Cael's isolation had come to an end. After a week away from the academy's activities, he was finally returning to the routine. Despite his explosive behavior during the incident, he felt no guilt. In Cael's mind, there was only one truth: he had done what was necessary.
"They meddled where they shouldn't have and faced the consequences," he thought, walking through the corridors with his calm and distant expression. He neither sought attention nor justification. In truth, he preferred silence. The fewer interactions, the better.
---
Upon entering Lyria's classroom, the instructor of elemental magic, Cael chose a seat in the back, far from curious eyes. He didn't care about the whispers or the people avoiding sitting near him. In fact, he welcomed it.
Lyria began the class with her usual energy, as if nothing had happened.
"Today, we'll explore the fundamentals of magic, sorcery, enchantment, and aura," she said, her warm smile contrasting with the heavy atmosphere of the room. "Pay attention because this will be essential not only for your training here but also for your survival out there."
Lyria was a teacher who knew how to captivate her students. Even the most disinterested ones found themselves drawn in by her clear and practical explanations.
"First, let's talk about mana and its relationship to magic."
She moved to the center of the room and raised her hand, creating a magical circle in the air. The bluish glow of the floating runes caught everyone's fascinated gaze.
"Mana is the energy that powers magic. You all have mana within you, but the amount and control vary from person to person."
Cael watched in silence, his eyes focused on the runes. He understood the theory but saw no need to engage. Deep down, he knew that learning this could be useful—though he preferred to avoid unnecessary effort.
---
The energy in the room shifted when Lyria decided to implement some fun practical exercises. She divided the students into groups for simple mana manipulation tasks.
"You will create a basic magical circle and channel a small light spell," Lyria instructed.
Cael was placed in a group with Ren, Marla, and Thorne. Despite his reluctance to participate, he didn't want to cause trouble.
"Come on, Cael," Ren said with a teasing smile. "Show us what you've got."
Cael sighed and raised his hand. With a simple gesture, he formed a perfect magical circle and made a golden light float above him.
"Happy now?" he asked casually, while the others stared at him, dumbfounded.
"That was… really fast," Marla commented.
"It's just practice," Cael replied, downplaying the moment.
Although reserved, his natural talent always ended up drawing attention.
After the spellcasting exercise, Lyria began demonstrating enchantments. She brought a simple sword into the classroom, which glowed golden after she inscribed a rune on it.
"Enchantments are the application of magic to objects. They can turn ordinary weapons into lethal tools," she explained.
She handed the sword to Thorne, who tried it on a training dummy. The impact was enough to knock the dummy down, leaving everyone astonished.
"Now, let's talk about aura," Lyria continued. "While enchantments depend on runes, aura is something much more personal. It's the ability to use your own mana to enhance your body or attack directly."
She glanced at Cael.
"You've already shown an impressive affinity for aura, even without formal training."
Cael only shrugged. He didn't see it as anything special but rather as an instinctive reaction. Even so, Lyria's explanation was clear and captivating, and even he couldn't help but pay attention.
---
At the end of the lesson, Lyria discussed the academy's classification system:
Mages:
- Basic Class: Simple spells.
- Intermediate Class: Spell combinations and basic enchantments.
- Advanced Class: Specialists in magic and complex runes.
- Archmages: Rare masters, often professors or leaders.
Swordsmen:
- Basic Class: Physical techniques and minimal aura.
- Intermediate Class: Efficient use of aura and light enchantments.
- Advanced Class: Masters of close combat.
- Rune Knights: Warriors who seamlessly combine magic and combat.
She concluded with a clear message:
"You all have the potential to achieve great things, but remember, talent without control is nothing."
---
Even with classes returning to normal, Cael preferred to keep to himself. During breaks, while others chatted and laughed, he found a quiet corner to read or rest.
However, he noticed that some people, like Lana and Ren, were trying to reconnect with him.
"You know you don't have to isolate yourself so much, right?" Lana said one time, sitting beside him.
"I like the peace," he replied without looking at her.
"Well, if you need anything, we're here," she insisted before walking back to the group.
Cael didn't respond, though he preferred solitude, it was nice to know he wasn't completely alone.
---
As the academy continued its lessons, Cael navigated between his natural laziness and the recognition of his skills. He knew he had talent, but that didn't mean he wanted to use it. However, over time, he began to realize that maybe, just maybe, it was possible to find peace and tranquility without completely abandoning who he was.
Fate could be relentless, but Cael was determined to move at his own pace.