Lucien stared at his timetable trying to find the directions to his first class, the main building was designed like a maze. He shrugged his shoulders and followed the directions assuming they'd lead him there eventually.
He was halfway across the academy when the shouting started. At first it sounded like the usual noise you'd expect at an academy, loud laughter and chatter. As he got closer, still looking down at his time table he almost tripped over another student.
"What the–" He muttered to himself under his breath.
He looked up and saw at least twenty students standing completely still as more came to gather around forming a circle. He spotted two nobles in fighting stances shouting at each other.
"What did you say to me?" One of the nobles shouted to the other, his voice filled with anger.
"I said your family is worthless." The other said in a mocking tone, as Lucien got a better look at him it turned out to be Regis Valmont instigating another fight.
Regis dove forward aggressively, his movements heavy and slow. His punches had no real technique behind them, he just threw them like a wild animal. The other kept his distance, dashing around him, reappearing just out of his reach before darting in again. He appeared in Regis's blind spot and kicked him in the face using his enhanced mobility.
"THAT'S IT" Regis screamed, his voice filling the hall.
He let out his skill, Tyrant's Physique, completely ignoring protocol against using abilities to fight within the academy. His body slowly began to emit a dangerous red aura you could visibly see, heat around his body got more intense to the point Lucien could feel it from where he was standing.
Lucien stood and watched, he didn't move closer to get a better view, he actually moved backwards towards the sides not wanting to get involved. The argument itself barely mattered, something about disrespecting a family house, just another excuse for nobles to be violent he thought.
Regis threw a jab, his fist enhanced with immense strength from his skill, he missed his target as the other noble dashed backwards barely in time. He threw another punch, hitting a wall this time. The wall caved in as a hole formed and left a deafening thud, sending a huge stone flying outward into the crowd.
"OUCHHHHHHHHH" The stone crashed against a student, hitting them in the shoulder at immense speed before being thrown to the ground.
The air in the room grew heavy as the noise from the crowd turned into silence, students looking at each other with shock. The two fighters froze mid-action, their expressions turning grim as they realised what they just did.
A senior instructor began to walk toward the scene, the crowd parting like the sea causing a large gap in the circle for him to walk through. A healing nurse also came with him to tend to the injured student. Using a healing skill to tend to the wound, wrapping the students body in a warm bright light as the wound stabilised.
"Enough." The man said coldly.
The instructor lifted his hand and both students got bound by an invisible force, unable to move or speak no matter how hard they tried, their strength taken from them entirely. He dragged them away, and the crowd dissipated finally making their way back to class.
Lucien exhaled softly and continued on. By the time he reached his classroom, most of the students were already telling others about the fight they just watched outside, their voices shaking with excitement. He looked around the class and saw Corin, a familiar face so he decided to go take a seat next to him at the back of the class.
The classroom was designed exactly like you'd expect for a prestigious academy. Murals and paintings around the most visible areas, a common theme within the school Lucien realised.
A few minutes later, the instructor entered the room at last causing the room to stop speaking immediately.
"I assume you all witnessed or heard about the incident that happened outside." The instructor said, as his eyes swept the classroom looking at students nodding in silence.
"Good. Then this lesson will require less imagination." He added.
He turned toward the board, writing down the title for today's class.
"Today we will be discussing power and the misuse of it."
Lucien lowered his eyes, his thoughts lingering on the fight that he witnessed just moments ago. Thinking about how everyone was excited at the violence, and that no one even attempted to stop it until someone else ended up being injured.
The instructor set his satchel down on the desk before turning back to the class.
"Power does not become dangerous just because it is strong," he continued.
"It becomes dangerous when the user is careless."
A few students shifted in their seats. Some were unimpressed by his words and dismissed them completely while others whispered things to their friends, causing waves of small laughter.
"Most of you believe the academy rules exist to limit you," the instructor said.
"They do not. They exist to limit the damage you cause when you become careless or unstable."
