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"I've… missed this feeling quite a lot."
The words slipped from Kaelen's lips, blending into the heavy, hot air of the island and disappearing. A familiar flutter from deep within his heart had pried open the dusty lid of memories he had tried to suppress. A faint ache echoed through his chest—the cold sting of longing deepened after using his ability.
After the recent clash, silence had fallen over the island. The moans of lava had ceased, the volcano's groans stilled. It was as if nature itself acknowledged the victory, waiting in solemn respect.
[Corrupted Rank Level 5: Lava Observer defeated.]
[You have received a reward.]
The system notification that flashed before his eyes caused a brief unease in Kaelen. But he had no intention of checking the reward. His priority was the weapon.
He lifted the black obsidian sword in his right hand. Its dark, matte body had partially melted under the fury of the lava, thin wisps of smoke rising from its edges. Yet… it still stood intact. As he carefully drew the sword toward its core, Kaelen murmured softly:
"The sword hasn't broken… Mana will slowly repair it. That way, I won't need to get a new one."
A slight smile appeared on his face as his gaze lingered over the sword's cracked edges. As long as relics were connected to their mana cores, they could be reused repeatedly. And for Kaelen, this was a huge advantage. Right now, he didn't even have the funds to buy a standard weapon, let alone a high-tier sword.
He could perhaps gain something by venturing into a few illegal dungeons. But if he took that path… the major guilds' attention would be on him immediately. The moment his name was heard on the black market, countless eyes would lock onto him. And that was a risk he couldn't afford yet.
The seismic vibrations under the island had ceased. The sea had stopped boiling, and the lava spewed by the volcano slowly cooled. The place was filled with the strange silence following the clash. Only the scent of ash lingered in the air… and a breeze carrying the residual heat of burnt stones.
Now, only two beings remained on this island: Kaelen and the one who had brought him here—Master Wizard Pheniyet.
More precisely… Kaelen was inside the mana field created by Pheniyet. This had occurred beyond his own initiative. Immediately after the battle, the field had activated, enclosing Kaelen, impervious to any outside interference.
Kaelen found a black-stoned outcrop rising among the lava. He was exhausted. The muscle aches creeping up from his ankles to his knees were the natural consequence of straining his mana core so early. He sat down and took a deep breath. Sweat streamed down his forehead.
At that moment… a subtle ripple appeared in the air. Pheniyet emerged, like a fragment of light shining in the void. Her eyes, usually cheerful, were now cold and alert. The familiar playful smile was absent. Her gaze shimmered with a violet haze, as if trying to peer into Kaelen's thoughts.
"You…" she began, but left the words hanging.
Kaelen silently met her eyes. Pheniyet was familiar—but their familiarity wasn't rooted in friendship. In previous lives, their paths had crossed… always on battlefields or at the edge of life-and-death decisions. Their connection was not warmth—it was conflict.
Kaelen knew Pheniyet. And Pheniyet knew him… but not like this.
"Who would believe that someone at the apprentice level in Eldorian Academy's entrance trials could single-handedly defeat a corrupted rank monster?" Pheniyet murmured, more to herself than him.
Her voice was light as the wind, yet carried a muted weight. She couldn't believe it. A child—someone like Kaelen—achieving such a feat defied every rule she knew.
Kaelen remained silent. He had never been this strong in his past life. Until he reached his first mana seed, he had crawled to survive, barely breathing. Now… even the faint echo of his previous mastery paled compared to the apprentice Kaelen of today.
Pheniyet studied him for a few more seconds. Something lingered on the tip of her tongue, but she chose not to speak. Perhaps… she was waiting for the right moment.
There was no longer a sense of curiosity in her eyes. In its place was doubt, a secret. And that secret was Kaelen himself.
Kaelen's journey to this point was, at least she thought, within Pheniyet's knowledge. He had been recommended by 3rd Level Mirakel Alfia Hall, a professor at Eldorian Academy. Alfia, even after becoming a wizard, had never forgotten the orphanage where she grew up and often visited. During one of these visits, the director asked her to bring a child named Kaelen to the exams. Alfia agreed.
According to what Pheniyet had learned, Kaelen had been left at Littlestar Orphanage as almost a baby. He had grown up alone, living a life out of sight.
At first, Pheniyet suspected he might have been trained by a secret clan. But the look of astonishment on Alfia's face… said it all. Even she knew nothing of this child's past.
The only thing Pheniyet could say now:
"Kaelen… a genius."
Yet deep down, she knew. This wasn't just genius. It was… much more.
"Of course, even geniuses cannot step beyond the rules of mana."
The thought echoed in Pheniyet's mind, a truth every wizard quietly acknowledged. The rules were woven into the fabric of the world. Even the brightest minds could not step outside them. At least, that was the belief… until now.
