-Oriana Mengral's point of view.
Behind dark windows, inside an observation room that allowed a view of the entire combat arena of the combat section, Oriana had seen all that was necessary with her own eyes.
She had simply been speechless, although she didn't show such a surprising reaction because she already knew where the results would lead.
After all, she had seen it before in her class, and since then she hadn't been too surprised again.
Of course, what she had just seen was quite incredible.
It was something she hadn't quite expected, but she knew the results more or less.
However, Oriana was not alone.
One of her classmates also saw the whole thing happen, but compared to Oriana, she was even more shocked. Even though she had seen it before, this changed a lot of things.
Professor Aria looked wide-eyed at Oriana.
Oriana, for her part, knew what she would say.
Aria blinked, still processing what she had seen.
"Oriana... What... what was that?"
Oriana let out a sigh, anticipating the question.
She knew her reaction and understood why she was like this.
"That, Aria, is what they call the greatest talent ever."
Was her response.
Anyone would say that answer after observing everything.
However, some would say the opposite as they would not accept that great talent out of pride or simple jealousy.
People tend to have negative thoughts towards other people who are simply better than them; however, when their jealousy reaches a certain point, they do whatever it takes to get rid of that talent.
Oriana knew many such thoughts in people, however, Aria expressed no such thoughts towards Asher.
Glancing to her side, Oriana's eyes fixed on Aria's face, whose eyes were wide open.
She was still in shock, even though it had been a few minutes since Asher had left.
"It's really unbelievable though, get a grip on your emotions."
Aria then immediately pulled herself together and then cleared her throat.
"Ahem..."
Looking at Oriana, Aria seemed like one of those people with very calculated thoughts, however, at that moment it was different.
"I'm sorry."
She apologized.
The teachers at Laosa Academy have a very strict rule of being neutral with the cadets.
Unless something relatively bad happens, such as a fight between cadets in areas other than the combat or training section, or when cadets use magic somewhere in the academy, at those times the teachers must take action.
"Haa... I never thought of seeing someone like that in my life."
Aria let out a long sigh; her expression was normal and more relaxed.
She had finally calmed down and, after a few seconds, she was back to her usual self.
"How long have you known him?"
"A short time ago."
"When you met him, had he ever shown anything like that?"
"Not really."
Aria sighed at Oriana's responses.
Honestly, it seemed that even Oriana had seen Asher's talent for the first time.
"Did you see it?"
"Uh..."
"His weapon creation and that ability I'd never seen before, but also.... do you know what the hell that dark magic is?"
In particular, Oriana didn't know anything about it about the strange dark magic Asher has.
However, as a teacher, she is not allowed to investigate or try to get information out of the cadet.
It would be like breaking one of the most important rules of the academy; even Principal Wilbek would have to intervene in such a matter.
Aria knew that rule, however, she was not asking the cadet, but Oriana.
Knowing that the cadet has a deep relationship with Oriana, Aria thought that perhaps she could get additional information from her.
"Pitifully, I don't know anything. This is the first time I've seen that magic, and he never showed it before."
Before Aria spoke, Oriana continued.
"However, Asher has a friend. He's someone I don't know, but I met him once."
"And what does that have to do with anything?"
"It was kind of strange, but that friend of Asher's seemed to have the same dark magic."
Of course, Oriana was referring to Encrid.
In Asher's early days of training at the castle, Encrid was spotted by Oriana; however, he didn't mind revealing himself.
"So, the only answer you have is about that friend?"
Oriana nodded.
Encrid, of course, is the only source of information about the darkness magic; however, he doesn't even tell Asher anything, even though he is his descendant.
"But I haven't seen him again, but if I look at him..." Her voice paused.
Aria looked quizzically at Oriana's sudden behavior.
Looking at her face, Aria noticed that Oriana seemed a little nervous, and though she showed it hardly at all, Aria could tell.
She was a little afraid, but she also looked a little admiring.
Who is really the man Oriana was referring to?
Was her question; however, Aria knew nothing about it.
"Well, it's okay, we don't need to get involved in Asher's personal life."
"Remember, we have rules to follow."
Oriana voiced her words, and Aria understood.
"I understand."
She affirmed.
After all, their rules didn't allow them to ask the cadets things; just teach, that's all.
"Ring."
It was then that a small sound came from Oriana's wrist.
At that moment, Oriana pulled a device from her wrist; it looked like a watch, but a little different.
"Director Wilbek wants us assembled."
It was a notification.
"It could be something important."
"Let's go."
They both left the small observation room and walked down the long corridors of the academy until they reached Principal Wilbek's office, where all the teachers were already present. They all looked a little nervous.
"There must be something important to talk about."
Oriana thought after entering through the framed golden doors with intricate golden details.
Seeing Headmaster Wilbek's face, it looked like it was something extremely important, and then his voice echoed as all the teachers were present.
"We have a worldwide problem."
Everyone fell silent, and their faces showed surprise.
***
-Scene change.
-Asher Frostblade's point of view.
Being in his room, Asher plopped down on his soft and very soft bed; the silk fiber on the bed quilt had a comfortable feel to it.
"Haa... The skills were a success."
Honestly, Asher didn't think anything would change that much in the consumption of his skills with regards to the new mana control he gained.
However, it turned out to be quite the opposite.
The new mana control he now has is truly amazing, despite not being a very advanced one like that of an eighth or ninth circle mage.
