the ground. Before he could recover, I released another arrow, this time into his other arm. His armor dissipated completely, and he began breathing heavily and erratically. Drawing another arrow, I pointed it at him and demanded, "Who are you?" "That one who''s f***ing your mom," he spat back with venom in his voice. Not willing to waste time on meaningless insults, I released the arrow before he could say another word. Moments later, a familiar voice spoke from behind me: "Good job." I turned to see Mr. Evans standing there. "Was this all organized by you?" I asked. "Exactly," he confirmed. ¡°Am I adapting to killing people?¡± ¡°In part, yes. But also to how you handle situations involving potentially dangerous individuals.¡± ¡°And how did I do?¡± ¡°Five out of ten.¡± ¡°Huh? Why?¡± ¡°The most correct approach would have been to ignore them entirely and avoid interaction.¡± ¡°Then how am I supposed to adapt to murder?¡± ¡°I would give you the order to kill them, but that¡¯s different. In such a situation, I would already know the full context, and you would interact only if absolutely necessary.¡± ¡°I could have interacted even now.¡± ¡°Perhaps. But I wasn¡¯t entirely sure you understood.¡± ¡°You weren¡¯t sure?¡± ¡°I was about 70¨C80% sure. It wasn¡¯t likely they knew your position or could survive the traps to reach you. But anything is possible¡ªafter all, I found you.¡± ¡°Fine, then I¡¯ll give myself a six out of ten.¡± ¡°That¡¯s still poor. The ideal approach would have been to eliminate them all at once or individually, without alerting the others¡ªcleanly and precisely.¡± ¡°But I still can¡¯t do that!¡± ¡°You must learn.¡± Wonderful¡­ ¡°How are you feeling?¡± ¡°About what?¡± ¡°About killing three people.¡± ¡°I know what I¡¯ve done, and I feel nothing for them.¡± ¡°Maybe they had families or loved ones.¡± ¡°I have people who are dear to me too. That doesn¡¯t mean I should give up my life for theirs.¡± ¡°Perhaps there was a way to resolve it without killing.¡± ¡°Maybe. But I don¡¯t know. This is how our world works. If I¡¯m constantly worried about others, I¡¯ll lose my own life.¡± ¡°Fine. Now clean up the mess you made. Retrieve the arrows and bury the bodies.¡± ¡°Why? The forest animals can handle it.¡± ¡°Take responsibility for your actions. You killed them¡ªno one else will clean up after you.¡± ¡°Ugh, fine¡­¡± By sunset, I finally finished. When I returned home, my Master greeted me with yet another task. ¡°It¡¯s time for your evening run.¡± Wonderful. I wasted hours cleaning up, and now I¡¯ve lost time for meditation. I keep confirming that my birthday is the worst day of the year. Kail had turned 15. Chapter 15 - nothing is free February 13, 3108 I continued to progress: Movement Technique: Wind Kingdom (4 ¡î) 1st Stage: Territory Formation ¨C 6m without armor, 10m with armor Archery Technique: Tornado Archery (4 ¡î) 1st Stage: Guided Arrow ¨C The time required to charge the arrow with aether: 3 seconds without armor, 1 second with armor Breathing Technique: Tempest Flow (4 ¡î) 2nd Stage: Wind Acceleration ¨C I can easily maintain this for 30 minutes Daily exercises have become a routine that I now manage effortlessly. I complete one full route circuit in an hour, and my technique training has become entirely self-directed. My meditations can last for several hours, and I only stop if the pain from pore overload becomes too intense or if Master tells me to. I estimate that in 2¨C3 months, I will unlock the armor for my right shoulder. Impromptu hunts have become far more engaging, though I still haven¡¯t managed to land a single hit on Master.
November 30, 3107 Improvised Hunting Day I briefly detected Master¡¯s wind current and immediately started running in its direction. As I closed in on Master, I drew a deep inhale. Breathing Technique: Tempest Flow (4 ¡î) 1st Stage: Wind Circulation Mana Armis: Left Foot + Hand ¨C 1st Form Appearance Both my hand and foot were enveloped in small tornados. Next: 2nd Stage: Wind Acceleration Mana Armis: Left Foot + Hand ¨C 2nd Form Condensation My hand and foot became visible again, now covered in armor. The moment my left foot touched the ground: Movement Technique: Wind Kingdom (4 ¡î) 1st Stage: Territory Formation ¨C 9m radius The distance between us closed rapidly, as Master still refrained from using any techniques. The hunt continued like this for hours. To an untrained observer, it would seem as though two silhouettes were vanishing and reappearing across the terrain¡ªon the ground, in trees, or even atop stones. Amazingly, this rapid pursuit caused no disruption to the environment. Occasionally, we passed by animals, but they paid us no mind, likely unaware of our presence due to the sheer speed at which this hunt was taking place. Even though I never lost sight of Master, I couldn¡¯t even manage to fire a single arrow. The direction we moved in kept changing constantly, and whenever an opportunity arose where I could potentially take a shot, Master would vanish¡ªbehind a tree, higher up in the branches, or down on the ground¡ªbut never in a position where he could be hit. How can he have such insane control? Mr. Evans didn¡¯t rely on any component of Mana Armis. With only Wind Circulation and Territory Formation, he achieved such results purely through masterful body control and an unparalleled sense of timing.
February 13, 3108 Today, I decided it was time to begin practicing the next stages of my techniques. Movement Technique: Wind Kingdom (4 ¡î) Stage 2: Illusionary Redirection Upon activation, the technique forms a clone that appears directly from your body, misleading the opponent about your direction. The better the technique is executed, the greater the number of clones that can be created. The major limitation of Territory Formation was that, no matter how fast you moved, the moment it was activated, your movement was constrained to a straight line from the starting point to the edge of the windward hemisphere. The 2nd stage offers a solution to this problem. However, it¡¯s not without flaws: the clone vanishes as soon as it comes into contact with anything. Additionally, if the opponent is highly sensitive to aether¡ªsuch as a ManaDomain user¡ªthey will immediately recognize it as a mana-based illusion. Archery Technique: Tornado Archery (4 ¡î) Stage 2: Wind Slash This technique surrounds the arrow with wind blades that activate and expand upon hitting the target. With greater mastery, more blades can be summoned, and their reach can be extended.
As I read the techniques from the hologram embedded in the coin Master had given me, he approached and spoke. ¡°You go to do missions.¡± ¡°What missions?¡± I asked. ¡°You¡¯ll see,¡± he replied curtly. ¡±Where will I see? I¡¯m in the middle of the forest.¡± ¡±From Collins.¡± ¡±Master, I have no contact with him, and he already has plenty of staff for various missions.¡± ¡±I have contact.¡± With those words, Master handed me a letter. This time, not a folded piece of paper.The author''s narrative has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡±As you probably know, all the equipment we use comes from him.¡± ¡±Yeees?¡± What does this have to do with missions? ¡±I promised him that you would carry out missions for his guild until his debt is repaid.¡± ¡±Master?! At the very least, you could have asked me about this before offering such a proposal.¡± ¡±And what difference would that have made? Were you planning to stop me?¡± ¡±No, but I would have liked to at least know about it.¡± ¡±Calm down. This was a form of insurance. At the time, I wasn¡¯t sure about your origins.¡± Great insurance method¡ªputting a child in debt. ¡±Well, as compensation, you¡¯ll go to Henry at the guild. He¡¯ll give you a 3¡î bow and all the necessary equipment.¡± ¡±For free?¡± ¡±Yes, but he¡¯ll probably mention that if you break something, you¡¯ll have to pay for it.¡± There are no generous people on this earth. ¡±When do I need to leave for the missions? And where am I supposed to go?¡± ¡±Within the next three days. He won¡¯t assign you anything extraordinary at first. As for the location, I don¡¯t know, but you can ask Henry¡ªhe¡¯ll know for sure.¡± ¡±And where can I find him?¡± ¡±In Eryndor, at the central branch of the Iron Spark Guild. Tell them you¡¯re from the Vaylith family, and he¡¯ll find you himself.¡± Okay. I¡¯ll leave tomorrow, then.
February 14, 3108 In the morning, I instinctively got up, washed my face, and started getting ready for my usual run. ¡±Kail, you¡¯re leaving today. There¡¯s no need to run.¡± ¡±Oh¡­ right, there¡¯s that.¡± I packed only the bag I had arrived with¡ªnow much lighter without all the camping equipment¡ªand started to leave the house. ¡±Goodbye, Kail,¡± Master said casually, not even glancing up from the book he was reading in his rocking chair. ¡±Goodbye, Master,¡± I replied. And so, I left the Elderwood Forest for the first time in four years. But I wasn¡¯t the same person who had entered. Kail Cindercrest, the outcast of his clan, had entered the forest. Now, Kail Vaylith, the descendant of Cyclone¡¯s Embrace Martial Arts, was walking out. ¡±And now that descendant doesn¡¯t even know which direction to go, because the first time he was brought here by car.¡± I heard the sound of cars in the distance and started walking toward it. After climbing a hill, I saw a highway about 2 kilometers away. I headed in that direction. When I reached the highway and tried to find transportation by signaling to passing cars, nothing worked. Not wanting to waste more time, I decided to rely on myself. Breathing Technique: Tempest Flow (4¡î) 2nd Stage: Wind Acceleration Mana Armis: Left Foot + Hand ¨C 2nd Form Condensation I began running at a speed that allowed me to keep up with some cars, even forcing the slower ones to maneuver around me. After about 20 minutes, I saw a smaller town in the distance, which I reached in just 5 minutes. Good training. From there, I headed straight for the public transport station. As I entered the station, a bus arrived from the very direction I had just come. Are you kidding me? I purchased a ticket to Eryndor, boarded the bus, and waited for it to depart. Just as the driver was about to close the doors, someone called out for him to wait. Moments later, a strikingly beautiful girl with long black hair and violet eyes stepped onto the bus. I¡¯ve seen her before. After presenting her ticket to the driver, she turned to look for a seat. Her gaze lingered on me for a moment before she sat a few rows ahead. The bus finally started moving and didn¡¯t stop until we arrived in Eryndor.
Eryndor¡ªthe capital of human territories and the city where I was born and spent much of my life. Well, to be precise, I grew up in the territories of the Cindercrest clan, located in the suburbs, but they are still part of Eryndor. Now, I need to find the Iron Spark Guild branch. Where exactly is it? Maybe I should ask someone. As I considered my options, I noticed the girl from the bus standing nearby, seemingly waiting for someone. Without overthinking it, I approached her and asked: ¡°Excuse me, can you tell me where the central branch of the Iron Spark Guild is located?¡± She gave me a strange look before replying. ¡°Why not just check your smartwatch?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t have one.¡± That wasn¡¯t entirely true. I had one, but it was useless in the forest with no signal, so I got rid of it. Besides, it had become too small for me anyway. After another questioning glance, she finally answered. ¡°From here, it¡¯s about 10 kilometers to the southeast. You can take public transport from the adjacent station. It¡¯ll take you straight there.¡± ¡°Thank you very much.¡±
Eventually, I found myself standing in front of a multi-story building adorned with a hammer-and-gear logo. Everyone entering was dressed sharply, wearing suits and formal attire fit for a parade. That¡¯s when it hit me¡ªthis was the day of the weekly auction for specialized equipment. That explains why she looked at me like that earlier. In contrast, I was clad in black and dark green hunting clothes. If you showed up to this kind of event dressed like me, not only would you not be taken seriously, but someone might even suggest you see a doctor. Not that it matters. I¡¯m not here for the auction. Ignoring the puzzled stares directed my way, I entered the lobby and approached the reception desk. ¡°Hello, how can I help you?¡± ¡°Hello, I¡¯m here to meet Mr. Henry.¡± The receptionist raised an eyebrow slightly. ¡°Excuse me, but which Mr. Henry are you referring to?¡± ¡°The former head of the guild.¡± Her welcoming expression didn¡¯t falter, but I noticed a brief pause before she responded. ¡°Ah, you mean Mr. Stoneforge?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± ¡°And who might you be, and what is your business with Mr. Stoneforge?¡± ¡°I¡¯m from the Vaylith family. Mr. Henry knows why I¡¯m here. Just let him know I¡¯ve arrived.¡± ¡°One moment, please.¡± She touched her earpiece, relaying my message. After a brief pause, she nodded to the response she received. Turning her attention back to me, she gestured politely. ¡°Follow me, please.¡± After those words, every person in the hall turned their gaze toward me. It was obvious why¡ªvery few individuals received such special treatment from one of the largest guilds. Typically, this level of service was reserved for members of state leadership, the Twelve Major Classes, or representatives of guilds as prominent as Iron Spark. For me, however, it held little significance. I¡¯d once received similar honors as the most talented representative of the Cindercrest clan, though that was a lifetime ago. The receptionist guided me down to the basement, where the auctions were held. We bypassed the main area and made our way to the VIP section, stopping at the entrance to the central balcony. ¡°Mr. Stoneforge is waiting for you here.¡± ¡°Thank you.¡± Chapter 16 - connections offer a lot I opened the door and saw Mr. Henry seated on a sofa, surrounded by several secretaries. One of them was briefing him on the current state of the auction. "Hello, Mr. Henry," I greeted, making sure he noticed my entrance. "Oh, Kail, you''re here already," he responded, waving his left hand to dismiss the secretaries. "Tell me about the situation after the auction." They left the room without a word, and he turned his attention fully to me. "I didn¡¯t expect to hear the name Vaylith ever again," he said, a wry smile tugging at his lips. "Theoretically, I¡¯m still part of the family," I replied. "Correct. Well, I¡¯m glad to see you¡¯re doing fine. Now, how can I help you?" "Master said I could get a three-star bow and the necessary equipment for completing missions," I explained. "For Evans'' apprentice, I can lend you whatever you need," he said with a nod. "But remember, if you damage anything, you¡¯ll pay for it." "Master already informed me about that possibility," I reassured him. "If you''re already here, would you like to watch the auction?" he asked, motioning to the seating area. "Why not? I don¡¯t have anything else to do right now," I replied. "Good, take a seat. Guests will be arriving soon." As Mr. Henry had predicted, a crowd began to pour into the hall. Everyone was dressed in extravagant clothing, as though they were attending the most significant event of their lives. Even Mr. Henry, despite his casual demeanor, was wearing a suit¡ªthough his jacket struggled to stay buttoned over his stomach. "Kail, do you want some proper clothes while you¡¯re here? You don¡¯t exactly blend in with the crowd," he said, gesturing toward my dark hunting attire. "It doesn¡¯t bother me," I replied with a shrug, "but if you insist." "LIAM!" Mr. Henry called out. The butler from earlier entered, bowing politely. "How can I help you, Mr. Henry?" "Get Kail some proper clothes. Something comfortable," Mr. Henry instructed. "Of course, sir. Mr. Kail, please follow me," Liam said, gesturing for me to come along. He led me to a room filled with an array of suits. Specialized staff quickly got to work fitting and dressing me, though I couldn¡¯t honestly describe the final outfit as comfortable. Afterward, they even styled my hair. When they were finished, I found myself wearing an all-black suit paired with a dark green shirt that brought out the color of my eyes. My hair was neatly arranged, making me look almost unrecognizable. When I returned to Mr. Henry¡¯s room, he was deep in conversation with an older man. Unlike Mr. Henry, this man was well-built and carried himself with a disciplined air. Standing beside him was the girl from the bus. "Good morning," I greeted the new guests with a small bow. They returned my gesture with identical courtesy. "Kail, you¡¯re already back," Mr. Henry said, breaking off his conversation. At Mr. Henry''s words, I noticed the girl carefully studying me from head to toe. "Okay, Henry, we¡¯ll continue this discussion in a more serious setting next time," the older man said. "Gilbert, you know perfectly well that such things are no longer my concern," Mr. Henry replied. "Contact Orlin and sort it out with him." "It¡¯s not my fault he¡¯s been ignoring me for two months now," Gilbert muttered. "Ahh, what can you do? At the moment, he¡¯s more interested in creating than in leading," Mr. Henry said with a sigh. "See you then," Gilbert said, turning to leave. "Good luck," Mr. Henry replied. With that, the man and the girl beside him exited the room. "Are there problems with the Duskthorn clan?" I asked after they were gone. "Nothing serious, just the mess caused by my son¡¯s reckless driving," Mr. Henry answered with a shrug. "That¡¯s why you¡¯re here and not at home?" "Yes! I sent him to the post thinking I¡¯d finally have peace in my life. Who knew that bastard would spend more time in the forge than at a desk full of documents?" He sighed, then continued, "But enough about that. Tell me, what¡¯s Evans doing out there?" "Nothing much¡ªhe just reads and terrorizes me during training," I replied, smirking. "Well, that¡¯s already an improvement from the days when they just threw him into the forest to fend for himself," Mr. Henry said with a chuckle. The sound of people entering the auction room drew our attention. "It¡¯s starting," Mr. Henry noted. The auction host appeared on stage. "Let¡¯s watch," Mr. Henry suggested.If you come across this story on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen from Royal Road. Please report it.
The auction lasted three to four hours, showcasing a variety of items: weapons such as swords, spears, halberds, and daggers; non-aetheric armor of varying quality; and a few lots offering barrier creation methods and generators. I observed the entire auction, but none of the items piqued my interest. Besides, the amounts of money being exchanged were far beyond my reach. "What do you think?" Mr. Henry asked as the auction ended. "It was interesting, but nothing particularly useful for me," I replied honestly. "Today¡¯s auction was aimed at small clans and guilds, so there wasn¡¯t anything too valuable. Come on, let¡¯s get you a bow," he said, standing up. "Sure!" I agreed, following him. This time, we approached the elevator. Instead of pressing a floor number, Mr. Henry entered a password, and the elevator began moving upward at a speed much faster than usual. When the doors opened, Mr. Henry stepped forward and placed his hand on a nearby panel. After a few seconds, another set of doors slid open, revealing a large storage area. "There¡¯s nothing too precious here," he explained as we stepped inside. "These are mostly our mass production items and a few weaker or defective works." Indeed, the room was filled with rows of identical weapons, and only a few stood out as unique creations. We walked to the far end of the room, where Mr. Henry paused and said: "It would be best to choose from these. Some of the more powerful ones would simply be inefficient for you to use right now." He wasn¡¯t wrong. The more valuable and powerful a weapon, the greater the strength and aether control it required to wield it effectively. With only two armor components activated in my Mana Armis, I didn¡¯t yet have the capability to handle such weapons. I began browsing through the selection. There were various bows on display¡ªlongbows, recurve bows, and composite bows. My eyes were drawn to a recurve bow where the lower limb was made of black metal, while the upper limb and riser were crafted from a gray wood. The wooden parts were laced with fine green lines, while the metal featured blue straight lines that angled and shifted as if alive. "What¡¯s the story with this bow? Was it damaged?" I asked. "It wasn¡¯t damaged but modified," Mr. Henry explained. "During processing, the wood that was meant for the lower limb began to rot¡ªperhaps due to temperature issues or a flaw in the material. The craftsman didn¡¯t want to discard his work, so he cut out the rotted section and replaced it with a metal alloy similar to the wood¡¯s properties." "What¡¯s it called?" "Steelflag. It¡¯s a 3-star bow, but originally, it was meant to be a 4-star. Because of its history, you won¡¯t be able to draw out its full potential right now. You¡¯d need at least one or two more armor components to use it at its intended level." "Regardless, I¡¯ll take it," I said without hesitation. "As you wish," Mr. Henry replied. He approached the wall where the bow was mounted and sent a small surge of aether toward it. The bow, which had been in a stable position, seemed to loosen its grip on the mount and fell gently into his hand. "Here you go. Take good care of it," he said, handing it to me. "Thank you very much," I replied, gripping the bow firmly. "Now, onto the standard equipment," he said, turning toward the exit, where most of the mass-produced items were displayed. He pointed in two different directions. "Pick suitable clothes from there and consumables¡ªarrows, knives, and whatever else you need¡ªfrom the other section. I¡¯ll wait for you at the exit." I nodded and headed toward the racks of reinforced clothing. After some browsing, I selected a black zippered jacket with a hood, accented by silver details, along with black combat pants and a pair of reinforced sports shoes. Despite their durability, the shoes were light and comfortable. Next, I moved to the consumables section, where I grabbed two quivers of arrows and a pair of tactical knives. Once I was satisfied, I made my way to the exit, where Mr. Henry was waiting. "Is that everything?" he asked. "Seems like it," I replied. "Yes, you are modest; you only took the minimum necessary," Mr. Henry remarked with a smirk. "But what¡¯s the point of surplus equipment?" I replied. "If you could see what would happen if I opened these doors to most boys your age, they¡¯d grab everything in sight and wouldn¡¯t leave until they were carrying the maximum weight they could manage." "If they think that¡¯s what they need, let them take it. I¡¯d rather come back only when I truly need something than make a single visit and take it all in one go." "And who says you¡¯ll come back here again?" "Intuition," I replied confidently. "Then we¡¯ll see if your intuition holds true." With that, the doors to the room slowly closed behind us. "Mr. Henry, can you tell me how I can find Dr. Collins?" "Collins? That old fox? Who knows where he¡¯s holed up right now? But I know how to contact him. Do you need something specific?" "Yes, I need to receive my mission from him." "Ah, that¡¯s even simpler. Just download an application to your smartwatch and contact the curator. Once you tell them who you are, they¡¯ll send you the mission directly." "About that¡­ I¡¯ll need a new smartwatch. Mine stopped working long ago." "No problem." Mr. Henry raised his hand to his chest and pressed a screen embedded in his suit, causing a holographic interface to appear. After typing out a message, he led me back to the auction room. We took the elevator to a different floor, where the butler, Liam, was already waiting for us. "Mr. Kail, please," Liam said as he handed me a small box. I opened it to find a sleek pair of black smartwatches with a round screen and green accents. "Thank you very much," I said, impressed by their design. "Open it and add me to your contacts," Mr. Henry instructed. "I¡¯ll send you the application." "Just a moment." I connected the smartwatch, added Mr. Henry¡¯s information, and downloaded the app he sent me. "Do you have a place to stay for the night?" Mr. Henry asked. "I was planning to find a hotel." "No need for that," he replied with a wave of his hand. "Liam, get him an apartment in the city that¡¯s currently unoccupied." "Of course, Mr. Henry," Liam responded with a slight bow. "I have a lot of work, Kail, so I¡¯ll leave you here. Good luck." "Thank you for your time," I said sincerely. Mr. Henry departed, leaving me with Liam. The butler took the items I was holding and instructed me to wait for him at the reception. After a short while, Liam returned carrying a case similar to the one for the guitar and two bags: the bag I originally arrived with and a new sports bag. "In the case is your bow," Liam explained. "And in this bag are the rest of your belongings." He then handed me a card, pulling it from his pocket. "This is the key to an apartment on the outskirts of the city. You¡¯re free to use it as you need. It¡¯s currently unoccupied." ¡±And the address?¡± "The car is waiting for you at the entrance," Liam informed me. "Thank you very much." "You''re welcome." I nodded briefly in farewell and made my way to the exit, where, as promised, a car was waiting for me. The driver greeted me with a polite nod as I got in, and soon we were on our way. The building we arrived at was nothing extraordinary¡ªa modest house located in a residential sector of the city. The apartment was on the 8th floor, numbered 29. It was a simple but functional space, already furnished, with two rooms, a kitchen, and a bathroom. It¡¯s convenient to have rich acquaintances, I was thinking as I looked around the apartment. Chapter 17 - political people are horrible February 15, 3108 Let¡¯s see what I have to do, I thought as I opened the app. The interface displayed only a chat page, with a prompt recommending me to start by entering my name, surname, specialization, and rank. I complied. Kail Vaylith, Scout/Archery, ManaArmis User (4 points) Of course, I was lying. I still lacked 2 points to officially consider myself an Armored User. But these ranks were more like a loose classification of professionals. It wasn¡¯t uncommon for a high-ranked ManaUser to defeat someone who had just leveled up to ManaWarrior. However, this wasn¡¯t the case for Masters and GrandMasters¡ªthe gap between those ranks was just too vast. The response to my data didn¡¯t arrive immediately. A few hours later, I finally received a message. ?Welcome to the Surrounding Darkness agency. Your identity has been confirmed. To proceed, please complete the entry mission.? Surrounding Darkness? I muttered to myself. Then it¡¯s clear why I didn¡¯t know who Mr. Collins was. The Surrounding Darkness agency¡ªthe largest independent organization specializing in intelligence, assassinations, disappearances, and identity creation. They facilitated work with no documentation required and allowed their clients to acquire what they needed discreetly. The true extent of their organization was unknown, as they kept everything under strict secrecy. Many sought their services or applied for work, though opportunities were rare and highly selective. The mission details appeared on my screen: ?Mission: Follow Lorian Gulian. Male, 68 years old, 176 cm, long gray hair. Occupation: Businessman, currently holds a position in the Ministry of Finance. Objective: Shadow the target without being detected for one week. Interactions with the target are strictly prohibited. Requirements: Send daily reports detailing the target''s locations and timestamps, as well as descriptions or photographs of any unknown individuals interacting with the target. All information must be submitted by 00:43 under the initial message titled "Invisible Steps." Failure Clause: If you are observed, captured, or killed, the agency bears no responsibility, and all ties with you will be severed irreparably. Note: This message will be deleted after accepting or declining the mission. Accept/Decline? The instructions were clear. However, tailing someone from the Ministry of Finance right on my first mission was undoubtedly risky. But at the moment, I needed experience more than anything else. Without overthinking it, I pressed Accept. The message vanished instantly, and my first mission began. I went online and started researching Mr. Gulian. The information I found was... intriguing. He had begun his career as a businessman in the pharmaceutical industry, rising from an ordinary family. Over the years, he had faced numerous accusations of financial manipulation¡ªboth in stock dealings and in the quality of his company''s products. However, despite the sheer volume of accusations, not once had he been brought to trial. ¡°Let¡¯s see, Mr. Gulian, what are you hiding?¡± I inspected Steelflag (3¡î). It felt wonderful in my hand, but when I tried to stretch the bowstring, I only managed to draw it about 70%. The aether moves wonderfully through it, but it felt like it could handle more than I can offer at the moment. When I returned the bow, I noticed that in the bow case, there was room for a small quiver. ¡°I¡¯ll need to stop by a specialty store to pick up a hip quiver. And binoculars with thermal vision will definitely come in handy.¡± I put on some casual clothes¡ªa pair of jeans, a hoodie, and boots. Wearing specialized gear in public would only draw unnecessary attention. After grabbing a suitable quiver and a pair of thermal binoculars, I packed them into cases and made my way toward the Ministry of Finance building. The ministry was an imposing structure in the heart of the capital, surrounded by other towering buildings that stood at a respectful distance. First things first, I need to figure out which office belongs to him. I stepped into the main hall, but before I could get far, a man in a suit stopped me. ¡°Sorry, entry is for authorized personnel only.¡± I decided to play innocent, pitching my voice higher in an attempt to sound younger than I was. ¡°Excuse me, do you know if the building organizes tours?¡± The man frowned, unimpressed. ¡°No.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t discourage the child,¡± interrupted a woman in a suit of the same design as the man¡¯s. ¡°Ms. Jane¡­¡± he began, hesitating. ¡°Why are you so tense, as if he¡¯s going to stab you the moment you let your guard down? Relax.¡±Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon. ¡°Yes, ma¡¯am.¡± Turning to me, she asked, ¡°Did you say something about a tour?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± I replied enthusiastically, playing up the role. ¡°If I¡¯m not mistaken, students from the University of Economics are scheduled to visit tomorrow. If you speak to their group, they might let you join.¡± ¡°Thank you very much!¡± I said, trying to sound both excited and grateful. I left the building, grinning. That went better than expected. The two who stopped me were likely Mana Masters, judging by their aether concentration. Alright, now I need to wait for Mr. Gulian somehow¡­ Directly across from the ministry building was a small caf¨¦, where I decided to sit and observe. I stayed there until evening, and finally, my target emerged from the building. Lorian Gulian was neither fat nor slim, but his movements and general demeanor confirmed he wasn¡¯t a fighter. The aether concentration around him was weak, almost youthful. His bodyguards, however, told a different story¡ªthey radiated strength, their aether concentration sharp and disciplined. Why would a simple worker in the Ministry of Finance need three bodyguards? I left the caf¨¦ and began tailing him. While I couldn¡¯t keep him in direct sight at all times in the crowded streets, his wind current was easy to follow. In the bustling city, many currents overlapped and mingled, but his was surrounded by three much stronger ones, likely belonging to his guards. After about 100 meters, Gulian entered a car, and their currents faded as the vehicle sped away. Great. That''s a Problem. Running after them in the middle of the city wasn¡¯t an option, and leaping from one building to another wasn¡¯t feasible either¡ªthe structures were too far apart. Let¡¯s ask the agency. I opened the application on my smartwatch and sent a message: ?I need a method to follow my target from the city center.? This time, the response came almost instantly: ?We can provide a tracking device. It will function for 24 hours before self-destructing. The target''s route will be transmitted directly to your smartwatch.? ?When would it be available?? ?Within three hours after payment.? ?How much does it cost?? ?2000 VA per unit.? ?I¡¯ll take two.? ?Transfer the amount to this account: ¡­? I quickly transferred the funds. ?Payment confirmed. Please wait.?
February 16, 3108 When the tracking devices arrived, I immediately attached one to a target vehicle, making sure to stay unnoticed. From that point, tracking Gulian became significantly easier. The next part of my plan involved gaining access to the ministry building itself. I managed to approach the guide for the university group visiting that day, armed with a wad of money and a heartfelt request. The guide, perhaps charmed or simply indifferent, allowed me to join the group. Once inside, I stayed with the students as they toured the ministry. When we reached the upper floors, I discreetly broke away from the group. Navigating carefully, I made my way to the 17th floor, where I located Gulian¡¯s office. Its windows faced south, giving me a useful reference point for future observations. After noting the layout and potential access points, I rejoined the group and exited the building with them, blending back into the crowd as if nothing had happened. I found a suitable building with a clear view of the windows I needed to monitor. Climbing to its roof, I began my surveillance of our dear corrupter. Exactly 20 minutes after I started observing him, various individuals began entering his office. They engaged in brief conversations, leaving behind envelopes¡ªtheir contents painfully obvious. At 17:00, Gulian gathered his belongings and left the office, signaling it was time for me to move. I returned to the location where I had halted the tracking the previous day. His white luxury car was still there, the tracking gadget safely hidden inside its casing. Keeping my distance, I waited until the car began moving again. Once it started, I followed from a safe distance, walking at a brisk but inconspicuous pace. As the journey stretched into the outskirts of the city, the distance between us grew. When the city skyline disappeared behind me, I paused to prepare myself. I inhaled and activated my technique: Breathing Technique: Tempest Flow (4¡î), Stage 2: Wind Acceleration Mana Armis: Left Foot + Hand ¨C 2nd Form Condensation With this preparation, I quickly closed the gap and arrived at the location where the car had stopped. I got up on a hill, and before me stood an enormous two-story house with an extravagant terrace adorned with all kinds of decorations and jewelry. It¡¯s comfortable to live like a corrupter, I thought grimly. Using the thermal binoculars, I began a closer inspection. What I saw sent a chill down my spine. There were many people in the basement, crammed into tight spaces as if they were trapped behind the walls. Their body temperatures were noticeably lower than normal¡ªclear signs of suffering. I noticed another figure, seemingly free, entering the basement. With disturbing ease, this person grabbed one of the captives and dragged her upstairs. From my vantage point, I could see through the large glass wall behind the house. I watched as a girl, possibly my age or even younger, was subjected to torture on the second floor. Two excruciating hours of screams and cruelty which I followed without intervening, I retreated into the forest near the house, staying hidden as I processed everything I had witnessed. I am not a man of justice or a hero. I have a mission to carry out. If I receive an order to eliminate this pig in human skin, I will do so. But until then, I cannot get involved. At exactly 00:43, I transmitted a detailed report of the day¡¯s events, including the times each incident occurred. The response came swiftly: "The information has been received. Continue tracking." This is how my schedule was established for the week: 7:30 - The target leaves for work. 8:00¨C12:00 - He spends the morning in his office working on documents. 12:00¨C13:00 - Lunch break. He either visits a nearby caf¨¦ or receives food delivery. 13:00¨C17:00 - A variety of visitors arrive, all dressed in suits. Most of them leave envelopes, presumably filled with money. 17:00¨C17:30 - He returns home. 17:30¨C21:00 - rapes and tortures minor girls 21:00¨C6:00 - sleeps Chapter 18 - happiness of pigs February 22, 3108 I spent the last few days observing Mr. Gulian''s life, and I can confidently say his days have been far from ideal. If on the first day he received around 20 visitors, now none were coming. This lack of activity clearly stressed him out, and his frustration manifested in acts of aggression towards both his staff and his prisoners. Three days ago, during his habitual abuse, one of his victims died. Surprisingly, this incident did not cause any panic in the household. The girl¡¯s body was thrown into a car, which returned two hours later, empty. It was evident this wasn¡¯t the first time something like this had happened, and the household seemed disturbingly familiar with the procedure for such situations. There was, however, a notable shift in the household''s routine. Decorations began to appear around the house, the prisoners were no longer restrained against the walls, and their body temperatures gradually normalized. Clearly, preparations for an event were underway.
15:00 An unfamiliar car arrived in the yard, and from it emerged a massive man¡ªnot tall, but broad and imposing. As soon as the man stepped out, Mr. Gulian hurried to greet him. In all the time I¡¯d been observing him, this was the first instance I had seen such deferential behavior from him. The newcomer was escorted to the freshly prepared room, and over the next hour, more luxurious cars began arriving. Men of varying ages, from 40 to 90, stepped out, all dressed in formal suits and arriving in vehicles that radiated wealth and power.
16:16 Another car pulled into the driveway, and this one seemed to be of particular importance. All the guests who had previously arrived went outside to greet the new arrival. The man who stepped out appeared to be around 85 years old. He had only a few strands of hair on the top of his head and leaned on a brown walking stick. From the opposite side of the car, a woman emerged, and she was no ordinary woman¡ªshe was an elf. Her long blonde hair, elegant posture, and breathtaking figure exuded an otherworldly allure. She was a sight to behold, the kind of beauty that could drive men to desperate lengths just to gain her favor. What is she doing in human territory? And in the capital, no less? Even though the war between races was officially over, tensions still ran high. Skirmishes over territory occasionally broke out on the continents, making her presence here both intriguing and alarming. I received an answer to my thoughts rather quickly. At one point, the elf collapsed to the ground, clutching her chest. Her previously closed eyes were now visible¡ªor rather, the absence of them was. For elves, eyes hold immense significance. Unlike humans, who can assimilate and manipulate aether internally, elves rely on their eyes to perceive and control atmospheric aether. An elf without eyes is akin to a human without martial arts¡ªthey can assimilate aether to some extent, but they cannot manipulate or wield it effectively.
What followed for the rest of the day was horrifyingly predictable. The prisoners from the basement¡ªwomen, men, and even children¡ªwere brought out. What ensued was a grotesque display of cruelty, a scene that stripped any semblance of humanity from the perpetrators. Late into the night, as I prepared to retreat, I saw the elf approach a window. She gazed into the distance, then turned her sightless face directly toward me. "Impossible," I thought. She had no eyes¡ªthere was no way she could see me. But then, I caught her lips moving. Through the binoculars, I made out the faintest impression of a word: "R-U-N." Before I could react, I saw movement through the thermal visor¡ªguards were gathering near the house''s exit. Their Mana Armis was already activated, and they were clearly guided in my direction. Though there was considerable distance between the house and my position, I knew they could reach me in moments.
I quickly packed my equipment into my case and took a deep breath. Breathing Technique: Tempest Flow (4¡î) Stage 2: Wind Acceleration Mana Armis: Left Foot + Hand ¨C 2nd Form Condensation This was what I had trained for¡ªrunning. The terrain was familiar to me, and I knew the most efficient routes. Still, I estimated I had no more than two minutes before they would catch me. If they did, I would vanish without a trace, just like the others who had disappeared before me.
1 minute remaining. The highway came into view. If I could find a car to hide behind, I might have a chance to escape. 30 seconds. I reached the edge of the highway but saw no vehicles. This wasn¡¯t a major road, and traffic was sparse. Then, in the distance, I spotted a truck. It was my only chance. Without hesitation, I sprinted directly toward it. 10 seconds. As the truck''s headlights bore down on me, I veered to the left at the last moment and activated my next technique. Movement Technique: Wind Kingdom (4¡î) Stage 1: Territory Formation-10mStolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences. I propelled myself into the truck¡¯s gravel trailer, landing safely within. I hope they will not chase me anymore "That was close." If the elf hadn¡¯t warned me in advance, I would have been captured. I had no time to spare. "How did they find out about me?" When the truck had traveled a safe distance, I finally stood up. Checking the time on my smartwatch, I realized it was 00:50. I was late submitting my report. Left with no other option, I sent it late, including the photos I had taken through the smartwatch¡¯s camera. I¡¯d managed to enhance the images using the binoculars¡¯ magnification feature. Alongside the pictures, I explained my delay, citing an exceptional situation. "Information has been received." That simple message gave me a measure of relief. At least I wasn¡¯t considered dead. Not yet.
February 24, 3108 A day passed without any response from the agency. I started preparing to return to Forest Elderwood, gathering my belongings and packing a few souvenirs for the Master. Just as I was finishing, I received an unexpected message: "Come to the cafe at Str. Coalition 54/9." "Strange," I thought. It would¡¯ve been smarter to ignore the message and stick to my plan, but before I could dismiss it, another message arrived: "Mr. Collins is waiting for you." That changed everything. If Mr. Collins was involved, this was worth my attention.
The cafe was tucked away in an alley between two buildings, its style old yet inviting. I found the address easily enough using the online map. When I opened the door, the rich aroma of coffee hit me immediately. My eyes swept the interior, noting the bar counter where a barista worked quietly behind the bar. ¡°Kail, come here.¡± A voice called out to me from one of the dimly lit corners. A familiar voice called out to me from the corner of the cafe. It was Mr. Collins. Without hesitation, I made my way over and sat in the seat opposite him. On the table between us was a chessboard, the white pieces facing me, as they always did. Without much thought, I made the move I always started with when playing against Mr. Collins: E4. Predictably, his response was the same as always: E5. Only then did I realize I hadn¡¯t even greeted him. I quickly corrected my oversight. ¡°Good morning, Mr. Collins.¡± ¡°Hi, Kail.¡± ¡°What was the reason for calling me here?¡± ¡°You¡¯ve successfully completed your mission.¡± ¡°Was that enough reason for you to call me personally?¡± ¡°Of course not,¡± he replied with a faint smile. ¡°I wanted to play a chess match.¡± ¡°Well then, fine,¡± I said, not wanting to push for unnecessary details. The less I knew, the safer both of us would be. We continued the game in silence for a few moments before Mr. Collins spoke again. ¡°What did you think about the mission?¡± ¡°It was fairly easy,¡± I replied. ¡°Only on the last day did I run into some difficulty.¡± ¡°You know the usual reaction of most people in missions like this?¡± ¡°Not entirely, but I can guess how the majority would act.¡± ¡°In these types of missions, 70% of beginners fail. Do you know where they go wrong?¡± ¡°When they choose to do something unnecessary.¡± ¡°Exactly,¡± he said, nodding. ¡°Whether it¡¯s trying to save prisoners or killing the perpetrator of the crime, most of them do succeed in those goals. However¡ª¡± I cut him off. ¡°That makes sense. The house didn¡¯t have any major security measures. The only significant challenge was the Guards, and even they moved predictably during the day. If I¡¯d wanted to, I¡¯m sure I had at least a thousand ways to pierce his skull with a single arrow.¡± Collins raised a finger. ¡°But here¡¯s what happens: people who decide to intervene typically don¡¯t live more than three or four days afterward.¡± This surprised me. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Kail,¡± he said, leaning forward, ¡°those who hold major positions in the state¡¯s leadership have a specialized defense unit: the Special Forces for Authorized Persons, or S.F.A.P. You¡¯ve already encountered two of them.¡± ¡°The security at the Ministry of Economy?¡± ¡°Exactly. S.F.A.P. protects high-ranking officials and, when necessary, cleans up their messes. These are the people you don¡¯t want to cross.¡± ¡°From what you¡¯re saying, should I assume they¡¯re after me now?¡± ¡°No, you¡¯re not a target.¡± ¡°But they clearly knew I was monitoring the building¡ªthey even sent Guards after me!¡± Collins shook his head. ¡°They didn¡¯t know about you. One of my people reported that one of the prisoners escaped. That¡¯s why the Guards were deployed.¡± My grip instinctively tightened on the knife in my pocket. My mind raced as I began planning how to leave the room as efficiently as possible. ¡°Calm down,¡± Collins said, his tone steady. ¡°Put the knife away. It won¡¯t do you any good here, anyway.¡± Then, I felt an immense pressure radiating from the Barista, who was calmly grinding coffee beans at the counter. "What the hell is a Grandmaster doing out here?" Realizing there was no viable escape, I reluctantly loosened my grip on the knife and shifted my focus back to the chessboard. I made another move, more out of habit than strategy. ¡°Why?¡± I asked. Collins leaned back, his expression unreadable. ¡°We still had to test your skills somehow. Besides, you lied.¡± ¡°It wasn¡¯t anything major,¡± I countered. ¡°It¡¯s not about the importance of the lie,¡± Collins said, his tone sharp. ¡°It¡¯s the fact that you transmitted false information at all.¡± ¡°And now what?¡± ¡°Nothing. You completed your mission excellently,¡± he said, his tone softening slightly. ¡°For seven days, you sent qualitative and accurate reports. You followed the rules, didn¡¯t overstep, and even managed to evade six ManaWarriors without being a ManaUser yourself. That¡¯s more than enough. Your account has been authorized. Congratulations¡ªyou¡¯re now considered a temporary agent of the Surrounding Darkness agency.¡± I leaned back, absorbing the information. ¡°What will my next missions be like?¡± ¡°Once a month, you¡¯ll receive mission details. If you don¡¯t respond within two days, it will be considered a rejection. For now, your assignments will involve tracking and gathering information. Later, perhaps after you turn eighteen and officially become a ManaUser, you might be offered assassination missions. If you¡¯re interested, you can eventually become a permanent agent. Should you choose that path, all information about you will be erased¡ªyour fingerprints, the shape of your ears, the alignment of your teeth, even your sinuses will be altered to give you a different voice.¡± ¡°No thanks,¡± I said flatly. ¡°I¡¯m only doing this to repay my debt.¡± ¡°Debt?¡± ¡°For the things I took four years ago.¡± Collins chuckled faintly. ¡°Well, those were bought with Evans¡¯ money.¡± ¡°Wonderful. So, I did this out of my own desire, not even knowing it myself,¡± I thought, rolling my eyes internally. Standing up, I extended a hand politely. ¡°Thank you for your time.¡± ¡°Thank you for the game,¡± he replied with a faint smile. This match, like many before it, was yet another loss for me. Chapter 19 - no one keeps their word February 24, 3108 Elderwood Forest, night ¡°Master, you lied to me again!¡± I exclaimed as I entered the house. The Master, as always, sat in the same chair, wearing the same calm expression, though the book in his hands was different this time. He glanced up briefly, then returned to his reading. ¡°Otherwise, you might have chosen whether or not to take the mission. But with the thought of being in debt, that choice vanished. The first time, I didn¡¯t deceive you.¡± ¡°Even so, you didn¡¯t tell me everything¡ªand you used me!¡± ¡°How was the mission?¡± he asked, ignoring my complaint. ¡°Agh... it was fine. I became a temporary agent.¡± ¡°Good job,¡± he said with a faint smile. ¡°Now, put on your weighted jacket and go for a run.¡± ¡°Sure,¡± I replied, resigned. "I have the feeling there¡¯s simply no point in arguing with the Master," I thought as I headed to change.
April 20, 3108 For the third time, I found myself packing my things to prepare for another mission. I¡¯d made arrangements with the agency to send me missions on the 20th of each month, starting in May, because once I entered the forest, all outside signals became unavailable. As soon as I stepped out of the forest¡¯s bounds, a notification appeared on my smartwatch: ?Mission: Find Kondrat Fleming. Male, 40 years old, dark hair, yellow eyes. Occupation: Drags dealer, murderer. Last seen in the northern part of Eryndor. It is necessary to locate his position and report it along with his daily route. The information obtained must be transmitted at 23:53 within 5 days starting today. Accept/Decline.? This mission was different from the previous two, which only required tracking people whose locations were already known. Still, the change didn¡¯t faze me. ¡°I accept,¡± I said aloud, confirming the mission. This time, I didn¡¯t sprint toward the city, as in addition to my bag of combat clothes, I was also carrying the bow case in my hand. Instead, I waited for public transport, which arrived shortly after. The ride back to the capital was uneventful. Once there, I headed straight to the apartment provided to me by Mr. Henry. At the apartment, I dropped off the bag of combat clothes and, with the bow case still in hand, made my way toward the northern sector of the capital. Compared to the other parts of Eryndor, which had been recently renovated or newly constructed, the northern sector was a stark contrast. It was old and decaying, riddled with abandoned buildings, wandering people, and an air of hopeless disaster surrounding everything. Generally, people in the capital weren¡¯t very talkative unless you were someone of status or renown. But in the northern sector, it was even worse. Encounters with people carrying knives or even firearms were not uncommon. While such weapons posed little threat to martial artists, they were still deadly for ordinary citizens. How should I start? Walking around openly asking about my target''s location would be idiotic; it would only alert him faster than I could uncover any information. Forcefully extracting details wasn¡¯t a great option either, which left me with the most time-consuming¡ªyet safest¡ªstrategy. We start with a drugged person. This approach would take time, but it was a surefire way to find a lead. A drug user needs a dealer, and a dealer needs supplies, which would eventually lead me to Kondrat. The first day wasn¡¯t very productive. Finding a drugged person wasn¡¯t a problem¡ªthey were in almost every third abandoned building I checked. Eventually, I chose one individual to follow, though luck wasn¡¯t on my side. Day one ended with no significant progress; all I had was the same person in my sights.
April 21, 3108 By noon on the second day, I finally spotted a drug dealer. I switched my focus to tailing him instead. He spent most of his time in the same area, but later that evening, he left the city and headed toward an abandoned factory. After ensuring no one noticed me, I climbed onto the factory¡¯s roof. Several armed guards with rifles were stationed around, so direct confrontation was out of the question. I spotted a ventilation duct on the roof and decided it would be my way in. Using my movement technique, I silently reached the opening and slipped inside. Crawling through the ducts, I positioned myself above a room where the dealers were discussing sales and their remaining stock of drugs. Now we change who we follow. I spent two to three hours inside the ventilation system, waiting for my next lead. Eventually, my patience was rewarded. A new man arrived to pick up a fresh shipment of goods. As he headed for the exit, I began tailing him¡ªthough from a different route to avoid detection. When it was time to leave the ventilation system, I noticed something troubling: a large group of heavily armed individuals had gathered outside. These weren¡¯t just the usual guards; they were gang members, and they were prepared for anything. I had to move quickly, as my target was getting further away. At the exit of the factory grounds, several cars were parked¡ªone of them likely belonged to Kondrat. With no better option, I pulled my hood over my head and joined a group of people heading out. Surprisingly, this worked, even though I was a little shorter than most of them. Everyone seemed preoccupied, either caught up in their own tasks or engaged in heated discussions. That is, until one man noticed me. His gaze lingered, and as he got closer, I could tell he wasn¡¯t going to let me slip by unnoticed. When he reached out to pull down my hood, he muttered, "Hey, bro, who¡ª" Thud. I hit him squarely in the leg, hard enough to knock him off balance. He stumbled and fell face-first onto the asphalt.Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. By the time he scrambled back to his feet, I had already ducked behind another group of people, disappearing from his view. Once I was clear of the factory, I spotted Kondrat getting into a car some distance away. Without hesitation, I pulled out my second tracking device, activated it, and tossed it near the back of his vehicle. The dim light of dusk worked in my favor, making it unlikely he¡¯d notice.
