The Academy's Lecture Hall of Grand Conduits was designed to feel… overwhelming. A dome of blue crystal floated overhead, humming with pure mana. Golden runes pulsed across the walls like slow-moving lightning, and dozens of magical spheres displayed floating diagrams of ley lines, soul cores, and energy cycles.
Kael took one step inside and sighed.
"Too much sparkle."
Lyra tugged on his sleeve. "K-Kael, d-do you think they'll m-make us memorize all this…?"
"Probably," Kael said, already searching for a corner where he could lean and maybe nap. "If I snore, elbow me."
Lyra nodded, clutching her notebook like a lifeline.
The rest of the students filed in. Elira walked with quiet grace, eyes observing every glow and rune like a royal inspector. Raen was already chatting with another student, cheerfully explaining how mana resonance shifted in high-pressure situations.
Then came the instructor.
Instructor Halvern.
A man built like a collapsed bookshelf—wide, oddly angled, and with a mustache that looked like it was plotting rebellion. He wore bright green robes and smelled faintly of mint and arcane ink.
"Settle down, settle down!" he bellowed, voice amplified by the room's echo enchantments. "Today, we dive into the most important topic of your lives: Mana Theory!"
Kael blinked. "...Yay."
Instructor Halvern clapped his hands, and the crystal dome above flickered to life.
---
The Great Mana Explanation
"Mana," Halvern said, puffing his chest, "is the soul's breath! It flows through ley lines, condenses into cores, and forms the basis of all magic!"
He raised his staff and pointed at the dome. Glowing threads appeared, flowing through a glowing model of the human body.
"You each have a mana core. Some big, some small. Some stable, some... like this lad here!"
He pointed at a random student in the front row, who immediately fainted.
"The quality of mana depends on your class, your training, and your soul resonance!"
The room filled with floating diagrams now — rotating orbs, spirals of energy, flow charts with alarming arrows.
Kael stared at them. Then he stared at Lyra. "You getting any of this?"
Lyra's eyes sparkled. "A-all of it! It's b-beautiful…"
Kael rubbed his temple. "Right. Just me, then."
Halvern continued, blissfully unaware of Kael's growing need for a nap.
---
The Surprise Duel Announcement
Suddenly, the doors slammed open.
A tall second-year student stepped in, wearing polished robes and an arrogant smile. He had three badges on his chest — Duelist Division, Mana Combat, and Academic Excellence. His cape shimmered with enchantments, and his chin could cut glass.
"Apologies for the interruption," he said with a bow. "Instructor Halvern, I'd like to issue a duo challenge."
Halvern adjusted his mustache. "To whom?"
The student turned with a smug flair. "To Kael Vaelthorn… and his commoner partner."
Lyra's eyes widened. "M-me?"
Kael blinked. "Why?"
The upperclassman smiled coldly. "Because I've heard the rumors. That he's some hidden prodigy. That she was placed here by favoritism. I'd like to… test their skills."
Halvern turned to Kael. "Well?"
Kael stretched his arms lazily. "Can I win by accident?"
The second-year narrowed his eyes. "Arrogant. Let's see if you're still yawning when I blast you into the wall."
Lyra panicked. "W-we don't have to accept, r-right?"
Kael shrugged. "We're already standing. Might as well."
Elira raised an eyebrow. "He's taking this very lightly."
Raen leaned forward. "He always does."
---
The Arena, Again
Soon enough, the class had been relocated to a practice field behind the lecture hall. The second-year duo—Ardin of House Krell and his tag partner, Mira the Flame Whisperer—stood confidently.
Ardin grinned. "Rules are simple. No killing. But bruises are allowed."
Kael stepped into the field, adjusting his loose uniform. Lyra stood beside him, shaking.
"D-do we have a plan?"
"Yes," Kael said. "Don't die."
"Th-that's not a plan!"
Ardin made the first move. A spear of light formed in his hand and launched toward Kael's face.
Kael side-stepped, half-awake. The spear hit a tree behind him and exploded into a dozen birds.
Mira sent a wall of fire toward Lyra.
Kael yawned, summoned a barrier with the casual wave of his hand—and the fire ricocheted right back, knocking Mira into a pile of bushes.
The crowd gasped.
"W-what?! He reflected it?!"
Ardin growled and summoned a storm of energy bolts.
Kael frowned.
"Hey. Stop that."
With one small gesture, the ground beneath Ardin's feet twisted slightly—just enough to mess up his footing. Ardin tripped, his own spell misfired, and he ended up face-down, covered in magical soot.
The entire field went silent.
Kael scratched his head. "So… is it over?"
---
Aftermath & Misunderstandings
Back in the classroom, Instructor Halvern was grinning.
"Marvelous! A perfect demonstration of core control and field presence. Unconventional, yes, but powerful!"
Students stared at Kael like he'd just rewritten reality.
Even Elira looked intrigued.
"That… wasn't luck," she murmured. "It couldn't have been."
Raen, however, whispered to another student, "He's either a genius… or a walking headache."
Lyra sat beside Kael, cheeks red.
"I-I thought we were going to d-die…"
"We might still," Kael muttered. "That guy looked like the kind who files paperwork after losing."
From somewhere across the room, someone whispered:
"Who is that guy…?"
---
End of Chapter 22