Night settled over the academy without ceremony.
The corridors were quieter now, but not silent. Footsteps echoed faintly in the distance, doors opening and closing, voices carrying from somewhere unseen. The structure didn't sleep—it simply… slowed.
Kael lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling.
Awake.
---
The room was dim. Shadows stretched across the walls, broken only by faint ambient light filtering through the window.
Across from him, Tovin hadn't moved.
Whether he was asleep or not—
unclear.
---
Kael's eyes remained open.
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> Mana compression. Structure. Flow.
---
He replayed it again.
And again.
---
> Reduce size. Stabilise first.
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It worked.
But it didn't matter.
---
> It's still useless.
---
A sound broke the quiet.
Distant at first.
Then closer.
---
Voices.
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Not from nearby rooms.
From the hallway.
---
Louder than they should be.
---
Kael sat up slowly.
---
"F-Class is on this floor, right?"
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Another voice answered.
"Yeah. Somewhere here."
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Footsteps approached.
Unhurried.
Confident.
---
Kael stood.
For a moment, he considered staying inside.
Ignoring it.
---
But the voices didn't pass.
They stopped.
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Right outside.
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The door opened.
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Three figures stood in the hallway.
Older posture. More relaxed.
Not F-Class.
---
Their uniforms were the same style—
but cleaner.
Sharper.
And on the left side of their chest—
small metal tags.
---
Kael's eyes flicked briefly.
---
Rhett Kaine — D Class
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The one in front.
Calm.
Watching.
---
Behind him—
a broader figure shifted his weight, cracking his knuckles.
---
Brann Holt — D Class
---
The third leaned slightly against the wall, a faint smirk already forming.
---
Kellis Varn — D Class
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"Found one," Kellis said lightly.
---
Rhett's gaze settled fully on Kael.
---
"You're the theory one."
---
Not a question.
---
Kael didn't respond.
---
Brann stepped forward.
"Do something."
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Silence.
---
"Or just stand there," he added.
---
Kael's mind moved.
---
Distance.
Three.
Narrow hallway.
---
No advantage.
---
He shifted slightly.
Not retreating.
Adjusting.
---
> Disrupt balance.
---
There was a water container placed against the wall.
---
Kael moved.
Fast—
---
He grabbed it and threw it forward.
---
Water splashed across the floor, spreading unevenly.
---
Brann stepped into it—
---
His foot slipped—
---
But he corrected instantly.
---
Too fast.
---
Kael moved back—
---
Too slow.
---
Brann closed the distance in a single step.
---
Impact.
---
The hit wasn't heavy.
Not excessive.
---
But precise.
---
Kael's back struck the wall.
Air left his lungs instantly.
---
For a moment—
nothing.
---
No breath.
No movement.
---
He dropped slightly, catching himself before falling completely.
---
> I saw it.
---
His vision blurred.
---
> And still couldn't stop it.
---
Kellis let out a short laugh.
"That's it?"
---
Brann exhaled, unimpressed.
"Thought he'd at least try something decent."
---
Rhett hadn't moved much.
Just watched.
---
His eyes stayed on Kael for a moment longer.
---
Then—
"Not worth it."
---
Simple.
Final.
---
He turned.
---
"Come on, Brann."
---
The name landed naturally.
---
Kellis pushed off the wall, following.
"Yeah, yeah."
---
Their footsteps faded.
---
Silence returned.
---
Kael remained where he was.
---
The water slowly spread across the floor.
Uneven.
Uncontrolled.
---
A slow breath.
Then another.
---
"…you moved too early."
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The voice came from behind.
---
Kael didn't turn immediately.
---
Tovin stood a short distance away, leaning against the doorway.
---
He hadn't made a sound.
---
Kael said nothing.
---
Tovin's gaze shifted briefly toward the floor.
Then back.
---
"Your timing's wrong."
---
Flat.
Observational.
---
Not advice.
---
Just… correct.
---
A pause.
---
Then he turned and walked back into the room.
---
Like nothing had happened.
---
Kael stayed in the hallway a moment longer.
---
His hand tightened slightly.
---
Not anger.
---
Recognition.
---
> Understanding isn't enough.
---
The thought settled quietly.
---
He stepped back into the room.
Closed the door.
---
Silence returned.
---
Unchanged.
---
Kael sat down slowly.
---
No frustration.
No outward reaction.
---
Just thought.
---
His gaze lowered.
---
"…then I need something more."