April 23, 3108 The previous day had been uneventful. I shadowed Kondrat, observed his movements, and sent updates at night. I was just about to pack up and head back when a new message arrived: ?Mission Update: Eliminate Kondrat Fleming. Kondrat is a former agent of the Surrounding Darkness. We¡¯ve received information that he is seeking a buyer for confidential mission details he previously completed. Prevent the transmission of this information by eliminating the target along with all associated documents or devices. Accept/Decline? I thought I wasn¡¯t supposed to receive assassination missions until I turned 18. Despite my hesitation, I didn¡¯t bother asking why. I pressed Accept. ?The transfer is scheduled to take place at 01:00. Your task is to intercept it.? Fantastic. Not only did I have to eliminate him, but I also had less than an hour to locate him. I quickly suited up. My combat gear consisted of reinforced jacket, pants, and boots, all modified to ensure durability and allow for unimpeded aether flow. I grabbed the case containing my bow, along with a quiver of arrows. It was time to act. That''s how I began my new mission. In under an hour, I arrived at Kondrat''s house, but he was already gone. The car''s still here. That means the location isn¡¯t far. Public or private? Do they already know each other? Will the exchange be in cash or through a bank transfer? And why doesn¡¯t the largest agency have a single piece of useful information for this? BOOM! A gunshot echoed through the night. What are the odds that when an exchange is supposed to happen, a gunshot rings out? BOOM! BOOM! Yeah, this definitely has something to do with it I rushed toward the direction of the gunfire, my steps quick and deliberate. The sound led me to an abandoned five-story building that looked like it was once meant to be a parking garage. I climbed the stairs cautiously, checking each floor as I ascended. On the fourth floor, I found Kondrat. He was already dead, his neck twisted at an unnatural angle. A gun lay beside him. As I surveyed the area, I felt it¡ªan unmistakable wind current rippling through the room. Whoever did this is at least a ManaUser. The current was fading fast. I bolted in the direction it led, running as if my life depended on it. I have to catch him before he disappears into other currents About 200 meters away, I spotted him. A man in a long coat stood against the backdrop of swirling wind currents. "I¡¯ve got you now." Breathing technique: Tempest Flow (4¡î). Second Stage: Wind Acceleration. Mana Armis flared to life around me. Left Foot + Left Hand ¨C 2nd Form Condensation. With speed and precision, I pulled out my bow and an arrow from the quiver. Archery Technique: Tornado Archery (4¡î). First Stage: Guided Arrow. I released the arrow, aiming for his back. But just as it was about to strike, he shifted to the side, and the arrow embedded itself in his shoulder instead. He turned to face me, and I watched as wind currents began to swirl around him, growing stronger by the second he began to condense his armor The first arrow wasn¡¯t enough. I swiftly nocked another arrow onto the bow, my grip steady as I aimed once more. Archery Technique: Tornado Archery (4¡î) First Stage: Guided Arrow The result was even worse than the first arrow; it failed to even penetrate his armor. His ManaWarrior form was reinforced with four components of minor armor and two of medium armor¡ªone on his right forearm and the other on his left calf. If I have to face him in close combat, my chances of not winning¡ªbut merely surviving¡ªare equal to zero. After he stopped the second arrow, realizing that I wasn''t a stronger opponent, he charged straight toward me. By the fifth arrow, it was clear that continuing was pointless. He avoided my shots with ease, and even when I tried to manipulate wind currents to create unusual trajectories, the arrows deflected harmlessly off his armor. I turned and began to run in the opposite direction. Buying time was my only hope¡ªif I could hide somewhere before more ManaWarriors arrived, I might have a chance. We neared a park, and as we entered, I noticed a small cave-like opening beneath a stone bridge spanning an small artificial river. The man in the overcoat continued to pursue me, closing the distance rapidly. The trees around us reduced his line of sight, and I decided to use that to my advantage. When we passed the stone bridge, I veered to the left, leading him in the opposite direction of the bridge. Once I confirmed that he also turned left, I used a tree as cover between us. Movement Technique: Wind Kingdom (4¡î) First Stage: Territory Formation ¨C 10m, back In a flash, I reappeared near the bridge. This time, I leaped under it and slipped into the small cave I had noticed earlier. To avoid detection, I disabled my aether circuit, suppressing the flow of aether around me. Moments later, I heard his voice echo through the park. "It doesn''t make sense to hide. I''ll find you sooner or later anyway. Just come out, and I''ll kill you quickly¡ªI don''t want to waste my time." Excuse me, I thought bitterly, but such an option does not satisfy me. I crouched deeper into the small cave, weighing my options carefully. At the moment, I had three clear paths:
  1. Surrender and be quickly killed.
  2. Attempt to run and risk being caught.
  3. Stay hidden and hope he gives up or reinforcements arrive.
The first option was a definite no¡ªI hadn''t endured all this only to throw my life away. The second was nearly as hopeless; his speed far surpassed mine. The third seemed the most logical, but it carried the risk of him finding me before help could arrive. Then we move to the fourth option, I murmured to myself. My armor was nearly open at the right shoulder. Based on my observations, another two or three sessions of meditation would open it completely. However, I lacked time to attempt that by standard option. It''s time for something painful and risky. I assumed the meditation position. From the moment I activate the circuit, time would tick by in mere seconds as the aether concentration within me would rapidly increase, becoming visible. But I had no other option. Breathing Technique: Tempest Flow (4¡î) First Stage: Wind Circulation This was how I always began, calmly circulating the aether through my body. Usually, I stopped at this stage during regular meditation sessions. But now, the circumstances demanded something far more extreme. Second Stage: Wind Acceleration I increased the speed of the circuit as always towards the parts with the already open armor. Simultaneously, I accelerated the aether¡¯s movement toward the arteries in my right shoulder, focusing the energy there. Almost immediately, pain began to sear through my pores. My body screamed in protest, crying out for me to stop the torment I was forcing it to endure. But I couldn¡¯t. This was the only way I could survive. Even with the intense acceleration, the armor on my arm refused to open. I¡¯m going to regret this very much, I thought grimly. Third Stage: Windstorm Transformation "AAAAAAAAAAAA!" Chapter 20 - progress hurts "I found you." The man in the coat approached the bridge with confidence, the faint glow of aether illuminating his path. His sharp eyes scanned the area until they settled on the cave, where light had briefly flickered moments ago. "I found you. Get out now so we don¡¯t waste any more time." When silence was his only response, he prepared to descend. His confidence remained unshaken; after all, he¡¯d seen Kail¡¯s armor earlier and judged it to pose no real threat. As he landed on the ground with a heavy thud, an arrow shot toward him with startling speed. Relying on his instincts, he extended his hand, certain he could deflect it. BAM! The arrow tore through his aether armor, its immense force slamming him into the wall behind him. "What the hell?!" he roared, writhing in pain. Disbelief clouded his face. He had been sure of the boy''s previous capabilities¡ªnothing suggested the potential for such power. How had this happened? Another arrow whistled toward him. This time, more cautious and alert, he concentrated his aether into his uninjured arm, intercepting it with a focused punch. The arrow stopped short, its energy dissipating on contact. A third arrow flew in his direction. He managed to sidestep it just in time, the projectile embedding itself into the stone bridge above. But before he could catch his breath, yet another arrow followed, this one finding its mark in his left thigh. "You son of a beach!" he spat through clenched teeth, staggering slightly from the injury. More arrows followed, one narrowly missing his head, another lodging itself into the bridge once more. ... And then, suddenly, the arrows stopped. Panting, blood dripping from his wounds, the man smirked. "Finally! Out of arrows, huh? So, what now? Will you come to me, or should I come to you?" This time, there was an answer¡ªdelayed but undeniable. "It is not necessary." The voice was faint, barely audible. From the depths of the cave, a green light began to shimmer¡ªa glowing arrow forming in the shadows, its brightness steadily intensifying. The light crept closer to the cave''s exit, and Kail''s silhouette emerged. He looked exhausted, his breaths labored, his body swaying slightly as he struggled to remain standing. His aether armor was reduced to two minor components and one medium piece on his right shoulder. "Hello," he said weakly, a hint of sarcasm lingering in his tone. "Are you ready to die?" The man''s eyes locked onto Kail, his expression shifting to one of disbelief. Before he could react, Kail moved. His figure blurred to the upper left with surprising speed. The man could see him, but his body, weighed down by injuries and exhaustion, couldn¡¯t respond. All he could do was watch helplessly as Kail ascended two meters above the bridge. For a brief moment, Kail''s speed decreased. Balanced precariously mid-air, he pulled back the bowstring, an arrow nocked and ready. With a sharp release, the arrow streaked toward the bridge¡ªnot the man. It struck with a thunderous force. Stage 2: Wind Slash ¨C 1 Blade. The bridge groaned and buckled. In a matter of seconds, the structure collapsed, debris crashing into the river below. Kail, unable to keep his balance any longer, fell onto his back. The last remnants of his armor flickered and disappeared. His breathing was uneven and heavy, his body trembling as it finally gave in to exhaustion. For a moment, the night was silent except for Kail''s ragged breaths. Then, faint noises stirred from the rubble below.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. "No... please," Kail muttered, his voice barely above a whisper. "I really can''t move..." Despite the pain wracking his limbs, he forced himself upright. His legs trembled violently, but with the bow in his hands, he reached into his quiver. Slowly, he retrieved another arrow. There are still four arrows left, he thought grimly, each breath a battle. It would be better if there are no more unexpected surprises. Kail approached the edge of the crumbled bridge, peering down. His enemy was still alive. Bloodied and battered, the man clawed his way out from under the rubble, his hand gripping the edge of a shattered beam. His face was a grotesque mask of desperation, his body trembling under the weight of his injuries. He looked up and saw Kail standing above him, arrow drawn. "Don''t kill me!" the man pleaded. "I¡¯ll give you money! My agency has a lot of power¡ª" Thud. The man¡¯s words were cut off as an arrow buried itself deep into his skull. Kail exhaled slowly, lowering his bow. ¡°Please, whoever¡ªor devil or god¡ªdon¡¯t give me any more challenges today. I won¡¯t be able to resist for sure.¡± Kail sighed heavily. He needed to report to the agency immediately; losing consciousness now would mean being out for at least four hours. ?Mission complete. Body is on the 4th floor of an abandoned multi-story car park. The person who received the information is in the nearby park. Cleanup of records is necessary.? ?Information received. Please move away from the location for at least two hours. A specialized team will be dispatched.? Great," Kail muttered bitterly, it¡¯s being taken care of, but now I have to drag myself out of here when it¡¯s hard to even take a step. And that was how Kail turned 17.
April 25, 3108 I slept for an entire day and only woke up in the morning on the 25th. While I was sleeping, I received a message from the agency: Your mission has been confirmed and validated. The reward for the completed work has been transferred to your account. Checking my account, I noticed my balance had increased to 70,000 VA. Initially, I had 15,000 VA. Of that, 5,000 went toward expenses for the first mission. Last month, I¡¯d received 20,000 VA for that work, which meant this mission rewarded me with 40,000 VA¡ªdouble the amount of a regular assignment. Though, considering how much harder this mission was¡ªabout a hundred times harder¡ªit made sense. The Windstorm Transformation played a key role in saving my life. It temporarily increases the speed of the aether circuit and the amount of aether discharged, but under normal conditions, using it requires at least three medium armor components. It serves as an intermediate stage between the second and fourth stages of the Tempest Flow technique, granting me a critical, albeit temporary, boost. That was also the first time I managed to execute Wind Slash. It wasn¡¯t stable; the wind blade that should have formed as an extension of the arrowhead instead fractured into numerous smaller blades, which damaged the bridge¡¯s structure. Fortunately, the arrows I¡¯d embedded in the bridge earlier amplified the effect. Despite its instability, I can count that as a successful use of Wind Slash. It¡¯s another step forward, at least. ¡°Time to head back home.¡± Forest Elderwood, Evening "Master, I¡¯m back." "How was it?" Master never changes. It feels as though time freezes in this forest while the outside world keeps moving. "There were some complications, but overall, everything went well. I managed to open the armor on my right shoulder and even used Wind Slash." Master slowly turned his head, his sharp gaze cutting through me like a scalpel, analyzing me down to my very molecules. "Bravo. Show me tomorrow." And just like that, the moment was over. Without another word, he returned to his reading.
Later that day The time has come. I approached Master, locking my gaze onto his eyes with determination. "I want to enter Altgard Academy." The air grew heavy as silence stretched between us, a pause that felt like it might crush me. "That will be hard." "I know." "Even if you enter, the chances of graduating even the first year are very small." "I know." "You have no allies to sponsor you." "Yes. I want to try anyway." Another pause, as if the forest itself was holding its breath. "When do you plan to take the entrance exam?" "Next year." "You¡¯ll only have one attempt, and you¡¯re choosing to apply a year before the recommended age?" "If I wait until I¡¯m 18, there¡¯s a chance I¡¯ll end up in the same year as the representative from Cindercrest." Master raised one finger, his expression unyielding. "Condition: You must manage to hit me at least once during our improvised hunts." "Acceptable," I thought, already imagining some time to relax after agreeing. But Master wasn¡¯t done yet¡ªhe raised a second finger. "You must also open your head armor." "Why? That one is usually the last to open!" "Do you want to try or not?" I gritted my teeth, the bitter taste of his condition filling my mouth. "Yes." Chapter 21 - emotionless master April 26, 3108 "Your Wind Slash is unstable." Master¡¯s words were blunt as I demonstrated the technique on a tree. The trunk now bore countless small cuts near the impact point of the arrow, but it hadn¡¯t fallen. "But I can¡¯t understand what I¡¯m doing wrong. The amount of aether is enough." "The problem isn¡¯t the aether," he replied calmly, "it¡¯s in how you understand the technique." I stood there, waiting for an explanation, but Master turned and started walking back toward the house. "Master! Won¡¯t you explain it to me?" "No." He stopped, turning slightly to face me. "Think about how you¡¯re doing a slash." And with that cryptic remark, he continued on his way, leaving me completely confused.
After finishing my daily training routine, I grabbed my bow and began practicing Wind Slash again. No matter how much I tried, the results didn¡¯t improve. How do I slash? I thought. With a sword in both hands, I search for the opponent¡¯s weak point, then find a convenient path for the blade to reach it. But that has nothing to do with the arrow¡ªit doesn¡¯t have a blade, just an arrowhead. It can only pierce, not cut... Then, as if a spark ignited in my mind, I paused. But what if it did have a blade? What if the arrow had a sword attached to it¡ªsomething I could control? Gripping my bow tightly, I began experimenting again, this time visualizing my new idea. Imagine a sword that is parallel to the arrow. See it travel toward the target, carving its path, and anticipate how it will connect. I released the bowstring, and the arrow shot through the air. As it neared the tree, a blade of wind materialized around it. The tree didn¡¯t just splinter¡ªit was cut cleanly, collapsing to the ground. "The problem was my focus. I was concentrating too much on the attack itself, assuming it had to be constant. I didn¡¯t realize the cutting force only needed to form at the moment of contact. Overthinking caused the smaller blades to scatter, weakening the effect." "You realized it quickly." I spun around to see Master standing beside me, his eyes fixed on the fallen tree. "Now, cut that tree into stove wood. No tools allowed." "How?" "Exactly how you just brought it down, only without the arrow." "New training... Wonderful. I¡¯m just jumping for joy. No. I¡¯m definitely not." Though my thoughts were less than enthusiastic, my words were obedient as always. "Okay." "Aether armor can''t be used." "Sure," I replied with the fakest smile I could muster. Of course I accepted... but how do I even do that? Now that I understood the fundamentals of Wind Slash, I could form a small blade of wind, but it wasn¡¯t nearly as large or powerful as the one created with an arrow. Having no other choice, I started working on the thinner branches of the tree. Progress was slow, and later, I found myself forced to deal directly with the trunk. This is going to take ages. As the sun dipped below the horizon, I finally stepped away from the tree and headed to the meditation area. Master was already there, waiting for me. "Do you know why the head armor opens last?" he asked. "No, but I can assume it¡¯s because it¡¯s not very important," I replied. "Partially correct. Its significance is less obvious because, once opened, it provides no substantial boost to physical strength or aether control compared to the other components. It mainly serves to protect the area and slightly enhances sensory capabilities¡ªsuch as hearing, vision, and sometimes smell." "Then what¡¯s the point of me opening it?" "For you, the situation is a little different," Master said with a measured tone. "Your central aetheric artery in the head is ideal¡ªits size and condition make it perfect for development. More importantly, opening the head armor will enhance your Windweave Vision." "Now this makes sense," I admitted, nodding. "Begin," Master commanded, stepping back to observe. Windweave Vision is a crucial part of my arsenal. If I can master it and use it more effectively, it will significantly improve my capabilities.
April 27, 3108 While practicing Wind Slash, I began to notice some consistent patterns and conditions that governed its use:
  1. Formation Zone: The wind blade can only be generated in a pyramid-like area centered on the arrow.
  2. Activation Moment: The blade forms only at the moment of contact with the predetermined target. It doesn¡¯t exist until that precise instant.
  3. Arrow Speed: The faster the arrow, the farther the blade can extend and reach its target.
  4. Aether Input: Increasing the amount of aether enhances the blade¡¯s penetration power and prolongs its durability during contact.
Understanding these principles gave me a clearer picture of how to refine the technique further.The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. "Now to find a way to apply this to Master¡¯s impossible tree challenge..." The same rules apply to the blade that I form without the arrow, but the results are much weaker in both range and power. However, progress is progress. Initially, the blade was no bigger than 2-3 cm. Now, I can extend it to around 5-6 cm. For comparison, the blade formed by an arrow reaches approximately 20-25 cm.
April 30, 3108 Improvised Hunters Day I just have to hit him once. It sounds possible¡ªat least in theory. But the reality is far harsher. So far, I haven¡¯t even managed to shoot him during these exercises, let alone land a hit. Adding to the challenge, Master never uses any armor components. No excuses this time. I have to hit him. With my bow on my back and a quiver full of arrows, I started running in search of Master¡¯s current. After more than 30 minutes of tracking, I finally found him. And just like every other time, the crazy chase began. As usual, I wasn¡¯t the leader. But today, there was a slight difference. I managed to shoot my bow once. Master, of course, avoided the arrow with ease, as if it was nothing more than a falling leaf. By then, I had already closed my circuit¡ªI was completely exhausted. The hunt ended as it always did: the hunter collapsed on the ground, gasping for air, while the prey perched calmly on the branch of a tree, watching with detached curiosity.
July 30, 3109 Kail turns 17 Not much has changed over the months. The head armor remains unopened, though I¡¯m closer than ever. Opening it takes far more effort than I¡¯d expected. On the bright side, my Wind Slash technique has improved significantly. I can now form: A major breakthrough was my first successful use of Illusionary Redirection. Although I can only manage a single clone, creating an identical copy of my body is no trivial feat¡ªit requires precise aether control and focus. Today is the last chance to hit Master. If not now, I can forget about the academy. With determination burning in my chest, I began my search for Master¡¯s current. Luck was on my side this time. After only 10 minutes, I found his trail and began following it. ¡°Here you are,¡± I whispered under my breath as I finally caught sight of him. Breathing Technique: Tempest Flow (4 ¡î) Stage 2: Wind Acceleration Mana Armis: Left Foot + Hand + Right Shoulder ¨C 2nd Form Condensation I initiated Wind Acceleration, my body moving at a speed faster than before. Within moments, I was behind Master, observing his movements and looking for the smallest opportunity. When the chance appeared, I wasted no time. My hand flew to the quiver, drawing an arrow in one fluid motion. Archery Technique: Tornado Archery (4 ¡î) Stage 1: Guided Arrow The arrow, infused with aether, was nocked and released from the bow in under two seconds. It flew with considerable speed, its trajectory slightly curved due to the influence of wind currents. The shot was precise¡ªdirected toward Master. But it missed. Even before the first arrow completed its flight, I had already drawn another. Aether began to swirl and accumulate, the arrow glowing faintly with the distinctive hue of wind aether. It was ready within seconds. Master, as always, stayed one step ahead. He jumped effortlessly toward another tree, his movements seamless. Movement Technique: Wind Kingdom (4 ¡î) Stage 2: Illusionary Redirection One Kail momentarily reduced the distance while in just a few moments another Kail appeared from behind a tree below my initial position. Both of us drew our bows simultaneously, aiming at Master. In the blink of an eye, the arrows flew toward him. But only one was real. Arrow from Kail who reduced the distance dissolved in the wind along with the clone. The true arrow, however, sped with remarkable precision toward Evans. Master was mid-air, halfway to the next branch, when he noticed the arrow¡¯s trajectory. He twisted his body in an attempt to avoid it, but the arrow shifted slightly¡ªsteadily locking onto its target, guided by the wind currents. As it neared, just centimeters away, the wind surrounding the arrow began to take shape¡ªa single-edge blade forming in an instant. Realizing the danger, Evans activated his circuit and formed his ManaArmis. Armor enveloped his hand, which he used to deflect the arrow. The force pushed it off its path, sending it spinning into the distance. ¡°Ahhhh, not yet,¡± I groaned, frustration evident in my voice. ¡°On the contrary,¡± Master replied calmly. ¡°You succeeded.¡± ¡°But I didn¡¯t hit you,¡± I said, confusion written on my face. ¡°Then what is this?¡± Master extended his hand, still armored, revealing a small but visible cut etched into the surface. ¡°Is that enough?¡± I asked, my heart racing. Master¡¯s usual stoic expression softened ever so slightly. ¡°Did you want me to stay with the arrow in my hand or what?¡± ¡°No,¡± I blinked, slightly surprised by the question, then nodded in acknowledgment. ¡°Get ready. If you want to get into the academy, you need to send your application in August, and you still don¡¯t have all the necessary documents,¡± he added. ¡°Okay, Master,¡± I answered with determination. With those words, I turned and headed back home, my spirits high. Master stayed behind, deactivating his circuit and letting the armor around his hand dissolve. He stared at his palm, the small cut still visible, a few drops of blood seeping out. ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to be left with a wound by a bird that doesn¡¯t know how to fly yet,¡± he muttered to himself with a faint smile. As I prepared my belongings for my departure tomorrow, Master entered the house. He walked to the table, carrying a bottle of whiskey in one hand. Without a word, he placed it down with a dull thud. ¡°Sit down,¡± he said, his tone leaving no room for argument. I hesitated, frowning. ¡°Master, I¡¯m still a minor. I can¡¯t drink.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t act like a fool. Have a glass,¡± he retorted, pouring the amber liquid into two glasses. ¡°Okay,¡± I relented, taking the glass he offered. We both took a sip, the sharp burn of the whiskey warming my throat. After a moment of silence, Master spoke. ¡°Kail,¡± he said, his voice unusually soft. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°Take care of yourself.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± I replied, not sure what else to say. We didn¡¯t speak further, but the silence wasn¡¯t uncomfortable. The sounds of the forest outside, mixed with the gentle crackle of the fire in the stove, created an atmosphere of peace. By the time I finished my third glass, I stood to leave. As I pushed my chair back, Master broke the silence again. ¡°Come back when you have the opportunity.¡± I turned to face him, a small smile forming on my lips. ¡°Of course. You¡¯re more important to me than my biological father, and this place¡ªthis place I can truly call home.¡± Then he added, his voice steady yet warm, ¡°Thank you.¡± ¡°For what?¡± I asked, genuinely puzzled. ¡°You¡¯ve given me so much more than I could ever repay.¡± His lips curled into a faint smile. ¡°Because you found me.¡± At that moment, I couldn¡¯t help but smile in return. ¡°Thank you for not throwing me away,¡± Chapter 22 - back to the clan July 31, 3108 A 17-year-old boy emerged from the forest. Standing 180 cm tall and weighing 80 kg, Kail had black hair, green eyes, and a fit build¡ªnot overly muscular, but with a strong back and powerful legs. As he walked, his steps carried him toward the highway, where he was accustomed to catching transport to the capital. Once I arrived in Eryndor, I outlined my plans and marked my route: With my objectives clear, I made my way to the Cindercrest clan¡ªthe place I would happily avoid if given the choice. The clan''s territory resembled a self-contained district, complete with shops, multi-story and simpler buildings, schools for the clan''s children, training halls, museums, and various facilities for different needs. At the heart of it all stood a fortified structure resembling a European-style castle, adorned with red and gold accents. The entire sector was surrounded by a high wall equipped with modern defenses and several entrances, including secret ones, alongside massive three-meter gates. Not wanting to draw attention from the guards, I headed toward one of the secret entrances my mother had told me about. Upon reaching it, I pressed a brick that triggered a hidden mechanism, revealing a panel where I placed my palm. The result, however, was disappointing. It means I¡¯ve already been erased from the clan¡¯s database. Fortunately, I had another way in: the clan token Rebeca had given me. I placed the token against the wall, activating a hidden entrance that led me directly to the central building of the clan. Without hesitation, I made my way toward it. At the main entrance, two guards in classic uniforms stopped me. "Hello, what can we do for you?" Without answering, I tossed them the token. One of them scanned it with a specialized device. "Welcome." They opened the door and returned the token to me. I headed straight for Rebeca''s office, which was adjacent to the Clan Chief''s office. This was located on the 4th floor, alongside the offices of other leaders overseeing finance, industry, military affairs, and other key areas of the clan¡¯s operations. The 5th floor, by contrast, was reserved for the council of elders and was the most luxurious level of the building. After reaching the 4th floor, I made my way toward the center of the building, where a door labeled Secretary Rebeca was located. Rebeca wasn¡¯t a member of the clan family; she was brought here by Urif during one of his travels. Why she didn¡¯t use a second name remained a mystery to me. Knock, knock. From the other side of the door, I heard her voice. ¡°Come in.¡± I opened the door and stepped into her office. Without even glancing at me, she said, ¡°Mr. Urif is not in residence at the moment. Leave the documents on the table.¡± She remained fully absorbed in the mountain of paperwork spread across her desk. ¡°Hi, Rebeca,¡± I said. Hearing my greeting, she finally looked up. She stared at me, her eyes scanning me from head to toe, as if trying to confirm what she was seeing. ¡°Kail?¡± ¡°Yup.¡± ¡°Are you alive?¡± The question caught me off guard. Sure, I wasn¡¯t in the best condition the last time she saw me, but it wasn¡¯t that bad. ¡°Why would I be dead?¡± ¡°It¡¯s been four years since I last saw you.¡± Back then, I had been shorter, with a bulky build¡ªmassive shoulders and thick legs, resembling a closet. Now, my strength had shifted to other areas, and my body had become leaner, faster, and more agile. ¡°A lot has changed,¡± she remarked. ¡°If I¡¯m here, I assume you already know I need something,¡± I replied. ¡°I can guess. What is it?¡± ¡°I want to apply to Altgard this year, so I¡¯ll need identity documents.¡± ¡°That won¡¯t be a problem,¡± she said, already jotting something down. ¡°I also need to order non-aetheric armor.¡± ¡°That, unfortunately, can only be arranged once Mr. Urif returns.¡± ¡°When will that be?¡± ¡°Four to five hours. You can wait here if you like. Oh, and while you¡¯re waiting, you can access deposit box 3098¡ªyour mother¡¯s personal items are there.¡± ¡°Great. Where¡¯s the key for it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s DNA-locked.¡± ¡°Thank you very much,¡± I said. The clan¡¯s personal belongings deposit was an ultra-secure facility. Each box could only be accessed by its registered owner. It was the second most secure place in the clan, surpassed only by the treasure vault. I didn''t know my mother had a deposit box here. I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if everything in the house and lab had already been analyzed by the clan for any valuable information. The storage building was unassuming¡ªa small, one-story, cube-shaped structure. Its plain appearance belied the fact that all the deposit boxes were housed deep underground.Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings. Upon entering, I was greeted by a receptionist seated at a sleek desk. As soon as she noticed me, she asked, ¡°Hello, how can I help you?¡± ¡°I need access to box 3098,¡± I replied. ¡°Name?¡± ¡°Elyndra Cindercrest.¡± ¡°One moment.¡± She keyed in the number and nodded. ¡°Use elevator number 8.¡± Behind her, a row of ten elevators stood in a line. These elevators weren¡¯t designed to simply descend; they moved diagonally, horizontally, and at varying speeds to ensure security. Their chaotic paths were part of the building''s unique design, created by an engineer who, ironically, met his demise at the hands of his employers¡ªthose who feared he might sell the secrets of this advanced system. After about five minutes of the elevator shifting in seemingly random directions, it finally stopped. The doors opened to reveal an endless, tunnel-like corridor, lined with rows of storage boxes on both walls. The air was cool, and the dim lighting gave the space a sterile, almost eerie atmosphere. I started walking, scanning the box numbers as I passed. "3085, 1475, 7932, 8352... 3098. There it is." The numbering seemed completely arbitrary¡ªonly the system itself knew the exact locations of each box. "Let¡¯s see what¡¯s left of Mom¡¯s things." Box 3098 looked identical to all the others: a metal container with a handle and its number displayed prominently. Beneath the number was a small mechanism for accessing the box. I placed my finger on the scanner, and a sharp needle pierced my fingertip. A single drop of blood was drawn and absorbed by the mechanism. After a brief pause, the box clicked and opened. As the lid lifted, a hologram suddenly projected itself in front of me. It was my mother. ¡°Hello, Kail,¡± her voice echoed softly. ¡°If you are listening to this message, it means I have, unfortunately, passed away. Death is all too common in these times, so I can only hope this finds you at the right moment.¡± I froze, my eyes locked on the hologram as she continued. ¡°In this box, you will find: an experimental preparation that can help you stimulate the opening of aetheric pores in an area without leaving any detectable traces; a token of the Cindercrest clan that will compel them to protect your life once, regardless of the circumstances or the enemy; and a USB drive containing information that your father can use. Please deliver it to him.¡± She paused, her gaze seeming to pierce right through me, even as a projection. ¡°Do not trust anyone from the clan. And take care of yourself, my dear.¡± With those final words, the hologram vanished, leaving me alone with my thoughts¡ªand a deep sense of confusion. "Why does she think she could die so unexpectedly?" The spark of emotions I thought had burned out reignited, however briefly, at her words. But I quickly forced myself back to the present. Looking down into the box, I saw the three items she mentioned: a small rectangular container housing a sealed test tube filled with a red-silver liquid, a pristine new clan token, and the USB. The USB looked nothing like the typical kind¡ªit was smooth, dark, and resembled a polished piece of stone with no visible connectors. Thanks, Mom, I thought, closing the lid on the box. I packed the items into my bag, secured everything, and began heading toward the elevator. As I emerged into the reception area, I was immediately met with a startling scene: Rebeca was standing there, her sharp eyes locked on me, while the receptionist lay unconscious on the floor. ¡°Kail, quickly, run after me!¡± Rebeca urged, her voice laced with tension. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± I asked, trying to keep up with her as she hurriedly led the way. ¡°Mr. Urif will explain everything to you.¡± With no time for further questions, I followed her brisk pace. The two of us raced toward the central building. The tension in the air grew heavier as we approached Urif¡¯s office. When we reached the door, Rebeca suddenly stopped, turned to me, and said, ¡°Kail, quickly enter¡ªand I¡¯m sorry.¡± Before I could process her words, she shoved me into the room, shutting the door behind me. The abruptness left me disoriented, but my attention quickly shifted to Mr. Urif, who was already inside waiting for me. ¡°What¡¯s going on?¡± I asked, feeling the weight of confusion and urgency in the room¡¯s atmosphere. ¡°I¡¯ll explain on the way,¡± he said calmly but firmly. ¡°Follow me.¡± He moved to his desk and pressed a hidden button. A section of the floor slid open, revealing a narrow vertical shaft that seemed to stretch endlessly downward. Without hesitation, Urif looked at me and ordered, ¡°Jump.¡± I hesitated for only a second, understanding that the situation must be critical. Gritting my teeth, I took the plunge. The air roared around me as I fell for what felt like an eternity¡ªnearly 20 seconds¡ªbefore I spotted the end of the shaft rapidly approaching. Instinctively, I reacted. Movement Technique: Wind Kingdom (4¡î) 1st Stage: Territory Formation I twisted mid-air, extending my left foot toward the wall. Using the currents I formed around me, I slowed my descent and landed about three meters above the floor. From there, I gently lowered myself the rest of the way. Seconds later, Mr. Urif appeared behind me. Unlike my abrupt landing, his was almost serene¡ªsomething invisible slowed his descent, allowing him to touch down with almost no impact. "Now can you explain to me what is happening?" I demanded, trying to keep my voice steady. Urfin glanced at me, his expression a mix of concern and determination. "If I explain it briefly, your parents are considered traitors to humanity." I blinked, stunned. "I¡¯m sorry, WHAT?!" "It¡¯s not as simple as it sounds," he began. "It started in 3105. We discovered that all the data in the pharmacology department regarding your mother¡¯s preparations had been altered. A year later, your father¡ªwho mistakenly believed both you and your mother had died¡ªdefected to the Therianthropes'' side. He claimed that our leadership promoted a human-supremacy ideology solely to sustain ongoing wars." I clenched my fists, anger and disbelief boiling inside me. "Dad¡¯s gone completely insane... Does he want the full force of the human military hunting him down?!" "Unfortunately, that¡¯s not the worst part. He¡¯s no longer a ManaMaster," Urfin said, his tone dropping ominously. "He¡¯s now a ManaGrandmaster." I stared at him in disbelief. For a moment, all I wanted to do was slam my head against the wall. "So, let me get this straight. My family is now enemy number one for the Cindercrest clan?" "Exactly," Urfin said grimly. "Then why didn¡¯t anyone stop me on my way here?" I asked, bewildered. "Everyone believes you¡¯re dead," he explained. "On top of that, you¡¯ve changed significantly. Even Rebeca forgot about your family¡¯s situation and unintentionally sent you to the only place capable of confirming your identity." "This keeps getting worse and worse," I muttered, rubbing my temples. "Right now, the most important thing is ensuring no one else sees you. We¡¯ve already erased your memory from the receptionist¡¯s mind, and Rebeca doesn¡¯t remember you either," Urfin said. "We¡¯ll claim the mechanism made a mistake in recognizing you." I frowned. "What are the odds of such a mechanism failing after functioning flawlessly for so long?" "Very slim," Urfin admitted. "But not as slim as the odds of someone considered dead suddenly walking into the clan." I let out a heavy sigh. "So what¡¯s the plan now?" "Your new documents will be ready in two weeks. You¡¯ll be officially recorded as an orphan taken in by a war veteran who taught you martial arts." "Can my second name be Vaylith?" I asked. "Sure." "And the people who might recognize me? What do I do about them?" "Stay away from them. Fortunately, there are very few left who would even remember you," he replied. "What about the non-aetheric armor I need?" "You¡¯ll have to commission a blacksmith outside the clan. I¡¯ll provide the materials and pay for the service," he offered. I shook my head. "No. Just give me the materials. I¡¯ll pay for the smithing myself." "Fine," Urfin agreed after a moment. "We¡¯re almost at the exit. If you keep going through this tunnel, you¡¯ll emerge on the outskirts of the city. I need to head back now." I paused and turned to him. "Thank you for everything, Urfin." He placed a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "This isn¡¯t your fault, Kail. Children shouldn¡¯t have to bear the burden of their parents¡¯ mistakes." I nodded, feeling the weight of his words. Then, as he turned and began to make his way back, I continued forward into the darkness of the tunnel. Chapter 23 - mother always helps her child August 1, 3108 My situation wasn¡¯t entirely hopeless. The odds of being recognized were slim. The people I¡¯d interacted with closely in the past were few¡ªthose within the clan, ranging from teachers to some elders. While my reappearance might raise questions during high-profile events like the academy¡¯s year-end tournaments, there was a way to mitigate the risk. Even after all this time, you¡¯re still helping me, Mom. If I conceal my face with armor, the chances of being recognized drop significantly. Standing under the shower, the water cascading down my body, I prepared for what was to come. I held the test tube with the red-silver liquid from my mother¡¯s box in my hand, its contents glinting under the light. Naked, I ensured nothing would block the process, allowing my pores to remain completely open. Preparations like these were rare and extremely controversial, carrying both immense potential and significant risks. My mind recalled the information I¡¯d gathered:
  1. Opening the pores with such solutions triggers intense pain and itching, as the skin¡¯s pores demand an enormous amount of aether to stabilize.
  2. If a stable aether circuit isn¡¯t maintained during the process, the solution can damage the aetheric arteries, leaving permanent harm.
  3. The residue of these substances often lingers in the body, and if not flushed out through rigorous training, it could corrode the arteries over time.
  4. The preparation is typically unsafe for use during adolescence, as it could interfere with natural growth. It¡¯s a risk no one would advise before the age of 17 or 18.
  5. The formula is so rare and valuable that it¡¯s monopolized by only two major clans specializing in pharmacology, and the cost of acquiring it equals that of a 4-star weapon.
Thankfully, my mother¡¯s version claimed to avoid the lingering effects, making it impossible to trace during medical exams¡ªa crucial detail since using illegal preparations would be grounds for rejection from the academy. That alone made this worth the risk. Fuh¡­ I exhaled deeply and downed the contents of the test tube in one swift motion. At first, there was no immediate effect, only the metallic tang lingering in my mouth. I braced myself, already anticipating what lay ahead, and began circulating my aether. Ten minutes in, a faint itch spread across my body, manageable and easy to ignore. Fifteen minutes passed, and the sensation intensified, covering almost two-thirds of my skin. The prickling grew more persistent, like a thousand tiny needles probing for attention. By the twentieth minute, agony engulfed my body. Every pore screamed, thirsting for aether as if they were suffocating, each one an insatiable void. My skin felt like it was tearing itself apart from the inside. "I need more aether," I muttered through clenched teeth, forcing myself to maintain the circuit. My body demanded relief, but there was no other way forward. 2nd Stage: Wind Acceleration. As soon as I activated the second stage of my movement technique, the torment in my pores subsided slightly. The pain dulled, though it still lingered like an ache deep within my skin. It was a relief but far from comfort. At the twenty-five-minute mark, I succeeded in unlocking the head armor. Yet the thirst from my pores only grew more insistent, as if opening one gate had only unleashed a greater hunger. By thirty minutes, the room''s aether was almost depleted. The air felt suffocating, heavy with stagnation. I stood up, refusing to halt the circulation. Each step was a struggle¡ªmy left foot, in particular, felt like someone was physically constricting my breath every time it hit the ground. I made my way to the window, opened it wide, and inhaled deeply. "This isn''t enough," I thought grimly. Standing on the frame, I reached up, grasping the rooftop''s edge with one hand. Pulling myself up, I balanced carefully before returning to a meditation position on the rooftop itself. The open sky gave me access to a freer flow of aether, though it was still insufficient. What should I focus on now? Two choices presented themselves:
  1. My left calf, which would improve my leg strength and balance¡ªa vital asset for movement and agility, especially since the non-aetheric armor would require symmetry. If I ignored the calf, the imbalance with the leg armor might compromise my efficiency.
  1. My left forearm, which would boost my precision and dexterity in combat. However, as my hands were rarely involved in concurrent actions and had distinct roles, my current armor could suffice for now.
After careful thought, I made my decision. Redirecting the majority of the aether flow that had been concentrated in my head, I guided it toward my left calf. At the sixty-minute mark, the overwhelming effects began to wane. The fiery thirst of my pores lessened, and the aether coursing through my body started stabilizing. By ninety minutes, the immediate boost had subsided, leaving behind a residual passive effect that would persist for another three to four days. This lingering energy would continue supporting my body as I adapted to the changes. Only then did I dare to close the circuit.If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. As I came back to full awareness, I took stock of my situation. Still unclothed, faintly damp from the shower, and now reeking of waste eliminated through the process, I found myself perched atop the roof. Thankfully, the building was isolated, with no taller structures nearby to grant anyone a view of my current state. I really need to plan this process better next time, Yeah, I''ll probably stay here until the evening. Returning to my apartment through the stairs wasn¡¯t an option¡ªmy key card was locked inside, and the door wasn¡¯t exactly open for negotiation. Climbing down the same way I had gone up would take far too long, and there wasn¡¯t an immediate reason to rush. So, I decided to meditate on the rooftop until the sun dipped below the horizon. The cool evening breeze helped me focus, and when night fully enveloped the city, I carefully descended one floor at a time until I reached the window of my apartment.
August 4, 3108 The results of my experiment were evident: I had successfully opened my head armor, and the time required to unlock my leg armor through standard meditation had been reduced from three years to just one and a half. In four days, I had effectively halved the time needed for what would otherwise have taken years of effort. Turning my attention to the next immediate problem, I realized I had no way of contacting Rebeca. Another visit to the clan was simply out of the question¡ªit was far too dangerous. But an idea struck me. Using the clan¡¯s public website, I located a number intended for external relations, typically used by those interested in working with or investing in the clan. I dialed the number. ¡°Hello, is it possible to contact Ms. Rebeca?¡± The voice on the other end asked, ¡°Can you name yourself and explain why you need to speak with her?¡± Giving my name wasn¡¯t an option. But I had an idea, one Rebeca might recognize. ¡°Please tell her this is related to the war veterans'' disabilities list.¡± I hope she hasn¡¯t forgotten the list she once sent me. ¡°Please hold,¡± came the reply. After about fifteen minutes, I heard her voice on the line. ¡°The restaurant in the center on Mendeleev 72 Street,¡± she said tersely, before the call ended abruptly without giving me a chance to respond. ¡°Did it work?¡±
When I arrived at the restaurant, I stepped inside and was greeted by the hostess. ¡°Good afternoon, do you have a reservation?¡± I hesitated for a moment, unsure if Rebeca had left my name. ¡°Do you have anything under Rebeca, Kail, or Cindercrest?¡± The hostess checked her list. ¡°No, we don¡¯t have any reservations under those names.¡± ¡°Does that mean I have to wait outside?¡± Just as I was about to leave, another thought occurred to me. ¡°Actually, could you check for Vaylith?¡± Her expression changed slightly, and she nodded. ¡°Yes, there¡¯s a table in the right corner.¡± I smiled faintly as I walked toward the table. Master¡¯s family name is starting to slip back into life. Rebeca was already seated at the table when I approached. She looked calm, but her eyes betrayed a mixture of relief and irritation. ¡°Hello,¡± I greeted, pulling out a chair. ¡°You chose a pretty luxurious place.¡± ¡°And you,¡± she shot back, her tone sharp, ¡°seem to enjoy playing with both your life and my nerves.¡± I smiled faintly, trying to brush off her frustration. ¡°The line¡¯s always full of random people calling with jokes and nonsense. I doubt it¡¯s recorded, at least not permanently.¡± She leaned in, her voice firm but quiet. ¡°You have to erase the Cindercrest clan from your life as much as possible if you want to stay alive. This isn¡¯t a joke, Kail.¡± ¡°I understand,¡± I replied seriously. ¡°So, about the documents¡ªare they ready?¡± Rebeca raised her wristwatch, and after a few precise taps, I received a notification. A file transfer request popped up on my screen, and I accepted it.
Kail Vaylith The document was simple, containing only the most basic information. Notably, there was no attached photo.
Rebeca explained, ¡°The document reflects your original data, but the identity number, family status, and place of residence have been modified. Even though some details overlap with your previous identity, this is equally valid. However, it¡¯s crucial that you don¡¯t let anyone scan it. If they do, both identities will appear. The photo will be added once you officially enroll in the academy.¡± ¡°Understood. Thank you.¡± She moved to the next point. ¡°About the aether-conductive metals¡ªwhen you settle on a blacksmith, send their address to my private account, and we¡¯ll deliver the materials anonymously.¡± ¡°Got it,¡± I replied. ¡°Do you already have someone in mind, or should I recommend someone to you?¡± ¡°I have an option,¡± I said, my confidence growing. ¡°Good. When you know how much material you¡¯ll need, message me. Be careful, Kail. Even if someone helps you now, if anyone finds out who you really are, you¡¯ll have two options: kill them or disappear. Completely. Ideally, far beyond human territories.¡± I nodded solemnly. ¡°Sure.¡±
With that, our meeting concluded. Rebeca left the table swiftly, not looking back. I sat for a moment longer before heading toward my next destination: the Iron Spark Guild. I hope Mr. Henry did not completely vacate his position in the guild. Chapter 24 - pre-academy things I entered the guild hall and approached the registry office, but the events unfolded a little differently than the last time. After I mentioned the name Vaylith, the lady at the registry desk informed me that I could go directly to Mr. Henry, who was in his office on the 19th floor. Knock, knock. ¡°Come in.¡± The office was spacious, adorned with precious yet modest decorations. Mr. Henry was seated at his desk, looking more relaxed¡ªand perhaps even a little happier¡ªthan when I last saw him. ¡°Hello, Mr. Henry,¡± I greeted. ¡°Oh, Kail!¡± he exclaimed with a broad grin. ¡°I¡¯m glad to see you again.¡± ¡°As far as I can tell, you¡¯ve managed to sort out some of your problems,¡± I said, noting his improved mood. ¡°Finally! That shameless brat of mine got out of the forge, and I dumped all the work on his head. Just imagining how he¡¯s struggling now brings me so much happiness.¡± ¡°I¡¯m happy for you,¡± I replied, amused. ¡°So,¡± he said, leaning back in his chair, ¡°what can I help you with this time? But let me make it clear¡ªno more gifts.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± I assured him. ¡°Do you know a good non-aether armor maker?¡± He chuckled. ¡°I represent the biggest guild in this field. Of course, I do.¡± ¡°Can you recommend one? I¡¯m looking to order two pieces of 3-star armor for myself.¡± ¡°Hmmm¡­¡± He rubbed his chin. ¡°Sure, I can recommend someone. But you understand the kind of money you¡¯re talking about, don¡¯t you? Including materials, you¡¯re looking at a minimum of a million VA.¡± My stomach sank. I should¡¯ve accepted Mr. Urif¡¯s proposal when he offered to cover the costs. ¡°How much would the cost decrease if we exclude the aether-conducting metals?¡± I asked. ¡°About a third of the price would drop, but even then, you¡¯re still looking at around 600,000 VA,¡± he replied. I sighed. Even if I take on a mission from the agency, I won¡¯t be able to scrape together more than 100,000 VA. ¡°In that case,¡± I said, ¡°I¡¯ll have to come back at another time.¡± Mr. Henry studied me for a long moment before a sly smile spread across his face. ¡°The price I mentioned is for an active blacksmith. But if you really need it, there¡¯s another option.¡± His words piqued my interest. ¡°Yes? What is it?¡± ¡°For example,¡± he said with a twinkle in his eye, ¡°an old man who hasn¡¯t lit a fire in his forge for a while.¡± I paused, considering the pros and cons of such an option. ¡°Well,¡± I said after a moment of thought, ¡°if you¡¯re recommending it, then I have no reason to refuse.¡± Mr. Henry let out a booming laugh. ¡°Ho, ho, ho! You¡¯ve got a way with words, boy. Don¡¯t worry. That old master also made armor for your Master.¡± My eyes widened in surprise. ¡°Really? Then I¡¯ll definitely accept! Can you tell me how to contact him?¡± ¡°There¡¯s no need,¡± he said, his grin widening. ¡°He¡¯s standing right in front of you.¡± A moment of silence fell over the room as the realization sank in. ¡°Mr. Henry,¡± I said finally, my voice filled with gratitude, ¡°I truly appreciate this offer. But¡­ I don¡¯t think I¡¯ll ever be able to afford your services.¡± ¡°Oh, come on now,¡± Mr. Henry said with a laugh. ¡°I haven¡¯t touched tools in ages. I¡¯ve definitely lost some of my old skills.¡± ¡°It doesn¡¯t matter,¡± I replied confidently. ¡°Even if a predator grows old and loses some teeth, it¡¯ll still take down its prey faster than anyone can react. You were in your prime during the war with the elves. I doubt anyone could count how many fell to weapons forged by your hands.¡± ¡°That¡¯s enough,¡± Mr. Henry cut in, his tone firm but not unkind. ¡°If I said I¡¯d make you the armor, then I¡¯ll make it. That¡¯s the end of it. Now let¡¯s head to the workshop and take your measurements.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± I said, bowing slightly out of respect.
We left the guild building and drove to the blacksmith¡¯s workplace, located in the industrial zone 200 kilometers outside the city. Despite the distance, the modernized roads ensured the journey took no more than 30 minutes. The industrial area was vast, packed with factories of all kinds¡ªmetallurgical, chemical, pharmacological, and energy plants. Among these giants, we made our way to the guild¡¯s branch, which sprawled across a massive area with several metallurgical facilities powered by enormous temperatures.Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author. Surprisingly, Mr. Henry led me to a quieter corner of the complex, far from the bustling activity. What appeared to be a simple house stood there, its reinforced walls fitted with modern ventilation systems. Pipes snaked along its exterior, disappearing underground. ¡°Welcome to my real home,¡± Mr. Henry said with a grin, opening the door and gesturing for me to step inside. The interior was crammed with tools of all kinds, from ancient and worn to sleek and state-of-the-art. In one corner stood a massive smelter, which Mr. Henry promptly activated by channeling a small amount of aether into its controls. ¡°That damn idiot didn¡¯t even think to replace the damaged parts,¡± he muttered, glancing at a nearby table piled with components.
¡°Alright,¡± he said, turning back to me. ¡°Let¡¯s get started with your armor. Activate all the components you have right now.¡± Without hesitation, I followed his instructions. Mana Armis: Left Foot, Left Hand, Right Shoulder, Head 2nd Form Condensation When he saw my armor, a look of surprise crossed his face. ¡°Why did you open the head armor? What¡¯s Evans teaching you these days?¡± he asked, raising an eyebrow. ¡°I have Windweave Vision,¡± I explained. ¡°That¡¯s why I unlocked it.¡± Hearing this, Mr. Henry¡¯s shock deepened. ¡°Kail, do you have any idea what you¡¯re carrying?¡± he said, his voice dropping. ¡°Most Mana Masters would raze entire cities to get something like that.¡± ¡°Why?¡± I asked, genuinely confused. ¡°It only lets me see wind currents. I don¡¯t see why it¡¯s such a big deal.¡± ¡°Maybe not now,¡± he said, shaking his head. ¡°But as you grow stronger, you¡¯ll realize just how lucky you are to have it. Anyway, let¡¯s move on. We have work to do.¡± Thus began an exhaustive session of measurements, covering everything from my right leg and arm to the aether I emit, the armor''s expansion limits, how it would adhere to my body, and how it would dissipate heat. Each detail was crucial. The type of aether emitted defines the armor¡¯s elemental alignment, necessitating materials that won¡¯t degrade under its influence. For instance, someone with an Ignis constitution requires metals resistant to extreme heat, while someone with a Ventus constitution needs flexible materials to avoid tangling during rapid movements. After nearly two hours, Mr. Henry concluded his calculations, marking down his findings after every measurement. ¡°Fortunately, you share many of the same characteristics as Evans,¡± he remarked. ¡°That makes this process easier. The real challenges will arise when you unlock more parts of the armor.¡± ¡°What kind of challenges?¡± I asked, intrigued. ¡°Your arteries are unusually large, which means the amount of aether your armor will absorb will increase significantly. That absorption will generate intense heat, potentially causing severe burns if left unchecked.¡± ¡°I had no idea this could be an issue,¡± I admitted. ¡°For most people, it isn¡¯t,¡± he explained. ¡°They need armor because their arteries are too small for forming an Aether Armor. Your case is different.¡± ¡°So, what¡¯s the solution?¡± ¡°For the next ten years or so, this won¡¯t be a concern. You¡¯d need to unlock additional armor parts before it becomes problematic.¡± ¡°That makes sense. What materials will you need?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll use the same alloy I used for Evans¡¯ armor. All you need to provide is the aether-conductive component.¡± ¡°Understood. Should I send it directly to this address?¡± I asked. ¡°Yes. The guards will notify me when it arrives.¡± ¡°At the moment, I can only afford to pay 100,000 VA,¡± I admitted, lowering my gaze. ¡°But I promise to repay you fully in the future.¡± I felt a deep sense of shame as I said this. People would sacrifice nearly anything¡ªsometimes even their children¡ªfor the chance to own something crafted by the leader of the Iron Spark Guild. Mr. Henry, however, didn¡¯t even glance up. ¡°Forget it,¡± he said flatly. ¡°I won¡¯t take your money now. Pay me when you¡¯ve stabilized.¡± Before I could respond, he shooed me out of the workshop, grumbling, ¡°Get out of here. I have a lot of work to do.¡± The door slammed shut behind me before I could utter another word. I promptly sent a message to Rebeca, providing the address for the delivery of the materials. She responded almost immediately, confirming that they would arrive within a week.
