He enters the psionics classroom, and sees that most of the students are already there, sitting on the cushions in a circle. Eleanor is in the center, meditating with her eyes closed. She opens them when she senses his presence, and gives him a nod. "Hello, Felix. How are you feeling today?" She asks, her voice calm and neutral.
Felix walks over to her, feeling a bit anxious. "Well... I'm still sore and tired from yesterday, and I get these sharp pains when I try to use psionics. Though I did figure out a way to better maintain my mental shield with less exertion, and I'm not being as loud anymore. It was a 'kill two birds with one stone' solution I got from a friend." He explains, his voice honest. He hopes she'll be pleased with his progress, and not too harsh on him.
Eleanor raises an eyebrow, looking intrigued. "A friend, you say? Who is this friend, and what exactly did they tell you?" She asks, her tone curious.
Felix scratches his head, trying to recall Grog's words. "His name is Grog, and he's a wilder. He said that instead of trying to construct a barrier around my mind, I should think of it as my skin, something natural and instinctive. He pointed out that my broadcasting was an output of energy and that I could redirect it to the shield. It was so simple, and yet I hadn't thought of it because I was thinking of the mental shield and broadcasting as two separate problems, when I could solve both at once." He says, his voice thoughtful.
Eleanor nods, looking impressed. "That's... actually very insightful. Your friend is smarter than he looks. Though his solution is crude and unrefined, it works for you, for now. It's a good first step, but you'll have to polish it and improve it over time. Psionics is not just about instinct, but also about skill and technique. You can't rely on brute force or shortcuts forever." She says, her voice stern but fair.
Felix nods, feeling a bit deflated. "I understand, Professor. I'll work on it, I promise. Though for now, I think I should take it easy. I don't want to hurt myself or anyone else." He says, his voice humble.
Though there was a far less charitable voice that speaks up, "Oh fuck you!" The students turn to see Arden, the psion who attacked Felix yesterday, glaring at him. He's holding his head, as if he still has a headache from the backlash. "You were supposed to start learning psionics properly, put in the work. Then you walk in here the next day with some haphazard, wilder solution and think you're better than the rest of us? That's bullshit! You don't deserve to be in this class, you don't even deserve to be in this academy! You're a fraud, a cheater, and a menace!" He spits out, his voice full of venom.
Felix flinches at his words, feeling a surge of anger and shame. He wants to defend himself, to tell Arden that he's wrong, but he's not sure how. He doesn't know how to respond to such blatant hostility. He looks at Eleanor, hoping she'll intervene.
Eleanor however, doesn't say anything. She just stares at Arden, her expression unreadable. She seems to be waiting for something, or testing him. The other students also stay silent, watching the scene with curiosity and apprehension. No one wants to get involved in this confrontation.
Arden takes advantage of the silence and steps closer to Felix, his eyes narrowed. "What, cat got your tongue? Or are you too scared to face me? You think you can hide behind your little shield and your little friend? Well, guess what? I'm not afraid of you. I know you're a weakling who got lucky. You don't belong here, and I'm going to prove it." He says, his voice menacing. "I'm challenging you to a duel!"
Felix gets excited, "Oh? A duel? This'll be fun!" He says, starting to get riled up.
Eleanor finally speaks up, her voice cold and firm. "Are you sure about that, Arden? It may not go the way you expect." She says, her tone warning.
Arden smirks, looking confident. "I'm sure, Professor. I'm going to teach this punk a lesson he'll never forget. Unless he's too chicken to accept." He taunts, his voice arrogant.
He looks him in the eyes and says, "I already said I thought it'd be fun, you don't have to keep trying to sell me on it. Let's do this." He says, his voice defiant.
Eleanor sighs, shaking her head. "Very well. If that's what you want, then I won't stop you. Though don't say I didn't warn you." She says, her voice resigned. She turns to the rest of the class, who are watching with interest. "Clear some space, everyone. We're going to have a little demonstration." She instructs, her tone authoritative.
