Kaelen walked back to his dorm in the evening quiet, the events of the patrol mission replaying in his mind.
The outer premises. The crate. The three hostiles.
And Vyne.
He couldn't stop thinking about what had happened. The way everything had gone wrong for their attackers at exactly the right moments. It hadn't been coincidence.
Kaelen reached his room and sat on his bed, pulling up a mental checklist of observations.
One— The lead figure had tripped on a root. Kaelen had seen the ground before—there had been no root in that spot. It had appeared exactly when needed.
Two— The second figure's weapon holster had snagged on a branch, pulling them off balance. The branch had been too high to naturally catch the holster at that angle.
Three— The third figure's aether had fizzled when they tried to form an attack. Aether didn't just fail like that without suppression fields or active interference. There had been neither.
Four— Earlier, at the third checkpoint, the display had glitched at the exact moment to reveal the camera feed showing suspicious activity. One flicker, perfectly timed.
Five— Their patrol route had "coincidentally" led them directly to the disturbance. They'd taken several seemingly random turns, but each had been optimal.
Kaelen leaned back against his wall, processing.
It was definitely probability manipulation.
That was the only explanation that fit. Vyne hadn't attacked anyone directly. She hadn't used visible aether constructs. She'd simply... made things go wrong for the enemies and go right for them.
Subtle. Consistent. Devastatingly effective.
And definitely S-rank.
Kaelen's reasoning was straightforward:
First— The effects had worked on multiple targets simultaneously. Since coming to the academy, he was learning smethings and had learned about how unique some ability is. And Unique abilities mostly start from S-rank and above, he could even be wrong. Her ability might as well be SS-rank. Vyne had affected three people, their equipment, and the environment—all at once, while staying calm and conversational.
Second—The manipulation had affected both physical and aetheric phenomena. Making someone trip was one thing. Making their aether fail to form was another entirely. That required influencing fundamental energy flows, not just physical matter.
Thirdly— There had been no visible aether usage. High-level abilities could operate with minimal external signature, but to affect reality itself without any detectable energy output? That was S-rank efficiency or even more.
Fourth— His Analytical Scan had returned nothing but question marks. That only happened with abilities significantly above his current level or with grades his scan couldn't process. Given that Vyne was a first-year like him, it might have being cultivation level blocking the scan, but that's unlikely. It was ability grade.
Fifth— She'd been awakened since age six. Over eleven years of practice. That kind of early awakening with prolonged control suggested that she will be talented with using it.
And the academy had let her grind through unranked quests and reach Novice rank without special attention? That meant they were either monitoring her quietly or she'd been hiding her true capability level.
Kaelen exhaled slowly.
Two S-rank Uniques in the same first-year class. That was statistically absurd. S-rank abilities were supposed to be generational rarities. Having two in the same academy year was something. Wait, does that mean there might be more?
Either it was cosmic coincidence, or something was drawing them together.
He filed that thought away for later and checked his System interface.
[Daily Quest: Physical Conditioning]
[Status: Incomplete]
[Time Remaining: 2 Hrs : 14 Min : 27 Sec]
Right. Still had to finish today's quest.
Kaelen changed into training clothes and headed out.
...
Thursday Morning - 6:00 AM
Kaelen woke before dawn again, the routine settling into his bones. Fifty push-ups, fifty pull-ups, five-mile run. His body protested less now, adapting to the constant demand.
He completed the quest with an hour to spare and returned to his dorm to shower and prepare for classes.
[Daily Quest Complete: Physical Conditioning]
[Rewards: +30 XP | +1 Stat Point]
[53 Stat Points Available]
Another point added to the growing pile he still hadn't allocated. Kaelen made a mental note to actually deal with stat distribution soon. The numbers were getting ridiculous.
His wristband chimed with his class schedule. Standard lectures today—Aetheric Theory, Combat Fundamentals, and Measurements. Nothing unusual.
He grabbed his bag and headed out.
...
Thursday - Morning Classes
The day passed uneventfully. Professor Nyra's lecture covered disruption patterns in aetheric flow—how interference could destabilize techniques mid-casting. Useful information, but dry.
Combat Fundamentals was more physical, focusing on stance work and defensive positioning. Kaelen noticed he was performing better than most first-years now, his training with Sera paying dividends.
By lunch, he was ready for a break.
...
Cafeteria - 1:30 PM
Kaelen entered the massive cafeteria and immediately spotted his usual table. Daniel was already there, tablet out as always. Lira sat across from him, picking at her meal. Sera arrived moments after Kaelen, sliding into the seat beside Lira with her typical efficiency.
And Torven appeared shortly after, his scaled frame drawing a few glances as he joined them.
