By morning, the city was buzzing.
Students whispered in the halls.
Soldiers whispered at their posts.
Even instructors tried hiding their concern.
Aren didn't need superhuman senses to feel it—
Everyone was talking about the underground mana spike.
About him.
When he entered the Elite training hall, conversations stopped instantly.
Eyes followed him.
Some wary.
Some fearful.
Some hostile.
Kale stood near the center, fist wrapped in golden aura, anger simmering across his face.
Aren barely had time to take a breath before Kane entered, voice sharp as steel.
"Elite Class—attention!"
Everyone formed lines.
But Kane's gaze stopped on Aren.
"Follow me. You're training separately today."
Whispers surged.
"Already? Why just him?"
"They're isolating him…"
"He's dangerous, didn't you hear?"
"He caused the underground tremor!"
Kale muttered loudly, not bothering to hide his disdain:
"Figures. The 'Forbidden Tier' needs special protection."
Aren ignored him.
Kane led Aren through a reinforced corridor toward a sealed training chamber—much smaller than yesterday's but still guarded heavily.
Before they entered, Kane spoke quietly.
"Don't react to what they say. Fear turns people stupid. But today… they'll go from stupid to reckless."
Aren raised an eyebrow. "Meaning?"
Kane exhaled.
"You've become a target. Your existence threatens a lot of assumptions. Rivalry is normal. What you have? It breeds panic."
Aren didn't reply.
He knew.
People feared what they couldn't understand.
They feared what they couldn't control.
Just like the Council.
Just like Kale.
Just like the chained dragon whispered—
"Fear leads to power."
Aren shook the lingering voice from his head.
Kane opened the door.
Inside: a training ground with floating mana pillars and holographic combat projections.
"Today's training is simple," Kane said. "Control.
You can overpower nearly everyone here, but if you can't control the void… you'll be deemed unstable."
Aren nodded.
"Understood."
Kane gestured.
"Begin."
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Aren pulled his bow.
Void energy responded instantly—
too eagerly.
The air distorted around the arrowhead.
Mana pillars flickered violently just from proximity.
Kane winced.
"Too much. Dial it back."
Aren exhaled, focusing.
He imagined the void like a flame—
having to contain it, not unleash it.
The distortion flickered… then shrank slightly.
"Better," Kane said.
Aren fired.
FWIP—BOOM.
The projectile hit the projection dummy, blowing half of it away instead of the entire chamber.
Kane nodded approvingly.
"Good. Again."
Aren repeated the exercise.
Control felt unnatural.
Like trying to cage a storm.
The void didn't like being contained.
Each shot felt heavier, more resistant, as if something deep inside tried pushing past his restraint.
After ten more shots, sweat ran down Aren's neck.
Kane raised a hand.
"Rest."
Aren lowered his bow.
But before they could continue—
The door slammed open.
Kale stormed in with two elite students behind him.
Kane's eyes narrowed dangerously. "This is a restricted session."
Kale ignored him.
His glare locked onto Aren.
"You're done hiding behind special treatment."
Kane stepped forward. "Get out."
Kale didn't flinch.
"I'm not here to fight."
He pointed at Aren.
"I'm here to challenge."
Aren blinked. "…What?"
Kale smirked.
"Today's evaluation trial: Elite Ranking Match.
Winner earns priority mission selection and privilege access." He leaned closer. "And I'm not let letting some unstable anomaly outrank me."
Two students behind him whispered:
"He's serious."
"This is going to get ugly."
Kane bristled.
"This is not the time. Aren is—"
"I know exactly what Aren is," Kale snapped.
"A threat. And threats should be tested."
Aren stayed silent, studying him.
Kale wasn't just angry.
He was scared.
Kale continued:
"If the Council wants to know if he's stable or dangerous, then let's prove it."
Kane's jaw tightened.
Aren finally spoke.
"Fine."
The room stiffened.
Kane spun toward him. "Aren—"
"You said people will get reckless," Aren said calmly. "If I don't face him now, he'll challenge me later. Probably in a worse place."
Kane closed his eyes briefly, realizing Aren was right.
He exhaled.
"…Then we do it properly."
He turned to Kale.
"Main Arena. Ten minutes."
Kale smirked, aura flaring gold.
"I'll be waiting."
He turned and strode out, his followers at his heels.
When the door closed, the hall fell silent.
Kane looked at Aren with a grim expression.
"You understand what this means, right?"
Aren nodded.
Kane's voice dropped to a low warning:
"Kale isn't your enemy. Not truly. But his pride will push him to fight like one."
Aren responded quietly:
"I know. But I'm not fighting for pride."
Kane studied him.
"Then what are you fighting for?"
Aren traced the bowstring with his fingers.
"Control."
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━
Far below the city, violet chains trembled.
The dragon opened its eye.
A whisper curled upward like smoke.
"Fight…
and let the void guide your hand."