The next morning felt… different.
After the combat evaluations, whispers had spread through the academy like wildfire. Some students were praised. Others were ignored.
And a few were quietly called out of their classrooms.
Kael was one of them.
So was Lucien.
A tall assistant instructor led them through the academy halls without explanation. Behind them walked nearly twenty other students—most silent, some nervous, and a few openly angry.
Kael recognized many of them.
Students who had failed their combat matches.
Students whose abilities the teachers had called "inefficient" or "lacking potential."
Lucien walked beside Kael with his usual relaxed posture, though the faint burn scar across his chest still showed through the collar of his shirt.
"Well," Lucien said quietly, glancing at the group behind them. "This doesn't look promising."
Kael's grey eyes moved calmly across the students.
Weak control… unstable Aether… poor combat ability.
Then he said quietly, "They're gathering the failures."
Lucien grinned.
"Ah. That includes us."
Kael said nothing.
Eventually the group reached a large stone hall near the center of the academy grounds. The doors were already open.
Inside stood several teachers.
Their own instructor was there.
But at the center of the room stood someone Kael had never seen before.
The man was tall, broad-shouldered, and carried himself with effortless authority. His dark coat hung neatly over his frame, trimmed with silver thread marking the academy's crest.
His hair was dark with streaks of grey near the temples, cut short and tidy. A short beard framed his jaw, giving him a stern but controlled appearance.
He looked to be in his late forties.
But the moment Kael stepped inside the hall…
He felt it.
Pressure.
Not visible.
Not loud.
But heavy.
Like standing near a mountain that could collapse at any moment.
The other students felt it too.
The room grew silent.
One of the teachers stepped forward.
"Students," he announced, "you stand before the head of this academy."
The man in the center finally spoke.
His voice was calm.
Deep.
Controlled.
"I am Headmaster Valen Drayke."
Lucien tilted his head slightly.
"That's the principal?"
The teacher continued.
"Headmaster Drayke is ranked among the strongest Aether users in the world."
He paused.
"Seventy-fourth."
The room filled with shocked murmurs.
Kael's eyes sharpened slightly.
Seventy-fourth… in the world?
The headmaster's gaze slowly moved across the gathered students.
"You are here because your instructors have judged your abilities."
He clasped his hands behind his back.
"And the results are disappointing."
A few students shifted uncomfortably.
Headmaster Drayke continued calmly.
"This academy exists to cultivate the most promising talents of this generation. We do not have the time or resources to waste on those who cannot reach that level."
His eyes stopped briefly on several students.
Including Kael.
Including Lucien.
"You have been evaluated."
He paused.
"And you have been found lacking."
A boy near the back clenched his fists.
"So what?!" he shouted. "You're just going to throw us out because we're not perfect?!"
Another student stepped forward angrily.
"That's not fair! We barely started training!"
More voices joined in.
"You can't just kick us out!"
"This is supposed to be the best academy!"
Lucien crossed his arms, watching with interest.
"This should be good."
The headmaster sighed quietly.
Then he raised one hand.
And everything stopped.
The air in the room suddenly felt heavier.
Much heavier.
Students froze where they stood.
Some dropped to one knee instantly.
The pressure increased.
Like an invisible mountain pressing down on everyone in the hall.
Several students gasped, struggling to breathe.
Lucien's grin widened.
"Oh… that's amazing."
Kael remained standing.
Barely.
But he could feel the crushing weight pressing against his body.
The floor beneath them began to crack slightly under the pressure.
The headmaster hadn't moved.
Hadn't raised his voice.
Hadn't even looked angry.
And yet the entire hall felt like it might collapse.
"This," Headmaster Drayke said calmly, "is power."
The pressure lifted instantly.
Students collapsed to the ground, gasping.
The headmaster looked at them without emotion.
"You believe this academy is unfair?"
He tilted his head slightly.
"The seventy-fourth strongest person in the world stands before you."
Lucien's eyes practically shone with excitement.
"That's incredible…"
The headmaster continued.
"And there are seventy-three people stronger than me."
The room fell completely silent.
Kael's mind raced.
Seventy-three… stronger than this?
For the first time since arriving in this world…
Kael felt something close to genuine curiosity.
Just how powerful are the ones above him?
Headmaster Drayke lowered his hand.
"You may hate this decision."
His voice remained calm.
"But the truth does not change."
He turned slightly toward the teachers.
"This academy will not waste its resources on those who cannot reach greatness."
Then he looked back at the students.
"You will leave the academy grounds by sunset."
Lucien leaned toward Kael slightly.
"Well."
He smiled.
"This world just got a lot more interesting."
Kael's grey eyes remained fixed on the headmaster.
Seventy-fourth…
Then another thought formed.
If this is only the seventy-fourth strongest…
Then this world is far more dangerous than I expected.
And for the first time since his rebirth…
Kael felt truly intrigued.