The morning sun hung high above the academy as Kael and Charlotte walked side by side toward the gym.
For once, Charlotte remained unusually quiet.
Kael noticed it but didn’t comnt.
After everything that had happened over the last few days—the awakening of her affinity, the formation of her mana core, and the realization that she could beco a Warlock—he wasn’t surprised she had a lot on her mind.
"You must be really strong," Charlotte finally said.
Kael glanced at her.
"You’re only realizing that now?"
Charlotte rolled her eyes.
"But don’t beat yourself up about it too much. I’m still way too weak."
His voice was calm, but Charlotte could hear the determination hidden beneath those words.
She frowned slightly.
If soone like Kael considered himself weak, then what exactly was considered strong in this world?
"What is your reason for pursuing strength?" Charlotte asked.
Standing in front of the gym entrance, Kael stopped and turned toward her.
"What other reason could there be?"
His red eyes t hers.
"I want to survive."
The answer was simple.
Almost too simple.
Yet Charlotte sohow felt that Kael ant every word.
He turned around and walked inside the gym.
Charlotte followed behind him.
The two entered the gravity chamber.
Kael imdiately adjusted the settings.
1.5x Gravity.
The familiar pressure settled over Charlotte’s body.
It was uncomfortable, but nowhere near as crushing as before.
"Why didn’t you switch it to 2x?" Charlotte asked.
"Because for today’s training, you won’t need to handle that much pressure."
Kael walked toward the weapon racks.
After scanning them for a mont, he grabbed a practice spear.
Without warning, he tossed it toward Charlotte.
She caught it instinctively.
Charlotte stared at the weapon.
"A spear?"
She looked up.
"Why are you giving a spear? I’d prefer a sword."
"Well, I’m one hundred percent sure a spear suits you better."
Kael replied so confidently that Charlotte felt like arguing was pointless.
"Okay..."
She spun the weapon once.
"Before we begin, what’s your class?"
Charlotte hesitated briefly.
"Storm Warden."
Kael nodded.
"I see."
"So it’s still the sa."
Charlotte blinked.
"What?"
"Nothing."
Kael imdiately changed the topic.
"Well, that’s a pretty good class."
Charlotte narrowed her eyes.
"You sound like you already knew."
Kael ignored her accusation.
"Now then, welco to today’s lesson."
Charlotte stared at his expression.
"Why do I suddenly feel worried?"
"Because your instincts are working."
Charlotte sighed.
"So what exactly is today’s class about, Mr. Pro?"
Kael grinned.
"Mana Manipulation."
Charlotte blinked.
"That’s it?"
"That’s it."
Kael pointed toward her spear.
"You have a mana core now. That ans you can move mana freely through your body."
He stepped closer.
"Your lightning affinity is naturally destructive."
Charlotte nodded.
"Which ans your biggest problem isn’t power."
"It’s control."
Kael tapped the spear with his practice sword.
"I want you to channel mana into this spear."
Charlotte stared at him.
"Okay..."
"And prevent it from breaking."
Charlotte imdiately realized where this was going.
"No."
"Yes."
"No."
"Yes."
Charlotte pointed accusingly at him.
"This sounds exactly like the last training session that almost got killed."
Kael looked thoughtful.
"The circumstances are completely different."
"How?"
"You have a weapon now."
Charlotte almost threw the spear at him.
Kael continued before she could complain.
"I won’t use mana."
Charlotte relaxed slightly.
Then Kael added:
"But I will use my full physical strength."
Charlotte froze.
"You’re kidding."
"No."
Kael drew his practice sword.
"On guard."
The next mont—
Flesh Step.
He vanished.
Charlotte’s eyes widened.
She barely managed to raise her spear.
CLANG!
The impact exploded through her arms.
A crack imdiately spread across the wooden shaft.
Kael’s sword stopped a few centiters above her forehead.
Charlotte stared upward.
Silence.
Then—
"...I hate you."
Kael stepped back.
"Good."
Charlotte glared at him.
"What do you an good?"
"It ans you’re motivated."
Charlotte wanted to stab him.
Instead she grabbed another practice spear.
Standing once more in front of Kael, she pointed the weapon at him.
"I’ll shock you one day."
"I think you’re forgetting a Dattebayo."
Charlotte blinked.
"What does that even an?"
Kael wiped away an imaginary tear.
"You’re not a person of culture."
"That statent sohow made less sense than everything else you’ve said."
Kael ignored her.
"Again."
The training continued.
Once.
Twice.
Ten tis.
Twenty tis.
Every single spear broke.
At first Charlotte simply pushed mana through the weapon.
The results were terrible.
The mana leaked out almost instantly.
The weapon remained fragile.
Then she tried wrapping the spear with mana.
That worked slightly better.
The shaft lasted two attacks before breaking.
