The roar of the amphitheater had been an oppressive, physical thing, but the silence that followed Cyras's eight-gate display was heavier still. It felt less like awe and more like a vacuum, waiting for the next sound to rush in and fill the void.
When Magus Serina spoke, her voice—though not raised—cut through the sudden hush like a steel blade. "Kael Voss."
Kael walked, every step echoing too loudly on the polished stone. The path led straight toward the crystal orb, perched atop the obsidian pillar that pulsed with the ethereal light of mana. It hummed, a low, thrumming bass note that resonated in the hall as Kael drew near.
He passed Cyras, who stood with a serene, near-bored acceptance on his face, soaking in the low murmurs of praise from the surrounding noble students. As they crossed paths, Cyras's eyes snapped to Kael. It was only a flicker of a look, yet it carried an unsettling depth of interest. Kael remembered the pieces of the puzzle he wasn't supposed to have: Cyras knew his secret, or had known it, before Lyon had done his work. Ignoring the noble boy—the one who looked like he believed everything was his by right—Kael focused solely on the Pillar.
Reaching it, Kael dragged his focus away from the thousands of eyes watching him—eyes that had just witnessed greatness and were now expecting either a follow-up miracle or utter failure.
Magus Serina stood beside the apparatus, her gaze as cold and unforgiving as the Pillar itself. "Place your hand on the orb, Voss."
Kael took a deep, centering breath, desperately trying to recall the feeling of the Compendium's power—that cool, alien presence that had saved his life. A plan was needed.
Compendium, I need to look average. B-Category. Give me four gates, maybe five, just enough for resources without the spotlight.
[Processing Directive... WARNING: External Apparatus Control. Insufficient data for precise manipulation. Manual override of physiological response required. Cost: High.]
Panic, sharp and cold, shot through him. His hands started to shake. If the orb detected all thirteen of his gates—a number unheard of, a number that would mark him as a creature for study or execution—his secret would shatter into the amphitheatre's deafening silence.
He pressed his palm firmly against the smooth, cold surface of the crystal. For an agonizing fraction of a second, nothing happened. Then, he felt it: foreign mana tendrils—cold, invasive—shot from the orb and into his circulatory system. They were searchers, latching onto every node of power, every mana gate, and feeding data back to the crystal.
[Compendium Alert: Foreign mana detected in host. Infusion rate is too rapid for full expulsion.]
Stop the feedback! Stop it from counting them all! The plea was a mental shout.
[Executing Counter-Protocol: Interrupt Mana Feedback Loop. Cost: -25 CP.]
The Compendium worked, a focused counter-force pushing against the orb's invasive stream. But it was a race. Before control was fully asserted, the count was already in. Seven gates.
The entire event lasted less than half a second externally, but internally, Kael was reeling. The data flashing in his mind's eye was secondary only to the sudden hush in the hall.
[Input Analysis: Orb did not detect mana gates present in the Heart, Lung, or Brain Areas. Orb mana cannot travel where concentrated impurities are present. Hypothesis: The human race is unaware of the existence of 13 total mana gates due to universal physiological 'dross' shielding the final six gates.]
Kael processed the data, stunned. He was not a freak; the Kingdom's knowledge was simply lacking. He was merely the first to be cleansed enough to find the truth.
His revelation was abruptly cut short when a flood of concentrated mana moved from the orb and slammed into his left hand. Pain shattered as the Gate Wall broke down, followed by a rush of exhilarating release.
Ambient Mana, the very breath of the world, flowed into his body and out again as if he were a living chimney. The river had found its course.
[Compendium Alert: Mana Gate 1/13 successfully breached.]
Compendium, analyse the breach.
[Query initiated: Analysis of Mana Gate opening. Cost: -2 CP]
[Host Mana Gate (Left Hand) opened to 76%. Opening method was crude, leaving energetic dross and residual stagnation within the channel. Initiate flow control to remove impurities? Cost: -10 CP]
Yes, do it.
[Running Refinement Routine: Applying precise mana flow to flush residual stagnation and refine Gate 1.]
The energy the orb had inserted became a tool, guided by the Compendium. Tiny, focused tendrils of mana twisted into a drill-like pattern, scouring the interior of his newly opened gate. Before, the mana flow had felt like a sputtering stream; now, energy flowed smoothly through a pristine channel.
[Compendium Report: Gate 1/13. Status: Refined. Purity Rating: 99.8%. Initial Mana Stream capacity increased by 38%.]
The internal process took moments, yet Kael felt it stretch into an eternity of refinement. His mesmerisation broke only when a shocked voice echoed from the crowd.
"Seven mana gates. An orphan has seven mana gates."
A second later, the amphitheatre's immense status screen flashed. The words burned into Kael's vision:
Voss, Kael Mana Gates: SEVEN (A-Category)
A stunned, almost disbelieving hush rippled through the audience. The high-tension energy evaporated, replaced by a stunned acceptance. Seven gates. One more student in the A-Category, matching the vaunted Dean Harcott.
