Kaelen woke to the sterile white of the medical bay ceiling, the faint hum of regenerative equipment filling the quiet room. His body ached with a dull, persistent throb that radiated from his torso and arms where the burns had been worst.
He shifted carefully, testing his range of motion. Everything worked, though his muscles protested with sharp reminders of yesterday's brutality.
The door slid open. A medic entered, a middle-aged woman with graying hair and the efficient demeanor of someone who'd patched up too many academy injuries to be impressed by any of them.
"You're awake," she said, checking the monitoring display beside his bed. "How do you feel?"
"Sore," Kaelen admitted.
"You should be dead." She tapped the display with clinical detachment. "Third-degree burns across forty percent of your body, severe aether exhaustion, multiple contusions. But your regeneration rate is... fast. Probably related to your Trait classification."
She updated something on her tablet. "You can leave this afternoon. The regenerative bandages stay on until tomorrow. No strenuous activity for forty-eight hours. That means no training, no sparring, no missions."
"Understood," Kaelen said.
"Sure you do." She gave him a look that suggested she knew exactly how little he'd listen, then left.
Kaelen pulled up his System interface, the familiar blue holographic display materializing in his vision.
[Weekly Quest: Novice Trials]
[Requirements: 3/4 Fulfilled]
- Complete 7 Daily Quests consecutively (5/7)
- Attend all scheduled classes (5/5 days) (Complete)
- Win 1 sanctioned sparring match (Complete)
- Allocate at least 10 Stat Points (Complete)
[Time Remaining: 1 day, 18 hours]
Five out of seven daily quests complete. He needed two more days.
Kaelen closed the interface and lay back, staring at the ceiling.
The Matthias fight replayed in his mind. The flames. The exhaustion. The moment when his aether ran dry and all that remained was technique and will.
And then the ending.
Matthias on the ground. Kaelen's fists striking again and again until Instructor Jay physically pulled him away.
He wasn't proud of that part. Not ashamed exactly, but... annoyed. Annoyed that he'd let anger take control. Matthias had insulted Daniel and Lira, yes. Had been arrogant and cruel, yes. But Kaelen had kept fighting long after the outcome was decided.
That wasn't strategy. That was rage.
And rage was dangerous.
He exhaled slowly, pushing the thought aside. What was done was done. He'd won. He'd deal with the consequences as they came.
The door opened again.
Sera stepped inside, her expression as neutral as always. She carried a small package wrapped in plain cloth.
"You look terrible," she said by way of greeting.
"Good morning to you too," Kaelen replied.
She pulled a chair beside his bed and sat. "The entire academy is talking about your fight. Half of them think you're a monster. The other half think you're fascinating." She paused. "A few think both."
"You informed me yesterday..."
"I said, they were terrified."
"What's the difference?"
"..."
"..."
"You lost control at the end," Sera continued, her tone matter-of-fact. "Everyone saw it."
Kaelen met her gaze. "I know."
"Do you?" She leaned forward slightly. "Why did you keep going?"
"He insulted my friends," Kaelen said quietly.
"So you tried to beat him into the ground." Sera's crystalline eyes were sharp. "That's not justice. That's vengeance."
Kaelen looked away. "Maybe."
"Not maybe. Definitely." She set the package on his bedside table. "I'm not saying he didn't deserve it. But you need to understand something. The moment you let anger control you, you stop being a fighter and become something else."
"What?"
"A liability." Sera stood. "To yourself and everyone around you."
She walked toward the door, then paused. "Rest. And think about what kind of person you want to be when you're standing in that arena."
Then she was gone.
Kaelen sat alone in the quiet medical bay, her words settling over him like weight.
He unwrapped the package she'd left. Inside was a meal, properly cooked, not the compressed medical bay rations. And beneath it, a small note in precise handwriting:
"Rage wins fights. Discipline wins wars."
Kaelen smiled faintly despite himself.
...
Saturday Afternoon - 3:00 PM.
The medics cleared him at 3:00 PM with stern instructions about rest. Kaelen nodded through their warnings and headed back to his dorm.
