Chapter 54 — Blades Speak Louder Than History
The bell rang — a low, resonant boom that shook dust from the rafters.
Asura rubbed the back of his neck and made his way down the broad, lantern-lit hall toward his next class: Weapon Specialization.
Students parted around him, whispering about the duel that shattered the arena without mana.
"Did he really fight Lucilla without aura?"
"He cracked stone using just footwork…"
Rhazor walked at Asura's side with an expression that was somewhere between impressed and offended.
"Just so we're clear," he muttered, "you realize you now have a vampire princess stalking you, right?"
Asura didn't slow. "She's not stalking."
Behind them, exactly three paces back and staring directly at him with calm, unblinking interest—
Lucilla.
Rhazor pointed without looking.
"She is literally following you like a bloodhound on espresso."
"She's… assessing me."
"No. She's choosing curtains for the house you two will inevitably share."
Asura deadpanned. "You're being dramatic."
Lucilla spoke evenly, voice soft and elegant.
"I am not stalking. I am observing combat potential."
Rhazor leaned closer to Asura.
"And planning the wedding."
Lucilla added, "The children will be strong."
Asura choked. "WHAT—"
But the doors to the Weapon Specialization Hall opened, saving him from emotional collapse.
Weapon Hall — A Cathedral of Steel
The hall was enormous — like a museum, battlefield, and temple fused together.
Floating racks carried swords, spears, scythes, and bows as if the weapons themselves were alive. Banners of each kingdom rippled in slow, mana-infused wind.
Instructor Vaelion stood in the center — tall, scarred, one arm made of runed blacksteel, the other flesh and muscle. His gaze was sharp enough to cut steel.
"Welcome to Weapon Specialization."
He snapped his prosthetic fingers, and eight banners ignited overhead — each a kingdom emblem.
"Every weapon style in this academy comes from a legacy.
The weapon chooses the wielder — not the other way around."
He paced, voice smooth and controlled.
Zerathos: Obsidian Blade Forms (Demon Kingdom) Drakorth: Sky Fang Aerial Art (Dragon Kingdom) Noctris: Lunar Spear Style (Vampire Kingdom) Umbrathis: Runebound Archery (Dark Elves) Sylvorra: Dual-Fang (Beastkin) Gorrak: Warhammer Domination (Orcs) Brakkar: Earthquake Maul (Ogres) Groblinheim: Trickblade / Trapblade (Goblins)
Rhazor whispered, "Sky Fang is mine. Try not to admire it too loudly."
Asura rolled his eyes.
The Noble With Main Character Syndrome
A noble student stepped forward, rapier gleaming as if paid to shimmer.
"Rhazor. Princess Lucilla. Your duel earlier was impressive."
He turned to Asura, smirking.
"But your performance? Mediocre. Barely tolerated."
He pointed his rapier at Asura.
"I challenge you."
Asura stared at him, then at Instructor Vaelion.
"Can I say no?"
Vaelion shook his head. "Dueling builds discipline. Proceed."
The noble gestured toward the racks of legendary weapons.
"Choose whichever helps you compensate."
Asura walked past enchanted blades…
…and grabbed a splintered wooden practice sword.
The noble laughed loudly.
"Using trash to hide your lack of skill? Pathetic."
Asura shrugged. "Using metal to hide yours isn't much better."
Rhazor groaned. "He's doing the thing again. The 'I will embarrass you without trying' thing."
The noble lunged.
No aura.
No mana.
Just movement.
Asura shifted his weight—
CRACK.
The rapier snapped in half before the noble even registered contact.
Silence swallowed the room.
Instructor Vaelion slowly lifted a hand to his face.
"…Zerathian reverse grip… with Drakorth cross-footwork… executed using a broken stick."
Lucilla was staring again.
"You break things beautifully."
Rhazor clenched his jaw.
"I am a prince. A literal dragon prince. And he gets the obsessive murder princess because he plays with sticks."
Asura sighed. "Can we not phrase it like that?"
