The familiar halls of Meron Preparatory felt different. Not physically, of course. The chipped paint on the walls, the scuffed floors, the stale air – all were stubbornly unchanged. But Zane had changed. And that subtle shift rippled outwards, altering the way he interacted with the world and the way the world interacted with him.He walked with a new confidence, his steps no longer hesitant or measured. His posture was straighter, his gaze more direct. The phantom pains were gone, replaced by a quiet strength. It wasn't arrogance, but assurance, a knowing of his capabilities. He felt lighter, more agile.As he entered the main hall, his eyes drifted to the large ranking board. It was a source of constant fascination and anxiety. The board was magically enchanted, updating automatically after every official ranking match. At the very top, in shimmering gold lettering, was:
Kael Thorne: Intermediate Beast Tamer (Earth/wind) (Level 6)
Anya Volkov: Intermediate Magician (Water/Ice) (Level 6)
Lyra Meadowbrook: Intermediate Beast Tamer (Nature/Light) (Level 4)
Below the top three, the names continued. Further down the board, he spotted familiar names:...Gareth Voss: Intermediate Warrior (Fire) (Level 3)
...Mike Collins: Intermediate Warrior (Earth/Lightning) (Level 2)
...Zane Valor: Unranked (Previously Last - Never Participated)
Zane had always been at the very bottom, not from lack of effort, but because his physical limitations had prevented him from participating. The thought of finally being able to compete, to see his name rise on that board, sent a thrill through him. He imagined the feeling of standing on the platform during the ranking matches, facing an opponent, testing his skills. Now, that was about to change.In his first class, Basic Spirit Control, he noticed the subtle shifts in the air, the flow of spirit energy almost palpable. He could sense the fluctuations of his classmates' energies. It was a new level of awareness, a side effect of his heightened spirit sensitivity after the Eclipse Core's influence and his training. He could almost feel the heat from those practicing fire manipulation, the cool stillness from those working with water, and the faint electrical buzz from those controlling lightning. It was a symphony of energies, a world previously hidden now laid bare before him. He even noticed Lyra Meadowbrook, her aura shimmering with a gentle green and a soft, golden light, a testament to her dual affinity.During a practical exercise with wisps of elemental fire, Zane's control was noticeably superior. His wisp danced and twirled, burning brighter and hotter than any of his classmates'. He could even control the temperature, a feat most novices struggled with. Ms. Elara, the instructor, observed him with widening eyes, a flicker of surprise and perhaps even a hint of respect in her gaze. She made a detailed note on her datapad. The subtle shift in her demeanor towards him didn't go unnoticed by Zane.Gareth, a few rows over, narrowed his eyes, resentment crossing his face. He had always been a respected figure at Meron Preparatory, his name proudly displayed at 5th on the ranking board. Now, Zane, the quiet boy who had been at the very bottom, was suddenly outperforming him. He scoffed, muttering to his cronies about "lucky fluke," but Zane noticed the underlying unease, the way Gareth's knuckles whitened as he gripped his own training rod.Later, during a break, Mike approached Zane, grinning. "Dude, what happened to you?" he exclaimed, clapping Zane on the shoulder. "Careful, Mike," Zane chuckled, easily regaining his balance. "You were like a totally different person in class. That fire control was insane!"Zane shrugged. "Just been training," he replied, keeping the details of his healing a secret. He glanced around, then lowered his voice. "I've been focusing on refining my control, working on the fundamentals.""Training?" Mike lowered his voice further. "You went from barely conjuring a spark to that in a few days? What kind of training?"Zane chuckled. "Just some… personal methods," he said vaguely. He couldn't tell Mike about the Eclipse Core."Well, whatever you're doing, keep doing it," Mike said. "You're going to ace the exams. Maybe you'll even climb up that ranking board." He gestured towards the board. "I'm finally starting to catch up to those Intermediate guys. Maybe I'll finally break into the top 5." Mike's eyes gleamed with ambition.The bell rang. As they walked to Beast Studies, Zane noticed Gareth glaring at him from across the hallway, his eyes burning with an almost palpable intensity. The resentment had solidified into something darker, a clear challenge. Zane met his gaze steadily. The tension between them hung heavy. Zane felt a premonition, a flash of a vision: himself and Gareth, locked in combat, flames raging. The vision was fleeting, but unsettling. It felt more real this time, more vivid, as if a future event was trying to force its way into his present.The rest of the day continued similarly. Zane's enhanced abilities were evident in every class. He excelled in physical exercises and showed surprising aptitude for theoretical subjects. The whispers about him grew louder, spreading throughout the school. He could hear snippets of conversations: "Did you see Zane in Spirit Control?" "He's like a completely different person." "I heard he's been training with some kind of special technique."By the end of the day, the whispers had grown louder. He was no longer the quiet boy who blended into the background. He had become someone to watch. And Gareth was clearly not happy. As Zane left with Mike, he felt anticipation mixed with a sense of unease.