The sun was beginning to set behind the academy's stone towers, painting the walls in a soft amber glow.Shadows stretched across the courtyards, and with them, exhaustion began to settle on the students' faces.
— "Last class of the day…" Elois sighed, stretching his arms dramatically."Do you know what they say about this one?"
— "What?" Vex asked, barely reacting.
— "That the professor almost never shows up. That he's young, strong… and could split a Golem in half with just a yawn."
— "Is that literal?" Kaen asked.
— "I have no proof, but I have no doubts."
Vex let out a small laugh—and for a moment, he felt like he was exactly where he was meant to be.
They crossed one of the far pavilions, climbing wide marble stairs without a handrail, until a door opened on its own, triggered by their bracelets.
The room was massive.No desks, no platforms, no floating projections.Just a smooth floor of enchanted obsidian, reflecting their bodies as if they were floating on black water.Around them, hundreds of students were already waiting.
And not just from Terna, Umbra, or Aegis…But also from Ignis, Caelum…Even Aether.
— "Aether…?" Vex murmured, surprised."What are they doing here?"
— "Those people hardly even touch the ground," Elois replied, just as surprised."So who the hell teaches this class?"
That's when the air changed.As if someone had ripped the sound out of the room all at once.
All the students turned.
And there he was.
Walking through the door with a relaxed step, hands in his pockets, no escorts, no warning.
Aric.
— "What the hell…" Vex muttered, stunned—and yet, a part of him had expected it.As if he had always known.
Aric walked to the center of the room.He didn't raise his voice. He didn't need to.
— "Good afternoon. I'm Aric Ghalahad. Some of you know me. Some don't. In both cases… it's irrelevant."
His voice was calm—but sharp.
— "This class is not mandatory. And yet, you're here. That says something.Maybe you want to stand out. Maybe find your path.Maybe… you just want to hit harder than the person next to you."
— "Whatever the reason, this is your class on Martial Specialization."
He paused, scanning the room.
— "Listen closely, because I'll only say this once."
— "Everyone can do everything."— "Anyone can swing a sword, cast a spell, run, dodge, focus energy…"
— "But those who specialize—those whose legacy or instinct aligns with a style—They don't do it at a five or six.They do it at a nine or ten."
— "And what they lack in other areas… they make up for with lethal precision."
— "The rest will be mediocre at everything."
— "You must choose."
In that instant, the ground trembled.
Dozens of pedestals rose from the depths.Each one held a different weapon: curved swords, twin hammers, scythes, spears, tridents, katanas, staves, chakrams, dual daggers…And at the far end, a bow black as night.
— "You have fifteen minutes," Aric said."Choose the weapon that calls to you.Not the one you want to master…but the one that chooses you."
— "And if any of you brought a personal weapon—put it away.Everyone starts from zero here."
The students began to move—some rushed with excitement, others approached in silent reflection.
Vex stayed still, watching.
Kaen was the first of the group to act. Without hesitation, he picked a dark trident with long, curved tips like dragon claws.He held it like he already knew it.
— "A trident?" Elois asked, raising an eyebrow."Interesting choice, Kaen. Very… aquatic."
Then he darted toward a long, rune-carved spear, spinning it theatrically.
— "Well, so will I! Into formation! Time to impale with elegance!"
Kaen ignored him.
— "And you, Vex?" he asked, turning to him.
Vex hesitated for a second. He walked among the weapons, feeling eyes on him.But when he saw the bow at the back… something inside his chest settled.
— "I don't think I have the build for close combat.Or the mindset.But I can aim, observe… and shoot when the moment comes."
They both nodded.No judgment. Just respect.
Aric raised a hand. The floor sealed itself.
— "Good."
— "Many think this class is about learning to fight.They're wrong."
— "This class is about learning to use your existence as a weapon."
He raised his right hand—And in an instant, he vanished.
He didn't teleport. He didn't turn invisible.He simply wasn't there.
And then—he was.Behind the nearest student, a curved blade floating a millimeter from their neck.
The student hadn't even turned.
— "Strength is not power."— "Speed is not victory."— "Technique is not glory."
— "True power is when your will breaks the rules."
The blade dissolved like smoke.
Vex couldn't even swallow.
"What kind of monster… is he?"
— "Welcome to the class," Aric said."And good luck."
