The streets of Citico were as alive as ever, bustling with people, the noise of cars and conversations filling the air. Aurel walked through the crowd with purpose, his steps light, his senses sharp, his head held high. The morning sun cast a warm glow over the city, the shadows of the tall buildings stretching across the pavement.
He could feel the stares as he moved. His new height, his muscular build, his striking red eyes—they all drew attention. But he was surprised that the number of curious glances wasn't as overwhelming as he had imagined. His silver hair and red eyes, while unusual, weren't unheard of in this world anymore. After the mana reawakening, strange appearances had become far more common. People had bright green hair, glowing blue eyes, horns, even scales in some cases. Aurel's look, though rare, wasn't beyond belief in a city as large and diverse as Citico.
Still, his attractiveness was something else entirely. He wasn't used to it—the way people looked at him now, the way their gazes lingered, their expressions curious, intrigued, admiring. He could hear snippets of whispers as he passed, voices commenting on his appearance, his presence. But Aurel simply ignored it, his focus ahead, his mind set on his destination.
He had more important things to do.
The school came into view, the familiar building standing tall against the backdrop of the city. It had been a week since he had last set foot here, and it felt almost strange to return. The school grounds were bustling with students, many of them taking advantage of the free month to train, to prepare themselves for the exams that were fast approaching.
As Aurel walked through the entrance, he could feel the stares following him, the whispers growing louder. He caught snippets of conversations, students wondering who he was, why he looked so familiar, why they felt like they should know him. He could hear the confusion in their voices, see the way they furrowed their brows, trying to place him.
"Is he new?" someone muttered. "I swear I've seen him before..."
"He looks a lot like Aurel, but there's no way that's him," another voice said, doubtful.
Aurel smiled to himself, a small, amused grin. He continued through the school, his steps carrying him toward the training center, his heart pounding with anticipation. He needed to see what he was capable of now—to measure the full extent of the changes he had undergone, to test the power that lay within him.
He pushed open the doors to the training center, the familiar sight of the gym coming into view—the rows of equipment, the testing machines, the wide open space where students trained, sparred, pushed themselves to their limits. He took a deep breath, the scent of sweat and metal filling his lungs, his excitement growing.
But then, just as he stepped inside, he heard a voice.
"Aurel?"
He turned, his eyes widening in surprise as he saw her.
Emma stood a few feet away, her eyes wide, her expression one of confusion and shock. She was dressed in gym clothes, her hair pulled back into a ponytail, her face flushed from exertion. For a moment, she simply stared at him, her eyes narrowing slightly as if she was trying to figure something out.
"You..." she began, her voice trailing off. "You look like Aurel. But different. Are you his older brother or something?"
Aurel couldn't help but chuckle, shaking his head. "No, Emma. It's me. Aurel."
Emma's eyes widened, her jaw dropping slightly. She stepped closer, her gaze sweeping over him, taking in his new height, his muscular build, his striking features. "What... what happened to you?" she asked, her voice filled with disbelief.
"I've been training," Aurel said, a smile tugging at his lips. "I actualised my second genetic lock."
Emma's eyes widened even further, her breath catching in her throat. "Second genetic lock? Already?" She shook her head, her expression one of awe. "That usually takes at least a month for most non-pre awakeners. How did you...?"
Aurel shrugged, his smile widening. "Just pushed myself, I guess. I needed to get stronger. There wasn't any other option."
Emma stared at him for a moment longer, then let out a breath, a smile spreading across her face. "You've really changed, Aurel," she said, her voice soft. "Not just physically. There's something different about you."
Aurel raised an eyebrow, his expression curious. "Different how?"
Emma hesitated, then shook her head. "I don't know. You just seem... more confident. More sure of yourself."
Aurel considered her words for a moment, then nodded. "I guess I am," he said. "I've been through a lot this past week. And now..." He looked around the training center, his eyes narrowing with determination. "Now, I want to see just how strong I am."
Emma's smile widened, her eyes glinting with excitement. "You're here to test your power?"
Aurel nodded. "Yeah. I want to push myself, see what I can do now."
Emma's eyes lit up, and she took a step closer, her gaze locking onto his. "Then let's do it together."
Aurel blinked, his surprise clear. "Together?"
Emma nodded, her smile turning into a grin. "I've been training too. I was about to run some tests myself. Why don't we do it together? It'll be more fun that way. Plus," she added, her eyes twinkling with mischief, "I want to see just how strong you've really gotten."
However, it was at this moment he remembered—Emma was someone who had already actualized five genetic locks. She was one of the elites, the true geniuses, the ones who had been ahead from the very start. Aurel hesitated, a flicker of uncertainty crossing his mind. Someone like Emma, with five genetic locks actualized, was on an entirely different level. The power she must have... it was daunting to even consider.
But as he looked at her—at the smile on her face, the excitement in her eyes—he pushed the hesitation aside. This was what he wanted. To face challenges, to push himself against those stronger than him, to grow even further.
He smiled, a spark of excitement igniting within him. He had come here to push himself, to test his limits. And if Emma wanted to join him, if she wanted to see what he was capable of, then he wasn't going to say no.
"Alright," he said, his voice filled with determination. "Let's do this."