The rumours spread faster than the wind.
"They're offering a reward."
"For who?"
"Kael Virex."
"The No-Path."
Across the shrinking Evaluation Grounds, students who had never heard Kael's name before now whispered it as they travelled.
Some sought the reward.
Others wanted to test the mysterious student who had somehow survived this long.
A few simply followed the crowd.
---
Kael frowned.
This was the fourth group to change direction after spotting him.
None had attacked immediately.
Instead, they observed.
Waited.
Followed.
"...Strange."
He slowed his pace, pretending not to notice.
A minute later, they were still behind him.
His grey eyes swept across the forest without turning his head.
Three students.
Keeping their distance.
Not hunters.
Trackers.
"So someone really is looking for me."
He quietly changed direction.
The three followed.
There was no doubt anymore.
---
Several kilometres away, another student knelt with one hand pressed against the earth.
His pupils glowed a pale green.
Thin streams of mana drifted through the forest like invisible rivers.
"...Found him."
The boy smiled.
"My Path never misses."
His Path—Trace—could follow the lingering mana left behind by anyone moving through the battlefield.
Not enough to fight.
Enough to hunt.
He immediately stood.
"I'll collect that reward."
Hidden among the trees...
Someone else watched him.
Caelan Strade.
Rank Four.
His crimson cloak blended into the mist surrounding the forest.
Unlike the tracker, Caelan wasn't interested in the reward.
He was interested in the target.
"So... this is where everyone is going."
Without making a sound, he followed.
---
Kael stopped beside the ruins of an old watchtower.
Broken stone pillars leaned at odd angles.
Perfect terrain.
If someone wanted to surround him...
This was where it would happen.
He stepped into the clearing.
Silence.
Then...
Leaves rustled.
One.
Two.
Five.
Seven students emerged from different directions.
The tracker smiled proudly.
"I found him."
Another student laughed.
"So that's the famous No-Path."
"You don't look very impressive."
Kael calmly raised his fists.
"If you're here for the reward..."
"Come."
---
The first attacker rushed forward.
Before he reached Kael—
A blur crossed the clearing.
A dull impact echoed.
The student flew backwards.
His badge activated instantly.
"Participant eliminated."
Silence.
Another student looked around wildly.
"W-What was that?"
A calm voice answered.
"You're standing in my way."
From the drifting mist, a young man stepped into view.
Dark hair.
Clear blue eyes.
A composed expression.
Caelan Strade.
Every student recognised him.
"...Rank Four..."
Someone instinctively stepped backwards.
The tracker swallowed.
"W-We're only here for the reward."
"I know."
Caelan's gaze remained calm.
"But you're making too much noise."
One student panicked.
"Get him!"
Three attacked together.
Caelan didn't move immediately.
Instead...
His eyes followed the flow of mana through each opponent.
To everyone else, they appeared unpredictable.
To him...
Their mana revealed everything.
The first student's Path gathered around his right shoulder before every strike.
Weak point.
Caelan sidestepped and struck precisely beneath the shoulder.
The student's entire arm went numb.
Badge activated.
The second strengthened his legs before accelerating.
Mana concentrated around the hips.
Caelan intercepted with a kick before the energy completed its flow.
The student collapsed.
Badge activated.
The third attempted to reinforce his chest.
But in doing so...
He neglected the flow around his ribs.
One precise strike.
Another elimination.
Kael watched silently.
"He's not overpowering them..."
"He's reading them."
Every movement had purpose.
Every strike landed where it would achieve the greatest effect.
No wasted effort.
No unnecessary strength.
Within moments...
The clearing fell silent.
The remaining students fled.
Caelan didn't chase them.
He simply watched until they disappeared into the forest.
---
For the first time...
Caelan turned towards Kael.
The two stared at one another.
"So."
Caelan spoke first.
"You're Kael Virex."
Kael nodded.
"And you're Caelan Strade."
A small smile appeared on the older boy's face.
"People always mix our names up."
He scratched the back of his neck.
"Just call me Clen."
"...Clen?"
"It's easier."
"And less confusing."
Kael gave a small nod.
"Alright... Clen."
For a moment...
Neither spoke.
Then Clen looked directly into Kael's eyes.
"I've been curious about you."
"The academy says you're a No-Path."
Kael didn't respond.
Clen continued.
"But when I watched your mana..."
He paused.
"...it didn't make sense."
Kael's heart skipped.
"My Path lets me see the flow of mana."
"I can usually understand how someone's Path works after watching them fight."
"But yours..."
He frowned.
"It flows like something is constantly pulling against it."
"Almost as if..."
He stopped himself.
"No."
"I don't know what it is."
Kael remained silent.
Even he didn't know the answer.
Clen smiled faintly.
"Don't worry."
"I'm not here for the reward."
"I hate following crowds."
He turned to leave before stopping one last time.
"Oh."
"Be careful."
"The bounty has spread further than you think."
"Next time..."
"It probably won't be seven students."
With that, Clen disappeared into the mist as quietly as he had arrived.
Kael stood alone in the ruined clearing.
His fists slowly unclenched.
For the first time since arriving at the academy...
Someone had looked beyond the words No-Path.
Someone had seen that something was different.
He looked towards the mist where Clen had vanished.
"...Who exactly are you?"