Chapter 42: Harnessing Power
Argus stirred awake to the soft sound of footsteps crossing his dorm room. Morning sunlight filtered through the tall windows, casting a warm glow over the room's elegant furnishings. He stretched lazily, shaking off the last remnants of sleep.
Iris, his personal maid, stepped inside, her movements graceful as ever. Though she had only recently been assigned to him upon his arrival at the academy, she performed her duties with an air of practiced efficiency. Setting down freshly pressed clothes on the edge of his bed and placing a steaming pot of tea on the table, she greeted him.
"Good morning, Master Argus," she said, her voice calm and steady. "Your first day of classes awaits."
Argus smirked lazily, propping himself up on one elbow as he watched her. "You're always so serious, Iris," he teased, his voice still heavy with sleep. "Lighten up—it's just the first day. You know I can get dressed on my own if I wanted to."
Iris, already setting the room in order, shot him a sidelong glance, though her expression remained composed. "Of course, Master Argus," she replied dryly, "but that would hardly be proper, would it?"
He chuckled, taking the teacup she offered. "Always so formal. If I didn't know better, I'd think you actually enjoyed bossing me around."
Iris allowed herself the barest hint of a smile, though she quickly composed herself. "I exist to serve, not to boss anyone around," she said simply, her tone even but with a trace of amusement.
Argus took a sip of the tea, savoring its warmth for a moment before speaking. "I'll give you credit, Iris. You've taken to this role faster than I expected."
Iris, adjusting the cuffs of his uniform, raised an eyebrow slightly. "Is that so? I wasn't aware there were any doubts."
He smiled, his tone light but teasing. "Not doubts, just... observations. You've managed well so far."
Iris's lips quirked into a small, knowing smile. "I'll be sure to keep meeting your high standards, then."
Argus chuckled softly. "I've no doubt."
"Always aiming to please, Master Argus," Iris replied with a small bow. She began to straighten his uniform on the bed, preparing it for him to wear. "Shall we get you dressed, Master Argus?"
Argus smiled, stretching lazily as he sat up. "Lead the way."
Iris moved with quiet efficiency, helping him into his uniform, adjusting the cuffs and collar with practiced ease. Her touch was light but precise, ensuring everything sat perfectly in place. As she buttoned his shirt, Argus smirked slightly, amused by her professionalism.
"You really do have a talent for this," he remarked, his tone playful.
Iris glanced up, unfazed. "It's my duty, Master Argus."
Once dressed, Argus glanced at the leather bracelet on his wrist, the one his sister Lily had made for him. The colorful beads shone faintly in the morning light, reminding him of her innocent enthusiasm. He smiled, touching it lightly. There were no combat classes today, so he'd decided to wear it, knowing it wouldn't get damaged.
"I'll be wearing this today," Argus said, more to himself than to Iris. "It's good luck."
Iris paused for a moment, glancing at the bracelet before offering a small nod. "A wise choice, Master Argus. I'm sure Lady Lily would be pleased."
Argus gave her a playful grin as he finished adjusting his jacket. "I'm ready. Let's not keep the academy waiting."
Iris bowed slightly. "Enjoy your classes, Master Argus."
Argus entered the bustling dining hall of the Noble Dorm, where students were gathering for breakfast before their first day of classes. The clinking of silverware and the low hum of conversations filled the air, but he easily spotted Elara and Valerie seated near the center of the room. He made his way over to them, grabbing a plate of food along the way.
"Morning," Argus greeted as he sat down, setting his tray beside Elara.
Valerie flashed him a wide grin, her eyes gleaming with energy. "Morning, Argus! Ready for your first class?"
"More or less," Argus replied, casually glancing over the spread of food. "First up is Power Control, right?"
Elara nodded, her silver hair catching the morning light as she sipped from her tea. "Yes, Power Control. Should be interesting."
