The ruined clearing had finally become quiet.
The students who had come searching for Kael Virex had been eliminated, leaving behind only broken weapons, cracked stone, and the faint traces of mana that still lingered in the air.
Caelan Strade stood calmly among the ruins.
Rank Four.
A student who had climbed from Rank 12 to Rank 4 in a matter of months.
Kael understood immediately why.
It wasn't because Caelan possessed overwhelming power like Auren Valcrest.
It was something different.
Caelan didn't overpower opponents.
He understood them.
His eyes had followed every movement of mana, every weakness, every flaw.
Then he had acted.
Perfectly.
Kael looked at him carefully.
"You can see the flow of mana."
Caelan glanced back.
"Yes."
"That's my Path."
"Most people think it's an ability that makes fighting easy."
A small smile appeared on his face.
"They're wrong."
He looked towards the defeated students.
"Seeing something doesn't mean you understand it."
Kael stayed silent.
That answer interested him.
Caelan continued walking through the ruins, and after a moment, Kael followed.
Not because he trusted him.
Not completely.
But because there was something about Caelan's thinking that caught his attention.
The two moved through the ancient battlefield without speaking.
Eventually, Caelan broke the silence.
"You are strange."
Kael looked at him.
"Strange?"
"Yes."
Caelan looked ahead.
"Most people in your position would be desperate."
"They would try to prove themselves."
"They would talk constantly about how they will surpass everyone."
"But you don't."
Kael didn't answer.
Caelan continued.
"You observe."
"You calculate."
"You wait."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"Your mind is much stronger than your body."
Kael understood what he meant.
It wasn't praise.
Not exactly.
Caelan still saw him as someone beneath him.
A Rank Four student looking at an F-Class student.
But he was interested.
That alone was unusual.
"Why are you telling me this?"
Caelan shrugged.
"Because it's obvious."
"Anyone with eyes can see it."
Kael glanced at him.
"Not everyone noticed."
Caelan smiled slightly.
"Most people don't look."
"I do."
That was the difference between them.
---
They continued walking until they reached a split in the path.
One route led deeper into the forest.
The other headed towards the mountains where powerful clashes of mana could still be felt.
Caelan stopped.
"The bounty."
Kael looked back.
"You know about it."
"Of course."
Caelan looked almost amused.
"Everyone knows about it now."
"Students with tracking abilities will search for you."
"After they find you..."
"The stronger students will come."
Kael looked at the forest ahead.
"So you think I'll lose?"
Caelan raised an eyebrow.
"I think you are overestimating yourself."
The answer was direct.
Kael didn't react.
Caelan continued.
"You are skilled."
"Your combat ability is impressive for someone without a Path."
"But this assessment isn't filled with ordinary students anymore."
"The gap between you and the top ranks is still enormous."
It was harsh.
But Kael could tell Caelan wasn't insulting him.
He was stating what he believed was fact.
"And yet..."
Caelan paused.
"You are still here."
That was what interested him.
A No-Path student shouldn't have survived this long.
But Kael had.
Not through luck.
Through decisions.
---
Kael looked at him.
"Caelan."
The other student immediately sighed.
"There it is."
Kael tilted his head.
"What?"
"Our names."
Caelan pointed between them.
"Kael."
Then himself.
"Caelan."
"They sound too similar."
Kael thought about it.
He was right.
The difference was small.
"People probably confuse them often."
"Exactly."
Caelan nodded.
"So call me Clen."
"Clen?"
"A shorter version."
"And easier."
Kael repeated it.
"Clen."
"Better."
For the first time, the conversation felt slightly less formal.
But Caelan's expression quickly returned to normal.
"Don't misunderstand."
Kael looked at him.
"I don't consider us equals."
The words were blunt.
Caelan continued.
"You are interesting."
"Your thinking is unusual."
"Your determination is impressive."
"But strength matters."
"I am Rank Four."
"You are still F-Class."
Kael accepted the statement.
Because it was true.
For now.
"But..."
Caelan looked away.
"If you had been born with a stronger Path..."
He stopped.
"...you might have gone much further."
Kael's eyes narrowed slightly.
A compliment.
Hidden inside an insult.
"Is that supposed to encourage me?"
"No."
Caelan answered immediately.
"It's an observation."
A small smile appeared.
"Don't expect kindness from me."
---
The distant sound of another battle echoed across the battlefield.
Both turned.
The evaluation was continuing.
They couldn't stay here forever.
Caelan stepped towards the mountain path.
"I'll be going."
Kael nodded.
"Good luck."
Caelan paused.
Then smiled slightly.
"I don't need luck."
He looked back.
"But you might."
Kael almost smiled.
Almost.
"Then I'll survive without it."
Caelan looked at him for a moment.
Interesting.
That was the word that kept returning to his mind.
Not strong.
Not equal.
Not a rival.
Interesting.
"See you around, Kael."
"See you, Clen."
The two walked away in different directions.
One towards the mountains.
One towards the forest.
Two students moving along separate paths.
Neither knew what the future held.
But Caelan Strade had learned one thing.
The No-Path student was not ordinary.
And for someone like Caelan...
That was enough to pay attention.