I stood there feeling a mix of emotions swirling through my chest.
The scene before me represented a cascade of changes that I had anticipated but was unable to change.
To say that I didn't feel some anxiety would be a complete lie.
Kyle stepped into the arena, and his instructor was somebody I didn't recognize from the novel at all. That wasn't a good sign by any measure.
I knew that the the consequences of this small scene would ripple through the entire academy.
I took a deep breath, shaking my head in frustration. What was wrong with me?
Why was I fearing the unknown like it was my greatest enemy? I knew this was going to happen, so why am I feeling that way?
Back on earth I had always lived with the unknown in my previous life. I'd built a happy and sustainable existence despite not knowing what each day would bring. I'd achieved my dream job through persistence and adaptability. I had countless relationships, even if none worked out in the end, and I'd never let fear of uncertain outcomes prevent me from trying.
Yet here I was, worried that something deviated from a story I'd read.
As I watched Kyle prepare for his fight, while the unfamiliar instructor explained the duel parameters, something moved inside me.
From this moment on, I knew things would be fundamentally different from the novel I remembered and maybe that wasn't entirely a bad thing.
I took another deep breath, feeling some of the tension leave my shoulders.
Kyle began his combat stance as the unknown instructor drew his weapon.
Whatever happened in this duel, whatever relationships formed or failed to form, whatever opportunities arose or disappeared, I would adapt and overcome.
I'd done it before in my previous life. I could do it again in this one.
The unknown was not my enemy. It was simply the next chapter.
…
The fight began, and Kyle immediately proved why he was considered the dark horse of this examination cycle. His Supreme Phoenix bloodline was absolutely no joke.
I watched in a mixture of awe and envy as he activated what I knew was his third-order trait. Small, brilliant fire wings materialized on his back, their flames dancing with an ethereal beauty that made the entire arena seem dimmer by comparison.
Everyone around me gasped audibly as they witnessed Kyle rise slightly off the ground, his feet hovering just above the arena surface.
"H-He can fly at Elite rank! Only Royal-rank awakeners are supposed to be capable of flight!" one of the newer students exclaimed, his voice cracking with disbelief.
A second-year student sitting nearby shook his head, though his expression was equally amazed. "This must be a second-order skill. This is absolutely insane considering he's just a freshman applicant. But look carefully, he isn't truly flying. He's levitating slightly above the surface, using the wings for enhanced mobility rather than sustained aerial combat. Still, the speed boost is immense."
The older student was partially right about its function. It didn't just grant him increased agility, but regeneration and certain control over fire.
My eyes followed Kyle as he darted across the arena with supernatural agility, his fire wings providing both lift and propulsion that allowed him to change direction instantly and move in ways that no freshman could.
The unknown instructor was clearly impressed by Kyle's mobility, but he was able to keep up with it.
Kyle's sword work was impressive too, but what really stood out was how seamlessly he integrated his levitation advantages with his ground-based combat techniques. He would hover just out of reach of the instructor's attacks, then dive down with devastating overhead strikes before launching himself skyward again.
Third-order trait, I thought inwardly, feeling that familiar pang of envy. At Elite rank, no less.
My own Blood Control was second-order, which was already extraordinary for anyone, no matter the rank. But Kyle's third-order flight ability was really too much.
The instructor, despite being caught off-guard by Kyle's unexpected capabilities, began adapting his strategy. He started using ranged attacks and area-of-effect techniques to limit Kyle's mobility options, forcing the young phoenix blood bearer to engage more directly.
But Kyle rose to the challenge, demonstrating the intelligence and adaptability that made him such a formidable protagonist. His fire wings began producing controlled bursts of flame that he used both defensively and offensively, creating barriers of heat while simultaneously launching projectile attacks.
The crowd was completely captivated. This wasn't just a normal examination anymore - it was a genuine display of a once in a life time talent that would be talked about for decades to come.
…
After multiple bouts, the instructor finally stopped the fight and marked Kyle as passed.
Emily jumped in joy before rushing into the arena and giving her brother a congratulatory hug. Kyle smiled warmly at his sister, clearly pleased that she'd witnessed his successful passing.
But the instructor, who should have walked away by now to prepare for the next applicant, remained standing there.
A frown appeared on my face as I watched him approach the siblings with a broad smile plastered across his face. He looked genuinely happy for them, which struck me as unusual for some reason.
I sat there watching as they spoke for nearly two minutes.
This extended interaction felt wrong somehow. I felt a bad premonition rising in my chest for an odd reason.
I turned toward the first student on my right. From his uniform, I could tell he was a second year, which meant he would have knowledge about the academy's faculty.
"Hey, do you know who that instructor is?" I asked, keeping my tone casual despite my growing concern.
The student immediately stiffened when he noticed who was speaking to him. I could feel his anxiety at being addressed by the son of a duke, his posture becoming more formal as he struggled to respond appropriately.
"I… do," he stammered. "The instructor's name is Victor Castellane. His title is 'The Wiseman.' He was traditionally a second-year teacher, although I heard rumors that he changed assignments this year and is now teaching first years."
"I see. Thank you," I replied politely, not wanting to make the nervous student any more uncomfortable.
I glanced back toward the arena to find the trio finally separating. Victor Castellane gave Kyle and Emily one final nod before they left the examination area, while he waited for his next applicant.
But something about that entire interaction had set off alarm bells in my mind.
Victor Castellane. The Wiseman. A second-year instructor who had specifically requested reassignment to work with first years this particular academic cycle.
I had never heard of the man in the original novel. Which prompted the feeling of needing to find out more about this man.