Valerie leaned back in her chair, a playful smirk on her face. "Interesting for you, maybe. You're probably going to ace it. Everyone knows you're already great at handling your powers."
Elara's composed expression faltered for just a moment, her cheeks tinged with the faintest hint of pride and embarrassment. "I've just had more time to practice," she replied modestly, her voice calm as usual.
Argus raised an eyebrow. "More time? Sounds like you've been at this for a while."
"Well, she did awaken a little earlier than most," Valerie chimed in, giving Elara a teasing glance. "Mirror Manipulation isn't easy to control, but Elara makes it look like a breeze."
Elara shook her head, her calm demeanor returning. "It's nothing special, just a matter of practice."
As they finished up their breakfast, the trio made their way out of the dining hall and towards the courtyard, where their Power Control class would be held. The morning sun bathed the academy grounds in a warm glow as they walked.
"So, what about you, Argus?" Valerie asked, glancing over at him. "How do you think you'll handle Power Control?"
Argus gave a small chuckle. "I'll manage. We'll see how it goes."
Valerie grinned, clearly amused. "Yeah, I figured. You don't seem like the type to struggle with anything."
The trio arrived at the courtyard, joining the growing crowd of students from all dorms. The atmosphere was a mix of quiet chatter and subtle tension as the students prepared for their first real challenge of the academy—Power Control. Elara, Valerie, and Argus stood together, observing as more students filed in.
Argus noticed that the courtyard had been marked with glowing runic circles, each surrounded by faintly shimmering energy. It looked like the academy wasn't wasting any time getting into the practical lessons.
As they waited, Valerie shot another glance at Elara, her grin never quite fading. "I'm telling you, Elara, you're going to show everyone up today."
Elara's calm facade flickered again, just for a moment, before she replied. "You're giving me too much credit. I've still got a lot to learn."
Argus chuckled, watching the back-and-forth with mild amusement. "We all do."
Before Elara could respond, a tall figure stepped forward into the courtyard. It was Kaelin Vorus, their Power Control instructor. His sharp gaze swept over the students, and his mere presence silenced the chatter around them. He was an imposing figure, dressed in simple but elegant robes, his posture rigid and authoritative.
"Good morning, everyone," Kaelin's voice was calm but carried easily across the space. "I'm Kaelin Vorus, your instructor for Power Control. Today, we will begin with the basics, but don't mistake the importance of this lesson. Without control, power is useless, dangerous even."
Kaelin surveyed the group. "Each of you will approach power control differently, depending on your abilities. For those of you working with elemental powers—fire, water, wind, earth—control comes from striking a balance between force and restraint. Push too hard, and the energy will backfire. Too soft, and it will dissipate."
His gaze shifted to the Holy Dorm students. "Those of you who wield divine energy—priests, priestesses, and saintess—your task will be maintaining purity. Divine energy must be channeled carefully, or it can become tainted or too diluted to use effectively. Precision is your greatest tool."
Scanning the crowd, he added, "And for those of you with more... unique powers, it's about learning to understand the rhythm of your ability. The key is to guide your energy, not force it."
He gestured to the glowing runic circles on the ground. "Those who are not attending this class, including the unawakened knights, are in General Studies or Combat Training. For those of you present, step into the circles. These wards will help contain your power as you practice."
The students shuffled forward, each stepping into their designated circle. Argus moved into his place, quietly observing the others as they prepared. He noticed that many of the students appeared focused and a little tense—understandable for the first day of such a critical skill.
As Argus settled into his circle, his eyes naturally wandered, scanning the other students. His gaze stopped at Nerissa Drakthorn. Her wings were tucked tightly against her back, her golden eyes narrowed in determination. The memory of their duel the previous night was still fresh. Though she had been defeated, her spirit hadn't wavered. Argus could see it in her stance—her pride, her fierce will to improve. He respected that, even admired it.
