"Go!" Julius shouted as the first line of five ran. In a second, Elyas was already several metres ahead of the rest, stunning most of the students.
"How is he this fast?!"
"So this is the power of a Legacy…"
"No. If I'm not wrong, every Dreamer gets a massive boost to their physical abilities."
"Oh…So it's like that."
"Wrong," the trainer interrupted the students.
"Not all Dreamers gain the same Grace. Some see no changes, others gain a Grace of Speed, endurance, or strength. The lucky ones get a mix, or even have their growth cap removed like me."
Mr. Julius corrected, teaching the basics. They needed to know these things because in a few weeks, they would become Dreamers themselves. The students showed thoughtful expressions before starting to whisper to each other again.
"Do you think he will break the record?"
"He might. He's a True Legacy after all."
"No, I'm not even sure he can reach the minimum five laps"
"You might be right…he is investing all of his energy in a good start."
As some chatted, others watched their classmates struggle against the powerful Legacy, barely managing to keep up. At the same time, Elyas was going faster and faster. The test was running laps near the walls. And he was crushing it, everything under his control.
How do I stop!?
He was going faster than any normal human should, scratching and slamming into the walls occasionally. He had already finished one lap.
Nine more to go. 'This damned body! I can't control where it goes… I have to stop its acceleration, otherwise I'll be a red stain before the test ends.'
He was trying to figure out a solution. If it was anyone else, they would have panicked already. But his life as an officer helped him learn to keep his cool under such circumstances… Although he wasn't particularly ready to deal with speed acceleration.
To everyone else present but Julius, he was doing just fine, if not exceeding their expectations. "This kid really wasn't lying. He can't even control his body…" The trainer mumbled to himself, unsure if he should help the Legacy or not.
In one aspect, he was responsible for his injuries if any occurred. But at the same time, he would be destroying the Legacy's image if it was revealed that he couldn't control something as simple as his own Grace. The trainer had no idea that unlike most of his kind, Elyas didn't make ends meet by using his status or image.
Meanwhile, Elyas was done with his second lap, his speed only increasing with each step. His light scratches had now turned into wounds, covering his skin. It was only the second lap, but he was already exhausted.
But Elyas knew that if he stopped, he would die. Come on! Think of something! Fast! His classmates had just entered their second lap, but Elyas was already in his third. Nearly all the students were behind him by a full lap.
Except one, Cid.
The small blond kid hadn't changed, still wearing his linen shirt and pants. Both hugged his body, wet from sweat as he flew across the ground like a plane about to take off. He was only a few dozen meters away from Elyas, leaving everyone in the dust.
Mr. Julius was so occupied with his thoughts that he didn't notice the kid running almost as fast as Elyas. Until now, "That...The only way someone can match the speed of a Graced Dreamer is with an Artifact or..." He paused, his voice no longer quiet.
"It's as if they're a Dreamer themselves!"
The realization hit him like a truck. To think one of his students was a rogue. He had to do something… but he couldn't, he wasn't as fast as them. "Damn it!" He shouted, turning towards the kids near the walls of the parking lot. "Get out! Right now!"
The students, shocked but also tired, didn't object. The trainer turned to the children near him. "Move towards the stairs! Move, move those little legs!" He stayed with the students, making sure that the children didn't trample each other in the chaos.
All Julius could do now was to keep the rest of his students safe Elyas' pupils shrunk, unable to endure the air pressure. It was getting bad. His shirt was now completely torn off, his vest still hanged onto him, although barely.
Shallow cuts had turned into grave open wounds that leaked with every twist or turn, cusing blood to replace his footsteps. His whole body protested as he uncaringly pushed it to stay on just a bit longer. He needed just a few more seconds to find a solution. Just a few more.
But seconds don't come cheap. Approaching a pillar, Elyas tried to turn left. But his reaction wasn't fast enough. What was supposed to be a sharp turn, had led him head first into a pillar concrete.
He managed to twist his body in the last second, barely keeping his head at the cost of his shoulder. Parts of it hugged the pillar, leaving Elyas behind. As the searing pain assaulted his mind, Elyas' senses became keener, multiplying the suffering. But it was that very shock that allowed him to notice something.
That on top of blood, he had bled speed.
With this realization, although still hesitant, he rushed towards another pillar. Barely keeping his mind intact through gritted teeth. He dove and crashed. As pieces of debris flew by his feet, his speed reduced even further.
So he didn't stop. Elyas dove again and again. Behind him, rebar and chunks of reddened cement flew across the room. Under the merciless assault directed both at the pillars and his body, Elyas left nothing but a scarlet trail of destruction.
He had slowed down significantly. Almost at normal jogging speed. So he let go, and collapsed to the ground. His face had deep cuts and most of his arms and shoulders were bloody and bruised. His left arm bent in the wrong way, and an entire part of his right shoulder was missing. His clothes were now reduced to scattered cloth on the ground.
Elyas ended on his sixth lap. Cid, reaching his bloody body, bent down and put the man over his shoulder. Seeing this scene, Julius rushed towards Elyas. As Cid reached the trainer he stopped.
With a single dark glare the giant stated: "We'll talk about you… But not now." He bent over and picked Elyas from the small hands of the child and headed downstairs to the medical area.
Under his breath, Julius said to the half-conscious Elyas, "True Legacy or not, you'll have to explain this." Cid stood where he was. Watching the giant head downstairs and eventually disappear from sight.