Morning sunlight spread across the tall towers of Aetherion Academy.
The academy bell rang loudly across the grounds, signaling the beginning of another day.
Students slowly filled the large outdoor training field used for first-year combat classes.
Unlike the evaluation arena, this field was wide and open, surrounded by stone platforms where instructors observed students during training sessions.
Lucas Hartley arrived early.
Which was unusual.
He stood in the middle of the field with his arms crossed and a determined expression on his face.
Marcus walked up behind him.
"You look like someone who lost a duel."
Lucas sighed.
"I did lose a duel."
Marcus nodded.
"That's fair."
Lucas pointed dramatically toward the entrance of the field.
"Today I will begin my training arc."
Marcus blinked.
"…Your what?"
"My training arc."
Marcus rubbed his forehead.
"You've been reading too many adventure novels."
Before Lucas could reply, another familiar figure stepped onto the field.
Ethan Aldric Voss walked calmly toward them.
Lucas immediately pointed at him.
"There he is."
Ethan stopped.
"…Good morning."
Lucas narrowed his eyes.
"You're suspicious."
Marcus added calmly,
"Very suspicious."
Ethan looked mildly confused.
Lucas stepped closer.
"You've been hiding your strength."
Marcus nodded.
"And your family name."
Lucas crossed his arms.
"Which means today we are officially training together."
Ethan looked between the two of them.
"…Officially?"
Lucas pointed to the training field.
"You're going to help us get stronger."
Marcus added,
"Mostly him."
Lucas ignored that comment.
Ethan considered the situation for a moment.
Helping them train wouldn't change the story much.
If anything—
Stronger allies could be useful later.
"…Alright."
Lucas froze.
"…Wait, really?"
Ethan nodded.
"We can train."
Lucas immediately raised his fist in victory.
"I knew it."
Before the conversation could continue, a loud voice echoed across the field.
"All first-year combat students, gather here."
Students quickly formed rows in the center of the training ground.
An instructor stepped forward.
Tall.
Broad-shouldered.
Wearing the dark uniform of the academy's combat division.
His voice carried across the field easily.
"My name is Instructor Roland."
He scanned the students with sharp eyes.
"I will be responsible for your combat training this semester."
Some students straightened immediately.
Others looked nervous.
Instructor Roland continued.
"Yesterday you demonstrated basic ability during your evaluations."
He paused.
"But talent alone means nothing."
The instructor raised his hand.
A faint golden aura flowed along his arm.
Students gasped quietly.
"Power in this world comes from discipline."
The aura around his hand pulsed once before fading.
"This energy is called Aura."
Ethan watched quietly.
Basic demonstration.
Exactly as expected.
Instructor Roland continued speaking.
"Every warrior channels aura differently."
He pointed toward the training racks placed around the field.
"Swordsmen, knights, guardians, and other combat paths all rely on aura control."
Lucas whispered beside Ethan.
"…That looked cool."
Marcus nodded.
"Very cool."
The instructor's sharp eyes turned toward the whispering pair.
Lucas immediately looked straight ahead.
Instructor Roland continued.
"For the next few weeks, your training will focus on three things."
He raised three fingers.
"Aura control."
"Aura reinforcement."
"And combat application."
Several students looked both excited and terrified.
Lucas leaned slightly toward Ethan.
"Sounds painful."
Ethan replied calmly.
"It usually is."
Instructor Roland suddenly pointed toward a group of wooden pillars placed across the field.
"Your first exercise is simple."
He walked toward one of the pillars.
"Channel your aura into your weapon and strike."
He demonstrated.
A single punch.
CRACK.
The wooden pillar split down the center.
Several students gasped.
Lucas whispered loudly.
"…I'm going to die."
Marcus nodded.
"Most likely."
Students slowly moved toward the training area.
Each one taking a wooden weapon before approaching the pillars.
Some strikes barely left marks.
Some students couldn't channel aura at all.
Others managed small cracks in the wood.
Lucas stepped forward nervously.
He raised the practice sword.
"…Alright."
He swung.
THUD.
The sword bounced off the pillar.
Lucas stared.
"…That was disappointing."
Marcus tried next.
CRACK.
A small fracture appeared.
Lucas clapped slowly.
"Show off."
Finally—
Ethan stepped forward.
He lifted the wooden sword.
Then quietly allowed a thin stream of aura to flow through his arm.
Not too much.
Just enough.
He swung.
CRACK.
The pillar split cleanly down the center.
Several nearby students turned immediately.
Lucas blinked.
"…Okay."
Marcus nodded slowly.
"I take back what I said earlier."
Lucas looked at him.
"What?"
"You're not suspicious."
Marcus pointed at Ethan.
"He's terrifying."
Ethan simply placed the training sword back on the rack.
Across the field—
Instructor Roland had been watching carefully.
And for the first time since the class began—
A small smile appeared on his face.
Because hidden talent inside the academy always made training more interesting.
And Ethan Aldric Voss—
Was clearly hiding far more than most students realized.