The classroom buzzed with the low hum of murmurs and scratching pens.
Sunlight filtered through tall windows, scattering soft golden rays across the rows of wooden desks.
Jayden sat slouched near the back, his chin resting on one hand, his eyes half-focused on the blackboard where Mr. David was lecturing on visualization—a topic Jayden had already learnt .
"I'll just keep reading the book," he muttered under his breath. "After all, I can't move at the same pace as everyone."
With a casual motion, he slid a thick, worn-out volume from beneath his desk, hiding it behind his class textbook.
The faint shimmer of the book's strange cover caught the light—it was the same book from Fantasy.
The next lesson was mana control. The air grew thicker with concentration as students straightened in their seats.
Mr. David's voice echoed across the quiet room but it did not reach Jayden as his mind was deep into his book.
Every person has a core of mana.
It determines the kind of magic they can use. But due to the nature of logic disruption, Jayden had the ability to use multiple but it still relied on logic disruption as that was the original core he was born with.
The lesson continued. He was to focus on channeling mana evenly through their bodies.
Jayden closed his eyes, inhaling deeply. He imagined thin, luminous lines tracing along his veins, connecting his limbs, heart, and core. He could feel the warm pulse of energy flow through him like a glowing river of light.
Then—tap, tap.
Marigold's finger poked his head.
"What is it, Marigold? I'm trying to concentrate," Jayden whispered irritably, cracking one eye open—then froze.
His entire body was glowing. Pale golden lines of mana coursed visibly beneath his skin like living threads of lightning.
The room had gone silent. Every pair of eyes was on him.
"Mr. Reginald," Mr. David's voice cut through the tension, cold and sharp, "you know that distracting uses of magic are prohibited. Consider this a warning."
Jayden nodded sheepishly. "Sorry, sir."
But behind that stern expression, Mr. David's thoughts were in awe.
" He's already controlling mana better than students twice his level."
Jayden sighed and looked down at the book. At the bottom of the page, small handwriting glimmered faintly:
"Don't be a fool and do this in the middle of class. But by now, you've probably been caught."
Jayden groaned. "Seriously, its getting scary how far this guy thinks ahead."
From then on, he put the book away and—rarely enough—actually paid attention.
_________________
Far away, in the knights' elite training hall, Luke stood before his six students. The air smelled faintly of steel and dust. Sunlight glinted off his polished sword—Xelvicar, the God-Killing Blade.
"Today," Luke announced, his voice firm, "we'll be doing real combat training. I've realized I'm getting rusty. Three of you—attack me at once."
The ground trembled slightly as the three chosen knights—Samantha, Xander, and Michael—stepped forward.
Luke gripped his sword tighter. I have to grow stronger... strong enough to protect Jayden, no matter the cost.
And with that he charged forward towards his practice opponents.
_______
By midday, the bell rang and class was dismissed.
Students poured into the sunny courtyard, chatting as they headed to lunch. Jayden, Nadia, and Ren lingered by the door to the cafetorium.
"So where do we talk?" Nadia asked, glancing around cautiously. "Anyone could be listening in here."
"Let's head to the park outside the school," Jayden suggested, pointing north. "It should be empty right now."
"That'll take forever... for you," Nadia teased.
"That's what you think," Jayden smirked. "Let's make it fun, last place buys snacks after school."
Without another word, glowing lines of mana lit up across his body, and he sprinted off in a flash of light.
Ren, a transformation mage, grinned and shifted his legs into sleek cheetah limbs before racing after him.
Nadia sighed, conjuring delicate ice skates beneath her feet as she glided forward on a trail of frost.
Moments later, laughter filled the quiet park as Nadia stumbled in last.
"Fine," she huffed, "snacks are on me."
The trio settled on a wooden bench beneath a massive oak tree. Sunlight danced across the grass while petals swayed gently in the breeze.
For a while, they just sat in silence, the soft rustle of leaves filling the air.
Then Jayden began to speak.
He told them everything—from the day his powers awakened, to meeting Fantasy, the Fairy Queen's forest, and the mysterious spirits.
His voice trembled when he spoke of regret—how he feared dragging his friends and family into danger, how the pain of past failures still haunted him.
When he finished, a quiet stillness settled around them. Even the wind seemed to pause.
"The truth is," Jayden said softly, standing as the leaves swirled around him, "I didn't want to tell you. But I'd feel worse if I didn't. I promise—I won't involve you in this. I'll keep you safe."
For a moment, the fading sunlight framed him, and he looked far older than sixteen—like a man carrying a burden too great for one world.
Ren and Nadia stood and placed their hands on his shoulders.
"I'm sorry, dude," Ren said, smiling faintly. "I don't understand half of this, but I can feel it's heavy. So don't think you're carrying it alone. I'll help however I can. Can't have you keeping all the aura to yourself "
"Same here," Nadia added, her tone warm but firm. "When my mother died, you both snuck out each night and stayed by my side for weeks. So don't even think about facing this alone. We're your best friends—we do this together."
She pulled them both into a group hug, then stepped back with a laugh.
"Okay, boys—you stink. That's what happens when you run straight from school."
Jayden laughed as they began walking back.
"I'll protect them... no matter what," he thought, determination flashing in his eyes.
Halfway back, Ren groaned. "Slight problem—I'm out of mana."
"Same here," Nadia said, panting. "We're not gonna make it."
Jayden grinned. "No worries. I've got a plan. Nadia, hop on my back. Ren, I'll carry you."
"You can't possibly carry both of us," Nadia said, incredulous.
"Just trust me," he replied. "I only need to believe... and visualize."
After some protesting, Jayden crouched, lightning crackling around him. Then, with a burst of energy, he shot forward, carrying them both.
Wind whipped past their faces as the ground blurred beneath their feet.
"Hey! I'm not your horse!" Jayden yelled when Nadia playfully kicked his side.
"Last I checked, horses don't talk," she shot back.
Ren laughed. "Maybe we should feed him a carrot when we get back." he then proceeded to make horse grunting noises.
Jayden smirked. "Make that horse sound again. I dare you."
They did. Of course, they did.
"That's it—we're going airborne!"
He spotted a rock jutting upward like a ramp.
Channeling mana into his legs, Jayden sprinted toward it and leapt.
The world fell away as they soared into the sky.
"Jaydeeeen!!!" both friends screamed as the school came rushing up beneath them.
Students below shielded their eyes.
"Is that a bird?" one shouted.
"Is that a dragon?" another cried.
"Jayden!?" Shaley gasped, blushing as she saw him plummeting from the sky.
Jayden closed his eyes mid-fall, summoning wind magic.
Air coiled around them like a cushion, slowing their descent.
They landed with a heavy thud—Jayden on his feet, his friends face-first in the grass.
Ren and Nadia stumbled to a bush and promptly threw up their breakfast. Jayden just waved cheerfully at Shaley, who turned red and waved back.
Before he could say a word, his two friends each grabbed an arm.
"You're so dead," they whispered in unison, dragging him away toward class.
Jayden only laughed.
High above, unseen by them, a shadowy figure peered through a window, eyes cold and calculating.
"My lady," he whispered into a glowing crystal orb, "I've confirmed it. The boy can use more than one type of magic. What are your orders?"
A woman's voice, smooth and chilling, replied from the other end,
"Keep watching him. Report every new development and make sure you're not caught."
"Yes, master."
He closed the orb, clutching the teacher's record book under his arm, and vanished into the hall's shadows.