Serian woke up to the soft chirping of birds and the rustling of leaves. He stretched his long limbs with a quiet yawn, the warmth of the morning sun filtering through the trees. His body moved fluidly, effortlessly, like a creature completely at home in the wilderness. The forest seemed to acknowledge his presence, the animals sensing his calm energy.
As he walked, deer and rabbits appeared from the brush, moving close to him without fear. They nuzzled against his legs, as if greeting him. Serian, ever the stoic, didn't react much, merely patting their heads lightly before continuing on his way. A few small animals scurried around his feet, weaving in and out of his path, while birds fluttered overhead, singing tunes that only Serian seemed to hear and appreciate.
He approached a nearby river, the water clear and cold, rushing gently over rocks. Serian knelt by the edge, cupping his hands to wash his face and drink. The moment he knelt down, a few curious fish swam close to him, gliding through the water as if they recognized him. They seemed to brush against his hands, almost affectionately. He watched them for a moment, mesmerized by their smooth movements.
Then, as he continued to wash himself, something strange crossed his mind. The thought came and went quickly, but it was there: This water is refreshing... but the fish... they are meat.
He blinked, the thought evaporating almost as soon as it appeared, but it made him pause for a moment longer than usual. Is this how humans think? he mused internally. But before he could dwell on it any longer, the feeling passed. He refocused and continued to wash himself, trying to push the odd thought aside.
Serian stood up from the river, wiping his hands on his coat. As he moved along the riverbank, a group of ducks waddled up to him, quacking excitedly. They seemed to follow him, waddling alongside, some even flapping their wings in a lighthearted manner. Serian didn't react to their enthusiasm; he simply walked, his long, flowing coat swishing behind him as the ducks trailed closely.
As Serian walked deeper into the forest, he found a patch of wild carrots. His expression remained unchanged as he bent down to pull them from the ground, one by one. The ducks seemed to take notice of him, but instead of causing a fuss, they merely gathered in a circle around him, quacking curiously.
Not far off, a group of students from the exam were setting up camp. They looked up at Serian in bewilderment as they saw him munching on the carrots like it was the most natural thing in the world. Some whispered among themselves, not sure what to make of this calm, enigmatic boy who seemed completely at ease in the company of animals.
"Is... is he really just eating carrots in the middle of the forest like it's nothing?" one student asked, squinting his eyes to get a better look.
Another student, a noble from a prestigious family, whispered in confusion, "What's with all the animals? He's just walking around like they're his... pets?"
One of them nudged the other, eyes wide, "He doesn't even care about the monsters. Did you see how he was earlier, just sitting in that tree, watching us like we were nothing?"
Serian didn't seem to care about their murmuring. He was simply focused on the carrots, biting into them with a slight crunch. His expression was neutral, calm, and completely unconcerned with anything around him. The students watched in disbelief as the ducks waddled around his feet, and a couple of squirrels climbed up his coat, making themselves comfortable.
"Isn't he... a little weird?" another student whispered, not sure if he should approach or keep his distance.
Serian, hearing the voices, glanced over his shoulder and noticed the group of students watching him. His gaze was calm, even slightly uninterested, as if this were a completely normal situation. He gave them a single, short nod, acknowledging their presence.
Then, with no other words or gestures, he turned back to his meal. His attention was completely absorbed in his own thoughts and the simple act of eating, completely indifferent to their curiosity or confusion.
"Well," one student finally said, shaking his head, "I guess it's not that bad to just... enjoy the forest, right?"
The others looked at him, still unsure, but no one could deny that Serian's calmness was unlike anything they had ever encountered. The students were left in a strange mix of admiration and confusion, unsure of how to approach this peculiar figure who seemed so... out of place, yet so effortlessly at ease in the world around him.
Serian chewed the last bite of his carrot, his thoughts returning to his quiet contemplation of the world.
Serian, still sitting by the riverbank and chewing his carrots, felt the sudden shift in the air. A small, but distinct pressure pressed against his senses. He turned his head slightly, eyes narrowing as a figure approached swiftly, with flames flickering in her wake. He immediately recognized her—Sienna Redgrave. The girl from the entrance exam with the fiery fists, the one who had seemed so determined to prove her strength.