So, I had completed two parts of my plan before entering the academy. Only one step remained¡ªthe most critical, and the one that could upend everything, forcing me to attend a regular academy instead. While that option would still allow me to forge useful connections, it wasn¡¯t what I wanted. Only if I enter Altgard will I be able to prove the Cindercrest clan was wrong to throw me away. Prove that Master was a national treasure. Prove that heroes of humanity can be born outside the clans.
August 5, 3108At the Medical Facility ¡°We¡¯ve received your results. Your physical condition is nearly ideal. No defects were detected in your aether arteries, and your Ventus constitution is fully developed. We also confirmed that you are a ManaArmis User,¡± the doctor began. ¡°What¡¯s the ejection fraction?¡± I interrupted, impatient for the most crucial detail. ¡°Your ejection fraction is 79%. Congratulations, you¡¯re eligible to¡ª¡± I didn¡¯t hear the rest. My thoughts drowned his words as everything around me seemed to blur. My doctor¡¯s theory had been correct¡ªmy arteries had expanded, increasing my ejection fraction by 4%. But not 5%. Seriously, just 1%? Only 1% is keeping me from participating in the admissions process! I pulled myself out of my frustration and focused back on the doctor, who continued reading the other results. ¡°Excuse me,¡± I interrupted again, trying to keep my voice steady. ¡°Are you absolutely sure that my ejection fraction is 79%?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± he replied firmly. ¡°We verify it using multiple methods, and all of them confirmed 79%.¡± ¡°And there¡¯s no possibility that 1% was lost during the measurements?¡± ¡°No,¡± he said, his tone growing more serious. ¡°We are confident in the accuracy of these results.¡± I hesitated for a moment before asking, ¡°Then¡­ is there any way to raise my result by 1%?¡± The doctor¡¯s expression hardened. His voice carried a stern weight. ¡°That is strictly prohibited and penalized under our regulations. No, we cannot manipulate your results. If you¡¯re dissatisfied, you are welcome to seek another clinic, but I assure you the outcome will remain unchanged.¡± ¡°Understood. Thank you.¡±
I visited three more clinics, clinging to the faint hope that someone might find a mistake or offer a different result. Each time, the answer was the same: 79%. 79%. So close yet so far. Truly cruel. Chapter 25 - lets make history All day, I wandered aimlessly through the park, my mind blank, simply observing the artificial nature and savoring the rare peace that couldn¡¯t be found on the bustling city streets. At one point, a mother and her child passed by me, and I unintentionally overheard their conversation. ¡°Mom, the doctor didn¡¯t fool me. My hand doesn¡¯t hurt anymore,¡± the child said, pointing to his elbow. ¡°Of course, the doctor wouldn¡¯t fool you. He always wants the best for you. Next time, you¡¯ll apologize for the tantrum you threw in the reception room, won¡¯t you?¡± The child¡¯s face fell, his cheeks puffing out in a show of reluctance. Then, with a trace of determination, he said, ¡°Okay.¡± Hearing this dialogue sparked an idea in my mind. It wouldn¡¯t hurt to visit the doctor who regenerated my limbs. He¡¯d surely be glad to hear that his theory about the growth of aether arteries was proven true. August 5, 3108 Yesterday had been a heavy day, ending with a long walk through the park until evening. This morning, after completing my usual routine¡ªincluding my now-familiar morning run¡ªI continued jogging through the city streets. Once I returned home, I went online and started researching other academies I might still have a chance of entering. In addition to Altgard, the most prestigious academy on the continent of humanity, there were three other supreme academies. One lay to the north, another to the south, and the last was under the direct jurisdiction of the national army. This military academy was considered the second most prestigious, but for me, it wasn¡¯t an option. Although studies there were completely free if you passed the entrance exam, graduates were bound by contract to serve as "state guard dogs." You couldn¡¯t choose your guild, clan, or future career¡ªeverything was predetermined from the moment you enrolled. That left the northern and southern academies. But the more I thought about not being able to enter Altgard, the more my frustration and stress grew. Desperate for a distraction, I latched onto an excuse to avoid making a decision about the remaining options. I should visit my doctor. I hope those old folks haven¡¯t flown off to another world just yet. I arrived in front of the hospital that had once saved my life, restoring not only my physical condition but also my mental stability. The hallways remained unchanged, and I headed straight for the rehabilitation room. However, I was stopped by a nurse as soon as I reached the necessary floor. ¡°This area is restricted. You can¡¯t enter unless you¡¯re a patient or a relative of a patient,¡± she said firmly. ¡°Excuse me, I was a patient here four years ago, and I¡¯ve come back to visit the doctor who treated me.¡± ¡°Really?¡± she replied with a suspicious look. ¡°What was your doctor¡¯s name?¡± It was then that I realized I had forgotten his name¡ªor perhaps I had never even learned it. ¡°Honestly, I forgot. He was a man with black hair, green eyes, and glasses.¡± ¡°Great description,¡± she said dryly. ¡°That matches almost every doctor here. This facility rarely treats young patients, and you clearly don¡¯t belong to the older demographic. Stop wasting time and leave, or I¡¯ll have to call security.¡± ¡°Aahh, sorry for the trouble,¡± I muttered, deciding it was best not to argue. Just as I turned toward the elevator and its doors slid open, I saw a familiar face step out. ¡°Hello, Mr. Han! How are your joints holding up?¡± the nurse asked, addressing him as she kept an eye on me to ensure I was leaving. ¡°Hello,¡± he replied with a tired smile. ¡°Don¡¯t even mention it¡ªevery step feels like torture. But why aren¡¯t you at your post?¡± ¡°Just dealing with another scoundrel trying to leech something off our patients,¡± she explained with a shake of her head. This hospital primarily served high-status individuals, and it wasn¡¯t uncommon for people to try to cause trouble. Mr. Han¡¯s gaze shifted to me, and I decided it was time to speak up. ¡°Mr. Han, it¡¯s nice to see you again. I¡¯m Kail. You haven¡¯t forgotten me, have you?¡± There was no immediate response as he studied me with caution. But then, his expression softened into one of surprise. ¡°Kail! It¡¯s good to see you. It¡¯s been a few years, hasn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°You know him?¡± the nurse asked. ¡°Yes, I know him. You must be new here, which is why you don¡¯t recognize him. He was the star of the ward when he was hospitalized.¡± ¡°Does that mean I can come in now?¡± I asked, hoping my identity was now verified. ¡°If Mr. Han says so, then of course,¡± the nurse relented. Together, Mr. Han and I headed toward the rehabilitation room. ¡°You¡¯ve changed quite a bit. I really had to dig through my memory to recall who you are,¡± Mr. Han said as we walked. ¡°Five years have passed, but I can¡¯t say the same about you,¡± I replied with a small grin. ¡°Ha ha ha, still good with words, I see. But don¡¯t let the exterior fool you¡ªinside, I¡¯m already falling apart.¡±The author''s content has been appropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. ¡°Don¡¯t say things like that,¡± I said, shaking my head. ¡°In any case, I¡¯ve already done enough on this earth. Now it¡¯s up to Him to decide what to do with this body of mine,¡± he said with a wry smile. As we approached the rehabilitation room, I turned to him. ¡°I¡¯d like to visit the doctor. Is his office still in the same place?¡± ¡°Yes, he¡¯s still there, probably whining about something,¡± Mr. Han chuckled. ¡°Great. I¡¯ll go say hello and come back shortly,¡± I said before heading toward the office. Knock, knock. ¡°Come in,¡± a thick, tired voice answered from inside. I stepped in. ¡°Hello, Doctor.¡± ¡°Hello. Are you Mr. Ronald?¡± he asked, glancing down at the list of scheduled patients. ¡°No, I¡¯m Kail, a former patient of yours.¡± The name didn¡¯t seem to jog his memory, as his face remained puzzled. ¡°Which Kail?¡± ¡°The one whose limbs you regrew.¡± There was a pause as he processed my words. Then his eyes widened in recognition. ¡°Kail¡­ Kail¡­ KAIL! Cindercrest!¡± ¡°No,¡± I corrected him. ¡°I¡¯ve been Vaylith for five years now.¡± ¡°Undress!¡± he suddenly barked. The abruptness of the command left me startled. ¡°Why?¡± ¡°Just undress!¡± he repeated, his tone leaving no room for argument. Without further questions, I complied, pulling off my jacket and shirt. The doctor immediately began a thorough examination of my limbs, testing my reflexes, muscles, the manaventis that surrounded them, and their reactions to various stimuli. ¡°Wonderful. Your body hasn¡¯t experienced any adverse reactions?¡± he asked, his tone now more professional. ¡°Not as far as I know. I¡¯ve had a pretty strict regimen, though, and persistent muscle soreness.¡± ¡°That¡¯s normal,¡± he nodded before pausing briefly, then continued. ¡°You¡¯re the only one who managed to regrow such perfect limbs.¡± ¡°There have been other patients?¡± ¡°Of course, but the results varied. Some couldn¡¯t regrow all their fingers, others couldn¡¯t control their new limb¡ªor parts of it¡ªbut your outcome is the only one that¡¯s ideal.¡± ¡°Why is that?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know for certain,¡± he admitted, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. ¡°It could be that you were still in your intense growth phase at the time. Or perhaps the serum came from the blood of a noble Therianthrope. Many factors could have played a role.¡± ¡°I have some news for you.¡± ¡°What news?¡± the doctor asked, leaning slightly forward. ¡°Do you remember the theory you told me the day before I left?¡± ¡°Not really. It¡¯s been years.¡± ¡°My ejection fraction increased.¡± At my words, his face transformed¡ªfirst astonishment, then suspense, and finally joy. ¡°Seriously?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± I confirmed, already thinking of pulling out the documents I had received from the other clinics. Before I could, he interrupted. ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°Where?¡± Without answering, he quickly called someone using his watch and inserted an earpiece into his right ear. ¡°I need all the testing equipment in the basement... I don¡¯t care if there are already appointments for today. Tell them there¡¯s a technical defect and reschedule everything by a day... I¡¯m telling you, once I enter, the doors will lock, and no one else will get in.¡± With that, he ended the call and turned to me. ¡°We¡¯re going to run some tests.¡± ¡°But I¡¯ve already done tests at other clinics. I can give you the results.¡± ¡°Those charlatans have no idea about your situation. The tests they ran are for ordinary people. They only gave you basic information, which is useless to me,¡± he said firmly. His insistence left no room for argument. For the next two hours, I endured a series of tests using advanced equipment, one of which involved entering a claustrophobic capsule. Just as I started to consider escaping, I caught sight of the doctor¡¯s eyes burning with suspense, and I reluctantly stayed put. Finally, he walked into his office, where I was resting after the exhaustive process. ¡°The results are ready,¡± he announced. ¡°Ejection fraction?!¡± I asked, jumping straight to the detail that mattered most to me. ¡°79%.¡± I froze. ¡°Then what was the point? It¡¯s the same as before.¡± But he continued, ¡°However, it could be 82%.¡± My head snapped up at his words. ¡°What do you mean? Can my arteries grow even more?¡± ¡°No,¡± he explained. ¡°Right now, your medium and small arteries are already expanded to their maximum capacity. But in your major arteries, you¡¯re accumulating residual aether. You¡¯re absorbing and transporting more aether than you can eliminate.¡± Then I remembered a little girl¡ªa girl so inattentive that she once whispered a secret to me, a secret no one was supposed to know: 110%. Caught up in the flurry of thoughts swirling in my mind, I unintentionally whispered, ¡°Lia.¡± The doctor¡¯s expression instantly stiffened, and his voice turned sharp, almost commanding. ¡°What Lia?¡± Realizing there was no way to take back my words, I answered carefully, ¡°The little girl who was treated here and came several times a week. One day, she told me her ejection fraction. But I never shared it with anyone and warned her not to, either.¡± A long, tense pause followed. The air felt thick, charged with unspoken thoughts. ¡°Are your words true?¡± he asked, his tone heavy with suspicion. ¡°Yes,¡± I said earnestly. ¡°After I left here, I trained with my master far away from human civilization. If you hadn¡¯t brought up my situation now, I wouldn¡¯t even have remembered her.¡± The tension in the room eased slightly, though the doctor¡¯s eyes remained calculating. Finally, he said, ¡°Indeed, your current condition is similar to hers, though with a smaller amount of residual aether. Over the years, Lia tried to develop a technique to utilize residual aether, but I¡¯ve lost contact with her. I don¡¯t know where she is now.¡± ¡°So, I can increase my ejection fraction,¡± I concluded, ¡°but to do that, I need to find her.¡± ¡°You just want to get into Altgard, don¡¯t you?¡± His voice was both accusatory and knowing. ¡°Yes,¡± I admitted. ¡°Even if I¡¯m just 1% below the threshold, as long as my documents say 79%, they won¡¯t even consider me.¡± The doctor leaned back in his chair, his eyes narrowing. Then, with a deliberate tone, he said, ¡°I¡¯ll prepare documents that state your ejection fraction as 80%. But hear this: if any information about Lia¡¯s ejection fraction ever surfaces¡ªno matter who shares it or under what circumstances¡ªI¡¯ll claim that you falsified the documents.¡± I hesitated. ¡°But then you¡¯ll be penalized too.¡± ¡°The worst they can do to me is revoke my medical license,¡± he replied with a calm, almost defiant shrug. ¡°That¡¯s not a problem for me. You, on the other hand, should think carefully about what they¡¯ll do to you.¡± I nodded solemnly. ¡°Thank you for this.¡± ¡°You understand,¡± he said sternly, ¡°that this is barely enough to get you into Altgard. The documents alone don¡¯t even represent a fifth of the challenges you¡¯ll face.¡± ¡°I know,¡± I said confidently. ¡°But you¡¯ll see. For the first time in history, someone with 80% will be admitted to Altgard.¡± Chapter 26 - problems find you August 20, 3108 Today is the day of the entrance exam. The previous days passed in a blur, filled with anticipation after I sent all the necessary documents to the admissions committee. The confirmation system informed me that the exam would take place on August 20th at the academy''s premises, with a specific recommendation: arrive in comfortable clothes without specialized equipment. Wearing black pants, sports boots, a plain T-shirt, and a gray hoodie, I made my way toward the academy. Situated at a distance from the capital, the academy is under its jurisdiction yet operates with full autonomy. It is not obligated to follow the orders of clans or the HTU for the most part. Daily, three underground metro trains run to the academy. These trains are typically used by academy staff, as students are forbidden to leave its territory without a significant reason. When I boarded the train, it was already packed with teenagers. Their destination was obvious, and now, I was one of them. Most of the passengers came from affluent families¡ªwealthy but not extraordinarily so. Almost everyone on this train wouldn¡¯t even make it past the first stage of the exam. The real contenders, the elites, would arrive in their own cars. As soon as I emerged from the underground station, the academy loomed before me. It reminded me of the Cindercrest clan¡¯s territory, though it had more specialized buildings than residential ones. Above the sidewalk leading from the subway exit was a large sign marking the boundary of the academy grounds. Two routes were highlighted: one in blue and the other in red. Each path led to one of the two major faculties of the academy¡ªManaArmis and ManaDomain. I made my way toward the ManaArmis building, the faculty I had applied to. In front of it was an enormous gymnasium. A significant number of people had already gathered there. Some were simply observing their surroundings, others were grouped together, animatedly discussing various topics, while a few had started doing light exercises to warm up. Representatives from various clans and guilds were also present, although none of them were familiar to me. Then, I heard a voice exclaim: ¡°Isn¡¯t that Astrel from Cindercrest?¡± I turned toward the source of the voice and immediately spotted a group of people. Their eyes were fixed on the central entrance of the gymnasium, where he stood. Astrel. The boy I knew all too well from my childhood. Short blond hair, piercing red eyes, and a body honed to perfection¡ªhis muscles were visible even through his clothes. His massive hands and legs gave him an imposing presence, but it was the expression on his face that truly defined him. That same look I hadn¡¯t forgotten¡ªa look that screamed as though the entire world owed him something. "Astrel, what the hell are you doing here?" I muttered under my breath, quickly pulling my hood over my head to make my face less visible. My eyes locked onto him, studying his movements as I kept my distance. The moment Astrel entered the gymnasium, a group of people immediately surrounded him, vying for his attention. As expected, he ignored them all, not sparing even a glance. Instead, he scanned the room, his eyes sharp and calculating, until they fixed in my direction. There''s no way he recognizes me... Panic surged through me, and I instinctively moved closer to the wall of the building, hoping to blend into the background. But to my dismay, his gaze didn¡¯t waver. He seemed focused, as if searching for something¡ªor someone. Then, just as I was about to convince myself it was a coincidence, he began walking in my direction. My pulse quickened, but before reaching me, he stopped near another group of people. His piercing gaze locked onto someone else: a boy with dark blue hair, striking blue eyes, and a body just as trained as Astrel''s, though slightly leaner. The boy¡¯s demeanor shifted immediately. His face turned serious, his expression edged with aggression, clearly responding to Astrel¡¯s penetrating stare and the faint, challenging smile on his lips. They began a dialogue, but I couldn¡¯t hear their words from where I stood. Instead, I noticed how the room¡¯s energy shifted. A large portion of the crowd now focused their attention on the two, sensing the tension between them. A voice from nearby caught my attention. "I didn¡¯t think Cindercrest would allow Astrel to enter the academy a year early just to compete with GlacierDominion''s new representative." "Since childhood, they¡¯ve been compared, always competing to see who¡¯s stronger. Looks like the clan leaders decided to pit them against each other directly this time."This narrative has been purloined without the author''s approval. Report any appearances on Amazon. Good, I thought, relieved. If Astrel is focused on someone else, he won¡¯t even notice me. I sighed softly, but memories of the past crept into my mind. I knew all too well how Astrel operated. Once, that obsession for his rival had been directed at me. Before I could dwell on it further, the doors of the gymnasium opened again, and two more figures entered. A wave of whispers rippled through the room. "Wow, two more personalities from the major clans," someone murmured nearby. I turned my gaze toward the entrance. Two girls walked in, engrossed in conversation. Their presence was striking. The first girl had long blonde hair tied into a sleek ponytail, her golden eyes exuding a serious, almost commanding aura. The second girl, in contrast, had short black hair and piercing violet eyes. Her demeanor was more relaxed, less intense, yet still captivating in a way that was hard to ignore. The first one, I don¡¯t know¡­ but the second one looks familiar, I thought, narrowing my eyes as I tried to place her. Snippets of conversation from the crowd filled in the gaps for me. "I knew the representative from the Angel Warriors clan would be here, but who¡¯s the second girl?" "You live under a rock or something? That¡¯s Lunaris Duskthorn. Even if she¡¯s a year younger, you should know descendants from the major clans." "Wait, she¡¯s younger than us? Then why is she already here?" "You¡¯re seriously clueless, huh? She¡¯s engaged to Astrel. Wherever he goes, she¡¯s always close behind." Once I heard her name, a memory from the past resurfaced in my mind. I was transported to a scene from years ago: a little girl with long black hair that cascaded down her back like an extension of the surrounding darkness. She was sitting on a chair on the terrace of a house where yet another celebration was being held¡ªa gathering I had been forced to attend. She was crying softly, her small frame trembling as she tried to suppress her sobs. I had been overwhelmed by the crowd inside, exhausted from the endless stream of people asking me the same mindless questions over and over again. Using the excuse of feeling tired because of the late hour, I slipped away from the gathering and stepped outside for some air. That¡¯s when I saw her. Approaching quietly, I reached into my pocket and pulled out a handkerchief, holding it out to her. "Take it. Adults don¡¯t like it when we¡¯re full of tears. Better to wipe them away before they notice you." She glanced up at me, her teary eyes meeting mine for a brief moment before she quickly wiped her face with her hands instead. "I¡¯m not crying!" she said, her voice defiant yet shaky. "Sure," I replied, smirking. "Then why aren¡¯t you crying?" The unexpected question seemed to catch her off guard. She lowered her gaze back to the ground, her voice becoming small and shy. "Astrel keeps making fun of me," she murmured. "Astrel? Cindercrest?" I asked, already knowing the answer. "Of course, who else?" "Why even talk to him in the first place? If I had the chance, I¡¯d run every time I saw him." "I will be his wife," she admitted, her tone filled with resignation. "Wife? Astrel¡¯s? Do you even like him?" "NO!" she exclaimed, her voice trembling with frustration. "But Dad said so, so I don¡¯t have a choice." She hesitated, then looked at me with a glimmer of hope in her eyes. "Why can¡¯t you get rid of him?" "We¡¯re from the same clan, plus we¡¯re from the same family," I replied. Hearing that, her body tensed, and she seemed on the verge of tears again. "No, no, no! Even if we¡¯re from the same clan, I¡¯m not friends with him," I quickly added, hoping to calm her down. "Really?!" she asked, her eyes narrowing suspiciously as if she were trying to determine whether I was telling the truth. "Yes, I guarantee it!" I assured her. She stared at me for a moment longer, then seemed to relax. Just as the atmosphere lightened, my mother¡¯s voice called out from the house. "Kail, come back!" I stood up from the chair reluctantly. "I have to go," I said, turning to leave. As I started walking back toward the house, I heard her small voice behind me. "What¡¯s your name?" I paused, glancing back over my shoulder. "Kail. Yours?" "Luna," she replied softly. That was the first time I met Luna. I saw her again at other celebrations over the years, but our conversations never went beyond polite greetings. She belonged to the faction that supported Astrel, while I represented a branch of the Cindercrest clan with my own circle of supporters. Even though we lived in the same world, we were on opposite sides of a deeply entrenched divide. It seems she forgot me. This wasn¡¯t the first time I¡¯d seen her since I was declared dead. The girl who was on the same public transport when I departed for my first mission for the agency. Back then, I had no idea she was part of the Duskthorn clan¡ªat least not until I saw her later with her father, who was speaking with Mr. Henry. My thoughts were abruptly interrupted by a voice projected from the walls of the hall. ¡°Good morning. In a few minutes, the entrance exam to Altgard Academy will begin.¡± The entrance doors suddenly shut, followed by the windows sealing off any view of the outside. The room was illuminated entirely by the bright LEDs mounted on the stadium roof, casting a stark, almost clinical light over everyone. ¡°Senior-year students will now distribute your number plates. These plates are crucial¡ªthey determine your status during the exam. If, for any reason, the plate becomes separated from your coat, whether it falls off or is removed, you will be immediately disqualified.¡± From the opposite entrance, a group of about 100 senior-year students entered the hall, all clad in the academy¡¯s official uniform. Each of them carried a silver box held firmly in both hands. They moved methodically through the room, handing each of us a small circular badge with a number inscribed on it. I examined mine: 954. Considering there are about 1,000 people here, they probably don¡¯t expect me to pass even the first stage. Altgard admitted approximately 300 students per faculty each year, making a total of just 600 first-year students. It was an unbelievably small number compared to the human population on the continent, which exceeded 2.6 billion. However, when taking into account the rigorous factors required to even reach this hall¡ªlet alone succeed in the exam¡ªthe number seemed rational. A voice echoed once again through the hall, its tone both formal and final: ¡°The entrance exam for the generation of the year 3108 is now officially declared open. Good luck to all participants.¡± Chapter 27 - a little examination Altgard Academy Entrance Exam: 1st Stage "Activate the Aether Circuit." At that command, ManaVentis activated across the room, engulfing all the participants in their respective elemental auras. The entire hall was awash with vivid, shifting colors as mana representing different elements illuminated the space. The number plates we had been given earlier reacted to the activation of our circuits, changing their colors to correspond with our elemental constitutions. I was surrounded by the soft yet forceful swirl of wind mana, and my plate turned a dark green. Around me, groups began to form based on their elemental affinities. For instance, Astrel¡¯s group was primarily composed of individuals with Ignis and Terra constitutions, while the group gathered around the descendant of Glaciar Dominion consisted mostly of Aqua users, with a smaller number of Ventus practitioners mixed in. Smaller, tighter-knit groups were also visible. Luna, alongside the representative of Angel Warriors, attracted individuals with Lux and Umbra constitutions. These groups seemed deliberately isolated, likely due to the independence of their respective clans from the Coalition. Then there were the loners¡ªthose who didn¡¯t belong to any group. I was one of them. It seems we¡¯re going to be here for a while. Time stretched on, yet no further instructions were announced. Initially, everyone had been on edge, but as moments turned into minutes and perhaps hours, a sense of relative calm¡ªor perhaps resignation¡ªsettled over the room. Unwilling to waste the time idly, I assumed a meditation pose and focused on my Aether Circuit. With each breath, I refined the flow of mana within me, honing my control and sharpening my awareness. Still, time dragged on. Without any way to measure its passage¡ªour watches rendered useless and no view of the outside world¡ªmost people began to grow restless. At first, no one experienced any issues maintaining their circuits. After all, nearly everyone in the room was a trained fighter, conditioned for endurance since childhood. However, boredom began to gnaw at them. Groups, having exhausted their conversations, broke apart. Individuals sprawled across the room, each seeking their own space of comfort. The prolonged inactivity began to take its toll. It was like staring at a glass of water without being allowed to drink, forced to watch it endlessly while thirst gradually set in. Initially tolerable, this longing for action grew unbearable over time. Frustration mounted, turning to irritation, and for some, quiet aggression. Even I was not immune to this creeping restlessness. My muscles burned with the need for activity, begging for motion. The air felt too still, my body too tense. Fine, I thought, if my body craves action, then I¡¯ll give it what it wants. Without hesitation, I stood and did what I had trained to do countless times during my years of isolation: I began to run. The gym was incredibly spacious. Even with so many people inside, moving around wasn¡¯t an issue. With plenty of room to maneuver, I decided to create an impromptu obstacle course, weaving my way through the crowd. I got up and began running¡ªnot at full speed, but certainly faster than a casual jog. My movements weren¡¯t normal by any means. I navigated through the mass of people with precision, slipping past without so much as brushing against anyone, whether they were standing, sitting, or lying down. Naturally, my actions drew attention. For a moment, the entire room turned their eyes toward me, watching as the hooded boy darted gracefully among them, avoiding contact at a speed that was neither slow nor frantic. After a few moments, however, it seemed my purpose clicked for everyone. Soon, the gym buzzed with activity as people began to follow my lead. Those with Ignis constitutions gravitated toward strength exercises¡ªpush-ups, pull-ups using wall surfaces, or simply challenging themselves with weight training. The Aqua-affiliated individuals opted for stretches, contorting their bodies into positions that bordered on the impossible, demonstrating incredible flexibility. Terra practitioners focused on static resistance exercises. Some balanced in handstands or crane poses, while others even maintained headstands for extended periods. Umbra individuals practiced stealthy, fluid movements¡ªquick, elastic transitions that were reminiscent of my own technique, though theirs carried an almost ethereal quality. The Lux constitution group, in contrast, didn¡¯t engage in physical exercises at all. They remained in meditation, but their ManaVentis flowed unusually¡ªthickening and condensing in some areas while shrinking in others, almost as if their aether obeyed commands issued through sheer willpower. The Ventus group, unsurprisingly, joined my route, using the path I carved to practice their agility. Some mimicked movements similar to Tai Chi, but with a unique twist. I could see how the currents of wind around them shifted and responded to their deliberate gestures. It wouldn¡¯t hurt to learn that, I thought, observing their fluid grace. With this sudden surge of activity, the gym transformed into a chaotic yet focused training ground. People busied themselves practicing, discussing techniques, and exchanging ideas on how to refine their movements or make them more efficient. But this newfound enthusiasm also ignited competition between groups. The Ignis practitioners competed over repetitions or how much weight¡ªrepresented by people, naturally¡ªthey could lift. The Aqua group tested who could hold or replicate the most difficult poses. Each element seemed to spark its own set of challenges. Amidst this, I couldn¡¯t help but notice some of the Ventus practitioners challenging my running route. A few managed to keep up, while others even began overtaking me. One of them, however, didn¡¯t just overtake me. They turned back and addressed me directly, a cheeky grin on their face. ¡°Hey, can you go faster?¡± I could have ignored the challenge¡ªit wasn¡¯t like I had anything to prove. But honestly, with nothing else occupying me, the idea of a little competition didn¡¯t sound so bad.Unauthorized duplication: this narrative has been taken without consent. Report sightings. I smirked under my hood and responded, ¡°Don¡¯t regret those words.¡± At this point, our speed had increased to an exhilarating level¡ªnot so reckless as to risk crashing into others, but fast enough that tracking our silhouettes required intense focus. Blink once, and we¡¯d be in a completely different area. Our little competition quickly escalated. About twenty more people joined in, including members of the Umbra group. What started as a simple route now transformed into a high-stakes race with acrobatics woven into every movement. In the leading group, it was me, the boy who had initially challenged me, and three or four others who managed to keep up with the intense pace we¡¯d set. Then, that same boy issued another challenge, his voice sharp with excitement. ¡°A full circle around the entire room, starting from the Aqua group. Whoever gets there first wins. Are you in?¡± The thrill of competition crackled in the air. Without hesitation, the front runners¡ªand a few more who had just caught up¡ªnodded their agreement. We neared the Aqua group, and the countdown began. ¡°Three¡­ two¡­ one¡­ start!¡± At the sound of "start," we burst forward, a collective surge of energy and speed. The force of our movements stirred the air, creating gusts of wind that rippled outwards, brushing past the unfortunate onlookers who stood too close. But before they could react, we were already gone. The speed was exhilarating. Everything in my peripheral vision blurred, leaving only the narrow path ahead in focus. Behind us, a distinct current of wind trailed, a testament to the sheer velocity of our race. It was no longer just a competition¡ªit was a spectacle. The entire hall turned their attention toward us. Some watched in awe, others with curiosity or envy. But as if responding to our chaotic energy, members from various groups decided to intervene and make things more¡­ interesting. The first obstacle came from the Terra group. They formed a wall of bodies, their massive frames creating an imposing blockade. But for us, it was little more than an inconvenient pile of rocks. We adapted effortlessly. Some leapt clean over the wall; others slid beneath it, weaving through their legs with agile precision. As for me, I opted to use the wall itself, running up its side for a few steps before flipping back to the ground, maintaining my momentum. The others followed suit, and we barely lost any speed. Next came the Ignis group, who posed a greater threat. Their explosive movements and unpredictable bursts of power made their barricade far more dangerous. "One, two, three¡ª" I counted in my head as I zigzagged between them, jumping to the right, darting to the left, and then shifting back to the right again. I applied the principles of Territory Formation, though without fully activating it, ensuring precise movements to evade their fiery strikes. This time, however, our group didn¡¯t make it through entirely unscathed. A few of our runners were caught by the Ignis group¡¯s explosive tactics, their progress halted. As we closed in on the finish line, I found myself in third place. The boy who had issued the challenge, along with another runner, had managed to overtake me while I navigated the Ignis group¡¯s defenses. But the race wasn¡¯t over yet. In front of us stood the Aqua group, their flexible yet powerful stance immediately indicating that they were ready to halt our wind-driven advance. Among them, standing out like an ominous shadow, was Astrel''s competitor. His presence raised the stakes, making it clear this was going to be more than just a race¡ªit was a test of adaptability and ingenuity. Sensing the challenge ahead, I instinctively increased my speed, and the group in front narrowed to just the three of us: me, the boy who had initially provoked the race, and the silent runner from the Umbra group. As we closed the gap to the Aqua blockade, the boy spoke, his voice carrying a mix of adrenaline and determination. ¡°Ahhh, good luck to us! Let¡¯s split into three paths,¡± he suggested. I asked, ¡°Who¡¯ll take the center?¡± He smirked. ¡°What? Afraid to be the one?¡± ¡°Fine. I¡¯ll take the center,¡± I replied without hesitation. With that, we separated¡ªme in the middle, the chatterbox on the right, and the Umbra runner, who offered nothing but a small nod, taking the left flank. The Aqua group quickly adapted to our strategy, dividing themselves into three smaller units to intercept each of us. However, I noticed the most skilled and dangerous among them remained in the center¡ªdirectly in my path. How do I deal with this? A head-on confrontation flashed in my mind, but I quickly dismissed it. The Aqua constitution¡¯s strength lies in a combination of fluid flexibility and precise, explosive power. Slowing down would only make me an easier target, yet charging headlong seemed like a guaranteed loss. What can I use? I scanned the surroundings, searching for something, anything, that could tip the odds in my favor. My eyes darted back for a brief moment, and that¡¯s when I saw it¡ªa major wind current trailing us, an echo of the collective speed and energy we had generated. Eureka! With a plan forming in my mind, I executed my move. I reduced my speed slightly, just enough to bait the Aqua group into tightening their formation and preparing for the interception. As I approached the blockade, a wall of hands lunged toward me, aiming to grab hold. At the last moment, I dropped into a sliding motion, one leg extended forward, the friction slowing me just enough to stay in control. Halfway through their formation, I saw more hands reaching toward me. With no time to spare, I shifted my weight, bent my knees, and launched myself upward in a leap. The sudden jump carried me above the Aqua group, but my momentum was spent¡ªI hung in midair like a star, limbs stretched wide, with no forward drive to carry me past them. Come on, faster. I¡¯m waiting for you, I thought, silently urging the wind current behind me to catch up. And it did. The rushing current swept into me like a gale, giving me the forward momentum I needed. I adjusted my posture midair, arms and legs tightening into a streamlined position, and landed with a controlled roll. As soon as I hit the ground, I used the momentum to push myself forward, accelerating back into the race. Behind me, the chatterbox followed close, breaking through his own flank with a mixture of cunning and agility. The two of us, now neck and neck, launched into a final sprint toward the finish line, leaving the others behind. The hall erupted with noise as everyone¡¯s attention locked onto the final stretch. The air felt electric, and the thrill of competition coursed through my veins. I could see the finish line ahead, tantalizingly close, but the race was far from over. The chatterbox was relentless, and I couldn¡¯t afford to let my guard down¡ªnot now. He managed to conserve a portion of his inertia, closing the gap between us with impressive precision. Before I knew it, he was right next to me, both of us sprinting side by side toward the imaginary finish line. The crowd¡¯s eyes were locked on us as if the entire hall was holding its breath, the tension thick enough to cut with a blade. Then I noticed it¡ªsubtle but unmistakable. Currents of wind began to accumulate around him, wrapping him in an almost invisible force that seemed to propel him forward. His pace increased dramatically, the distance between us growing with each passing moment. A technique? A grin tugged at the corner of my mouth. If he was going to use a technique, why shouldn¡¯t I? With only 10 meters separating me from the finish, and 6 meters for him, I made my move. Movement Technique: Wind Kingdom (4¡ï) Stage 1: Territory Formation Instead of activating the technique in a single burst that would be too obvious, I layered several smaller territories in quick succession, each one giving me a slight boost in speed. The air around me responded instantly, currents shifting and converging as I glided through them. Seeing this, he instinctively began to pull more wind currents toward himself, unaware that my subtle adjustments were forcing the air to funnel toward both of us. The finish line loomed ahead. 5 meters. 3 meters. With a final burst, I tapped into the last territory I had created. My feet barely touched the ground as I surged forward, neck and neck with my challenger in the final stretch. And then¡ªFINISH. Chapter 28 - Is it bad to be last? We stopped, our muscles aching and fatigued, but we maintained steady breathing to keep the aether circuit active. Despite the competition, we couldn¡¯t lose sight of the primary reason we were here. After a few moments, my breathing stabilized, and I no longer had to focus on controlling it. Straightening my posture, I let go of my knees, which had been supporting my upper body. As I stood upright, I was met with a hall full of applause and laughter. ¡°That was epic! Star in the wind! HAHAHA! Bravo!¡± It was then I realized how I must have looked to the spectators when I leaped into the air and let the wind current propel me forward. Feeling my cheeks heat up, I quickly adjusted my hood, pulling it lower to hide my face, which was undoubtedly red. The boy who finished alongside me approached, a grin on his face. ¡°You cheated,¡± he said bluntly. ¡°So did you,¡± I replied without hesitation. My words caught him off guard, his expression shifting to surprise. ¡°How do you know?¡± I couldn¡¯t tell him the truth¡ªthat I had noticed his subtle use of wind manipulation. Instead, I smirked slightly and shrugged. ¡°You just confirmed it yourself.¡± He stared at me for a moment, suspicion flickering in his black eyes, but then he relaxed and extended a hand. ¡°That was interesting. I¡¯m Liam. We¡¯ll do it again sometime.¡± I took his hand and gave it a firm shake. ¡°Kail. If we pass this exam, then I¡¯d be happy to.¡± Liam was a bit shorter than me, with black hair streaked with green strands that matched the dark green of the Ventus constitution. His black eyes held a sharp, calculating gleam, and his physique was similar to mine, though his forearms seemed slightly more defined. ¡°At least the first stage of the exam is over,¡± he said. ¡°Where did you get that idea?¡± I asked, raising an eyebrow. ¡°Look at some people¡¯s plates,¡± he said, pointing. I followed his gaze and noticed that a few of the plates worn by other participants were no longer fully colored. They had started to return to their original silver tone, the vibrant hues fading gradually. ¡°Here, they tested if you could maintain a circuit not just constantly, but also while performing certain actions. They also wanted to see if the flow of aether remained consistent,¡± Liam explained. I glanced at my plate, as well as Liam¡¯s, and noticed that both remained as green as they were when we first activated them. ¡°Possibly because of my breathing technique,¡± I thought to myself. ¡°So, that¡¯s why you provoked me out of everyone here?¡± I asked. ¡°Mostly, yeah,¡± Liam admitted. ¡°But also because you were the first to actually do something interesting. I was this close to exploding from boredom.¡± As if to confirm his statement, the voice from the walls echoed through the hall once again. ¡°All the people whose plates turned black, please leave the room,¡± the voice commanded. Immediately, several individuals¡¯ plates, which had previously displayed the color of their respective elements, turned pitch black. Mine, however, remained unchanged. The central doors opened, allowing sunlight to pour into the hall¡ªa stark reminder that an entire day might have passed since the exam had begun. Some people hesitated, refusing to leave, and a few even tried to voice their objections. However, before they could say much, a figure materialized out of thin air. With a single, fluid movement, the figure subdued them, rendering them unconscious. Within moments, both the rebellious participants and the figure disappeared entirely. Once the room settled, only about two-thirds of the initial crowd remained. ¡°Part 2 of the exam begins,¡± the voice announced. The floor beneath us began to descend, revealing an even larger, cavernous space below. The new area was filled with countless small, white tables, each designed for a single person. These tables were spaced apart, with partitions on either side and in front, ensuring isolation for each participant. Liam and I exchanged a brief glance before parting ways, each heading to a separate table. Once seated, I felt the subtle hum of the table activating, and soon, a hologram appeared above it. The hologram displayed three choices: Tank Knight Scout These were the three essential roles for those specializing in Mana Armis. My choice was clear¡ªI pressed Scout. Immediately, the hologram began displaying a series of theoretical questions. Topics ranged from a scout¡¯s duties in various scenarios to complex multiple-choice questions about tracking techniques, gathering intelligence, and even the effects of environmental factors on reconnaissance missions. Some of the questions were straightforward, but others delved into obscure scenarios and concepts. This¡­ isn¡¯t going great. After what felt like an eternity, I submitted my final answer. A moment later, my results appeared on the hologram: 68% Wait for the next orders. I let out a quiet sigh. That could¡¯ve gone better.Unauthorized use: this story is on Amazon without permission from the author. Report any sightings. Minutes later, the familiar voice echoed again, cutting through the tension. ¡°All participants who scored less than 60%, please return to the platform you came from.¡± I exhaled deeply, relief washing over me. Phew, that was close. The number of participants eliminated this time was significantly smaller, but those who failed to meet the required threshold struggled to support themselves as they shuffled toward the exit. ¡°The 3rd stage begins. Please move forward when your hologram instructs you,¡± the voice announced. Gradually, faint sounds filled the room as people got up and started heading forward in small batches. Every five or six minutes, another group would rise and move out. Over time, more than 50 groups had already departed. Finally, my turn arrived. The hologram above my table displayed the message: Proceed forward. Without hesitation, I rose from my seat and started walking. As I moved, I noticed that all the tables around me were now empty. Only seven others were heading toward the same destination, their plates marking them as being in the 700-800 range. Mine, however, stood out¡ªit was marked with the 900 series, the highest among us. We passed through the rows of abandoned tables until we reached a large double door. Beyond it lay a room with metallic walls, their surfaces etched with strange cuts that seemed to hum faintly with residual energy. Standing at the center of the room was a man in his 40s, with short brown hair and tired black eyes. His posture and expression betrayed exhaustion, as though he''d repeated this process countless times. When he noticed us, he delivered his instructions in a flat, monotone voice, devoid of any enthusiasm: "Each of you, one by one, will attack me starting with the person whose number is lower. Attack me with everything you have. When I say Stop, you must immediately cease all actions. You may choose your weapon from the rack to your left." Without waiting for a response, he gestured toward a weapon rack lined with an assortment of arms. I made my way to the rack, scanning the options until my eyes landed on a recurve bow crafted entirely from polished wood. It was simple but elegant, exuding a craftsmanship that immediately appealed to me. I grabbed the bow, along with a hip quiver filled with 20 arrows. It feels good in the hand, I thought, testing the tension of the string. This is a quality bow. Once armed, I turned my attention to the others. According to the numbering, I would go last. One by one, the others stepped forward to face the instructor. Each match ended in the same way¡ªswift and decisive. The first attack was always allowed to land, seemingly without resistance, but the moment the instructor began to counter, it was over. Most challengers barely had time to activate their Mana Armis before they were incapacitated. The person before me didn¡¯t even manage to raise his armor before the instructor¡¯s fist was inches from his face. He crumpled under the pressure, defeated in a matter of seconds. Then it was my turn. I stepped forward, the recurve bow resting in my grip, my heart steady but my mind sharp. As I stood across from the instructor, his tired eyes locked onto mine. Despite his fatigue, there was an unmistakable sharpness in his gaze¡ªa predator sizing up its next prey. The instructor''s second phrase came, casual yet dismissive: ¡°You¡¯re the last one. Let¡¯s finish this quickly. I¡¯m really exhausted.¡± The tone irritated me slightly, though I didn¡¯t let it show. Without a word, I slowly pulled an arrow from the quiver and nocked it onto the bowstring. This simple act, the beginning of my attack, seemed to elicit no reaction from him¡ªuntil I attempted to activate my Mana Armis. Before I could complete the process, the instructor suddenly leaped toward me, closing the distance at an alarming speed. Movement Technique: Wind Kingdom (4¡î) 1st Stage: Territory Formation In a blur, I shifted behind the instructor on his right, seamlessly continuing my previous motion to activate my armor. Breathing Technique: Tempest Flow (4¡î) 2nd Stage: Wind Acceleration Mana Armis: Left Foot + Hand + Right Shoulder + Head ¡ª 2nd Form Condensation The armor flickered to life, surrounding key points of my body with a concentrated aetheric sheen. When I glanced back, I saw the instructor already two meters away, closing in with terrifying precision. I quickly formed another territory, this time veering hard to the right, forcing him to adjust his trajectory. His relentless pursuit continued, but the slight hesitation gave me the window I needed. I raised my bow, channeling aether into the arrow as I nocked it. Archery Technique: Tornado Archery (4¡î) 1st Stage: Guided Arrow The arrow gleamed faintly, infused with a swirling current of wind-aether. I released it, aiming for the perfect angle to disrupt his momentum. As expected, he handled it with ease, intercepting the arrow with a sharp motion that left a temporary blind spot. Using this opening, I formed another territory, this time propelling myself above him. As I reached my vantage point, I nocked a second arrow, this one without aether, and released it immediately. The instructor¡¯s response was instantaneous. His gloved fist met the arrow mid-flight, shattering it into splinters, while his other hand lashed out toward me in a swift counterattack. Realizing I wouldn¡¯t have enough time to land and form another territory to evade him, I improvised. Twisting mid-air, I performed a flip, bringing my left foot down in a calculated strike against his incoming hand. What the hell? Why does my foot hurt?! The impact jolted through my leg, the force behind his hand far greater than I anticipated. But the maneuver served its purpose¡ªit pushed me back, creating enough distance to recover. Gritting my teeth through the ache in my foot, I landed lightly and immediately began charging another arrow with aether, preparing for the next phase of the battle. This time, the instructor''s response was delayed, his left hand momentarily buried in the floor¡ªa surface weaker than the reinforced walls surrounding us. Taking advantage of the pause, I channeled aether into my arrow, infusing it with enough power to create a more significant impact. I could see in his stance that he was already preparing his next move. As expected, he lunged at me again. But this time, his left hand extended only halfway before releasing something from his fist¡ªa stone propelled at high speed. I barely managed to sidestep to the right, just enough to keep him within my line of sight. Yet as I did, I noticed his right fist hurtling toward me, a fraction of a second from impact. Movement Technique: Wind Kingdom (4¡î) 2nd Stage: Illusionary Redirection In an instant, I split into two: one figure darting left and the other veering right. His fist instinctively tracked the left figure, only to dissipate into the wind as it made contact. Meanwhile, I had already repositioned myself, planting my feet firmly against the wall on my right. Archery Technique: Tornado Archery (4¡î) 2nd Stage: Wind Slash I released the arrow, its trajectory aimed initially at the instructor''s torso. He moved to intercept, his focus unwavering. Yet, as the arrow reached the halfway point, its course subtly shifted, veering more toward his right side, brushing close but not directly at him. He dismissed it as harmless, a clear miscalculation. As the arrow passed near his shoulder, the aether within it activated, forming a wind blade that materialized in an instant, ready to slash through his arm. Stop. The instructor''s voice rang out, sharp and authoritative. At that moment, the armor on his right arm flared to life, solidifying just as the wind blade struck. The blade disintegrated upon impact, unraveling harmlessly into the surrounding air. He stood unmoved, his gaze locked on me. Even after all my efforts, he had deflected my attack without breaking a sweat, a testament to his skill and experience. Chapter 29 - who likes exams? I landed on the ground, only to realize that the instructor was still relentlessly pursuing me. The armor covering his arm was significantly larger than mine, adorned with various adjacent elements that enhanced its complexity and resilience. Most likely, he¡¯s a tank, I thought as I quickly assessed the situation. Breaking the silence, the instructor asked me, "Which organization do you belong to?" "None," I replied. "I¡¯m an orphan. A war veteran adopted and trained me." He raised an eyebrow at my response before continuing, "Then why do you have such a low number? With your skills, you should easily be in the top 300¡ª500 at worst." "I have a low ejection fraction," I admitted, "and I submitted my documents without any recommendations." "Ah, that explains it," he said, nodding thoughtfully. "Come with me. In your case, we need to run some tests so you don¡¯t encounter problems when the commission convenes." Without further explanation, he turned and began walking toward an exit. Following him, we entered an elevator, which took us to the surface. For the first time in what felt like ages, I was bathed in sunlight¡ªthough it was already setting on the horizon. "Where are we going?" I asked, the instructor¡¯s unusually considerate actions piquing my curiosity. "To the academy¡¯s medical center," he replied curtly. "For what?" "You need to be tested to ensure you haven¡¯t used any stimulants." His response made me tense slightly. "Do you think I¡¯m under the influence of some kind of drug?" I asked, my tone sharper than I intended. He didn¡¯t seem bothered by my reaction. "I don¡¯t know," he said plainly, "but this is also for your own benefit. Without this clearance, your chances of being admitted are slim to none." "Does the number on those plates really hold that much weight?" "Yes, it does. In all my years of teaching here, I can¡¯t recall a single case of someone with a number above 700 being admitted." His words stung, though they confirmed a harsh truth I already knew. In our world, the most talented individuals are nurtured under powerful organizations. The odds of someone without connections but with raw talent making it this far are almost nonexistent. We arrived at the medical center, a three-story building that resembled a hospital more than a standard academy infirmary. Walking through the central doors, we entered a wide hallway. It wasn¡¯t overly crowded, but I noticed students in academy uniforms from different years moving about. Mixed in were people of various ages, from children to adults, all with a sense of purpose in their movements. The instructor ignored everyone and headed straight for the stairs. Curious about the diverse crowd, I decided to ask, "I understand why the students are here, but who are all these other people?" "Family members of academy staff can access medical services here for free," the instructor explained as we walked. "Students'' families can also use these services, though most of the people who can afford to study here usually have no trouble securing high-quality healthcare elsewhere." We climbed to the third floor, and the instructor approached the first door to the right of the stairs. Knock, knock. "Come in," a voice called from inside. The instructor pushed the door open and stepped in. "Linda, are you free?" Inside the medical office sat a woman with long black hair and hazel eyes, wearing glasses and a white medical gown. She looked up from her work, her expression shifting to annoyance. "What do you need, Ron?" she asked flatly. "There¡¯s a boy here who needs to be tested for stimulants," he replied casually. Her irritation flared. "You''re making trouble again. What rank did you choose this year? Don¡¯t tell me it¡¯s above 700." "954," he replied, his tone as unaffected as before. "Haaaaa?!" she exclaimed, her frustration now audible. "Are you completely insane? They¡¯re going to kick you out, and yet you keep provoking them!" Her outburst didn¡¯t seem to faze him in the slightest. "So, can you do the tests?" he asked, as though her words had been mere background noise. Linda shot him a fiery glare, the tension between them so intense it felt like a spark could ignite a literal fire at any moment. Finally, she sighed in defeat. "Ahhh, fine. Let¡¯s go," she said, rising from her chair. She walked out of the office, and Mr. Ronald closed the door behind her. "Good evening," I greeted her, trying to lighten the mood. Her eyes scanned me from head to toe, her expression softening slightly from the frustration she¡¯d just directed at the instructor. "Greetings," she said. "As you¡¯ve likely figured out, I¡¯ll be running a series of tests on you. Let¡¯s head to the laboratory."Unauthorized content usage: if you discover this narrative on Amazon, report the violation. "Okay," I replied simply. We moved toward the left wing of the floor, which ended at a secure door. Linda retrieved a small chip from her pocket to unlock it, then pushed the door open. She gestured for me to step inside, but as Mr. Ronald tried to follow, her voice turned sharp once again. "You stay here," she snapped. The door shut behind us, leaving me alone with Linda. I glanced around, taking in the laboratory''s sleek, modern design. The room was filled with state-of-the-art medical equipment, with a large capsule-like device dominating the center. "Is this your personal laboratory?" I asked, impressed by the advanced technology surrounding us. Linda gave a small nod. "Yes, though I doubt you¡¯ll get to see much of it. Just focus on the tests for now." "Yes, mostly, but sometimes other doctors use the lab when necessary," Linda replied, her tone softening as she prepared her tools. "Now, lift your sleeve; I''ll take your blood." I complied, rolling up my sleeve. With a smooth, quick motion, she drew venous blood. "Sorry for the discomfort," I said, despite not feeling much at all. "It''s normal. There''s no fault of yours here¡ªjust the heroism in excess from that fool outside," she remarked, clearly referring to Mr. Ronald. "I thought passing all the tests would be enough, but from what I¡¯ve seen, the situation seems more complicated," I admitted. Linda let out a small, dry laugh. "Mostly, this entire exam is a farce. The results are already decided the moment you receive your plate. If you got a number under 600, congratulations¡ªyou¡¯re a student of Altgard Academy." "Then I¡¯ve failed," I said flatly. "If this were a standard case, yes. But, in a way, you¡¯re lucky to have Ron as your examiner. If it had been anyone else, your chance of becoming a student would be less than 1%." I raised an eyebrow. "And now?" "50%," she replied, glancing at me as if gauging my reaction. "Even though you¡¯ve shown you deserve to be here, everything will still depend on the decision at the meeting. Last year, there was also a student with a plate number above 600 who made it in." "And what happened to him?" "After one semester, he transferred to another institution," she said plainly. "Because of discrimination?" "He couldn¡¯t adapt. Maybe that will be your situation too. Don¡¯t take it the wrong way, but this academy demands an immense amount of talent. Sure, that can be offset with preparation, natural treasures, or access to rooms rich in aether¡ªbut those are resources provided by clans or guilds. Judging by your plate number, that doesn¡¯t seem to be your case." Her tone wasn¡¯t harsh or condescending; it carried a genuine note of concern, as though she wanted to prepare me for the worst. I let out a short, provocative smile. "I assure you, my situation is a little different." Her eyes flickered with surprise, followed by a small smile of her own. "Wow, you¡¯re confident. That¡¯s not bad. Just don¡¯t forget my words¡ªbecause I assure you, a time will come when you''ll face the weight of what I¡¯ve said." The tests continued. She checked my aether levels, among other things, and even complimented me on the purity of my aether. "All done," she finally said, stepping back. "You¡¯re free to go. You¡¯ll receive a message when the results of the meeting are in. Good luck, regardless." "Thank you," I replied sincerely. Leaving the lab alone¡ªLinda stayed behind to finish logging the results¡ªI found Mr. Ronald waiting in the same spot where we had left him. "Are you done?" he asked, standing casually with his arms crossed. "Yes." "Great. I¡¯ll lead you to the exit of the academy," he said, motioning for me to follow. We continued on our way to the metro. ¡±Why are you doing this?