The faint scent of burnt magic lingered in the air as Ren limped away from the training grounds. His body screamed in protest with every step, a harsh reminder that he wasn't cut out for heroics. Still, he couldn't help but replay the fight in his mind—the blinding light, the shattering construct, and Auren's confident smile as he acknowledged him.
"That's the last time I step in," Ren muttered under his breath. But even as he said it, a small part of him wondered if he could truly keep that promise.
The academy loomed large before him, its intricate stonework and glowing runes a testament to centuries of magical mastery. Students bustled past, their excitement palpable as they discussed classes, sparring matches, and the upcoming Festival of Lumina. Ren had no idea what that was, but from the snippets he overheard, it sounded like an event that would draw even more attention than he was comfortable with.
For now, though, his focus was on one thing: staying under the radar.
Back in the dormitory reserved for academy staff and lesser students, Ren sank onto the small bed in his sparsely furnished room. He let out a long sigh, staring at the wooden ceiling above. He didn't belong here, not really. He was a nobody in a world brimming with legends, and yet, the weight of Eldrin's words and the aftermath of the construct fight lingered in his mind.
"You're not from around here, are you?"
The professor's question felt like a noose tightening around his neck. Did Eldrin know the truth? Could he somehow sense that Ren didn't belong in this world? Or was it just a vague suspicion? Either way, Ren couldn't afford to draw more attention to himself.
A knock at the door shattered his thoughts. Startled, he sat up.
"Come in," he called out, his voice hoarse.
The door creaked open to reveal a young woman with striking crimson hair and piercing green eyes. Her uniform marked her as a senior student, and the insignia on her shoulder identified her as a member of the elite Arcanum Order. She stepped inside, her gaze sharp and assessing.
"You're Ren, right?" she asked. Her tone wasn't hostile, but it carried a weight of authority that made Ren sit up straighter.
"Uh, yeah. That's me," he replied, forcing a casual smile. "Can I help you?"
"I'm Kaela Lysandre," she said, folding her arms. "I saw what you did at the training grounds. That was... impressive."
Ren's stomach twisted. He didn't want to have this conversation, especially not with someone from the Arcanum Order. The elite group was composed of the academy's best and brightest, and they played a significant role in the novel's plot. Getting tangled up with them was the last thing he needed.
"It was nothing," he said quickly. "Just lucky, I guess."
Kaela raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed with his deflection. "Lucky, huh? You took down a rogue construct with a training sword. That's not luck—that's skill. Or desperation. Maybe both."
Ren shifted uncomfortably. "Look, if you're here to recruit me or something, I'm not interested. I'm just a regular guy trying to get by."
Kaela's lips quirked into a half-smile. "Relax. I'm not here to recruit you. Not yet, anyway. But you should know that what you did hasn't gone unnoticed. People are talking."
"Great," Ren muttered. "Just what I needed."
Kaela's expression softened slightly. "Look, I get it. You want to stay out of the spotlight. But you can't ignore what happened. That construct wasn't just a fluke—it was a test."
"A test?" Ren frowned. "What are you talking about?"
Kaela hesitated, as if debating whether to say more. Finally, she stepped closer, lowering her voice. "The constructs used for training don't go rogue on their own. Someone tampered with it. And whoever it was, they wanted to see how we'd respond."
Ren's blood ran cold. "You think it was sabotage?"
Kaela nodded. "Sabotage, or something worse. Either way, it's not over. And if you're as smart as you seem, you'll keep your eyes open."
With that, she turned and left, leaving Ren alone with a storm of thoughts. Sabotage? Tests? It was all too much. He had hoped to keep his head down, but it seemed the world of Aetherial Chronicles had other plans.
For now, though, all he could do was prepare for whatever came next.