Caius didn't know how to defend himself. The attack was coming fast, and his opponent had already activated his Arcanum. Panic surged through him.
(How do Reapers use their Aether to form an Arcanum...?)
Images flashed in his mind. His mother, using Aether to heal. Kael, manipulating Aether so effortlessly. He replayed every moment he had seen Reapers in action, trying to decipher their techniques.
But he was out of time.
The arrogant student lunged forward, eyes gleaming with anticipation. He was going for the kill.
Caius instinctively braced himself—
But the attack missed.
Silence filled the training ground.
The arrogant student froze, confusion flickering across his face. His friends, watching from the sidelines, exchanged bewildered looks.
"Huh? Did I... miss?" he muttered.
His gaze darted around. Had someone interfered? His paranoia kicked in. He barked orders at his lackeys.
"Search the area! Someone might be using an illusion spell!"
His friends hesitated but obeyed, scattering to check for any hidden observers.
Caius, meanwhile, was still absorbed in his own thoughts. He focused on the Aether flowing inside him. If he could control it... maybe he could fight back.
He directed all his Aether to his hands. A flicker of blue flames ignited in his palms.
Gasps erupted from the crowd.
"He... he's using Aether?"
The arrogant student's face twisted in fury.
"You mean to tell me..." he growled, clenching his fists, "you're a complete beginner?!"
The realization that he was struggling against a novice made his blood boil. He poured all his remaining Aether into his next attack, determined to crush Caius once and for all.
Caius, however, moved on instinct. His body reacted before his mind could process it.
BAM!
His fist collided with his opponent's gut.
The arrogant student staggered, pain flashing across his face.
But he didn't fall.
"What the hell…?" he gasped, gripping his stomach. He was stronger. He knew he was stronger.
So why…?
Meanwhile, his lackeys, searching for the 'interfering mage,' were suddenly taken down one by one.
Thud.
Thud.
Thud.
Each fell unconscious without even seeing their attacker.
Back in the fight, Caius was still adapting to his newfound power. He felt the energy coursing through his veins. He was starting to understand how Reapers wielded Aether.
Then he saw it—
A sword.
It was half-buried in the dirt.
Without hesitation, he grabbed it.
As he lifted the blade, his opponent lunged once more, screaming, "Take my final blow!"
Caius barely had time to react. Aether surged through his arms.
He fused his Aether into the sword.
CLANG!
The impact sent a shockwave through the battlefield.
Pain shot through Caius's body. His arms felt like they would shatter from the force. But—
He was still standing.
His opponent, panting heavily, turned his back.
He thought he had won.
Then he froze.
Something was wrong.
He couldn't sense his lackeys' Aether anymore.
Then—
WHOOSH.
A violent gust erased the dust and smoke.
Caius stood there, bloodied but unyielding. His sword was engulfed in roaring wind.
His Arcanum had awakened.
A grin crept onto his face.
"Thanks," Caius said, leveling his sword. "If you hadn't challenged me… I wouldn't have learned how to use Aether or Arcanum."
His opponent's eyes widened in pure rage.
"This... this is impossible!"
He had nearly depleted his Aether. His opponent—this commoner—should have collapsed by now!
But instead, Caius had grown stronger.
Then—
Aether surged around the blade.
Caius whispered his first-ever spell.
"Aero Rend."
A massive crescent of wind erupted from his blade, cutting through the battlefield with devastating force.
It struck his opponent, sending him flying into an abandoned school building.
CRASH!
The entire structure collapsed.
Caius exhaled sharply. The world blurred—
And then everything went dark.
—POV Shift: ??? —
From atop a distant building, a figure watched the entire battle unfold.
He smirked as he lifted the unconscious body of the arrogant student.
"Interesting…" he murmured, eyes gleaming with amusement.
Then—he vanished.
---
Caius Wakes Up
Caius's eyelids fluttered open. The scent of medicine filled his nose.
He was in the academy clinic.
A chill ran down his spine.
(Shit... What happens to me now?)
Would he lose his VIP status? Would the principal refuse to heal his mother?
The door swung open.
A nurse entered. She smiled warmly.
"You're awake! How do you feel?"
Caius sat up quickly. "I'm fine," he said hastily. "But… what's going to happen to me?"
The nurse chuckled.
"Relax. Nothing bad will happen to you."
Relief flooded through him.
The nurse left, and Caius stared out the window.
Students were laughing, chatting, living their lives.
Then it hit him.
(Today is… my mother's treatment day.)
He had to leave.
But—
Before he could stand, the door swung open again.
A tall figure stepped inside.
Caius froze.
The principal.
"We need to talk," the Principal said
Caius's heartbeat pounded in his chest.
Was he about to be expelled?
The principal took a seat, his expression unreadable.
"First of all," he began, "you have nothing to worry about. The ones who started the fight will be suspended for a month."
Caius blinked. "Wait… I'm not in trouble?"
"Of course not," the principal chuckled. "In fact, I'm quite impressed."
"But what about… the building I destroyed?"
"Ah," the principal waved a hand dismissively. "It was abandoned. No one got hurt. Besides, we were planning to demolish it anyway."
Caius felt his tension ease.
Then—
"By the way," the principal added, "you were unconscious for four days."
"Four—what?!"
Which meant…
His mother hadn't been healed yet.
He shot up from the bed. "Then let's go! Right now!"
The principal laughed.
"You're eager, huh? But…" He suddenly deactivated a spell.
Pain crashed down on Caius's body.
He collapsed back onto the bed.
"W-What the hell?!"
The principal smirked.
"That was the nurse's Arcanum Skill. It numbed your pain. Now that it's gone… well, you're feeling the consequences of using too much Aether."
Caius groaned. "How long until I recover?"
"Seven days. Maybe two weeks, depending on your body."
Caius clenched his fists.
Seven days…
That was too long.
But he had no choice.
For now—
He had to endure.
To be continued…
---