The students move to the edges of the room, leaving a large area in the center for the duel. Felix and Arden walk to the center, facing each other. Eleanor stands between them, acting as a referee. "The rules are simple. No killing blows or maiming, besides that, you fight till one of you is incapacitated or yields." She says, her voice clear. "Are you ready?" She asks, looking at both of them.
Arden nods, his expression smug. "Ready when you are, Professor." He says, his voice cocky.
Felix also nods, his expression determined. "Ready." He says, his voice calm. He's not going to let Arden intimidate him. He's going to show him what he's made of.
Eleanor steps back, giving them some distance. "Begin!" She shouts, clapping her hands.
The duel starts.
Felix knows his psionics are not going to do him any good in this fight. He's already exhausted and sore, and he doesn't want to risk hurting himself or Arden again. He decides to rely on his magic instead, and his physical skills. He isn't going to fight on Arden's terms just because Arden expects him to.
He quickly uses his psionic intentioned magical physical enhancement. Feeling his muscles tense and his senses sharpen. He then uses a blink spell to close the distance instantly, and punches Arden in the face as he appears before him. Arden, who was expecting a psionic attack, is caught off guard by the sudden movement and impact. He staggers backwards, his nose bleeding and his eyes watering.
"What the...? How did you...?" He gasps, his voice confused and pained.
Felix doesn't give him time to recover. He follows up with a sweeping kick to Arden's legs. Taking out Arden's legs out from under him. Time seems to slow for Arden as he's airborne, and he realizes too late this is nothing like the battle he thought he signed up for. Then Felix grabs him by the collar out of the air and performs a throw that slams him into the ground. The air is knocked out of his lungs, and he lays there, groaning and wheezing.
Felix stands over him, breathing heavily. He didn't even break a sweat, but he's still feeling the strain from his previous exertions. He takes up a defensive posture while bouncing on his heels, expecting Arden to adapt. Maybe he'll use some kind of psionic counterspell to stop him from blinking, and use a telekinetic blast to keep him from getting close? His magic is ready to counter whatever Arden will throw at him.
Arden however, has no intention of getting up. He's too stunned and humiliated to continue. He can't believe how easily Felix beat him. He thought he had the upper hand, that he knew Felix's weakness. Yet he was wrong. Dead wrong. Felix won with speed and brute strength that was so overwhelming... Like a wilder. What's worse is Felix isn't even gloating, he doesn't even seem to know the fight is over. He can see the look on Felix's face as he's ready to counter Arden's 'next move'. It's like a surreal nightmare.
Arden looks up at Felix, who is still bouncing on his heels with a carefree expression. He feels a surge of fear and resentment. He doesn't want to face Felix again, not after this. Eleanor sees that Felix doesn't know the duel is over and calls it, "The duel is over. Felix wins." She announces, her voice loud and clear.
Felix looks at her, surprised. He didn't expect the fight to end so soon. He looks at Arden, who is still lying on the floor, glaring at him with pure hatred. He feels a pang of guilt, but also a sense of satisfaction. He proved Arden wrong, and defended himself. He walks over to him and offers him a hand, "Are you okay? Do you need help?" He asks, his voice concerned.
Arden slaps his hand away, his voice venomous. "Don't touch me, you freak! You cheated! You used magic and fought like wilder, not like a psychic! How can you even call yourself a psychic?!" He yells, his face red with anger and shame.
Felix frowns, feeling offended. "I didn't cheat. I used the skills I have, that's all. You challenged me to a duel, not a psionics competition. I won fair and square." He says, his tone firm.