Their group had formed naturally over the past few days—five first-years who'd somehow gravitated toward each other. Kaelen still wasn't entirely sure how it had happened, but he wasn't complaining.
"So," Daniel said without preamble, "I've been tracking academy duel statistics. Did you know that first-years challenging third-years has a ninety-four percent failure rate?"
Kaelen raised an eyebrow. "I'm the six percent?"
"You're the anomaly that breaks the model entirely." Daniel gestured at his tablet. "Technically you lost. But also technically you won. The data doesn't know how to classify you."
Lira smirked. "He's a statistical nightmare. Fitting."
"I prefer 'unprecedented,'" Kaelen said dryly.
Sera, who had been eating silently, glanced at him. "You're certainly drawing attention. Have you checked how many duel requests you've declined?"
Kaelen blinked. "Declined? I haven't received any."
"Because your status is still set to unavailable from recovery," Sera said. "The system auto-declines challenges when you're medically cleared but haven't manually reset your status. You've probably got a dozen waiting."
"Fantastic," Kaelen muttered.
Torven chuckled. "Fame has consequences."
They continued eating, the conversation drifting toward clubs and next week's recruitment. Daniel was already eyeing the technician clubs, specifically one focused on aether-tech innovation. Lira mentioned a combat-support hybrid club that specialized in tactical coordination.
Then the cafeteria's ambient noise shifted.
Conversations quieted. Heads turned.
Kaelen looked up.
A student was approaching their table—a first-year, judging by his uniform, but carrying himself with the kind of authority that came from wealth or power. His hair was striking: deep crimson red, almost unnaturally vibrant, swept back in a way that looked both calculated and effortless. His eyes were sharp, amber-gold, and his expression was one of casual disdain.
He stopped directly in front of Kaelen's table, ignoring everyone else.
"Kaelen Burn," the student said. His voice carried, clear and cutting. "I challenge you to a sanctioned duel."
The cafeteria went silent.
Kaelen looked up slowly, meeting the student's gaze. Then he returned to his meal without responding.
The student's jaw tightened fractionally. "Did you hear me? I'm challenging you."
Kaelen took another bite. Chewed. Swallowed. Still didn't respond.
Daniel and Lira exchanged uncomfortable glances. Torven's expression darkened slightly. Sera remained perfectly still, watching.
The crimson-haired student's voice sharpened. "Ignoring me won't change anything. You're a fraud. Everyone knows you only beat Jax because of a technicality. Domain usage disqualification." He laughed, the sound harsh. "Pathetic. Jax was pathetic for losing to someone like you."
Kaelen continued eating.
The student leaned forward slightly, his tone turning venomous. "Or maybe you're just too scared to accept. Hiding behind your little bronze badge and your lucky win."
Still nothing.
Then the student's gaze shifted. His amber eyes flicked to Daniel, then to Lira.
"I see," he said slowly, his smile turning cruel. "You surround yourself with weaklings to feel strong. Makes sense." He gestured dismissively at Daniel. "A Null playing with tablets because he'll never be anything more. Pathetic."
Daniel's face flushed, but he didn't respond.
The student turned to Lira. "And you. A trash clinging to someone famous because you couldn't make it on your own. How does it feel knowing you'll never matter?"
Lira's silver eyes went cold, but she stayed silent.
Kaelen's fork stopped moving.
"That's enough," Sera said quietly, her voice cutting through the tension like a blade.
The crimson-haired student finally looked at her. And paused.
Recognition flickered across his face. "Sera Flynn." His tone shifted slightly, less openly hostile but still edged. "I didn't see you there."
"Clearly," Sera replied. Her voice was calm. Too calm. "Matthias Pyrell. I'd heard you'd returned from your... little quest grinding excursion. Unranked to Novice in three weeks. Impressive work ethic." She smiled faintly. "Shame it didn't teach you manners."
Matthias's expression hardened. "My family's status matches yours, Flynn. Don't lecture me."
"I'm not lecturing," Sera said, her smile widening into something cold and sharp. "I'm warning. Insult my friends again, and I'll make sure your family hears about how their heir conducts himself in public. I'm sure they'd be 'thrilled' to know you're picking fights with first-years and targeting Nulls." She leaned back casually. "Or maybe you'd prefer I mention it to my brother during next month's family council meeting? He does love sharing amusing stories."
Matthias's jaw clenched. The cafeteria was dead silent now, every eye on the confrontation.
Kaelen set his fork down carefully and stood.
"Matthias Pyrell," he said quietly, drawing the other student's attention back to him. "That's your name?"
