Kael had always believed the world made sense.
Hard work led to strength.
Justice led to reward.
And heroes—true heroes—rose naturally to the top.
That belief shattered the moment he saw Lucien fight.
The memory replayed itself again and again in Kael's mind: blue flames folding inward with impossible control, mana compressing instead of exploding, every movement clean, efficient—planned. Not reckless. Not desperate.
Perfect.
Kael clenched his fists as he stood alone in the academy's training hall, the echo of Lucien's last strike still ringing in his ears.
> That wasn't normal…
Lucien hadn't looked strained. He hadn't looked desperate. He had looked… amused.
Like this was all a game he already knew how to win.
Kael slammed his fist into a practice pillar. The stone cracked—but the pain in his knuckles grounded him.
"I'm supposed to be ahead," Kael muttered. "I trained longer. I awakened properly. I followed the path."
Yet every time he thought he had closed the gap, Lucien surged forward again—new techniques, deeper control, sharper instincts. It wasn't just raw power.
It was understanding.
That was what terrified Kael the most.
Lucien fought like someone who had already lived through defeat.
---
THE WEIGHT OF EXPECTATION
Kael had grown up hearing the same words again and again:
You have potential.
You're special.
You're the future.
Teachers praised him. Knights nodded approvingly. Even nobles whispered his name with interest.
He was supposed to become something great.
So why did he feel like he was chasing someone who wasn't even trying?
> "He jokes… he teases… he acts careless," Kael whispered bitterly.
"So why does it feel like he's always five steps ahead?"
Kael remembered Lucien laughing during class, casually correcting a professor's mana equation. Remembered him shrugging off dragon nobles' insults with a smile—only to dominate them later without cruelty or arrogance.
Lucien didn't need validation.
And that hurt more than any insult.
---
TRAINING WITHOUT ANSWERS
Kael forced himself into motion.
Sword swings.
Mana circulation drills.
Breathing techniques.
Again.
Again.
Again.
Sweat poured down his face as he pushed his body harder than ever before, but frustration clogged his thoughts.
> Why isn't it working?
His mana felt turbulent. His movements lacked clarity. Every mistake felt louder because now he had someone to compare himself to.
Kael dropped to one knee, breathing heavily.
For the first time since entering the academy, doubt crept into his heart.
> What if… I'm not the one meant to lead?
The thought scared him.
No—angered him.
Kael rose slowly, eyes burning.
"Then I'll surpass him," he said aloud. "Even if it kills me."