The academy corridors were quieter on some weekends. Fewer students, less noise. But the stares still followed him. Whispers trailed in his wake.
"That's him..."
"Heard he almost killed Matthias Pyrell..."
"They had to pull him off..."
Kaelen kept his head down and kept walking.
He reached his dorm room and collapsed onto his bed, fully intending to sleep for twelve hours straight.
His system chimed.
[Daily Quest: Physical Conditioning]
[Requirements: 50 Push-ups | 50 Pull-ups | 5 Mile Run]
[Time Remaining:9 Hrs :47 Min :22 Sec]
Right. He was only sparred last time.The System didn't care about medical advice.
He'd to deal with it now.
He stepped outside into the cool air and began his routine.
Fifty push-ups. His arms burned by the twentieth, but he pushed through. Fifty pull-ups on the low rail near the courtyard edge. The pull on his healing skin was uncomfortable but manageable. Five miles around the outer training grounds, his pace controlled.
[Daily Quest Complete: Physical Conditioning]
[Rewards: +30 XP (Base & System) | +1 Stat Point]
[Base Level: 8] (280/1900 XP)
[System Level: 6] (880/1800 XP)
[Stat Points:5]
Six out of seven daily quests complete.
Kaelen returned to his dorm, showered, and spent the rest of the day in careful recovery. He ran through mental drills, reviewed techniques, tested his aether circulation without pushing too hard.
...
Sunday Morning - 6:00 AM
Kaelen woke before dawn, his body protesting the movement but functional. The regenerative bandages had done their work overnight. Most of the burns had faded to faint pink patches, and his mobility was nearly restored.
[HP: 375/375]
Full health.
He felt restless. His body had recovered enough that sitting felt wasteful.
By the time he finished, the sun was rising over the academy's towers, painting the glass and metal in shades of gold and orange.
He completed his second daily quest of the day with ease.
[Daily Quest Complete: Physical Conditioning]
[Rewards: +30 XP (Base & System) | +1 Stat Point]
[Base Level: 8] (310/1900 XP)
[System Level: 6] (910/1800 XP)
[Stat Points:6]
Then the System chimed with a different notification.
[Weekly Quest Complete: Novice Trials]
[Requirements: 4/4 Fulfilled]
- Complete 7 Daily Quests consecutively (7/7) (Complete)
- Attend all scheduled classes (5/5 days) (Complete)
- Win 1 sanctioned sparring match (Complete)
- Allocate at least 10 Stat Points (Complete)
[Rewards: +500 XP (Base & System) | +50 SP | Random F-Rank Item]
...
[Base Level: 8] (810/1900 XP)
[System Level: 6] (1410/1800 XP)
[Shop Points: 50]
[Generating Random F-Rank Item...]
A new notification appeared.
[Item Received: Guardian's Band (F-Rank Artifact)]
[Type: Defensive Accessory]
[Effect: +5 Stat Defense]
[Durability: Low (F-rank construction)]
A simple metal band materialized in his hand, dull gray with faint etchings along its surface. Kaelen activated Analytical Scan.
[Guardian's Band - F-Rank Artifact]
[Function: Defensive Enhancement]
[Effect: +5 stat to defense]
[Durability: Low, can withstand minor combat stress]
[Equip Location: Wrist or Arm]
Five percent wasn't much, but it was something. Kaelen slipped it onto his right wrist opposite the Aether Chain. The metal was cool against his skin, settling into place with a faint warmth as it synchronized with his aether.
He pulled up the System Shop interface.
[SHOP - LEVEL 1]
[Refreshed]
[Categories: Abilities | Skills | Skill Upgrades | Weapons | Accessories | Consumables | Information | Combat Techniques]
[Current SP: 50]
[Weekly Refresh: 6 Days, 18 Hrs, 23 Min]
Kaelen navigated to Skills, curious to see the refreshed shop.
