Scene 1
The academy gathered without being told.
Maxwell felt it before he saw it. The air carried intent. Students clustered along the main courtyard balconies. Instructors stood too straight. Security drones hovered lower than usual.
Rachel walked beside him. She noticed it too.
"Something changed," she said.
"Yes," Maxwell replied.
A transport descended through the shield dome. Not royal. Noble. Polished steel with Ardent sigils etched along the hull. Old symbols. Heavy meaning.
Maria stood near the faculty platform.
Maxwell stopped.
So this is how they chose to do it.
The transport doors opened. A young man stepped out first. Tall. Broad shouldered. Red mana flickered faintly around him without conscious release. Fire affinity. Strong. Refined. Trained from childhood.
Behind him followed two officials from the Duke council.
The young man smiled. Not friendly. Confident.
Dr Timothy's voice carried across the courtyard.
"Attention. We welcome a transfer student under special authority."
The name came next.
"Lucien Ardent."
A ripple moved through the crowd.
Maxwell did not move.
Lucien's eyes scanned the students. They stopped when they found Maxwell. Recognition sparked. Satisfaction followed.
Lucien inclined his head slightly. A greeting. A claim.
Rachel leaned closer. "That's him."
"Yes," Maxwell said.
Lucien walked forward. His presence drew space around him. Students parted without realizing it.
He stopped a few steps away.
"So you're the exile," Lucien said.
Maxwell met his gaze. Calm. Measured.
"And you're early," Maxwell replied.
Lucien laughed softly. "I wanted to see the place before it becomes mine."
Rachel stiffened. Tobias shifted beside Maxwell.
Maria descended from the platform.
"Lucien," she said.
"Sister," Lucien replied.
Her jaw tightened. "You were not scheduled."
Lucien shrugged. "Schedules change."
Dr Timothy intervened. "Formalities later. Lucien will join evaluation ranks immediately."
Lucien looked back at Maxwell. "We will share classes."
Maxwell nodded once. "Learning thrives on proximity."
Lucien's smile faded for a fraction of a second.
The bell rang. Students dispersed, talking fast, watching faster.
Rachel whispered, "He wants a reaction."
"He won't get one," Maxwell said.
As they walked away, Maxwell felt the pressure settle. Not explosive. Persistent. Heavy.
The rival had arrived.
And the clock had started.
Scene 2
The classroom felt smaller than usual.
Maxwell took a seat near the middle row. Rachel sat to his right. Tobias leaned back on the left, arms crossed, eyes alert. Conversations stayed low. People kept glancing toward the front.
Lucien Ardent entered last.
No rush. No hesitation. He chose the front row and sat without looking back. Fire mana leaked from him in thin, controlled pulses. It was not accidental. It was a statement.
The instructor arrived moments later.
Professor Hale. Earth affinity. Known for rigid evaluations.
"Open assessment period," Hale said. "Transfer students step forward."
Lucien stood.
Hale studied him. "Rank?"
"A tier," Lucien replied.
A few students murmured.
Hale nodded. "Demonstration."
The arena floor rose from the center of the room. Stone constructs formed targets. Lucien stepped onto the platform and raised one hand.
Fire condensed. Focused. Dense.
He struck once.
The targets shattered. Clean. No excess force. No wasted mana.
Hale looked impressed. "Controlled. Efficient."
Lucien bowed slightly and returned to his seat. His eyes flicked toward Maxwell. Brief. Sharp.
Hale scanned the room. "Any others?"
Silence followed.
Then Hale's gaze landed on Maxwell.
"Ardent," he said. "You share the name. Step forward."
Whispers returned. Louder this time.
Maxwell stood.
Rachel's hand brushed his sleeve. Grounding. Tobias nodded once.
Maxwell stepped onto the platform.
"Rank?" Hale asked.
"Unclassified," Maxwell said.
Hale frowned. "Ability?"
"Appraisal and copy," Maxwell replied.
The room reacted. Laughter from the upper rows. Doubt from the rest.
Hale gestured. "Demonstrate."
Maxwell closed his eyes for a breath. He activated appraisal.
The arena responded with data fragments. Density. Stress points. Energy flow.
He opened his eyes.
Maxwell drew no blade. He stepped forward and placed his palm against the stone.
He struck once.
The construct did not explode. It collapsed inward. Perfectly. The platform stayed intact.
Silence followed.
Hale stared at the remains. He crouched and examined the fracture lines.
"No elemental output," Hale said slowly.
"No," Maxwell replied.
Hale stood. "Technique over power."
Lucien leaned back in his seat. His expression tightened.
Hale addressed the class. "Raw output impresses crowds. Precision wins wars."
Eyes shifted. Some toward Maxwell. Some toward Lucien.
Class resumed, but the air had changed.
After the bell, the hallway buzzed.
"Did you see that?"
"He didn't even cast."
"He's hiding something."
Lucien intercepted Maxwell near the stairwell.
"Interesting," Lucien said. "You chose subtlety."
"I chose efficiency," Maxwell replied.
Lucien leaned closer. "This academy measures worth."
"So does reality," Maxwell said.
Lucien straightened. "We will see which standard matters."
He walked away.
Rachel exhaled. "You rattled him."
"I exposed contrast," Maxwell said.
Tobias grinned. "That's worse."
Maxwell looked down the corridor where Lucien disappeared.
The rivalry had moved past names.
Now it had witnesses.