Eleanor walks over to them, her expression stern. "Arden, that's enough. You lost, accept it gracefully. We don't do discipline restricted duels here because this is an academy about facing the real world. You should have been ready for Felix to not strictly use psionics, and tried to keep him from closing the distance. He didn't restrict himself to a mind versus mind battle, and neither will a troll or owlbear. Though treat this as a learning experience. You don't get to choose what your opponent is good at, not at the academy, a dungeon, or anywhere else. You need to be prepared, or the consequences could be a lot more dire elsewhere. Think about how you'll counter someone like Felix. I, myself, practice martial arts outside of my psionics, so I still have options when an opponent is too close. What will you do?" She says, her voice scolding but also instructive.
Arden looks at her, his eyes defiant. "I... I won't accept this. He doesn't deserve to be in this class. He doesn't even respect our art." He says, his voice stubborn.
Eleanor sighs, shaking her head. "That's your opinion, Arden, not a fact. You have no right to judge who belongs here and who doesn't. Only I do, as the instructor, and I say Felix stays." She says, her voice final. She then looks at Felix, her expression softening a bit. "You did well, Felix. You showed courage and creativity. Though if you had done this at the start of class I'd have scolded you for not telling me your recovery was far more advanced than you indicated. Still, it was the right choice for you in that duel. Though you still have a lot to learn. I hope you'll keep an open mind and a humble attitude, even when you win. Though please, next time, be honest about your abilities." She says, her voice kind but strict.
Felix nods, feeling a bit humbled. "Yes, Professor. Thank you. I'll try to do better." He says, his voice sincere. "Though I'm not sure what you mean about more recovered than I indicated. It's just my psionics that are overtaxed." He then tries to use telekinesis to pick up an object as a demonstration. Then he immediately drops the object as he winces from the sharp pain in his head, "See? It still hurts."
Eleanor looks surprised for a moment, then gives him a small smile. "I see. Well, that's good to know. I guess you're not as healed as I thought. Though don't worry, I won't push you too hard today. We'll just do some light exercises, like meditating and projecting your thoughts. Nothing too strenuous." She says, her voice reassuring.
Felix nods, feeling relieved. He doesn't think he can handle anything more intense right now. He follows Eleanor to the center of the room, where the other students are waiting. He ignores the stares and whispers, and focuses on the lesson.
The rest of the class goes by smoothly, with Eleanor teaching them some basic techniques of mental communication and perception. Felix finds it easier than he expected, as he's already used to sensing and manipulating his own thoughts. He's able to pick up the concepts quickly, or at least quicker than before. Also, although some of the other classmates aren't fully convinced, they're willing to give him more of a benefit of a doubt and help him when he struggles than before. Arden still obviously hates him, but he's the odd one out now. Rather than sharing his sentiment with the rest of the class. Felix even starts to think that psionics might not be so bad after all.
As the class ends, Eleanor calls him over for a private talk. She leads him to her office, which is adjacent to the classroom. It's a small, tidy space, with a desk, a bookshelf, and a window. She sits down behind her desk, and gestures for him to sit in front of her. "Felix, I wanted to talk to you about your performance today, and in general." She says, her voice serious but friendly.
Felix sits down, feeling a bit nervous. "Okay, Professor. What is it?" He asks, his voice curious.
She looks at him, her eyes piercing. "You impressed me today, Felix. Not just with your duel, but with your attitude. You were respectful, honest, and adaptable. Though there were a couple of things that concerned me. First is you seemed a little too eager to fight, and you expected Arden to keep fighting despite his battered state. Why don't you tell me a little about why you felt that way?"
He's a bit taken aback by her question, and thinks for a moment before answering. "Well... I don't like fighting just for the sake of it, but I do like a challenge. I like testing my skills and learning new things. When someone challenges me, I can't back down. I have to show them what I can do." He explains, his voice a bit defensive. "As for Arden, he was still able to get up and talk. I thought he was about to get up and keep going. I didn't realize he was that hurt, or that he'd give up so easily." He adds, feeling a bit guilty.
Eleanor seems interested before asking, "How about you tell me about your earliest experience with fighting now?" She asks, her voice curious.