Not far from her, Silara Duskwalker stood among her fellow commoners, her expression calm, yet unreadable. She was the seventh seat, a remarkable position for someone without noble backing. Argus had noted her before, intrigued by her quiet strength and stoic demeanor. She moved differently than the others, with an air of control that spoke of untapped potential. He made a mental note to consider her for a future alliance.
Valerie stepped into her circle, flames already flickering around her knuckles as she grinned with excitement. Elara stood beside her, more composed, her fingers brushing the surface of her circle as a faint shimmer of mirrored light reflected from her hand.
Kaelin's voice cut through the soft hum of energy in the air as the students worked with their powers. "Good. Now, remember, it's not about forcing your power into submission but about understanding its rhythm. Push too hard, and it will resist. Go too soft, and it will slip through your fingers."
Argus listened carefully, though his control over his power had long since passed this stage. He thought back to his training with Suzume—how she had taught him to flow with his Void power rather than suppress it. Still, he focused inward, feeling the familiar pull of his energy, though he kept it carefully in check.
Valerie, a few circles away from Argus, was clearly enjoying herself. Small flickers of flame danced around her knuckles as she clenched her fists, but her focus was intense as she worked to keep the fire under control. She glanced over at Elara, who stood in her circle, her hand raised as a faint, reflective sheen formed around her fingertips—her Mirror Manipulation power. While Valerie's energy was aggressive and flickering, Elara's was calm, precise, and steady.
Kaelin slowly walked around the courtyard, pausing briefly at each student, offering a word of guidance to those who were struggling. His eyes occasionally flicked back to Argus, his curiosity about the Void power clear but unspoken.
After some time, Kaelin clapped his hands, signaling the end of the session. "Alright, that's enough for today. You've all made progress, some more than others, but control takes time. Don't expect to master your power in one day—or even one year. This is the foundation you'll build on during your time at the academy."
He let his gaze sweep over the group once more. "Remember, power is a tool, but without control, it can become a liability. Keep that in mind as you continue your training."
As the runic circles faded, some students breathed sighs of relief while others looked frustrated by their limited progress. Valerie rolled her shoulders with a grin, though embers still flickered stubbornly around her knuckles, a sign of her beginner-level control. Elara remained composed but thoughtful, clearly reflecting on the precision of her mirror manifestation.
Argus quietly observed the other students as they gathered their belongings. The majority of them had only recently awakened, still focused on gaining inner control over their powers. The top students, like Valerie and Elara, were at the beginner level, able to manifest their abilities with some external control, but still far from mastery.
Kaelin's words about balance echoed in Argus's mind. Though he had long since moved past these early stages of power control, it was a lesson he would never forget. Control was a lifelong discipline, one he continually refined.
Valerie stretched her arms above her head, a satisfied grin on her face. "Well, that wasn't so bad. I think I've got a handle on things."
Elara gave a small smile, though she remained humble. "It's a good start," she said, brushing a strand of silver hair behind her ear. "But there's always more to work on."
Argus, calm and collected as always, adjusted the cuff of his jacket. "Kaelin's right. It's all about building a foundation."
As the students began to disperse, Kaelin gave them one final instruction. "You'll be refining these skills in every practical session. Control is a lifelong journey. Dismissed."
The group of students slowly filtered out of the courtyard, talking amongst themselves about the class. Argus, Elara, and Valerie walked together, their conversation light as they discussed the morning session.
"What's next?" Valerie asked, her energy never seeming to dip. "I'm ready to take on the next challenge."
Elara glanced at her schedule. "Looks like we have Runes next," she said, her voice calm but with a hint of interest.
Valerie grinned. "Runes, huh? Well, at least we'll be sitting down for a bit. I could use a break after that."
Argus chuckled softly. "It'll be different, that's for sure."
The trio made their way through the academy grounds toward their next class. The sun was now high in the sky, casting a warm glow over the towering buildings and lush greenery that surrounded the academy. Despite the challenges ahead, there was a sense of excitement in the air. The first day had only just begun, and there was still so much more to come.