Chapter 10: Reflection by the Pond
Sirius walked out of the arena with calm steps, his white fox still perched comfortably on his shoulder. The sounds of the spectators' commotion gradually faded behind him as he traversed the academy's magnificent corridors.
His feet led him to a hidden garden behind the main academy building. There, a clear pond stretched out with water so transparent that the rocky bottom could be seen perfectly. The afternoon sunlight bounced off the water's surface, creating dancing patterns of light.
The pond was filled with magical fish swimming with graceful movements. There were golden fish with scales that sparkled like precious metals, swimming in beautiful spiral formations. Crystal fish with transparent bodies floated at the surface, small wings on the sides of their bodies moving like water butterflies. At the bottom of the pond, rune fish with mysterious patterns on their bodies moved slowly, leaving trails of light blue light in the water.
Other aquatic creatures also inhabited this peaceful pond. Water frogs with gem-like sparkling skin sat on floating lotus leaves. Small crabs with shells that changed color according to their moods walked among the rocks at the pond's bottom. Mini jellyfish with tentacles glowing soft light floated in the water column like living lamps.
Sirius sat at the pond's edge while letting his white fox down to play in the grass. His ice-blue eyes observed the movements of those fish calmly, as if finding peace after the commotion in the arena earlier.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" a familiar voice came from behind him.
Meanwhile, in the main arena, August stood in the middle of the floor still full of cracks and craters from the earlier fight. He raised his wooden staff and his voice echoed throughout the arena.
"Prospective students," August said with a firm but warm voice, "we'll take a break for half an hour. Use this time to prepare yourselves for the next round."
The prospective students' reactions were varied when they heard the announcement.
Mikhail immediately stood up and stretched his body with relief. "Finally a break," he muttered while twirling the silver ring on his finger. "I could barely breathe earlier watching Sirius's fight."
Aeris let out a long sigh while tidying his blonde hair. "At least I have time to calm myself. After seeing what Sirius could do... I'm starting to doubt whether I'm strong enough to enter this academy."
Beside him, Fiora actually looked excited. "I'm even more impatient!" the orange-haired girl said while clapping her palms. "I want to know how strong my opponent will be later. Hopefully not as weak as Kael earlier."
Gleen, sitting not far from them, appeared restless. His legs kept moving and his hands kept squeezing the hem of his shirt. "What if I meet an opponent as strong as Sirius?" he muttered anxiously. "I'm not even sure I could last five minutes."
Astrid, still sitting in her place, appeared the calmest among the others. Her eyes still stared toward the arena exit door, where Sirius had disappeared earlier. Her fingers could still feel the softness of the white fox's fur, and her mind was still filled with the beauty of Mount Lunaria created by Sirius.
"Very interesting," she murmured while smiling thinly. There was something about Sirius that made her want to know more.
Several other prospective students appeared to be chatting in worried tones. The earlier fight had given them a clear picture of the level of strength expected at this academy.
"My god, did you see how he kicked Kael at the end?" a brown-haired young man whispered to his friend. "So brutal. I'm scared if I meet him later."
"But his sword technique was so beautiful," the black-haired girl beside him replied. "Like a living painting. I've never seen anything like that before."
"Beautiful but deadly," the young man earlier added while shaking his head. "A frightening combination."
In another corner of the arena, a group of prospective students who looked stronger actually appeared enthusiastic.
"Finally there's someone interesting in this batch," a silver-haired girl said while sharpening a small knife in her hand. "I hope I can fight him someday."
"You're crazy, Eve," her red-haired friend replied. "He just destroyed Kael without breaking a sweat. Are you sure you want to face him?"
"That's exactly what makes him interesting," Eve smiled with a somewhat frightening grin. "It's been a long time since I found a truly strong opponent."
While those discussions were taking place, August had already left the arena and was walking through the corridors toward the back garden. His long white hair and beard moved in the evening breeze, his simple brown robe fluttering gently.
He found Sirius sitting at the pond's edge, observing the magical fish with calm eyes.