Magus Serina's thin lips formed a small, visible smile—a crack in her usually stoic facade. She didn't bother hiding her amazement.
"Seven gates. Extraordinary, Voss. You have a bright future," she declared, her voice carrying across the silent hall. "You will report to the A-Category Assignments Hall after the ceremony."
Kael retracted his hand from the orb. The smooth, cold crystal now felt charged with a lingering warmth. Magus Serina gave him a curt nod, her expression a calculated blend of professional pride and curiosity.
He tried to walk normally, but his stride felt strange. Mana pulsed, alive, through him, an internal river flowing smoothly now. With the first gate open and refined, the ambient energy of the amphitheater was no longer just in the air—it was passing through him, a subtle, exhilarating breeze.
[Compendium Alert: The pure soul energy stored in host's soul can be used for further opening of gates.]
What does that mean? Can you open my mana gates with the energy?
[Query Initiated: The gate opening method used by the orb was crude. Analysis indicates the energy can be used for this, but it is advised that host learn proper mana technique. The energy in the soul is much more potent than in the orb and will cause structural harm to the host if used with current data and technique.]
Kael exhaled a breath of relief. He finally had a way to use that energy. Now he had options: use the soul energy for direct gate opening, or use it to feed his Biomancy studies. Opening the mana gates was the most feasible. If he mastered siphoning arrays, he could absorb more soul energy and open his gates much sooner.
Right now, I need to be more present. So many eyes were still on him.
He swept his gaze across the staging area and caught sight of Kellen's forced smile and a faint, almost furious glint in Lyon's eyes. Both were watching him.
Did I mess up something? They should be thankful the Compendium stopped the energy at seven gates. Nine would have made him the talk of the whole academy and brought his Aspect's nature into question. At least they didn't believe aspects and mana gates were connected.
Eyes bore into him like physical anchors, heavier than before. Stares of doubt and pity had been replaced by a thousand pinpricks of envy, respect, and speculation. An orphan, now on the same tier as the most celebrated nobles. A-Category talent.
His path led him past the line of waiting students, but he only had eyes for the one boy blocking his exit.
Cyras Vale, the eight-gate prodigy, stepped forward, halting Kael's progress. Kael saw his handsome face reflecting intense curiosity and a hint of interest, as if Kael was a fascinating specimen to gaze upon. The whispers around them died instantly. The top two talents of the class, meeting for the first time.
"Seven gates," Cyras said, his voice a low, melodious tenor that commanded attention. He offered a slight, confident incline of his head. "I am Cyras Vale. I personally welcome you to Category A." He smirked at Kael.
Cyras had a natural, enigmatic charm to him—the kind that makes you lean closer. Kael recognized that charm could be very dangerous. Worse, Kael felt the intrusion. It wasn't just charm; it was a physical compulsion. A sudden, unfamiliar heat bloomed in his chest, and his heartbeat accelerated to a strange, almost frantic rhythm, dictating trust where his mind demanded caution. An involuntary, social impulse tried to override his analytical mind. His right hand twitched, wanting to reach out to the noble.
Kael forced himself rigid. "Eight gates are much better than seven," he countered, letting the subtle jab about inherited power hang in the air, "but with your privileges, that was expected too."
A slow smile spread across Cyras's face, the expression conveying that he was talking to a long-lost friend. "Expected, yes, but not common. You see, the gate count is necessary for a person to practice the Divine Mana Technique the kingdom has. The more gates you have, the more you can accomplish using that technique."
Cyras leaned closer, dropping his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "Don't worry, even if someday I advance a rank higher than you, I will not forget you, my friend." He smiled knowingly, as if he knew a secret no one else did.
Kael's mind spun from both the mention of the Divine Mana Technique and being called a "friend" by Cyras. A physiological override, he noted with clinical detachment, even as his pulse pounded. He is doing something, and I cannot isolate the mechanism.
He backed away from Cyras as if the noble was something dangerous, and Cyras's smile widened slightly. He is doing something, Kael was sure of it now. Still analyzing internally, Kael felt a strong hand clamp down on his shoulder.
He turned to see Lyon standing directly behind him. Cyras's smile vanished.
"Mr. Vale, that is inappropriate behavior," Lyon said, his voice cold and flat, cutting through the charm. "You are not allowed to use your aspect on the students."
Kael's mind jolted. His aspect? What is his aspect?
Cyras stood tall, meeting the Magus's stern gaze without fear. "I was just testing my fellow Category A student, sir. His aspect is somewhat interesting, too, and I thought we should work together."
He knows too much, or he remembers the scent of what he knew.
Lyon's eyes stiffened. "This is your last warning. The ceremony has ended. Please move to your assigned category halls."
Kael cleared his throat, pushing the panic down. "Thank you for the help, Sir. I will take my leave now."
He didn't wait for a reply from either of them. He sidestepped the momentarily stunned Cyras and strode toward the main doors.
Magus Serina's final command echoed in his mind, drawing him out of the amphitheatre's oppressive heat and into the cool, silent corridor.
