By midday, the entire academy had already formed its own version of the story.
Some said Kai had secretly trained for years and finally revealed his power.
Others believed he had made a forbidden pact with a spirit of lightning.
A few even claimed he was hiding royal blood.
None of the stories were true.
Yet somehow, each rumor spread faster than the last.
As Kai walked through the academy courtyard, he could feel the weight of dozens of eyes following him.
Students whispered behind their hands.
Some stared openly.
Others quickly looked away when he noticed them.
Kai sighed quietly.
"This is exactly what I wanted to avoid."
Luna walked beside him, glancing around at the curious students.
"Well… defeating a demon beast in front of half the academy will do that."
Kai rubbed the back of his neck.
"You make it sound like I planned it."
"You didn't?"
Kai gave her a tired look.
"Of course not."
A group of first year students passed by, whispering loudly.
"That's him!"
"The lightning guy!"
"Do you think he can summon storms?"
Kai groaned.
"Lightning guy?"
Luna couldn't help smiling slightly.
"I think the name suits you."
"Please don't encourage them."
They continued walking toward the training grounds, but something strange caught Kai's attention.
A group of older students stood near the arena entrance, watching him carefully.
Their expressions weren't curious like the others.
They looked… irritated.
One of them stepped forward.
He was tall, broad-shouldered and carried himself
with obvious confidence.
His uniform bore the silver insignia of a third year elite student.
Kai recognized him immediately.
Darius Vance.
One of the strongest students in the academy.
And someone who didn't enjoy sharing attention.
Darius crossed his arms as Kai approached.
"So you're the one everyone's talking about."
Kai stopped a few steps away.
"I guess so."
Darius's sharp eyes scanned him from head to toe.
"You don't look very impressive."
Luna frowned slightly.
"Darius"
But he ignored her.
"I heard you defeated the demon beast."
Kai shrugged.
"That's what people are saying."
Darius stepped closer.
"Then show me."
Kai blinked.
"Show you what?"
"Your lightning."
Several nearby students immediately stopped what they were doing.
A small crowd began forming around them.
Kai felt a headache coming.
"I'm not interested in fighting."
Darius laughed.
"Relax. This isn't a fight."
His smile said otherwise.
"I just want to see if the rumors are true."
Kai glanced at Luna.
She sighed.
"This was bound to happen."
Darius rolled his shoulders and stepped into the center of the training field.
"If you really defeated that beast… you should at least be able to handle me."
The crowd grew larger.
Excited whispers spread through the students.
"Is this going to be a duel?"
"Darius is challenging him!"
"This will be good!"
Kai looked around at the growing audience and sighed again.
There was no escaping this.
If he refused, the rumors would only grow worse.
And if he accepted…
Well.
He wasn't even sure he could control that power again.
Darius smirked.
"What's wrong?"
"Afraid?"
Kai exhaled slowly.
Then he stepped forward.
"Fine."
The crowd erupted in excitement.
Darius grinned.
"Good choice."
They moved to opposite sides of the arena.
The training instructors were nowhere in sight, but the magical barrier around the field automatically activated as soon as two combatants entered.
A faint blue dome surrounded them.
Kai rolled his shoulders slightly.
"Let's make this quick."
Darius raised his sword.
"You won't get that chance."
The duel began.
Darius moved first.
His speed surprised Kai.
In a single motion, he dashed forward and swung his blade in a sharp arc.
CLANG!
Kai barely managed to block the strike with a training weapon.
The impact forced him back several steps.
The crowd gasped.
"That was fast!"
Darius didn't give him time to recover.
Another strike came immediately.
Then another.
Kai realized something quickly.
Darius wasn't just strong.
He was skilled.
Every movement was precise.
Every attack forced Kai further on the defensive.
"You're slower than I expected," Darius said casually.
Kai dodged another strike.
"Maybe you're just faster than you think."
Darius's smirk widened.
"Flattery won't help you."
He raised his sword again.
This time, magical energy gathered around the blade.
Golden light spread along the metal.
An enhancement spell.
The next strike came down with far more power.
Boooom!
Kai barely rolled aside in time.
The ground where he had been standing cracked from the force.
The crowd gasped again.
Kai stood slowly.
"Okay… that one was unnecessary."
Darius shrugged.
"You said you defeated a demon beast."
He pointed his glowing sword toward Kai.
"So stop holding back."
Kai stared at the blade.
Then he looked down at his own hand.
Nothing happened.
No lightning.
No strange power.
Just his normal magic.
He felt a small wave of frustration.
Come on…
Where are you when I actually need you?
Darius charged again.
Kai reacted instinctively.
Their weapons clashed again and again.
But with each exchange, Kai felt himself falling further behind.
Darius was simply more experienced.
A final powerful strike knocked Kai backward.
His weapon flew from his hand and landed several meters away.
The crowd fell silent.
Darius pointed his glowing sword at Kai's chest.
"Is that all?"
Kai breathed heavily.
"That depends."
"On what?"
Kai slowly stood upright.
"On whether you're done showing off."
Darius frowned.
"What?"
Kai looked up at the sky briefly.
Dark clouds had begun forming above the academy again.
The same strange tension from the night before returned.
Then—
Something inside him shifted.
A faint spark flickered across his fingertips.
Darius noticed immediately.
"So there it is."
The crowd murmured excitedly.
"Lightning!"
Kai stared at his own hand.
The spark grew slightly stronger.
Not violent like before.
But steady.
Controlled.
Darius stepped back slightly, raising his guard.
"Finally."
Kai raised his hand slowly.
The violet sparks gathered together.
Crackling quietly.
But before either of them could move,
A powerful voice echoed across the arena.
"That's enough."
The barrier around the training field suddenly vanished.
Headmaster Valen stood at the edge of the arena, his expression calm but firm.
Behind him stood several instructors.
Darius lowered his sword reluctantly.
"We were just sparring."
The headmaster's gaze shifted to Kai's hand.
The violet lightning faded instantly.
Valen studied Kai for a long moment.
Then he spoke calmly.
"Both of you will report to the academy council tomorrow."
Darius frowned.
"For what?"
The headmaster turned away.
"For answers."
The crowd slowly began dispersing as instructors ordered the students back to class.
Kai picked up his weapon from the ground.
Luna walked over to him.
"You almost used it again."
Kai nodded quietly.
"Yeah."
She looked at the dark clouds forming above the academy.
"Do you think that's a coincidence?"
Kai followed her gaze.
The clouds were darker now.
More violent.
Just like the night before.
Kai's expression slowly became serious.
"I don't think anything about this is a coincidence anymore."
Far above the academy…
Beyond the storm clouds…
Something watched.
And the moment violet lightning had appeared again
A faint smile spread across the darkness.
"Good," a quiet voice whispered.
"He's waking up faster than expected."
As the crowd dispersed, Headmaster Valen remained standing at the edge of the arena.
His gaze followed Kai until the boy disappeared into the academy buildings.
Professor Mira stepped beside him.
"You felt it too, didn't you?"
Valen nodded quietly.
"The same power from the old records."
Mira's voice dropped to a whisper.
"But that shouldn't be possible."
Valen looked toward the dark sky above the academy.
His expression became grave.
"Yet it is."
He turned slowly.
"Send word to the council."
"Tell them the prophecy may already be unfolding."
And at the center of it all…
Was a student named Kai.