¡± ¡±What exactly?¡± ¡±Give me a chance.¡± ¡±From Mrs. Linda¡¯s words, only because of you, I can get into the academy.¡± He gave me a quick look, but it soon returned to his usual expression. ¡±Because you deserved it.¡± ¡±And that¡¯s it?¡± ¡±That¡¯s more than enough. This is a wonderful academy if you have the skills to withstand its curriculum. You showed me these skills, which were far better than someone ranked in the 600s, but the chance of you even competing with them is miserable because there is no such thing as a competition for entry.¡± ¡±You won¡¯t have problems because of this?¡± ¡±This is not something you need to relive. Train and progress¡ªthis is what you need to focus on.¡± ¡±Thank you.¡± ¡±Nothing has been decided yet. If you do enter, then please me with the work you will do.¡± August 26, 3108 In a room, there were 21 people seated at a round table, and a hologram was projected in the middle of it. A gentleman with a beard and white hair, already quite old, was sitting in a chair slightly higher than all the others. He said: ¡±Let¡¯s start the conference for the admission committee of the year 3108.¡± Immediately, the hologram changed, displaying images of the people who had attempted to pass the entrance exam. ¡±We offer the word to the head of the ManaDomain faculty.¡± A gentleman on the right, with black hair streaked with white, stood up and said: ¡±For the Faculty of ManaDomain, 834 people applied. 587 passed all phases of the exam. Among the remarkable candidates, I can mention the ones ranked 1, 2, and 11. The first place is a descendant of the Blizzard Veil clan, and the second place is from a guild based on element control. But I consider the most remarkable to be the candidate in 11th place. This one has an ejection fraction of 100%, and phenomenal control over both the wind and water elements. I personally was her examiner in the last stage. For this reason, I believe she deserves to be raised from the preliminary rank of 11 to 1.¡± ¡±The Faculty of ManaDomain, as always, is excellent in nurturing its talents. We congratulate you on such phenomenal students.¡± The entire room erupted into applause, acknowledging the remarkable results presented. ¡±Now, we offer the word to the Head of the ManaArmis faculty.¡± A lady with long red-brown hair tied in a ponytail stood up. She appeared to be in her 30s, but it was clear she was older than that. ¡±1123 people were registered who applied for admission, but after examination, only 439 remained. This year we have 4 people from major clans and 10 from outstanding guilds.¡± After this speech, the audience did not remain as positive or supportive. ¡±Can you please explain how it happened that out of 1123 applicants, only 439 remained?¡± ¡±They did not present the necessary level of skills to be considered students in our faculty.¡± ¡±And anyway, I ask you to increase the number of people supported up to 600, including those whose preventive rank shows the presence of these capabilities.¡± After these words, the gentleman in the middle tapped the screen on his table, and the number of people increased to 601 with the change in their preventive ranks. ¡±You included a person who wasn''t even in the top 600, and yet you still didn¡¯t admit the 600th candidats?¡± He moved to the end of the list, where everyone noticed the student ranked 601st with a preventive rank of 954. ¡±I hope this is just a system error.¡± Then, Mr. Ronald got up from his chair next to the lady, who remained standing. ¡±No, sir, I was in charge of examining this student, and I assure you he had enough skills to be admitted to the academy.¡± ¡±We already had this discussion about such a situation, I hope you remember.¡± ¡±Yes, sir.¡± ¡±Then you understand what situation you¡¯re in.¡± ¡±Yes, sir.¡± ¡±Great. Then I declare today¡¯s conference over. Thank you, everyone, for your effort.¡± Chapter 30 - 601 rank August 28, 3108 The list of admitted students was finally published. I began skimming through it: 1 - Nerion Frostvein 2 - Astrel Cindercrest ... 5 - Elysia Luxford ... 9 - Lunaris Duskthorn The top rank is likely Astrel¡¯s new goal. Elysia is from the general family of the Angel Warriors clan, and she was the one who entered the testing room with Lunaris,¡±I thought. But my name was nowhere to be found on the first few pages. Only when I reached the very last page did I finally spot it. It took a lot of effort to get to this point. 601 - Kail Vaylith It doesn¡¯t matter what rank I got. I¡¯ll improve it as I go. The most important thing is that I was admitted. By September 1st, pairings would begin. By then, all students were required to pay the tuition fee. Along with a confirmation of the transfer, students were to report to the academy dormitory to receive their living arrangements for the duration of their studies. I messaged Rebeca: |Kail| I was admitted to Altgrad. Why did Astrel come for the admission test? |Rebeca| Congratulations. I¡¯ll send the transfer confirmation from an anonymous account. Right now, there¡¯s a significant confrontation between the Cindercrest and GlaciarDominion clans. At the last moment, it was decided the resolution would be settled through the new generation¡¯s abilities to avoid causing widespread damage. |Kail| I¡¯ll try to avoid contact with him, but from what I¡¯ve observed, he seems focused on his new ¡°sacrifice.¡± |Rebeca| Good luck. That evening, I received the transfer confirmation. With my backpack and suitcase already packed¡ªholding little more than the essentials¡ªI was ready for Altgrad. August 29, 3108 Early in the morning, I arrived once more at the academy. The entrance seemed unchanged, but the map I followed now led to a different route. It pointed to two separate buildings this time, possibly reflecting the start of new arrangements. Because I had arrived early, the sidewalks were not yet crowded with students. The campus felt quiet, almost serene. And then, from behind me, I heard someone¡¯s voice... "¡ªAAA! Puhh!" Turning around to see the commotion, I found myself staring at a miraculously beautiful girl with long white hair. Her blouse was on the ground, and three suitcases were scattered across different parts of the sidewalk. "Lia?" Although she looked a little different, there was no mistaking the girl who had unexpectedly saved my mental state years ago, just when I was ready to shut myself off from the world. She raised her head, her blue eyes catching the sunlight like the ocean at sunrise. Her gaze analyzed me carefully before her eyes widened as if she¡¯d just discovered something monumental. "Kail???!! How? Why? Are you alive?" Why would she think I was dead? Theoretically, the identity of "Kail" admitted to that medical institution was declared dead¡ªbut that was just for the Cindercrest clan''s records. Why would Lia believe it?If you encounter this narrative on Amazon, note that it''s taken without the author''s consent. Report it. I walked over to her and extended my hand to help her up. Her face remained locked in absolute astonishment. "As you can see, I¡¯m alive. I take it you were admitted this year as well?" At my words, she seemed to snap out of her trance. Her expression became calmer as she took my hand, got up, and headed toward her scattered suitcases¡ªthough her face now carried a hint of suspicion. "Are you really Kail?" "Don¡¯t I look like him?" "Honestly, I¡¯m not sure. Maybe the face is similar, but definitely not the body," she muttered, clearly scrutinizing me. In the past, we were about the same height, but now she barely reached my chest. "Well, five years have passed," I replied, "or do you want me to remind you how you used to harass me?" Her ears turned noticeably red at my remark, confirming her embarrassment. "IT¡¯S NOTHING LIKE THAT!" she blurted out before quickly changing the topic. "The doctor told me you¡¯d died. Can you please explain how you came back to life?" As she grabbed two of her suitcases, I picked up the third to help. She immediately took a step back, clearly startled by the gesture, and walked toward the sidewalk on the right. "Mmm, let¡¯s just assume I came back to life. But you¡¯re heading the wrong way¡ªyou need to go left," I pointed out casually. She stopped, raised her head to check the map on the screen, then turned around with an awkward expression and started heading in the correct direction. "Then why didn¡¯t you answer my messages?" "First of all," I said with a raised brow, "I never gave you my contact information." At that, I noticed a slight tremor run through her, like someone caught in the act of a crime. "The doctor gave it to me," Lia said, her tone slightly defensive. "He didn¡¯t even have it," I countered. "Just admit you were the one who took it when I left my watch in the rehabilitation room." "You wanted to give me your contact but didn¡¯t have the courage to do it directly," she retorted with a sly grin. A small tremor passed through my body, but since she was walking ahead of me, I doubted she noticed. Not wanting to linger on the topic any longer, I added, "The area where I was training didn¡¯t allow signals to pass. That¡¯s why I threw away my old watch. It doesn¡¯t matter anymore. How do you feel?" "Perfectly fine," she said with a hint of pride. "Since I finished treatment, I haven¡¯t had any issues. What about you? From what I see, you recovered well." I¡¯d like to ask her about residual aether techniques, I thought, but now isn¡¯t the time or place for that. "Yes," I replied aloud. "Everything is fine now. I had to change and modify a lot, but in the end, I managed." "Really?" she asked with curiosity. "And what did you change?" "Now I¡¯m an archer. What are you focused on?" "Control of elements. Science and manifestation aren¡¯t for me," she answered with confidence. "And how¡¯s that going?" "HOHOHO! Watch out, you¡¯re speaking to the best first-year student!" "Wow, impressive," I said with a playful smile. By this time, we¡¯d reached the entrance to the ManaDomain faculty. I set her suitcase on the ground. "It was nice to see you again," I said, preparing to leave. "I¡¯ll head to my dorm now." "Wait!" She tapped her watch, and I received a notification to add her as a contact. "This time, don¡¯t enter areas without a signal," she said, her expression softening. I accepted the request with a smirk. "I promise nothing," I said. The dormitory for my college was a massive 30-story building, stretching long with well-organized hallways. At the reception, an elderly lady processed my electronic documents and handed me a simple key labeled Floor 1, Room 20. "The last room on the first floor... Says a lot about my social status," I muttered to myself. When I arrived at the door and inserted the key, the lock clicked open without me even turning it. Inside, the room was thick with dust, clearly untouched for some time. A simple bed, a table, a wardrobe, and a small window in the center of the far wall furnished the space. The bathroom contained a basic shower, a toilet, and a broken mirror, likely from a hard impact. At least it¡¯s livable, I thought. I placed my bag and suitcase in the cleanest part of the wardrobe and opened the window. Finding a piece of cloth in the bathroom, I started cleaning. After two hours of effort, the room was passable. Its white walls and minimal furniture gave the feeling of a psychiatric ward, but it was well-lit, which was a small comfort. I approached the window, from where I could see the penthouse of the ManaDomain faculty dormitory. Maybe one day I''ll be able to be on the same level as you. Chapter 31 - handsome guy August 30, 3108 I woke up in the morning, already accustomed to the running routine I had established. When I arrived at the dormitory lobby, I noticed a descendant of GlaciarDominion engaged in a discussion with the receptionist. Curious, I moved closer to eavesdrop on their conversation. "When can the physical testing be done?" he asked. "I''m not sure, dear. You can try now if someone is available in the gym," the receptionist replied. "Thank you very much," he said with a smile. He radiated positivity, exuding the kind of charm that made him seem like an angel on earth. His confident aura was undeniable, though I noted it was different from how he acted while speaking with Astrel. As he turned to leave, he noticed me. "Hello! You got up early to avoid the line for the testing too?" he greeted. "Which testing?" I asked, puzzled. "The physical testing, where you''ll receive your identification data for the academy system." "This is the first time I''m hearing about it," I admitted. "Well, if you''re already here, let''s go together," he suggested with enthusiasm. "Okay," I replied, reluctantly agreeing. As we exited the dormitory, I thought to myself, Why did I agree? He¡¯s strange. Determined not to let my guard down, I resolved not to be manipulated by his friendly demeanor. He continued the conversation. "We¡¯ve met before during the exam." "Yes," I replied curtly. "You were very fast," he said. "Another millisecond, and you would have caught me. If I¡¯m not mistaken, your hand was the closest," I responded. "Hehe, you¡¯re exaggerating," he said with a laugh. Standing tall at 190 cm, he was a massive man with jet-black hair streaked with a faint shimmer of blue, as if reflecting the sky itself. His eyes sparkled like diamonds, and his pronounced chest and broad shoulders gave him a commanding presence. Yet, despite his stature, he moved and spoke with a gentle demeanor, as though he were made of cotton. "Oh, we haven¡¯t introduced ourselves yet! I¡¯m Nerion, but you can call me Nero," he said, extending a hand for a handshake. "Kail," I replied, shaking his hand. "Where are you from? A clan, a guild, or maybe a strong family?" he asked. "A war veteran adopted me," I said. "Wow, me too! Though I ended up becoming part of a clan," he replied enthusiastically. That¡¯s unusual, I thought. "From what I¡¯ve heard, you¡¯re from the main family," I said. "Yes! My dad adopted me from the orphanage since he doesn¡¯t have any children of his own," Nero explained with pride. "I thought the elders wouldn¡¯t allow something like that," I remarked. "Our situation is different. We don¡¯t have an elders council; my grandfather oversees everything, so my dad is free to run the clan as he sees fit," he said with a smile. "Ha! So it is possible! Maybe Cindercrest could take a lesson," Nero chuckled. Of course, I knew that wasn¡¯t possible. The separation of powers within Cindercrest made such decisions improbable. Once someone rises to power, they do everything possible to ensure they never fall back to where they started. We continued chatting about various topics until we arrived at a room. The door we approached was next to the large ones we had initially passed through. Inside, we saw two men in a heated discussion. One of them was visibly red-faced with anger, while the other maintained an expression of calm detachment that reminded me of the first time I met Mr. Ronald. "Ron, you''re an idiot! He¡¯s warned you so many times not to do this, and you still did it¡ªworse than last year!" the angry man shouted. "Calm down; the first students are here," Mr. Ronald replied, seemingly unfazed. "Good morning," Nero and I greeted in unison. "Hello. Come with me," Mr. Ronald said, motioning for us to follow. Meanwhile, the man he had been arguing with stood with his arms crossed, clearly irritated. He had dark brown hair and crimson eyes. Though younger and of a slighter build than Ronald, his commanding aura rivaled Ronald¡¯s own. The four of us made our way toward a section of the stadium. Mr. Ronald placed his hand on a panel, causing numerous elevators to rise from the ground throughout the stadium. "Are you going to test them, or should I?" Mr. Ronald asked. The second instructor checked the time on his watch before replying, "It¡¯s still early; let¡¯s do it together." "Alright, get into an elevator, each of you," Ronald instructed. We each stepped into separate elevators and descended to an underground floor. The sight that greeted us was vastly different from the previous testing area. The room was filled with a wide array of machines, each designed for testing various abilities. Some machines were massive, akin to small rooms, while others were as small as a shoe cabinet. Everything was meticulously organized into five distinct categories. Once we exited the elevators, we approached the first category, which comprised devices specializing in measuring power in different forms. Mr. Ronald turned to face us and began his explanation. "In this section, you have the right to choose three devices to measure your data. The use of weapons or techniques that might cause errors in the results is strictly prohibited, including your aether armor. Each device will run two tests¡ªone with aether armor and one without." He paused, then continued, "State your full name and rank, and then you may start with the device of your choice." I didn¡¯t rush to answer, so Nero seized the moment. "Nerion Frostvein, rank 1!" he announced confidently. Mr. Ronald recorded the information on his watch without a word. "Next," he said, looking at me.The story has been taken without consent; if you see it on Amazon, report the incident. "Kail Vaylith, rank 601," I responded. The moment the words left my mouth, both Nero and the previously indifferent instructor turned their gazes toward me, their scrutiny intense. I didn''t pay attention to their looks. Mr. Ronald, however, remained unaffected, his tone unchanged as he said, "You can start." I walked toward the testing devices, deliberating on my choices. Nero, seemingly unable to hold back his curiosity, approached me. "You¡¯re the last one by rank? Seriously?" "Yes. What¡¯s so surprising?" "After what I saw during the exam, you weren¡¯t even close to being among those who struggled. Quite the opposite." "My situation is... a bit specific," I replied vaguely. I stopped in front of a machine designed to measure the power of kicks. The target was positioned at chest level, but I adjusted it for my comfort and turned to Mr. Ronald. "This will be the first," I informed him. "Start," he instructed. I moved to the ideal distance, focusing intently. With an almost imperceptibly quick motion, I delivered a kick that was measured in mere milliseconds. After a brief pause, the result appeared on the screen: "C." What does this mean? I wondered, glancing at the others for clarification. Nero looked just as puzzled as I was, while Mr. Ronald remained stoic. The second instructor, however, was watching the result with a tense expression. Is this good or bad? "Choose two more," Mr. Ronald prompted. I proceeded with another machine, which yielded the same result: "C." For my final test, I opted for one measuring pulling power, a skill I felt confident about. This time, the result was "B-." "Nerion, now it¡¯s your turn," Mr. Ronald said. Surprisingly, Nero¡¯s results weren¡¯t far from mine: "B-; B; B-." So, my situation isn¡¯t that bad, considering power isn¡¯t even my specialty, I thought, reassured. "Now activate the armor and repeat the tests," Mr. Ronald instructed. With my aether armor activated, my results improved: "C+; C; B+." Nero¡¯s results also increased to "B; A-; B+." The tests continued with evaluations in Stamina/Endurance, Speed/Reaction, Defense/Resistance, and Aether Output: Stamina/Endurance Kail: Without armor: B- | With armor: B+ Nero: Without armor: B | With armor: A- Speed/Reaction Kail: Without armor: B+ | With armor: A Nero: Without armor: B- | With armor: B+ Defense/Resistance Kail: Without armor: D+ | With armor: C Nero: Without armor: B- | With armor: B Aether Output Kail: B- Nero: B "I think this isn¡¯t bad," I mused. The instructors and even Nero were visibly surprised by my A in Speed/Reaction, a clear standout performance despite it being my specialty. Conversely, my D+ in Defense/Resistance left much to be desired. At least I surpassed Nero in one category, I thought, trying to focus on the positive. ¡°That¡¯s all,¡± Mr. Ronald said. ¡°These are your academy IDs. They¡¯ll give you access to your personal academy page. The first lesson will take place tomorrow at 8:00 AM in Block B.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± we both replied before leaving the instructors behind. As we headed for the elevators, I overheard the second instructor muttering to Mr. Ronald: ¡°Where the hell did you find him? I¡¯d understand if he had solid results¡ªmaybe two B stats¡ªbut he has three, and one of them is an A. He nearly equaled Rank 1.¡± ¡°I knew he was talented,¡± Mr. Ronald replied calmly. ¡°But even I didn¡¯t know he was this talented. Keep an eye on him. You¡¯ll be dealing with him more than I will.¡± After parting ways with Nero¡ªwho ran into some friends as the dorms began to fill with late arrivals¡ªI went for a moderate run, casually exploring the campus territories. Once I was sure no one was around, I stopped and logged into my academy page using my new ID. | Kail Vaylith | Age: 17 | Specialty: Mana Armis | Rank: 601 Power: C+ Endurance: B- Speed: A- Resistance: D+ Aether Output: B- 1st Semester Schedule: Obligatory Classes: Aether Manipulation Physical Training History and Basic Knowledge Mind Control Optional Classes: ¡ª ¡ª ¡ª The schedule was also displayed on the page, showing that my first lesson was History and Basic Knowledge, starting at 8:00 AM and lasting 1 hour and 45 minutes. Satisfied with the information, I was getting ready to resume my postponed run when I decided to open a chat with Lia. | Kail | Have you already received your ID for the academy page? After sending the message, I assumed Lia would respond whenever she had time. But as soon as I closed the hologram on my watch, I felt the vibration of a new notification. | Lia | What ID? | Kail | I went through a test in the room where the exams were held, then I received access to my personal page. Maybe it''s different at your faculty. | Lia | Give me a second! ... Thanks, Kail! If you hadn''t told me, I would have had to take the test only after a week. | Kail | You''re welcome, I suppose? I didn¡¯t receive a response to this last message, likely because she was already rushing to the gym. Smiling slightly at her reaction, I closed the chat and set off on my run. Chapter 32 - rules September 1, 3108 I approached Auditorium 9 in Block B, which was designated for theoretical lessons. The layout was tiered, with each row slightly higher than the one before it. The auditorium consisted of 20 rows, each containing 30 seats. There were four aisles for passage¡ªtwo on the sides and two splitting the room into three sections, each containing 10 seats. The rows were packed closely together, making those seated near each other uncomfortably close. When I entered, most of the seats were already occupied, and it was easy to spot groups of people who had already formed alliances. On the left side, the majority were allies and families linked to Cindercrest. On the right side, it was the opposite¡ªthose associated with GlaciarDominion. Naturally, the representatives of both clans sat at the center of their respective groups. Perfect. The central section was a mix of minorities, people allied with other powers, and those who preferred neutrality. That was the ideal spot for me. I pulled my hood up as I scanned for a seat. For security. I chose a seat in the central group, row 15, as close to the right aisle as possible. Exactly at 8:00 AM, a woman entered the hall. She had red-brown hair and rusty-colored eyes. Her figure was ideal, and every detail about her movements gave the impression of strict training. It wasn¡¯t elegance that she exuded¡ªit was discipline. Absolute discipline. She walked to the podium at the center of the auditorium, and her voice echoed through the speakers. "Good morning, students." Her voice had absolute authority, leaving no room for opposition. "My name is Amelia Ludwin. I am the head of the ManaArmis faculty. In case of an emergency or an exceptional situation, you will find my office in Block A of the academy." As she spoke, the auditorium doors opened, and two girls entered, clearly late. They froze the moment Amelia¡¯s gaze fell on them. One of them began to tremble slightly. "Since today is the first day, I will overlook this delay. But if it happens again¡ªprepare for the consequences." I have no great desire to confront you... I thought to myself, instinctively pulling my hood tighter. "I hope that everyone has passed the testing to receive an academic ID. If any of you have not done so yet, you will have the opportunity next week," Amelia Ludwin announced. As she spoke, all the windows closed, and the lights dimmed. A large hologram appeared above her, displaying academy rules and guidelines. Amelia began listing the rules in her authoritative tone: For essential subjects, there would be three assessments during the semester and a final exam. Absences or rule violations would result in penalties. Optional subjects could be chosen freely, but they, too, would include assessments and conclude with a final exam. If a student failed to achieve sufficient marks in any subject, they would not be admitted to the final exams. Any student with outstanding arrears at the end of the year would face expulsion from the academy. "I wish you success in your studies. For the rest of the day, you are free," she concluded. The students began packing up, and I joined them. Today, optional subjects hadn¡¯t yet begun, but the training facilities were open. My destination was already clear: the archery field. My previous exploration during yesterday''s run had paid off. I recalled seeing a more distant field, open-air, with targets set against the wind currents that flowed freely across the landscape. Arriving at the field, I saw no one there. The doors were open, so I entered. The design of the facility was different¡ªdistinct from the other buildings. The walls and floor were crafted from polished wood, and one wall, the one facing the targets, was entirely open, leaving the shooting range exposed to the elements. The roof had a slight curvature and was covered in tiles or shingles, giving the structure a simple yet refined appearance. To the left, five bows were propped against the wall. They were straight bows, designed for stationary archery, quite different from the lightweight, dynamic bows I was used to. I stepped closer and observed the bows. I hope no one will mind if I borrow one. Choosing a bow, I noticed it was longer and heavier than my usual weapons. However, its weight lent it stability in my grip. The arrows beside it were simple wooden shafts, sharpened at the tips¡ªfunctional, yet unremarkable. Finding a clear spot, I positioned myself.The author''s tale has been misappropriated; report any instances of this story on Amazon. My left arm faced the target. My feet were set shoulder-width apart. My knees were relaxed. My back was straight, shoulders loose and calm. My focus locked onto the target¡ªyet I didn¡¯t forget the wind currents flowing in the open air. I extended my arm, holding the bow. Unlike before, I didn¡¯t need to exert effort to maintain my stance. As soon as I began drawing the string back, the bow seemed to stabilize itself, the tension harmonizing with my movements. I watched the arrow soar through the air, its speed only increasing as it carved its path through the wind. Wshh! It was searching¡ªsearching for its target. Push! And it found it. The arrow struck close to the center, just shy of perfection. ¡°Not bad.¡± I flinched at the sudden voice. It came from startlingly close, though there had been no sign of anyone nearby. No sound, no movement. It was as if the wind itself had hidden his existence. I turned sharply to face the man. He had gray hair, evidence of advanced age, accompanied by a matching beard. His black eyes were devoid of light, almost lifeless. He stood taller than me, broad-shouldered, with muscles still prominent despite the passage of time. ¡°You are a new student, as far as I can tell,¡± he said. I relaxed slightly as I realized his demeanor resembled that of an instructor. ¡°Yes,¡± I replied. ¡°Leave your shoes at the entrance as you enter the dojo,¡± he ordered curtly. I followed his gaze downward, where my feet¡ªstill clad in combat boots¡ªwere planted on the polished wooden floor. ¡°Okay.¡± I returned the bow to its place and stepped out of my boots at the entrance, leaving them neatly to the side. ¡°Which organization are you from?¡± he asked. ¡°None,¡± I answered honestly. His face remained unchanged, but I could sense his disbelief. ¡°If you don¡¯t want to say, just say so,¡± he replied, a hint of curiosity hidden in his otherwise indifferent tone. ¡°I¡¯m not lying. I was trained by a war veteran who doesn¡¯t belong to any power,¡± I clarified. Technically, I thought, I belong to the Vaylith clan, but since it¡¯s just me and Master now, it¡¯s no different than having no power at all. ¡°Was this veteran a scout?¡± he asked suddenly. His question caught me off guard. He had already guessed as much, so why ask again? ¡°Yes,¡± I said cautiously. ¡°Strange¡­ I thought I knew every scout who¡¯s still alive. Or maybe one of them has come back from the dead,¡± he muttered, more to himself than to me. His words sent an involuntary shiver down my spine. Was that a threat? The man must have noticed my tension because he followed up with, ¡°Relax. I¡¯m not digging for secrets. I have no interest in prying that far. I¡¯m just curious about what the past generation is up to.¡± He dismissed the matter as casually as he had brought it up. ¡°Now then, let¡¯s get back to official business. My name is Karlos Hidklif. I¡¯m the archery instructor in charge of the academy.¡± Hidklif? The name rang faintly familiar in my mind, though I couldn¡¯t place it. ¡°...Now, you can introduce yourself so I can register you in advance,¡± he prompted. His voice pulled me back to reality. Distracted by my thoughts, I gave my answer without hesitation. ¡°Kail Vaylith.¡± The moment my name left my lips, the faint recognition I¡¯d felt about his name grew stronger. Something about Hidklif gnawed at the edge of my memory¡­ After I answered, a wave of anxiety settled in my chest, gnawing at my mind as I frantically searched for memories connected to the Hidklif family. My thoughts raced, but Instructor Karlos¡¯s voice effortlessly pierced through them. ¡°Do you know about Evans?¡± he asked. ¡°Yes, that¡¯s how Master was written in the documents I found about him the first time.¡± The realization hit me like a hammer. I said it out loud. I had carelessly revealed something I¡¯d spent so much effort trying to hide. My identity¡ªthe one I wanted to bury until the time was right¡ªwas now on the surface. But perhaps... perhaps he wouldn¡¯t connect the dots. There was still a small chance that he¡¯d dismiss the Vaylith name as coincidence. Maybe he¡¯d overlook the fact that I was a scout and that I used a bow. Little chance he¡¯ll believe that, I thought bitterly. Still, I kept my expression neutral, masking the storm within. ¡°No,¡± I said, feigning ignorance. The answer didn¡¯t sound convincing even to me. ¡°Is he alive?¡± Karlos asked. His tone revealed no hatred, no joy. Just¡­ curiosity. Yet there was something there¡ªa faint twinkle in his eyes that hinted at something deeper. I couldn¡¯t tell what it was. Now that I¡¯d already slipped up, hiding the truth further seemed pointless. ¡°Yes,¡± I replied. ¡°Very good,¡± Karlos said simply, as if that answer satisfied something unspoken. ¡°And¡­ that¡¯s it?¡± I thought, almost stunned. There were no further questions. No accusations. No lectures. Just a calm acceptance as Karlos turned to a hologram in front of him. The glowing interface revealed a university application¡ªlikely for registering my information. ¡°Why do you have the same last name as the master?¡± he asked casually. ¡°It¡¯s not a last name,¡± I replied. ¡°Then what is it?¡± ¡°It¡¯s a title.¡± That¡¯s all you¡¯re getting out of me, I thought silently, watching for any reaction. Karlos didn''t say anything anymore. If he knew more, he didn¡¯t show it at all. ¡°Can I still shoot the bow?¡± I asked, eager to move on. ¡°Of course,¡± Karlos said, nodding. ¡°But activate the circuit this time.¡± ¡°Only the circuit?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± he confirmed. I obeyed, pulling in the aether as I activated the circuit. The sensation was subtle¡ªa faint hum of energy that ran through me. The wind¡¯s hand surrounded me gently, but it had no effect without a technique or my armor. I picked up the bow once more, the weight of it familiar now. I shot arrow after arrow, the whispering currents guiding my aim. When I had fired the last of the five arrows beside me, Karlos¡¯s voice broke the silence again. ¡°Did you open a part of the armor recently?¡± ¡°Yes,¡± I answered. ¡°Then it¡¯s clear.¡± What¡¯s clear? I waited for him to continue, but the sentence ended there. Karlos simply watched me, his gaze unreadable. What did he mean? What does he see? I couldn¡¯t ask, not directly. So I remained silent, my mind racing once more as I processed what had just happened. Chapter 33 -emotions are a problem September 2, 3108 The Aether Control lesson started in the morning in the same auditorium as the previous class. No one had assigned seats; it was an unspoken rule that whoever arrived first could choose their preferred spot. The competition for seats was most intense near Astrel and Nero¡ªthe two points of attraction in the room¡ªas well as in the back rows, where students who were either disinterested in the lesson or too tired from the admission celebrations gathered. My seat, however, remained quite free, as it was too far from all the public¡¯s focal points. At one point, a woman entered the room. She had dark blonde hair and black eyes and was dressed in a shirt and skirt¡ªone that ended rather abruptly after it began. Immediately, I noticed a shift in the room¡¯s atmosphere. A large portion of the male students fixated on her, and I could hear swallowing sounds coming from different corners of the auditorium. I can¡¯t say I wasn¡¯t affected. Her beauty was undeniable¡ªa smooth and elegant face, a slim waist, and thighs that awakened primal instincts in most men. ¡°Good morning,¡± she began, her voice soft yet clear. ¡°My name is Selina Rimberford. During the first year, I will be your Aether Control teacher.¡± Her words did nothing to calm the students. In fact, for some, it seemed to make matters worse. Her voice carried a delicate charm that almost danced on the ears. ¡°So, we will start with a little test,¡± she announced. ¡°Please, everyone, use your breathing techniques.¡± It took noticeably longer for the room to stabilize compared to last time. As mana circuits activated, the space gradually filled with a ManaVentis of all colors. Still, the stability among most of the students¡ªespecially the boys¡ªleft much to be desired. ¡°Alright,¡± she continued, ¡°now hold on as long as you can. This test is not graded, so do not push yourselves beyond your limits.¡± The lights dimmed, the room once again enveloped by the active Mana. A hologram emerged, but unlike the previous lessons¡ªwhere graphs and statistical data were displayed¡ªthis one began with a series of provocative images. First, a shirtless man appeared, his form on full display. Then the hologram shifted to a woman in the same state. The images continued for several minutes, transitioning between various figures, both male and female, in similar poses¡ªeach intended to elicit a reaction. From my seat, I noticed that the Mana¡ªthe faint lights caused by aether circuits¡ªbegan to flicker and vanish. One student¡¯s faltering concentration seemed to trigger a chain reaction, spreading instability throughout the room. Yet, strangely, it didn¡¯t affect me much. The images were certainly pleasant to look at¡ªbeautiful women with perfect forms¡ªbut that was the extent of it. As long as my breathing and heartbeat remained steady, my concentration held firm. For me, this was just another exercise. After somewhere around 100 of the students'' active Mana lights went out, the hologram abruptly changed. Instead of static images, a video appeared. In the video, a person was torturing a child¡ªthrowing it, kicking it, mocking it in every way possible. At that moment, the entire atmosphere in the auditorium shifted. Different reactions erupted across the room. Some students became visibly enraged, their aetheric energy flaring up violently. Others were on the verge of tears, their mana circuits flickering, destabilized by the weight of their emotions. For many, if they couldn¡¯t return to a stable state quickly, their Aether faded completely. What struck me as strange was my own reaction. Why does it not affect me, at all? I knew what I was seeing was horrific. I understood that the actions in the video were vile¡ªthat no living creature deserved such cruelty. Yet... I felt nothing. No anger. No sadness. My body didn¡¯t respond. Not a single muscle twitched. My breathing remained steady, my pulse calm. My facial expression hadn¡¯t shifted even slightly. It was as if I had been hollowed out¡ªany trace of emotion lost somewhere along the way. This is strange. The hologram finally faded, replaced by sunlight filtering in from outside. The room¡¯s collective tension was broken by Mrs. Selina¡¯s voice as she addressed the class. ¡°As you could see, even if you possess great stamina and can keep your circuit active, the moment you lose control over your emotions, everything can change.¡± From my seat, I could hear stifled sobs in the distance. A few students were gripping their fists or the tables in front of them, holding on to their last scraps of control. One boy had bitten his lip so hard it was bleeding. ¡°Train yourselves to control your emotions during your free time,¡± Selina continued. ¡°This skill will help you immensely in the future.¡± She paused briefly, her voice shifting into a more instructional tone. ¡°Regarding the Aether Control curriculum for this semester: we¡¯ll focus on theory. We¡¯ll study a bit of anatomy and the properties of each type of Aether. We¡¯ll also cover breathing techniques and how they work on a fundamental level.¡± ¡°For today¡¯s class, that¡¯s all. Does anyone have any questions?¡± A boy, who looked ready to explode with aggression, shot his hand into the air. ¡°The video you watched isn¡¯t real,¡± Selina said, preemptively answering the question he hadn¡¯t even spoken. The boy froze, then slowly lowered his hand, as if the confirmation alone drained the fight from him. No one else dared raise a hand. ¡°No one?¡± Selina asked, scanning the room. ¡°Then have a nice day.¡± And with that, she turned on her heels and left the room¡ªunaffected, as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened. The room was left scarred, a lingering tension hanging in the air. For many, the scene had been traumatizing, leaving emotional and psychological wounds. As for me?Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site. It didn¡¯t affect me at all. It means everything is fine. The physical training session was held on an open sports field, where we were met by three instructors. Two of them I already recognized¡ªMr. Ronald and the man who had assisted during the physical testing. The third instructor stood in the center, a figure unlike any of the others. He was the oldest teacher I had seen so far¡ªbald, with a short white beard. His advanced age was evident to the naked eye, yet the impression he gave was unshakable: he could send you to the afterlife with a single move if he wished. Once everyone had gathered at the stadium, the elderly gentleman¡¯s voice boomed across the field. It was thick and metallic, like the sound of bending iron. ¡°All those oriented toward the tank specialty will follow Mr. Ronald on my right. All those specializing in the scout specialty, follow Mr. Michael to my left. Knights will remain here.¡± At his command, the groups began to form and split apart: 100 students moved toward the scout group. 200 students joined the tank group. The largest group¡ª300 students¡ªremained as knights. The instructors led their respective groups in different directions, leaving the knights behind in the field. I followed the scout group, moving at a steady jog¡ªnot too fast, not too slow. Before long, the horizon revealed an improvised forest. As we approached, the training area became clearer. The forest was littered with various obstacles, traps, and targets of all shapes and sizes. Beside the entrance, a small warehouse stood, its double doors shut for the moment. Our instructor stopped in front of the warehouse and turned to face us. ¡°Hello,¡± he began. ¡°My name is Michael Leafblade, your instructor for the scout specialty. I will be responsible for training you in acquiring information, spatial orientation, and survival in exceptional situations. Questions?¡± A hand shot up from the crowd. ¡°Will we not train in combat?¡± Michael¡¯s expression remained firm. ¡°While you¡¯ll spend most of your time training with me, each of you will also rotate between the three instructors, where you will be trained in different disciplines.¡± Another question followed: ¡°Will we train only in this forest?¡± ¡°In these territories,¡± Michael replied, ¡°there are other subzones. You¡¯ll train in environments such as the desert, high-altitude areas, and abandoned buildings. During these exercises, you are allowed to use any means necessary to complete your assigned missions, including aetheric armor.¡± He paused. ¡°Any other questions?¡± The group remained silent. ¡°In that case,¡± Michael continued, ¡°please enter the warehouse. You are permitted to take only one set of weapons and a tracking bracelet. The bracelet will determine your location in real time. If you face an exceptional situation, you may activate it, and all nearby specialized personnel will be notified to assist you. However, once the training session ends, you are required to return both the equipment and the bracelet to the warehouse.¡± With that, the double doors swung open. The students rushed forward to collect their equipment, but the moment 30 people had entered, Michael raised his hand and called out: ¡°Stop. The room isn¡¯t large enough for all 100 of you at once.¡± Reluctantly, the first group began to exit, making way for the next set of students. While waiting for my turn, a familiar boy approached me. ¡°Hi, Kai!¡± ¡°Hello, Liam.¡± ¡°How are you?¡± ¡°Quite okay. How about you?¡± ¡°Ahhh, bro, life is hard. I almost melted when I looked at Mrs. Selina.¡± ¡°I understand you. You don¡¯t meet women like that often.¡± It was true. Even considering the many festivities I had attended¡ªfilled with people of all classes, including women who spent a family¡¯s annual budget on their skin treatments¡ªnone looked as fascinating as her. The only woman who came to mind as comparable was the elf I had encountered during my first mission. ¡°How was the physical test? You must¡¯ve gotten at least a B in speed, I¡¯m sure.¡± Only one? I have three, but it¡¯s better not to say that. ¡°I have two¡ªstamina and speed.¡± ¡°Ohoho, you¡¯re talented, Kai! But still, you¡¯ve got a way to go before you catch up to the fantastic man standing next to you! I¡¯ve got not only a B in stamina but also a B+ in speed!¡± So Plus and minus are considered separate grades. I shrugged. ¡°Can you explain to me how all this grading? I haven¡¯t figured it out yet.¡± Liam smirked. ¡°Do you seriously not know how this system works?¡± ¡°Sure, man. So the grades you see on your personal page are the averages between your results with and without armor.¡± ¡°That¡¯s obvious. What about the letters and pluses?¡± ¡°Here¡¯s the deal: D- is the lowest possible grade. Anything lower than that means you¡¯re a non combatant A is the maximum grade. To complete Year 1, all your values need to be C or higher. If not, you¡¯ll need to re-test or they will not let you pass. If you achieve an A, it means you have peak physical ability in that category.¡± ¡°What about the pluses?¡± I asked. Liam grinned. ¡°Ah, the + and -? They¡¯re considered different grades from their base letters. For example, a B+ is stronger than a B but weaker than an A-. Simple enough, right?¡± ¡°And what about more advanced people ? How do they get graded for higher ranks?¡± ¡°Well, these are only valid for ManaUsers, that devices can¡¯t measure higher abilities¡ªlike a ManaWarrior or more advanced ranks.¡± ¡°Then what¡¯s the point of all this?¡± I pressed. Liam chuckled. ¡°To get your Altgard diploma, every characteristic must be at least an A. If not, you need to confirm that you¡¯ve advanced to a ManaWarrior. That¡¯s the standard.¡± Just as Liam finished explaining, the instructor called for the next group to enter. ¡°Let¡¯s go together,¡± Liam said, already moving ahead of me. Inside, we found ourselves in a brightly lit room with shelves full of weapons. It reminded me of a construction materials store, with boxes neatly stacked and labeled with the model names of each weapon. Unlike ornate or custom weapons I¡¯d seen before, these were simple, functional tools, neatly organized but otherwise unremarkable. ¡°Where do you need to go?¡± Liam asked. ¡°To the area with ranged weapons,¡± I replied. ¡°Cool. I need melee, so we¡¯ll meet at the exit once we¡¯ve found our stuff.¡± ¡°Good.¡± I headed toward the section with bows, where fewer people were gathered. Most of the crowd seemed drawn to the melee weapons area. The selection of bows here was broad: recurve bows, longbows, and shortbows¡ªeach varying in material and design, already adapted to different combat styles. I gravitated toward the recurve bows. Most likely, I¡¯ll end up cycling through all of these in time, so it doesn¡¯t really matter which one I choose now. Then, my eyes fell on a box filled with folding bows. They were constructed of metal, and the bowstrings were tightly secured into the limbs. Curious, I picked one up to figure out how it worked. Its limbs were tightened in two places: the thicker part extended slightly ahead of the riser, while the shorter segments were locked in place farther down. The bowstring remained taut, its tension clearly dependent on the structure of the limbs. How does it works? I glanced at the instructions on the box: ¡°To unfold, make a sudden movement backward, then forward.¡± Placing my hand on the riser, I pulled it back sharply. The thicker parts of the limbs snapped into position with a smooth motion. Then, with a forward push, the shorter limbs locked into place. Klank. The sound of a mechanism confirmed it was properly tightened. Not bad. The bow felt sturdy in my hands, requiring less effort than steelflag but still maintaining considerable power. The materials were high quality and stable, which gave me confidence in its durability. Satisfied, I grabbed a quiver and a set of arrows, selecting the ones that looked decent enough. To collapse the bow, I pressed a button on the upper limb, and it neatly folded back into its compact state. I secured it to my back using a bow sling from the box. When I returned to the entrance, Liam was already there, two daggers strapped to his belt. ¡°Are you ready?¡± he asked. I grabbed one of the bracelets from a nearby box, fastening it to my wrist. ¡°Now I am.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s go.¡± We headed off together. Chapter 34 - a trap Liam and I were already waiting as the last group went in to collect their weapons. A variety of weapons could be seen¡ªmostly close-combat tools, as expected. However, there were still others who chose bows, throwing knives, or daggers. Even rarer were those with crossbows, which are seldom used due to the long reloading time. One person stood out. It was Lunaris Duskthorn, unmistakable as she held a scythe nearly larger than herself. The weapon¡¯s cutting edge didn¡¯t even reach her head as she clutched it close to her body. She wants to be a scout? Really? While scouts can use a variety of weapons¡ªboth close-combat and ranged¡ªstealth remains a crucial factor. With a weapon like that, subtlety seemed¡­ complicated. ¡°She¡¯s pretty, huh?¡± Liam asked, probably noticing me looking in her direction. ¡°You¡¯re jumping to conclusions,¡± I replied. ¡°Besides, she¡¯s engaged to Astrel.¡± ¡°That fool?¡± Liam scoffed. ¡°He makes fun of her in every way possible. You can¡¯t even count how many times he¡¯s flirted with other women at parties¡ªright in front of her. And no one says a word. Not even the Duskthorn clan.¡± Liam looked at me expectantly, clearly fishing for my agreement¡ªor at least sympathy¡ªin his disdain for Astrel. Sorry, but getting involved with Astrel in any way is too dangerous for me. ¡°You seem to know the lives of the upper echelon quite well,¡± I remarked. Liam puffed out his chest, pride evident on his face. ¡°Dear sir, let it be known that I¡¯m the representative of the new generation of the Forest Guardians guild. You should feel honored to know someone as important as me.¡± Unexpected. The Forest Guardians guild was relatively new in human territories. Despite their short existence compared to the veteran guilds, they already dominated the espionage and information acquisition markets in elven territories. On top of that, their business selling precursors for various substances was the most affordable on the market. I bowed my head mockingly. ¡°I¡¯m truly honored to be having a dialogue with such a majestic person.¡± ¡°Of course, of course,¡± Liam replied, accepting my sarcasm without hesitation. Instructor Michael stepped forward, ensuring the warehouse was now empty. ¡°Now,¡± he began, his deep voice carrying across the group, ¡°we¡¯ll start with a little practice. You have 15 minutes to prevent me from touching you. You can use anything that comes to mind¡ªrun as far as you can, hide, or organize an unexpected attack. If you succeed, you¡¯ll be exempt from the first totalization.¡± He paused for effect, scanning the group. ¡°You have 5 minutes before I begin the hunt. Time starts¡­ now!¡± The moment he finished, chaos erupted as students scattered in every direction. As soon as everyone heard those words, the armors of those around me activated, including my own: Mana Armis: Left Foot + Hand + Right Shoulder ¨C 2nd Form Condensation. Head armor¡­ I¡¯ll leave it for exceptional situations. ¡°Come on, let¡¯s stick together¡ªI have a plan!¡± Liam said, his leg and hand armor also glowing with activated mana. By the time the vegetation thickened around us, no one else was in our field of view. Liam and I moved steadily through the underbrush as he explained, ¡°Michael is my older brother. He¡¯s going to find us really quickly, so our only chance to survive these 15 minutes is to set a trap.¡± ¡°You really think that¡¯s going to work? He¡¯s definitely a professional ManaWarrior.¡± ¡°He¡¯s a ManaMaster.¡± That makes even less sense. ¡°He¡¯s forbidden to use more than one mana armor component, so there¡¯s still a chance.¡± It had already been 10 minutes. Liam and I had moved far from the starting point¡ªprobably the furthest away of anyone. The thick vegetation and silence confirmed as much. We found a spot crowded with trees and dense bushes. I began to create false tracks, as though Liam and I had split up and he had hidden in the area alone. In reality, I climbed a tree before the clearing where Liam was and began to reduce my presence as much as possible.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on Royal Road. Suddenly, I heard a voice. ¡°Brother, I¡¯m so happy to see you!¡± Immediately, I began to charge an arrow with aether, staying hidden in the treetops. I heard faint movements¡ªnot footsteps, but light, rhythmic landings. He¡¯s here. ¡°That''s enough.