[Available F-Rank Skills]
- Basic Aether Shield (Passive) - 4,500 SP
- Enhanced Stamina (Passive) - 3,800 SP
- Quick Reflexes (Passive) - 4,200 SP
- Aether Sense (Active) - 5,000 SP
[Available E-Rank Skills]
- Reinforced Guard (Passive) - 8,500 SP
- Aether Blade (Active) - 9,200 SP
- Evasive Maneuver (Active) - 8,000 SP
Everything was expensive.
Even the cheapest skill cost was still 3,800 SP. He had 50.
He closed the Shop interface with a sigh. The System was generous with experience but stingy with shop currency.
He'd have to be strategic about what he eventually purchased.
For now, he had six unallocated stat points, a new defensive artifact, and a reputation that preceded him wherever he went.
Tomorrow, club recruitment began.
...
Monday Morning - 8:00 AM
The academy was alive with energy.
Banners hung across the main corridors announcing club recruitment week. Holographic displays cycled through promotional materials for dozens of organizations. Students clustered in groups, debating options, comparing offers.
Kaelen walked through the chaos, feeling oddly detached from the excitement. Most students had been planning their club choices for weeks. He'd been too busy finding his way.
The clubs were divided into three main categories, each with its own recruitment area:
Combat Clubs- Training grounds, western wing. Focused on direct engagement, tactical operations, high-risk missions.
Support Clubs- Medical facilities, central wing. Healers, defenders, logistics, coordination.
Technician Clubs - Research labs, eastern wing. Intelligence, development, strategy, innovation.
Within each category, clubs were further subdivided by classification: Mage clubs, Enhancer clubs, Mutation clubs, and Unique clubs.
Kaelen headed toward the western wing.
Combat was the obvious choice. His abilities might not be offensive, but his training focused on engagement. Support didn't fit his skill set, and while Technician clubs were valuable, they weren't where his strengths lay.
He passed demonstration areas where clubs showed off their specializations. A Mage combat club launched coordinated elemental attacks against practice dummies. An Enhancer club demonstrated formation tactics with brutal efficiency. A Mutation club... well, their demonstration involved someone growing bone spikes from their arms and shredding a reinforced target.
Kaelen kept walking.
Near the far end of the western wing, in a quieter section away from the main demonstrations, he found what he was looking for.
A simple sign: Unique Combat Division - First-Year Recruitment
The area was smaller than the others, tucked into a corner practice hall. That made sense. Uniques were rare. Having enough for a dedicated club at all was unusual.
Kaelen stepped inside.
The practice hall was spacious but understated. No flashy demonstrations, no promotional materials. Just an open training floor surrounded by observation seating.
And students. Approximately thirty of them, all first-years, all gathered in loose clusters. The moment Kaelen entered, conversations stopped.
Every eye turned toward him.
The scrutiny was immediate and intense. Some gazes were curious, others hostile, a few assessing. They knew who he was. Everyone knew who he was now.
The boy who forced a Domain manifestation.
The boy who beat a Pyrell heir into unconsciousness.
Kaelen kept his expression neutral and walked further into the hall.
"Kaelen!"
A familiar voice, bright and cheerful.
Vyne appeared from the crowd, her small frame somehow commanding attention despite her size. Her silver-white hair caught the overhead lights, and her pale violet eyes gleamed with amusement.
She walked straight up to him and looped her arm through his like they were old friends.
"Took you long enough," she said, grinning. "I was starting to think you'd chicken out and join a Support club."
Kaelen blinked, suddenly very aware of her proximity. "Vyne. Hi."
"Hi yourself, celebrity." She didn't let go of his arm. "Come on, I'll introduce you to everyone. They've been dying to meet the infamous Kaelen Burn."
"I don't think that's necessary," Kaelen said, trying to subtly extract his arm.
Vyne's grip was surprisingly firm. "Oh, it's absolutely necessary. You can't just walk into the Unique club without proper introductions. There are rules."
"What rules?"
"The ones I just made up." She pulled him toward the center of the hall where most students had gathered.
Kaelen gave up resisting. Vyne was like a force of nature, small but unstoppable.
