The courtyard that once trembled with overwhelming mana pressure had fallen into complete chaos.
Two bodies lay motionless on the training ground.
Seraphina Lys — the academy's so-called goddess.
Rynelle Aeris — the quiet Weaver who had just shaken the academy's expectations.
For a single breath, nobody moved.
Then the shouting began.
"CALL THE HEALERS!"
"GET THEM TO THE INFIRMARY!"
Kael Vire was the first to rush forward, his boots pounding against the scorched stone floor. He slid to Rynelle's side and immediately grabbed his shoulder.
"…Hey! Aeris! Wake up!"
No response.
Rynelle's breathing was shallow, uneven. His body trembled faintly from extreme mana exhaustion.
Elric Morn arrived seconds later, kneeling beside him.
"Mana pathways unstable," Elric said calmly, though his tone carried urgency. "Immediate medical stabilization required."
Soren Vale appeared beside Seraphina, scanning her condition with precise observation.
"Target unconscious. External binding injuries detected. Mana fatigue critical."
Nearby staff finally arrived, pushing floating medical stretchers toward them.
"Move aside!"
Kael stepped back reluctantly as Rynelle was lifted onto the stretcher.
Across the courtyard, Seraphina was also placed onto another stretcher.
The students watched silently.
Even the VIP dormitory observers had gone completely quiet.
Nobody expected this outcome.
Nobody expected the quiet Weaver boy to push the academy goddess to collapse.
---
They were rushed through the academy corridors at full speed.
The infirmary doors burst open.
"Emergency patients incoming!"
Inside, the healers reacted instantly.
White-robed figures moved into formation, hands glowing with healing energy. Floating runic circles formed in midair as stabilizing magic activated across the room.
Doctor Selene Arkwright stepped forward immediately.
"Status report!"
"Two students. Severe mana exhaustion. Physical strain from high-output skills."
"Place them on separate recovery beds."
The stretchers were lowered carefully.
Seraphina was taken to the VIP recovery section.
Rynelle was placed on a standard advanced recovery bed.
But the attention given to him was no less serious.
Doctor Selene moved to Rynelle's side and placed her glowing palm lightly above his chest.
"Mana core unstable… pathways strained… excessive output beyond current rank capacity."
She exhaled slowly.
"Begin restoration sequence."
---
Healing began immediately.
Soft green light flowed into Rynelle's body.
Mana threads carefully entered his system, repairing the damage caused by overuse.
His muscles slowly relaxed.
His breathing steadied.
Across the infirmary, Seraphina was undergoing similar treatment under stronger restoration arrays.
Time passed slowly.
Minutes turned into hours.
The sky outside darkened into evening.
Kael sat outside the infirmary room, restless.
He tapped his foot against the floor repeatedly.
"…This was supposed to be sparring."
Elric stood calmly beside him.
"It escalated beyond normal expectations."
Soren adjusted his glasses.
"Output levels recorded were beyond predicted Weaver-class thresholds."
Kael groaned.
"…I knew this was going to be bad."
---
Inside the infirmary, healing continued.
Layer after layer of restoration magic repaired the internal strain caused by mana backlash.
Eventually—
Doctor Selene stepped back.
"…Stabilization complete."
A nearby healer asked,
"Full recovery achieved?"
She nodded.
"Yes. Their bodies are restored to operational condition."
"Both will awaken soon."
---
Several minutes later—
Rynelle Aeris stirred.
His fingers twitched first.
Then his eyelids slowly opened.
White ceiling.
Soft glow.
Quiet surroundings.
He blinked once.
Then slowly sat up.
There was no panic in his expression.
Only calm awareness.
His voice came out quietly.
"…Status."
---
A flowing blue transparent system appeared instantly.
It materialized several meters in front of his face, floating gently in the air like liquid glass.
Soft light pulsed along its borders.
Rynelle stared at it quietly.
Then began scrolling.
The interface shifted smoothly as information displayed before him.
---
Status Window
Name: Rynelle Aeris
Level: 0
Class: Weaver Class
Rank: Dormant
Title: Dormant
HP: 100 / 100
MP: 120 / 120
Fatigue: 0
Stats
Strength: 8
Vitality: 9
Agility: 12
Intelligence: 15
Perception: 14
Shattered Core: 0
Skill Points: 0
Active Class Skills
1. Elemental Weaving:
Allows the user to weave elemental threads into physical or conceptual forms. The strength and complexity of the weave depend on mana control and elemental affinity.
2. Weaver Step:
Allows short-distance displacement using spatial thread manipulation. Movement speed increases based on agility and perception.
3. Weaver Bind:
Creates binding threads capable of restraining enemies. Binding strength depends on mana density and elemental compatibility.
4. Fear Domination: NEW SKILL
Releases mental pressure through woven emotional resonance. Causes fear-based suppression depending on mana strength and target resistance.
Equipment: None
---
Rynelle scrolled further.
More windows appeared.
But most of them were locked.
System Upgrade: LOCKED
Advanced Functions: LOCKED
Authority Access: LOCKED
Growth Expansion: LOCKED
He paused.
"…Locked."
His expression did not change.
But his eyes lingered on the locked sections slightly longer.
"…Not yet."
He closed the interface.
The blue transparent system dissolved into the air like mist.
---
Without hesitation, Rynelle moved his legs off the bed.
A nearby healer noticed instantly.
"Patient, you should remain resting."
Rynelle blinked.
"…I feel fine."
The healer checked his mana readings quickly.
Her eyes widened slightly.
"…Recovery complete."
She stepped back.
"…You may leave, but avoid excessive activity."
Rynelle nodded slightly.
"…Understood."
---
He stepped out of the infirmary quietly.
The academy halls were calm now.
Night had settled across the campus.
Soft lighting illuminated the long corridors.
Students who saw him walking froze briefly.
"…Isn't that him?"
"He's already walking?"
"That was the Weaver who fought Seraphina…"
Whispers followed him.
But he ignored them completely.
His steps remained steady.
Silent.
Unhurdened.
Eventually—
Dorm Block C appeared before him.
Room 4.
His dorm.
He approached the door.
It slid open automatically.
---
Inside—
Kael Vire looked up first.
For half a second—
He froze.
Then—
"YOU'RE BACK?!"
Kael jumped to his feet instantly, nearly knocking over his chair.
Elric Morn turned his head calmly.
"…Recovery confirmed."
Soren Vale adjusted his glasses, eyes narrowing slightly.
"Unexpected healing efficiency."
But Kael didn't care about analysis.
He rushed forward.
"You're awake! You're actually awake!"
His voice carried pure relief.
"You scared the hell out of us!"
Rynelle blinked once.
"…Sorry."
Kael grabbed his shoulders lightly.
"You collapsed after beating the academy goddess! Of course we were worried!"
Elric nodded calmly.
"Combat outcome recorded as anomaly-level performance."
Soren added,
"Mana output exceeded predicted Weaver thresholds."
Kael exhaled heavily.
"…Man… I thought you were going to stay unconscious for days."
Rynelle stepped inside quietly.
The familiar room felt strangely comforting.
"…I'm fine."
Kael stared at him for a moment.
Then suddenly grinned widely.
"YES!"
He jumped once in excitement.
"You're seriously okay!"
Elric allowed a small nod.
"Good."
Soren returned to his notes.
"Recovery confirmed. Stability maintained."
Kael sat back down heavily, still smiling.
"…Don't scare us like that again."
Rynelle sat on his bed slowly.
Outside the window, the academy lights glowed softly in the distance.
Everything felt quiet again.
But beneath that quiet—
Something had clearly changed.
Not just in the academy.
But inside him as well.