¡± I said with two arrows in my hand. I rose to my feet. My bow was already in combat mode, an aether-charged arrow nocked and the bowstring drawn. From above, I saw Liam lying on the ground while Michael, his right hand wrapped in mana armor, lunged at him with speed that sent dust flying. I released the arrow. It flew silently, its trajectory enhanced by wind currents, but the moment it neared the instructor, his gaze snapped from Liam to my arrow. In a motion that seemed like slow-motion, Michael¡¯s armored hand redirected mid-air. Instead of striking Liam, his fist met my incoming arrow. Archery Technique: Tornado Archery (4 ¡î) 2nd Stage: Wind Slash - Stab The arrow¡¯s wind-powered strike collided, but it wasn¡¯t enough to deal significant damage. However, Liam seized the opportunity. Mana-enveloped daggers glowed in his hands as he darted toward Michael to strike. Perfect timing. With another motion, I fired a follow-up shot: 2nd Stage: Wind Slash ¨C Horizontal Slash A blade of wind emerged, hurtling toward Michael¡¯s body. Just as Liam¡¯s dagger neared its target, and the wind slash closed the gap, only millimeters remained between their combined attacks and Michael¡¯s body. The instructor rotated mid-air, forming an enormous current that deflected both my arrow and Liam¡¯s dagger. Our first attempt had failed. Liam was already exhausted, and I had nothing left in my arsenal that could affect a ManaMaster. Tightening my bow, I moved toward Liam. When I reached him, I found my partner slumped against a tree, breathing heavily. Michael stood nearby, arms crossed, looking as though he had been waiting for me. ¡°Hello, Mr. Instructor,¡± I greeted. ¡°Hello, Kail. Please help this idiot get to the medical section.¡± ¡°Hey! Hah! This HAI you did¡ªthrew me HAH against the tree!¡± Liam wheezed out between breaths. ¡°You¡¯re the one who forced me into that situation,¡± Michael replied coolly. ¡°You¡¯re an instructor! HAH! It¡¯s your responsibility HAI to take care of the students¡ªnot throw them into trees!¡± They continued their back-and-forth while I crouched down, pulling Liam¡¯s arm over my shoulder to offer him support. ¡°In which direction should I go to get there faster?¡± I finally asked, ending their debate. ¡°A little to the left of the direction you came from,¡± Michael replied. ¡°Is there anyone left?¡± Liam asked, his voice slightly steadier now. ¡°You were the last,¡± Michael replied. ¡°Then you know we¡¯re exempt from the totalization,¡± Liam said triumphantly. Michael paused, staring at us as if he hadn¡¯t heard correctly. Then he facepalmed. ¡°You¡¯ll have to go through the first totalization anyway.¡± ¡°Hey, at least respect your own words!¡± Liam shot back. ¡°You¡¯re talking as if I¡¯m the only instructor in this academy,¡± Michael replied, shaking his head. ¡°I¡¯m not even the main instructor for this subject. You and Sungur need to understand¡ªI caught you both a long time ago.¡± ¡°At least give us some extras or compensation!¡± Liam protested. ¡°Liam, admit it¡ªwe failed this test,¡± I said firmly, cutting through the discussion. ¡°But time passed, and he didn¡¯t touch us! Those were his exact words!¡± Liam argued. Michael sighed. ¡°Do you really think I couldn¡¯t have caught you hundreds of times by now? I let it play out, that¡¯s all.¡± Eventually, Liam gave in, though he still looked bitter about the situation. By now, he seemed to have recovered, walking on his own. The three of us decided to head back to the original meeting spot, where the rest of the students had gathered. We emerged together, with me pulling my hood up over my head. The instructor went straight to address the students, while Liam and I blended back into the crowd. ¡°No one passed today¡¯s test,¡± Instructor Michael declared, his voice firm and final. ¡°As a penalty, you are not allowed to change the equipment you previously selected. From now on, you will stick with what you have. If something breaks or is lost, the academy will not replace or return it.¡± Liam looked ready to explode, his face red with frustration. Just as he opened his mouth to voice his indignation, I reached out and placed a hand on his shoulder. My gesture silenced him¡ªthough from the glare he shot me, he clearly didn¡¯t appreciate it. ¡°Now,¡± Michael continued, unbothered, ¡°each of you will enter the warehouse. Inside, you¡¯ll find personal lockers. You will store your equipment there. Enter in groups of 30.¡± Since Liam and I had been the last to arrive, we were placed in the final group. As we passed by the warehouse door, Michael leaned in and whispered for us to wait until everyone else had gone inside. The warehouse looked entirely different this time. The towering stacks of boxes had vanished, replaced by walls lined with small lockers¡ªeach about 150 centimeters high and 40 centimeters wide. Liam and I found two open, unregistered lockers near the back. We carefully placed our weapons and bracelets inside, but we didn¡¯t close the lockers. Instead, we waited, watching as the other students finished and filed out. Once the warehouse was empty, Michael reentered. After a few swift movements on the holographic display of his watch, several lockers shimmered and were replaced by familiar supply boxes¡ªthe same ones we¡¯d seen earlier. ¡°You get a new dagger,¡± Michael said, turning to Liam. Then he looked at me. ¡°And Kail, you can take a set of arrows. I can¡¯t give you more than that.¡± Liam huffed dramatically. ¡°When we get home, you¡¯ll see what I¡¯m going to do to you,¡± he grumbled at his brother. Michael only smirked in response, unbothered by the threat. It wasn¡¯t until later that I realized how much that single set of arrows would end up saving me. Chapter 35 - I am poor We said goodbye to the instructor and headed toward the commercial area of the academy. ¡°Ahhh, I¡¯m starving. Do you have anything to eat at your place?¡± Liam asked, clutching his stomach dramatically. ¡°No, I was actually planning to go to the commercial area to buy supplies.¡± ¡°Then let¡¯s go together. My fridge is empty too.¡± Possibly with a higher rank, his room has more necessary goods. ¡°What else do you have in your room?¡± I asked curiously. ¡°Nothing extravagant¡ªjust a bedroom, kitchen, bathroom, and a small training room.¡± Compared to the miniature space I¡¯m stuck with, that definitely sounds extravagant. ¡°I don¡¯t even have a kitchen.¡± ¡°Seriously? You should¡¯ve gotten a decent rank, though. What happened?¡± ¡°Do you think so? I was ranked dead last.¡± ¡°601?!¡± ¡°Exactly.¡± ¡°Ahhh, that makes sense. You probably started with an extremely low initial rank. Considering the relationship between the ManaArmis faculty and the Academy Director, it¡¯s not that surprising.¡± ¡°What relationship?¡± Liam sighed, his tone shifting as he explained. ¡°The fronts with other nations have stabilized now, right? Because of that, ManaArmis fighters don¡¯t have as many opportunities to progress. It¡¯s different for ManaDomain users¡ªthey just need access to a lot of formulas and enchanted books to advance quickly. Fewer and fewer ManaArmis students show decent abilities these days. That¡¯s why the faculty¡¯s intake numbers have been shrinking.¡± ¡°But this year, 601 people were admitted,¡± I pointed out. ¡°Only because the Director added all the students whose ranks were originally above 600. You were probably admitted by the professors before that decision was made. Once the Director restored the ranks and admitted the top 600, you got pushed to the bottom since you weren¡¯t part of the initial 600.¡± ¡°Why would he do that?¡± ¡°For the statistics,¡± Liam explained, shrugging. ¡°If the number of admitted students drops year after year, the ruling coalition¡ªwhich is made up of various organizations¡ªmight step in and get involved. That would only make things worse.¡± We continued discussing the academy¡¯s structure and its politics, so engrossed in the conversation that we didn¡¯t even notice when we arrived at the commercial area. Located at the edge of the academy¡¯s grounds near its exit, the commercial area was massive. Shops offering everything from clothing and food to construction materials, jewelry, and electronics stretched out before us. Curiously, there were no weapons stores. The entire area was divided into four sections, and in the center stood a six-story shopping center. Unlike the outer shops, the central building was purely for entertainment. It housed luxury brand stores, a cinema, bowling alleys, billiards, karaoke rooms, and¡ªmost importantly¡ªthe academy cafeteria. We entered the shopping center and headed straight to the far end where the academy¡¯s bank was located. According to Liam, even though all purchases were made using our own money, payments could only be completed with the academy-issued card. After I collected a coupon with my table number, a long waiting period began. The place was packed with other students, all waiting for their turn. After about an hour, my number finally flashed on the screen, indicating Table 9 as my destination. ¡°Hello, how can I help you?¡± Seated at the table was a woman dressed in a formal black-and-white uniform, her posture composed and professional. ¡°Hello, I need to open an academic card,¡± I said politely. ¡°Of course. Please provide your name and rank.¡± ¡°Kail Vaylith, 601.¡± She entered the information into a holographic interface, her fingers gliding across a keyboard that projected faint lights. After a quick confirmation check, she looked up and explained, ¡°You are eligible for a silver card. This will allow you to hold a maximum of 100 VA. Please note that you can only top up your account once per month.¡± With this, it¡¯ll be difficult to survive, even if I only eat once a day. ¡°Is there any way to get a card with a higher limit?¡± I asked, a faint trace of hope in my voice. ¡°Certainly. If you manage to raise your rank, your card will be upgraded accordingly: Ranks 600¨C400: Silver; Ranks 400¨C200: Gold; Ranks 200¨C10: Emerald; Top 10: Diamond, which has no spending limit.¡± Just as she finished explaining, I heard a small mechanical sound as something unlocked. The woman reached to the side of her desk and, when her hand rose again, she was holding my new card. ¡°Here you go,¡± she said, handing it over with a small smile. ¡°Good luck.¡± The card was minimalist in design: my name and rank sat neatly in the lower left corner, while my bank code was printed in the center. ¡°Thank you.¡± I stood up and walked toward the exit where Liam and I had agreed to meet.This story has been stolen from Royal Road. If you read it on Amazon, please report it And I thought I was finally done with soups for a while... Once outside, I quickly checked my bank account. A fairly decent sum had accumulated over time, but I wasn¡¯t able to touch it until now. With a few taps, I transferred the money to my new card¡ªfunds that I would strictly use for food and survival. Liam appeared not long after, his face beaming and, in his hand, a bright green card¡ªan unmistakable sign of his rank. 50? Wow, that¡¯s impressive. ¡°From your expression, I can tell you won¡¯t have any trouble with money,¡± I said, raising an eyebrow. ¡°I¡¯m not even sure I¡¯ll be able to spend all of it,¡± Liam replied with a grin. ¡°So today, I¡¯m buying lunch. My treat.¡± ¡°If you¡¯re offering, I won¡¯t refuse.¡± We made our way toward the cafeteria. To my surprise, it wasn¡¯t just a simple dining hall¡ªit was extravagantly decorated, resembling an upscale restaurant. However, it operated on a unique model: you paid an entrance fee of 50 VA per person, after which you could eat as much as you wanted. This place is definitely not an option for me in the long run. The moment we stepped inside, Liam¡¯s eyes shot straight ahead. Following his gaze, I spotted two familiar figures. It was Nero, and sitting opposite him was a girl with white hair. Lia? ¡°Let¡¯s grab some food, and I¡¯ll introduce you to Nero,¡± Liam suggested. ¡°We already know each other,¡± I replied. ¡°Oh? Even better.¡± Each of us grabbed a portion from the wide variety of food offered and headed toward the table where we¡¯d seen Nero. As soon as we approached, Nero waved in greeting, his usual bright energy already noticeable. ¡°Hey, my man!¡± Liam called out. ¡°Hey there,¡± I added with a nod. ¡°Hello,¡± Nero replied. ¡°Let me introduce you. This is Liam and Kail, my college mates. And this is Lirael¡ªshe¡¯s from the ManaDomain college.¡± At the mention of her name, Lirael turned toward us. To my amazement, her expression was nothing like what I remembered. Can she not smile? There was no mistaking her¡ªshe was Lia. The same majestic white hair, as pure as the first snowfall, and those strikingly bright eyes that seemed to symbolize hope. Her face still reflected a kind of radiant beauty, ideal in every way, but her expression was unsettling. It was as if she viewed everyone around her as insignificant, mere ants beneath her gaze. ¡°Hello,¡± she said, her tone cold and distant, perfectly matching the impression she projected. Liam plopped down beside Nero without hesitation, while I hesitated for a moment before asking, ¡°Can I sit here?¡± I pointed to the seat next to her. ¡°Of course. I¡¯m already done anyway,¡± she replied flatly. With a grace that drew the attention of everyone nearby, she stood up and strode toward the exit, every step measured, almost regal. Eyes followed her as if she had commanded the entire room without uttering a word. Is that Lia? The more I watched her, the more I doubted that she was her. ¡°How was the lesson?¡± Nero asked, breaking me out of my thoughts. Seeing how visibly annoyed Liam was, I seized the opportunity to let him vent to someone else. I didn¡¯t particularly feel like listening to his endless complaints again. ¡­ ¡°Can you imagine?¡± Liam began, clearly eager to unload his frustrations. ¡°After all that, the only thing I got was a dagger! And it¡¯s something I should¡¯ve had anyway¡ªif our dear instructor actually respected his own rules and didn¡¯t use element control!¡± I thought only ManaDomein users could use element control ¡°Yes, it was quite interesting with you,¡± Nero said. ¡°But don¡¯t you think we were more fortunate? We only had a crazy guy who almost managed to kill a student.¡± ¡°Who? Astrel?¡± Liam asked immediately. Possibly any mention of the word ¡®crazy¡¯ would automatically point to him. ¡°Yeah! Compared to you, we only organized duels¡ªno armor, just weapons taken from a warehouse like yours. Astrel got paired up with a fairly capable student, but he used his more advanced physical abilities to knock the guy down. He was really close to being disabled for life. If the instructor hadn¡¯t intervened in time, he might¡¯ve lost some limbs. As it is, he still ended up in the medical center with cuts of varying depth all over his body.¡± Something normal. In the Cindercrest clan, stuff like that happens almost every three days. Some even whispered that Astrel had killed members of his own clan before, but those issues were silenced with extreme amounts of money. ¡°Why the hell did he even show up this year?¡± Liam said indignantly. ¡°It¡¯s better that there are powers around to keep him in check now than for him to terrorize everyone next year,¡± Nero replied. Then he turned toward me and asked, ¡°By the way, where were you during the lessons? I didn¡¯t see you in the auditorium.¡± ¡°I was in the middle row, near the back.¡± ¡°Really? I didn¡¯t see you coming in or going out.¡± ¡°You were probably too swamped by your fans,¡± I teased. ¡°Aghh, I wish they¡¯d shrink down! It¡¯s really annoying.¡± We continued our conversation, shifting between different topics until we finished eating and began heading toward the exit. That¡¯s when I saw him¡ªAstrel. From a distance, I noticed him approaching, his gaze locked directly on Nero. He moved with purpose, a singular focus that screamed violence, as though he had only one goal: to kill. Out of reflex, my hood fell into place over my head, a movement unnoticed by Liam and Nero, who were too fixed on Astrel themselves. Their posture was steady, not flinching, a silent statement that they weren¡¯t afraid. ¡°I have to leave,¡± I whispered, my voice barely audible. Without waiting for a response, I slipped into the flow of people, vanishing from sight. Cowardly? Maybe. But my survival was far more important than sticking around for two friends I¡¯d only known for a day. The lessons for today were over, so I made my way to the dojo once more to practice archery. I¡¯ll ask about element control. When I arrived, the building was empty again. After leaving my shoes at the entrance, I stepped inside. ¡°Hello, Kail.¡± The voice of Instructor Karlos rang out from behind me. ¡°Hello,¡± I greeted, turning slightly. ¡°Do you always have to meet me from behind?¡± ¡°No, it¡¯s just a habit,¡± Karlos replied with a small, casual shrug. ¡°Is it empty again today?¡± I asked, glancing around the silent dojo. ¡°Most students who take this subject are in their third year. They¡¯re all off completing practice missions,¡± Karlos explained, his tone calm, as if this was routine. ¡°Second-year students usually come in the morning because their pairs are scheduled after yours. That way, you don¡¯t overlap.¡± ¡°And... I¡¯m the only one from the first year?¡± I asked, trying to suppress the surprise in my voice. Karlos nodded. ¡°It¡¯s not unusual. First-year students don¡¯t typically attend this class¡ªat least, not seriously. You¡¯ll notice more people in the following years when people start taking this subject more intentionally.¡± I let his words sink in. It made sense. Choosing additional subjects was flexible here. Each semester allowed students to pick their focus, and the requirements were loose¡ªattendance wasn¡¯t even mandatory. You just had to take the final exams. But if that were true, it meant I had all the time and space I needed to improve, with no distractions from others. Maybe this is an advantage. ¡°Mr. Karlos¡­¡± I hesitated, unsure if I was pushing my luck. ¡°Can you teach me elemental control?¡± The question hung in the air. Chapter 36 - element control Mr. Karlos¡¯s gaze bore into me, his face emotionless, his eyes as lifeless as a doll¡¯s. ¡°That¡¯s exactly what we do in these lessons,¡± he said flatly. ¡°Really? I thought this was just an archery class, not one for elemental control,¡± I replied, my voice tinged with surprise. ¡°Of course, we focus on refining and performing in archery,¡± he explained. ¡°But to progress further, mastering elemental control becomes essential. It¡¯s necessary for achieving better results. You won¡¯t always have the luxury of relying solely on techniques¡ªthey demand aether, which takes time to gather.¡± ¡°I thought those who use ManaArmis couldn¡¯t use elemental control at all,¡± I said, frowning in confusion. ¡°What we use differs greatly from the elemental control taught in ManaDomain,¡± Mr. Karlos began, his tone growing slightly more instructive. ¡°First, the source of the element is our own body, unlike ManaDomain, which uses atmospheric mana. Second, we use the element more as an enchantment than a distinct attack.¡± ¡°Then¡­ can we start?¡± I asked eagerly, tightening my grip on my bow. ¡°Position yourself and take the bow in hand,¡± he instructed. I immediately adjusted my stance, following his directions to the letter. ¡°If, for techniques, you have time to load the weapon¡ªin your case, the arrow¡ªwith aether,¡± he continued, ¡°here, everything must happen instantaneously. At the exact moment before releasing the arrow, you must use the element. For now activate the Circuit.¡± Breathing Technique: Tempest Flow (4 ¡î) Stage 1: Wind Circulation My body became enveloped in ManaVentis, which shimmered visibly. The mana began to circulate around me, forming wind currents that twisted into vortices before returning to smooth flows. ¡°The idea,¡± Karlos said, his voice steady, ¡°is to feel how your mana circulates not only inside your body but also outside it. At the right moment, you allow some of that mana to flow from ManaVentis and manifest the element.¡± Master really should have taken notes from his former colleague when it comes to explanations, I thought, struggling to piece it all together. I focused on the aether flowing through ManaVentis, feeling the currents swirl and pulse. But when I tried to command it, it refused to obey, slipping away like the wind that defies your grasp. It was as if the currents mocked my efforts, continuing their path without even acknowledging my will. After several more attempts, nothing had changed. My bow remained steady in my hands, but my eyes were now closed, my entire concentration fixed on the aether swirling around my hand. ¡°Mr. Karlos,¡± I finally said, frustration lacing my tone, ¡°this isn¡¯t working. Maybe I¡¯m doing something wrong?¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t know,¡± he replied bluntly, folding his arms. ¡°But don¡¯t think this is supposed to be easy. Elemental control is considered much harder to master than techniques. Why do you think this dojo exists? To use archery, techniques, and elemental control in harmony requires extreme concentration¡ªthat¡¯s what we practice here.¡± Now this makes sense. Just practicing archery continuously won¡¯t lead to real progress. But when you combine it with techniques and elemental control, the effect multiplies to enormous extremes. I resumed my practice, but success continued to elude me. No matter how much I intensified or varied my attempts at manipulating the aether, it only responded faintly before returning to its natural flow, refusing to bend to my will. This isn¡¯t working. I need to change my approach. Then, I recalled seeing some of the students during the entrance exam practicing something that resembled martial arts. Maybe the secret lies in the movements? Abandoning my stationary stance, I shifted my approach. I positioned the bow properly and nocked an arrow onto the bowstring. Straightening my back, I opened my eyes, locking onto the target in front of me. Still, I couldn¡¯t let go of my focus on the circuit¡ªthe internal flow of aether and its external movements in ManaVentis. It¡¯s moving! It¡¯s finally moving as I want it to! The aether began to flow toward the arrow. Excited, I released the arrow, but the circuit immediately collapsed. I hadn¡¯t controlled my breathing properly or assimilated enough aether to sustain the flow. Suddenly, a crushing wave of fatigue hit me, and I dropped to my knees, panting.Ensure your favorite authors get the support they deserve. Read this novel on the original website. ¡°Enough for today,¡± said Mr. Karlos, his voice as monotone as ever. ¡°It¡¯s okay¡ªit moved!¡± I exclaimed, still catching my breath. ¡°Yes, I saw. You released the arrow, but then you completely forgot about breathing and closed the circuit,¡± he said, his tone neutral, though his observation felt sharper than usual. That doesn¡¯t sound right, I thought, frowning. Mr. Karlos helped me to my feet, then took a step back, his sharp eyes analyzing me from head to toe. ¡°Do you want some advice?¡± he asked suddenly. ¡°Of course!¡± ¡°Sign up for optional Unarmed Combat classes.¡± Unarmed combat? But isn¡¯t that geared toward close combat? How is that relevant to me? ¡°Can you tell me why?¡± I asked, tilting my head in confusion. ¡°As an archer, you won¡¯t always have the luxury of keeping your distance. Real situations often demand adaptability, and being skilled in close combat will be invaluable. Your body is naturally resistant and durable¡ªyou¡¯ll make good use of that. Plus, the Unarmed Combat classes rely heavily on elemental control. You¡¯ll understand it much better there.¡± That sounds¡­ surprisingly convenient. ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll sign up as soon as the system allows it.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t wait for the system,¡± he said bluntly. ¡°Go straight to the gym number 11. They usually have classes there. But make sure you come here at least three times a week after your lessons as scheduled.¡± ¡°Got it. Thank you,¡± I said sincerely, giving a small bow of gratitude. It was already late when I hurried to the commercial area, weaving through several bars and markets. My room lacked even the bare essentials¡ªa stove, a kettle, and of course, not a single pot to prepare food. After searching for the lowest prices, I managed to buy what I needed: a small gas camping stove, pot, some basic vegetables, a piece of meat, and a few bones to make broth. I didn¡¯t forget the essentials¡ªsalt and pepper. By the time I was done, I only had 50 VA left to last the whole month. Finally, back in my room, I unpacked my purchases. Setting up the stove, I started preparing a simple meal, letting the aroma of simmering broth fill the space. Bzzz. A notification buzzed on my watch. I checked it to see that the sender was Lia. |Lia|: Hello, how are you? What¡¯s that for? |Kail|: Well. How are you? |Lia|: Fine. Just lately, a lot of annoying people surround me. |Kail|: I understand. Is that the reason for how you behave? |Lia|: Nero has been following me for a year already, like a bodyguard. I¡¯ve told him so many times to stop, but he never listens. |Kail|: He seems like a normal guy. |Lia|: DO NOT misunderstand. He hasn¡¯t done anything to me. I simply don¡¯t like his presence. |Kail|: Strange how the person who¡¯s annoying somehow turns into the victim. |Lia|: This is NOT the same thing!! Have you decided which additional courses you¡¯ll enroll in? Her sudden shift in topic caught me off guard, but it made me smile¡ªsomething I hadn¡¯t done in a long time. |Kail|: I¡¯ve decided on two. Just one left. |Lia|: Wow, quick. How did you manage to pick them so fast? |Kail|: Just how things turned out. |Lia|: What do you think about the courses on studying breathing techniques? Reading her message, my mind sharpened, and I recalled my main reason for maintaining contact with Lia. Breathing technique to increase ejection fraction. |Kail|: Sounds interesting. Do you plan to take these? |Lia|: Yes! But it¡¯s generally for people whose techniques have flaws or inefficiencies. That¡¯s why none of my friends are interested in it. |Kail|: Maybe I need those too. |Lia|: I don¡¯t think so. So, will you come with me tomorrow? Losing an optional course slot for a seemingly minor subject isn¡¯t a big deal. My relationship with Lia and the potential benefits of her insights are worth it. |Kail|: Okay. Where is it held? |Lia|: Wonderful! (¤Å??????)¤Å In Block C, 3rd floor, Hall 7. Come after you finish your lessons tomorrow. |Kail|: Got it. I closed the hologram and turned on the stove. The sound of the fire starting filled the quiet room. I placed the newly purchased pot on the burner, already filled with tap water, and started preparing the ingredients. As the water heated, I cleaned the vegetables and meat, letting my thoughts settle into order. The most important things I need to accomplish now are:
  1. Learn to use elemental control to a satisfactory level for combat applications.
  2. Avoid contact with anyone who might recognize me from the past.
  3. Acquire the breathing technique created by Lia, provided it is available.
  4. Establish a schedule that allows me to balance my courses with training for techniques.
  5. Continue practicing the breathing techniques required to activate the leg armor.
Of these, points 1, 2, and 5 are mandatory. The others are important but can be deprioritized if necessary. As I worked, the faint bubbling of water on the stove served as the backdrop to my thoughts. Each goal loomed in my mind like a hurdle I needed to clear¡ªstrategically, carefully, and without missteps. Chapter 37 - 2 friends September 3, 3108 I got up around 5 a.m. and headed out for a short run along the route I had planned beforehand. As I approached the dormitory exit, I heard a familiar voice¡ªLiam. He was also dressed in sports clothes, likely on his way out for a morning workout. ¡°Morning, Kail! Out for a run?¡± ¡°Good morning, Liam. Yeah, it¡¯s already a habit.¡± ¡°Same here. Want to wait a bit? Nero should be joining us soon.¡± He¡¯s not going to say anything about how I behaved in the mall? I wondered. ¡°If you don¡¯t mind my company, then of course,¡± I replied. We exchanged a few casual words until Nero appeared, also in workout attire. ¡°Good morning. How¡¯d you sleep?¡± Nero greeted. Like Liam, he showed no reaction to my disappearance at the mall. Did they not even notice I left or what? ¡°Let¡¯s go,¡± Liam said, and we began running. This wasn¡¯t just a casual jog¡ªwe had built up a considerable speed, yet it didn¡¯t strain us. It felt comfortable, even relaxing, as we continued to exchange light conversation. We talked about trivial topics: favorite foods, the state of our rooms, and so on. But my curiosity about their lack of reaction to my disappearance grew stronger with each passing moment. The logical choice was to leave the incident in the past, but I couldn¡¯t suppress the question any longer. ¡°Didn¡¯t it bother you that I left when Astrel approached?¡± There was a moment of silence¡ªneither of them showed any signs of anger or disappointment. Nero eventually broke the pause. ¡°Not really. You¡¯re not allied with any clan, and getting involved with Astrel would only cause you trouble. Honestly, I didn¡¯t expect you to react that way, but it¡¯s perfectly understandable why you did.¡± After Nero finished, Liam picked up the conversation. ¡°As you¡¯ve probably noticed, Nero and I don¡¯t talk much with other clan representatives or guild members and when we do this, it''s just because of formalities. Honestly, we¡¯re sick of them. Whenever I see that expression¡ªthe one that says they need something from you¡ªit¡¯s just awful.¡± Nero nodded and added, ¡°Compared to others, you¡¯ve never acted like you wanted something from us right from the start. You treat us as people, not as investments or tools. Plus, you¡¯ve got some pretty fascinating abilities. It¡¯s refreshing to talk to you.¡± That was... unexpected. My attitude toward Liam and Nero was the way it was because I had been in their situation before. I still vividly remembered the countless looks people gave me: envy, hope, hatred, greed. Even though my time surrounded by such gazes had been brief, it left a lasting impression¡ªone impossible to forget. "Maybe it won¡¯t be so bad having two friends," I thought to myself. Initially, Altgrad wasn¡¯t a place I had intended to make friends. My plan was simple: use the academy¡¯s resources to their fullest and establish useful connections for the future. But now, perhaps, a slight correction to that plan wouldn¡¯t hurt. I came to a stop, and the momentum carried Liam and Nero forward a few steps before they stopped too, turning to look at me. Without saying anything, I opened the hologram on my watch. A few quick taps, and I sent them my contact details. Straightening my posture, I clasped my hands behind my back and gave them a polite bow. ¡°My name is Kail Vaylith. I do not belong to any organization. Nice to meet you.¡± The reaction was immediate¡ªand not what I expected. Their eyes widened in shock as if they couldn¡¯t believe what they were witnessing. Then, after a few seconds of silence, Liam erupted into laughter. ¡°Pfff¡ªHAHAHAHA! You¡¯re serious? Hahahaha!¡± he doubled over, clutching his stomach. Even Nero, who was usually composed, struggled to suppress his laughter. A faint smile tugged at his lips as he failed to maintain his usual stoic demeanor. ¡°Are you two ready to stop?¡± I asked, slightly annoyed by their reaction. ¡°I was just being polite. It¡¯s normal to introduce yourself formally like this.¡± Liam tried to catch his breath between laughs. ¡°But it¡¯s not normal to do it like that! Hahaha, we¡¯re not at war, Kail!¡±The narrative has been illicitly obtained; should you discover it on Amazon, report the violation. Nero finally composed himself and stepped forward, extending a hand. ¡°I¡¯m Neuron Frostvein, a representative of the GlacierDominion clan. Nice to meet you.¡± I accepted his handshake, nodding slightly. Once we were done, both of us turned our gaze to Liam, who now stood alone, clearly realizing he was outnumbered. ¡°Oh, come on,¡± Liam muttered, rolling his eyes as he stepped forward. Copying Nero¡¯s gesture, he shook my hand dramatically. ¡°My name is Liam Leafblade, representative of the Forest Guardians guild. I¡¯m EXTREMELY PLEASED to meet you, Mr. Kail Vaylith.¡± Ignoring his sarcasm, I shook his hand firmly. Both of them accepted my friend request on the hologram, and we resumed our run together. ¡°Have you already chosen an additional course?¡± Nero asked as we ran. ¡°Tomorrow, I¡¯m starting the Short Weapons course,¡± Liam replied confidently. ¡°I already have all three planned,¡± I said. ¡°Really? What are they?¡± Nero asked, raising an eyebrow. ¡°Archery, Unarmed Combat, and Breathing Technique Study,¡± I answered. ¡°Hmm, I get Archery, but why the other two?¡± Liam asked, curious. ¡°Unarmed Combat focuses heavily on elemental control, and I¡¯m not well-adapted to that yet. As for Breathing Techniques, it¡¯s to improve my technique,¡± I explained. ¡°That one is based on elemental control?¡± Liam said thoughtfully. ¡°I didn¡¯t notice that on the list. Maybe I¡¯ll join, then.¡± ¡±Where are the courses held?¡± Nero asked. ¡°I¡¯m going to the Unarmed Combat course the day after tomorrow for the first time. If you¡¯re interested, we can go together,¡± I offered. ¡°That sounds good,¡± Liam said. ¡°Agreed,¡± Nero added. We continued our morning run, discussing minor topics, until we returned to the dormitory. Once there, we parted ways, each heading to our own rooms. Back in my room, I took a quick shower, reheated some food left over from the previous day, and changed into fresh clothes. Just as I sat down to eat, I heard a sound. Knock, knock. Someone was at the door. I wasn¡¯t expecting anyone¡ªno one even knew which room I was in. Cautiously, I grabbed a knife from my gear, a practical weapon I¡¯d gotten from Iron Spark, and approached the door. ¡°Who is it?¡± I called out. Silence. No response. Even stranger, I couldn¡¯t sense anyone¡¯s presence behind the door. Deciding to investigate, I slowly opened the door, fully prepared for an unexpected attack. But the door didn¡¯t open easily. Something on the floor blocked it. Glancing down, I spotted a box. Relief washed over me for a moment when I realized what it was. This year, they prepared them faster, I thought, recognizing its contents. The box contained the uniform of a first-year student at Altgard. It was a black jacket with simple military-style gold ornaments. Designed for practicality, it was made from durable materials and enhanced with aether-conductive properties for lighter mana manipulation. Everyone was required to wear it during lessons. With this, I¡¯ll blend in even more in public, I thought, satisfied. After putting it on and finishing breakfast, it was already time for the first lesson: history and basic knowledge. When I arrived at the lecture hall, it looked almost identical to the previous day, except now everyone was in uniform. What stood out was the uniform of the top 10 students, which had additional diagonal stripes on their jackets representing their elemental affinities. Luna¡¯s uniform bore a purple stripe, Elysia¡¯s was yellow, and Astrel¡¯s was red. On top of that, Astrel¡¯s jacket had two smaller silver pearls, while Nero¡¯s boasted golden ones. They seriously want a war between students, I thought. In human society, status¡ªwhether earned through power, wealth, or blackmail¡ªwas sacred and fiercely protected. Differentiating between representatives of major clans, particularly competitors, was practically an invitation for conflict. Yet, to my surprise, Astrel showed no visible signs of anger. I could tell, though, that his composure was likely a facade. As I approached the stairs to reach my usual seat, I felt something unexpected¡ªa gaze fixated on me. My goal was to avoid attracting attention, so this was unsettling. I scanned the room for the source and found it almost immediately. Lunaris. Her eyes were unmistakably focused on me, but just as quickly as our eyes met, her gaze shifted back to the conversation she was having with the people around her. This isn¡¯t good, I thought, tension rising. She¡¯s one of the few people who could recognize me. Worse, she had an alliance with Cindercrest. At the moment, it was too early to draw conclusions. Perhaps she simply remembered me from Ironspark or public transport. Either way, it was a development that needed monitoring. The lesson began abruptly. A man, who didn¡¯t bother to introduce himself, turned on a hologram and launched into an explanation of topics that most of us already knew. Every student here had likely studied these basics in clan, guild, or school training. This subject¡ªhistory and basic knowledge¡ªwas often ignored by students due to its lack of practical applications. The grade didn¡¯t affect anyone¡¯s rank; it was only useful for certification in exams for other subjects. That¡¯s why most students paid no attention to the teacher during this subject. Instead, they prepared for other lessons or practiced meditation, evidenced by the faint glow of numerous ManaVentis activated throughout the auditorium. Following their example, I decided not to waste time. Activated my circuit, and entered a meditative state. At the same time, I listened to the teacher¡¯s lecture and jotted down small notes in the document on my watch. Maintaining an active aether circuit while focusing on another task was excellent training for elemental control, so I made the most of the situation. The next lesson was with Mr. Michael. Unlike yesterday¡¯s hands-on approach, today¡¯s class focused on theory. He explained essential concepts for tracking and stealth¡ªtechniques I was already familiar with and often applied in practice. With the classes done for now, it was finally time to meet Lia again. Chapter 38 - attraction Here¡¯s the corrected version of your text: I went to Block A, specifically to the hall adjacent to the library on the first floor. The library¡¯s entrance was marked by enormous double doors, adorned in an old European style. Inside, the library was colossal, spanning three floors, each filled with hundreds, if not thousands, of shelves containing both paper and hologram books. It was divided into several sections, and the area was constantly patrolled by multiple librarians. I approached one of them and asked for directions to the lecture hall. He pointed me to the third floor, where I found several standard lecture rooms. Each door had a plaque indicating the room¡¯s purpose. I quickly located the class I needed and opened the door. My entrance drew the brief attention of about fifteen people seated inside, though their gazes didn¡¯t linger for more than a second¡ªexcept for one. A girl smiled at me and gestured for me to come over. The room had around fifteen two-person benches, and Lia was sitting alone at the last bench by the window. I walked over and sat beside her. ¡°Hello,¡± I greeted. ¡°Hello! You were almost late,¡± Lia replied, puffing out her cheeks in mock indignation. ¡°You didn¡¯t tell me what time to arrive. Besides, the stadium where I take my lessons is pretty far.¡± ¡°These are just excuses.¡± ¡°Of course. By the way, why doesn¡¯t anyone seem to notice you?¡± Even though Lia isn¡¯t from a clan, she¡¯s ranked first in the ManaDomain faculty, I thought to myself, a fact confirmed by her jacket. Unlike mine, hers is white with two parallel gold stripes. ¡°That¡¯s a feature of this jacket,¡± she explained. ¡°It creates a barrier that prevents people from recognizing the wearer. As far as I understand, it uses some kind of light refraction that works on a psychological level.¡± ¡°Then why did I recognize you?¡± I asked. ¡°Good question. Maybe you just have good eyes. It¡¯s starting.¡± Good eyes? Why can¡¯t anyone ever explain things normally? I thought. An elderly woman entered the classroom. Despite her advanced age, her presence radiated vitality, and her eyes sparkled with wisdom. ¡°Hello. My name is Ariadna Dolores, and I will be teaching you Breathing Technique courses.¡± We all greeted her in return, and she began the lecture. ¡°Let¡¯s start with some basic questions. I¡¯m sure you all know that breathing techniques are categorized by their performance and elemental affinity. But what is their purpose?¡± A girl sitting at the first table raised her hand. ¡°Yes, go ahead,¡± said Mrs. Ariadna. ¡°Breathing techniques allow us to intentionally manipulate the aether and achieve subsequent progress through enhanced physical capacities,¡± the girl answered. ¡°Wonderful,¡± Ariadna replied. ¡°But is it true that we cannot manipulate aether without breathing techniques?¡± The question was directed at the same girl, but this time she hesitated, unable to respond immediately. ¡°I would assume not?¡± she ventured. ¡°We can, dear,¡± Ariadna said with a gentle smile. ¡°In the beginning, humans did not use breathing techniques. Progress was made due to prolonged exposure to aether. Since breathing is a constant, natural process, certain conditions¡ªlike areas with high aether concentration or intense physical activity¡ªallowed for the opening of skin pores, enabling basic manipulation of aether for combat techniques. ¡°Of course, this method is now considered obsolete due to its inefficiency and low success rate. Breathing techniques, as we know them today, were inspired by the combat methods of the elves. Naturally, they were later modernized and adapted for human use.¡± Mostly, this information is public and widely known, but it¡¯s beginning to fade into obscurity as time has passed since its origins. Now, these techniques are deeply integrated into human society. One can only imagine how many elves were tortured and killed to obtain that first breathing technique. Mrs. Ariadna continued her lecture, explaining the anatomy and physiology involved in forming the aetheric circuit, as well as the precise effects these techniques offer. To summarize the key points: Breathing techniques contribute to forming the specific element tied to a martial art. They enable the use of aether for combat techniques and the manipulation of an individual''s elemental constitution. This process also acts as a trigger, putting the body into a heightened state of concentration. The differences between techniques arise from the amount of aether they release, the potential damage they can inflict on the body, and the level of focus required to execute them.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. After approximately two hours, the class ended, with the teacher taking a quick roll call of those participating in the course. Throughout the lesson, though Lia and I focused on the lecture, I noticed her casting brief glances in my direction, as if she wanted to say something. When we stepped out of the classroom, I decided to ask her directly. ¡°Did something happen?¡± I asked. ¡°What? Why?¡± she responded, caught off guard. ¡°You¡¯ve been wanting to ask me something all lesson.¡± At my words, Lia¡¯s cheeks flushed slightly. ¡°Well, it¡¯s nothing important¡­ I just need to go to the market, and I was wondering if you¡¯d come with me. You know, so I don¡¯t¡­ buy too much or som¡­¡± ¡°Come on,¡± I interrupted her mid-sentence, not wanting to listen to her roundabout excuses. Besides, I needed to buy some produce anyway since I¡¯d finished the last of yesterday¡¯s game. As soon as I agreed, her face lit up with happiness, though I wasn¡¯t entirely sure why. Over the next few hours, we wandered through various stores. Ironically, none of them sold the produce I needed. Instead, Lia led me straight to the Shopping Center, where there was everything except food. And, of course, most of it was far beyond what I could afford. She bought both jewelry and plush toys, which was odd. Normally, I¡¯d feel annoyed by such meaningless things, but every time she found something that seemed cute or beautiful, her face would light up with happiness. Watching her like that, I felt an unexpected peace and quiet inside, as though, for a fleeting moment, the deep wounds of my past were beginning to heal. We talked about all kinds of topics¡ªso random and disjointed that tracing a logical path to how we got there would¡¯ve been impossible. But I enjoyed it. For the first time in a while, I felt calm. I didn¡¯t want it to end, but evening inevitably came. The sun was nearing the horizon when we finally decided to head to Lia¡¯s house. She had bought so much along the way that two hands were barely enough to carry it all. ¡°Thanks for helping me bring these here,¡± Lia said, smiling. ¡°For nothing. I still had a good time,¡± I replied. ¡°Yes! With me, that¡¯s always guaranteed,¡± she said proudly, puffing out her chest like it was some kind of fantastic compliment. Then, suddenly, her smile vanished. Her face tensed, her entire demeanor changing in an instant, as though she had just seen something that ruined her mood entirely. ¡°Kail, thank you for spending time with me. You can leave the packages on the ground. Something urgent came up... I¡¯ll message you later, but for now, please disappear quickly.¡± Realizing the gravity of her tone, I nodded and did as she asked, leaving the packages by the door. I stepped away and vanished from sight, but I didn¡¯t leave entirely. I stayed hidden behind a tree some distance away, keeping an eye on her to ensure she was safe. Rank 601 protecting Rank 1... I really don¡¯t underestimate myself, I thought, mildly amused by the irony. After a short while, a boy with long red hair tied in a ponytail approached Lia. His smile was unsettling, exuding an aura of suspicion. He extended his hand toward Lia, and when his palm touched her face, I instinctively tensed every muscle in my body, resisting the overwhelming urge to act. All kinds of negative emotions surged within me, as if a demon inside me wasn¡¯t just whispering but screaming at the top of its lungs, demanding that I act to correct something that, for my entire existence, could never be acceptable. It took everything I had to stay still, but eventually, Lia took a step back, creating distance between them. Her expression turned to one of disgust and hatred, her posture rigid. The boy¡¯s smile didn¡¯t waver as he picked up the packages I had left and began following Lia at a cautious distance. She walked toward a truck, her pace deliberate, but she didn¡¯t let him get too close. I stayed frozen, watching them until they both disappeared from view. Only then did I manage to relax, my muscles loosening and my breath evening out. What was that? Why did I react like that? I had some sympathy for Lia¡ªever since our time in the rehabilitation center¡ªbut that didn¡¯t explain the intensity of my reaction. It wasn¡¯t just concern. It felt like something primal inside me rejected the idea of another man touching her. As though it were a forbidden act, a taboo, that, if violated, would compel me to destroy everything around me. I don¡¯t understand any of this. I couldn¡¯t rationalize the feelings surging within me or the reaction they triggered. But one thing was certain. I need to get rid of these emotions. Even though the cause of my reaction had disappeared from sight, the scene refused to leave my mind. It lingered, gnawing at my thoughts. To clear my head, I remembered what Nero had told me about a place where I could release this pent-up aggression. I headed to the gym, a facility open to everyone for personal training. It was conveniently located near the area where we had lessons with Mr. Michael. As I entered, I noticed the variety of activities taking place¡ªpeople lifting weights, performing bodyweight exercises, and even practicing weapon techniques on mannequins. Among them, I spotted the person I was looking for. Nero was training with a spear that was taller than he was. His focus and precision were captivating, but I approached him, interrupting his practice. ¡°Hello,¡± I said. ¡°Hey, Kail. Did you come to train too?¡± Nero asked, lowering his spear. ¡°To some extent, yes. Are there private rooms for duels here?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± he replied, pointing toward a row of iron doors at the end of the hall. ¡°They¡¯re over there, but what¡¯s it for?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s have a duel. I need to calm down a bit.¡± ¡°Why not? But do we really need a private room? There are open spaces for sparring, and those are free.¡± ¡°Let¡¯s just say I need privacy for this,¡± I insisted. ¡°If you say so,¡± Nero shrugged and led the way. We headed to the dueling rooms, and after Nero paid the fee for an hour¡ªsince I didn¡¯t have the means to do so¡ªI grabbed a sword from the equipment rack nearby. The quality of the weapon was atrocious, but it didn¡¯t matter to me at that moment. I entered the rented room with Nero, the cube-like space walled off from the rest of the gym. When Nero saw me holding the sword, a flicker of confusion crossed his face. ¡°I thought you specialized in archery?¡± he asked. ¡°At the moment, it¡¯s not an option,¡± I replied. To use the bow, emotions need to be reduced to zero. The more focused and calm you are, the higher the chance of hitting your target. While focus is essential for any weapon, swords can be wielded under the influence of emotions. Sometimes, emotions can even serve as fuel to enhance the results. ¡°Don¡¯t regret it when you¡¯re on the ground,¡± Nero teased, readying his stance. With a burst of energy, I rushed toward Nero, closing the distance between us. His reaction was immediate¡ªhe was already prepared to deflect my attack and counterstrike. Even though I hadn''t wielded a sword for a proper amount of time, it still felt oddly familiar in my hands. I initiated a vertical slash, but midway through the motion, I channeled the power from my legs up through my torso, halting the strike and converting it into a thrust. Nero, ready to block the vertical attack, adjusted swiftly. Using the length of his spear, he deflected my blade to the left. However, I spun on my heel, redirecting my momentum into a follow-up strike aimed at his now-exposed side. Nero, thanks to his incredible flexibility, narrowly avoided the attack by mere centimeters. Closing the gap between us, he looked at me with a serious expression. ¡°I understand now. I¡¯ll be serious,¡± he said, his tone more focused. I tightened my grip on the sword in response, and our duel resumed. The clash continued for what felt like an eternity, both of us pushing ourselves. After an hour, the room rental time ended, forcing us to stop. Though we both had the stamina to continue, my goal for initiating the duel had already been achieved. When Nero suggested continuing, I refused. His expression¡ªlike a dog whose meal had been taken away¡ªdidn¡¯t change my decision. ¡°You¡¯re extremely skilled with a sword,¡± Nero said, his tone sincere. ¡°I¡¯m telling you this as someone who¡¯s fought a lot of people.¡± ¡°And yet, I couldn¡¯t even land a single cut on you,¡± I replied, frustrated. Nero gave me a strange look, as though I¡¯d just confessed to a crime. ¡°What?¡± I asked. ¡°Nothing,¡± he said, shaking his head. ¡°It¡¯s just... your style is very similar to that of the Cindercrest clan. I wanted to ask where you learned it, but if you don¡¯t want to share, that¡¯s your business.¡± ¡°I can tell you that my master had some ties to Cindercrest but not anymore¡± I admitted. ¡°It¡¯s late. I¡¯m heading out.¡± ¡°Yeah? I¡¯ll stay a little longer to train,¡± Nero said, gripping his spear again. ¡°Good luck,¡± I said, leaving the room. As I stepped outside, a cold, dry wind swept over me, its biting chill attempting to envelop me. I didn¡¯t buy any food either, I thought with a sigh, as the wind reminded me of my oversight. Chapter 39 - boxing ring September 4, 3108 My morning began like the previous day. Nero, Liam, and I ran together before I returned to take a shower, changed into my academy jacket, and headed to lessons. The first lesson of the day was aether control. It passed without any surprises. As it was the introductory session, we were only taught about the basics of aether manipulation and the history behind the development of aether technologies. In simpler terms, it was empty theory. The only notable difference was that the entire class seemed completely focused on the teacher¡ªan understandable reaction given the importance of the subject. The next lesson was with Mr. Michael. Today, he tested us on the theory he had previously taught. The Scout group was divided into two teams: the hiders and the seekers. The task was simple¡ªthose hiding had to avoid being found within a designated territory, while those seeking had to find as many people as possible within the time limit. I ended up in the hiders'' group, while Liam was assigned to the seekers. We were given one minute to find a hiding spot. Without hesitation, I chose a large tree with multiple branches and dense foliage. I carefully erased my tracks, created some fake ones to throw off the seekers, and settled on one of the higher branches. As I anticipated, no one found me. A few seekers passed through the area, but none noticed me. When the time was up, my bracelet vibrated, signaling that I could return to the starting point. Growing up in the forest, surrounded by animals I often had to hunt, made hiding my presence as natural as breathing. When I arrived back at the original location, I found many of my classmates animated and cheerful. Liam was among them, and I approached him. ¡°How was it?¡± I asked. ¡°Great! I just got 20 points,¡± he replied with a grin. ¡°What points?¡± ¡°They didn¡¯t find you? Obviously not. Here¡¯s how it works: this hide-and-seek exercise will happen every time. Everyone starts with 1 point. If you¡¯re a seeker, you steal points from the people you find. If you¡¯re hiding, your goal is to avoid being found and losing your points. The most important part is that if you manage to collect 50 points and keep them for a week, you pass the first test.¡± ¡°And if you don¡¯t collect enough points?¡± ¡°Then you¡¯ll have to pass the test the standard way¡ªwith the teacher as the examiner. Honestly, I don¡¯t even want to imagine what Mr. Michael might come up with.¡± ¡°You¡¯re lucky, then. You¡¯ve already collected almost half the required points.¡± ¡°Of course! That¡¯s because I¡¯m miraculous,¡± Liam declared, puffing out his chest with exaggerated pride. The rest of the lesson was spent analyzing the mistakes made by both the seekers and the hiders. At the end of the class, Mr. Michael gave us another task. ¡°By the end of the day,¡± he announced, ¡°ten of you will receive a message containing a unique word or phrase. If you¡¯re one of the recipients, your task is to use this word or phrase at least twice daily in conversations or around groups of people. You must do this without revealing that you¡¯ve been assigned the phrase. If someone correctly identifies you as having the phrase and informs me, you¡¯ll be penalized in both grades and rank. However, if they¡¯re wrong, they¡¯ll be penalized instead. Keep in mind, the stakes are high¡ªso tread carefully.¡± This marked the end of the physical training lesson, which had unexpectedly provided us with a mission unrelated to physical activity. Liam and I headed toward the Unarmed Combat class, and on the way, we ran into Nero. He shared that he had also been given a strange mission. Unlike ours, which clearly focused on information acquisition and preservation, his mission revolved around commanding military troops and employing tactics to achieve better results in battle. We eventually reached the gym designated for Unarmed Combat. The centerpiece of the room was a ring surrounded by high netted walls, roughly five meters tall. The ring was closed off and wasn¡¯t particularly large, as most of the room was filled with various training equipment¡ªmannequins, punching bags, and other tools¡ªmuch like the gym where I had previously dueled with Nero. As we entered, we began to take a closer look at the room¡¯s setup. It was well-equipped, even though the equipment was clearly aged. Despite this, everything was impressively well-maintained. The door we had come through opened again, and we saw someone familiar: Mr. Ronald. ¡°Hello,¡± we all greeted in unison. Mr. Ronald glanced at us and, for a moment, I caught a flicker of surprise on his face. ¡°Hello. Are you here for class?¡± he asked. ¡°Yes,¡± Nero replied, and Liam and I confirmed his words with a nod. ¡°Great. Head to the locker room and change,¡± he instructed. We exchanged puzzled looks confused by the request since we were already wearing specialized training clothes. ¡°Into what?¡± I asked.This novel''s true home is a different platform. Support the author by finding it there. ¡°You¡¯ll find out when you get there,¡± he replied cryptically. When we entered the locker room, we discovered what he meant. Each of us found a set of black gloves and sports boots adorned with small silver ornaments. At first glance, the attire seemed elegant and stylish, but the moment we put them on, we realized their true purpose. These are heavier than my old jacket, I muttered to myself, feeling the added weight. The silver ornaments, it turned out, were actual pieces of metal embedded into the gloves and boots. Combined, they added at least 80 kilograms of extra weight to our bodies. The discomfort was undeniable, but it wasn¡¯t enough to severely restrict our movements. Once we had changed into the weighted attire, we stepped out of the locker room and saw Mr. Ronald waiting for us. He had changed into more casual training clothes and was already in the ring, warming up with boxing gloves on. ¡°Warm up your muscles a little, then let one of you step into the ring,¡± Mr. Ronald instructed. Slightly confused by the situation, we began doing light warm-up exercises and stretches. Taking the initiative, Liam volunteered to go first and climbed into the ring. ¡°I¡¯ll test you a bit to determine what you need to work on,¡± Mr. Ronald explained. ¡°Armor and techniques are prohibited, but you can use elemental enchantment. Attack when you¡¯re ready.