As they approached the main group, a woman stepped forward from where she'd been observing near the far wall.
She looked young, maybe early twenties, with an athletic build and an easy confidence in her movements. Her hair was dark brown, pulled back in a practical ponytail, and her eyes were sharp, amber-gold, carrying the kind of awareness that came from real combat experience. She wore academy instructor attire, but somehow made it look casual.
And she was smiling. Not the polite professional smile of most instructors, but something genuine, almost playful.
"Well, well," the woman said, her voice carrying easily across the hall. "The star of the week finally arrives."
Kaelen stopped, Vyne still attached to his arm. "You're the instructor?"
"Guilty." The woman extended a hand. "Instructor Mira Ashveil. I run the Unique Combat division for first-years." Her handshake was firm, confident. "Welcome to the club where the weird kids play."
Despite himself, Kaelen smiled faintly. "Thanks."
"Don't thank me yet. We haven't started training." Mira's amber eyes sparkled with amusement. "But first, introductions. You're new, everyone else has been here since this morning getting acquainted." She turned to address the full group. "Alright, kids. Let's make this official. Those of you who haven't introduced yourselves yet, now's your chance. Name, ability if you're comfortable sharing, and one interesting fact about yourself that's not combat-related."
She looked directly at Kaelen. "You're up first, celebrity."
Kaelen exhaled slowly. No avoiding it.
He stepped forward slightly, Vyne finally releasing his arm with a little wave.
"Kaelen Burn," he said, his voice carrying across the hall. "My ability is Chrononaut. Time and space manipulation." He paused, considering the "interesting fact" requirement. "And... I used to repair aether-tech in the lower districts before coming here."
A few students exchanged glances. One muttered something to another.
Mira nodded approvingly. "Practical background. I like it. Next?"
A tall boy stepped forward, maybe six feet, with broad shoulders and the kind of build that suggested Enhancer classification despite being in the Unique division. His hair was dark red, almost burgundy, and his eyes were a striking pale blue. He wore the academy uniform with casual confidence.
"Roan Carver," he said, his voice deep and steady. "My ability is Kinetic Reversal. I can reverse the momentum of anything I touch, sending attacks back at their source." He crossed his arms. "And I collect old pre-Descent music. Actual physical recordings."
Several students looked impressed. Kinetic Reversal sounded dangerous.
Next was a girl, shorter than average, with bright green hair cut in a sharp bob and eyes that literally glowed faint emerald. She had an energetic, almost manic quality to her movements.
"Liora Vex!" she announced, bouncing slightly on her heels. "My ability is Probability Cascade. I can see multiple potential futures branching from any decision and choose which one becomes real." She grinned. "And I'm terrified of birds. All birds. Don't ask."
Kaelen's attention sharpened. Probability manipulation. Like Vyne, but different. Vyne altered luck subtly. Liora seemed to actively choose outcomes.
A quieter voice spoke next. A boy with pale skin, almost translucent, and silver-white hair similar to Vyne's but longer, tied back loosely. His eyes were colorless, like looking at frosted glass. He stood slightly apart from the others.
"Kieran Solis," he said softly. "My ability is Presence Erasure. I can remove myself from perception entirely. People forget I exist while it's active." He paused. "And I write poetry. Bad poetry, mostly."
That was unsettling. Complete erasure from perception?
Next came a girl who looked distinctly non-human. Her skin had a faint blue-gray tint, and her eyes were solid black with no visible iris or pupil. Her hair was pure white, falling in straight lines to her shoulders. She belonged to one of the new races born after the Descent.
"Nyxara," she said simply, her voice carrying a strange harmonic quality. "Sylth bloodline. My ability is Resonance Manipulation. I can alter the vibrational frequency of matter, making it unstable or reinforced." She tilted her head slightly. "And I've never tasted chocolate. It doesn't exist where I'm from."
A Sylth. One of the races attuned to natural aether flows. Her ability sounded incredibly versatile.