He put his hands back in his pockets—like nothing had happened.
Silence.
Until—
— "Well… if we didn't know before, now we know who the final boss of this campus is," Elois said, catching his breath."I almost pissed myself."
Kaen, who rarely spoke more than necessary, murmured:
— "There's no way to reach that."
— "Not now."
Vex looked at him.Elois too.
— "Was that… pessimism?" Elois asked, mock-dramatic.
Kaen looked at them calmly.And, for the first time, with something they hadn't seen before:
Vulnerability.
— "I just said I'm human.Same as you."
The silence between them was strange. Almost uncomfortable.
Until Elois smiled.
— "Well. Human or not…We're gonna need more than classes to survive here."
And for some reason…Vex smiled too.
After Aric's brief but devastating display of power, the room began to shift.The walls expanded as if breathing. Columns of liquid stone moved into place, and before their eyes, multiple training zones formed—separated by glowing paths and floating runes.
Each space was customized:Open combat fields for spears and swords, platforms for arcane arts, movement simulators…And at the far end, a softly lit room with floating wooden targets—the long-range area.
— "Each weapon has its place," Aric announced, voice steady."Go where you belong.Train. Feel. Listen to your body.Today is only the beginning."
The Terna group exchanged one last glance.
— "Good luck, guys," said Kaen, adjusting the trident on his back.
— "See you at the top," added Elois with his usual theatrical grin, striking a ridiculous spear pose.
Vex nodded.And for the first time, felt something close to belonging:A micro-alliance in a sea of giants.
They split off, each heading to their training zone.
Vex followed the glowing arrows through the corridors.When he arrived at the long-range area, he found a smaller, quieter room.Fifteen to twenty students were scattered around, practicing stances and breathing slowly.
It didn't look like an elite group—Until he saw him.
Leaning against a column stood a tall figure, perfectly poised.Short silver hair.Eyes like polished steel, dark inside—stormy.A faint beauty mark on his left cheek.A face too serene.
He wore the Ignis uniform.
"What's someone like that… doing here?"
Vex had always thought the elite—Aether, Caelum, Ignis—were all close-combat masters.That long-range weapons were for the weak, for those who couldn't take a hit.
But this guy… didn't look weak.
He looked like a hunter who didn't need to get close to win.
Not thinking too hard about it, Vex went to the back and found an empty stand.He nocked an arrow, pulled the string…
The first shot soared two meters above the target.The second barely left the bow.The third scraped the floor.
— "You're completely out of alignment," said a sudden voice behind him.
Vex almost dropped the bow. He spun around—It was him.
The silver-haired boy stared at him with a neutral expression.No arrogance. No mockery.Just… precision.
— "W-what?"
— "Your stance. Front leg misaligned. Hips stiff. Back tense. Breathing off.Your body doesn't know what it's doing. And you're forcing it anyway."
Vex didn't know how to respond.The boy raised an eyebrow.
— "May I?"
— "Uh… sure."
Vex handed him the bow.The boy took it with such natural grace, it didn't even make a sound.He nocked the arrow, adjusted his posture, turned his head slightly, and looked directly at Vex.
— "A shot is not a forced act.It should feel like reaching out for a glass—automatic, fluid, effortless.If the body resists, the shot fails.If the body flows… the target falls on its own."
Then he moved.
The shot made no noise. No exaggeration. No force.A perfect extension of motion.
Even the air didn't dare stir.
The arrow vanished in a straight line.
Vex blinked.The target still stood.But as he approached… he saw the hole:
A clean impact, dead center in the wooden skull.No splintering.As if the arrow had asked for permission to pass through.
"What… was that?"
The boy handed back the bow in silence.
— "Just a student who felt generous," he said calmly.
Then, without waiting, he picked up what looked like a scope-less rifle made of polished metal, etched with arcane sigils.It was a familiar weapon.
He slung it over his shoulder and began to walk away.
But Vex noticed something:
He made no sound.He moved—But didn't make a noise.
His steps were like shadows drifting across stone.
Vex could only perceive him because he was watching.
And then…
He vanished into the crowd, without a trace.
Vex stood still, bow still in hand.
"Who… was that guy?"
The only thing he knew—Was that he had just seen the real standardof what it meant to master a weapon.