Lucilla stepped closer, looking at him like a puzzle she wanted to take apart.
"I am intrigued."
Rhazor whispered, "She means obsessed. She's planning dresses."
Lucilla replied plainly, "Only battle attire."
Asura rubbed his face.
"Please stop talking."
System Interruption
A chime echoed in Asura's head.
[ Passive Skill Acquired — Weapon Insight ]
Host now instinctively adapts to any weapon, even broken or improvised.
Asura blinked.
"…I picked up a stick."
[ Correction: Host picked up potential. ]
"System. No."
Exit — or Attempted Escape
Asura turned to leave the arena.
Lucilla followed like a silent shadow.
Rhazor called out,
"Lunch is soon! If you die, can I have your swords?"
"No one's getting my swords," Asura shot back.
Lucilla responded, perfectly calm:
"They will not last long enough to inherit."
Rhazor froze.
"…Bro, she straight-up threatened your lifespan."
Asura kept walking, exhausted.
"I am not the one in danger."
Lucilla smiled — slow, serene, and disturbing.
"Correct. They are."
The other students instinctively stepped out of her path.
✦ Lunch With Monsters
The cafeteria was massive — an entire hall lined with floating platforms, shimmering mana chandeliers, and food stalls run by enchanted kitchen constructs. Spices and mana steam filled the air. Laughter, clattering plates, bursts of elemental cooking flames — chaos, but in a good way.
Asura entered with Rhazor at his side and Lucilla stalking two steps behind like a silent haunting.
"This place is awesome," Asura whispered, eyes shining. "It's like a cafeteria and a colosseum had a baby."
Rhazor smirked. "Welcome to Fang — where the food might actually fight back."
Lucilla didn't blink. "If it does, I'll kill it."
"That's… comforting," Rhazor muttered.
Asura scanned the room, searching for an empty table. Nobles watched him, whispering.
"That's the B-rank transfer."
"He fought Lucilla and lived."
"He almost beat her."
Almost? I literally had the wooden sword on her throat—
Asura inhaled slowly.
No ego. Stay humble. Be a normal transfer student. Blend in.
Then:
"Rhazor," Lucilla said quietly, "move. You are obstructing my view of him."
Rhazor grimaced. "Lady, he's not a sunset."
…this is my life now.
Asura grabbed a tray and got in line.
Halfway through, he felt something — like three familiar mana signatures.
He turned and saw them:
Nira. Rov. Kaen.
The library trio.
All three froze the moment their eyes landed on him.
Kaen lifted a hand dramatically. "THE PRINCE LIVES."
Asura nearly face-planted into the soup.
Rhazor blinked. "Prince?"
Lucilla's eyes sharpened. "Prince of what?"
Asura: "Nothing. He has brain damage."
Kaen ignored him and marched over, throwing an arm around Asura's shoulder like they were long-lost brothers.
"There he is! The Demon King's little problem child."
The cafeteria went dead silent.
Asura's smile was frozen. "Kaen, buddy… remember how we don't say things out loud?"
"Oh. Right." Kaen cleared his throat, then proceeded to say it louder:
"THE DEMON KING'S GRANDSON."
Trays dropped. Forks clattered. Someone fainted.
Rhazor stared. Lucilla blinked slowly.
Asura closed his eyes.
I can't kill my friends. I can't kill my friends. I can't kill my—
At that exact moment the system chimed.
[ Skill Restriction Notice: Murdering allies is discouraged. ]
Asura: "I WASN'T GOING TO—"
Everyone around him flinched at his outburst.
From across the cafeteria, a noble boy with polished horns stood up from his table. Arrogant smile. Coat too shiny. Aura of a walking ego.
"Nice joke," the noble laughed, loud enough for everyone to hear. "A brat like him? The Demon King's grandson? Don't make me laugh."
He strutted closer, cape swaying like it had its own ego.
"He's clearly a common noble pretending to be important. The Demon King's grandson has Royal-level mana. He wouldn't be eating cafeteria food with peasants."
