Chapter 2: The Academy of Time
Elias stood before the towering gates of the academy, heart pounding in his chest. The wind howled around him, but he barely felt it—his thoughts were consumed by the weight of what lay ahead. This was the Academy of Time, a place for the best and brightest manipulators of time. The very fact that he was even here seemed like a miracle.
For most, entering the academy was a mark of distinction—a way to prove one's potential, to gain the tools necessary for mastering time and solidifying their future. But for Elias, it had been more of an impossible dream than a goal.
Just a few months ago, he had been rejected by society. A person without a timeline had no place in this world. People with Chrono Ranks were seen as valuable—those with long lifespans could climb the ranks, accumulate power, and shape the future. But Elias had no timeline. No rank. And no future.
He had always been considered an anomaly, a mistake, a living contradiction in a world that revolved around time. The academy had never taken in someone like him before. So, how had he ended up standing here?
It had all started when the system finally recognized him. The Timeless System that had chosen Elias to manipulate time and, in turn, offered him a path to the academy. The system had granted him unlimited potential, though at a great cost. With no fixed lifespan, no clear path ahead, he was essentially a wildcard—an unknown quantity. And the academy, in its quest to find and cultivate the strongest manipulators, had recognized that Elias was an untapped source of power.
At first, Elias hadn't believed it. How could a world that had abandoned him suddenly take an interest in him? He had been left to fend for himself, isolated by his condition. But when the academy reached out, it wasn't just out of pity—it was because they saw his worth, his potential. They saw the power that lay dormant within him, and they wanted to bring it to the surface.
As Elias passed through the gates, the air seemed to change. The hum of time energy surged around him, almost as if the academy itself was aware of his presence. Every step he took felt heavier than the last. He was no longer just a wandering outcast. He was a student now, enrolled in the most prestigious academy for time manipulators. And with that came the responsibility of proving himself worthy.
The students who had gathered in the courtyard stopped talking as they saw him enter. Their eyes shifted toward him, some with curiosity, others with fear. Elias was not just any student; he was the anomaly—the boy who couldn't be measured by the rules of time. To them, he was both a mystery and a threat.
Whispers rippled through the crowd. "That's him. The one with no timeline..."
"An outcast. But how did he get in?"
"I heard the academy chose him. Some sort of test, I think."
The voices of his fellow students felt like they were closing in on him. All eyes were on Elias now—the boy who didn't belong. For the first time, he was the center of attention, and it felt both overwhelming and exhilarating.
A figure stepped forward from the crowd, a tall, older man with dark robes and a Chrono Rank 7 visible on his wrist. The man's presence seemed to command respect, and Elias could feel the power that radiated off him.
"You must be Elias," the man said, his voice smooth and authoritative. He studied Elias with calculating eyes. "I must admit, I did not expect to meet you in person so soon."
Elias nodded, unsure of what to say. He didn't understand why he had been chosen. He hadn't earned a place here the way the others had. He had no training, no formal education in time manipulation. What was he doing here?
"You've drawn quite the attention," the man continued. "The academy doesn't accept just anyone, but you—you are something else entirely." His gaze grew colder, sharper. "I hope you can handle the scrutiny that comes with being the first of your kind."
The weight of the words hit Elias hard. First of his kind? Was he truly that different? Was he really so unique that they would treat him like this?
Before Elias could respond, a soft voice interrupted.
"Don't mind him. He's just trying to scare you."
Elias turned to see a young woman, perhaps a year or two older than him, walking toward him with an easy smile. Her Chrono Rank was visible on her wrist, though it was relatively low. "I'm Elara. I know this all seems overwhelming, but we'll get through it together," she said, her tone warm and welcoming.
Elara glanced at the professor, her eyes narrowing. "Don't let him get to you. People here like to talk. Especially about you." She tilted her head toward Elias. "You're the anomaly everyone's talking about. The one who doesn't have a timeline. The one they're trying to figure out."
Elias gave a small, awkward smile. He hadn't expected to be treated with such casual kindness in a place that had seemed so intimidating just moments before. But there was a certain comfort in knowing that he wasn't entirely alone.
The professor gave one final look at Elias before walking away, leaving him standing there with Elara.