The A-Category Assignments Hall.
A-Category. The resources would be excellent, the attention intense, and the secrets he held—the Compendium, the thirteen gates, the shielded dross—would be tested with every breath. Kael felt the excitement rise, a dangerous, calculating thrill. He had successfully avoided disaster, but he hadn't avoided the spotlight. He had simply secured a better vantage point from which to prepare for the inevitable fight.
The corridor was a stark contrast to the arena. Outside the amphitheater, the clamour of thousands of spectators was reduced to a distant, dull roar, muffled by thick stone. Kael was walking alone until Dean came and started walking with him.
Dean leaned closer and whispered in euphoria, "We are both in A category. This will be so much fun."
Kael looked at Dean and nodded. "Do you have any idea what the benefits are? More importantly," Kael leaned closer, keeping his voice low and precise, "Do we get access to the Divine Mana Technique in this category, or is that something reserved for noble lines?"
Dean cocked his head and looked at Kael with surprise. "The Divine Technique? Everyone practices it after awakening, Kael. It's the law. The technique is universal because no other technique can compete with it, and no one has a monopoly on it." Dean lowered his voice further, echoing the common knowledge. "This is to preserve the balance imposed by the Earth Mother."
Earth Mother. Flagged for later analysis. The clinical repetition of the word 'balance' suggested something more fundamental: a Primordial, a construct his Compendium might need to classify and, eventually, breach. Kael simply stopped talking. The immediate threat remained Cyras's aspect.
[Compendium Query: Analyse Cyras Vale's aspect effect as a physiological effect on the host.]
[Query Initiated: Analysis of host physiological reaction. Cost: -2 CP]
[Analysis Complete: Host heart rate surged, felt irrational social impulse to comply. Hypothesis: A localized, targeted application of aspect to influence emotional centres. Need further data for deeper analysis.]
An Aspect. Cyras hadn't just been charismatic; he'd been actively compelling. Kael shuddered inwardly. To have his body betray his mind like that, to feel the automatic impulse to trust a stranger—it was terrifying.
Compendium energy is nearly depleted. Kael noted. He could not afford to feed his memories for energy now; the Divine Mana Technique was waiting for devouring.
Kael looked at Dean. He wanted to control and manipulate Dean as Cyras was trying to do to him. The irony was not lost on him. He felt a vulnerability that was alien to him after talking to Cyras, and the only reason the effect broke was Lyon's sharp intervention.
Does Lyon know about aspects of the whole class? And how did he know Cyras was using one? For that matter what is Lyon's aspect?
Kael stopped mid-stride as he saw Dean stopping in front of a door. They had reached a set of double doors carved with the runes. A simple, elegant plaque identified the room: A-Category Assignments Hall.
He pushed the door open and stepped into a chamber designed to convey seriousness and prestige. A glowing crystal matrix sat in the centre of the room, bathing a massive, circular table in soft blue light.
Everyone selected as a Category A student except Kael and Dean were already in the room along with Magus Serina.
Cyras gave Kael a subtle, conspiratorial nod that only made the hair on the back of Kael's neck prickle. Kael felt a phantom skip in his heart rate, a residual flicker of the compulsion.
Magus Serina looked up, her expression softening marginally as she addressed the new arrival. "Ah, Mr. Voss and Mr. Harcott. Welcome. Please take a seat. We have much to discuss regarding your future."
Kael and Dean walked to the nearest empty chairs and sat down, his back straight, his posture rigid. The air was charged with potential and danger. He was surrounded by the elite of the class, all of whom now considered him either a fascinating talent or an obstacle.
"Now that all of our top-tier students are assembled," Serina began, her voice crisp, "let me explain what A-Category status means." She gestured to the table. "It means resources: 5 mana stones and a standard potion for mana control exercises every week. Along with access to the advanced technique library."
Serina listed the privileges—five mana stones, potions, advanced knowledge—as if they were weights on a scale. Every word made Kael's chest tighten; each privilege was another chain of expectation.
"But with the resources, it also means challenges: your training will be more brutal, more challenging, and you will have access to the academy dungeons which you must visit every week once. And above all, it means expectation."
"And if the students present here did not show sufficient improvements and progress, they will be demoted." She said this while looking straight at Kael.
She gestured toward the glowing matrix at the centre of the table. "You will take the classes as assigned with your class mates, but we expect better from you. So, you have access to advanced tutoring, but you will have to pay for that with your own dungeon skirmishes."
Serina paused for emphasis, her gaze sweeping over the four students. "You will be learning the Divine Mana Technique as is the law."
Kael felt a sudden jolt. The Compendium purred like an angry kitten. It cannot wait to absorb a divine technique.
"This technique," Serina continued, her voice hardening with conviction, "there is no technique better than this in the whole world, and if you can master it, there will be many paths open to you."
She paused, looking directly at the students. "It is the foundation of this world's strength. But few understand its ultimate source. You have only a few days remaining until your first dungeon skirmish. And only alone will you be able to help yourself there."