Nira's eye twitched. "Peasants?"
Kaen cracked his knuckles. "Asura, permission to crush?"
"No," Rov said flatly. "Let the idiot finish digging his grave."
The noble leaned in toward Asura, sneering. "If you were royalty, your power would be overwhelming. Where's your aura, hm? Where's your status? If you're royalty— prove it."
Asura opened his mouth.
His system interrupted.
[ Appraisal — Auto Trigger ]
Three status screens flashed instantly as Asura glanced at Nira, Rov, and Kaen.
[ APPRAISAL — FULL DISPLAY ]
Name: Nira Umbrathis
Age: 17
Race: Dark Elf (Royal Line – Heir)
Rank: A
Level: 150
HP: 12,000
MP: 40,000
STR: 10,000
AGI: 15,000
INT: 20,000
VIT: 3,000
Class: High Enchantress (Royal Succession)
Skills (Partial):
• Arcane Geas (Unique — Royal)
• Umbra Weave (Advanced)
• Mana Rewrite (Forbidden)
Threat Level: Extreme — DO NOT provoke.
Notes: Host is not the only one hiding lineage.
Asura's brain:…Princess? Princess? SHE DIDN'T MENTION PRINCESS.
He slid his eyes to Rov.
[ APPRAISAL — FULL DISPLAY ]
Name: Rov Noctris
Age: 17
Race: Vampire Noble (Direct Royal Branch)
Rank: A
Level: 150
HP: 5,000
MP: 10,000
STR: 5,000
AGI: 15,000
INT: 60,000
VIT: 5,000
Class: Bloodline Duelist
Skills (Partial):
• Shadow Lunge (Master)
• Blood Echo (Advanced)
• Night Veil (Unique)
Threat Level: Potential Ally
Notes: Knows more than he lets on.
Asura tried not to react.
He glanced at Kaen.
[ APPRAISAL — FULL DISPLAY ]
Name: Kaen Rorvahn
Age: 17
Race: Ogre (Highborn Titan-Blooded)
Rank: A
Level: 150
HP: 15,000
MP: 2,000
STR: 70,000
AGI: 3,000
INT: 900
VIT: 9,100
Class: Vanguard Breaker
Skills (Partial):
• Titan Grapple (Advanced)
• Fortress Hide (Passive)
• Territory Claim (Unique)
Threat Level: Do not let him hug you. Your Bones will break.
Asura stared at them.
So I wasn't the only one lying.
The system chimed again.
[ Suggestion: Return to eating. Your food is getting cold. ]
Asura: "You're not helping."
System: [ I am emotionally supporting the food. ]
Meanwhile, the arrogant noble was still talking.
"…he's just a nobody pretending to be someone important. If he were the Demon King's heir, I'd kneel right—"
Asura stepped forward.
His sandal clicked on the marble.
He looked at the noble.
"Hey."
The noble smirked. "What? Gonna cry?"
"No."
Asura smiled.
"I'm going to ruin your entire lineage in under ten seconds."
The noble flinched.
Lucilla leaned in, whispering like a predator admiring fresh meat. "He smiled. That means you're going to die."
Rhazor crossed his arms. "Rest in pieces."
The noble opened his mouth—
Something pressed outward from Asura.
Just a flicker.
A heartbeat.
Everyone in the cafeteria dropped to their knees.
Every tray. Every spoon. Every noble.
Except Nira, Rov, and Kaen… who didn't even blink.
Lucilla's eyes widened.
Rhazor's jaw dropped.
The arrogant noble trembled violently.
"Wh-what is that—"
Asura blinked, aura fading.
"Oops. Slipped."
The noble collapsed to the floor.
Asura leaned down, voice calm.
"You wanted proof, right? Consider this a demonstration."
The cafeteria was silent.
No one questioned him again.
Nira smirked.
Kaen fist-pumped.
Rov exhaled like this was expected.
Lucilla whispered, almost reverently:
"…Finally. A worthy obsession."