"You should come with me," Elara said, her tone serious now. "You'll need to meet the headmaster. She's the one who decided to let you in, and she's not someone you want to keep waiting." She flashed him another reassuring smile. "Trust me, we've all got a lot to learn."
Elias took a deep breath and followed her through the courtyard. The academy might have accepted him, but he knew the real challenge was just beginning. He wasn't just going to learn how to manipulate time—he was going to learn how to survive in a world that had already labeled him a dangerous anomaly.
Elias couldn't shake the feeling that the academy was watching him—every step he took, every move he made, felt like it was being observed. Whispers followed him wherever he went, the students casting curious glances his way. He knew they were talking about him. He was the outcast, the anomaly who didn't belong.
But it wasn't just the students who were eyeing him. The faculty and administrators of the academy were just as intrigued, if not more so, by his arrival. He had heard rumors that the headmaster herself had been instrumental in his acceptance. But why? Was it because of his power? Was he being brought here to be trained, or was he simply a test subject for the academy's experiments?
The more Elias thought about it, the more unsettled he became. There was something about the academy—about this place—that didn't sit right with him. It wasn't just the praise he'd received for being an anomaly; it was the pressure that came with it.
As Elias wandered the hallways, he tried to familiarize himself with his surroundings. The academy's vastness was overwhelming. The structure was ancient, yet there was an underlying technological sophistication in the air—time manipulation woven into every corner of the building. Holographic displays of time energy projected from the walls, showing students training with various aspects of their abilities.
One student caught Elias's eye. He was practicing in a large training room, moving in rapid, controlled motions as time energy surrounded his fists. Elias watched him, noticing how fast the student moved, seemingly faster than normal human speed. The student struck a few targets, and the room distorted with the effects of his Chrono Rank 5 abilities. The time around him seemed to slow, and Elias could feel the pressure of the attack.
It was a reminder of how much he had to learn. Time manipulation wasn't just about being fast. It was about control. Precision.
Elias was still in Chrono Rank 1—a newcomer to the world of time manipulators, and he knew that his journey would be filled with challenges.
But the more he observed, the more he realized that Chrono Ranks were just the beginning. The real competition lay in the students' lifespans and the potential they carried. If a student had a lifespan of 1,000 years, they would have 1,000 years to perfect their time manipulation. But what about him? He didn't have a timeline. He was an outlier, someone who was untethered to the restrictions that bound others. Would that make him stronger in the end? Or would it simply make him a target?
Lost in his thoughts, Elias didn't notice the group of students approaching him. They were led by a young man with dark brown hair and a confident stride. His Chrono Rank 7 was displayed prominently on his wrist, and the glow around him suggested mastery over time manipulation. His group followed him like an entourage, all eyes focused on Elias.
"So, you're the one they've been talking about. The one who has no timeline," the young man said, his voice dripping with curiosity and condescension.
Elias stood his ground, but a knot tightened in his stomach. He could feel the weight of their gazes, all fixed on him. "I'm just a student," Elias said, trying to sound confident.
The young man smirked. "A student, huh? Let's see what kind of student someone like you can be." He motioned for one of his companions to step forward—a tall woman with fiery red hair and a deadly serious expression.
"Let's see if you're really worthy of being here." She spoke coldly, her eyes narrowing as she sized him up.
Before Elias could respond, the woman flicked her wrist, and time around her seemed to warp. The Chrono Rank 7 student stepped back, his expression one of expectation. Elias barely had time to react as the woman's time manipulation surged toward him. Time in the room slowed down rapidly, freezing the air around Elias as her movements became exponentially faster.
Elias's heart raced. He couldn't allow himself to be overwhelmed. Time slowed and stretched around him, but this time, he wasn't just watching. He could feel the time energy coursing through him, and his system activated, granting him a glimpse of his own potential.
The woman's fist was inches from his face, but Elias focused, expanding his time field. He wasn't going to be a passive observer anymore. The energy within him surged, and as she moved to strike, he shifted time, slowing it just enough to dodge her blow.
Her punch missed, and she froze in mid-air, her eyes widening with surprise. Elias had shifted time for just a fraction of a second, giving him the slightest advantage.