Felix thinks back before retelling it, "Lets see... It was when I was about nine. My mom pushed me to play outside, and I was surrounded by clan beastkin kids who had a problem with me being clanless. When they hit me it didn't really hurt, and when I hit them, they stayed down."
She nods, listening intently. "I see. So you were in a confrontation where you were outnumbered while nine. Were you really not afraid of getting hurt?" She probes, her voice gentle.
He tilts his head while thinking, "No, I wasn't afraid. I don't think I've ever been afraid of getting hurt. Even when I got hurt, it was just a sensation, not something to be scared of." He says, his tone casual. "I guess I'm just used to it."
She hums, making a note on a paper. "Interesting, now let's talk about more recent fights. How do sparring sessions with Grog normally go?" She asks, her voice curious.
Felix shrugs, feeling a bit more comfortable. "They go well, I think. When I knock him down, he gets back up more excited to continue. When he knocks me down, he waits for me to get up, and makes sure I'm okay before we continue." He says, his voice fond. "It's fun, and I learn a lot from him."
She smiles, "I see, and he doesn't get angry or resentful when you beat him, does he?" She asks, her tone leading.
Felix shakes his head, "No, not at all. He's always happy and proud of me. He says I'm a good friend and a worthy opponent." He says, his voice warm.
She nods, "That's good to hear, and how do you feel when you lose to him?" She asks, her voice probing.
He pauses, thinking about it. "I feel... frustrated, sometimes, but also motivated. I want to get better, to match his level. It's instructional and an opportunity to learn." He says, his voice honest.
She looks at him, her expression serious. "I think I understand the problem, Felix. You have a skewed perception of what a fight is, because of your past and present experiences. When you were a child, you were bullied by kids who couldn't match your strength. It taught you that fighting isn't dangerous. You didn't get hurt, and you didn't get scared. When you spar with Grog, you have a friend who respects you and challenges you. It taught you that fighting is fun and rewarding. What you have with Grog is healthy precisely because both of you understand what kind of fight you're having. Arden didn't. He challenged you out of spite and arrogance, not out of friendship or curiosity. He wasn't ready to react to your combat style, and resents losing. He doesn't see you as an equal, but as a threat. Your reaction to him, while understandable, was not appropriate for the situation. You treated him like he was Grog, when he was nothing like him." She explains, her voice calm but firm.
He listens to her, feeling a bit ashamed. He realizes that she's right, and that he made a mistake. "So... what should I do now, Professor? How do I fix this?" He asks, his voice remorseful.
She sighs, leaning back in her chair. "Well, first of all, you could try reconciling with Arden. Not that you owe him that, he antagonized you and you responded naturally. There's no guarantee you can make amends with him either, but trying would be a good faith next step. As for the future, you should be more careful and aware of who you're dealing with, and what kind of fight you're getting into. Not everyone is like Grog, or like those kids who bullied you. People have different reasons and expectations for fighting. You need to learn to read them, and adjust accordingly. Also, while I don't want you to just become afraid of pain the same way as everyone else, you should put some effort into understanding how others view pain. Especially as you get stronger. Learning measured power output and reading your opponent's intent and ability to handle your attacks becomes more important. If you accidentally hit someone who can't take it as well as you can with full power, you might kill them. That's not something you want on your conscience. I'll do my best to guide you on this, and I'm always here if you need help or advice." She says, her voice supportive. "You're a remarkable student, Felix, but you have a lot to learn. I hope you'll keep an open mind and a humble heart, and never stop growing." She finishes, her tone warm.
He nods, feeling grateful and inspired. "Thank you, Professor. I will. You're a great teacher, and I'm glad I have you." He says, his voice sincere.
She smiles, her eyes crinkling. "You're welcome, Felix. Now, go home and rest. You've earned it. I'll see you tomorrow." She says, her voice cheerful. She stands up and opens the door for him, waving him goodbye.