Asura sighed, grabbing his tray.
I just wanted lunch…
The system chimed.
[ Title Acquired: Identity Leak ]
Asura: "I hate this place."
System:
[ No you don't. You love the chaos. ]
Asura didn't deny it.
✦ When Secrets Spill and Problems Multiply
The moment Asura sat down with his tray, the entire cafeteria parted around him like a battlefield avoiding a ticking bomb.
Lucilla sat directly beside him — not across. Beside.
Spearing a steak aggressively and staring at him like he was a rare artifact.
Rhazor sat across, rubbing his temple.
Nira, Rov, and Kaen took the remaining seats, acting as if they hadn't just detonated the biggest secret in the Academy.
Asura poked at his food.
"I liked it better when I was ignored."
Rhazor glared across the table.
"You liked the anonymity. I liked the lack of death threats. We are not the same."
Kaen laughed, biting into a full boar rib like it was a snack.
"You're royalty. Own it!"
Nira sipped tea, completely unbothered.
"He was owning it. Until your mouth exploded."
Rov quietly cleaned his cup with a cloth napkin.
"You screamed THE PRINCE LIVES in a public cafeteria."
Kaen shrugged. "I was excited."
Asura clicked his chopsticks, forcing a smile.
"I was excited about lunch."
Lucilla never took her eyes off him.
"You hid your lineage from me."
"It was like… five hours ago."
"You still hid it."
Asura groaned and leaned back. "You were dueling me, not flirting."
Lucilla blinked.
Then leaned in — way too close.
"I can do both."
Rhazor coughed so hard he choked on his drink.
Kaen slapped his back while laughing. "Good luck surviving that."
Asura shovels rice into his mouth aggressively. "I don't flirt with vampires. They drink people."
Lucilla:
"I only drink those worthy of devotion."
Rov stared at his cousin like she was an escaped animal.
"Lucilla. Calm down."
"No."
Nira watched them with the smirk of someone who enjoyed drama.
"You're going to start a war between bloodlines over a boy."
Lucilla finally tore her gaze from Asura.
"If they challenge me, they will lose."
Rhazor pointed at Asura. "He just made the whole cafeteria kneel from a twitch."
Lucilla:
"And?"
Nira leaned in toward Asura, eyes glinting.
"What did you actually do? That pressure wasn't destructive. It felt… wrong."
Asura swallowed his food and shrugged.
"I blinked aggressively."
Kaen snorted broth out his nose.
The system chimed.
[ Correction: Host subconsciously used Soul-Level Dominance. ]
Asura (mentally):Is that a real thing?
[ Unfortunately, yes. ]
Asura:Unfortunately?
[ Using it again without intent may cause spontaneous worship. ]
Asura:That is not a problem. That is a threat.
Rhazor leaned in. "Hey. B-rank transfer student my ass. Who's your father? Some duke?"
Asura froze.
Nira choked on her tea.
Kaen dropped his fork.
Rov covered his eyes like he already knew where this was going.
Lucilla whispered, eyes gleaming:
"Is it the Demon King?"
Asura refused to answer.
Rhazor blinked.
"…It's the Demon King, isn't it?"
Kaen slammed both palms on the table.
"I TOLD YOU. I CALLED IT."
Nira hissed. "You didn't call anything! You screamed into a cafeteria!"
The arrogant noble from earlier rose shakily in the distance and pointed.
"If he was royalty, someone would've recognized him!"
A ripple moved through the cafeteria.
Students murmured.
"That's true…"
"Royalty is always guarded…"
"No symbol, no royal cloak…?"
Rhazor nodded at Asura.
"Yeah, why don't you wear royal clothes?"
Asura kicked back in his chair.
"Because protagonists don't need them."
Everyone at the table blinked.
Rhazor: "Prota-what?"
Asura waved a hand. "Main character logic."
Lucilla looked like she was imprinting on him.
Rov stared. "Are you… delusional?"
Nira set down her cup.
"No. He's confident."
