In the bustling city of Arvendale, where magic was as common as the air people breathed, there lived a boy named Kai. He was an ordinary student at the prestigious Eldoria Academy, or at least, that's what everyone believed. But in truth, Kai harbored a secret—one so great that if it were discovered, the entire world would tremble.
Kai wasn't just gifted in magic; he possessed an ancient power that transcended human understanding. It was a force that could bend reality itself, a power whispered about in forgotten legends. But power, as Kai knew too well, always attracted danger. So, he chose to hide it.
At Eldoria Academy, students were ranked based on their magical abilities. The strongest joined the elite ranks, trained for battle, diplomacy, and leadership. Kai, despite his true strength, intentionally placed himself among the weakest. He scored just enough on exams to pass, performed spells with deliberate hesitation, and never drew attention.
But fate has a way of testing even the most careful plans.
One day, a visiting noble, Lord Veyron, challenged the academy's top students to a duel. The match was meant to be a demonstration—until Veyron, a cruel man, lost his temper. With a flick of his wrist, he unleashed a forbidden spell aimed at a young girl named Elara. The attack was meant to kill.
Time seemed to slow.
Kai's instincts took over. In the blink of an eye, he appeared between Elara and the incoming spell. With a mere thought, he dismantled the attack as if it were nothing but mist. The energy shattered into harmless sparks, leaving the entire audience in stunned silence.
Veyron's eyes widened in horror. The professors gasped. The students, who had always seen Kai as mediocre, stared in disbelief.
Realizing his mistake, Kai quickly fell to one knee, pretending to be exhausted. "L-Lucky reflex," he mumbled. "Must've been a fluke…"
Some accepted the excuse. Others, like Elara and the academy's headmaster, weren't so easily convinced. They had seen the truth—a glimpse of a power beyond anything they knew.
And so, while Kai continued his charade, he knew one thing for certain: his days of hiding were numbered.