The room went still as the students watched, some with surprise, others with growing interest. The young man with Chrono Rank 7 chuckled.
"Well, well. Looks like you're more than just an anomaly after all." His tone had shifted, no longer dismissive, but genuinely intrigued. "I didn't expect you to handle that so well."
Elias didn't say anything. He felt the surge of energy inside him, and the quiet fear that lingered. He had dodged the attack, but for how long could he keep this up? What would happen when others with even greater Chrono Ranks came after him?
He turned to leave, aware of the eyes following him. He didn't know if he was ready for what the academy would throw at him, but there was one thing he knew for sure:
He had to keep learning. Keep getting stronger. Because this world would never let him be just another student.
The classroom was unlike any Elias had ever seen. It was vast, with high ceilings and rows of holographic displays floating above each desk. The air hummed with the subtle presence of time energy, as though the room itself was an extension of the manipulation of time.
As Elias entered, he felt a strange sense of dread mixed with curiosity. The students inside, each one sitting at their desk, were all focused on the instructor at the front of the room. The Chrono Rank 5 instructor, Professor Aris, was a tall woman with sharp features and an air of authority. She had long silver hair that seemed to shimmer with an almost ethereal glow.
When Elias stepped inside, the entire class turned to look at him, their expressions a mixture of interest and judgment. Elias could feel the weight of their eyes. Most of them were Chrono Rank 3 and higher, with lifespans far exceeding his own. He felt like an outsider, someone who had no place among them. But that didn't matter. He had a job to do—to learn, to survive.
"Ah, Elias. The anomaly." Professor Aris's voice was calm and professional, though Elias could feel the sharpness in her words. "You've arrived just in time for the lesson on time manipulation techniques. Please take a seat."
Elias nodded, looking around the classroom. The desks were arranged into groups based on Chrono Ranks. Students in the lower Chrono Ranks sat toward the back, while the more advanced students sat closer to the front, where the professor could monitor their progress.
Elias took a seat at an empty desk near the middle, unsure where exactly he belonged. Chrono Rank 1, the lowest rank, felt almost insignificant in this room of powerful manipulators. But he had no time to dwell on it. He needed to focus.
Professor Aris began the lesson with a series of holographic time diagrams, which appeared in mid-air in front of the class.
"As you all know," she began, "the Chrono Rank system dictates our place in the world of time. It is not just about power, but about potential. The higher your Chrono Rank, the longer you can live, and the longer you can cultivate your time manipulation abilities. A person with the potential to live 1,000 years can control time far more effectively than someone who can live only 50 years."
She flicked her wrist, and the holograms shifted. "Lifespan determines the level of mastery over time energy. A Chrono Rank 1 can manipulate time for short bursts, while someone in Chrono Rank 5 or above has the ability to manipulate time on a grander scale, slowing or accelerating time for entire environments. Those with Chrono Rank 10 or higher can freeze time for minutes, even hours, at a time."
She paused and turned to face the class. "Elias, you are the anomaly here. As someone without a fixed lifespan, you do not follow these rules. Your abilities are unbound from the system. While others rely on their lifespan and time cultivation, you have limitless potential, but with that comes its own challenges."
The room fell silent. Elias could feel the weight of her words. He was different. But different didn't always mean better. Would he be able to keep up with the others? Would he have the control to make his power work for him?
Professor Aris continued, showing a hologram of a Chrono Rank 3 student who was demonstrating a time shield. "This student is capable of creating a shield around himself by slowing time in a specific area, making it impossible for attacks to land. Chrono Rank 3 is the standard for time manipulation at the academy. Students with lower Chrono Ranks can only use time in small bursts. Students in higher ranks, like Chrono Rank 5 and above, learn how to use time on a grand scale."
Elias's eyes widened as he watched the display. Time manipulation was far more complex than he had imagined. It wasn't just about slowing or speeding up time. It was about learning how to control time energy in a way that made it part of the environment, part of the world itself.
"Elias," Professor Aris's voice broke through his thoughts, "what do you think of this technique?"
