Ye Chen's victory left a trail of reverent silence across the battlefield. Even among the heirs of the Nine Great Clans, few could display such overwhelming power with such simplicity. The boy had won with a single strike — clean, direct, without the need for flourish.
But the morning wasn't over yet.
"Continue the duels." announced Professor Aurelia, her voice as dry as ever. "Heirs of the Ten Middle Clans, step forward."
The atmosphere shifted slightly. The tension from the opening bouts was gone, but the air still carried respect. One by one, the representatives of the intermediate houses entered the dueling circles. Some battles were fierce, showcasing skilled Energy control and elaborate techniques. Others ended quickly, the gap in strength too obvious to prolong the fight.
When Reid's name was called, he walked forward with a sly grin, as if stepping onto a theater stage rather than a battlefield.
"Reid Ledger. Circle Five." Aurelia announced. "Against Liam Grafton."
Liam, a tall, serious boy — son of the Grafton Clan, masters of lightning channelling — stepped forward wielding a spear that hummed with crackling energy.
From the stands, Indra leaned forward. He had never actually seen Reid fight before.
The match began with Liam calling down a bolt from the sky, but Reid slipped away with ease, weaving through the circles like a dancer. In one smooth motion, he drew a pair of black-silver daggers and lunged sideways, his body wreathed in spectral mist.
"Phantom Style." Claire murmured from the sidelines. "A Ledger classic."
In a blur, Reid appeared behind Liam. The lightning wielder barely began to turn before the spear was knocked from his hands and a dagger hovered a hair's breadth from his throat.
"Victory, Reid Ledger." Aurelia declared.
Reid gave Indra a casual wave before strolling out of the circle as if nothing noteworthy had happened.
Next, it was Claire Seguette's turn.
"Claire Seguette. Circle Six."
Her opponent: a girl from the Marwick Clan, a wielder of defensive crystal barriers.
Unlike Reid, Claire wasn't here to play. She entered the field like a silent storm. Energy condensed around her fists, and with a relentless series of straight, rapid, brutally precise strikes, she shattered the crystalline defenses. Each punch landed like muffled thunder, wrapped in dense, unstable force. Less than a minute later, her opponent was on the ground.
"Victory, Claire Seguette." the professor declared.
Indra clapped softly, surprised by her cold, controlled ferocity.
But when the expectation began shifting toward him, Aurelia's words were blunt:
"Indra Shuemesch… will sit out. Still below the level required for practical duels."
There was no malice in her tone, but it was a clear reminder of where he stood. A knot tightened in his throat, but he swallowed it down. He knew. It was still too soon.
The duels continued until mid-afternoon, when the combat circles began to sink slowly back into the earth.
Aurelia stepped into the center of the arena. The sky had begun to dim, violet sunlight from the Other Side spilling across the enchanted structures.
"Attention, everyone." she said, her voice carrying firmly. "In two weeks, there will be a special Practical Lesson. You will be deployed into a wild region — an esoteric forest — where you will have to survive."
A ripple of murmurs spread through the crowd.
"Details will only be given on the day. What you need to know now is this: it will be decisive for the Paranormal Examination. Prepare yourselves."
Class was dismissed.
Indra, Reid, and Claire walked together toward the arena gates.
"Dangerous forest… sounds fun." Reid said with a sarcastic smirk.
"This is going to be a mess." Claire muttered, adjusting her jacket.
"I can't even duel yet, let alone survive in a place like that…" Indra mumbled.
Reid gave him a light punch on the arm.
"That's why you have to train, Indra. Be ready. Or you'll end up as breakfast for some spectral lizard."
They parted ways soon after, each heading toward their own quarters.
Indra wandered the glowing streets of the Royal Borough. Overhead, the cold moon shone brilliantly, casting a pale, translucent blue over the enchanted rooftops. He paused for a moment to take it in.
It was massive.
Majestic.
Unsettling.
Something impossible to witness in the Mortal Plane.
When he arrived at Sophie's house, she was waiting in the living room with a cup of esoteric tea in hand. They exchanged a few words over dinner, laughing at some recent stories, before Indra headed upstairs.
He changed into his training clothes and sat cross-legged on the floor.
Deep breath.
Focused mind.
He blended techniques he had seen before — Sophie's movements, Professor Owen's drills, basic Energy manipulation — but always adapting them to his own body and unique flow.
He tried and failed.
Tried again. Failed again.
The next day, the same.
And the next.
And the next.
For an entire week, his life was a loop:
Academy. Mess hall. Classes. Training. Frustration. Repeat.
In rare moments of rest, he and Sophie explored the Royal Borough — discovering alleys with arcane bookstores, floating cafés, blacksmiths forging weapons from life-force, even an enchanted orphanage where children learned to control living dolls.
