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Chapter 16 - Arthur vs Alexius

The swords clashed for the first time with a metallic crack that echoed through the silent barrier. Arthur felt the weight of Alexius's blade as if he were striking against a wall—solid, unbreakable. The sensei, without showing any effort, merely redirected his attacks, as though holding back the flow of a river with his bare hands.

Arthur stepped back, took a deep breath, and charged again, trying to increase his speed. His strikes grew faster, more desperate, but Alexius's sword moved with calm precision, deflecting each blow with unsettling ease.

— You're still holding back… — murmured Alexius, his eyes fixed on the boy.

Anger and frustration began to boil inside Arthur. His arms trembled, not from exhaustion, but from something strange, a latent energy, suppressed, that seemed ready to burst. He lunged forward again, swinging his blade toward Alexius's flank. The impact sounded sharp, but the sensei didn't move an inch — it was as if Arthur had cut through the air itself.

The young man's heart raced, his breathing turned ragged. Something inside him was awakening, an overwhelming sensation that clouded his mind. His eyes grew more intense, gleaming for a brief moment with an unusual light. When he raised his sword again, his aura shifted completely: it was no longer just Arthur attacking, but a wild, unknown instinct guiding his movements.

With a roar, he charged with brutal speed, his blade trembling as if it were about to rend the very space around him. The air seemed to warp around his sword, reality itself on the verge of being torn apart. Alexius narrowed his eyes and, at the exact moment Arthur brought down the strike, his voice resounded firm and commanding:

— DIMENSIONAL MAGIC!

The words thundered inside the barrier. In an instant, Arthur froze, his blade halting just inches from Alexius's shoulder. His eyes lost their eerie glow, and the boy drew in a deep breath, regaining consciousness, stunned.

Panting, Arthur slowly lowered his sword. Still trembling, he realized he had almost lost control of himself. Alexius, however, kept his steady gaze, analyzing what he had just witnessed.

— Who said that? — Arthur asked.

— It was the artifact. The analysis was somewhat complicated, which is why I reacted so little — Alexius replied calmly.

— S-so… I really do have magic?! — Arthur stammered, his voice full of disbelief.

— Yes, you do. And now I fully understand why no one ever told you anything about it. Your magic is ancient, and extremely dangerous. Depending on its wielder, it can cross dimensions and completely nullify other spells. Nothing can withstand an attack of dimensional magic once it is fully unleashed. But there is a price: this same power can consume and even destroy its user — Alexius explained gravely.

Arthur lowered his gaze, troubled.

— What should I do? I don't want to worry, much less hurt anyone…

Alexius placed a hand on his shoulder and offered a faint smile.

— I am your sensei, am I not? Then trust me. I will train you.

Arthur lifted his eyes, feeling the weight of his tension fade into a fragile hope.

— Thank you, sensei! — he said, grateful for Alexius's promise to help him control his magic.

— And one more thing — Alexius continued, now in a stern tone. — Do not tell anyone about this power, not even that you are aware of it. That would only bring you trouble. We will train in secret, whenever the chance arises.

— I won't tell anyone. I trust you to guide me down this path. Can we start right now? — Arthur asked eagerly.

Alexius shook his head, his expression calm.

— Not today. Rest. The second part of our journey will be more exhausting and dangerous. I will need you at full strength. I have been informed that the region we must cross is infested with monsters… and I may have to rely on the students as well, given their numbers.

{Informed? What does he mean by that? Could it be related to that device he kept fiddling with during the ride?} — Arthur wondered, suspicious.

— Good night, sensei — Arthur said at last.

— Good night, Arthur — Alexius replied.

After their farewell, Alexius sat down upon a rock, gazing at the stars in the clear sky. His thoughts drifted.

{Why was this boy born with such a power? From what I know, he is not human… And in all my research, every time a mage capable of wielding dimensional magic appeared, something dreadful followed years later.} — he reflected in silence, eyes fixed on the heavens.

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