¡± Our first contestant was decided and stood up in the ring. Liam activated his circuit, and his entire body was enveloped in ManaVentis. Unlike mine, Liam¡¯s was a lighter green, with currents of wind swirling around his hands at high speed, though without forming any vortices. He assumed a fighting stance, placing his right foot forward in line with his extended right fist, while his left arm was raised defensively. Liam channeled all his strength into his left leg, his muscles contracting like a coiled spring. After a brief pause, he launched himself toward Mr. Ronald. However, just before reaching him, Liam halted his momentum with his right leg, transferring all his inertia into his left leg, which he whipped toward Mr. Ronald in a swift kick. With a simple yet precise motion, Mr. Ronald redirected Liam¡¯s kick downward, sending it harmlessly toward the ground. But Liam wasn¡¯t finished. I watched as he adjusted his movements, fluidly transitioning into a spin. Using the centrifugal force from his redirected leg, he unleashed a follow-up attack¡ªa rising kick with his right leg aimed directly at Mr. Ronald. Mr. Ronald reacted effortlessly. As Liam¡¯s attack approached, he sidestepped with uncanny precision, allowing the kick to pass harmlessly through empty air. The missed strike, combined with all the momentum Liam had built up, sent him crashing into the wall of the ring, abruptly ending the duel. ¡°That wasn¡¯t a bad attempt,¡± Mr. Ronald commented. ¡°But you shouldn¡¯t throw everything into a move unless you¡¯re certain there¡¯s a good chance of success.¡± I wasn¡¯t sure if Liam even heard the feedback; he seemed too preoccupied trying to process what had just happened. The next person to step into the ring was Nero. Nero took a different stance than Liam¡¯s. His feet were shoulder-width apart, and his hands were not clenched into fists but extended with relaxed palms. One hand rested loosely behind his back, concealing its position. Unlike Liam, Nero didn¡¯t rush into the fight immediately. Instead, he began circling Mr. Ronald, observing him carefully and searching for any weaknesses in his movements. Mr. Ronald mirrored Nero¡¯s motion, keeping pace and ensuring he couldn¡¯t be approached from an angle. The tension built as Nero slowly started to close the distance, not directly, but in calculated, circular strides. Then, without warning, Nero lunged forward, angling in from Mr. Ronald¡¯s left side. Mr. Ronald responded swiftly, launching a left jab aimed at Nero¡¯s head. Nero reacted with precision, dodging by shifting his head to the right while extending his left hand to the left, aiming to exploit the blind spot created by Mr. Ronald¡¯s attack. But Mr. Ronald wasn¡¯t caught off guard. Without hesitation, he bent his arm at the elbow to neutralize Nero¡¯s advancing hand and immediately countered with a left uppercut aimed at Nero¡¯s chin. Nero barely evaded the strike, ducking just in time to avoid what would have been a decisive blow. Recognizing the danger, he tried to create some distance between them. Mr. Ronald didn¡¯t allow it. Closing the gap instantly, he drove a knee toward Nero¡¯s chest. Nero managed to stay conscious, though the impact forced a grunt from him. In response, he finally brought his concealed hand into play. With a flowing, wave-like motion, he moved his palm toward Mr. Ronald¡¯s knee, channeling the momentum into a decisive strike. Just before impact, Nero transformed his palm into a fist, aiming to redirect the force and counterattack. However, Mr. Ronald anticipated the move. With a fluid shift, he angled his head slightly to the left and transitioned his knee strike into a sweeping kick. The sudden shift caught Nero off guard, and the impact sent him flying into the ring¡¯s wall¡ªjust as it had with Liam. ¡°You did well,¡± Mr. Ronald said, his tone firm but approving. ¡°But you should¡¯ve retreated earlier to force me into a corner instead of letting me dictate the fight.¡± Nero climbed out of the ring, clutching his ribs where Mr. Ronald¡¯s knee had landed. He shot me a half-hearted grin. ¡°You better not let him get you, Kail. Pretty sure he cracked a few of my ribs.¡± It was my turn. I stepped into the ring, taking a deep breath to steady my nerves. Activating my circuit, I felt the weight of the gloves and boots more acutely. Strangely, rather than hindering me, they seemed to enhance my focus, making each movement deliberate and charged with potential power. Here¡¯s a revised and polished version of your text: Like Liam, I positioned my legs carefully, but my fists remained closer to my body¡ªrelaxed yet ready. My muscles felt responsive, my breathing steady, and my gaze locked on Mr. Ronald. Every movement of his was subject to my constant analysis, searching for the ideal opening to strike. Gathering strength in my feet like Liam had, I began to close the distance. However, instead of a straightforward charge, I approached in a zigzag pattern, weaving unpredictably from left to right. At the final rush, I prepared a left-handed vertical strike aimed at Mr. Ronald. He avoided it with a sidestep to his left, already setting up an uppercut with his own left hand. Adapting in the heat of the moment, I shifted my intended fist strike into a tight elbow attack, reducing the radius and aiming directly for his head. Mr. Ronald reacted instantly. Using his forearm, he redirected my elbow upward, sending it off course. Before he could fully follow through with his uppercut, I delivered a quick jab to his chest, creating just enough space between us to force a reset. Both of us took the moment to regain our stances. The reset didn¡¯t last long. Together, we rushed at each other, colliding like opposing forces in a storm. Taking advantage of the distance, Mr. Ronald aimed a low strike at my right knee. Instead of retreating, I charged forward into the attack, attempting to minimize its power and force him off balance. He adjusted seamlessly, turning the intended strike into a rising kick powered by a fluid motion of his pelvis. The kick landed solidly in my abdomen, knocking the wind from my lungs. With no other option, I grabbed his leg with both hands before it could fully retract, using it as a pivot to twist myself away from the impact. In the same motion, I launched a counterattack, driving my left leg toward Mr. Ronald¡¯s shoulder. As if anticipating this, he caught my leg mid-strike. With a swift and powerful motion, he hurled me into the wall of the ring. Chapter 40 - antisocial The impact wasn¡¯t particularly strong, yet I needed a few seconds to regain my composure. "It¡¯s not always necessary to go on the offensive. Sometimes, defending or countering an attack is more effective¡ªespecially since you¡¯re not using a close combat weapon," Mr. Ronald advised. I took in his words. My fighting style still carried remnants of my sword training. Those habits weren¡¯t entirely unhelpful, but they no longer aligned with my current approach. It was clear I needed to adapt. Leaving the ring, I joined Nero and Liam, while Mr. Ronald removed his boxing gloves. He turned to us with a final set of instructions: "You all need to train your individual attack styles until your body acts instinctively. In combat, every second counts. Perfect your techniques, and incorporate your elemental abilities into your attacks. Liam, Nero¡ªyour last strikes used elemental enchantment, but you need to apply it consistently across all your attacks, not just as a finishing move. "Kail, from what I observed, you haven¡¯t yet integrated your element into your attacks. For now, learn from Liam¡¯s example." "Understood, "I replied. "If you have any questions, I¡¯ll be in the next room. Train as much as you can; all the equipment here is at your disposal. If you want to organize a duel, inform me first." We gave a short nod in acknowledgment. Satisfied, Mr. Ronald exited through a nearby door that led to the locker room. The three of us remained behind to continue our training. "So, it looks like I¡¯ll need your help with this," I said, turning to Nero and Liam. "Sure," Nero replied. "What do you need help with?" Liam asked. "I don¡¯t fully understand how to properly use the element in my attacks," I admitted. "Nobody does at first," Liam responded confidently. "It¡¯s something personal¡ªan individual process for everyone." "Exactly," Nero added. "Focus on controlling your element and making your movements precise. Over time, you¡¯ll figure out how to incorporate it naturally." "Precise movements? What kind of movements, exactly?" "Each of us has a unique fighting style," Liam explained. "For me, it¡¯s all about quick, short movements with a rapid tempo. Nero¡¯s style, on the other hand, adapts and shifts tempo depending on the situation. In essence, we both maintain the foundational principles of our martial arts, but we shape them to fit our strengths." Hearing Liam¡¯s explanation sparked a realization in me. Cyclone¡¯s Embrace is based on gradually increasing the tempo¡ªnot instantaneously, but over time. It¡¯s similar to my archery technique, where the arrow gains its greatest impact not upon release, but after it travels a certain distance. Or my breathing technique, which incrementally increases the flow of aether and the speed of my circuit with each stage. Yet, when it comes to close combat, I¡¯ve been starting with bursts of energy instead of building up. Perhaps that¡¯s a remnant of my past training. Understanding this, I headed toward a punching bag on one side of the gym and began a series of attacks against it. I started with a simple jab, nudging the bag slightly forward. I waited for it to swing back into place before continuing, but with each strike, my speed increased. The punches came faster and faster, leaving the bag no time to settle. My attacks flowed continuously¡ªstraight punches, uppercuts, and hooks¡ªeach landing successfully. I need to activate my circuit, I thought. Pausing briefly to steady my breathing, I activated my technique. Breathing Technique: Tempest Flow (4 ¡î) Stage 1: Wind Circulation As mana enveloped my body, I resumed my assault. The punches now had a significantly stronger impact. The small disconnect I¡¯d felt between ManaVentis and my movements disappeared entirely. My strikes became more fluid and coordinated, a seamless blend of speed and precision. As I reached the limit of my attack speed, something clicked. My left fist, mid-strike, suddenly accelerated, aided by a wind current generated from my aether. When it connected with the punching bag, the impact was followed by a powerful flow of wind, amplifying the force of my attack. Finally! I thought, exhilarated. After half an hour of relentless effort, I¡¯d managed to incorporate wind into my attack successfully. It had happened only once and only when I reached my peak speed. Yet, I was certain that speed alone wasn¡¯t the key to activation¡ªit was about aligning my attack style with the essence of my martial arts. Taking a moment to observe the gym, I noticed Nero training on wooden dummies. His movements alternated fluidly between palm strikes and punches, adapting seamlessly to each new angle of attack. Meanwhile, Liam practiced with a pair of weighted rims, focusing on his speed and control. Seeing them deeply engaged, I returned to "terrorizing" the punching bag. Over the next 2¨C3 hours, we continued our training, occasionally switching between different equipment. Finally, we decided to call it a day and headed to Mr. Ronald¡¯s office to inform him.Stolen story; please report. "Good work today. I¡¯ll see you next time," he said as we left. On our way back home, we spotted someone from a distance¡ªa girl who was impossible to miss. Elysia Luxford, a representative of one of the major clans, stood out with her presence. At that moment, I heard Nero mutter under his breath, "Ahhh, do you think it¡¯s too late to run away now?" Nero muttered. "Why?" I asked, curious but wary of his sudden shift in tone. "She¡¯s... very hard to understand," he replied cryptically. Liam chimed in with a tired expression, though it was hard to tell if it was from training or the topic at hand. "Yeah. Good luck dealing with her." Confidently, I said, "Then that¡¯s none of my concern." I was ready to turn and take a different path, avoiding whatever this situation was, but before I could make my escape, Liam¡¯s hand clamped down on my shoulder, firmly stopping me in my tracks. "Oh no, you¡¯re not getting out of this one," he said with an unsettling grin. "But you said it¡¯s fine if I don¡¯t want to get involved in these... social situations," I argued, hoping to slip away. "True, but this is different. She has no connection to Cindercrest whatsoever, so you¡¯re safe. Plus, she¡¯s a fantastic girl with a wonderful personality. Trust me, she won¡¯t drag you into any trouble." I raised an eyebrow. "Do you actually believe what you just said?" "Yes!" he exclaimed confidently, though he quickly added, "At least the first part." Realizing I had no way out, I reluctantly walked forward with them toward what I could already tell would be a headache. My "dear friends" had made sure of that. As we approached, Elysia Luxford greeted us formally, "Greetings, Mr. Frostvein, Mr. Leafblade. How was your day?" I couldn¡¯t help but smirk inwardly. And they laughed at me for introducing myself like that, discrimination! Liam, trying to maintain an air of politeness while making his exhaustion clear, replied, "Greetings, Elysia. We just finished additional training courses and are absolutely drained." Elysia nodded, her tone as formal as ever. "You¡¯re both very responsible, as expected of the future chief of a clan and the descendant of a major guild." She then turned her attention toward me, tilting her head slightly. "As for this gentleman here, whose identity I am unfamiliar with¡ªmight I trouble you for an introduction?" Her voice, calm yet oddly detached, was accompanied by a perfectly composed expression. It felt like listening to someone read a script, devoid of punctuation or natural pauses. While it wasn¡¯t entirely new to me, her delivery was unsettling enough to make my whole body tense as if I were bracing for some unseen threat. Through the discomfort, I managed to respond politely, "My name is Kail Vaylith. It¡¯s a pleasure to meet you, Miss Luxford." As soon as my introduction ended, it was as though I had disappeared from existence. She shifted her focus entirely back to Nero and Liam, diving into a discussion about lessons, training methods, and various details about their respective organizations. The more they spoke, the more visible the stress became on Nero and Liam¡¯s faces. Every new question from Elysia seemed to dig deeper, leaving them visibly drained. Meanwhile, I stood there as an uninvolved bystander, watching the conversation unfold like an audience member in the middle of a dramatic play. This is strange... but honestly, it¡¯s better this way. I thought, content to remain on the sidelines of whatever was happening. When their discussion finally ended, Elysia gave a formal military salute as a goodbye and headed back in her original direction. "What¡¯s wrong with her?" I asked once she was far enough away not to hear. "I¡¯d still like to know," Liam replied with a shrug. "I only deal with her occasionally, but Nero has to talk to her every time something is organized in his clan." "She¡¯s generally a good person," Nero added. "Hardworking as both a leader and a fighter¡ªshe¡¯ll go far. But her social skills? Absolutely abysmal. Believe it or not, she¡¯s better now. Back when we were younger, if we were alone with her, I had to sit in total silence for hours because she didn¡¯t know how to hold a conversation." Liam nodded in agreement and continued, "And don¡¯t read too much into how she reacted when you introduced yourself. She¡¯s like that with anyone who she doesn¡¯t immediately recognize." "Good," I replied. "It¡¯s better this way. I¡¯d prefer not to get involved with people from major clans anyway." Hearing this, Nero made a face as though the entire world had just collapsed around him. "You¡¯re a small exception," I added, which immediately brightened his mood. Later that evening, as I was heading back home, my watch vibrated to signal a new message. Instinctively, I thought it might be from Lia¡ªshe¡¯d promised to message me, after all¡ªbut when I checked the transmitter, it turned out to be from the academy administration. |Mr. Kail Vaylith, You have been chosen as the individual assigned the phrase "with the moon." Ensure that others do not discover this information, and good luck uncovering the phrases assigned to others.| Astrology, huh? Looks like I¡¯ll have to add that as a new hobby of mine for conversations. Keeping secrets was nothing new to me, and this mission wasn¡¯t exactly difficult¡ªjust a minor inconvenience. They didn¡¯t specify how many people were involved or even forbid disguises, masks, or false identities. With that in mind, it didn¡¯t seem too challenging. As I processed the message, my watch buzzed again. This time, I assumed it was more administrative instructions since the first message had only been sent 30 seconds ago. But when I checked, it wasn¡¯t from the administration¡ªit was from Lia. Why was I waiting for this? Why her? What¡¯s wrong with me? The more I thought about Lia, the unclearer my emotions became. And yet, the idea of cutting ties with her¡ªno matter how fleeting or hypothetical¡ªmade my chest ache. It wasn¡¯t physical pain, but it was real enough for me to dismiss the thought entirely as if this was my stupidest thought ever. |Lia| Hello, how was your day? The moment I read her message, every other thought vanished. My mind narrowed to a single focus: imagining Lia typing those words, waiting for my response. Without hesitation, I plunged into the conversation, exchanging words with her on topics that ranged from profound to utterly mundane. Each question she asked felt genuine, and not once did I suspect any hidden motives or attempts to manipulate me. I answered her honestly, almost instinctively, as if her words compelled an unfiltered truth. To my surprise, she never asked for anything truly significant¡ªno secret plans, no critical information. It was just simple, everyday chatter that felt inexplicably important. The conversation stretched well past sunset, carrying me into the hours I typically reserved for meditation. When it finally ended, I set down my watch and stared at the dimming sky. ¡°What the hell is happening to me?¡± I muttered, feeling an unfamiliar tangle of emotions that refused to settle. Chapter 41 - lack of time It can be said that I managed to establish a weekly regimen: Morning training with Liam and Nero Lessons from 8 AM to 3 PM Additional courses: three in Archery, three in Unarmed Combat, and one in Studies of Breathing Techniques Ending the day with meditation This was my intended schedule for the week. But, as with most plans, reality wasn¡¯t always ideal. September 6th Today was supposed to be an archery-focused day according to my initial plan. However, during our lesson, Mr. Michael announced that our points-based competition would take place after sunset. Those assigned the role of prey, myself included, were given an opportunity to camouflage and hide better, but we also had to hunt at least one seeker and steal their flag to avoid losing the points we¡¯d accumulated. For me, this competition was important. In the previous lesson, where I had been a seeker, I managed to earn 30 points. Unfortunately, Liam had lost his accumulated points then, so I knew he would likely be targeting me this time¡ªmy points were exactly what he needed to catch up. During the regular part of the lesson, we were given two missions to complete. These missions varied in nature: Some involved finding medicinal plants or objects without precise locations, adding a layer of difficulty. For those using ranged weapons, the tasks required hitting specific dummies scattered across the territory. These dummies were nearly identical, with only small symbols marking the correct targets. Their positions changed daily, making detection harder. The real challenge, however, was time. Each student was required to complete both missions within an hour. The second mission could only be received after completing the first, meaning success often depended on luck. Liam had luck on his side today. His first mission target was only 1 km from the start, allowing him to finish both tasks with a final time of 35 minutes and 46 seconds. My luck wasn¡¯t as good, but I still managed a respectable 39 minutes and 21 seconds. These were considered strong results, given the record time of 30 minutes set by a first-year student in previous years. Lunaris, on the other hand, wasn¡¯t so fortunate. Her time exceeded 45 minutes, which was considered quite poor¡ªespecially for someone from a major clan. The remainder of the lesson was spent on theory and analysis of our performances. With three hours remaining until the start of the hunt where I¡¯d play the role of prey, I had a busy schedule ahead: Train at the dojo for at least two hours Pick up supplies and bring them back to my room Find a suitable location to set a trap for the competition Finally, once I returned to my room, I¡¯d have to decide whether to prioritize meditation or sleep. As soon as the professor announced we were free, I sprinted to the Archery Courses. Time was tight, and every second counted. Arriving at the dojo, I quickly removed my shoes and headed straight to the archery area. Once there, I positioned myself, stabilized my breathing, and prepared to activate my circuit. Out of habit, I glanced at the chair where Mr. Karlos usually sat to observe my training¡ªand, of course, he was already there. I could swear he hadn¡¯t been there when I entered. He''s definitely not a spirit? It¡¯s just impossible for someone to never show even the slightest sign of movement or life. "Hello," I greeted him, ignoring the unease his presence always brought me. "Hello," he replied, his voice as monotone as ever. His eyes¡ªlifeless, tired, and intimidating¡ªseemed to pierce right through me. I turned back to my training, pushing away the discomfort. Today''s focus was elemental archery. Unlike before, I knew that simply commanding the element wouldn¡¯t work. The movements mattered just as much as the intent. Grabbing a Ground Quiver full of arrows, I placed it within easy reach and activated my circuit. Let¡¯s start slow, I thought.Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit. With practiced ease, I nocked an arrow, drew the bowstring, and released once it reached optimal tension. My eyes stayed locked on the target as the arrow flew. No sooner had it landed than another arrow was ready, the rhythm of my movements increasing gradually. As I continued, something began to shift. My hand, guided by my aether, felt a new sensation. The arrow I had just nocked began to glow faintly, surrounded by a swirling green wind formed from my aether. When I released it, the arrow shot forward with far greater speed than any of its predecessors. But that wasn¡¯t the most surprising part. I watched in awe as wind currents seemed to converge toward the arrow, as though it were a magnet pulling them in. These currents amplified its speed, propelling it faster than I thought possible. The arrow pierced the target cleanly and continued through, embedding itself in the wall behind it¡ªa feat none of my previous arrows had achieved, as they had only ever sunk halfway into the target. I was about to take a well-deserved break when Mr. Karlos''s calm yet commanding voice interrupted me. "Continue," he said, "and memorize the sensation of how your hand moves. Only now are you starting to learn what it means to shoot a bow." In real fights, the most important attack is the first one¡ªno one will give me time to stabilize my tempo. I grabbed another arrow, but this time, the element didn¡¯t appear. The same happened with the next three shots. Finally, on the fourth attempt, the green wind once again wrapped around the arrow as I released it. Concentrate. What do I feel? What exactly is changing? I focused on my senses without taking my eyes off the target. I felt the wooden floor beneath me, the steady grip of the bow in my left hand, the tension of the bowstring in my right. The cold air pressed against my skin¡ªa stark contrast to the warmth of my hearts, which beat in unison. My aether flowed steadily through my arteries, circulating and wrapping around my body, creating that familiar, protective aura. As I nocked another arrow, wrapped once more by the green wind, I noticed a faint yet undeniable sensation. It was weak at first, but once I recognized it, it became obvious. The element is formed from my aether at the surface and the atmospheric aether that I cannot directly control. I realized that the formation of the element was a combination of natural phenomena and the will of my own aether. The key was balance. While my aether interacted with the atmospheric aether, it could not merge too strongly with the natural forces, or it would dissipate entirely. This discovery highlighted the fragile yet controllable nature of elemental aether. Once I understood this principle, my arrows wrapped in the green wind became more consistent. Only occasionally did an arrow fail to produce the phenomenon. Mr. Karlos¡¯s calm, steady voice cut through my thoughts. "Now try using the technique." I grabbed a new arrow and began charging it with aether. As I drew the bowstring, I tried to maintain the technique, but the tempo I had so carefully honed fell apart. The element didn¡¯t appear. Again and again, I attempted to combine the technique with the element, but it eluded me. The added step of charging the arrow with aether slowed my pace, making me less efficient. Each time, it took one to two extra seconds to fully prepare the arrow for the technique. Mr. Karlos¡¯s voice rang out again, breaking my frustration. "Why don¡¯t you start charging the arrow with aether immediately, before you nock it?" Yes, that would be better, I thought. "I¡¯ll try now," I said aloud. The issue stemmed from the fact that the arteries in my right hand are missing compared to my left, making it less efficient for channeling aether. Because of this, I¡¯d grown used to charging the arrows only after I had positioned them on the bow. With this adjustment, I prepared to find a new rhythm¡ªone where the aether and element could flow seamlessly into my movements. As I placed my right hand on a new arrow and attempted to transfer aether into it, something unexpected happened. The moment a small amount of aether entered the arrow, the ManaVentis surrounding my hand disappeared. The charged aether dissipated entirely as I lost control over it. I stopped, frowning. That''s not good. "You don¡¯t have aetheric arteries in your right hand, do you?" Mr. Karlos asked in his usual calm voice. "Yes," I admitted. "Then you won¡¯t be able to channel aether into objects with your right hand, unfortunately." "But ManaVentis still forms around it," I pointed out. "Even if it¡¯s weaker compared to other parts of my body." "It forms because of the aether being emitted from pores in other areas of your body," he explained. "However, when you attempt to channel that aether into an object, it dissipates. Without its own pores to regenerate the used aether, and because it takes time for aether from other regions to flow there, your control collapses. For now, stick to using your left hand to channel aether and focus on maintaining a steady tempo." I nodded, processing his advice. As I turned back to the archery range, I noticed the sky growing dimmer. Checking the time, I realized I only had 30 minutes left before the Hunt for Points event began. "I have to go. We have lessons later today," I said. "Alright," Mr. Karlos replied. "Until next time." Quickly, I put my shoes back on and made my way to the lesson area. When I arrived, I saw a group of people warming up. They were part of the seekers¡¯ group. A little further away stood Mr. Michael, observing them. I approached him directly. "Why are you still here? You only have 15 minutes before they start looking for you," he said, raising an eyebrow. "I got held back a bit in class," I explained. "Sure," he replied dismissively, gesturing toward a collection of tools laid out nearby¡ªropes, knives, and other basic supplies. "Take what you need for the trap and head out quickly," he instructed. "I understand," I said with a nod. I selected a length of rope, a knife, and a bracelet¡ªstandard issue for this activity. This time, we weren¡¯t allowed to bring weapons. With the tools in hand, I sprinted toward the forest, knowing I had limited time to prepare for the hunt. Chapter 42 - tears are strong As I headed into the forest, I felt the distinct sensation of being watched. It was logical¡ªmy starting position left me at a disadvantage, with minimal time and limited materials. However, what they didn¡¯t know was the small detail that I had my head armor activated. For a first-year student to have this component active was extremely rare. Some would even call it a waste of time, as it didn¡¯t enhance physical abilities like other armor components might. Instead, it provided sensory boosts¡ªan ability often underestimated but invaluable in situations like this, where reduced visibility made heightened senses critical. Once I had put a good distance between myself and the starting area, I activated my armor: Mana Armis: Left Foot + Hand + Right Shoulder + Head ¨C 2nd Form Condensation. My speed increased instantly, though this form left faint trails of aether in my wake¡ªsomething that could be used to track me. For the moment, this wasn¡¯t a concern. When I had traveled far enough, I deactivated the armor. However, instead of interrupting the circuit entirely, I expelled the aether outward from all the components except for the head armor, which I kept active. This created a wide zone saturated with traces of my aether, blending with the atmospheric aether to create false trails. Satisfied with my diversion, I found a small cave surrounded by stones and hid myself inside. There, I focused on reducing all sensory activity except for my hearing, which I sharpened to its limits. After several minutes, as I had anticipated, about fifteen people arrived in the area, following the false trails I had left. When they reached the zone of aether dispersion, they stopped to deliberate, deciding who would search in which direction. Based on the weight and rhythm of their steps, I estimated that seven of them turned back, deeming me not worth their time. A group of three headed forward, another group of four veered to the right, and one person stayed behind, carefully inspecting the area. I felt confident in my ability to hide my tracks, so I was certain the remaining person hadn¡¯t pinpointed my exact location. But then, I heard it¡ªa soft, almost imperceptible voice. If not for my head armor, I wouldn¡¯t have caught it. "He¡¯s still here." Wow, she¡¯s good, I thought. Still, I was convinced she wasn¡¯t entirely sure of my position. Her movements were deliberate, her steps measured, as she analyzed the area. I remained completely motionless, careful not to make even the slightest sound. My only movement was the steady rhythm of my breathing. She continued to inspect the area, moving closer with each step. Her next destination was clear¡ªshe was heading toward the rocks where I was hiding. Each step felt heavier, louder, until the final step reverberated like an explosion in my ears. She stopped. "This is just a waste of time," she said suddenly, her voice breaking through my tense focus like a splash of cold water, snapping me back to my senses. She turned abruptly and walked away, her steps quick and deliberate. I waited, listening, until her movements faded into near silence before emerging from my hiding spot. "You¡¯re a good scout, Luna," I murmured to myself, impressed by her skill. I recognized the voice, but I wasn¡¯t entirely sure. The last time I had heard it was a few years ago. However, the distinct sound of her footsteps, which grew louder with each step due to the weight of her weapon, confirmed my assumption. Now that I¡¯ve escaped being the prey, I need to find a more appropriate role. Rather than wandering aimlessly, I decided to follow the tracks left behind by the hunters pursuing me. They had offered them up without any attempt to conceal them¡ªperhaps thinking their prey wouldn¡¯t dare to follow. Within minutes, the group came into view. Now, I had to decide how to retrieve one of the tags attached to their pants without touching any part of their bodies. Any physical contact would count as a loss for me. Two boys and a girl walked together, their weapons ready for any unexpected encounter. They were among the lucky ones who, in the previous lesson, had been found and left completely without points. The person responsible for this misfortune had arrived late to the current hunt for points. As soon as the event began, they¡ªalong with others¡ªhad immediately sprinted after him. "He should¡¯ve shown up by now¡ªor at least left some tracks," said the boy with the short sword strapped to his belt. "Maybe we¡¯re just unlucky. We should look for someone else," the second boy suggested. He carried a dagger tucked behind him. "Why not turn around and try another direction?" proposed the girl, gripping her bow tightly. Her quiver was strapped to her thigh, ready for quick access. ¡±It''s already too lat¡­¡± BOOM! The sound of something falling interrupted their conversation. All three turned toward the noise and saw the shadow of a figure darting quickly from one tree to another before disappearing behind the trunk. "You won¡¯t escape!" shouted Tim, the boy with the dagger. Without hesitation, he activated his Mana Armis, which coated his limbs and the forearm of his right hand. He charged toward the shadow with confidence.Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. "Tim, don¡¯t rush! This could be a trap!" called out the boy with the sword, trying to stop him. "Even if it¡¯s a trap, I¡¯ll handle it!" Tim shot back, his confidence unwavering. He continued the chase, leaving the others no choice but to follow. The boy with the sword hesitated briefly but ultimately pursued, albeit at a slower pace. The girl, who lagged behind, readied an arrow as she approached the tree where the shadow had last been seen. By the time she reached it, the boys were already ahead of her. BOOM! Another sound echoed through the forest, this time accompanied by a silhouet emerging from the distance. Startled, the girl instinctively aimed her bow at the figure while the boys prepared to engage. But when they reached their supposed target, they found only a mannequin, well-known from training sessions, with an arrow lodged in its chest and a rope tied to its waist. "It was just a distraction," Tim said, annoyed but undeterred. "Let¡¯s move further ahead." Only, they didn¡¯t know that I, already holding the plate in my hand, was heading in the completely opposite direction from what they had anticipated. In truth, my plan wasn¡¯t particularly brilliant. Observing a nearby mannequin, I tied it to a high branch and positioned it on the tree from where everything began. I dropped it down, then hoisted it back up, ensuring it stayed hidden behind the branches. As they passed below, I descended, released the branch, and, at the precise moment the girl drew her bow, I cut the thread holding the plate. By the time they realized what had happened, I had vanished. I recognized Tim, though I hadn¡¯t seen him since childhood. He was from a branch of the Cindercrest clan that specialized in scouting¡ªa fact confirmed by his black armor with red accents, signifying the use of scout-oriented martial arts combined with an Ignis constitution. It wasn¡¯t uncommon to see him wearing the Astrel Landa emblem during theoretical lessons. Due to his prominent lineage, Tim frequently clashed with allies from other clans, conflicts that sometimes escalated into violence. I¡¯d heard stories about such incidents before. It was unfortunate for me that I had tangled with him twice in the past. However, this time, he couldn¡¯t be certain that I was the one who manipulated him. Besides, it wasn¡¯t his plate I had taken but his colleague¡¯s. Now that my only task was to find a place to spend the remaining time, I deactivated the head armor. Moving at a more relaxed pace, I made my way through the forest. According to my spatial awareness, I was near the border between the forest and the abandoned city area. Inspecting the surroundings, I was suddenly hit with a sharp instinctual warning: dodge. Without hesitation, I leapt forward at an angle to the right. Midair, as I prepared to make contact with the ground, I turned to identify the source of the threat. Luna? How did you end up here? Standing before me was a girl with black hair that appeared longer in the darkness, as if the shadows clung to it, and strikingly pure purple eyes that gleamed like precious stones. She barely reached my shoulders in height, but the way she wielded a long scythe made her seem far more imposing. The weapon seemed like an extension of herself, as though she had been born with it in hand. Her purple armor, accented with black scar-like ornaments, was already activated and covered her hands, feet, and left calf. ¡°You have very good reflexes,¡± she said, offering me a compliment immediately after trying to pierce me with her scythe. ¡°Thank you, but could you tell me what you''re looking for out here?¡± I replied, barely finishing my sentence before she launched another attack. She gave me no time to rest, her movements relentless. Despite the scythe¡¯s size, which required wide, sweeping arcs, I managed to maintain distance. But Luna¡¯s attacks weren¡¯t straightforward. She mixed them with feints and elaborate spins, turning the fight into a dazzling performance meant to confuse me. Still, I managed to stay out of range. As she executed a new horizontal swing, I decided to end our confrontation. Timing my move carefully, I leapt onto the flat side of the blade, forcing it downward with my weight. Using the momentum, I propelled myself onto a nearby branch. From this elevated position, I activated my armor¡ªthis time leaving the head armor deactivated. ¡°I can assume you didn¡¯t want me to do that,¡± I said, watching Luna as she ended her attack attempts. She smoothly repositioned her scythe, spinning it once before resting it against her back, holding it casually in one hand. ¡°I tried,¡± she admitted, her tone resigned. ¡°But if you¡¯ve already managed to activate the armor, there¡¯s no chance I can catch you if you decide to run.¡± ¡°I could¡¯ve done it without the armor,¡± I replied, the faintest hint of a smirk tugging at my lips. Her expression tightened, clearly bothered by my comment. ¡°Regardless, I had to try,¡± she said with a sigh, before her eyes narrowed slightly, calculating. ¡°But I can assume you¡¯ve accumulated a large number of points.¡± Wow, her deductive abilities are sharp. I hadn¡¯t told anyone how many points I¡¯d collected, but from the whispers I¡¯d overheard and the intel Liam had shared, it was obvious I currently held the highest score. Still, for her to reach that conclusion so quickly was impressive. ¡°You overestimate me,¡± I said dismissively. ¡°Considering how many people have described being ambushed by a hooded figure wearing armor on the right shoulder,¡± she countered, ¡°who seems to appear and vanish like a ghost, I¡¯d say my assumption is accurate.¡± ¡°It was nice chatting with you,¡± I said, avoiding her remark. ¡°Now, if you¡¯ll excuse me, I need to find a place to hide.¡± As I prepared to leave and refocus on my objectives, her voice stopped me again. Unlike her earlier sharp, calculated tone, this question carried an undercurrent of hope¡ªand a trace of sadness. ¡°Does Iron Spark want to become allies with the Glacier Dominion clan?¡± She remembers me. ¡°I wouldn¡¯t know,¡± I replied flatly, keeping my expression neutral. ¡°I¡¯m not a representative of any organization.¡± ¡°But you¡¯ve been with Mr. Stoneforge since you were a child. I saw you,¡± she pressed, her voice taking on a sharper edge. I turned slightly to glance at her. The aggression in her tone hinted at frustration¡ªperhaps even desperation¡ªas if she believed she had the right to demand answers from me. ¡°I¡¯ve told you everything I know,¡± I said, my tone unwavering. ¡°If you want answers, go ask in the guild. Don¡¯t interrogate strangers.¡± I turned my back on her again, intending to leave, but out of the corner of my eye, I caught the faint shimmer of a tear forming in the corner of Luna¡¯s eye. It stopped me in my tracks. A memory surfaced, unbidden, from a childhood that brought me far more trouble than joy. The connection between us ran deeper than I wanted to acknowledge, yet it complicated things in ways I didn¡¯t care to revisit. Without turning back, I spoke quietly but firmly. ¡°My master is a war buddy of Mr. Henry¡¯s. My relationship with Liam has nothing to do with the guild or its politics.¡± Chapter 43 - routine September 20, 3108 The days have settled into a routine with the sheer amount of theory taught to us in lessons on Aether Control and History. In these courses, we learned the fundamentals of how aether mechanisms function, the contributions of those who made groundbreaking discoveries in the development of martial arts and combat methods, as well as the most memorable figures in the wars of the nations. Everything always starts because of greed. Wars have always been sparked by the pursuit of resources. This pattern persisted on Avelion, where the three races¡ªHumans, Elves, and Therianthropes¡ªeach claimed their own continent, rich in unique resources: The Human continent is abundant in minerals, with its prized resource being mithril, a metal highly conductive to aether. The Elven continent, though the smallest in size, is home to lush vegetation and the most aether-conductive wood known, Yggdrasil. The Therianthrope continent, the largest of all, teems with diverse species prized for their meat, bones, skin and organs which have various effects and are even used for equipment. Many of its territories remain unexplored The courses have brought noticeable progress. During duels with Nero and Liam, I¡¯ve begun to reach a stable tempo where my attacks can materialize elemental effects. However, my attempts to adapt to a new fighting style have left me unable to secure a victory. Archery courses are where I face the most difficulty. While I¡¯ve made observable progress in using techniques and elemental manipulation separately, combining the two remains a persistent failure. I¡¯ve tried altering my tempo to charge arrows with aether using various methods, but the results I seek continue to elude me. The courses on Breathing Techniques have become more of an excuse for my time with Lia after class. My feelings for her only deepen with each passing day. Even when we¡¯re apart, thoughts of her surface unbidden, accompanied by the constant anticipation of the next time we¡¯ll meet. Scout lessons, on the other hand, are complete chaos. Between completing missions on time and the hunt for points, the competition is fierce. Liam and I hold the top spots in both areas, with him securing first place by completing a mission in 30 minutes and 47 seconds¡ªvery close to the record. I followed in second place with a time of 31 minutes and 20 seconds. Despite our results, no one poses a real threat to me because only Liam (and possibly Luna) knows that Kail Vaylith is me because no one announced me publicly. Luna¡¯s situation, however, is deteriorating. Each day, her reputation continues to decline due to her poor performance. She has yet to break into the top 10, and her frequent appearances in the hunter groups signal that she either fails to accumulate points or consistently loses them. Astrel only worsened her reputation, one day during a theoretical lesson. When Luna approached him to discuss something, he struck her with such force that she fell to the ground. He then shouted and insulted her in front of the entire ManaArmis group.Only after he finished without giving her a glance back, he walked away, leaving her where she had fallen. None of his followers even acknowledged the incident. Luna, however, picked herself up and continued following them without a word. After that incident, the number of whispers behind Luna''s back multiplied considerably. Despite this, no one dared to say anything to her or Astrel directly, as both hailed from major clans where the disappearance of a person could be easily arranged without leaving a trace. The members of Nero''s group also chose not to intervene. To them, Luna remained their enemy, and they saw no reason to take sides in her plight. As for me, this situation had no connection to me, and I chose not to get involved either. Returning to the present, I found myself once again in the forest zone. Today, however, was a special day¡ªI had managed to accumulate 50 points. It was also the final day of the week I was supposed to keep them, and all I needed to do now was wait out the remaining time to secure my release. Everything seemed to be going smoothly. I had identified a safe area where I planned to stay hidden until the test ended. Theoretically, nothing extraordinary should have happened. Even though many of the participants had significantly improved their tracking and hiding skills during the course of the test, none had reached the level I was at now. But everything changed when I spotted a group in the distance. There were about 20 people¡ª10 walking in a row on the ground while the other 10 moved through the trees. They were heading straight in my direction, and at the center of their formation was someone I immediately recognized: Tim, fully armored and ready for confrontation. I had no choice but to run. Staying in my position would have left me with almost no chance of escape once they reached me. Without hesitation, I activated my armor and prepared to flee. At first, I didn¡¯t anticipate much difficulty¡ªafter all, they were still a considerable distance away, and with my speed, I felt confident I could evade them. But as soon as I left my hiding spot, only five people broke away from the group to chase after me. The rest maintained their pace, continuing in the same direction. Those five, however, were fast¡ªfaster than I expected. At that moment, the distance between us began to shrink.This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it. I realized I needed time to reach my peak performance with both my breathing and movement techniques. While these techniques did provide a significant boost to my speed, they required a gradual buildup. My pursuers, on the other hand, had Ignis constitutions. This meant they could achieve maximum performance the moment they activated their techniques, though their efficiency would eventually taper off after prolonged use. With each passing meter, the gap between us narrowed. The aether within me began to circulate faster, and my speed increased incrementally. My movement technique started to form its own territory, allowing me to maneuver more fluidly and cover greater distances. Despite these advantages, it still wasn¡¯t enough¡ªthe distance between us continued to shrink. By the time the gap between us was reduced to just 50 meters, separated by no more than three trees, my pursuers escalated their tactics. They began hurling projectiles at me¡ªknives, bolts, stones, anything they could throw¡ªto disrupt my path and force me to alter my course. This tactic worked, even though the projectiles from my general direction didn¡¯t entirely hinder my movement. The need to weave slightly to avoid them disrupted my tempo, but I had already reached my peak speed. Slowly, the distance between us began to widen again¡ªonly for me to notice, in the distance ahead of me, another group of people heading toward me. It became clear¡ªthey had divided into two main groups, intending to corner me in a pincer maneuver. Yet, I decided not to change direction. Instead, I charged directly at the group ahead of me. This second group consisted of five individuals as well, and their speed was equally impressive. As soon as they realized I was running straight toward them, they closed ranks and drew out nets, preparing to trap me. With every passing second, their silhouettes grew larger, more defined. Unlike the group behind me, this one didn¡¯t consist entirely of Ignis constitution users. It makes a mix, including Umbra and Ventus users. Recognizing my strategy, they began to slow down. At about 60 meters away, they came to a full stop, readying themselves to rush me when the moment was right. "Just surrender! You¡¯ve got no chance of escape!" one of them shouted. I ignored the demand, keeping my pace. The distance between us shrank rapidly¡ª50 meters, 40 meters, 30 meters, 20 meters. At just 10 meters away, they threw their nets simultaneously, forming a wall meant to completely block my path and seal my fate. Movement Technique: Wind Kingdom (4 ¡î) Second Stage: Illusionary Redirection Suddenly, two silhouettes split off from me, each veering in opposite directions¡ªone to the right and one to the left. They moved slower than my original speed, but that was intentional. I abruptly changed my trajectory, blending with one of the illusions. "Split into two groups!" one of them commanded. Two pursuers lunged toward the illusion on the right, while three went after the one on the left. As the two on the right closed in, the silhouette dissolved into the wind, vanishing completely. This left the group on the left¡ªthe one with three people¡ªnow chasing me. Among them, two had Ignis armor activated, their fiery boosts propelling them closer to me. The third wore Ventus armor, which allowed him to maintain steady speed but kept him slightly behind the others. I wasn¡¯t bothered. By now, my breathing technique had fully stabilized, and I was approaching my maximum speed. It was only a matter of seconds before I reached peak performance, ensuring no one could keep up with me. One of the Ignis users suddenly hurled a chain scythe in my direction. Movement Technique: Wind Kingdom (4 ¡î) First Stage: Territory Formation I sidestepped the weapon with ease, my movement technique letting me flow seamlessly through the air. The second Ignis user followed up by throwing a knife aimed at my back. I dodged again, the blade whizzing harmlessly past me. Little by little, the distance between me and my pursuers began to increase. However, I noticed something unexpected¡ªthe boy with the Ventus armor, who had been trailing behind earlier, suddenly overtook the others and was now the closest to me. Even though the gap between us was growing steadily, he showed no signs of slowing down. In his hands, he wielded two daggers, similar to Liam¡¯s. For a moment, he disappeared from my sight, and when he reappeared, he was in the corner of my vision¡ªon the right, mid-air, with both daggers raised above his head, ready to strike. I had seconds¡ªno, milliseconds¡ªto react. The territory wasn¡¯t fully formed yet. If I abruptly shifted my body position, inertia would send me tumbling to the ground. If I tried to block or deflect the attack, I¡¯d risk losing points. Time seemed to slow, and in that fleeting moment, my body moved on its own. The daggers, which should have slashed past my right side, were now just millimeters from me. Then, with a sharp motion, they plunged harmlessly into the ground behind me. The territory finally formed, and my speed surged. The distance between me and my pursuers began to grow once more. Did I slip? The realization struck me. The ground I had stepped on was damp, likely from the morning dew. My center of gravity, usually steady, had shifted ever so slightly due to the unexpected attack. I began to fall, but the territory, now active, helped me regain balance in an instant, allowing me to continue running without losing momentum. A vibration from my watch signaled the end of the lesson. Breathing heavily, I made my way back to the initial meeting area. I waited until the others had left, remaining behind with Liam. Once the area was clear, we headed to the warehouse where Mr. Michael usually stationed himself. Liam had also accumulated 50 points, but he still needed two more days to complete the full week. As we entered the warehouse, we saw the teacher seated at his desk, surrounded by stacks of documents. "Mr. Michael, I¡¯ve completed one week," I said as I approached his desk. The teacher nodded without looking up. "Yes, I know. From the first test, you¡¯re released with the maximum grade. In the hunt for points, you can no longer participate, and the remaining lesson time must be spent in dop-classes," he explained. "Can I finish faster?" Liam asked, clearly eager to get through the week. "You have two more days. Close them first, then do what you want but don''t forget the missions," Mr. Michael replied curtly, his tone sharper than before. "You¡¯re extremely boring, you know that?" Liam quipped with a smirk. At this, a vein on the teacher¡¯s forehead visibly began to pulse. "Get out of here!" he barked, his patience clearly at its limit. Chapter 44 - theory September 25, 3108 Sitting at a library table surrounded by books, notebooks, and my notes from lessons, I found myself deep in revision. To my right was Lia, and across from us sat Nero, Liam, and Elysia, all equally engrossed in their studies. The atmosphere was heavy with focus as the first wave of tests loomed ahead. While I wasn¡¯t too concerned about the practical exams, the theoretical ones were a different matter entirely. The library was busier than usual today, packed with first-year students from both faculties. If someone were to observe from above, the way our jackets were scattered throughout the library would make it look like a large-scale GO match. Theoretical tests, in general, aren¡¯t of critical importance, provided you pass them. However, failing them can drag you into the dreaded pit of retakes¡ªa situation notoriously difficult to recover from. Originally, my plan for the day had been to return to my room after the breathing techniques class and continue revising there. But Lia had another suggestion: to study in the library together. She argued that the theoretical lessons for first-year students were the same across both faculties, leaving me with no real counterargument. I wasn''t against it in the first place. We eventually found an empty table and began reviewing the material. Not long after, Nero showed up. Spotting me, he made a beeline for our table under the pretense of studying as well. It wasn¡¯t until he noticed Lia sitting beside me that he changed gears entirely. Suddenly, the usually modest Nero transformed into someone I hardly recognized, showering Lia with a mix of meaningful and meaningless compliments. He peppered her with questions, clearly trying to prolong their conversation. Lia¡¯s reaction, however, was uncharacteristic. She gave short, curt answers that rarely strayed beyond yes, no, I don¡¯t know, or possibly. Despite these obvious signs that she wasn¡¯t interested, Nero continued to escalate his efforts, seemingly unaware that his metaphorical vehicle of intentions lacked wheels from the start. Things returned to normal when Liam joined us at the table. I quickly shifted the conversation away from Nero and Lia, engaging Liam in a discussion about lessons for the scouts. As we talked, I continued reviewing my notes, which proved invaluable for reinforcing the material. But the calm didn¡¯t last long. A new arrival disrupted the dynamic at our table: Elysia Luxford. She appeared behind me and, without hesitation, asked if she could join us. Her mere presence brought all conversation to a halt, as she declared she needed silence to study. No one dared to argue. Nero tried to say something but was promptly silenced with a single, pointed glance from her. And so, I found myself in my current predicament. Everything had been progressing smoothly until I encountered a calculation problem involving underground caves. I had all the necessary formulas and understood the theoretical process, but midway through the problem, my calculations yielded a negative result that was impossible . "Can I ask Lia?" I glanced at Elysia, who was still engrossed in her studies, jotting down notes without pause. Then I turned to Lia, who was similarly absorbed in her material. Sliding my notebook closer to her, I waited for her to notice. When her eyes flicked to my notebook, I quickly drew a question mark next to the negative answer that had stumped me. She leaned over to examine my solution, her brow furrowing slightly in concentration. Tucking a loose strand of her white hair behind her ear, she rested her pen beneath her chin as she studied the problem. In that moment, her focused expression created an image that, in my opinion, deserved to be immortalized in history even if no one else would agree. Before I realized it, Lia had already begun correcting my solution. I had been so captivated by her face that I didn¡¯t notice her progress until she smacked me lightly on the forehead with the flat side of her pen, snapping me back to reality. "You used the formula for condensing aether too early," she explained, her tone calm but slightly amused. "You should¡¯ve started with the formula for spreading aether first, considering the number of organisms in the cave. That¡¯s where your result went wrong." As I nodded in understanding, our brief interaction seemed to draw Nero''s attention. His eyes drifted to the problem I was now finishing up, and he leaned in curiously. "Do you know how to solve it?" he asked. "To some extent, I can," I replied. By now, Liam and Elysia had also turned their attention to my notebook. My previously frustrating problem had somehow become the centerpiece of our table. "Can you explain it to me, please?" Nero pleaded. "Me too!" Liam chimed in enthusiastically. "I¡¯m also having some trouble with this," Elysia admitted, showing a rare flicker of interest in our conversation. "Of course. Where are you stuck?" I asked, ready to help. "From the very beginning¡ªthe condition," Liam admitted with far too much confidence, which earned a few chuckles. We naturally split into two groups. I explained the solution to Nero and Liam, walking them through the steps, while Lia helped Elysia. It wasn¡¯t surprising to find that Liam was struggling with nearly every topic except for historical figures, while Nero¡¯s issues lay mostly with calculations and applying formulas correctly.If you discover this narrative on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation. A few hours passed in what felt like minutes. Our impromptu review session gradually came to an end. Elysia was the first to leave, followed shortly by Liam and Nero, who apparently had an extra course together. That left just me and Lia at the table. As soon as the others were gone, Lia seemed to relax, as if a heavy weight had been lifted from her shoulders. "Everything okay? You seemed a bit on guard earlier," I asked, my voice tinged with concern. Worried? Why am I worried about her? When was the last time I felt this concerned for someone who was a stranger? Never! The thought hit me like a sharp needle piercing my heart, forcing me to shake off such ideas immediately. Lia wasn¡¯t a stranger. "Yes, everything¡¯s fine," she reassured me with a faint smile. "I tend to react that way around people I don¡¯t know well. Don¡¯t worry¡ªI don¡¯t have anything against your friends." Her voice had returned to its usual calm, measured tone, putting me at ease. Now it was time for me to focus on the topics I struggled with¡ªspecifically, the interpretation of aether theories. While I understood them to some extent, I found myself stumped by certain practical questions that required detailed explanations of the phenomena on which these theories were based. Deciding to seek advice again, I noticed that the question Lia was struggling with happened to be one I already knew the answer to. It was about the reason why the elves lost the battle on the Plain of the Winds. "Because before the fight began, humans burned all the vegetation¡ªroots and all¡ªusing flammable chemicals," I explained confidently. "Was that really enough? The elves had a much more advanced control over the elements and aether than humanity," Lia protested, frowning at my explanation. "I agree. When it comes to attack and defense using the elements at some distance, elves are unparalleled. But in close combat, we have the advantage. When the chaotic aether created by burning the vegetation disrupted their vision and orientation, it allowed us to close the distance quickly. Disoriented and overwhelmed, their only option was to retreat." "But doesn¡¯t that just make us the villains of this war? Destroying ecosystems, stealing resources, and claiming territories¡ªespecially since most of the major battles took place on the Elven continent?" Lia¡¯s voice held a mix of frustration and sadness. "Lia, in war, there¡¯s no good or bad side," I said, meeting her gaze. "There are only winners, who write history, and losers, who search for excuses to justify their defeats. That¡¯s the reality of the world we live in." Her face fell, her expression clouded with disappointment. "I don¡¯t like this reality," she muttered, leaning back in her chair. "Then become strong," I said firmly. "So strong that you can change this reality. Be the one who transforms society and reshapes the mentality of those around you. You can definitely do it. That was my dream once¡ªa dream I¡¯ll never be able to achieve. But you can. I believe in you." Lia¡¯s eyes locked onto mine, her expression softening. Slowly, I noticed her face growing redder and redder until, all at once, she lifted her hands to cover her face, blocking my view. Without a word, she hastily began gathering her things, her movements hurried and clumsy. "I... I just remembered that some friends are waiting for me. Bye!" she stammered, her voice higher-pitched than usual. Before I could respond, Lia shot out of her chair and practically sprinted toward the library exit. "What about the theories?" I called out weakly, watching as she disappeared into the distance. Her ears, as red as the setting sun, were the last thing I saw before she vanished. Why did she react like that? September 28, 3108 Today was the day of theoretical tests, so all other activities on the academy grounds were either canceled or postponed. Starting at 8 a.m., the first-year tests commenced, followed by the second and third years, respectively. Unlike regular lessons, the tests were held in a specialized block¡ªa building with numerous small offices, each designed to accommodate about 30 students. These offices were equipped with benches featuring holographic projectors, surveillance cameras, and aether detectors. Each office also had an assigned professor overseeing the process. When the time came, we were directed to our respective offices. Upon entering, I noticed that the benches resembled those from the academy''s entrance exam, though these lacked the three-sided enclosures. As soon as I sat down, the hologram on my desk lit up, displaying a single button: |START| The professor overseeing my office was the same man responsible for the Knights group. He moved steadily between the rows, monitoring students with a practiced eye. I pressed the button, and for the next two hours, I worked through a series of questions on aether control. Some were multiple-choice, while others required detailed written explanations, which I typed using a keyboard that appeared and disappeared depending on the question. One particularly challenging question presented me with a 3D hologram of a cave and asked me to calculate the maximum possible aether concentration within it. When the test concluded, my result appeared: |82%| "Not ideal, but not insufficient," I thought. Along with my score, another message appeared: |In 15 minutes, the second test will automatically begin.