The academy bell rang sharply, its metallic echo spreading through the dormitory halls like a shockwave.
Kael opened his eyes immediately.
Unlike the other students, who groaned, stretched, or scrambled out of bed in a rush, Kael sat up calmly. He had already been awake for several minutes, quietly meditating and observing the faint flow of energy around him.
Today was not just another day.
It was the first real lesson.
Not an introduction. Not a ceremony.
Real training.
Around him, the dormitory slowly came to life. Boys and girls changed into their academy uniforms — dark gray tunics with silver linings and the imperial crest stitched over the chest. Some looked excited, others nervous, and a few already carried the arrogance of those who knew they were talented.
Kael dressed quietly, his movements controlled and deliberate.
Even in the uniform, he still looked thin and somewhat fragile. Anyone glancing at him would immediately assume he was one of the weaker students.
And that was exactly what he wanted.
Nyx stood near the corner of the room, her presence barely visible, blending into the shadows cast by the rising sun.
"Your heartbeat is steady," she noted. "You're not nervous."
Kael shook his head slightly. "Nervous people make mistakes. I don't have the luxury to make them."
They joined the flow of students heading toward the main training hall.
The building was enormous.
Stone pillars lined the entrance, carved with ancient runes that faintly glowed with magical energy. The floor itself was covered in complex magic circles, designed to absorb excess power and prevent serious injuries during training.
As Kael stepped inside, he immediately felt it.
Pressure.
Not physical.
Spiritual.
Dozens of different auras filled the hall — overlapping, clashing, leaking into the air. Some were sharp, others warm, some unstable, some incredibly refined.
The Hollow stirred inside his chest.
Hungry.
External energy detected.Aura density: High.Multiple extraction targets available.
Kael suppressed it instantly.
Not yet.
Students were divided into groups of twenty and lined up. Kael found himself in a group that included the silver-haired boy from earlier.
Leon Astra.
Leon stood near the front, arms crossed, posture relaxed but confident. His aura was calm and heavy, like a deep ocean rather than a raging fire.
A man stepped onto the platform before them.
He wore a long black coat, his face marked by a deep scar running across his jaw. His presence alone silenced the entire hall.
Even without releasing aura, he felt dangerous.
"I am Instructor Raizel," he said calmly. "You are not here to be geniuses. You are not here to be special."
His eyes scanned the students coldly.
"You are here to survive. Those who fail will leave this academy. Permanently."
A few students swallowed nervously.
Raizel raised one hand.
"Today's lesson is simple. No spells. No techniques. No flashy nonsense."
He pointed at the ground.
"Release your aura. Maintain it for five minutes."
The reaction was immediate.
Some students burst with light. Others glowed faintly. A few struggled, faces turning red as they forced their spiritual energy outward.
Kael remained completely still.
He did nothing.
Raizel's gaze snapped toward him almost instantly.
"You. Why are you not releasing?"
Kael met his eyes calmly. "Because I cannot."
A murmur spread through the group.
Raizel walked over, towering above him. "Name."
"Kael Veridian."
Raizel paused.
"…The defective noble."
Kael did not react.
Raizel studied him for a moment, then nodded. "I see. Then you will observe. Everyone else — maintain output."
As the other students focused, Kael felt it again.
Aura leaked from all directions.
Fear. Effort. Instability. Pride.
The Hollow trembled violently inside him.
Extraction possible.Targets: 19.Risk of detection: High.
Kael clenched his fists.
Not yet.
Instead of extracting, he analyzed.
He observed how aura circulated differently in each person. Some followed smooth, efficient pathways. Others were chaotic, burning energy far too quickly.
The red-haired fire girl nearby nearly collapsed after three minutes.
Leon, on the other hand, looked completely unfazed.
Five minutes passed.
Seven students collapsed.
Raizel nodded.
"Good. Those who fainted — remember this feeling. This is what weakness feels like."
Then he turned to Kael again.
"Defective. What did you learn?"
Kael answered honestly. "Most waste their aura. Control matters more than raw power."
Raizel's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Correct."
A few students glanced at Kael in surprise.
From that moment, Kael was no longer invisible.
During break, Kael sat alone under a tree in the courtyard, quietly writing in his journal.
Entry #3: Aura release efficiency varies widely.Key variable: emotional stability and spiritual circulation patterns.
Leon approached him.
"You're strange," Leon said. "You couldn't release aura, but you understood the lesson better than most."
Kael looked up calmly. "Understanding doesn't require power."
Leon smirked. "I'm Leon Astra. Remember the name."
"Kael Veridian."
Leon studied him. "You don't feel weak."
Kael smiled faintly. "Appearances deceive."
Leon walked away, interested.
Nyx whispered, "You've attracted attention."
Kael replied quietly, "Good. Attention creates opportunities."
That night, Kael meditated in his dormitory.
This time, he didn't suppress the Hollow completely.
He opened just a tiny channel.
Barely a thread.
Hollow activated.Extracting: Ambient aura residue.Progress: +0.2%
No one noticed.
Kael opened his eyes slowly.
The hunt had begun.