The next morning, Valthera slowly awakened.
The first rays of sunlight filtered between the massive buildings of the capital.
Merchants opened their shops, travelers filled the main avenues, and students made their way toward the Central Academy of Étheria.
Among them were three young students: Raizen, Kaira, and Zayden.
They walked together through the academy’s corridors.
But unlike his two companions, Raizen had barely spoken a word since they arrived.
Kaira looked at him for several seconds before breaking the silence: “Are you going to keep making that face all day?” Raizen slowly turned toward her.
“What face?” “The face of someone who’s been overthinking the same thing for three hours.” Zayden offered a faint smile.
“She isn’t wrong.” Raizen sighed.
“I’m thinking about what happened yesterday.” Kaira’s smile faded.
She knew exactly what he was talking about: the crystal, the strange energy that had manifested around Raizen, and above all… that unsettling feeling none of them had been able to comprehend.
“Do you think your power is dangerous?” Kaira asked.
Raizen remained silent, looking down at his hand.
“I don’t know.” “Then find out before someone else decides to find out for you,” Zayden added calmly.
Raizen stared at Zayden.
For a moment, none of them spoke.
Then, Kaira gently placed a hand on Raizen’s shoulder.
“Whatever it is, you won’t be alone.” Raizen looked at her without answering, but those words stayed with him.
The First Lesson The three friends entered a massive classroom where dozens of students were already seated.
A professor stood at the front of the room.
“Take your seats.” All the students sat down.
The professor opened a dusty tome.
“You all passed the entrance examination,” he said before closing the book.
“But passing that exam does not make you accomplished mages.” The students exchanged uncertain glances.
“Here, you will learn to control your energy, understand your abilities, and, above all…” He scanned the class.
“…learn your limits.” A murmur echoed through the room.
The professor raised his hand, and a massive magical list materialized in the air.
“You will be assigned to different classes based on your abilities.” Names began to appear.
KAIRA A golden light radiated around her name.
Advanced Combat Class.
Kaira smiled.
“Perfect.” Several students looked at her in surprise.
Then, another name emerged.
ZAYDEN The professor paused.
Special Class.
Whispers immediately broke out across the room.
“Why a special class?” “His power is weird…” “He doesn’t look like an ordinary mage.” Zayden didn’t react.
Finally, the last name appeared.
RAIZEN This time, the professor paused for even longer.
A black symbol etched itself beside the name.
Special Class.
Raizen frowned.
“Why?” “Because we were unable to clearly identify the nature of your power,” the professor answered, staring directly at him.
Raizen said nothing.
He could feel the weight of the other students’ gazes upon him.
Some were curious, others afraid; a few already seemed to view him as a threat.
Raizen lowered his eyes.
He recognized that look—he had seen it many times before.
The Training Ground Several hours later, the students were led to a massive arena with a floor covered in glowing magical runes.
Powerful barriers protected the spectator stands.
The professor raised his hand, casting an enormous magical shield around the battlefield.
“Today, we will begin with a simple exercise.” An eager student stepped forward.
“Me, Professor!” He extended his hand, and a fireball ignited in his palm.
The students applauded.
Another stepped forward and molded a spear of ice.
Raizen watched intently, but he wasn’t just watching the spells—he was analyzing their movements, their breathing, the positioning of their feet, and the subtle gestures made before casting each attack.
Kaira noticed his laser focus.
“Are you analyzing everyone?” “Yes,” he replied calmly.
“Why?” “Because every power has a weakness.” Zayden smirked.
“You’re already planning for a fight.” “You have to be ready before the fight even starts,” Raizen concluded, without taking his eyes off the arena.
The Three Strongest Students Suddenly, all conversations stopped.
Three students entered the arena, and everyone recognized them instantly: they were the three strongest students in the academy.
The first was a boy with silver hair, lightnings crackling across his arms.
The second was a girl surrounded by a freezing aura.
The third was a silent boy with small stones floating around him.
“The three strongest…” Kaira whispered.
“Their magical energy is impressive,” Zayden observed.
The silver-haired boy approached them.
“So, you’re the new students?” Nobody answered.
His eyes settled on Raizen.
“You.” Raizen raised his gaze.
“What?” “Your energy is strange,” the boy said with a provocative smile.
“I’d like to see what you can do.” Kaira stepped in between them.
“You just met him, and you already want to fight him?” The boy chuckled.
“I don’t want to fight him.
I simply want to know if the rumors are true.” Raizen looked at the boy, then at Kaira, and finally at Zayden.
