"That's it for today, everyone." Sophie's voice cut through the murmur of shuffling papers. "Oh, and one more thing—your exams start next week. Study hard. Your ranking depends on it."
Adam nodded as he cleared the desk, signaling the end of another lecture. The classroom felt emptier than usual, a stark reminder of what we'd lost.
After the massacre at the ballroom, Koari had escaped into the night. Despite the academy's best efforts, he remained at large. The attack had devastated us—dozens of students killed, families shattered, and the academy's reputation in ruins. Parents pulled their children out by the dozens. The royal family had pledged support for the victims' families, but money couldn't bring back the dead.
Security had been tightened to an almost suffocating degree. Getting onto academy grounds now required passing through multiple checkpoints and verification spells.
"Sammy, how long are you going to take?" I tapped my foot impatiently as he fumbled with his bag.
"Just a few more seconds," he muttered, shoving a crumpled notebook into his pack. "Alright, ready."
We caught up with Amanda and Talia outside the classroom. The moment they spotted us, Talia leaned in close to Amanda and whispered something that made them both giggle.
"What's so funny?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.
Amanda's eyes sparkled with mischief. "We were placing bets on who'll score lowest among the four of us."
I grinned despite myself. "And? What's the verdict?"
"You and Sammy," she said, barely suppressing her laughter.
"Ouch." I clutched my chest dramatically. "That hurts."
We fell into step together, making our way back toward the dormitories. The past week had been strange. After Amanda's revelation about her royal status—and her surprisingly honest explanation about why she'd hidden it—I'd found it easier to talk to her. The awkwardness had faded, replaced by something that felt almost like friendship.
But something else weighed on my mind. During my final attack against the demons at the ballroom, I'd felt a surge of power unlike anything I'd experienced before. It was as if something inside me had unlocked, if only for a moment. Was it the system? I had no way of knowing.
Lost in thought, I reached out and took Amanda's hand without thinking.
She stopped dead in her tracks and shot me a look that could have frozen fire.
I quickly averted my gaze. "I was just wondering... could you help me study for the exam?"
Her expression softened. "Fine. Talia and Sammy can join us too, if they want."
They both nodded enthusiastically.
"Let's meet in Rudra's room this evening," Sammy suggested. "We can get through the material faster if we work together."
I sighed in mock defeat. "Alright, alright. Do whatever you want."
Back in my room, I collapsed onto my bed, exhaustion seeping into my bones. My eyelids grew heavy, and I was just drifting off when a familiar screen materialized in front of me, bathing the room in pale blue light.
CONGRATULATIONS
You have successfully prevented the First Massacre. The timeline has been altered.
REWARD: Mana Access Unlocked
You may now learn techniques and acquire elemental powers.
My jaw dropped. For a moment, I couldn't breathe. This was everything I'd ever wanted—the ability to use mana, to stand on equal footing with the others. But the joy was short-lived. How could I celebrate when so many had died? When my knowledge, my intervention, hadn't been enough to save them all?
"Rudra." The system's voice echoed in my mind, quieter than before. "This is not your fault. Consider it a lesson. What you faced at the ballroom is only the beginning. Darker trials await. Use the power I've given you to save humanity."
The screen vanished, leaving me alone with my thoughts.
I sat in silence for a long time before finally collecting myself. "Status," I whispered.
STATUS SCREEN
Name: Rudra
Age: 16
Race: Human
Class: None
Level: 1
Mana: Acquired (Basic Awakening)
ATTRIBUTES
Strength: 3Agility: 4Vitality: 3Intelligence: 5Wisdom: 4Charisma: 2Luck: 1Stamina: 3
I stared at the numbers and laughed bitterly. "Guess I've got a lot of work to do."
Grabbing my sword training manual from the shelf, I pulled out the new one the system had provided—a guide to mana manipulation. I settled onto the floor and began to read.
The manual opened with the basics, concepts drilled into every child from birth: Mana is drawn from sustenance. Food is the vessel; digestion is the key. Only through nourishment does the body refine energy into usable mana.
I frowned. For everyone else, this was absolute truth. But I could already feel that my case was different.
Closing my eyes, I focused inward. The air around me seemed to shimmer, threads of invisible energy brushing against my skin. Where others felt nothing, I felt the pulse of mana—raw, untamed, waiting to be claimed.
I reached out, not with my hands but with something deeper, something instinctual. The energy responded.
According to the manual, refined mana gathered at the heart, the core of all life. From there, it spread like rivers branching from a source, coursing through veins and muscles, strengthening both body and mind.