"Hey, you!" Sienna shouted as she came closer, her voice loud and challenging. She stopped a few meters from him, her fiery aura crackling. "I've been watching you! You just sit around doing nothing, not even bothering to defend yourself. I want to see how good you really are. Fight me!"
Serian slowly looked up at her, his expression unchanged. The animals around him seemed to sense the tension, but none of them moved away. Instead, the birds perched higher in the trees, watching the scene intently. A couple of squirrels scampered to the side, eager to witness the event.
"Fight you?" Serian repeated, his voice calm and even, with no trace of concern. He blinked slowly, then looked back down at his carrot. "I'm eating."
Sienna clenched her fists, the fire around her hands flaring hotter. "Don't play games with me! You're not leaving until we spar!" Her body suddenly tensed, and with a burst of speed, she lunged toward Serian. Her fist, surrounded by roaring flames, shot out like a comet aimed directly at his head.
Serian didn't flinch. With a fluid motion, he leaned slightly to the side, effortlessly dodging her fiery punch. The air around him shimmered from the heat of the blow, but Serian remained unscathed, his coat swirling slightly as he evaded.
"You missed," he said simply, his gaze still calm, showing no trace of urgency or excitement.
Sienna skidded to a stop, glaring at him, undeterred. "You think you can dodge everything? Let's see how long you can keep avoiding me!"
Without waiting for a response, she spun and delivered a flurry of punches, each one surrounded by intense flames, aimed at Serian's head and torso. The heat from her strikes made the air crackle with intensity.
Serian stood still, his posture relaxed. He tilted his head as her fist came towards him once more. At the last possible moment, he sidestepped with effortless grace, his long coat billowing around him. Sienna's punch crashed into a nearby tree, the bark exploding from the sheer force of her blow. The tree groaned under the pressure but didn't fall.
Serian didn't look at the tree. He looked at her, his expression unreadable. "That was a bit... excessive."
Sienna's eyes narrowed, her fiery aura flickering even brighter. "You think you can just dodge all my attacks?" she snapped, frustrated. "Let's see if you can dodge this!"
She jumped back, taking a stance that indicated she was preparing for a larger attack. With a sharp motion, she raised her hands high, summoning a large, concentrated flame. The fire built quickly, swirling in the air, growing in size and intensity. It formed a swirling mass above her, ready to be unleashed.
Serian simply watched, his gaze steady and unperturbed. He tilted his head slightly, watching the flames with curiosity but without any sign of fear or urgency. "Is this really necessary?"
Without answering, Sienna threw her hands forward, and the massive fireball shot toward Serian, streaking through the air with a deafening roar. The ground beneath her feet cracked from the intensity of the blast.
Serian didn't move.
The fireball came closer, and at the last possible moment, he raised his book and swung it in an arc. The impact was subtle, almost like a gentle nudge. The fireball splintered in mid-air, the flames scattering harmlessly to the sides. The heat and force of the blast were diverted by the odd, nonchalant movement of Serian's swing.
Sienna froze, eyes wide, staring at him in disbelief.
"That was," Serian began, looking down at his book as he gently flipped through the pages, "a bit much."
The wind settled, the fiery remains of the explosion dissipating into the trees. Sienna stood there, chest heaving, her face flushed with a mixture of anger and surprise. "You... you didn't even try to block it! How the hell did you do that?!"
Serian finally raised his gaze, his expression as neutral as ever. "It's a book. It's quite useful."
Sienna blinked, her anger faltering as she processed the strange simplicity of his words. Her fiery aura began to simmer down, her fists unclenching. "Wait, you're telling me you just used a book to block my fireball?"
Serian nodded slowly, still not understanding the shock in her voice. "Yes."
Sienna stared at him, bewildered, as she slowly lowered her hands. "This... is ridiculous. You didn't even move that much. I—" She shook her head in frustration, clearly unsure of how to react to someone who was so calm and unaffected by her attacks.
Serian continued to eat his carrots. "You're too loud."
Sienna let out a frustrated laugh, clearly flustered now. "You're impossible," she muttered under her breath. "Fine. Whatever. I'm done." With that, she turned and stormed off, her fiery aura still flickering around her, but less intense than before.
Serian simply watched her leave, completely unfazed. He glanced at the animals around him, some of the birds had returned, perched near him as if nothing had happened. The squirrels resumed their playful activities, and a few rabbits hopped over to nibble on the grass near his feet.