Another boy stepped forward, this one with messy black hair and sharp, intelligent eyes behind thin-framed glasses. He looked more like he belonged in a Technician club than Combat, but his presence here said otherwise.
"Elias Kaine," he said, adjusting his glasses. "My ability is Conceptual Binding. I can lock concepts in place temporarily. Make fire unable to burn, water unable to flow, gravity unable to pull." He smiled slightly. "And I'm allergic to synthetic fabrics. Real cotton or nothing."
Kaelen's mind raced. Locking concepts? That was reality manipulation at a fundamental level.
Finally, a girl with striking features stepped forward. She was tall, elegant, with long black hair that seemed to absorb light and eyes that shifted colors subtly as she moved, cycling through shades of amber, green, and violet.
"Seraphine Lys," she said, her voice smooth and controlled. "My ability is Adaptive Evolution. My body evolves in real-time to counter whatever threatens it." She paused. "And I'm learning to play the violin. Poorly."
Adaptive evolution. Her body would develop resistances, countermeasures, advantages on the fly.
Vyne stepped forward last, even though she'd already introduced herself to Kaelen.
"Vyne Kayla," she announced cheerfully. "My ability is..." She paused dramatically. "A secret." She winked at the group. "And I love spicy food. The spicier, the better."
Several students laughed. Kaelen noticed a few looked annoyed by her evasiveness.
Instructor Mira clapped her hands once, drawing attention back. "Excellent. So that's our core group. Thirty-two first-year Uniques total, which is actually a record for Veyra Academy." She walked to the center of the hall, her movements fluid. "Now, let's talk about what this club actually is."
She turned to face them all. "Unique classification means your abilities don't fit standard categories. You're not pure Mages, not pure Enhancers, not simple Mutations. You're anomalies. Phenomena. And that means traditional training methods don't work for you."
Mira's expression grew more serious. "This club exists to help you understand and refine abilities that nobody else can teach. We focus on adaptability, creative application, and tactical intelligence. Because when your power is one-of-a-kind, there's no manual."
She smiled again. "We'll train together, spar together, and occasionally go on club-specific missions. Attendance is mandatory for weekly training sessions. Everything else is optional but recommended."
Mira's amber eyes swept across the group. "Questions?"
Roan raised a hand. "What about inter-club competitions?"
"We participate," Mira said. "Though we're usually at a disadvantage in team events since our abilities don't synergize as easily as standard classifications. But we make up for it in unpredictability."
Liora bounced on her heels. "Do we get to fight each other?"
"Regularly," Mira confirmed. "Controlled sparring is part of training. You'll all get very familiar with each other's abilities."
Kieran's quiet voice: "Are there rank requirements?"
"Nope. This club accepts all ranks. Unranked to Elite, doesn't matter." Mira gestured to herself. "I'm technically ranked Vanguard, for reference. Not that it matters much."
Vanguard. That was sixth-tier ranking. Extremely high for someone who looked so young.
Seraphine asked, "What about ability disclosure? Are we required to reveal our full capabilities?"
"No," Mira said firmly. "You share what you're comfortable sharing. Though I will say, the more your teammates know, the better we can coordinate." She glanced at Vyne. "But if you want to keep secrets, that's your choice."
Vyne smiled innocently.
Mira clapped her hands again. "Alright. That's enough talking. Time to see what you've got." She pointed to the training floor. "Pair up. I want to see basic sparring. Non-lethal, obviously. Control your outputs. First one to land three clean hits wins."
The students began moving, forming pairs naturally. Some gravitated toward those they'd already spoken to. Others chose strategically.
Kaelen found himself standing alone for a moment, watching the others pair off.
Then Vyne appeared beside him again.
"Want to partner up?" she asked, her violet eyes glinting with amusement.
Kaelen hesitated. Sparring with Vyne meant potentially revealing more about her ability. And about his.
"Unless you're scared," Vyne added, her smile widening.
"I'm not scared," Kaelen said.
"Then let's go, celebrity." She walked toward an open section of the training floor.
Kaelen followed, aware that several other students had stopped to watch.
This was going to be interesting.