“Another time.” The boy’s smile faded.
“You’re refusing?” “I have no reason to fight you,” Raizen answered flatly.
He turned around.
Kaira and Zayden followed him.
The silver-haired boy stood motionless, his face cold.
“Interesting…” The Battle By afternoon, the students were divided across the arena for their first practical evaluation.
The magical roster floating above the field updated.
RAIZEN VS.
DARIUS A young man carrying a sword stepped onto the field and sized Raizen up.
“You’re Raizen?” “Yes.” Darius smirked.
“I’ve heard about you.
They say your power is impossible to identify.” He pointed his blade directly at Raizen.
“Let’s see if that’s true.” The professor raised his hand.
“Begin!” Darius lunged, his sword cutting through the air.
Raizen dodged.
Darius immediately followed up with a second strike.
Raizen stepped backward.
A third attack came rapidly, which Raizen avoided by an inch.
Darius grew visibly frustrated.
“Stop running away!” Raizen didn’t answer, entirely focused on observing: Darius’s footwork, the tilt of his shoulder, the rhythm of his breathing.
He realized every attack began with the exact same subtle wind-up.
As Darius raised his sword once more, Raizen whispered: “I’ve figured you out.” Darius charged, but this time, Raizen didn’t move.
A shadow emerged beneath his feet and moved on its own, darting forward to catch Darius’s blade mid-swing.
Darius’s eyes widened in shock.
“What…?” Raizen himself was startled, staring down at his own shadow.
I didn’t do that… The shadow quivered, then morphed into several sharp, dark spikes that stopped mere inches from Darius’s throat.
Raizen could have pressed further, but he lowered his hand.
“Surrender.” Darius stared at the shadows, his breathing fast and shallow.
After a few tense seconds, he lowered his sword.
“I surrender.” The professor called it out: “Raizen wins!” Murmurs immediately erupted from the stands.
Raizen left the arena with a grave expression.
Kaira was waiting for him at the exit.
“Did you feel that?” “Yes,” Raizen nodded.
“You weren’t controlling that technique yourself.” “No.” Zayden looked down at the ground.
“Your power is acting on its own initiative.” Raizen clenched his fists.
“And I still don’t know why.” A Feeling of Concern Later, as the three friends left the arena, Kaira—who was walking a few steps ahead—suddenly stopped.
“You know…” “What?” Raizen asked.
She turned around and looked directly into his eyes.
“Your power scares me a little.” Raizen froze.
“But you don’t,” she added with a warm smile.
“Don’t confuse the two.” Raizen looked away, caught off guard.
He stood silent for a moment before quietly muttering: “Thank you.” Zayden watched them with an amused expression.
“It’s rare to hear you say that.” “Don’t get used to it,” Raizen sighed.
Kaira burst out laughing.
For the first time since they had arrived at the academy, Raizen laughed along with them.
Meanwhile, high above in a dimly lit chamber within the academy, someone was watching the scene play out.
A file lay on a table with a single name written across its cover: RAIZEN.
Inside, numerous pages detailed his profile, but one specific sentence had been circled multiple times: “His power reacts independently of his will.” A hand slowly closed the file.
“His awakening has already begun…” Silence filled the room.
“We must keep watching him.” The Night That night, Raizen stood alone on the academy rooftop.
The city glittered beneath him.
He looked down at his hand.
“Why…” A faint shadow coiled around his fingers, immediately followed by a soft, white light.
Raizen stumbled back in shock, his heart pounding.
“Light…?” The light vanished as quickly as it had appeared.
Raizen stood frozen in place.
Suddenly, a voice echoed from behind him: “You’re finally beginning to understand.” Raizen whipped around.
“Who’s there?” No answer.
He clenched his fists.
“Show yourself!” The wind howled across the roof.
A final sentence echoed through the darkness: “Your power will soon attract forces you are not yet capable of facing.” Raizen stood completely still.
For the first time in a long while, genuine fear gripped him—not for himself, but for Kaira and Zayden.
He raised his eyes to the sky, his expression hardening with resolve.
“Then I’ll just become stronger.
No matter who comes…” A shadow wrapped around his body.
“…I will face them.” Priority Surveillance At that exact moment, in a secret room beneath the academy, Raizen’s file was placed among several others.
But unlike the rest, his document bore a distinct black stamp: PRIORITY SURVEILLANCE A hand slowly withdrew as a voice whispered into the shadows: “His awakening has begun.” And somewhere out there, someone was already waiting for Raizen’s true power to fully unfold… To be continued… — Kurotsuki