But no matter what, the restlessness in Indra's chest never faded.
Until one night, on the seventh day, something shifted.
His breathing slowed. Focus sharpened. The flow of Energy began to move — not like a wild river anymore, but like a steady, subtle stream. Suddenly, pain lanced through his chest, sharp and deep, as if something was breaking… or being born.
And then, it happened.
Heat burst from his chest. Faint lines of light formed beneath his skin, not like normal veins — but Magical Veins.
When the glow faded, he collapsed to his knees, trembling, drenched in sweat.
But he was smiling.
He had done it.
Indra was now Awakened.
The Magical Veins had vanished from sight, but he could still feel the steady pulse of Energy running under his skin — a part of him now.
He wiped the sweat from his face and, still a little unsteady, went downstairs.
The house was quiet except for the faint clink of dishes. Sophie was in the kitchen, back turned, stirring a pot. When she glanced over and saw him, her eyes widened instantly.
"You…" The spoon fell into the pot. She crossed the room in quick strides, her mismatched eyes gleaming. "You awakened… and formed your Magical Veins?!"
Indra managed a tired, satisfied smile.
"It happened just now. I'm not even sure how… but it happened."
Sophie stared at him for a long moment before smiling warmly — proud, genuine.
"Congratulations, Indra. You're officially Awakened. And in record time."
She pulled him into a quick hug — a rare gesture from her.
Later, they sat down to eat. Sophie served black rice with enchanted vegetables that shimmered faintly in shades of blue and violet. As they ate, she explained the implications of his new state — smoother access to Energy, greater resistance to spiritual influence, and the beginning of his true Path.
The next morning, Indra made his way to the Esoteric Academy, his clothes just a bit tighter over the leaner, firmer muscle built during those intense training days.
The Royal Borough felt more alive than ever. Colors brighter, sounds sharper, scents richer — as if the world had stopped whispering and was now speaking directly to him.
At the Academy gates, he found Reid leaning against a column of black marble, idly juggling a floating green apple. Claire sat on the railing, face tilted toward the sky with a bored expression.
"Well, look who's here…" Reid tossed the apple into the air. "And with a different aura."
Claire looked him over and raised an eyebrow.
"He did it," she said simply.
Indra grinned.
"Happened last night. I finally formed my Magical Veins."
Reid let out a low whistle, impressed.
"Man… a week and a half ago you were just a normal human. Now you're Awakened. That's insane."
"No one grows that fast." Claire said, arms crossed. "Unless they've got monstrous talent… or ridiculous luck."
"Or both," Reid added with a laugh.
Indra rubbed the back of his neck, a little embarrassed.
"I just tried to copy what I saw… the techniques, the explanations… I guess it worked."
"And now you think you can duel, huh?" Reid teased, elbowing him.
"I don't know. But I want to try." Indra said firmly.
He had learned a lot over the past week. Lessons in Phenomenon Realm Studies had expanded his knowledge of Energy types, Other Side creatures, and magical structures. Combat Theory had taught him to read opponents, recognize patterns, use the environment, and channel Energy offensively and defensively.
But maybe the greatest lessons had come from the stands of the Outer Arena, watching Reid, Claire, and the other heirs fight — absorbing every move, every mistake, every success, as if the world itself were giving him silent instruction.
Together, the three made their way to the Outer Arena.
The sky of the Other Side was clear and violet, streaked with opaline clouds drifting lazily overhead. The combat circles were already being activated by Professor Aurelia, her expression as unreadable as ever. Her black uniform shifted faintly in the esoteric breeze drifting from the distant forest.
The arena was packed with students in neat rows. Many cast reverent or envious looks toward the Clan Heirs. And now, for the first time, Indra walked among them with a new feeling — belonging.
He approached the professor, hesitating only for a moment before speaking.
"Professor Aurelia." he called. "I… have awakened. I've formed my Magical Veins. May I take part in the duels today?"
Aurelia looked at him.
Her dark eyes scanned him from head to toe. For an instant her face remained unreadable, but there was the faintest tension in her jaw — almost imperceptible — and a brief flicker of curiosity in her gaze.
"Hmph." she murmured. "A week and a half ago, you were a civilian from the Mortal Plane."
She stepped closer, arms crossed.
"And now, you're Awakened?"
Indra simply nodded.
She studied him another moment, as if searching for any falsehood. But the Energy radiating from him left no doubt — he was truly Awakened. New, with a forming core and basic control, but undeniably real.
At last, she let out a short breath.
"Let's see… what you've got."
With that, she turned to address the other students.
Indra's heart quickened. Behind him, Reid muttered:
"Welcome to the field, Shuemesch."
Claire smirked, arms still crossed.
"Try not to die in the first exchange."
Indra took a deep breath.
It was time.
His story in the Esoteric Society was only just beginning.