By the thirtieth attempt, sweat covered her forehead.
Her breathing had beco ragged.
Yet sothing had changed.
Every ti Kael struck the spear, Charlotte could feel where the mana was weakest.
She began adjusting it instinctively.
Reinforcing weak points.
Strengthening the shaft.
Protecting the tip.
The process felt strangely similar to balancing her body.
Lightning mana flowed through the weapon like electricity through a circuit.
If the flow beca unstable, the spear broke.
If she maintained balance, it endured longer.
Kael noticed imdiately.
"Good."
Charlotte paused.
"...Did you just praise ?"
"Don’t get used to it."
Charlotte rolled her eyes.
"You’re impossible."
Kael smirked.
"Again."
The training continued for nearly two more hours.
Eventually Charlotte managed to block three consecutive attacks without the spear shattering.
The achievent felt small.
But compared to where she started, it was a huge improvent.
Unfortunately—
Her mana reserves were nearly empty.
Charlotte collapsed onto the floor.
"I can’t move."
Kael looked down at her.
"I can see that."
"No."
Charlotte pointed dramatically at the ceiling.
"I physically can’t move."
Kael crouched beside her.
"I guess you’re exhausted."
"No."
Charlotte replied imdiately.
"I just decided to lie on the floor because I’m overflowing with energy."
Kael sighed.
"The sarcasm is getting stronger."
Charlotte smirked weakly.
"I learned from the best."
Kael stood up.
"I’ll be heading to the Virtual Simulation Room."
Charlotte blinked.
"Already?"
"Yeah."
Charlotte watched him start walking away.
"Must be nice."
Kael paused.
"What?"
"Being talented."
Kael didn’t answer imdiately.
After a mont he simply shrugged.
"Keep training."
Then he left.
Charlotte stared at his back before looking down at her spear.
After a few monts, she stood up.
Slowly.
Painfully.
But she stood.
Taking a deep breath, she sat down cross-legged.
"If he can train..."
She gripped the spear.
"So can I."
Closing her eyes, Charlotte circulated her mana.
The lightning energy moved through her body before reaching her hands.
This ti she didn’t force it.
Instead she guided it carefully.
A little at a ti.
Like pouring water into a glass.
Tiny sparks appeared around the spear.
Charlotte focused harder.
The sparks stabilized.
The weapon gradually beca coated in a thin layer of lightning mana.
The process was exhausting.
But unlike before, it wasn’t falling apart imdiately.
A smile slowly appeared on her face.
"It worked."
The mana flickered.
Then disappeared.
Charlotte imdiately collapsed backward.
"...Never mind."
anwhile.
Kael walked toward the Virtual Simulation Building.
The academy considered it one of its most valuable facilities.
Countless combat styles.
Countless battle records.
Countless opponents.
Everything stored inside one place.
For soone like Kael, it was a treasure trove.
"With this..."
"I’ll be able to prepare properly for the tournant."
He approached the entrance.
Removing his badge, he pressed it against the scanner.
A chanical voice echoed through the room.
[Access Granted.]
[Privileges Limited To First-Year Records.]
Kael clicked his tongue.
"Still restricted."
But it was enough for now.
He stepped inside.
Rows of training pods lined the walls.
After selecting an empty one, he entered.
The equipnt wrapped around his body.
It felt surprisingly comfortable.
The simulation activated.
The world around him changed instantly.
A vast arena appeared.
Kael stretched slightly.
"It really does feel realistic."
The academy used these simulations to help students gain combat experience without risking their lives.
Students could fight monsters.
Forr graduates.
Current students.
Or even copies of themselves.
Naturally—
Kael imdiately chose the last option.
"Simulate Kael Draven."
Light gathered.
A figure appeared.
An exact copy of him.
Kael stared at it.
The simulation stared back.
Silence.
Then Kael nodded.
"Handso."
The simulation remained silent.
"Good."
Kael drew his sword.
The clone copied him.
Kael smiled.
"Let’s see what the academy thinks of ."
The battle began instantly.
The clone rushed forward.
Kael t it head-on.
Their blades collided.
For a brief mont the fight looked even.
Then Kael reinforced his sword with mana.
One strike.
The clone’s weapon shattered.
Another strike.
The simulation split apart.
The arena went silent.
Kael blinked.
"...That’s it?"
The system imdiately generated the results.
Victory.
Kael stared at the screen.
Then at the destroyed clone.
Then back at the screen.
"You’re kidding."
He looked offended.
"Does the academy really think I’m this weak?"
The simulation provided no answer.
Kael sighed.
"Fine."
He pointed forward.
"Next opponent."
A smile slowly appeared on his face.
The tournant was approaching.
And for the first ti since arriving at the academy—
He finally had a place where he could fight without holding back.
:::
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