Matthias turned, his expression venomous. "Yes. And you—"
"You challenge me," Kaelen interrupted, his voice calm and even, "but when I ignore you, you insult my friends. When that doesn't work, you insult them more cruelly. Then, when someone with actual authority speaks, you back down immediately." He tilted his head slightly. "That's not confidence. That's desperation wrapped in arrogance."
Matthias's face flushed red. "You—"
"I accept your challenge," Kaelen said simply. "Friday afternoon, after classes. I'll show you exactly how I beat Jax." He leaned forward slightly, his crimson eyes meeting Matthias's amber gaze. "And if you insult my friends again before then, I'll make sure the duel is the least embarrassing thing that happens to you this week."
The threat was delivered with perfect calm. No anger. No heat. Just cold, factual promise.
Matthias stared at him, caught between fury and uncertainty.
Torven started to stand. "Kaelen, you don't have to—"
"I know," Kaelen said, not looking away from Matthias. "But I want to."
Matthias's fist clenched, but he forced a smile. "Fine. Friday afternoon. I'll put you in your place, Burn." He turned sharply and walked away, the cafeteria parting to let him pass.
The moment he was gone, noise flooded back in... whispers, exclamations, speculation.
Kaelen sat back down and resumed eating as if nothing had happened.
Sera stared at him. "You just challenged an AA-rank Mage."
"He challenged me first," Kaelen corrected.
"Matthias Pyrell," Sera said quietly, her tone shifting into something more informative, "is from one of Veyra Enclave's most powerful families. The Pyrells control significant portions of the fire-aether industrial sector. Refineries, military contracts, energy production." She paused. "His ability is Crimson Tyrant. AA-rank fire manipulation. Hotter flames than standard fire abilities, can shape them into complex forms, extremely hard to extinguish, explosive nature, and he commands them with precision."
Daniel looked pale. "And you just accepted a duel with him."
"He insulted you," Kaelen said simply. "Both of you. I'm not letting that stand."
Sera's expression was unreadable. "You realize he has more RP than you, right? Around fifteen hundred. He's been grinding quests for weeks specifically to build his rank before taking fights."
Kaelen said. "Doesn't matter. It only helps me with gaining more."
Sera studied him for a long moment. "You're either very brave or very stupid."
"Can't it be both?"
Despite everything, Lira laughed. "You're insane."
"Apparently," Kaelen agreed.
His wristband chimed.
[OFFICIAL ACADEMY NOTIFICATION]*
[Duel Challenge Accepted]
[Matthias Pyrell (Novice) vs Kaelen Burn (Novice)]
[Date: Friday, 4:00 PM]
[Location: Combat Dome 5]
Kaelen glanced at the notification, then dismissed it.
"Friday afternoon," he said calmly. "That gives me tonight and tomorrow morning to prepare."
Daniel shook his head. "You're going to get destroyed."
"Maybe." Kaelen finished his meal. "But at least I won't have insulted anyone's friends to get there."
Sera's lips twitched into something that might have been approval. Torven just sighed, though there was respect in his amber eyes.
Lira leaned forward. "For the record? Thank you."
Kaelen nodded. "Anytime."
They finished lunch in relative quiet, the cafeteria still buzzing with gossip around them. But at their table, the group felt more solid than before.
Whatever happened Friday, Kaelen wouldn't be facing it alone.
...
Thursday Evening - 7:00 PM
Kaelen sat in his dorm room, reviewing what he knew about Matthias Pyrell.
AA-rank ability. Fire manipulation with multiple advantages. More RP. Three weeks of quest grinding meant combat experience, even if it wasn't against high-level opponents.
But Kaelen had advantages too.
S-rank abilities. Time and space manipulation. Tactical adaptability. And he'd already faced a Guardian-level Domain user.
An AA-rank Mage, even a skilled one, wasn't the same threat level.
Still, underestimating Matthias would be stupid. The Pyrell family didn't produce weaklings, and Crimson Tyrant sounded like a nightmare to fight—fire that couldn't be extinguished easily, explosive attacks, precision control.
Kaelen pulled up his status screen.
[Base Level: 8] (220/1900 XP)
[System Level: 6] (820/1800 XP)
[HP: 300/300]
[A.E.: 350/350]
[Stat Point:53]
Fifty-three unallocated points.
He stared at the number. He'd been holding them for "strategic reasons," but honestly, he just hadn't decided how to distribute them yet.
Maybe it was time to actually commit.
If he dumped points into Vitality, he could push his HP significantly higher. More survivability against Matthias's explosive fire attacks.
If he invested in Intelligence, he'd increase his A.E. pool, allowing more skill usage.
Defense would help him tank hits better. Agility would help him avoid them entirely.
Kaelen closed the screen without allocating anything.
Not yet. He'd decide tomorrow after seeing how his preparation went.
For now, he needed rest.