Pheniyet looked at the boy shaping himself with the lava on the tropical island—Kaelen—and unease grew within her. These thoughts had plagued her mind before he had transformed a lava monster.
But now…
Her thoughts were blurred. Fragmented. Scattered. Because what had occurred surpassed the laws of mana.
Who was this child… really?
He had defeated the strongest students carefully nurtured by each clan. And he hadn't merely beaten them—he had left them weakened, helpless, diminished. He had even brought down the proud and haughty Estelle, secretly trained by the Council. Estelle… unparalleled in mana control. Trained under the stars by the finest masters. Yet Kaelen had defeated her—single-handedly.
As if that weren't enough… he had slain a corrupted monster of the fifth rank just by awakening his ability.
One strike.
Pheniyet's deep thoughts were shattered by the voice of the young wizard before her:
> "Sir, would you still like to talk about the Council entrance?"
His words rang not with mere curiosity, but with a challenge. The young wizard's red eyes burned like coals in the dark, unwavering and intense. Pheniyet involuntarily took a deep breath as she felt his gaze settle on her.
She swallowed and took a step toward Kaelen, her eyes scanning him. Then she raised the index finger of her right hand and snapped. The sound echoed in the void. For a moment, the air paused.
> "The exam is over," she said, her voice steady and clear despite her age. "Kaelen, your score: 100/100."
In that instant, the atmosphere shifted again. A faint vibration wrapped around Kaelen's body, from the ground to the sky. Something seemed to pull from the depths of his soul. An invisible hand grasped him, trying to rip him from this reality.
Kaelen's spirit was forcibly torn from the island.
The unusual sensation lasted only a few heartbeats. When he returned to his body, the humid, hot air of the tropical island was gone. He was kneeling on a stone floor. The sun still shone above, but the light was different. This was… somewhere else.
Slowly, he rose. Before him stretched a courtyard. About 200 eyes were upon him. Each person had passed the exam. The crowd had thinned considerably after eliminating the unsuccessful students. Yet the eyes that remained… set them apart.
Some were afraid. They had witnessed what Kaelen could do.
Some were envious, their jealousy hidden between furrowed brows, twisted at the corners of their lips.
And some… were angry. They carried suppressed resentment toward the child who had overshadowed their achievements.
Kaelen recognized a few familiar faces but avoided their gaze. Their emotions no longer held meaning for him.
Slowly, he lifted his eyes to the figures in the stands. Clan leaders, representatives, and other high-ranking spectators watched him closely. Among these gazes, one pair stood out—Director Herald. Beside him, Professor Alfia. Curiosity and cautious attentiveness flickered in their eyes.
Kaelen had done this knowingly. It was his first true step toward changing the future. He did not want to repeat the mistakes of his past life. Though he did not yet know what had changed in the timeline, he could feel that some things were now different.
Olivia and Liam… were now at the academy.
Estelle's pride had been broken.
Amanda… his friction with her was a conscious choice.
Arnold and Sofia were now openly enemies.
He took a deep breath. Standing under the weight of all this required fortifying his inner strength.
At that moment, Director Herald rose from the stands and spoke, his voice echoing:
> "The 50th Class Battle Test at Eldorian Academy has concluded. All 200 students present here have successfully completed the exam."
His words reverberated across the courtyard. Some students sat down with joy; others celebrated their victory with tears.
> "Ahem," the director cleared his throat to quiet the murmurs. Then he continued with seriousness:
> "As you know, this exam was not only a survival test but also based on individual point accumulation. Your scores were determined by the monsters you defeated, your technical skill, and your survival duration on the island. These scores do not directly affect your exam outcome. However, they will assist us in assigning you to dormitories. Now, I will announce the ranking."
Kaelen's gaze followed the rankings scrolling down on the giant screen.
200. Vera – Score: 2
201. Mins – Score: 3
…
As the rankings slowly climbed, familiar names appeared:
7. Amanda Oren – Score: 400
8. Liam Carter – Score: 490
9. Olivia Nightshade – Score: 520
10. Arnold Turner – Score: 600
11. Sofia Lyons – Score: 610
12. Estelle Escard – Score: 1060
And then…
1. Kaelen – Score: 1980
When his name appeared on the screen, the silence was deafening. Not a single word was spoken, but all eyes were on him. Everyone thought the same thing in that silence: This child was no ordinary student.
> "These are the scores," the director said. "The top 10 students will be assigned to the West Dormitory. The top 50 to the East Dormitory… the remaining students to the North Dormitory. A special session will be held for those wishing to meet with guild representatives this afternoon. Now… take a short rest."
The director left the stands, the silence echoing behind him.
A few attendants approached Kaelen and silently guided him.
As he walked out of the hall with heavy steps, his thoughts echoed the aftermath of an unfinished battle.
And now…
He was stepping into his new room.
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