Kaen grinned. "I like it."
Lucilla whispered, voice low and hungry.
"You speak like the world already belongs to you."
Asura smirked.
"I've already claimed the main character seat."
The cafeteria fell silent again.
This time, not from shock—
—but from belief.
Students stared with wide eyes.
Asura stood, tray in hand.
"I'm going to class. Try not to summon the Holy Kingdom while I'm gone."
He walked away calmly.
Lucilla followed.
Rhazor groaned.
"We created a monster."
Kaen pointed at Asura leaving.
"No. That's the monster."
Nira lifted her cup again, tone dry.
"And we're eating lunch with him."
The system chimed as Asura exited the hall:
[ New Title Acquired: Undeniable Protagonist Energy ]
Asura grinned. "Perfect."
✦ Knight Tiers & Fraudulent Magi
The Combat Department hall thrummed with whispers as students filed into Knight Theory. Stone benches, iron racks of practice blades, a slate board scrawled with:
THE FIVE TIERS OF KNIGHTHOOD — THE PATH OF AURA
Lucilla ghosted to Asura's side like a patient storm; Rhazor plopped behind them, already sighing.
Instructor Velgor swept in wearing a cape loud enough to be arrested. He smacked a staff on the lectern.
"Silence! Today, you learn what only Magi dare master—Aura Ascension!"
Rhazor leaned forward, whispering, "He tells first-years he's a Magi."
"Is he?" Asura murmured.
"Not even a little."
The board flared as Velgor preened and paced.
"Where mages study mana, knights cultivate aura—the force of body, blade, and soul!"
He stabbed the tiers in order with his staff:
Tier I — Aspirants (Squire / Page / Aspirant Knight): no real control—intimidation only.Tier II — Knights (Knight / Elite / Royal): weapon/armor coating, Aura Blades and Aura Shields, sustained manifestation.Tier III — Vanguard (Commander / Vanguard / High Commander): aura alters the field; Aura Bursts, early Territorial Fields.Tier IV — Paladin/Abyss Knight: sanctified or cursed aura; self-aware aura, relic resonance.Tier V — Sovereign Ranks:Will fused to aura; personal Domain; reality-shearing intent.
"Only those who claim Magi status," Velgor announced, hand to chest, "freely weave aura and mana as one."
A few students gasped. Asura's brow twitched.
[ Analysis: Subject is not a Magi. Tier II at best. ]
Asura raised a hand. "Question. To become a Magi you need Tier IV in both mana and aura, right?"
Velgor's smile slipped. "Well—obviously."
Asura nodded. "Cool."
He sat back, letting the lecture roll. And then, mid-diagram, something clicked.
Aura's like… that anime skill. Not Willforce—different.
Willforce is armor poured from shadow—his. Aura is soul pressure shaped into form: coats, hardens, projects.
So why can I only make people kneel… and not coat my blade?
He lowered his eyes and whispered in his head:
System, why doesn't my Aura show a level like my other skills? Why can't I form Aura Blades, Aura Shields, or keep a sustained coat? I'm stuck at intimidation.
A soft chime.
[ Query received. Explanation follows. ]
[ Constraint 1: World-native disciplines obey local metaphysics. Until Host understands them, System will not impose external structure. ]
[ Constraint 2: Import vs. Alter. Host can bring skills from memory (Reminiscence Codex), but cannot rewrite native skills without comprehension or a sanctioned evolution path. ]
[ Option A: Use Reminiscence Codex to evolve Aura into a defined schema (e.g., Aura Coating → Aura Blade → Aura Shield → Manifestation → Field → Domain). ]
[ Option B: Use Reminiscence Codex to grant Forced Understanding of Aura theory (Knight Canon), unlocking form control without overwriting the world's rules. ]
[ Status: Reminiscence Codex — Cooldown: None. Skill Uses Remaining: 5. ]
Asura blinked. I thought evolution only happens by combining skills or dual-activating to spawn a new one—without spending Codex uses.
