The academy gave us "free training hours" every few days.
For most students, it was time to spar, flex their newest spells, or try not to blow up the field with unstable magic.
For me?
It was time to not get caught having a mental breakdown in public.
I stretched out on a bench by the edge of the practice field, pretending to nap, while internally arguing with the voice in my head.
"You need a ranged option," Crescent said. "You can't blink behind everyone and pray they forget how to turn around."
"I have a ranged option," I muttered under my breath. "It's called hiding."
"Brilliant strategy. You'll make history as the most evasive corpse."
She wasn't wrong. My current combat setup consisted of:
One smug sword.
One teleport.
Zero ranged attacks.
And one (1) Felix who looked like he belonged in a modelling agency, not a battlefield.
"Fine," I sighed. "But how am I supposed to steal skills if I don't know the conditions?"
"You test them."
"Test them how? Ask someone nicely? 'Hey, could you show me your signature technique while I emotionally traumatize you and hope the system likes it?'"
"That worked on Damian."
"…Fair. But not the point."
---
A blast of heat snapped me out of my sulk.
Across the field, a girl with dark auburn hair was training with frightening precision. Her stance was firm. Her arms moved like she'd drilled them a thousand times. She raised her hand, and with a swift gesture—
"Fire Lance!"
A flaming projectile launched from her palm, shaped like a spear but spinning like a drill. It struck the training dummy and exploded, sending up a wave of heat that reached even me from thirty feet away.
I whistled low. "Now that's a ranged option."
"Go talk to her."
"Why?"
"Because she has the skill you want."
"I'm not exactly smooth, Crescent."
"You accidentally seduced Damian and scared Alex into confusion. You'll manage."
I groaned but stood.
---
I approached cautiously.
The girl looked over as I got closer. She had sharp golden eyes and a confident, no-nonsense aura.
"Need something?" she asked, flicking stray embers off her sleeve.
"Uh," I said intelligently.
She raised a brow.
Crescent hissed in my head. "Talk, idiot. Be cute."
"I—I just saw you using Fire Lance," I said quickly. "It's… really impressive. The form, the mana control, the accuracy—like, textbook tier."
Her eyes narrowed. "You a combat major?"
"Nope. Just… paying attention."
"Hmm." She crossed her arms. "Most people just gawk and move on."
"Can you blame them? That explosion had flavor."
A beat of silence.
Then, to my shock—she smiled.
Not a full smile. Just the tiniest twitch of the lips. But still.
"What's your name?"
"Felix."
"Felix." She rolled it on her tongue like testing a spell. "Nice to meet you. I'm Elara. Want a demonstration?"
I nodded.
Thank you charm stat!
---
She walked me through the basic casting gesture—like throwing a javelin, but letting the fire flow instead of pool. Her hand crackled with orange energy, and she summoned another lance mid-air, holding it steady.
"You don't have to form it from your core," she explained. "It's quicker if you guide the fire directly from the ambient field. Less stable, but—"
She paused, staring at me.
"What?"
"You're… really focused," she said, almost confused.
"I want to learn?"
"…That's rare."
And then—
[System Notice: Potential Skill Detected – "Fire Lance"]
Copy Conditions: Emotional Resonance Triggered
Status: Eligible
Confirm Copy?
Y/N
"Felix," Crescent whispered. "You're glowing again. Do not make this weird."
I chose Y.
A subtle warmth surged through my veins. Not hot. Controlled. Like fire wrapped in velvet. My hand twitched instinctively, and faint sparks licked across my palm before fading.
[Skill Acquired: Fire Lance – Rank D]
A balanced fire-element projectile that can be thrown mid or long range. Can be charged for piercing effect.
Mana Cost: 12
WIL Scaling Enabled.
---
Elara tilted her head.
"…Did something just happen?"
"Nope," I lied with a bright smile.
She narrowed her eyes.
Then, to my horror, she leaned closer.
"…Are you blushing?"
"No—!"
She grinned.
"You are. You weren't trying to flirt, were you?"
"I would never—"
"Relax. I'm flattered."
She turned and launched another lance, this one faster and tighter in form.
"Come by anytime, Felix. I don't mind showing off for cute boys."
I short-circuited.
Crescent cackled in my head.
She's totally toying with me!
---
I staggered back to the dorm later, dazed and slightly scorched.
Alex opened the door, saw my flushed face, and immediately frowned.
"You blew something up again, didn't you?"
"Not… exactly."
Damian popped up behind him. "Another girl?"
I groaned. "It's not like that!"
Alex raised an eyebrow. "You always say that."
"I'M JUST TALENTED AT MAKING THINGS WEIRD."
---
[Skill Count: 2]
– Flash (Short-range lightning teleport)
– Fire Lance (Mid/Long-range flame projectile)
System Synchronization: Stable
Ego Weapon: Pleased
Crescent's Comment: "Smooth. Accidentally deadly. You're becoming you."
---
And just like that, I was one skill closer to surviving midterms.
And about ten misunderstandings deeper into a very awkward school life.