Will walked back over, brushing dust from his robes and rolling his neck once as if to loosen lingering tension.
But he did not look at Zareck the way he usually did.
His eyes lingered.
Careful.
Zareck noticed immediately.
"What? Did that girl land something I didn't see?"
Will shook his head once.
"No," he said. Then, after a short pause, "Your aura."
Zareck froze for half a breath.
His body was still heightened, spiritual energy pressed tightly beneath his skin. There was no way to hide it now. Any cultivator would be able to sense his level for sure.
Second level Body Forging.
Zareck let out a short laugh.
"Ah," he said lightly. "Guess that didn't stay a secret very long."
Will stared at him. "You're level two."
Zareck shrugged. "Seems like it."
Will clicked his tongue. "You really just dropped that on me like it was nothing."
Zareck grinned. "How's the surprise?"
Will snorted. "Show off."
The banter faded quickly.
They both felt it.
The space around them had changed.
Zareck's smile softened as his eyes moved outward. The arena was still loud, still chaotic, but there was a clear gap forming around them.
Other children had moved away. And were watching.
Not staring openly. But just enough to keep them in the corner of their vision while they fought others. Even those locked in heated exchanges never fully turned their backs on Zareck and Will now.
Zareck's expression turned thoughtful.
"So they all realised too," he said quietly.
Will shook his head. "Well those that are closest. Your aura is clearly giving off a more compact feeling than the rest of ours."
Zareck nodded.
He too tried to gage the strength of those around him. It was easier to do with those who were fighting and closer but regardless it was quite hard.
Level one.
Level one.
Level one.
Every single one near them was still at the first level of Body Forging, including Will.
Zareck exhaled slowly.
"Well this is going to be a problem," Will muttered.
"Yeah," Zareck agreed. What was the point off separating with Malichi if they still couldn't find others to fight with.
They tried at first to drift toward other conflicts, moving slowly so it did not look like they were forcing their way in. Each time it failed.
When they approached a fight, the children involved would shift away without even looking directly at them. The moment Zareck came close, his battle ready state gave him away. Anyone near would realise he was level two. The space would open, the fight would slide elsewhere, and then resume as if Zareck and Will were never there.
They tried again. And again.
Same result.
Zareck let out a quiet breath. "Well. That's annoying."
Will crossed his arms. "You might be too strong for class."
Zareck rubbed the back of his neck. "Honestly, its probably best if we separate. No point in both of us just standing around."
But before he could finish the thought, footsteps approached.
Five teenagers walked into the empty space around them.
Zareck immediately felt their strength.
Two of them were level two.
The other three, level one.
A girl at the front pointed sharply toward Zareck, her face lighting up with vindication. "Look, I told you, Sui," she said. "He's level two like you guys."
The girl called Sui stepped forward half a pace. Her robes were clean and well made, clearly higher status. Beside her stood a boy with bushy brows and spiky hair, his aura steady and thick.
Level two.
The remaining three hung slightly behind.
Will shifted closer to Zareck, his stance lowering without a word.
The spiky haired boy looked Zareck up and down with open interest. Sui did not.
She frowned, lips curling as she spoke. "Which elder is your parent?" Her voice was sharp and high. "Why don't I recognize you?"
Zareck resisted the urge to smirk. Just when he thought he wouldn't be able to be apart of the fun no more. Part of him wanted to provoke her into striking first, but his eyes flicked briefly to the spiky haired boy. Two level two opponents at once was not something he could be overly confident about.
Then the teachings of Thy Image of Zenith surfaced in his mind.
Pressure. Excess. Stepping beyond comfort.
There was no real danger here. The instructors would stop anything serious.
Zareck leaned slightly toward Will and spoke quietly. "Can you take the three level ones?"
Will glanced at them, then laughed under his breath. "Leave it to me."
Zareck straightened.
He looked directly at Sui and then at the spiky haired boy.
"So," Zareck said casually, "are you two here to talk, or are you just standing behind your friends for confidence?"
For half a second there was silence.
The spiky haired boy grinned. Sui's face flushed.
"Arrogant," she snapped. "Fine. We can beat the answer out of you."
Both level two auras surged.
They moved at the same time.
Zareck stepped forward to meet them head on.