[ Correct. Those two methods create new hybrid skills at no Codex cost. ]
[ New information: Codex may also be spent (1 use) to:
(1) Evolve an existing skill along a defined blueprint you specify, or
(2) Imprint Understanding (grant theory + control) for a world-native discipline. ]
[ Note: You must name the target form or syllabus. System will align local rules rather than replace them. ]
He glanced up at the board—Tier II's "Aura Coating / Blade / Shield" glowed like menu options.
So if I wanted, I could…
[ Examples available:
• "Knight's Aura Canon (Baseline)"
• "Vanguard Resonance Protocol"
• "Sovereign Sheath Doctrine"
(Details withheld pending Host intent.) ]
Velgor cleared his throat theatrically. "And of course, only a Magi can sense who is suppressing their aura right now."
Asura, without looking, counted in his head.
Seventeen. Back row left is doing it wrong.
He scratched his cheek. One more thing. Why can't you just slap a level number on Aura like you do for Swordsmanship?
[ Because your worldview hasn't framed Aura in discrete tiers internally. Once you accept a model (the Academy's hierarchy works), System can mirror progress numerically. ]
[ Shortcut: Spend 1 Codex use on Forced Understanding → Aura will display structured stages; forms unlock; training accelerates. ]
[ Warning: Evolution/Understanding uses 1 charge. Charges remaining after: 4. ]
Asura hummed, eyes half-lidded. Tempting… but not today. Boring if I jump straight to Sovereign in week one.
[ Approved. Drama curve preserved. ]
Up front, Velgor flared his hands for a grand reveal—and produced the sorriest spark in educational history.
Silence.
Asura gave a sympathetic clap. "Incredible. The candle trembled."
A ripple of laughter broke. Velgor purpled. "You! Transfer. Prove your 'knowledge' of aura."
Asura drifted down the stairs, wooden sword in hand. No aura. No mana. Just will.
He let the room remember the ocean floor.
Pressure rolled out—clean, absolute.
Velgor's knees hit stone.
Lucilla's lips parted, eyes bright. "That isn't aura."
Rhazor whispered, "Dude…"
[ Note: Soul-Level Dominance. Not aura. Harmless if Host restrains intent. Potential side effect: spontaneous worship. ]
Yeah, let's not collect worshippers. Asura eased it off; the pressure vanished like a dream.
He smiled at Velgor. "My bad. Blinked aggressively."
Bell. Salvation.
Students exploded into chatter as they rose. Asura turned to go.
System—log a reminder. If he ever needs it: Knight's Aura Canon (Baseline) with a later upgrade to Vanguard Resonance Protocol. He'd earn it, step by step. Maybe spend a Codex use when it created the best plot beat.
[ Reminder set. Also: Requirement to become Magi = Tier IV Mana + Tier IV Aura. Host currently exceeds Mana requirement. Aura progression pending framework. ]
Asura smirked. So, homework first. Hype later.
Behind him, Velgor wheezed at the lectern, dignity in tatters. Lucilla fell in step, voice velvet.
"If you spend that smile on me, I might permit you to live."
"As a hobby?" Asura deadpanned.
Rhazor pinched the bridge of his nose. "I miss when you were just a rumored B-rank."
Asura slid his hands into his pockets, feeling the quiet thrum of choices he hadn't made yet. Aura, waiting at the edge of comprehension. Codex, warm and patient in the dark.
"Relax," he said, eyes forward. "I'll level aura the normal way."
A beat.
"Probably."
[ New Flag Set: "Knight's Path — Baseline to Sovereign." ]
✦ Practical Aura Lab
The Combat Department's outdoor open-air arena smelled of iron, dust, and crushed grass.
Rows of wooden training mannequins stood in sun-bleached silence, their surfaces gouged with scars left behind by overzealous first-years. Crates of dulled practice swords were stacked messily near the fencing barrier.
Lucilla folded her arms behind her back, posture immaculate.
Rhazor squinted at the arena. "Why are we out here again?"
