"He…" Teacher Jadebri felt her heart trembling.
After the second spring, they all felt what happened. Theron was keeping a constant mist of Water Mana around him, using it to sense and move through the obstacle course.
He had drained himself of all his Mana before he even took his first step. Then, he relied on nothing but the flexibility and durability of his body to make it to the end while the pillar pinged him around.
The strength and courage… the confidence it took to do such a thing were unfathomable. If he fell in a state of Mana Deprivation, he would certainly die. There was no doubt.
Such a thing would hardly be different from a mortal falling 10 meters without control of his body—except far worse with the harsh winds flying around.
Both Teachers didn't know what to say, watching Theron teeter on the final pillar.
"Turn it off!" Teacher Jadebri finally reacted. "OFF! NOW!"
The formation activators scrambled, not wanting to get in the way of a Ninth Silver Resonance master's rage.
…
Theron felt the pillar finally sway to a stop beneath him, the harsh winds calming.
He felt his legs trembling beneath him, but he stood tall.
Exhaling a breath, he slid down the pillar and walked away. It didn't seem like he had accomplished much at all.
**
"Hm?"
Teacher Burne Thistle looked up from teaching his class. An echo rang in his ears and a message was delivered right to him. He listened carefully for a moment, and then his eyes narrowed.
He paused for a moment.
This was unexpected to be sure. The message was from Sergeant Dulcow, but Burne wasn't sure what to do with this information.
Tell the Dean? Wasn't that a bit too ridiculous for something so minor?
But considering their intentions, someone like Theron… could be interesting.
The issue was that this child had already shown the propensity to buck against authority. Using him in this war would pose problems to be sure.
Then again, what genius wasn't arrogant?
'According to our information, he has been relatively lowkey, all things considered. He was even unwilling to take the chance that Teacher Fern presented to him. So why the change? Something is fishy…'
There was also the elephant in the room.
This child had disappeared off the face of the earth for five weeks, then suddenly appeared again here and did this.
Also… didn't Theron's disappearance line up quite well with that operation?
Burne's eyes narrowed, thoughts flying through his mind.
A coincidence?
A timely disappearance, to heal from wounds he couldn't otherwise hide, maybe?
The silence in the classroom made the students begin to look at one another. They were confused by Burne's lack of a response as well.
In the crowd, Sadie sat beside Flora, the two of them looking ahead with just as much confusion as everyone else. But deep within their eyes, there was something peculiar as they seemed to realize that Burne wouldn't blank out like this without reason.
All of a sudden, Burne grinned his yellow grin.
"It seems that today we won't be able to stay in class. There's a chance to witness something historical for the second time in just a month. How could we miss it?"
Sadie frowned. What was going on?
**
Theron walked out of the Class One Mana Control Class, his second S grade being imprinted into his badge.
He had hardly recovered from the Class One Movement Class before coming here. He had known that he didn't need much Mana to succeed, only enough to remain on his feet.
Control had always been his strong suit. It wasn't even a Class that he considered a challenge. As such, unlike his thoughts for the others, he didn't come up with a robust plan, he simply went, saw and conquered.
There was nothing else to it.
His steps paused.
Outside the Exam room, there was a long hallway. Usually, it was quite silent. This was expected of a rigorous academic setting.
But right now he heard some shifts, whispers, and bustle that he shouldn't have.
'It seems they're here.'
"Student Theron."
Theron looked up to see a Teacher he knew as Moore looking at him from afar, standing in front of the door of his next Exam.
He didn't get to choose the order he took these in. Usually, it was dictated by the Teacher and their availability. It seemed that his next challenge would be Class One Ranged Assault.
…
Teacher Moore stood a half step behind Sergeant Dulcow and Teacher Burne Thistle, his head respectfully lowered. It was only after he entered this place that he realized there was actually a full Class waiting along with two Gold Mancers.
"How did the first two Exams go?" Burne asked Dulcow with a smile.
"S-grade. Both of them," Dulcow replied.
"So quickly?" Burne asked.
"Yes."
"Mm…"
His gaze turned to the mirror before them all. As though his words had jinxed things, Theron actually took a seat on the ground, his eyes closing in meditation.
Burne's lip twitched.
There was something about Theron that always made him want to wring his little neck. Honestly speaking, Theron had never done anything to warrant the targeting. Sawyer's bullying was on him, and he wasn't even important enough to the family for Burne to care.
The main issue was the stain on the Thistle name. They were just beginning their plan, and yet this fool ended up getting reprimanded in front of the entire school on top of losing a substantial number of credits.
Teacher Fern, the true culprit, was already heavily punished and dealt with. But there was no denying that Theron also held some culpability.
Now that he just might be affiliated with Daggers of the Night, though… Burne felt that he just might gain a real reason to target Theron very soon.
He licked his lips.
'Go ahead and waste time. I'll see how far you can go…'
…
Theron sat in silent meditation, his dry Meridians and dull Bronze Core slowly gaining life.
He didn't care about the audience in the slightest. His Mana had been depleted since the first Exam, so he would be taking his time.