Elias blinked, caught off guard. "Uh... it's impressive," he replied, though he couldn't hide the uncertainty in his voice. "But… I don't know if I could do that."
Professor Aris gave him a sharp look. "Of course not. You're still learning. But you can do something others cannot. You can manipulate time without limitations, as you demonstrated earlier."
Elias felt a mix of fear and excitement at the thought. He had no idea how he was doing it, but he was controlling time without following the conventional methods. It was as though time itself bent to his will—he didn't have to rely on Chrono Ranks or lifespan limits.
"That's why you're here," Professor Aris said, her eyes narrowing. "You're a wild card, Elias. But being different doesn't always make you stronger. You must learn to control your power. Otherwise, you'll become a danger to yourself and others."
The class began their next lesson in time manipulation, but Elias couldn't shake the thought of his potential. He was no longer bound by the limits that the academy had set for the others. But the question remained—how would he learn to harness his abilities? And could he survive the attention that would inevitably come from being the only one who didn't follow the rules?
As the lesson continued, Elias sat in silence, contemplating his path. The academy would teach him, but it would also test him. And he didn't know if he was ready for what lay ahead.
Elias stepped away from the classroom, still processing the complexity of the lesson on time manipulation. He couldn't help but feel overwhelmed by what he had just witnessed—the sheer power that flowed through the academy and the students who had mastered the art of bending time. He was still at Chrono Rank 1, but the system inside him hummed with potential that he couldn't quite comprehend.
He wandered through the hallways of the academy, each step echoing in the empty corridors. There were students walking in groups, but Elias kept to himself, trying to make sense of everything.
The Timeless System had been silent since the lesson ended. But suddenly, he felt that familiar tingling sensation again, the one that started deep in his chest and spread outward, almost like a pulse of energy.
Without warning, a voice echoed in his mind.
"Congratulations, Elias."
He stopped in his tracks, his breath catching in his throat. The voice of the Timeless System had returned, but this time it was different. The words felt more solid, more real than ever before.
"You now have the prowess of a 100-year-old Time Manipulator. You have successfully unlocked greater control over time. You now have the ability to manipulate time on a smaller scale, allowing you to adjust events around you with precise control. You have also unlocked faster time acceleration, giving you the ability to increase your reaction speed temporarily."
Elias blinked, still processing the information. He could feel it inside him—the change, the surge of power. It was as though time itself had bent to his will. Time was now something he could push, stretch, and mold at his will—just like the more experienced manipulators in the academy.
But no one knew. No one could hear the voice of the system. They didn't know that Elias had just been rewarded for his abilities. They didn't know that he had unlocked new skills that were beyond the scope of what they could imagine.
For a moment, Elias stood still, letting the new power settle inside him. He had always known he was different, but now he could feel the potential building inside him. He wasn't just like the other students. He wasn't bound by Chrono Ranks or lifespan limits. He could access time in a way that others couldn't—without restriction.
"The more you learn to control time," the system continued in his mind, "the more your abilities will expand. But remember, you are an anomaly. Keep your progress hidden for now."
The words felt like a warning, though Elias wasn't sure what it meant. Hidden. He would have to be cautious—he couldn't let anyone know about his true potential. The system would help him, but only if he played his part in the academy's world, a world where the lifetime of a person determined their place, their power, their value.
Elias turned to continue walking through the academy, but as he did, he noticed the flickering of a strange energy at the edge of his vision. He instinctively reached out, his hand brushing the air in front of him, and time shifted. The world around him slowed for just a fraction of a second—like a brief pause in reality. The figures of students around him froze in place for that brief moment, caught in the time shift. Elias's eyes widened. He had only thought about doing it, but the power was already in his grasp.
When the world snapped back to normal, Elias looked around in surprise. No one seemed to notice. They couldn't know.
Elias had learned something important today: his abilities were growing, faster than he anticipated. But that power came with a price. He had to stay hidden, stay under the radar, because if anyone found out just how much potential he really had, it wouldn't just be admiration he'd get—it would be fear, and worse, exploitation.
With a newfound sense of urgency, Elias made his way toward the academy's training grounds, determined to push his new abilities even further. The path ahead was uncertain, but one thing was clear: the academy wasn't ready for him.