For the time being, however, Asher was more than satisfied with his results.
He had a few more skills, but his mana consumption was not like the other two.
"Apparently, the skills are now more effective."
"But I still need more control of the new skill."
Although he had only just learned the new mana control, he was still a bit unstable, and that meant he still didn't give his full potential.
Asher knew this, and so he checked the book.
He read every word, but it was useless.
"There's nothing important anymore."
The book was practically finished and had nothing else Asher needed; however, he needed a little more.
For the moment, he put it aside.
It was Saturday and there were no classes on Saturdays and Sundays, so the cadets had two days off.
However, these days off were normally used by the cadets to train and absorb mana in order to get to the second circle as quickly as possible.
Asher was in the second circle and was the strongest first year; however, the same could not be said for the upper years, such as the second through fifth years.
Asher knew that those cadets had powers and abilities far above his own.
"I certainly can't compete with a fourth circle."
Despite being able to defeat a third circle fairly easily, it's different when it comes to a fourth circle.
These mages have much higher abilities and destructive power than a third circle.
For example, it would be like an ant trying to defeat a beetle; that would be the power gap between a third circle and a fourth circle.
It is certainly quite a high power gap, and even for some it would be impossible to reach.
"Even if it's a third circle, it still wouldn't be able to defeat a fourth circle."
"Their abilities are much greater."
Asher, of course, knew quite a bit about how strong a fourth circle is, but that doesn't apply to a fifth, sixth, or seventh circle, and even those of eighth and ninth circles.
Those wizards, how strong are they and how far can they go?
How much can they destroy with their abilities?
"A ninth circle could be quite strong."
It certainly depends on the affinity of the mage.
If it is a fairly weak affinity, a ninth-circle mage would not be very strong compared to other ninth-circle mages.
Each elemental affinity or unique affinity has unique power and growth.
However, the growth of the darkness affinity is high. There is also the light affinity of Gloriana; its growth is equally unknown.
But the light affinity is comparable to the dark affinity; after all, both are its counterparts, but both have special characteristics.
For example, the light affinity, its power is not as enormous as that of darkness.
Asher is still unaware of the unique affinities as well as those of darkness and light.
"I only know that the unique affinities are a few."
Among these affinities Asher knows are the affinity of time, affinity of magnetism, affinity of sound, affinity of psychokinesis and the affinity of telekinesis.
These are a few that he currently knows, but there are less than five more that Asher is still unaware of and has no idea what they look like.
Though he also doesn't know what the affinities Asher does know look like, especially the time affinity.
"Maybe it deals with things like freezing time, going back in time or stopping time."
It is relatively unknown how the time affinity works; only by asking Director Wilbek would his questions be answered.
Getting out of bed, Asher decided to go to a coffee shop and then left his room.
***
-Scene change.
"Here's your order."
Looking at the coffee on the table, Asher took it and then....
Sip.
He drank some and felt his throat cool, even though the coffee was hot, that was no problem.
"It's even more delicious this way."
After all, a simple burn was nothing to Asher; the pain was an old acquaintance and, to him, it didn't pose much of a problem.
It was just a regular cappuccino, but Asher savored it as if it were the most exquisite delicacy in the world, almost as if he were drinking the last thing he would ever taste in his life. Coffee was his little refuge in the midst of the chaos.
Coffee, that sacred elixir for many, was his greatest pleasure, which he enjoyed in solitude, with the same devotion every morning, afternoon and evening.
"Haa..."
He let out a long sigh as his gaze was lost in the ceiling of the place. Around him, a few tables were occupied by cadets also enjoying their coffee; the place wasn't crowded.
However, it was better this way.
Asher didn't want to be disturbed by anyone at that precise moment.
Lost in thought, he didn't notice someone approaching from behind until he felt soft hands cover his eyes.
"Who am I?" asked a female voice, trying (without much success) to sound mysterious.
Asher didn't need to be a genius to recognize those hands. The touch, though brief, sounded very familiar.
"Luna," he said calmly.
Immediately, Luna removed her hands from Asher's eyes, and he lifted his head to meet those ash-colored eyes that always seemed to hide something else. Her long white hair fell like a waterfall over her shoulders, and her pale skin contrasted against the warm light of the place.
"What are you doing here?" asked Asher, arching an eyebrow.
"Uh... I-I was just... passing through, yeah, that's what I was doing," Luna replied, clearly trying to sound nonchalant, but her awkwardness was obvious.
Asher wasn't the type to worry about minor details, so he didn't put much stock in the obvious lie.
"Why is she nervous? And why is her face so red? Could she be sick?" thought Asher, as he watched Luna take a seat across from him.
"Are you sick?" he asked at last, squinting his eyes.
"Your face is pretty red; I think you have a fever or something."
Luna immediately covered her face, as if by doing so she could hide her embarrassment. Asher, in his usual calm manner, reached out his hand before she could react.
"You don't have a fever, so why do you look like that?" he asked, his hand now on Luna's forehead.
"Hey... D-don't do..." she stammered, whispering through her teeth and hiding her face even more behind her hands.
"I guess you're okay," Asher concluded, withdrawing his hand with a nonchalance that only served to make Luna more nervous.
She covered her face again, now completely red, and muttered something so low it was barely audible.
"Calm down, I'm not in love.... am I?"
Asher, too absorbed in his thoughts to pay attention to her words, continued to stare at her, oblivious to what was really going on in Luna's mind....