One week passed quickly at Aetherion Academy.
Training sessions continued every day, and most students were still struggling with the same challenge.
Aura control.
Only a few had managed to produce even the smallest trace of it.
Clara Whitmore had stabilized her aura flow faster than most students.
A few others had begun to show faint progress.
But the majority were still stuck at the beginning.
Marcus was one of them.
"I felt something yesterday," he said confidently while walking across the academy courtyard.
Lucas looked at him skeptically.
"You say that every day."
Marcus frowned.
"This time it was real."
Lucas pointed toward the arena ahead of them.
"Focus."
"Today's evaluation is more important."
The large combat arena of Aetherion Academy was already filled with students.
Just like the first evaluation, instructors had gathered everyone to observe the results of their recent training.
But this evaluation had a different purpose.
Ethan Aldric Voss stood quietly near the edge of the arena, observing the scene.
Students from all training groups were present.
Beginner.
Intermediate.
Advanced.
The instructors stood near the central platform discussing something quietly among themselves.
Marcus shifted nervously.
"Why does this feel more serious than last time?"
Lucas leaned on the railing.
"Because it probably is."
Instructor Selene Varis stepped forward into the center of the arena.
Her voice carried easily across the stands.
"Attention."
The crowd slowly fell silent.
"The second academy evaluation will begin shortly."
She paused briefly.
"This time, your aura control will also be assessed."
Several students straightened immediately.
Marcus whispered nervously.
"…I'm doomed."
Selene continued.
"Your performance today will determine your training group for the next phase of the academy curriculum."
That announcement caused a wave of murmurs.
Training groups could change.
Students who performed well could move up.
Those who performed poorly could fall behind.
Selene raised her hand again.
"The rules are simple."
She pointed toward the combat ring.
"You will spar."
"But this time—"
She paused slightly.
"You are allowed to use aura."
Excited whispers spread across the arena.
Lucas grinned.
"Now this will be interesting."
The first matches began quickly.
Two beginner students stepped into the ring.
Their fight was clumsy but energetic.
Occasionally a faint trace of aura appeared during their strikes.
The instructors observed carefully, making notes.
More matches followed.
Students demonstrated different levels of control.
Some showed clear improvement.
Others still struggled.
Marcus was eventually called.
"Marcus Hale."
Marcus froze.
"…That's me."
Lucas clapped him on the shoulder.
"Try not to die."
Marcus stepped into the ring.
His opponent was another Intermediate student.
The instructor raised his hand.
"Begin."
Marcus attacked immediately.
His opponent blocked.
They exchanged several strikes.
Marcus concentrated as hard as possible.
Swing.
Focus.
Breathe.
Then—
For a brief moment—
A faint ripple followed his blade.
Marcus blinked.
"…Wait."
Lucas shouted from the stands.
"YOU DID IT!"
Marcus nearly lost focus from the excitement.
His opponent used the opening and tapped his shoulder with the wooden sword.
The instructor raised his hand.
"Match over."
Marcus walked back toward the stands looking half proud and half embarrassed.
"I actually did it."
Lucas grinned.
"Then you immediately got hit."
Marcus sighed.
"Details."
More matches continued.
Then another name was called.
"Clara Whitmore."
Clara stepped calmly into the ring.
Her opponent was a second-year assistant.
The moment the match began—
Her aura appeared immediately.
Clean.
Controlled.
Her movements were sharp and confident.
Within seconds—
She disarmed her opponent.
Students whispered excitedly.
Lucas nodded.
"She's getting stronger."
Marcus sighed.
"I hate talented people."
Then another name echoed through the arena.
"Ethan Voss."
Lucas leaned forward.
"Oh here we go."
Ethan stepped into the ring calmly.
His opponent was a third-year assistant.
A tall student with confident posture.
The instructor raised his hand.
"Begin."
The third-year attacked first.
Fast.
Precise.
Ethan blocked.
Their swords clashed sharply.
The assistant pushed forward aggressively.
Two quick strikes.
Ethan parried both.
The fight continued for several exchanges.
Students began paying attention.
Lucas whispered.
"He's doing the calm thing again."
Marcus nodded.
"But the assistant is faster than the last one."
Inside the ring, Ethan carefully controlled the flow of aura within his body.
Just enough.
Not too much.
The assistant attacked again.
A strong downward strike.
Ethan blocked—
And allowed a faint ripple of aura to appear.
The crowd murmured.
Lucas pointed excitedly.
"There!"
Ethan stepped forward and countered.
One clean motion.
The assistant's sword tilted sideways.
But Ethan stopped just before disarming him.
The instructor raised his hand.
"Enough."
The match ended.
Students whispered again.
Marcus crossed his arms.
"You could've finished that."
Lucas nodded.
"He definitely could've."
Ethan stepped out of the ring calmly.
From the stands—
Someone was watching closely.
Catherine Ravenscroft.
Her sharp eyes followed Ethan's movements carefully.
She had noticed the same thing Lucas and Marcus had.
Ethan had shown aura.
But only barely.
And he had stopped the fight before revealing more.
Catherine crossed her arms thoughtfully.
The next evaluation had confirmed something she already suspected.
Ethan Voss was hiding his true ability.
And she intended to find out why.
Meanwhile, Ethan returned to the edge of the arena.
Lucas immediately leaned toward him.
"You're really good at this mysterious act."
Marcus nodded.
"It's impressive."
Ethan ignored them.
Instead, he looked toward the instructors' platform.
Because he remembered what happened next in the previous timeline.
After the second evaluation—
A special announcement had been made.
Something that would change the pace of academy life completely.
And if Ethan's memory was correct—
That announcement was about to happen.