"Asura humiliated Velgor," Lucilla said matter-of-factly.
Rhazor pointed. "Velgor humiliated himself. Asura just… accelerated the process."
They weren't alone.
Velgor stomped out of the hall, ego wrapped in bandages. His cape — somehow brighter in sunlight — whipped dramatically behind him. "Since some of you believe you understand aura better than I—" he glared directly at Asura "—we will now demonstrate the basics!"
Asura blinked. "…I literally never said that."
Lucilla stepped closer, voice low. "He is projecting."
"Onto me?" Asura whispered.
"No," Rhazor said. "Onto reality."
Velgor snapped his staff down. "Three volunteers!"
A few hands reluctantly went up.
Velgor saw Asura already walking to the field.
The instructor twitched. "I did not say you."
Asura shrugged. "You looked at me with that 'please save this lesson' energy."
Rhazor slapped a hand over his face. He did not. Lucilla coughed behind her hand to hide her smile.
Velgor grinded his teeth hard enough to threaten sparks.
"Fine. Show us your… 'aura comprehension.'"
Asura took position in front of a mannequin. No sword this time — just his wooden training blade at his waist.
He remembered what the System said.
Aura isn't Willforce.
Aura isn't shadow armor.
It's pressure turned into form.
He exhaled.
Slow.
Measured.
Rhazor whispered behind him, "So what're you going to do?"
Asura looked up at the mannequin, deadpan.
"…Not another chandelier situation."
"Another what—?"
Too late.
Asura focused.
Aura.
But not Soul Dominance.
Not the crushing tidal weight that made Keith drop earlier.
Just… the feeling of intent sharpened along his arm.
Like that anime clip where the swordsman flicks his blade and the world splits.
Pressure surged.
A thin ripple of gold shimmered along the wooden sword's surface — not a full blade, not a sheath — just a faint, unstable glint.
Velgor's jaw dropped.
"That's impossible. Tier II requires months—"
Asura swung.
Pshht.
A clean line sliced across the mannequin chest.
The top half slid off.
Silence.
Rhazor stared. "DUDE—!"
Lucilla's voice was barely above a whisper. "Unstable manifestation… on first attempt…"
Asura twisted his wrist. "Hmm. Needs more edge control."
Velgor sputtered, cape flapping violently. "That— that doesn't count! The wood might've been structurally compromised—"
Before he could finish, the mannequin behind him — untouched — split in half on its own.
Everyone turned to stare at Velgor.
The top half slid off behind him with a thud.
Rhazor whispered, reverent: "Delayed effect. His intent carried further than expected."
Lucilla's eyes gleamed. "No. He sliced intent."
Velgor whirled, face purple. "Y-You! How are you doing that?!"
Asura tapped his wooden sword against his shoulder. "I watched an anime once."
"That's not— YOU CANNOT JUST—"
Asura drew a little circle in the air with his hand like he was checking off a quest.
Aura: Form Stability 1% → 3%
(Progress learning: Knight's Aura Canon)
He smirked.
"Guess I'm leveling the normal way after all."
He sheathed the wooden sword.
Lucilla spoke, voice cool, admiring. "When you decide to evolve Aura with Reminiscence Codex… what will you be?"
Asura turned his head, grin slow and dangerous.
"…Protagonist."
Rhazor threw his hands up. "BRO, YOU'RE EIGHT."
The bell rang — again his salvation.
Students scattered, buzzing with rumors.
Velgor collapsed onto the turf.
Lucilla fell into step beside him, brushing dust off her skirt. "Next class is Mage Theory. You going?"
"Yep." Asura yawned. "Maybe I'll learn why fireball costs so much mana."
Rhazor blinked. "You basically have infinite growth potential and you're complaining about mana efficiency?"
Asura slid hands into his pockets.
"Even protagonists have budgets."
They walked into the sunlight — three silhouettes against the stone courtyard.
Behind them, the cracked mannequin lay in perfect halves.
And Velgor quietly questioned his career choices.