| I used the brief break to step outside and breathe some fresh air before returning to complete the second test. The next session was slightly shorter, taking me only an hour and a half. When it ended, my result popped up: |87%| A slight improvement, though nothing extraordinary that would draw undue attention. Exiting the room, I was greeted by a range of emotions from the other students in the hallway. Some were overjoyed at passing their tests, relieved to have escaped the dreaded possibility of retakes. Others, however, were visibly disappointed or even tearful, having failed to achieve the required 50% score. Just as I began contemplating heading back to my dormitory since I had no other plans for the day I checked my watch, which until now was on silent mode. |Lia| -Are you finished? -How was it? -I got 100% on both. -I¡¯m near the entrance to the park. Come here when you¡¯re done. "It seems I have some mandatory occupation after all," I muttered to myself, smiling faintly. Without much thought, my feet carried me in the direction of the park, as if on autopilot, toward the person who means absolutely nothing to me. Absolutely nothing. I guarantee. ...Well, maybe something. But only a little. Chapter 45 - practical September 27, 3108 Archery Dojo I was surrounded by absolute darkness. Beyond five meters, I couldn¡¯t see a thing. Despite that, my arrow was already nocked, my muscles taut and ready for action. In the distance, about 50 meters away, a faint white light flickered into existence. It was dim but unmistakable against the oppressive blackness. Without hesitation, I drew the bowstring, locked onto the light, and released. The arrow soared with remarkable speed, untouched by any enchantment or reinforcement. Even as the first arrow flew, I didn¡¯t pause. My right hand was already reaching for another arrow, fluidly preparing for the next shot. This time, a new light appeared¡ªfainter, farther, somewhere around 130 meters away. My response was instinctive: aim, release. Woosh. The arrow sped through the darkness toward its target. As the second arrow found its mark, three more lights ignited simultaneously, scattered at the same distance but in different directions. My eyes immediately fixed on them, one after another. Wasting no time, I released another arrow with a swift, practiced motion. My movements were seamless, the bowstring barely resting before being drawn again. Then, five lights appeared at once, each at varying distances. The closest was around 60 meters, the furthest nearly 300 meters away. Now I was pushed to my limits. Each action needed to be precise and rapid¡ªno wasted movements, no hesitation. My aim had to be instantaneous, and the arrows had to fly at maximum speed. As I drew back the bowstring, I felt a shift in the aether surrounding me. The aether seemed to respond to my effort, wrapping itself around the arrow. A vibrant green wind-like aura encased it, amplifying its power. Woosh. The arrow tore through the air, covering the vast distance in the blink of an eye before striking its target. Next, I muttered under my breath, maintaining the same unwavering focus. One by one, I struck the lights as they appeared, relentless in my pursuit. The dojo was soon engulfed in darkness once more, the faint glows extinguished, leaving only silence. But as I relaxed my grip on the bow, I couldn¡¯t ignore the truth. ¡°Only 5... even after all this time,¡± I murmured, frustration tingling in my chest. I managed to manifest the element in only five arrows I fired at what I considered my current maximum effort. "Your result is not ideal, but you are certainly talented in archery," Mr. Karlos said. His voice came from behind me, but in the darkness, it was impossible to pinpoint his exact location. The roof of the shooting area began to shift, the two halves retracting to let in the fading light of the setting sun. As the light filled the space, my targets came into view¡ªmannequins positioned at varying distances. Most bore arrows embedded in their critical zones: legs, arms, chest, abdomen, and head. However, two stood untouched, the arrows meant for them stuck in the ground nearby. "You hit eight out of ten mannequins. On average, the time between the appearance of the target and the arrow¡¯s impact did not exceed two seconds. This is a good result¡ªnearly ideal. However, you still need to improve your control of the element. Your grade is B+," Mr. Karlos explained with his usual emotionless tone. "Thank you for the evaluation," I replied, gathering my arrows and heading toward the equipment rack. With evening approaching, I knew it was time to return to my quarters. Tomorrow promised another test, possibly even harder than this one. September 28, 3108 Me, Liam, and Nero already in our heavy training gear. We were doing light stretches and warm-up exercises, preparing ourselves for the day''s challenge. Last week, Mr. Ronald had announced a test for today¡ªa small tournament among the three of us. "Hello, guys," Mr. Ronald greeted us as he entered, holding the door open. "Good morning," we replied in unison. "Starting today, someone new will be joining your training sessions. She transferred here after she closed her previous course," Mr. Ronald said, stepping aside to allow the newcomer to enter. "Elysia?" Liam blurted out, his voice tinged with surprise as he recognized her. "It''s nice to see you again," Elysia said with a small bow. Mr. Ronald glanced between us, noting our reactions. "It seems you already know each other. Even better. Elysia, grab your equipment from the locker room, and the four of you can begin shortly." As Elysia headed to the locker room, Liam turned to Nero with a puzzled expression. "Did you tell her about this course?" he asked. "I told her I was training under Mr. Ronald, but nothing more than that! I¡¯m as surprised as you are," Nero replied defensively, raising his hands. Curiosity got the better of me, so I turned to Mr. Ronald. "Professor, what did you mean when you said she closed a course?" "She completed all the requirements set by her previous instructor, so he released her from the lessons," Mr. Ronald explained casually. Liam¡¯s curiosity flared. "What do we have to do to close this course?" Mr. Ronald chuckled deeply. "HoHoHo! Feeling confident, are we? It¡¯s simple you just have to defeat me in the ring. Of course, I¡¯ll be using both element control and armor." The memory of being flung into the ring''s walls by him during a sparring session without him using any enhancements was still fresh in our minds. The mere thought of facing him at full strength sent shivers down our spines. "You want to give it a try?" Mr. Ronald asked, his tone half-taunting, half-serious. "N-no, no! I was just curious!" Liam stammered, quickly stepping back a few steps. "That¡¯s what I thought," Mr. Ronald said with a grin. Then, his tone turned firm. "Enough chatter. Start your duels already!" Nero and Liam stood five meters apart in the ring, their postures tense with anticipation. In the middle stood Mr. Ronald, serving as the referee. He raised one hand high in the air. "Start!" he declared, swiftly bringing his hand down to signal the beginning of the match. Liam immediately surged forward, closing the distance between them. However, unlike his previous duels, his attacks were more measured¡ªquick jabs and low kicks aimed at destabilizing Nero''s rhythm and balance.A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation. Nero, unshaken, focused on deflecting Liam¡¯s strikes with precise movements. As Liam launched another low kick, Nero stepped back to the minimum distance required to evade the attack. In the same fluid motion, Nero pivoted and countered with a strike aimed at Liam¡¯s abdomen. His right fist surged forward, encased in a blue aura resembling flowing water. Sensing the danger, Liam made a quick decision. Instead of regaining his balance after his missed attack, he leaned further away, allowing Nero''s strike to miss him completely. Realizing his opponent had moved out of range, Nero let the blue aura around his fist dissipate, but he didn¡¯t stop there. His right leg shot forward in a swift follow-up, targeting Liam¡¯s torso as he continued to fall. Liam acted quickly, planting his foot firmly on the ground to regain stability. Using his newfound balance, he launched a counterattack¡ªhis right fist aimed directly at Nero¡¯s chin. The punch was lightning fast, propelled by a swirling wind that wrapped around his fist, accelerating its speed. Nero reacted instantly. His striking hand, now lacking momentum, shifted into a relaxed, open palm. As Liam¡¯s wind-imbued punch closed in, Nero transmitted an impulse through his body, ducking sharply to avoid the attack. Simultaneously, Nero¡¯s open palm made contact with Liam¡¯s left shoulder. In that moment, his hand seemed to transform into an alabaster snake, sliding smoothly down Liam¡¯s arm, across his torso, and coiling around his neck. Nero¡¯s movements became increasingly fluid, his body shifting with an almost liquid-like grace as he maneuvered behind Liam. With a final, decisive motion, Nero brought Liam to the ground. Liam was completely immobilized, Nero¡¯s limbs wrapped tightly around his neck and abdomen. The grip intensified, restricting Liam¡¯s ability to breathe. Desperate, Liam attempted to free himself by landing punches on Nero¡¯s side, but his strikes had little effect. His face began to turn blue as the lack of oxygen took hold. Mr. Ronald immediately intervened. "Stop! Nero is the winner!" he declared with authority. At the command, Nero released Liam and stepped back, allowing his opponent to catch his breath. The duel was over, with Nero emerging as the clear victor. As Mr. Ronald¡¯s verdict echoed through the room, Nero released his grip on Liam, who immediately fell to his knees, coughing and gasping for air after the intense chokehold. "Man, are you made of liquid or did they just remove a few of your bones when they built you?" Liam grumbled, his voice laced with irritation. Nero smirked, clearly enjoying the moment. "Nah, I¡¯ve always been better than you," he said, his tone teasing and deliberately provocative. Liam glared but chose not to respond further. He climbed out of the ring, muttering under his breath as he walked away. "Do you need a moment to rest, or can we continue immediately?" Mr. Ronald asked Nero, his tone professional but firm. Nero stretched briefly, then shrugged. "I¡¯m fine. Let¡¯s continue now." I stepped into the ring, taking Liam¡¯s place. Mr. Ronald scanned both of us, his eyes seeking confirmation of our readiness. We each gave a small nod. "Start!" he commanded, signaling the beginning of our match. I activated my circuit, energy surging through me, but unlike Liam, I didn¡¯t rush into the fight. Instead, I adopted a relaxed stance, carefully gauging Nero¡¯s movements. Nero mirrored my approach, showing no urgency to close the gap. I can¡¯t let him get too close, I thought. At a distance, I can strike effectively, but if he closes in, I¡¯ll lose my advantage. Nero began his advance, his movements deliberate and almost eerie, as if his feet were gliding across the floor. Suddenly, he lunged forward, his left fist aiming for my chin. I leaned back just enough to dodge the strike, staying calm and focused. But Nero wasn¡¯t finished. He followed up with a series of quick jabs from his right hand. I deflected the attacks one by one, staying just out of reach. Then he transitioned into a kick aimed at my midsection, forcing me to retreat further. He pressed on, relentless in his assault. A barrage of punches followed, one after the other, forcing me to block and defend rather than counter. With no time to think, I found myself backed into the edge of the ring, the net pressing against my back. Nero¡¯s final strike came in the form of an uppercut, his right hand enveloped in a water-like aura that pulsed with power. With no room left to retreat, I raised my left arm to intercept the punch, blocking it just in time. At the same moment, I countered with a low elbow strike to Nero¡¯s head using my right arm. The attack connected. Nero staggered back, his assault momentarily halted as he recovered. Recognizing my opportunity, I advanced. Before Nero could fully regain his balance, I unleashed a series of quick jabs aimed at his head. Though most were blocked, I managed to follow up with a strike to his left leg, which he hadn¡¯t yet withdrawn. The blow landed, though it lacked the power to destabilize him completely. Still, Nero grimaced slightly, and I pressed my advantage. I continued attacking, forcing him onto the defensive. His movements became slightly slower, and I noticed him favoring his left leg. I delivered a punch from the right, which he blocked, but his defense was shaky. Spotting an opening, I shifted my focus and aimed a strike at his liver on his left side. ¡°Urgh!¡± Nero grunted, visibly recoiling from the pain. His defense faltered further, leaving his right side open for a follow-up attack. I capitalized on this, landing another punch. Even though it was blocked, the impact forced him to stagger again. But Nero wasn¡¯t one to give in easily. Despite the pain, he pushed back with a powerful palm strike to my chest, his right hand glowing faintly as it connected. The force of the blow sent me stumbling backward, creating a brief pause in the fight. Both of us stood at a distance now, breathing heavily but refusing to relent. Nero¡¯s eyes met mine, and I could see the determination burning within him. The duel wasn¡¯t over yet. As the distance between us grew, a brief pause followed. Both of us were breathing heavily, our bodies showing signs of fatigue. But the respite was short-lived. Without hesitation, we launched into another exchange of attacks. Nero struck, and I deflected. I attacked, and he dodged. Our limbs, wrapped in elemental energy, collided with fatal potential in every strike. Each movement demanded precision¡ªone mistake could end the fight. The relentless pace drained us both. My stamina was nearing its limit, and from the way Nero moved, I could tell he wasn¡¯t faring any better. The adrenaline masked the pain of the blows I¡¯d taken, but I knew they were there, demanding attention. My mind raced with calculations: Which attack is a feint? What should I block? What can I counter? How do I create an opening? In a critical exchange, my right fist clashed against Nero¡¯s right hand, the impact forcing us apart. A small gap opened between us again. This has to be the last strike, I thought. I don¡¯t have much left in me. Nero seemed to have the same idea. We both surged forward for one final impact. I aimed my right fist at his chest, pouring all my remaining strength into it. Nero advanced with both hands poised like pincers, ready to intercept. As we closed the gap, my fist collided with Nero¡¯s hands. Despite the pain visible on his face, he caught my strike, his grip unwavering. He twisted his body, aiming to grab my shoulder with his free hand. Realizing I couldn¡¯t retreat, I leaped into the air, hoping to force him to release my hand. Instead, Nero anchored himself, using the ground for support, and pulled me toward him with all his strength. I countered with a desperate knee strike aimed at his torso, but Nero deflected it with his open hand, maintaining his grip on my fist. We both fell to the ground, and Nero took advantage of the moment by pinning my hand beneath his body, leaving it with no chance of escape.His hold tightened, the pressure intensifying with every passing second. I can¡¯t lose this hand again, I thought, as his grip threatened to crush my bones. In a final act of surrender, I slapped Nero¡¯s leg with my free hand, signaling my submission. "Stop!" Mr. Ronald¡¯s voice rang out, sharp and commanding. But Nero¡¯s grip didn¡¯t loosen. If anything, it grew stronger. "Nero, stop! You¡¯ve won!" Mr. Ronald repeated, his tone urgent. When Nero still didn¡¯t respond, Mr. Ronald intervened physically, prying my hand free from Nero¡¯s relentless hold. Then we noticed that Nero collapse, his body falling limp as unconsciousness overtook him. His instincts alone had kept him fighting. Mr. Ronald crouched beside Nero, slapping his cheeks gently to bring him back to consciousness. "Ahh? What...?" Nero mumbled groggily as he came to. He staggered to his feet, confusion briefly clouding his expression before a sharp pain overtook him. "Ahhhh!" Nero cried out, clutching his side where my earlier liver strike had landed. I wasn¡¯t much better. As my body relaxed, the adrenaline faded, and the full weight of my injuries made itself known. Every ache and bruise screamed for attention, and I could barely stay upright. "You two, head to the medical center," Mr. Ronald ordered firmly. Supporting each other, Nero and I draped our arms over one another¡¯s shoulders. Neither of us could trust our legs to carry us the full distance without giving out. "Good fight," Liam called as we exited the ring. I glanced up at him, noticing Elysia standing beside him. Her expression was one of pure astonishment, her wide eyes shifting between Nero and me. Is my face covered in blood or something? I wondered, my exhaustion clouding my ability to process anything else. Then Nero muttered, "instead of commenting, maybe help us get to the medical center." Chapter 46 - academy buffs September 30, 3108 Neither Nero nor I suffered any serious trauma, and after receiving some medicine and compresses for our bruises, we were discharged. By the time we returned to the gym, the duel between Liam and Elysia had already ended, with Liam emerging as the victor. However, he looked far more battered than her, with nearly half of his face swollen and bruised. On the 29th, I had a test in the Breathing Techniques course, though it was limited to a short speech from each student about a breathing technique that had significantly impacted history. I chose the breathing technique of Vilhelm Asanfrid, the first GrandMaster who specialized in Archery. He demonstrated that, like Knights and Tanks, those who excel with ranged weapons could also reach the rank of GrandMaster. Lia opted to discuss the first breathing technique derived from the methods of the elves, NatureUnity 1¡î. Though it had many adverse effects on the human body, it served as the foundation for all subsequent techniques used today. With these, I completed all the first tests: | Kail Vaylith | | Specialty: Mana Armis | Rank: 601 | Age: 17 |
Attribute
Power C+
Endurance B-
Speed A-
Resistance D+
Aether Output B-
Skill Grade
Aether Manipulation B _ _
Physical Training A _ _
History and Basic Knowledge B+ _ _
Unarmed Combat B _ _
Archery B+ _ _
Breathing Technique A _ _
Time allotted: 55 minutes Application for the assessment of physical abilities: ¡ª At least the beginning wasn¡¯t so bad. Now, I¡¯m heading to the underground floor of the dormitory, which had been closed to first-year students until now. Only after completing the first tests was it opened to us. One of the most valuable parts of Altgard Academy are the aether collection chambers. These chambers are so rare and expensive that possessing just one is enough to establish a small clan. Of course, creating one is no easy feat. In addition to the specialized materials required to facilitate entry, sustain the chamber, and safely vent gases and aether, it also necessitates a location where aether naturally accumulates. Such places are known as holy lands. At the moment, the academy''s territory is no longer considered holy land, but it once was. Thanks to advanced performance technologies, four chambers with high aether concentration were created. In atmospheric air, the concentration of aether can be found between 10% and 15%, of course, the less damaged the area is by toxins and human activity, the higher the concentration is due to vegetation and organisms. In the Black Chamber, the aether concentration reaches approximately 25%, which is accessible to all academy students. Starting at rank 200 and above, students gain access to the Purple Chamber, with a concentration of 50%. Students ranked between 199 and 50 have access to the Sky-Blue Chamber, with a 70% concentration. Finally, the most powerful chamber, the White Chamber, boasts an incredible 90% concentration¡ªa level so rare not every major clan has them. Only the academy¡¯s top students are allowed to use it. Access to these chambers is tightly regulated, especially for first-year students. Usage time is determined by grades, with access permitted between 1 PM and 10 PM. Until now, we first-years were not allowed to use them because our allotted time had not been decided. My personal time allowance is 55 minutes, which is granted daily for five consecutive days. Once this period is over, the allowance is renewed. It¡¯s now 9:30 PM. I deliberately didn¡¯t come earlier because, being the first day the basement was opened to us, it was bound to be crowded. Since the chambers are shared between both faculties, I had no interest in dealing with the inevitable confrontations. When the elevator doors opened to the -1 floor, a massive, brightly lit room made entirely of silvery metal stretched before me. Despite the late hour, the space buzzed with activity. The focus of everyone¡¯s attention was, of course, the four color-coded cubes: Black, Purple, Sky-Blue, and White. The smallest group of students was gathered near the White Cube, while the Black Cube had the largest crowd.This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. From behind the cubes, thick and thin cables snaked out, pulsating faintly with energy. I made my way toward the Black Cube, the one I was allowed to use. Around it, there were about 40 people gathered. As I approached the group, I decided to ask, "Excuse me, are all these people waiting their turn?" A boy wearing the ManaArmis faculty uniform turned to me and answered, "Not exactly. There are about 10 people waiting to enter right now. The rest of us are just here to register for another day," he said, gesturing toward an electronic terminal nearby. That¡¯s convenient, I thought. "Will the terminal work after 10 o¡¯clock?" I asked to clarify. "As far as I know, yeah. You just got here, right? You should try the aether chamber anyway¡ªno one stays inside for long today," he added. Taking his advice, I joined the line of nine people waiting to enter. From what I observed, no one stayed in the chamber for more than two minutes. Each person emerged looking utterly exhausted, clutching at the walls for support as though they¡¯d barely survived their time inside. Finally, it was my turn. I stepped up to the iron door, where a screen was mounted. As I approached, my student profile appeared on the screen, marked with the academy¡¯s emblem. Then, a message appeared: | Do you want to use your time in the Black Aether Accumulation Chamber? | | You have 55 minutes. | | YES NO | As soon as I pressed YES, the door slid seamlessly into the floor, revealing the chamber and allowing me to step inside. The room was empty and dark, its only source of illumination coming from the faint pulsations of energy radiating from the center of the floor. These pulsations traveled along pre-defined paths, glowing faintly as they extended toward the center of ceiling. The material of the cube felt like some sort of metal, though it had a texture reminiscent of glass. Despite its appearance, it wasn¡¯t slippery at all, providing a stable surface. Uuufff. I took a deep breath, filling my lungs completely. The air here was noticeably heavier than outside, but it wasn¡¯t unpleasant¡ªin fact, it felt invigorating. Settling into a meditation pose with my back straight, I took another deep breath, already directing the aether into my body using my breathing techniques. A wave of euphoria surged through me as the aether coursed into my system. My aetheric arteries seemed to rejoice, eagerly absorbing the influx of energy. But the sheer volume of aether was overwhelming¡ªthis wasn¡¯t something I could process instinctively. I had to focus on distributing it throughout my body, ensuring it didn¡¯t overwhelm me. Huff. I inhaled again, and another massive wave of aether entered my body. No! I need a faster circuit! Without hesitation, I transitioned into the Second Stage: Wind Acceleration. Though I had already moved to combat stage, I did not activate.my aetheric armor. However, my circuit quickly stabilized, and dormant skin pores across my body began functioning at full capacity. My body felt like it had finally arrived at the place it had been searching for. There was a slight pain due to the excess aether my body was expelling, but it was a small price to pay for how incredible I felt. Even ManaVentis, the vortex-like flow of energy within me, became more active, spinning faster and forming stronger whirlpools. Fuhh ¡°That¡¯s enough for today.¡± After a few minutes, I stood up, feeling refreshed and relaxed, as though I had just completed an intense yet rejuvenating massage session. Approaching the exit, the door opened automatically, flooding the chamber with bright light. The sudden change blinded me momentarily, but I quickly adjusted. The basement was almost deserted now, with only a few students lingering near the registration terminals. I walked toward the terminals, my body feeling unusually light and relaxed. However, the further I moved away from the chamber, the more discomfort I began to feel. It wasn¡¯t anything critical, but it was noticeable¡ªas if I wasn¡¯t getting enough air with each breath. The sensation wasn¡¯t unbearable, but it stirred a strong urge to return to the cube. Unfortunately, that wasn¡¯t an option anymore. A quick glance at my watch showed it was already 10:02 PM, meaning access had been restricted. When my turn at the terminal came, I checked my remaining time. The screen displayed that I had 48 minutes left. I divided the time evenly, reserving 12 minutes for each of the next four days. ¡°Those seven minutes in the chamber felt five times more effective than a full hour of regular meditation,¡± I thought to myself, marveling at the chamber''s power. October 1, 3108 "How did you like the aether accumulation chambers?" Liam asked me after our scout lesson. "It was nice," I replied, the memory of the experience still vivid in my mind. "I came out of it feeling renewed." "Really?!" he exclaimed, his face etched with exhaustion. "I felt like I was squeezed out after that session." "Maybe it¡¯s different in the other rooms, but in the black one, I felt perfectly fine," I said. "Everyone starts in the black chamber," Liam explained. "It¡¯s impossible to adapt to the others right away." "I don¡¯t know," I mused. "I¡¯d like to try the white one." "Huh? Seriously?" Liam raised an eyebrow. "As far as I know, no student can last more than five minutes in there." "Why?" I asked, curious. "I thought absorbing aether was beneficial." "It is beneficial," he clarified, "but it¡¯s also dangerous. That room is 100 times more effective than meditating outdoors, but if you can¡¯t assimilate the aether fast enough, you¡¯ll suffocate. It¡¯s like drowning underwater." "Then why does that chamber exist at all?" "It¡¯s for the teachers," Liam said. "Don¡¯t think they¡¯re here just for the salary. The conditions the academy offers are better than what some clans and most guilds can provide." "Is that the only reason your brother works here as a teacher?" I asked. "No! Our guild doesn¡¯t have resource problems. He¡¯s here because teachers can recruit students with potential into their guilds before they graduate." "But I thought your guild doesn¡¯t lack members?" "We don¡¯t lack Scouts," he admitted. "But the same can¡¯t be said for Knights and Tanks. Don¡¯t worry, though¡ªif you¡¯re interested, I¡¯ll offer you the best contract I can." "Isn¡¯t it a bit early for that?" I replied, raising an eyebrow. "Ahhh, Kail, you don¡¯t get it yet," Liam said, shaking his head. "Your abilities are already better than most Scouts who graduate from other academies. People like you are rare. When you finish here, your talents will make waves, forcing many organizations to take notice. But don¡¯t worry¡ªForest Guardians will protect you from all those suitors." Liam spoke as if I had already agreed to join his guild. Before I could respond, Nero threw his arms over our shoulders, grinning broadly. "No! Kail will be my right hand in Glacier Dominion! There¡¯s no way I¡¯m leaving him to you" Nero declared, sounding like a protective father. "I actually¡ª" "Angel Warriors have excellent benefits, Kail," Elysia interrupted from my right, casually throwing another offer my way as if this was a routine occurrence. "Hey! We haven¡¯t even finished the first semester yet!" I protested, clearly indignant about the situation they were putting me in. But, of course, they completely ignored me. "Forest Guardians!" Liam declared. "No! Glacier Dominion!" Nero countered immediately. "Angel Warriors," Elysia added, her tone as confident as ever. "Why would a Scout join some Knight clan that doesn¡¯t even understand what we do?" Liam scoffed, clearly irritated. "We have a specialized Scout troop, plus we can definitely offer more resources than some," Nero retorted, his emphasis making it clear who he meant. "Even if we don¡¯t have the resources you do," Elysia chimed in smoothly, "when it comes to specialized missions for Scouts, we certainly hold our own." The three of them were locked in a verbal tug-of-war, completely ignoring my presence. How can I tell them now that I can¡¯t even join any organization. Chapter 47 - Scouts-Knights October 1, 3108 After the theoretical lessons ended, as usual, I made my way to the scout training area. On my way there, I stopped at my usual spot to wait for Liam so we could head over together. After a few days of going alone, he had given me a long and irritating monologue about social relationships and how being alone made me look even more suspicious. When I spotted him, though, he wasn¡¯t alone. Nero and Elysia were with him, along with their usual group of fans. Liam noticed me as well and gestured for me to go ahead without him, which I did without hesitation. Once I arrived at the training grounds, the crowd was much larger than I¡¯d expected. Among the attendees, I recognized people from the usual scout group as well as a significant number from the Knights group. Nero¡¯s group arrived shortly after me, followed by another group led by Astrel. ¡°As I see most of you have already gathered,¡± Mr. Michael said, appearing at his usual spot. He didn¡¯t waste any time getting started. ¡°Today, the Knights group will be joining the scout lessons. For today, the Knights group will perform the same missions the scouts complete daily. Meanwhile, the scouts will have a new mission: to prevent the Knights from fulfilling theirs. However, moving the mannequins or stealing objectives is prohibited. Instead, you are allowed to steal the plates you¡¯re all familiar with.¡± He held up the wooden plate used in the point-hunting challenges to illustrate his point. ¡°Knights, if your plate is stolen, you must return here to retrieve a new one. Completing missions without it will result in the need to repeat them. Does everyone understand?¡± A boy from the Knights group raised his hand. Once Mr. Michael gave him permission to speak, he asked, ¡°How will we locate the items we¡¯re supposed to retrieve?¡± ¡°Your bracelets will alert you when you¡¯re near the objectives,¡± Mr. Michael replied. This sparked a wave of grumbling from the scouts, who had always been forced to rely on their navigation skills without any assistance. ¡°Any more questions? If not, the scout group has a 10-minute head start,¡± Mr. Michael concluded. I felt Liam¡¯s gaze on me and turned to see him making hand signals in my direction. ¡±Gathering place, Follow me¡± Did something happen? ¡°Start!¡± Mr. Michael¡¯s voice rang out. As soon as the signal was given, the 100 members of the scout group surged into the forest, myself included. I kept my eyes on Liam as we all moved. He veered off in a different direction from everyone else, heading to the right. Curious, I followed him. Once we were far enough from the other students, Liam came to a stop, and it was just the two of us. "Did something happen?" I asked, puzzled by Liam¡¯s unusual behavior. Despite spending a lot of time together , we rarely interacted during scout lessons. "Like no, something had to happen?" he replied in his usual casual tone, which left me slightly surprised. "Then why did you call me?" "To make fun of Nero, of course!" Liam answered, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. I stared at him for a moment, trying to process the absurdity of his statement. "No." My response was short and definitive. I was already considering leaving when Liam grabbed my shoulder. "Kail, this is going to be extremely funny. I¡¯m already struggling not to laugh just thinking about the look on Nero¡¯s face when his confidence disappears!" "No thanks," I replied without hesitation, removing Liam¡¯s hand from my shoulder. "You leave me no choice, then," Liam said with a smirk. "I¡¯ll have to tell Michael that you¡¯re the person with the phrase." I froze for a moment, slowly turning back to him. "I have no idea what you¡¯re talking about¡­" "¡®With the moon comes problems in your rank,¡¯" Liam interrupted mid-sentence, quoting me. I crossed my arms over my chest, narrowing my eyes at him. "You¡¯re not going to tell Michael," I said firmly, confident in my words. "You don¡¯t know that," Liam retorted, grinning in the most infuriating way imaginable. I sighed, realizing I had no choice but to give in. "Fine. Let¡¯s move closer to the entrance. That way, we¡¯ll at least know which direction he¡¯s going to head." I didn''t think I would be blackmailed by Liam, I muttered to myself, annoyed. "That¡¯s better! And why all this resistance when, in the end, you¡¯re going to do what I want anyway?" Liam said, his grin widening. "You¡¯ve known for a long time, haven¡¯t you?" I asked, already suspecting the answer.A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation. "Probably since the third day," he admitted nonchalantly. "You seriously have nothing in common with astrology. I might¡¯ve let it slide hearing about the moon once, but three consecutive days? Yeah, no." "Does Nero know?" I continued, still bothered by the situation I found myself in. "I don¡¯t think so. I didn¡¯t tell him, and he doesn¡¯t seem like he¡¯s noticed. Even if he has, he probably just found it odd and shrugged it off." "Ahhh, okay. But you know this will work only once, right?" "It¡¯ll work more times than you think. I assure you," Liam said, sounding overly confident. I had never seen Nero so angry before. ¡°Who does this!? Seriously, when I catch you, I¡¯m going to destroy you! You rats! I PROMISE YOU THAT I WILL¡­¡± On one hand, I could understand his frustration. This was the seventh plate we had stolen from him, and the best part was that he didn¡¯t even notice when we took it. For the first three times, he only realized he had lost the plate after completing the mission. By the fifth plate, he started walking with a spear in his hand, constantly on guard. But for me and Liam, who was currently gasping for air because he didn¡¯t want to laugh out loud, it wasn¡¯t much of a challenge. We had perfected our method: one distracts, the other steals, and then we disappear before he even realizes what happened. Even when Nero started sensing our presence around the fourth time, it didn¡¯t help much. With our speed and coordination, we continued stealing the plates with ease. Now it was Nero¡¯s eighth attempt to complete the mission. I suggested to Liam that we call it a day, but he refused, claiming this would be the last time¡ªjust as he had said the previous time. Let¡¯s make your plan a little more difficult, We switched roles, with Liam now in charge of stealing the plate while I distracted Nero. A few trees ahead of Nero, I made a small noise to draw his attention. Then I moved quickly, showing a silhouette that darted in different directions to confuse him before vanishing into cover. But this time, instead of letting Liam finish the job as usual, I pulled out my bow. Take a little of your own medicine, Liam, I thought, chuckling to myself. I released an arrow, and this one hit Liam''s pants, pinning them to the ground just as he approached Nero from behind. Nero spun around, furious, catching Liam red-handed in the middle of his attempt. ¡°Hello, how are you?¡± Liam greeted with a sheepish grin. ¡°I¡¯m just going to kill you,¡± Nero said, his expression dark but now sporting a twisted smile that promised anything but mercy. For the next ten minutes, I stayed hidden, watching the chaotic scene unfold. Nero attacked Liam with every technique he could muster, while Liam darted and dodged, barely avoiding getting skewered. It¡¯s already getting dark, I thought, deciding I had better things to do than babysit these two. They¡¯ll sort it out on their own. I headed toward the exit, leaving the two troublemakers to their impromptu duel. When I arrived back, I noticed something amusing. At first, the scouts and knights had been mingled together, their groups indistinguishable. But now, they were standing in two very distinct clusters¡ªand from the sour expressions on the knights¡¯ faces, it was clear Liam wasn''t the only person who decided to make a joke. A few minutes later, Liam appeared, sporting a fresh bruise under his right eye. Without hesitation, he marched over to me, pointing an accusing finger. "Traitor!" I raised an eyebrow. "Is that what I hear from you? You¡¯re the one who dragged me into this." Liam grinned mischievously. "Hehehe, and I don¡¯t regret it at all. If I had another chance, I¡¯d do it again, 100%." "It¡¯s important you don¡¯t say that in front of him," I warned, glancing toward the forest where Nero was likely still fuming. "Because next time, you definitely won¡¯t get away alive." "If you don¡¯t betray me again, he won¡¯t even find out we did this," Liam said with mock seriousness. Nero emerged from the forest moments later, his mood visibly sour. The moment his eyes landed on Liam, who was now smiling smugly, Nero¡¯s face turned an even deeper shade of red. I could practically see the steam coming out of his ears as he struggled to maintain his composure. "I hope you all had a good time today," said Mr. Michael, stepping forward to address the group once most of the students had returned. "Tomorrow, you¡¯ll have your lesson with Mr. George, so you will head to the Knights'' area directly." The announcement shifted the mood among the students dramatically. The knights erupted into cheers, their spirits lifted instantly, while the scouts collectively groaned, their shoulders slumping. This is how wars begin, children. I thought, observing the clear divide between the two groups. While I remained indifferent to the situation, Liam and Nero had entirely different reactions. Nero¡¯s face lit up with uncharacteristic joy, while Liam visibly tensed, his smugness evaporating as he began to tremble slightly. "Kail, you¡¯re just going to let me deal with this alone?" Liam pleaded, turning to me with desperate eyes. "Absolutely," I replied without hesitation. "This one¡¯s all on you." His hope shattered instantly, leaving him looking utterly defeated. Fortunately, I had archery classes to attend today saving myself from escalating the situation tensions further in the ring. When I arrived at the dojo, Mr. Karlos greeted me with a new setup. Instead of the usual training area, the archery field was now fully covered but brightly lit. "Go to the center," Mr. Karlos instructed, pointing to a spot in the middle of the field. I followed his direction, standing in the indicated spot as he continued. "Aim only at the red objects and be ready to dodge anything that comes at you." As soon as he finished, spheres of various colors¡ªgreen, blue, black, red, and white¡ªmaterialized around me. They moved chaotically, each on its own unique trajectory, with varying speeds and sizes. I nocked my first arrow and took aim at a red sphere, striking it cleanly. Suddenly, a few of the other spheres seemed to ¡°mark¡± me as a target and began hurtling toward me at considerable speed. I was forced to dodge quickly to avoid being hit. After hitting three more red spheres in succession, Mr. Karlos¡¯s voice cut through the action. "Now, green," he instructed, signaling the next stage of the exercise. As the number of spheres flying in my direction continued to increase, and Mr. Karlos kept randomly calling out the next color I had to hit, the situation grew more and more chaotic. At one point, the spheres managed to completely surround me, leaving no room for retreat. That was the moment my training for the day came to an abrupt end. Collapsed on the lawn, I struggled to catch my breath. My lungs and throat burned from the intense workout. The sheer complexity of the exercise was overwhelming¡ªI had to dodge, aim, memorize the positions of the spheres, predict their trajectories, and keep track of my arrows. I even had to replace my quiver twice after running out of arrows. "Still more work needed on spatial orientation," Mr. Karlos remarked as I lay there, staring up at the sky. "But the start isn¡¯t bad. Pick up all the arrows on the field, and if you still want, you can shoot the bow at the regular targets." I let out a groan of exhaustion. The tests are over, but it feels like everything has only gotten harder. Chapter 48 - a team October 2, 3108 We had all gathered at the Knights'' training field¡ªa wide, flat expanse of grass divided into two main sections. One side was open and free of obstructions, while the other had about fifty duel platforms spaced roughly five meters apart. At the moment, we stood on the open side, waiting for the professor to explain how everything would proceed. Mr. George, the instructor, looked exactly as I remembered¡ªan older man, slightly hunched, with a short white beard and a bald head. Despite his appearance, not for a second did he seem frail. His very presence radiated authority and demanded respect. ¡°Khm, khm. Today¡¯s lesson will not differ much from our usual activities. Simply form teams with two scouts in each, and you may begin,¡± he said in his low, gravelly voice. Even though he spoke softly, his words carried clearly, and everyone understood the instructions. Immediately, a flurry of activity erupted as students scrambled to approach their acquaintances and secure places on teams. Unsurprisingly, Astrel and Nero became the center of attention. Both were surrounded by scouts eager to join their teams. Nero handled the situation calmly, listening to and considering each request. Astrel, on the other hand, grew increasingly irritated, his annoyance evident with each new person. Meanwhile, other teams actively sought out scouts to fill their ranks, but no one approached me. Even though I had gained some popularity among my fellow scouts, it never extended beyond our lessons together. ¡°SHUT YOUR MOUTH!¡± The sudden, grating shout rang out like metal being torn apart. It was Astrel, who, in a fit of frustration, physically shoved away those crowding around him. ¡°I don¡¯t need a bunch of cockroaches! If you want a place on my team, step onto the platform and earn it!¡± Well, that¡¯s unexpected, I thought, slightly surprised by his rational proposal. Initially, I had assumed Astrel would begrudgingly accept the scouts to silence them, but instead, he took a logical approach. ¡°The proposal is reasonable,¡± Nero agreed. ¡°I also don¡¯t want to offend anyone. Let the most skilled among you earn a spot on my team.¡± His calm response managed to soothe the overly excited group of scouts. This has nothing to do with me, I thought, turning my back on the chaotic spectacle and heading toward the quieter groups still forming teams. ¡°Kail, have you chosen a team yet?¡± The calm, steady voice with a hint of military sharpness cut through the noise. I glanced to my right and found Elysia approaching me, her usual composed demeanor intact. ¡°Not yet,¡± I replied. ¡°Good. Join my team if you¡¯re interested,¡± she said, her tone confident, her gaze fixed on me as if my answer was already decided. I assumed she¡¯d have a line of candidates, or at least a few competing for spots, I thought, slightly puzzled. ¡°Won¡¯t it be a problem for other candidates who want to join your team?¡± I asked, hesitating. ¡°No,¡± she said matter-of-factly. ¡°Most of the people from both my clan and the families that support me went straight to Nero. So there won¡¯t be any issues.¡± I hadn¡¯t realized her clan¡¯s position was that precarious, If the Duskthorn clan''s struggles stemmed from a single mistake, the Angel Warriors clan was infamous for a history of poor decisions that plagued its existence. Their repeated failures escalated to the formation of a commission that nearly stripped them of their status as one of the major clans. Only the intervention of the GlacierDominion clan¡¯s head allowed them to retain their title. ¡°Then I will gladly join your team,¡± I replied to Elysia. ¡°Great. Let me introduce you to the rest of the team.¡± Elysia led me toward the edge of the crowd, where five individuals were gathered¡ªthree girls and two boys. ¡°Did you find anyone?¡± a girl asked as she approached. She stood around 170 cm tall, with short blonde hair that was darker than Elysia¡¯s and piercing black eyes. ¡°Yes,¡± Elysia replied, gesturing toward me. ¡°This is Kail. We attend the same course, so I can vouch for his abilities.¡± She turned to introduce the others, pointing them out one by one. ¡°From left to right, this is Dain.¡± Dain was a boy slightly taller than me, around 183 cm, with golden-brown hair and dark red eyes. His broad shoulders and tired expression gave the impression he carried a heavy burden¡ªor simply hadn¡¯t slept well. ¡°Next is Avelyn.¡± Avelyn was a girl about 175 cm tall, with long fluffy brown hair and brown eyes. Her posture resembled Elysia¡¯s, but she moved with an almost ethereal grace, as if constantly stretching her body to its fullest potential. ¡°The boy leaning against the tree is Tarian.¡± Tarian was massive, likely around 2 meters tall, with a muscular and well-defined physique. His eyes were closed, and he seemed completely uninterested, possibly trying to catch some sleep amidst the noise. ¡°And finally, Lyra and Serena.¡± Lyra was the girl who had first greeted us. She bore some resemblance to Elysia, sharing her sharp features and composed demeanor. Serena, on the other hand, was the shortest of the group, standing at about 160 cm. She had striking blue eyes and a commanding presence that made it hard to ignore her. Despite her stature, she exuded a sense of authority that seemed to demand obedience. ¡°Are we not taking another scout?¡± Serena asked, her tone direct. ¡°I asked people I knew, but they all refused,¡± Elysia explained. ¡°We¡¯ll have to wait until the duels are over and choose from the remaining ones.¡±Help support creative writers by finding and reading their stories on the original site. ¡°Tsk. Useless,¡± Serena scoffed, turning her back to us and walking toward another team. She either has strong backing or she¡¯s plain reckless, I thought to myself, watching her go. ¡°Is there a problem?¡± I asked Elysia. ¡°Nothing serious,¡± she replied. ¡°The teams were formed somewhat randomly, and Serena didn¡¯t end up with the team she wanted.¡± When I looked at Serena again, she was already next to Nero, seemingly very intent on forcing a conversation. From Nero¡¯s strained expression, it was clear the dialogue wasn¡¯t pleasant to him. Nero is resisting, but I¡¯m not going to help you. ¡°Can you explain to me what we¡¯re supposed to do?¡± I asked Elysia. ¡°Yes¡ª¡± ¡°I¡¯ll explain it to you!¡± Lyra interrupted, her tone brimming with enthusiasm and a dramatic flair. Without waiting for approval, she launched into an explanation. ¡°Two armies are formed, and the captains are chosen through duels. Each captain then picks the teams that will make up their army. Once each captain has chosen 25 teams, the objective is simple: the army that eliminates 70% of the opposing army, defeats the enemy captain, or destroys the opposing base wins. Each opponent you take down earns points that contribute to your score.¡± ¡°What, besides weapons, can be used?¡± I asked. ¡°Everything you¡¯ve got¡ªarmor, elemental control, or even bombs. But the catch is, whatever you use must be created by you,¡± Lyra answered with a grin. ¡°Isn¡¯t there a risk of someone getting killed?¡± I followed up. ¡°And what if there is? Are you scared?¡± Lyra asked mockingly, her grin now tinged with mischief as she leaned in slightly, waiting for my reaction. ¡°Do you want to test that?¡± I shot back, mirroring her smile. ¡°Haha, calm down! We have safeguards,¡± Lyra said, still laughing. ¡°We wear jackets equipped with barriers. When your barrier is destroyed, the jacket turns completely red, signaling that you¡¯ve been eliminated. At that point, you¡¯re out and must leave the battlefield.¡± ¡°Does that mean this field is where everything takes place?¡± ¡°Mmm... yes, but not entirely. You¡¯ll see when it starts,¡± Lyra said cryptically, glancing toward the area where the sound of duels still echoed. ¡°It seems they¡¯re almost done.¡± Following her gaze, I noticed that Elysia had already moved away, likely in search of another member for the team. I stayed with Lyra, using the time to learn more about the previous matches. Unsurprisingly, the captains were always Nero and Astrel. At first, a few others had attempted to challenge for the position, but none had succeeded. These battles were only organized once a week, and so far, the score was tied at 1:1, with one draw. Nero¡¯s victory had been attributed to his clever strategy, which allowed him to outmaneuver Astrel¡¯s overwhelming force. On the other hand, Astrel¡¯s win came from sheer dominance¡ªhe led the vanguard himself, and his raw power shattered formations, securing a decisive victory. The draw occurred when Nero managed to hold his ground against Astrel in direct combat, causing a stalemate. The confrontation devolved into a slow grind, and the lesson ended before any significant losses could determine a winner. ¡°He¡¯s a true monster,¡± came a deep, calm voice from behind me. I turned to see Tarian, his imposing figure now standing nearby. ¡°Astrel?