Chapter 27
The morning sun bathed the school entrance in a soft golden hue. Laughter echoed as groups of students entered, chatting, comparing notes, and teasing one another.
Om stood alone near the iron-gate arch of the school entrance.
"How are others from my class preparing?"
He quietly exhaled, half-lost in thought.
Just as he was about to step forward—
"Om!"
A familiar voice rang out from across the way.
Om turned.
It was Principal Raghav.
Dressed sharply in a grey blazer over his formal suit.
Om walked to him, bowed lightly, and greeted,
"Good morning, Principal sir."
Raghav blinked.
He couldn't help but pause, observing the boy standing before him. It had been less than half a month, yet Om's very presence had changed.
"He was just a sickly, underwhelming kid during the ceremony.Now… this stance, his clarity of gaze… even his muscles… he's changed."
For a brief moment, he mentally summoned the memory of the frail teenager. That version of Om had always walked with his head down, mumbling half-hearted responses.
But this version stood tall. Calm. Alert. Even the way he greeted the Principal first—it was new.
What happened to him?
"Principal sir?" Om's voice brought him back.
Raghav cleared his throat quickly. "Uhh—sorry. I was lost in thought."
Om gave a small smile. "I was wondering… what have you been up to since the inheritance ceremony?"
Raghav chuckled. "Me? Nothing out of the ordinary. Managing a school full of newly awakened inheritors is a full-time job." Then he leaned slightly forward, "But you—you've changed. What have you been up to, Om?"
Om didn't hesitate.
"Just practiced. Ran a few experiments to understand my inheritance. Even if it's broken, I wanted to see what could be salvaged."
Raghav raised a brow. "Were you successful?"
Om shrugged lightly. "Still weak compared to the elite. But I've made progress."
There was no bitterness in his tone. Just a calm acknowledgement of facts.
Raghav crossed his arms, intrigued. "And what brings you here today, instead of preparing for the entrance exam?"
"I was curious," Om said honestly. "Wanted to see how the others are doing."
The Principal smiled. "Most of your classmates are being trained by top-tier families. Those who weren't scouted are being trained here at the school."
Om blinked. "The school is training inheritors?"
Raghav nodded. "It's an initiative we took after the ceremony. This year's results were… unprecedented. Many top candidates joined the families. But for the talented ones who didn't get scouted, we couldn't let them fall behind. So we brought in help."
He paused and smiled knowingly. "Want to see?"
Om's eyes lit up.
"Yes."
At the Assembly Ground
The once tranquil assembly ground had transformed into a full-blown training arena. Metallic boundary lines glowed faintly, defining battle rings. Dummies shaped like beasts stood idle on the far end. A few teachers stood nearby, taking notes.
And at the center of it all—shouting commands with military precision—was a familiar voice.
Bhanu.
Dressed in his battle-ready uniform, he looked more like a commander than a teacher. His presence demanded attention.
"STRETCH! Hold that position! You think monsters will wait for you to warm up?!
Spine straight—not bent like noodles!"
Students scrambled to follow orders.
Om couldn't hide his surprise. "Mr. Bhanu?"
Raghav chuckled. "Yes. Mr. Narad helped us get him. He's overseeing the school's internal training program."
"But I thought he was training Mr. Raj?" Om asked, puzzled.
Raghav raised a brow. "He was. But Raj doesn't need him all the time."
Om nodded slowly. It made sense.
Bhanu scanned the field and immediately noticed Om standing with the Principal.
A rare, genuine smile tugged at his lips. He raised a hand and waved.
"Group attention!" Bhanu barked again.
The students snapped to attention.
"You have five minutes to prepare. Mock battles begin after that!"
He turned and walked toward Om and Raghav, his steps crisp and calculated.
"Principal. Om."
They returned the greeting.
Bhanu looked Om up and down.
"You've grown. A bit taller, stronger posture."
"Just a little," Om said modestly.
"You should've informed me. We could've come together," Bhanu added.
Om shook his head. "It was a sudden decision. Besides, I wanted to come alone."
"Hmm. Lone wolf behavior," Bhanu muttered with a grin. "So what brings you here?"
Om replied, "Just wanted to observe. I was curious how others are preparing."
Bhanu nodded thoughtfully. "You'll see soon enough. Most of them are good, but a few… they're getting sharper. Fast learners."
He glanced back at the field where students were now sparring in pairs. Blades clashed. Elemental surges exploded in controlled bursts. Teachers gave corrections on stance, posture, and energy flow.
"Of course," Bhanu added, "none of them can match the top-tier inheritors. But they're improving."
Om watched intently.
Zero noted every small detail.
One student used a flame inheritance but lacked control—he burned his own sleeve mid-swing.
Another had a wind-based technique, quick and agile, but left too many openings.
Om's eyes narrowed.
"They're still rough. But they're trying. That effort matters."
He observed their body language, the pace of mana flow, their reaction times. His mind worked like a strategist.
"Some of these patterns could be adapted. Even a broken inheritance could benefit."
Bhanu nudged Om gently with his elbow.
"Want to join in?"
Om shook his head. "Not today."
Raghav smiled, "He's here as an observer today, not a participant."
"Fair enough," Bhanu said. "But don't think observation is passive. You'll learn things even elite fighters miss."
Om nodded.
They stood together, quietly watching the battle rings.
Suddenly, a loud shout echoed across the field.
One student had been knocked back hard and was now groaning on the floor.
"STOP!" Bhanu called out. "That's enough.
Someone help him up."
A healer rushed forward.
Bhanu sighed. "Still too reckless. They forget these aren't real battles."
Om remembered his own helplessness before the inheritance ceremony. His body—too weak and fragile. And yet, here he was now—standing firm. Watching. Learning.
The silence between the three was no longer awkward. It was reflective.
As the session neared its end, students began packing up. Some limped away. Others bragged about how well they did. The air was charged with the familiar blend of exhaustion and pride.
Raghav turned to Om. "Satisfied?"
Om gave a quiet nod. "Yes. It was… insightful."
Om looked into the distance.
"I don't plan on staying weak."
His voice was calm—but it had weight.
Raghav chuckled. "We believe you."
"Master Om, if you want to leave, leave before it gets dark. I have other business to attend to, so I will be late," expressed Bhanu.
As Om left the school premises that day, he didn't feel out of place.