The next morning at Aetherion Academy felt slightly different.
News about Catherine Ravenscroft's challenge had spread almost as quickly as the story of her victory.
Students whispered about it in hallways.
Some were excited.
Others were skeptical.
But everyone seemed curious about one thing.
When the spar would happen.
Ethan Aldric Voss walked calmly across the academy courtyard, ignoring the occasional glances from other students.
Lucas walked beside him with far too much energy.
"You realize what you've done, right?"
Ethan looked at him.
"Explain."
"You postponed a duel with the most talked-about student in the academy."
Lucas raised both hands dramatically.
"Do you know how many people want to see that?"
Marcus followed behind them.
"I'm curious too."
Ethan sighed quietly.
"It's not a duel."
Lucas pointed at him.
"Details."
They reached the Intermediate training grounds just as Instructor Selene Varis arrived.
Her sharp gaze moved across the students quickly.
"Line up."
The group obeyed immediately.
Selene crossed her arms.
"For the next week, we will focus on improving your aura control."
Marcus whispered to Ethan.
"…Still nothing."
Lucas, who was again leaning over the nearby fence, laughed quietly.
Selene ignored the interruptions.
"You have already seen two students produce a trace of aura."
Her eyes briefly moved toward Clara Whitmore.
Clara stood calmly in the line, holding her training sword.
"Your goal is to reach that stage."
Selene pointed toward the training ring.
"Begin."
Students stepped forward and started practicing again.
Swing.
Focus.
Breathe.
Marcus repeated the motion again and again.
Nothing happened.
He groaned.
"I swear this energy thing hates me."
Lucas shouted from the fence.
"Try harder."
Marcus glared at him.
Ethan slowly raised his own training sword.
He allowed a faint flow of aura to move through his arm.
Just enough to feel.
Not enough to reveal.
The sword cut through the air quietly.
Clara noticed.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
Then she returned to her own training.
Instructor Selene watched everything carefully.
Her gaze paused briefly on Ethan.
But she said nothing.
After several minutes, Selene suddenly spoke again.
"That is enough."
Students lowered their swords.
She continued.
"You will now practice controlled sparring."
Marcus sighed in relief.
"Finally."
Selene began pairing students.
"Marcus and Daniel."
"Clara and Liana."
The matches started quickly.
Wooden swords clashed across the ring.
Marcus attacked aggressively.
His opponent blocked easily.
Lucas leaned over the fence.
"Still slow."
Marcus nearly tripped trying to swing faster.
Then Selene called another name.
"Ethan Voss."
Ethan stepped forward calmly.
His opponent was a second-year assistant assigned to help with training.
The student looked confident.
"Ready?"
Ethan nodded.
"Begin."
The second-year attacked immediately.
Fast.
Precise.
Ethan stepped aside.
Blocked the next strike.
Redirected the third.
Their swords collided again and again.
Students nearby began watching.
Marcus paused his own sparring briefly.
"…He's doing it again."
Lucas grinned.
"He's definitely holding back."
Inside the ring, Ethan kept his movements simple.
Efficient.
Careful.
The second-year increased the pace.
Three quick strikes.
Ethan blocked them all.
Then he countered.
A small movement.
The second-year's grip slipped slightly.
Ethan stopped his sword just before a disarm.
The assistant raised his hand.
"Match over."
Students whispered quietly.
Marcus shook his head.
"You keep doing that."
Lucas nodded.
"It's suspicious."
Ethan returned the training sword to the rack.
But as he stepped away from the ring—
He noticed someone standing near the edge of the training grounds.
Catherine Ravenscroft.
She was watching.
Again.
Her arms were crossed as she observed the training session.
Lucas immediately noticed.
"Oh look."
"She came to check on you."
Marcus looked between them.
"This is definitely becoming a thing."
Catherine walked a few steps closer to the training field.
Her red eyes focused on Ethan.
"You're still holding back."
Ethan sighed quietly.
"You say that a lot."
"Because it's true."
Lucas whispered loudly.
"She's calling you out again."
Marcus nodded.
"I respect the confidence."
Ethan looked at Catherine.
"Training isn't a performance."
Her expression didn't change.
"Then stop performing."
Lucas slapped Marcus's shoulder.
"That was a good line."
Marcus nodded.
"Very good line."
Ethan rubbed his temple slightly.
Catherine continued.
"You said 'another time.'"
"I remember."
"When?"
Students nearby had begun paying attention.
Ethan noticed immediately.
Too much attention.
Exactly what he wanted to avoid.
So he answered carefully.
"After the next evaluation."
Catherine studied him for a moment.
Then she nodded once.
"Fine."
She turned and walked away again.
Lucas watched her go.
"…You're building suspense."
Marcus looked impressed.
"You scheduled a boss fight."
Ethan looked toward the academy towers in the distance.
Because another thought had appeared in his mind.
In the previous timeline—
The next evaluation event had been far more dangerous than students expected.
And if the timeline continued shifting—
Things might become even more unpredictable.
Which meant Ethan needed to be ready.
Not just for Catherine.
But for everything that was about to happen next.