¡± I asked. Tarian nodded. ¡°I tried to stop him when he made his first strike. The moment my mace made contact with his sword, my jacket turned red instantly. He knocked me to the ground before I even realized what had happened.¡± It seems Astrel has become even stronger, I thought to myself, feeling the weight of Tarian¡¯s words. Since childhood, in my confrontations with Astrel, I always lost when it came to brute strength. However, I compensated with technique and greater endurance, managing to hold my own. But now, facing him had become a nightmare. ¡°Nero is the real monster,¡± Dain said, his voice calm yet resolute. ¡°Despite having weaker physical capabilities than Astrel, he still manages to constantly throw him off rhythm. And lately, Nero¡¯s been manifesting his element more frequently.¡± He had now joined our discussion, which had until this point been a quiet observation of the surrounding events. ¡°What do you think the result will be today?¡± Avelyn asked, stepping closer. She had been occupied with a hologram until now but seemed genuinely curious. Everyone in our team¡ªexcept for two absent members and one still undecided¡ªwas now engaged in a conversation about the two monsters who dominated the Knights¡¯ lessons. The group was clearly in awe of their abilities and successes. It¡¯s a good thing I¡¯m not popular. I thought this to myself, blissfully unaware of the whispers circulating about me in the Scouts¡¯ lessons. In reality, I already had both fans and rivals¡ªsome of whom were obsessively scheming to take me down. From the crowd of students, I noticed Elysia returning to us. It wasn¡¯t hard to spot her among the others; her blonde hair stood out vividly. What was harder to discern was the person walking beside her. I realized much later that she wasn¡¯t alone. Why is Luna coming toward us? As they approached, I noticed bruises on Luna¡¯s hands, which she seemed to be trying to hide, and her face bore heavier makeup than usual. Astrel is going too far. Lyra, following my gaze, also noticed Elysia ¡°Oh, Elysia, you found a per¡ª¡± Lyra¡¯s cheerful tone cut off mid-sentence when she noticed who was with her. ¡°You may already know her, but for those who don¡¯t, this is Lunaris,¡± Elysia introduced calmly, though the tension in the air was palpable. ¡°She¡¯s the Scout who will be joining our team.¡± ¡°Elysia,¡± Lyra began sharply. ¡°Yes?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sure you heard¡ªbecause everyone in the Knights group heard¡ªwhat Astrel said during the last lesson.¡± ¡°Yes, I heard him,¡± Elysia replied, her voice unshaken. ¡°Then why is she on our team?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t see why I should listen to Astrel,¡± Elysia said simply. ¡°Ely!¡± Lyra exclaimed, her frustration evident. ¡°You¡¯re not strong enough to face him!¡± ¡°That doesn¡¯t mean I have to do everything he says,¡± Elysia countered, her calm demeanor unwavering. The sudden tension left me confused. Everyone except Elysia seemed to have their gaze locked on Luna, their expressions tinged with hostility. ¡°Excuse me,¡± I finally interjected, breaking the silence. ¡°But what happened?¡± I asked, wanting to understand the situation I had inadvertently stepped into. ¡±Teacher told us during the previous lesson that we¡¯d have to include Scouts in our teams,¡± Lyra explained, her tone laced with frustration. ¡°Scouts who don¡¯t find a team will receive insufficient grades until they manage to convince someone to take them.¡± ¡°If any of you take Luna into your team, know that you won¡¯t see all your limbs intact the next day.¡± Luna¡¯s sudden interjection silenced everyone for a moment. ¡°That¡¯s what he said, when she came to meet him after lessons¡± Tarian added, his deep voice calm but serious. ¡°Don¡¯t be angry, Lunaris,¡± Dain said, breaking his earlier silence, ¡°but I don¡¯t want to stir up any unnecessary conflicts with him. I¡¯m against her joining our team.¡± ¡°It¡¯s fine,¡± Luna said, her voice low and weary. ¡°Thanks for trying, Ely.¡± She turned to leave, but Elysia reached out and firmly stopped her with a hand on her shoulder. ¡°I¡¯ll take full responsibility,¡± Elysia declared, her voice steady. ¡°If anyone tries to cause trouble for you, tell them this was entirely my initiative.¡± A hush fell over the group, even the usual noises from the other teams seeming distant for a moment. ¡°Are you serious?¡± Avelyn asked, narrowing her eyes at Elysia. ¡°Do you really think you can stop him?¡± ¡°Yes.¡± Elysia¡¯s reply was simple but unwavering. Avelyn sighed and crossed her arms. ¡°Fine, then. I¡¯m not against it.¡± ¡°I agree that Luna should be on the team,¡± I added, That¡¯s the most I can do for you ¡°You should know that if anything happens, it¡¯ll be your responsibility,¡± Dain muttered, still hesitant but reluctantly accepting the situation. ¡°Okay,¡± Tarian said, his calm demeanor unchanged. ¡°I¡¯m not against it either.¡± ¡°I still think this is a crazy choice,¡± Lyra commented, glancing between Elysia and Luna. But despite her reservations, she too gave a slight nod. And just like that, our team was finalized. Chapter 49 - luck With all the teams formed, we headed to the storage area designated for Scouts. There, I located my locker and collected my belongings. As I was leaving, I noticed that everyone was picking up a small silver disk with a slight bulge in the middle. Elysia was also heading for the exit, so I approached her to ask, "What is this?" "It''s a kind of battery that maintains the barrier around our bodies," she explained. I grabbed one as well and mimicked how Elysia attached it to the back of her jacket. The device seemed to recognize the jacket instantly, adhering to it seamlessly. Tiny holes appeared in its surface, and small plates extended outward, forming a protective field around my body. Once it completely covered the surface, the barrier turned invisible. As we regrouped, Serena appeared, her gaze instantly finding Luna. Her expression twisted into one of pure hatred, but she made no comments, instead opting to keep her maximum distance from Luna. Once everyone was gathered, the professor, Mr. George, stepped forward and addressed the crowd. "Now that all the teams are finalized, it¡¯s time for the commanders to select their teams." Nero and Astrel approached Mr. George and began the selection process, with Astrel picking first. They didn¡¯t deliberate for long, suggesting they already knew who they wanted. The process was smooth and without any overlap until it was our turn. "Elysia''s team," they both said in unison. The announcement sparked a wave of whispers among the crowd. However, the members of our team didn¡¯t flinch, their expressions unreadable. We had already accepted Luna, and with that decision, we had willingly placed a target on our backs. ¡±First, finish choosing, then we''ll sort things out with this team.¡± Mr. George interjected, clearly impatient. His words seemed to set the stage for a confrontation later. The rest of the selections proceeded with a few surprises. Eventually, it came down to two remaining teams¡ªours and another team that usually ended up with Astrel. This time, though, they were left unchosen to keep a free spot. "Ah, two teams left," Mr. George muttered, pulling a coin from his pocket. He turned to Nero. "Heads or tails?" At that moment, the tension within our team was palpable. Cold sweat broke out on nearly everyone, and Luna visibly began to tremble. Strangely, I remained calm, watching the scene unfold with a detached indifference. After a brief pause, Nero¡¯s voice broke through the silence. "Tails." His tone lacked conviction, but his face was deadly serious. The coin flew into the air, momentarily spinning from the professor''s hand. With each flip, the tension in our team grew heavier. Everyone¡¯s hands were clenched into fists, breaths quickened, and heartbeats thundered in unison. The coin landed in Mr. George''s palm, and without a moment of suspense, he announced the result. "It¡¯s heads. Astrel, Elysia''s team is yours." Astrel''s face twisted into a grimace of euphoria, the kind of expression that sent chills down your spine. Seeing it, my teammates were visibly close to panic, their faces pale and strained. Yep, luck¡¯s definitely not on my side With the result determined, the other teams dispersed to their assigned areas. Our team, however, remained frozen, still reeling from the announcement. Breaking away from the group, I decided to head toward Astrel¡¯s side. There was no use in delaying the inevitable¡ªbetter to jump into the situation and give myself time to adapt. As I walked away, I glanced back to see Elysia trying her best to motivate the team, her voice carrying reassurance despite the hysteria and anger Serena was directing at her. When we finally gathered in the area now under Astrel¡¯s absolute control, the atmosphere shifted entirely. Every glance from the other teams felt predatory, like a hunter watching its prey. Uncertainty loomed in the air, every tiny sound threatening to shatter our fragile composure. I pulled my hood further over my face and kept my gaze firmly fixed on the ground. "All commanders, gather for a strategy discussion!" One of Astrel''s assistants barked the order, and twenty-four people began moving toward a makeshift command post quickly assembled in the center of our area. It was surrounded by Astrel¡¯s guards, ensuring no interruptions. "I¡¯m heading over now," Elysia said, stepping away from us and joining the group of commanders.This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience. As soon as she disappeared behind the line of guards, the tension between the remaining team members became unbearable. The weight of it wasn¡¯t just directed at me or anyone else¡ªit was squarely aimed at Luna. Her presence radiated unease, and the hateful stares from our team were now amplified by the piercing glares of nearly everyone in the area. It wasn¡¯t just dislike¡ªit was raw, unfiltered killing intent. Luna looked miserable, her trembling hands barely able to hide the fear she felt. This won¡¯t affect me, I thought, attempting to push away the oppressive weight of the atmosphere. Still, one concern gnawed at me¡ªI needed to attract as little attention as possible. Ideally, activating my head armor would shield my identity entirely, reducing the chance of being recognized to zero. But doing so now would undoubtedly draw even more eyes toward me, and that was something I couldn¡¯t risk. Elysia emerged from the discussion, accompanied by two or three others. Her steps were steady, her expression as unreadable as ever. "What¡¯s the plan?" Lyra asked, her voice tinged with apprehension. "We¡¯ll be human shields," Elysia replied in her usual calm tone. "So¡­ we¡¯re the front line in battle?" Tarian pressed further, his worry now more evident. "Not exactly. Yes, we¡¯ll be on the front lines, but each of you will be assigned to someone in the vanguard. Your job is to defend them. You¡¯re forbidden to attack, and you can¡¯t move more than five meters away from the person you¡¯re assigned to." They¡¯ve literally chained us down, I thought bitterly, my mood darkening further. "And if the person we¡¯re assigned to is eliminated, are we free then?" I asked, trying to find any loophole in this grim arrangement. "No," Elysia said firmly. "Even then, you¡¯re not allowed to move beyond five meters from where they fell." The little motivation we had left was crushed entirely. Despair was etched onto everyone¡¯s faces, and even I felt a wave of dread creeping in. The other commanders had dispersed, Astrel among them. Now, he was heading directly toward us, flanked by his assistants. With each step he took, an oppressive discomfort seemed to swell, suffocating the air around us. His target was clear¡ªLuna. She noticed it too and instinctively began to step forward, but Elysia moved first, raising a hand to stop her. She positioned herself between Luna and Astrel, standing tall like a shield. Astrel¡¯s expression darkened immediately. "Fuck off," he commanded, his voice low but brimming with authority. "Use me as a shield¡ª" Elysia began, but before she could finish, Astrel¡¯s fist drove into her abdomen. The impact was brutal, sending her to her knees as she clutched her stomach, struggling to suppress the gag reflex that followed. "I said, fuck off," he snarled. Ignoring her entirely, Astrel grabbed Luna by the hair and began dragging her toward the front line. Her cries of pain and pleas for him to stop were met with cold indifference as he continued, his grip unrelenting. The rest of us watched in silent horror. Each of us was then approached by someone from Astrel¡¯s team. Some mimicked his methods, using violence to establish dominance. Others, as the persons responsible for Serena and Tarian, were spared the physical brutality, their assignments communicated through mere words. I wasn¡¯t so lucky. Approaching me was a familiar face¡ªTim, a scout from Astrel¡¯s team, someone I¡¯d met during my scout lessons. "Today, you won¡¯t be able to escape," he said with a smirk, his tone filled with malicious satisfaction. Tim lunged at me, his punch aiming directly for my face. His technique, however, was laughable¡ªsloppy and riddled with openings. Tilting my head slightly, I dodged his strike effortlessly. Frustration flared on his face as he tried a follow-up attack with his knee, but I redirected it with ease, causing him to lose his balance and crash to the ground. A wave of murmurs rippled through the crowd as more eyes turned toward our confrontation. Realizing the attention he was drawing, Tim scrambled to his feet, his expression dark with humiliation. "I just wanted to scare you a little," he hissed, his voice dripping with venom. "But now you¡¯ll be right in the center of everything. Don¡¯t think you¡¯ll get out of this unscathed." I didn¡¯t reply, but his words weighed heavily. Even with the barrier, if someone failed to escape the combat zone, injuries¡ªsometimes severe¡ªwere inevitable. Once an attack started, stopping it wasn¡¯t always possible, even if the target had already been eliminated. Both armies had taken their positions, roughly two kilometers apart. My team stood exactly in the first row, dead center, with Astrel towering beside us. Luna, her face pale but defiant, was next to him, a forced participant in this nightmare. Each of us held our weapons at the ready. Luna, carried none. Lyra and Elysia both wielded dual swords. Serena¡¯s steel whip hung menacingly at her side. Tarian gripped a mace, while Avelyn held her rapier with practiced precision. Din stood silently, a heavy sword resting in his left hand, its blade glinting ominously in the sunlight. Suddenly, the entire battlefield, spanning approximately five square kilometers, became encased in a transparent cube. In its center, a floating wheel appeared, its segments displaying different terrain types. The wheel spun rapidly, the sections blurring together until it finally slowed and stopped on Open Field. The ground beneath us began to shift. The once-flat terrain morphed with subtle deformations¡ªsmall mounds and dips appearing across the battlefield. The grass vanished entirely, replaced by dry, crumbling earth, a lifeless and barren expanse. The sun remained fixed overhead, its rays casting harsh shadows over the desolate land. A loud, resonating signal marked the start of the battle. From above, two glowing bars appeared¡ªone red and one blue¡ªboth at 100%, representing the health of each army. The armies began advancing toward one another, the tension palpable in the air. At the forefront were the leaders, Nero and Astrel, moving steadily toward the centerline. I, shackled to my five-meter radius around Tim, could only follow. The weight of this pointless restriction was unbearable. I was tethered to what felt like useless baggage, forced to march toward chaos while others carried out their roles freely. As the two armies closed in, the vast expanse of dry earth echoed the heavy footsteps of soldiers, the clinking of weapons, and the distant, guttural cries of determination. A storm was brewing, and we were standing directly in its path. Chapter 50 - confrontation Breathing Technique: Tempest Flow (4 ¡î) 2nd Stage: Wind Acceleration Armis Hand: Left Foot + Hand + Right Shoulder ¨C 2nd Form Condensation Everyone took a deep breath, their chests visibly expanding as their bodies prepared for the coming battle. The aether flowing through them manifested, and the armor components of each element began to materialize. Astrel''s army, dominated by Ignis users, glowed with fiery hues, while Nero''s Aqua-focused forces shimmered with fluid blues. As Nero''s army advanced, their footsteps thundered across the battlefield. Our side held position, weapons ready, preparing for the inevitable clash. I stood in the very front row, the tension palpable. Behind me, Tim hid among the bulkier Ignis and Terra users, shielding himself from the brunt of the impact. I could see it clearly¡ªif I faced this head-on, the result was obvious. I¡¯d be flattened and eliminated before even proving myself. "Row number one, prepare for the rush!" Astrel''s voice boomed, sharp and commanding. Everyone tensed, their stances firming as they braced for the first impact. Aether surged and swirled, the battlefield vibrating with raw energy. Right before contact, I''ll dodge upward, I thought, beginning to channel aether into my body. The battlefield transformed in my mind¡¯s eye as I activated the my territory, every movement and opening laid bare to my heightened senses. "Receive the attack without dodging!" Tim¡¯s voice snapped from behind me, his tone laced with condescension. The command was recorded instantly by the jacket I wore¡ªits purpose to enhance performance but also to penalize disobedience. A vein pulsed angrily on my forehead. Okay, you bastard, I thought bitterly, we¡¯ll see how this turns out. The armies collided with explosive force. The deafening sound of weapons clashing and the crackle of aether rippled through the battlefield. Waves of raw energy surged outward, making the air dense with tension. My opponent was a warrior with an Aqua constitution, wielding a heavy battle axe. He charged at me, swinging horizontally with precision and intent to cut me down in one strike. Movement Technique: Wind Kingdom (4 ¡î) 1st Stage: Territory Formation As his axe closed in, I moved. My knee, guided by my territory, shot upward, aiming directly for his chin. He managed to halt his attack, narrowly avoiding my strike. Using the momentum, I spun past him and vaulted above him. With practiced ease, I drew an arrow and nocked it, the bowstring taut as I prepared to eliminate him. Suddenly, Tim darted forward from behind the cover of his allies. He targeted the Aqua warrior, whose focus was entirely on me. Tim¡¯s sword slashed diagonally, and the strike landed cleanly. The enemy¡¯s jacket turned red, signaling his elimination. "Attract their attention, and I¡¯ll take them down," Tim declared, his voice smug and unapologetic. He had stolen my elimination point, and now he wanted to use me to boost his score further. Frustration simmered, but I had no time to react. A girl wielding a spear lunged at me. Her attack was swift and precise, the point of the spear aimed directly at my side. In a flash, I grabbed the spear mid-thrust, gripping it tightly. With a sharp pull, I yanked it toward me, disrupting her balance. Her footing faltered for just a moment¡ªenough time for me to maneuver and get back to the ground, ready to counter. Tim appeared again, and with a swift horizontal slash, he eliminated the girl who had lost her balance. His attack put him in front of me for a brief moment, drawing the enemy¡¯s attention toward him. But instead of standing his ground, he quickly retreated behind my back. "What are you doing, loser? Attack!" Tim barked, his voice brimming with mockery. "Ha ha," I muttered under my breath. Motherfucker. The pattern repeated for a while. I deflected, dodged, and disoriented the enemies in front of me with Territory Formation, while Tim exploited their blind spots, delivering finishing blows and retreating to safety. It was a humiliating dance. Together, we created a clearing in the battlefield, but as soon as space opened, more enemies rushed in to fill the gap. This time, I intentionally left an opening, forcing Tim to step forward. Predictably, he pounced on the opportunity, eliminating another opponent and adding another point to his score. However, his attack drew the attention of a nearby group. Five enemies turned toward him and began advancing. I moved closer to Tim, watching as he prepared to retreat again. Just as he started to leap backward, I grabbed him firmly by the head. BOOM! His face smashed into the ground with a satisfying impact. "How are you feeling? Are you okay? Am I protecting you well?" I asked mockingly, my voice dripping with sarcasm. Tim¡¯s jacket turned red immediately, marking his elimination. He lay motionless on the ground, likely unconscious from the force of the blow. The enemies who had been targeting Tim now shifted their focus to me. I quickly stepped back, nocking an arrow onto my bow as they advanced. Five enemies surged toward me, their footsteps pounding the battlefield. Without hesitation, they trampled over Tim¡¯s limp form, treating him like the dirt beneath their feet. Archery Technique: Tornado Archery (4 ¡î) 2nd Stage: Wind Slash I released the arrow, not aiming to hit any specific target. Instead, it flew through the group, passing between two of them at neck level. A sudden burst of aether released two razor-sharp wind blades. Before they realized what had happened, the two were eliminated, their jackets glowing red. Movement Technique: Wind Kingdom (4 ¡î) 1st Stage: Territory Formation Using my Territory, I vanished from their sight, disappearing into the chaos of the battlefield. Confused, they turned in all directions, searching for me. Before they could react, another jacket in their group turned red.The genuine version of this novel can be found on another site. Support the author by reading it there. Panic set in. They spun around, trying to locate me, but I eliminated another from behind, my movements swift and precise. I grabbed Tim by the jacket and, with no concern for subtlety, hurled him back toward our army like a ragdoll. Then, with deliberate calm, I reached for another arrow from my quiver. 1st Stage: Territory Formation I appeared directly in front of the last opponent in the group. His sword slashed toward me in a desperate attempt to fend me off. With a quick step back, I avoided the attack entirely, my movements fluid and controlled. Lowering my body close to the ground, I dashed forward with explosive speed. In one smooth motion, I drove the arrow into his side, eliminating him as well. His jacket turned red, signaling his defeat. I turned back toward my allies, watching as the gap created by Tim and me quickly closed with new enemies flooding in to fill the space. Fuhhh. The last twenty minutes had been an unrelenting blur of confrontation. My stamina was almost completely drained. Unlike the regular troops who rotated periodically on the vanguard line, I¡¯d been stuck in the thick of it all this time. I glanced at the scoreboard above the battlefield: 52% red, 41% blue. Astrel''s team was inching closer to victory. Interesting. I wonder how things are progressing in the other areas... My gaze dropped to Tim, sprawled unconscious nearby. Mana Armis: Head ¨C 2nd Form Condensation. As the aetheric armor activated, my vision sharpened. Time seemed to slow, and everything I focused on became clearer, like a magnified view. I made sure no one noticed the subtle glow of the armor¡ªit seemed everyone¡¯s attention was locked on the chaos in the vanguard. Activating Territory Formation, I leapt into the air, gaining a high vantage point. From this new perspective, the battlefield unfolded below me, chaotic and brutal. The places where Din, Avelyn, and Tarian had started were now obscured by the dense fighting. Serena stood near the rear, accompanied by her assigned partner. Lyra and Elysia remained in the vanguard, their exhaustion evident, yet both still clung to their swords, fending off enemy attacks. Behind them, Astrel¡¯s team members loomed, clearly exploiting their ¡°human shields¡± to secure better results. My gaze shifted toward the central confrontation. Luna¡¯s situation was nothing short of grim. Astrel was using her as a literal puppet, thrusting her forward to block Nero''s attacks. Each time Nero lunged, Astrel maneuvered Luna into the path of the strike, forcing Nero to redirect or halt his assault. Astrel then exploited these openings, relentlessly chipping away at Nero¡¯s strength. I descended back to the ground, landing silently. If you¡¯ve been using us this whole time, it¡¯s only fair I start using you. I grabbed Tim by the jacket, still unconscious, and dragged him toward a nearby hill that overlooked the battlefield. It was higher ground, away from the immediate fray, but perfect for observing the chaos below. From the hilltop, I had a clear view of my remaining teammates. Elysia and Lyra were still holding their positions in the vanguard, but fatigue was evident in every move they made. Even so, they pressed on, their swords parrying attacks and keeping their enemies at bay. Then I noticed a change in Elysia¡¯s fight. She¡¯d managed to create an opening in her opponent¡¯s defense, a decisive moment. But just as she did, I saw one of Astrel¡¯s lackeys¡ªa parasite who thrived on snatching points others earned¡ªmoving toward her target, ready to steal the elimination. Don¡¯t rush so much. No one¡¯s faster than an arrow. Archery Technique: Tornado Archery (4 ¡î) 1st Stage: Guided Arrow Wshh! The arrow shot forward, slicing through the air with precision. Thanks to my head armor, I could see better the wind currents, each one a subtle path guiding my arrow to its mark. The technique revealed its true potential, allowing me to empower the shot. Boom! The arrow struck true. Astrel¡¯s parasite didn¡¯t even make it halfway to Elysia¡¯s hard-earned points before the arrow slammed into his chest. He flew back into the enemy ranks, his jacket glowing red. Elysia barely spared a glance in my direction, but I could tell she knew. It¡¯s not a lie when people say that the true potential of the bow blooms at a distance. I glanced at my quiver¡ª25 arrows remained. That meant 25 more points waiting to be claimed. Without hesitation, I began eliminating fighters from Nero''s army. Each shot caused ripples of panic to spread through their ranks. Our troops seized the moment, pressing forward with their remaining strength, exploiting the disarray. My other priority was clear: prevent Astrel''s teammates from racking up more points. Whenever they moved to engage or exploit an opening, my arrow would fly in their direction, halting their advance and eliciting visible frustration. The scowls on their faces were worth every shot. But Nero''s army was not inactive. Changes emerged in their strategy as archers began climbing hills, attempting to counterattack Astrel¡¯s troops. Their arrows, however, lacked the range and impact to deal any significant damage. Each attempt fell short, scattering harmlessly in the dirt. The scoreboard continued to shift: 48% red, 32% blue. My involvement had turned the tide of the battle. Victory for Astrel''s army was now almost assured. Yet, the situation remained dire for Luna. She had collapsed, no longer able to stand. Astrel now gripped her by the neck, using her like a shield. Each time Nero attacked, Astrel dragged Luna into the path of the assault. Occasionally, he loosened his grip just enough to keep her conscious, but it was clear she was near her breaking point. I still have one arrow left. The right choice would be to stay out of this, but Astrel has gone far beyond what¡¯s acceptable. I nocked my final arrow and began channeling aether into it, keeping a sharp focus on the unfolding battle between Nero and Astrel. The two were locked in what could only be described as a final rush. Aether crackled around their weapons as they prepared their decisive strikes. Nero made the first move, lunging forward with his weapon engulfed in aether. Astrel prepared to block with his sword, bracing for impact. But at the last moment, Nero shifted direction, redirecting his attack toward Astrel¡¯s neck. Astrel reacted instantly, yanking Luna¡¯s head upward into the path of the strike. Nero, forced to pull back at the last moment, still left a shallow cut on her face. Astrel, unfazed, threw Luna to the ground. Gripping his sword with both hands, he raised it high above his head, preparing to strike. Not so fast, psychopath. A clash of metal was heard. My arrow struck Astrel¡¯s sword, shattering his grip and sending the weapon clattering to the ground. Nero wasted no time. With a swift motion, his spear surrounded and empowered with the aqua element. His attack connected with Astrel, the force sending him flying across the battlefield. -Finish, the captain of the red army has been defeated. Winner: Blue Team! The robotic announcement echoed across the field, followed by cheers from Nero¡¯s army. I exhaled deeply, throwing my now-empty quiver as far as I could. Spotting Tim¡¯s sword lying nearby, I picked it up. Tim was beginning to show faint signs of regaining consciousness, but before he could speak, I used the weapon to destroy the barrier, my jacket turning red. Tim groaned, placing a hand on his head. "What happened?" "An intruder came up behind you and attacked you with a hammer. I managed to get you out of the fight, but I took a hit myself in the process." Timco¡¯s expression darkened, anger flashing in his eyes. "Damn it! When I find out who did this, I¡¯ll bury them alive!" The battlefield began to return to its original state, the aether-generated terrain fading away, leaving behind the barren ground. One by one, everyone started heading toward their assigned courses, the battle officially over. Suddenly, a thunderous roar broke through the noise, sharp and furious like a tiger¡¯s growl. "WHO?!" The voice¡¯s source was obvious. Astrel stood amidst his teammates, his face a mask of pure rage. "Admit it, you fucking rat! Own up to it in front of me!" His words were a tirade of aggression, a continuous stream of curses and threats. Nero¡¯s side, however, paid him no mind, ignoring the outburst entirely. Astrel¡¯s supporters, on the other hand, scrambled to calm him down, trying to contain his fury before it escalated further. I didn¡¯t stick around to see how it played out. Without sparing another glance, I made my way to the equipment warehouse to leave the equipment. Lia¡¯s definitely going to love hearing about today¡¯s chaos, I thought, a small smirk tugging at my lips. Chapter 51 - fast duo October 3, 3018 The scout group was at their usual spot today, with no extra people around, and everyone was discussing yesterday''s events, including me and Liam. ¡°Astrel broke Luna''s barrier generator, so Nero had to minimize his attack on her as much as possible.¡± Liam was explaining the situation that occurred yesterday. He had to stop other Astrel supporters from attacking Nero from behind, so he saw how Astrel disconnected the mechanism from Luna''s back¡ªright in front of Nero¡ªso he could understand her situation. ¡°How is Luna feeling?¡± I asked. ¡°Surprisingly, she came out without any serious trauma, just some bruises. And thanks to someone''s intervention, Astrel is now very intensively looking for the unknown person.¡± Liam nudged me lightly with his elbow, signaling that he knew it was me who had intervened and given Luna a little break. ¡°I''m happy for her.¡± I ignored his signals, pretending to smile as if I had no idea what he was talking about. ¡°Also, it''s a major coincidence that all the people in Astrel team were knocked down, leaving his team almost completely without points.¡± ¡°What a miserable day for Astrel. What misfortune¡± I replied, continuously ignoring any hints from him. ¡°Huhh. Are you sure that you won''t have any problems?¡± Suddenly, Liam''s face turned more serious. ¡°As long as nothing unexpected will happen.¡± ¡°Attention, everyone!¡± Mr. Michael called from his usual place. ¡°Starting today, you are allowed to enter the abandoned city area and the desert area. Keep in mind that as you go deeper, predatory animals will appear along with traps. Your missions will also take place differently. I have assigned you into pairs.¡± Suddenly, a notification appeared on my watch: | Kail Vaylith ¨C Liam Leafblade | ¡°Remember, the person paired with you is neither an enemy nor a friend. You will receive missions that require you to work together, and missions where you will compete. Now, gather your equipment from the warehouse and then come to me to receive your mission.¡± I turned to Liam, who was practically glowing with excitement. I''m not sure if I should be happy that Liam is my partner or not. Of course, Liam was a professional with excellent skills, but at the same time, he was very eccentric and inattentive. ¡°Kail, this will be fun, I promise you!¡± Liam placed his hand on my shoulder, and we started walking towards the warehouse. Huhh. Let''s hope this this will not have bad consequences Once we got our equipment¡ª now without a spare quiver¡ªwe headed towards Mr. Michael to receive our mission. A small line had already formed, and we waited for our turn. However, we soon noticed that Mr. Michael was looking directly at us. Once he made sure we had established eye contact, he gestured for us to step out of the line and wait. ¡°Did something happen?¡± Liam asked. ¡°I don''t know. Anyway, let''s wait until everyone gets their missions.¡± We stepped out of the line and moved away from the others to talk. Luna didn¡¯t come today. Everyone had already received their missions, and we were the only ones left sitting on the ground when Mr. Michael approached. ¡°I didn¡¯t do anything.¡± Liam suddenly started apologizing. Mr. Michael momentarily turned his gaze toward him. ¡°What did you do?¡± ¡°Nothing bad! At least for the last three or four days, for sure.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll talk with you later.¡± Mr. Michael sighed, rubbing his forehead, clearly exhausted with his younger brother. ¡°You two are the best students in the scout group, which is why you¡¯re getting the right to choose. The usual pairs were formed in a balanced way, with higher-performing students paired with lower-performing ones. If you want, I can send you with the standart teams, and you¡¯ll complete the standard missions.¡± During Mr. Michael''s short pause, Liam cut in. ¡°Or?¡± An imposing look from Mr. Michael instantly silenced him. ¡°Or... I will personally take care of your lessons. This will only be possible twice over six days, because for the rest, you''ll have lessons with the Knights and Tanks groups.¡± ¡°Lets do this¡± Liam immediately jumped in. ¡°Kail, come on! I¡¯m sure you¡¯re tired of those routine missions too.¡± I took a short pause to process the information. Not noticing any downsides, I nodded. ¡°Okay, I agree.¡± ¡°Great! Activate your armor and follow me.¡± We followed Mr. Michael deep into the forest. This wasn¡¯t the area where we usually trained. Up until now, all our missions had taken place in the central and western areas, but now we were heading east. Eventually, we arrived at an open field¡ª a clearing that marked the boundary between the forest and the desert area beyond.Unauthorized reproduction: this story has been taken without approval. Report sightings. ¡°And what exactly are we going to do?¡± Liam asked. ¡°Your scouting skills are already at a decent level, but to perfect them, you need real experience. However, at the moment, you don¡¯t have the opportunity to gain it.¡± Mr. Michael explained as we listened attentively. ¡°You¡¯re already training with Ronald to improve your elemental abilities, and you¡¯re attending classes to enhance your weapon proficiency. With me, you¡¯ll be focusing on the use of Armor and movement techniques.¡± The professor took a few steps away from us, and a minor armor formed around his feet. ¡°It¡¯s quite simple¡ªtry to touch me.¡± Liam and I exchanged a brief, confused glance, but understanding the challenge, we placed our weapons on the ground and launched ourselves at him like two predators. Movement Technique: Wind Kingdom (4¡î) 1st Stage: Territory Formation I quickly formed my territory and closed the distance to the professor, but without any sign of effort, he sidestepped, letting me pass right by him. Liam, increasing his speed with every second, also closed in, but Mr. Michael effortlessly evaded him as well, using minimal yet incredibly swift movements to escape our attacks. The entire clearing was soon engulfed by swirling winds generated from our rapid movements. To an observer at a distance, it might have appeared as though a tornado was forming due to the powerful wind currents. I continued using my territory to narrow the gap, but every time I got close, Mr. Michael evaded with uncanny precision, as if he could foresee my trajectory. Meanwhile, Liam¡¯s tremendous speed left him unable to change direction easily, quickly exhausting his stamina. Though I had conserved more energy than him, I was now approaching my own limit. Determined not to end the test so easily, I activated a new territory and lunged at the professor again. This time, however, instead of avoiding me, he placed a hand on my shoulder and used my own momentum against me. The sudden force sent me tumbling across the ground. Liam suffered the same fate, landing face-first next to me. That was extremely pathetic, I thought to myself. It''s not that we failed to touch the professor; he didn''t use either elemental powers or techniques to counter our attempts. The entire time Liam and I were dashing across the clearing, Mr. Michael never strayed far from his starting position. Mr. Michael approached us and squatted, lowering himself to our level. ¡°Your stamina isn''t bad.¡± Just stamina? We¡¯re training movement techniques here! I wanted to protest but held my tongue. ¡°That¡¯s not fair! You know my technique!¡± Liam blurted out, his tone full of frustration, followed by a series of quick excuses. ¡°Anyway, you¡¯re using it poorly.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know anything!¡± Liam whined, now behaving like a child. Mr. Michael shook his head. ¡°The bigger issue than your use of techniques is how you control your aether.¡± I frowned and asked for clarification. ¡°What exactly do you mean?¡± ¡°As you both know, aether is expelled through all skin pores, whether they are open or closed.¡± Liam and I nodded in unison. ¡°Instead of letting it remain idle in your ManaVentis, focus on redirecting it into your armor components. Doing so will make your armor stronger, more resistant, and will also make it easier to activate your techniques.¡± Liam looked skeptical. ¡°But then, wouldn¡¯t there be a risk of breaking the ManaVentis due to insufficient aether?¡± ¡°I know that from personal experience,¡± I added, recalling past failures. Mr. Michael remained calm and continued. ¡°You don¡¯t need to transfer all the aether from the ManaVentis to the armor¡ªonly the excess accumulation. It won¡¯t be easy, and it will take a lot of concentration, but mastering this will definitely help you improve.¡± His explanation was clear and concise, sparking both motivation and deep thought within us as we considered the possibilities his advice presented. As we returned to reality, Mr. Michael continued, ¡±Kail, your movement technique is excellent for both offense and evasion, but you always tend to push it to the maximum. Instead of closing the distance with a strong, obvious rush, try using smaller, varied bursts with different tempos to disorient your opponent.¡± ¡±Liam, you rely too much on your maximum speed, which forces you to expend extra energy both to redirect yourself and to recover lost speed. It''s better to maintain a speed that allows for more flexibility and variations in your actions.¡± His words made us both pause and reflect¡ªthey made sense and could truly enhance our performance. ¡°That¡¯s all for today. Come directly here tomorrow, and we¡¯ll continue.¡± Before we could leave, he added, ¡°Oh, Kail¡ªMr. George wants to see you after the lesson.¡± Hearing that wiped away all thoughts of movement techniques from my mind. Now, all I could think about were the countless reasons why the head of the knights'' group had summoned me. We gathered our belongings from the ground and headed back. After parting ways with Liam, I made my way to the knights¡¯ training ground. The field was eerily empty¡ªan unusual sight compared to the usual bustle of trainees and observers. As I approached the lone building in the area, just a few meters from the entrance, Astrel stepped out from inside. I instinctively lowered my gaze toward the ground, pulling my hood further over my head to conceal my face completely. With each step I took, I felt an increasing pressure¡ªgravity itself seemed to push me harder into the earth. Still, I maintained my relaxed, steady pace toward the warehouse. My heartbeat quickened, pounding with an overwhelming urge to burst out of my chest. With every step, this feeling grew stronger, intensifying exponentially. The sound of Astrel''s footsteps felt like thunderous explosions in my ears. Boom. Even though I kept my gaze down, his presence loomed in my peripheral vision, forcing my attention onto him. I found myself instinctively tracking his movements. Boom. Astrel showed no reaction¡ªhis posture remained unchanged, his stride unwavering. Not even a single degree of his body turned toward me. He simply continued forward. Boom. As he reached the edge of my vision, I subtly turned my head just enough to confirm that he was still walking away, maintaining his course. We passed each other. As far as I could tell, he didn¡¯t pause or acknowledge me in any way¡ªthere was no indication of interest on his part. His footsteps returned to normal sound, no longer carrying the oppressive weight they once had. With that realization, I allowed myself to relax a little. ¡±You aren¡¯t from the Knights group.¡± Fuck you, you crazy bastard. Of all the people you ignore every day, why did you have to take an interest in the one person passing by you now? I turned toward him, raising my head just enough to meet his eyes. I forced my facial muscles to relax as much as possible, determined not to show a single hint of emotion. ¡°Yes, I¡¯m from the Scouts group.¡± ¡°Scouts?¡± The moment he heard my answer, his face tensed slightly, his eyes widening as he began analyzing me with unsettling intensity. I felt as if hundreds of sharp blades were closing in on me, ready to pierce me at any second. ¡°What weapon do you use?¡± Astrel¡¯s voice remained steady, but to me, it sounded like it was echoing from the depths of the underworld, dragging me down with it. A shiver ran through my entire body. I tensed all my muscles¡ªif I didn¡¯t, I knew I would start trembling. My answer couldn¡¯t be delayed any longer. ¡°A bow.¡± The instant I responded, Astrel clenched his fist, looking ready to pounce on me at any moment. ¡°Which team were you on yesterday?¡± ¡°Elysia¡¯s team.¡± My answer seemed to relax him a little, though he still wasn¡¯t ready to let go of his suspicions. ¡°Whose living shield were you?¡± ¡°Tim¡¯s.¡± Hearing that, Astrel finally relaxed completely. His indifferent demeanor returned as he turned away, heading back in his original direction. I exhaled silently and resumed my way to the warehouse. As soon as I stepped inside and passed the entrance, I leaned my back against the wall, breathing heavily. My hands trembled uncontrollably, so I clenched them together in an attempt to steady myself. Closing my eyes, I focused on regaining my breath. Not even when I was being hunted by those who wanted to kill me did I feel this afraid. A faint smile formed on my lips at the thought. ¡°How are you feeling? Did something happen?¡± I opened my eyes instantly at the sound of an unfamiliar voice. In front of me stood Professor George, his expression showing mild shock at the scene he had just witnessed. Chapter 52 - cancelled points "How much did he hear?" Thanks to the new situation, I managed to recover more easily, and now none of the discomfort I felt before was visible. "Are you okay?" Mr. George asked, his expression a mix of shock and curiosity. "Yes, everything is fine. Mr. Michael said you wanted to see me?" Mr. George seemed to scan me with his eyes, but his posture remained unchanged¡ªhis hands clasped behind his back, his stance slightly bent forward. "Regarding your actions during the previous joint lesson between the Knights and Scouts groups," Mr. George began, walking toward his desk. I followed him. "You accumulated 73 points, which guarantees you first place among all the other students¡­" "Will this result be displayed somewhere?" I interrupted before he could finish, realizing the importance of this information. If my name appears as the top scorer in the Knights group, it will automatically be linked to my name in the Scouts list. From there, it wouldn¡¯t be difficult to identify me. The only way such a high number of points could have been obtained for a scout was through the people in Astrel''s group, who consistently accumulate points under his orders. That connection could lead to consequences I definitely want to avoid. Mr. George shot me a displeased look for interrupting but continued nonetheless. "¡ªbut you earned most of these points from allies on your own side. Because of this, I have to cancel them. Additionally, you will be prohibited from joining either of the two armies. Instead, you will take on the role of a spy, whose capture will become another win condition. The person who manages to capture you will receive an additional 20 points, on top of the 11 you still have in your possession." Fuhhh. Feeling more relaxed after hearing my new assignment, I noticed Mr. George seemed slightly puzzled by my reaction. "If they capture you, you will be suspended from all lectures and classes for two days and to move on to the next semester you need at least 50 points.¡± This is bad. It won''t be hard to accumulate points again, but absences can consume too much extra time. "Is everything clear?" Mr. George asked in an imposing tone. "Yes." "Then you¡¯re free to go." And I headed for the exit. On opposite sides of the ring stood Elysia and me, preparing for our duel, with Mr. Ronald positioned in the middle. "Start." The moment the signal was given, Elysia lunged at me. Her speed was impressive, but it didn¡¯t pose any discomfort for me. I could clearly see how she shifted her center of gravity and aimed her fist straight at me. I deflected her attack with the outside of my left forearm, while my right fist shot toward her abdomen. Elysia redirected my punch with her left hand, guiding it downward. My left hand reached for her shoulder, pulling her toward the ground as I aimed a knee strike at her. She blocked my attack, shielding her chest with her arms, but the impact still created distance between us. "Okay, Kail, now let''s get serious." As soon as Elysia spoke, her fists became surrounded by the element of Light. Compared to the rest of us, she had been able to control her element at a decent level even before we began close-combat training. People with a Lux constitution start training in element control much earlier so as not to fall far behind. Once a person forms a constitution tied to a specific element, in addition to developing their ManaVentis, certain abilities related to that element become more effective. With a Ventus constitution, I gained enhanced speed. Nero developed exceptional body flexibility and Astrel, having a unique constitution, possesses both an enhanced power from the Ignis constitution and the durability from the Terra constitution. Elysia, on the other hand, with her complete-body constitution, only gained the ability to form ManaVentis using Light mana. However, this limitation was compensated by the element''s ability to neutralize others. Of course, this didn''t mean that the moment Elysia activated her element, others became useless. We still gained enhancements to our attacks. However, when our attacks made contact with Light, our elemental effects were nullified, leaving only the raw power of our strikes. And since I still couldn¡¯t use my element at will the way Elysia could, the situation wasn¡¯t exactly in my favor. I can''t lose the initiative now. I launched the first attack, and we entered an intense exchange of blows. In our initial clash, I had been superior, gaining dominance due to my speed. But now, that advantage was no longer enough. Even though Light didn¡¯t provide significant boosts to power, speed, or durability, it still amplified all three to some extent. At the moment, the situation was in Elysia''s favor, but not to the point where I was completely overwhelmed¡ªat least, not until I found the right tempo and managed to activate the wind element. With that, she was forced to contend with a relentless barrage of swift, powerful attacks from all directions. Her own offense was momentarily disrupted, leaving her unable to follow through with a continuous series of strikes. From that point on, the tide of our battle began to shift in my favor. Even though the wind element dissipated each time it came into contact with Elysia''s, as long as I maintained a constant rhythm, I could reactivate it instantly.You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author. The final attack came from my left foot, sending Elysia crashing into the ring¡¯s wall. As she fell to the ground, my victory was declared. "You held your own well today. If I had lost focus for even a moment, I definitely wouldn¡¯t have won," I told Elysia, extending a hand to help her up. "Thank you, Kail," she replied in her usual strict tone, accepting my hand to rise. We stepped down from the ring, Where was Liam and Nero, they had their duel earlier and were watching ours. For the first time, Liam managed to defeat Nero, thanks to learning how to activate his element anytime he wanted. With this new ability and his aggressive attack style, he gained an early advantage and made full use of it. "Good duel," Nero said, tossing water bottles to both of them. "Unfortunately, Elysia, you still haven''t managed to break your losing streak today," Liam commented with a disappointed expression. "Mr. Leafblade, I can¡¯t help but point out that your situation hasn¡¯t changed significantly either, despite your win today," Elysia retorted. "Correct. Even with this victory, your fifteen-match losing streak remains intact," Nero confirmed. "Losers weren''t given the right to speak - right Kail!" Liam immediately turned to me, seeking an ally against Elysia and Nero. "Generally, I¡¯m on their side, so... you¡¯re on your own," I replied. "Traitor! You two are just abnormal! I can understand why Nero always wins, but you? How are you doing so well? Your main weapon is a bow! Why are you so good at close combat?!" Liam''s frustration was evident, etched across his face and expressed in every possible and impossible way. "I have no idea," I replied with a shrug. "As far as I can see, no one has any serious injuries?" Mr. Ronald asked as he approached us from the ring "Yes, everything seems fine," Nero answered. "Great. Then that¡¯s enough for today. But next time, your duels will not be 1v1, but 2v2. As usual, after a duel, switch partners to start getting used to working in sync with someone else." "Understood, sir," we responded in unison. The time spent in the aether concentration chamber has become one of the most enjoyable parts of my day. Compared to me, however, others don¡¯t have it so easy. It¡¯s not uncommon for people to lose consciousness upon exiting, or to experience dizziness and a persistent feeling of nausea. So far, no one has switched to a chamber with a higher aether concentration except for Lia as far as I know. As for me, these sessions feel wonderful, a truly pleasant experience for my body. Nero experiences slight discomfort, while Liam still can¡¯t associate the aether accumulation chamber with anything positive. After leaving the chamber, I headed to my room, where I finished off the last of the supplies I had previously purchased. Since I won¡¯t have access to money anytime soon. The problem is that, as far as I know, there¡¯s no way to earn money. The only other source besides other students comes from certain rewards offered by the teachers, and even that is only available starting in the second year. "I need to find a source of money." The volume of material covered in theoretical lessons has started to increase, and I¡¯ve also hit a wall in my progress with bow techniques. My current limit is six Wind Slash blades. Also I truly need to learn how to use the element on my own initiative. The only area where I still see a clear path for improvement is the movement technique I practice with Mr. Michael. "And then there''s the spy role..." It might be better if I can operate alone. The real question is whether the spy¡¯s identity will be announced at the beginning. If not, I¡¯ll have carte blanche¡ªpoints will come straight to my arrows of their own accord. For now, though, I still have three days before that becomes relevant¡ªtwo of which must be spent with the Tanks group. I need to: Find a source of money/food. Be able to activate the element at any time. Take advantage of the lessons with Mr. Michael. Make the most of the aether concentration chamber. To accumulate at least 50 points in the lessons for Knights. For now, these must be the general difficulties. I lay down on the bed after my shower, already ready to fall asleep. Buzz When I checked the clock, I saw that the notification was from Lia. Lia | What are you doing?| Kail | Nothing, I was already thinking about sleeping.| Lia | Do you want to go outside for a bit?| Kail | Okay, should I come to your dorm?| Lia | I''m already in front of your dorm.| Strange¡­ maybe something happened. Lia was always stubborn and direct about what she wanted, but this was unusually straightforward. Still, I didn¡¯t overthink it. I grabbed some comfortable clothes that were within reach and headed for the exit. As I stepped outside the building, I saw her standing there, looking at the hologram on her clock. Her expression was gloomier than usual, irritation evident in the way her eyes lingered on the display. Yet, none of this diminished how striking she was. Her silver hair shimmered under the moonlight, capturing more attention than anything around her. "Hello," I greeted as I opened the front door and walked toward her. At the same moment, she looked up from the hologram, her hands shifting behind her back. A small smile appeared on her face, but it looked tired¡ªforced. "Hello." Her voice was so quiet it was almost imperceptible. I was caught off guard, intrigued by the situation. Lia wasn¡¯t the type to smile out of politeness. If something bothered her, she made sure everyone knew it¡ªregardless of who was responsible. But tonight, for the first time, she spoke softly, as if the words barely had the strength to leave her lips. I took a step closer. "Did something happen?" She didn¡¯t answer. Instead, she took my hand and started pulling me forward. "Lia?" I felt a little strange about the situation, but she didn¡¯t seem uncomfortable. So I let her lead me. Her hand was smaller than mine¡ªdelicate and a little cold¡ªbut it felt natural, not at all unpleasant, even as she continued to pull me along at a slow pace. "Don¡¯t you want to talk?" She simply shook her head. "Do you want me to tell you what I did today?" This time, she nodded. So, I started talking, telling her about my day¡ªfrom the lesson with Liam and his brother to Nero and Liam¡¯s duel, and finally, my own match against Elysia. She listened in silence, reacting only subtly to some of my words. We walked for a while along the academy sidewalks, hand in hand. Tonight wasn¡¯t cold, even though the temperature had dropped considerably in recent days. The only sound between us was my voice. The moon drifted in and out of the clouds, and the sky was filled with stars. Little by little, I noticed that we were approaching the edge of the academy''s territory. This was confirmed by the looming walls that enclosed the grounds. We had drifted away from the sidewalk, heading directly toward them. The path we had taken wasn¡¯t entirely flat; the last stretch had begun to slope upward. Now that we had left the paved walkway behind, the incline was steeper, though not enough to make walking uncomfortable. Suddenly, Lia stopped just a few meters from the wall and turned her back to it. I followed her lead and turned as well, taking in the view before me¡ªa vast expanse of academy buildings, training tents, sports fields, and even the distant forest, divided into its various sections. Without a word, Lia lowered herself to the ground. I sat down beside her. And then, for only the second time that night, I heard her voice. "Dad died."