"Beautiful, isn't it?" August said while approaching the young man.
Sirius glanced briefly, then returned to staring at the pond. "Yes. They look peaceful."
August sat beside Sirius, his position relaxed and showing no tension at all. "Those golden fish are Aurelius," he said while pointing to the golden-colored fish swimming in spiral formations. "They're very intelligent and can live for hundreds of years. The transparent ones are Crystalfin - they can fly out of water for short periods."
"And the ones at the bottom of the pond?" Sirius asked while pointing to the fish with rune patterns on their bodies.
"Runescale," August smiled. "They're very rare. The patterns on their bodies are always changing, and legend says they can predict the future for those who can read their runes correctly."
They fell silent for a moment, only the sound of trickling water and bird chirping could be heard. Sirius's white fox played in the grass, chasing small butterflies flying low.
"Sir August," Sirius said with a calm voice, his eyes still gazing at the pond. "I apologize for what happened earlier."
August didn't immediately respond. He observed Sirius's expression with wise eyes.
"Sometimes," Sirius continued, "there are times when I lose control over my own anger."
"You're only fifteen years old, Sirius," August said with a gentle voice. "At your age, it's natural if emotions are still hard to control. I can't blame you completely."
Sirius turned, slightly surprised by August's understanding response.
"Everyone can see from different perspectives," August continued while picking up some small pebbles and throwing them one by one into the pond. "There must be right and wrong in every situation. What you did earlier was indeed unusual, but... natural."
The fish in the pond gathered where the pebbles fell, thinking it was food.
"If you had lost earlier," August said while throwing another pebble, "the impact wouldn't just be physical, but also mental. From the beginning, you were already underestimated. If you had lost, your mentality and self-confidence could have been destroyed."
Sirius watched the academy head with attentive eyes. There was wisdom in every word the old man spoke.
"I've met many students like that," August continued with a slightly sad tone. "Those whose mentality was destroyed because they were underestimated and then lost. Some never managed to recover. Others became obsessed with power and ended up becoming dangerous to themselves and others."
"So... what I did earlier..." Sirius began to ask.
"A natural reaction of someone who felt threatened and underestimated," August answered while smiling thinly. "But remember, Sirius - true strength isn't about how hard you can hurt others. True strength is about how wisely you use your power."
The evening breeze blew gently, moving the leaves of trees around the pond. The sound of trickling water blended with the peaceful sounds of nature.
"Make this an experience," August said while standing and stretching his body. "Learn to control your emotions, especially anger. You have extraordinary power, Sirius. Don't let that power control you."
Sirius nodded slowly. "Thank you, Academy Head. I'll remember these words."
August began walking back toward the academy, but then stopped and turned around.
"Oh yes, Sirius," he said with mischievously sparkling eyes. "That 'Mount Lunaria Painting' technique earlier... was very beautiful. Even I, who have been teaching for decades, was still mesmerized seeing it. You must tell me someday how you could create something so beautiful."
Sirius smiled thinly - his first smile since earlier. "I'll tell you someday, Academy Head."
Before August really left, Sirius asked, "Academy Head, when is the dormitory assignment?"
"After all these tests are finished," August answered while turning around. "The day after tomorrow will be class divisions. So you still have time to rest peacefully here."
August smiled warmly before finally walking away from the garden, his brown robe fluttering in the evening breeze.
After August left, Sirius returned to gazing at the pond. His white fox jumped back into his lap and curled up comfortably.
"Did you hear that?" Sirius said while stroking his small fox's soft fur. "It seems we'll be staying in this interesting place."
The white fox made a small satisfied sound, as if agreeing with its master's words.
In the distance, the academy bell began ringing, signaling that break time was over and the fights would continue. But Sirius remained sitting calmly by the pond's edge, not budging to return to the arena. He was already finished with his test, so there was no reason to go back there.
The fish in the pond swam with soothing movements, creating small ripples on the surface of the clear water. The atmosphere in this garden was so peaceful, very contrasting with the commotion of the fights in the arena.