The academy never learned.
If there was one rule carved into the stones of history, it was this:
Whenever Lucien Valerius was involved, things went wrong.
Academy Event: The Blue Flame Exhibition
The central arena was packed.
Students from every race filled the stands—humans in neat uniforms, elves glowing faintly with mana, dwarves already betting, vampires hiding under parasols, and a few dragon nobles lounging arrogantly near the front.
Vice-Headmaster Albrek cleared his throat.
"Today's event," he announced, "is a controlled demonstration of elemental application. No dueling. No destruction. And absolutely—"
His gaze flicked to Lucien.
"—no improvisation."
Lucien gave a thumbs-up.
Seraphine whispered, "He's lying already."
Elarion nodded. "I can feel it."
Lucien's Turn
Lucien stepped onto the platform.
His assigned task was simple:
Maintain a stable flame construct for thirty seconds.
Easy.
He raised his hand.
Mana circulated.
And then—
Blue flame bloomed.
The temperature dropped.
Frost crept across the platform.
The audience went silent.
Dragon nobles leaned forward.
"That's not normal fire," one muttered.
Lucien frowned.
"…Huh. That's new."
The flame twisted, compressing unnaturally, obeying microscopic adjustments in his mana flow.
The system flickered briefly—no notification, no reward.
Just recognition.
Vice-Headmaster Albrek went pale.
"END IT! END IT NOW!"
Lucien snapped his fingers.
The flame vanished.
Silence.
Then—
The arena exploded into chaos.
Dragon Noble Incident
One dragon noble stood abruptly.
"You," he pointed at Kael, sneering. "You reek of unstable blood. Kneel."
Kael stiffened.
Lucien stepped in front of him instantly.
"No."
The dragon noble laughed.
"A human telling a dragon—"
Lucien smiled.
Not friendly.
"Pick someone your level."
The air shifted.
Even the dragon noble felt it.
"…Tch."
He sat back down.
Kael stared at Lucien's back.
Something cracked quietly inside his chest.
First Minor Dungeon — F Rank
That night, the academy announced an emergency.
A new dungeon gate had formed near the outer forest.
Rank: F
"No boss," the faculty assured.
"Low risk," they said.
Lucien read the location.
And froze.
This dungeon shouldn't exist yet.
In the novel—
This was discovered two years later.
Lucien went alone.
Inside the Dungeon
The dungeon was quiet.
Too quiet.
No boss.
But strange runes lined the walls.
Lucien followed instinct—and future knowledge.
Behind a false wall, he found it.
A pedestal.
And resting upon it—
Lucien's breath hitched.
Kael was supposed to find this.
Beside it lay a sealed rune scroll, humming faintly.
[Hidden Skill Detected — Requirements Not Met]
Usable at S-Rank
Lucien clenched his fist.
"I really did steal your fate."
The dungeon collapsed moments after he left.
Erased.
Kael — POV
Kael entered another dungeon alone.
Again.
And again.
His bloodline reacted violently to his emotions.
Crimson Sovereign Bloodline
A bloodline born of rage, war, and domination.
The more intense Kael's emotions— The stronger his body became.
But the cost?
Pain. Madness. Isolation.
During one brutal session, Kael collapsed—
And memories surfaced.
A sword style.
Etched into his blood.
Crimson Sovereign Sword — First Form
A thin, violent slash designed to overpower defenses through sheer will.
Kael tried.
Failed.
Again.
Failed.
Each attempt tore muscle and spirit alike.
But slowly—
Very slowly—
The blade began to obey.
Lucien Feels a Presence
That night, Lucien sat on the academy roof.
Wind brushed past him.
Then—
A gaze.
Ancient.
Kind.
Watching.
Not threatening.
Not revealing.
Lucien spoke quietly.
"…You've been there a while."
No answer.
But he felt it—
Approval.
And regret.
Comedy Interlude — Written Exam
The next day's written exam was chaos.
Elarion slept through half of it.
Seraphine finished early—then doodled skulls.
Lucien answered questions with suspiciously accurate predictions.
Instructor:
"How did you know this mana theorem isn't public?"
Lucien smiled.
"Educated guess."
Practical Exam Turns Into a Circus
Illusions malfunctioned.
Summons escaped.
Someone summoned a cow.
Lucien accidentally optimized the arena traps.
Vice-Headmaster Albrek aged ten years.
Kael vs Alden — The Beginning of Fate
Lucien watched Kael train.
Too fast.
Too intense.
This is when Kael loses to Alden for the first time.
Lucien's expression darkened.
"…You're rushing."
But Kael didn't hear him.
The story was accelerating.
And Lucien finally understood.
He wasn't just changing the plot.
He was challenging fate itself.