(弃徒学院 - Qì Tú Xué Yuàn)
The training grounds of Mist Dragon Academy (雾龙学院 - Wù Lóng Xué Yuàn) buzzed with activity. Students clashed in sparring matches, their shouts echoing across the open courtyard. Some were practicing their elemental arts, summoning flames, manipulating water, or hardening their skin like stone. Others drilled in martial techniques, their fists and swords striking with precision.
Raiko (雷光 - Léi Guāng) sat at the edge of the field, watching with quiet patience. It wasn't that he was uninterested far from it. But he had to be careful. The academy was a place for the "weak," those who had been cast aside by the powerful clans. Yet, even here, if he showed too much, questions would arise.
"You're not even trying to blend in, you know."
Raiko turned his head to see Li Xin (李欣 - Lǐ Xīn) standing beside him, arms crossed, an amused smirk on her face.
"You always sit on the sidelines, watching like some wandering sage. Maybe you really are weak after all."
Raiko let out a chuckle, shaking his head. "Maybe I am."
Li Xin's eyes narrowed slightly. "No. I don't believe that. I've seen weak people before. They either cower or try too hard to prove themselves. You do neither. That means you're hiding something."
Raiko tensed for a fraction of a second. Li Xin was sharp sharper than most. He had spent years perfecting the art of appearing ordinary, but she had already started peeling back the layers.
"I'm just careful," he said simply.
Li Xin scoffed. "Careful or not, you won't last long here if you don't prove yourself eventually. This is a school of losers, sure, but even losers have pride." She gestured toward the training grounds. "If you keep avoiding fights, people will challenge you sooner or later. You won't be able to keep hiding forever."
Before Raiko could respond, a loud voice cut through the air.
"Oi, weakling!"
Raiko sighed inwardly. Here we go.
A tall boy with a muscular frame strode toward him, flanked by a few others. His name was Wei Jinhai (魏金海 - Wèi Jīnhǎi), a third-year student known for picking fights with the weaker students.
"You've been here for weeks, and I haven't seen you fight once," Wei Jinhai sneered. "What's the matter? Afraid you'll embarrass yourself?"
Li Xin frowned. "Back off, Jinhai. Not everyone needs to prove themselves to idiots like you."
Jinhai smirked. "Is that so? Then how about you prove it for him?" He cracked his knuckles, his aura flaring slightly. "Or are you scared, too?"
Raiko met Jinhai's gaze calmly. He wasn't afraid. If anything, he pitied Jinhai. The boy was strong, yes but not strong enough. Not compared to what truly lay out in the world.
Still, he couldn't afford to stand out. Not yet.
"Fine," Raiko said, standing up. "One match."
Li Xin gave him a questioning look, but he ignored it. This was necessary. He needed to lose but not too badly. Just enough to satisfy them.
The students around them quickly formed a circle, eager to witness the match.
"Finally," Jinhai grinned, stepping into a ready stance. His body flickered with energy, the Iron Body Technique (铁身术 - Tiě Shēn Shù) reinforcing his muscles. "Let's see what you've got, weakling."
Raiko exhaled slowly, his left hand twitching slightly. The left power, inherited from his mother, was weak in comparison to his right hand's secret. But it was still formidable. He could use just a fraction just enough to make this look real.
"Ready?" Jinhai asked.
Raiko nodded.
The moment the match began, Jinhai lunged forward, his fist aiming straight for Raiko's chest.
Raiko sidestepped effortlessly, barely moving, but enough to make it seem like luck. Jinhai's punch hit empty air, and he stumbled slightly.
The crowd murmured.
Jinhai recovered quickly, growling in frustration. He attacked again this time faster, his fists blurring as he struck with a rapid series of punches.
Raiko dodged each one, barely exerting any effort. He made sure to let some of the blows brush past him, making it seem like he was just lucky rather than skilled.
Jinhai's frustration grew. "Stop dodging and fight back!"
Raiko saw his opening. He let Jinhai's next punch land just slightly on his shoulder. He staggered back, grimacing, making it look as if he had taken a serious hit.
Jinhai smirked. "Not so fast after all, huh?"
Raiko forced a weak chuckle. "Yeah... guess not."
Then, he moved just enough to push Jinhai off balance. He swept a leg under Jinhai's stance, causing the bigger boy to stumble back. It wasn't a real attack, just a simple misstep, but it was enough for the crowd to react.
Jinhai recovered, scowling. He didn't want to admit that Raiko had slipped through his defenses, even if by accident.
"Tch. You're lucky," Jinhai muttered, stepping back. "But don't think this is over."
Raiko only nodded. The crowd dispersed, slightly disappointed that there wasn't a decisive winner, but also intrigued by Raiko's ability to avoid getting completely beaten.
Li Xin approached him, arms crossed.
"You did that on purpose," she said quietly.
Raiko raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
Li Xin narrowed her eyes. "You held back. I don't know why, but I know what I saw. You could have fought better, but you didn't."
Raiko chuckled. "Or maybe I'm just bad at fighting."
Li Xin scoffed. "Liar."
Raiko didn't respond. Instead, he turned toward the academy halls, feeling the weight of his secret heavier than before.
He had managed to stay hidden for now.
But he knew the day would come when he couldn't hold back anymore.
And when that day arrived, the world would finally see what he truly was.
The Immortal of the Dragon Blade.