He tapped the board, thinking of his next words carefully before speaking again.
"Collateral."
The word hung in the air for a moment. Most of the students looked confused about what he meant by the word, but a few understood and began to feel a slight sense of shame.
"Neither of the students involved in the fight were injured themselves, yet an innocent bystander managed to become collateral damage," he went on.
"I'm sure none of them intended for this to happen. Yet their intent does not matter, actions do."
Lucien nodded in agreement slightly before looking over at Corin. His roommate was listening too, his expression was neutral, not giving any hints at what his thoughts on the situation were.
The door creaked open and everyone's head turned toward it. A girl stood in the doorway, out of breath like she had just run a mile. Her uniform was plain, lacking the subtle flare that the noble uniforms had and she branded no house crest on her jacket. Dust smudged on the bottom of her skirt, yet her black hair was perfectly tied up and well-maintained.
"I apologise for being late…" She said quickly, bowing her head in defeat. "There was a situation outside."
"Take a seat. Don't be late again." The instructor responded calmly.
Relief flickered across her face for not being punished, as she stepped into the room fully. Her eyes scanned the room, looking for an empty desk but there were only few left. The girl hesitated for a moment before moving toward the empty seat next to Lucien, she offered an apologetic smile as she slid into the chair beside him.
"Sorry…" She whispered, setting her things down carefully trying not to interrupt the lesson again.
Lucien gave a brief nod in response. "It's fine."
Up close he noticed how tense she was, not scared but alert, always scanning her surroundings as if danger was second nature to her. Her eyes looked back to the door, then back at Lucien before speaking again.
"I'm Alya." She spoke softly.
"I'm Lucien," he replied. After a moment, he gestured toward the other side of the table. "That's Corin."
Corin leaned forward on his desk, grinning while chuckling toward her. "Unfortunate first day huh?"
She let out a small nervous laugh. "I thought that stuff was normal here."
"Only when nobles get bored." Corin added lightly.
"I wouldn't know anything about that…" Alya replied, her gaze shifting down as if she was ashamed of her commoner status.
"It doesn't matter." Lucien said, looking at her for a moment before pulling his focus back to the instructor.
The instructor coughed to clear his throat before speaking louder. "Power used without consideration of those not directly involved will create ripples. Those ripples will lead to the harm of the people around you, even if you don't mean it."
Alya's hand tightened on her pen, thinking about her experiences with those of power and how she'd been treated before. Lucien noticed her distress but didn't comment, he didn't feel it was his place to.
"You will all be tempted," the instructor said steadily. "Tempted to solve disputes and your problems as fast as possible without regard for the consequences to yourself and others. To use the power you have just because you can."
He turned, his eyes lingering on the nobles that awakened combat skills and then back at Lucien before turning to look at the whole class again.
"Restraint is not weakness," he continued. "Restraint shows discipline and is what separates us from beasts. Those who lack discipline will not last at this academy, no matter how impressive your skills are."
Lucien looked around and noticed the room becoming tense. Some students, mainly the other nobles, looked offended at the instructors disregard of their status and power.
"For this week," the instructor added. "You are forbidden from using your abilities within the academy outside of training. This will show your restraint."
A wave of quiet protests and murmurs moved through the room, a few nobles from higher stature families scoffed, thinking they were being disrespected by the sudden limitations.
"Class dismissed."
Chairs scraped back as students grunted and sighed, glad to finally get out of class but annoyed that they can't test out their abilities. A few lingered around, whispering about the new rule and what they should do about it.
"Guess I picked the right seat." Alya said quietly while looking at Lucien and Corin. "You two seem calm." She added.
Corin chuckled loudly. "Give it time."
Lucien didn't reply, his mind was still thinking at what the instructor said about power and then his mind shifted back to the fight he saw earlier. Remembering how the instructors with real power didn't end it until someone got hurt.
He sighed as his focus came back to the present. "Let's go."