-Asher Frostblade's point of view.
It was midnight when Asher was on his way to his dorm, but he stopped. He decided to stay out for a few more hours and made his way to the training section of Class 1. He wanted to try something really interesting about his power as a third circle mage.
As is well known, the circles represent the rank and power of mages. When absorbing mana for the first time, a semi-transparent circle appears on the right wrist of all mages. This circle is called a semi-circle because of its transparency. Once you reach the first full circle, the semicircle disappears and fills with a more intense color.
Becoming a first circle completely changes the perspective of newly awakened magicians. This process is known as magical awakening, when ordinary humans acquire mana and reach the first circle. At that point, the mana permeates the muscles, protects the organs and forms the magic circuit, which allows the mana to flow and project out of the body, creating spells.
Without a magic circuit, it is impossible to conjure spells, as it acts like an electricity cable. If the electricity does not reach the wire, it cannot reach its destination. Likewise, without a magic circuit, mana cannot leave the body.
Clank.
Asher opened the door. He stepped inside and stood in the center of the wider space. There was a reason for being there.
"I need to test my new senses."
A third circle enhances the senses as the mana reaches parts of the body it could not before. As the magic circuit expands throughout the body, perception is enhanced. Once you reach the fourth circle, the circuit is complete, extending deep into the body. With each advancement in the circles, senses, vision, thoughts and insight improve.
In the third circle, the circuit begins its expansion and the first improvement in the senses manifests. However, how does one test this new ability?
It is simple.
Humans have five basic senses, but in magicians a new ability emerges, the "Sixth Sense," which appears upon reaching the third circle. This sense is remarkably more advanced and efficient than the other human senses.
"It would be easier with someone else," Asher thought.
Testing the new senses alone was tricky, as sudden attacks were needed to fully activate them. Without a surprise attack, the senses were not fully utilized, and so Asher wasn't sure he could put them to the test.
Still, knowing that no one was around, he decided to give it a try.
"Maybe I should try my skills..."
Clank.
The door opened, but no one came in. Asher was puzzled by the sudden noise and quickly looked around.
"There's no one," he immediately concluded. However, he was wrong. Someone was much closer than Asher could perceive.
At that moment, his head buzzed, and a strange sensation came over him. His senses kicked in, warning him of a sudden attack from behind him.
Xiu. Xiu.
The air hissed as Asher lowered his head as quickly as possible. A hand flew past him at incredible speed, like a sword blade that had barely been noticed.
In that instant, all of Asher's mana quickly moved to every corner of his body, flowing into his hands, activating several spells in a split second as he spun backwards.
But.
"Huh?"
There was no one there.
"Must have been a hallucination," he said to himself as he found no one.
But.
Thud!
He looked at white strips falling from her head.
It was his hair.
Asher realized that whoever attacked him had managed to graze his hair, severing some fibers.
However, thanks to his activated senses, he had managed to dodge the sudden attack.
Despite this, Asher was surprised, but quickly tried to find the culprit.
He realized that it had not been a hallucination, as it had been a real attack.
"Shit... Who was it?"
"..."
Soon he felt someone touch his shoulder, and both hands positioned themselves on his shoulders. A shiver ran through his entire body as he froze, unable to move.
However, he noticed something.
Whoever it was, she knew who he was, but there was something else.
This time, his senses did not react to the speed with which this person moved. It was too fast for his newly improved reflexes.
The touch of both hands was cold, as if he were dead. He knew it was the same person as always, but this time something was different.
"Now I can move my mana," he thought.
Before, whenever she appeared, his mana wouldn't move no matter how hard he tried, but now it was different. It moved slightly, almost imperceptibly, but Asher felt he could control it, even if it was a tiny fraction.
"You're a third circle now. You took too long," the voice said.
He swallowed saliva, but since he had experienced that uncomfortable feeling with the mystery woman before, he didn't feel anything else.
So he spoke quietly, already accustomed to that discomfort.
"Exactly," he replied.
Actually, he didn't want to get to the third circle.
He knew the mystery woman would appear when he reached that level.
Not only that.
It was true that she had promised him something when he reached the third circle.
"You're in a bit of a rush, so take this," she said.
At that moment, Asher was able to move his hands.
The woman held out hers, revealing a black box in her palm.
He felt an incredible mana inside the box, as if it contained something very powerful.
Therefore, she took it quickly.
Either way, he had to accept what the woman gave him.
He didn't know what she could do to him if he refused.
But.
"I'm going to memorize her hand," he thought.
He looked at the woman's hand and etched it in his mind as if it were an indelible image, remembering every detail.
He knew it was a clue as to who the mystery woman might be, and the first clue to her identity.
"I got it, now what?" said Asher as she held up the black box, which had a star on the top of the lid.
She said she was in a hurry, but there had to be something else, right?
"No, this is it for now."
"Then."
"I'll be back when you get to the fourth circle, that's all."
Both hands stopped touching Asher's shoulders, and before he could move his body fully, he heard the woman's voice again.
"Goodbye, sweetheart. Try to get to the fourth circle as quickly as possible, because I'll need your help."
"..."
What?
He couldn't ask any more. Suddenly, Asher felt like he could move his body again.
This time he didn't turn to look for the mystery woman.
He knew she was no longer there.
But.
Several questions filled his head.
"She needs my help."
"Why do you need my help?"
"Why are you helping me with all this?"
"Shit..."
He gritted his teeth as the veins of his anger became visible.
He clenched his fists so hard they started to bleed.
He felt like he was being used as a tool, something that reminded him of the past, when he was treated as a tool while he was strong.
The mysterious woman planned to use him when he became more powerful.
But.
"Who is she, what does she want from me when I'm stronger?"
Of course.
If it was something that would also benefit Asher, maybe he could collaborate with her, but if it was something else....
"Haaa.... Haaa..."
He tried to calm himself, feeling overcome with anger.
First, he needed to trust that his senses were working properly. Next, he needed to examine the box the mystery woman had handed him, and finally....
"Never mind. I'll soon find out who you are."
He had recorded every detail of the mystery woman's hand as she handed him the box.
To find her, he only had to observe the hands of all the teachers at the academy and gradually approach her until he discovered who the mysterious woman was and unmasked her identity.