I felt it now—a warmth blossoming in my chest. My heartbeat grew stronger, no longer just pumping blood but radiating light. The energy surged outward, threading into my arms, my legs, my fingertips. My breathing steadied. My senses sharpened.
I understood what the manual only hinted at: mana wasn't a prisoner of food or bound by the slow alchemy of digestion. It was everywhere, waiting to be harnessed.
Opening my eyes, I stood and walked to the mirror. A faint blue glow enveloped my entire body.
I'd done it. I could use mana.
Unable to contain myself, I jumped around my room like an idiot, grinning from ear to ear. Then the system screen flashed again.
CHOOSE YOUR ELEMENTAL AFFINITY
FireWaterEarthAir
I took my time, weighing each option carefully. Fire was destructive but volatile. Earth was steady but slow. Air was versatile but difficult to master. Water, though... water was adaptable. It could heal, defend, and attack. It could flow around obstacles or crash through them with overwhelming force.
I selected Water.
The moment I confirmed my choice, a soothing sensation washed over me, like diving into a cool stream on a scorching day. I focused with everything I had, channeling the energy I'd just awakened.
A single drop of water formed above my palm, shimmering in the dim light before falling onto my skin.
It was small. Pathetic, even. But it was mine.
I screamed until my throat burned, then collapsed onto my bed as exhaustion dragged me under.
The knock on my door was hesitant at first, then more insistent. Sammy pushed it open, water dripping faintly from his sleeve—evidence of recent practice. Talia followed, calm and composed as always, a flask of coffee in hand. Amanda came last, nearly buried under a stack of thick tomes on elemental tactics.
"My room's officially a war council now," I muttered, watching them settle in.
"Better than the training hall," Sammy said with a grin. "At least here I won't accidentally drench anyone. Probably."
Amanda dropped her books onto my desk with a heavy thud. "No jokes. This exam determines our ranking. Fail, and we're stuck at the bottom tier. Pass, and we get access to advanced classes, better mentors, and private training chambers."
Her words made my stomach tighten. I hadn't let myself think too much about the perks—personal spell libraries, enchanted equipment, the prestige of a top ranking. But hearing it laid out so plainly made it feel real.
"Alright," I said, forcing confidence into my voice. "Let's start with elemental combinations. Talia, you wanted to go over defensive formations, right?"
She nodded. "Explain how wind barriers interact with fire attacks."
I grabbed a piece of chalk and began sketching diagrams on a makeshift board—fire arcs meeting wind currents, the angles and flow of mana. But halfway through, I hesitated. The math behind the mana stabilization slipped from my grasp.
Amanda leaned in immediately. "You're missing the stabilizing constant," she said, sliding her book toward me. "If the barrier shifts angle, the entire equation changes. Look—here."
Relief washed over me as I corrected the diagram. The symbols aligned properly this time. "Thanks. I would've missed that."
Sammy chimed in with his own insights—how water could smother fire but also conduct lightning if misused. Amanda clarified the risks, Talia pressed me with sharp, probing questions, and together we pieced the tactics into something solid.
Hours passed in a blur of diagrams, equations, and elemental theory. My desk was buried under notes, Amanda's neat handwriting filling the gaps where I'd faltered. Sammy's water tricks had mostly stayed under control, and Talia's questions had kept us sharp.
Finally, I closed my notebook. "That's enough for tonight."
Sammy stretched and yawned. "About time. My brain's drowning in formulas." He flicked a droplet of water into the air, letting it evaporate before it hit the floor.
Talia gathered her notes neatly. "We should review again tomorrow. The exam won't be forgiving."
I hesitated, then spoke carefully. "Sammy, Talia... you two can head out. I need Amanda to stay for a bit. There's something I want to try."
Sammy raised an eyebrow, smirking. "Oh? Private lessons now? Don't keep her too long, Rudra. She's the one saving you from failing half these equations."
Talia gave me a small, knowing smile before following him out.
Once the door closed, I turned to Amanda. She looked at me curiously, her books still open.
"While we were working through those mana equations, I discovered something," I said, standing and picking up my training sword. "A new way to channel elemental power. But I need to test it in combat. I want to spar with you."
Amanda blinked, then slowly closed her book. "A sparring match? Now?"
I nodded, determination rising in my chest. "Follow me to the training ground. If I'm right about this, it could change everything—how I fight, how I rank, maybe even how we survive what's coming."
A faint smile touched Amanda's lips. "Then let's see if your theory survives contact with reality."
She stood, and together we headed into the night.