He walks out of her office, feeling a mix of emotions. He's happy that he did well in class and impressed her, but also embarrassed that he messed up with Arden. He decides to follow her advice and try to make things right.
Felix walks home, feeling physically and mentally exhausted, but also satisfied. He had a productive and eventful day, and he's looking forward to a quiet evening with his mom. He opens the door to his house and is greeted by the smell of cooking. He follows his nose to the kitchen, where he sees his mom making dinner. She's wearing an apron that says "Kiss the cook" and has a spatula in her hand. She turns around and smiles when she sees him. "Hey, sweetie. How was your day?" She asks, her voice cheerful.
He smiles back, dropping his bag on a chair and sitting at the table. "It was good, mom. I have a lot to tell you." He says, his voice eager. He starts by telling her about how Luna reacted to her letter, "She was so happy and excited, mom. She said you're the best, and that she can't wait to meet you. She also said she'll come over on Saturday, with me." He explains, feeling proud of his mom's gesture.
She beams, her eyes sparkling. "Oh, that's wonderful! I'm so glad she liked it. I can't wait to meet her either, she sounds like a lovely girl. You did a good job, Felix. I'm proud of you." She says, her voice warm. She then changes the topic, her tone teasing. "So, what else happened? Did you do anything else impressive today?" She asks, her eyes glinting with mischief.
He chuckles, feeling a bit shy. "Well... I guess I did. I learned how to better deal with my psionic problem, thanks to Grog, he really helped me out. He's also really strong and fun to spar with. I didn't cause any trouble in psionic class. In fact, I won a duel against a guy who was being a jerk to me." He brags, feeling a bit smug.
She raises an eyebrow, looking impressed. "A duel, you say? That sounds exciting. How did it go? Did you use your psionics, or your magic?" She asks, her voice curious.
He explains, "Well, I didn't want to use my psionics, because they still hurt a lot. So I used my magic to enhance my speed and strength, and basically beat him with a blink spell and a few physical moves. I know it's not very psychic of me, but it worked." He says, his tone defensive.
She laughs, shaking her head. "Oh, Felix, you're so silly. You don't have to use psionics to prove yourself. You have other talents, and you should use them. I'm just glad you're okay, and that you didn't get hurt. I don't want you getting into duels too often, but of course you're allowed to defend yourself and should. Though I do wonder, if you did so much today, why didn't you tell me about your magic class? Did something happen with your cute little teacher?" She asks.
He blushes, realizing he forgot to mention Nya. He was so focused on his other classes that he didn't think to bring her up. "Oh, well... Nothing much happened, really. I offered to help her carry her stuff. She accepted, and we talked a bit. It was... nice." He says, his voice vague. He hopes she won't tease him too much.
She smirks, seeing right through him. "Mhmm, I bet it was. You're such a good boy, helping your teacher like that. I raised such a sweet young gentleman, always doing his best to help and impress a girl he likes~." She says. She winks at him, making him groan.
"Mom, stop! It's not like that, okay? She's just a friend, and a mentor. Nothing more." He protests.
She holds up her hands, pretending to surrender. "Okay, okay, I'll drop it. But just remember, I'm always here for you, no matter what." She says, her voice softening. She then turns back to the stove, checking on the food. "Dinner will be ready in a few minutes. Why don't you go wash up and relax? You've had a long day." She suggests, her tone caring.
He nods, standing up and stretching. "Thanks, mom. You're the best." He says, giving her a kiss on the cheek. He goes to the bathroom and washes up, feeling refreshed after. He comes back to the kitchen, where his mom has set the table. They sit down and enjoy their meal, talking about their day and their plans for tomorrow. Felix feels happy and content, surrounded by his mom's love and support. He thinks about how lucky he is to have her, and how much he wants to make her proud. He gives her a hug and tells her he loves her, and she hugs him back and tells him she loves him too. Then he heads to his room and studies a bit before going to bed.