The Academy's backyard appeared serene and still, like a landscape painted by a master artist. The ancient trees, their roots striking deep into the earth, exhaled a potent woody scent mingled with the aroma of moss and the morning mist lingering in the air. Birds chirped in a ceaseless chorus, while sunbeams filtered through the dense branches, delicately dancing upon the green grass.
However, Noctus saw beyond this deceptive tranquility; to him, those sounds were merely secondary noise. The "Raw Ether" emanating from his companions overwhelmed everything, rising above scents and sounds like an invisible wave sweeping through the area.
Noctus stood beside Elthra, holding her with extreme gentleness. He placed her on the grass cautiously, as if fearing she might break in his hands. Simultaneously, Kealen was laying Leora and Janiero beside her, groaning from sheer exhaustion. Kealen's body was trembling, affected by his grueling attempts to synchronize with the energy of the new Ether Stone. He was breathing heavily, and a sharp headache hammered at his skull like a mallet—every pulse in his veins served as a reminder of the heavy price paid for power.
— "Noctus..." Kealen muttered, wiping the streaming sweat from his forehead, his glistening eyes reflecting a mix of fatigue and anticipation. "The teacher said I reached the second level... but why do I feel my body is weaker than before?"
Noctus turned to him with unusual gravity, his features stern and his lips drawn tight.
— "Because your body now resembles a vessel that has suddenly expanded. The Ether Stone didn't just grant you power; it shattered your old limits. You are now 'empty,' Kealen, and you need to fill this void with the correct energy, not with pain."
These words piqued Kealen's curiosity, but he felt the weight of the truth pressing on his chest; power was not just a gift, but a relentless physical and mental burden.
Suddenly, Elthra's body jolted, her small limbs shivering under the dappled sunlight. She didn't scream, but let out a muffled groan suggesting a bitter internal struggle. Her hand, which had been as cold as ice, began to be etched with delicate grey threads appearing beneath the skin, shimmering as if they were microscopic entities trying to escape her control.
— "Damn it..." Noctus whispered in a low voice filled with focus. "The fusion hasn't stabilized yet."
Then he shouted an order: "Kealen, carry Janiero and Leora! Get away from the curious onlookers!"
Noctus squatted in front of Elthra and began to gather his aura calmly. It wasn't just about placing hands; it was a journey to find her heartbeat's rhythm and regulate her energy flow. He closed his eyes, summoning years of long training from his distant home. His aura was calm and steady. As he placed his palms on Elthra's shoulders, he felt the sting of Ether strike his nerves, but he did not retreat. It was like taming a raging river with bare hands.
From a distance, the eyes of the students watched with curiosity, and whispers began to rise:
— "Look at Noctus's team... Is he trying to treat Elthra himself? He's insane! He'll cause both their auras to explode together!"
Noctus paid them no mind. His entire focus was dedicated to creating harmony between the Ether and Elthra's heart. After minutes of tension-filled silence, her shivering suddenly stopped, and the grey threads faded. When she opened her eyes, she didn't look at Noctus; instead, she stared at something behind him—a secret only she could see, like an omen of an unexpected future.
Kealen, watching the scene with a mix of terror and admiration, began to think to himself: "If Noctus had failed, would what happened to Elthra have happened to me?" Then he whispered to himself: "If Noctus wasn't with us, everything would be lost."
Noctus opened his eyes slowly, looking at Kealen and then at Elthra, saying in a confident voice:
— "If I had been a moment late, Elthra would now either be dead or transformed into a hideous 'Outcast'."
Kealen shuddered—not from pain this time, but from realization. The power he sought required knowledge no less than courage. The trees around them began to whisper with the wind, as if nature itself were a witness to this fragile balance.
Kealen asked anxiously: "Noctus, when will Leora, Elthra, and Janiero wake up?"
Noctus replied: "I don't know for sure, but they will wake up soon. They aren't the only ones drifting in this Etheric sleep."
Suddenly, a loud noise cut through the silence. It was the teacher, arriving in a hurry and shouting: "Where is Elthra?"
Noctus replied calmly: "She is fine."
The teacher said in surprise: "But I received word that she didn't absorb the Ether Stone!"
Noctus answered firmly: "I helped her control the flow of the stone's energy."
At this, the teacher's face changed completely. His eyes glowed with a terrifying purple light, and in a thunderous voice that terrified both Noctus and Kealen, he said:
— "Do you realize the magnitude of your folly? If you had failed, you would now be a lifeless corpse, or a predatory beast killing students before we could stop you! Do you know how dangerous what you did was, you fool?"
Noctus replied defensively: "If I hadn't helped her, she would have died!"
The teacher shouted: "And if she had become a monster, she would have killed you, your friend, your team, and even your classmates! This is your final warning. Do not act on your own. You should have sent one of your comrades to summon me, and I would have brought a professional doctor!"
Noctus bowed in apology. The teacher calmed down slightly and then asked: "Boy, is your family wealthy?"
Noctus replied: "Yes."
The teacher then realized that Noctus had received private training before coming to the Academy, so he left without another word.
Kealen said worriedly: "I think we made the teacher angry."
Noctus laughed: "Don't worry about it. The important thing is that you now know the dangers of the Ether Stone."
The Academy bell rang, announcing the end of the break. Noctus said to Kealen: "I'll go get a doctor to help them wake up. You guard them."
Kealen nodded and sat before his three teammates, who appeared to be in a stable condition. Kealen began trying to manifest the aura in his hands, thinking angrily: "I must train hard for the stone to give its full effect... I will wake up every morning for training and exercise."
After a while, Noctus appeared followed by a female doctor wearing a medical coat. Her hair was a mix of black and green, and her eyes were as blue as the sea.
The doctor asked Kealen: "How long have they been asleep?"
He replied: "About 13 minutes."
The doctor said calmly: "A normal issue. There are many students from other departments just like them. Follow me and bring the patients to the medical hall."
Kealen carried Janiero and Leora with difficulty, while Noctus carried Elthra. The bodies felt very heavy to Kealen, as if he were carrying two lifeless corpses. Upon arrival, they were greeted by the pungent smell of potions and medicines. They placed their comrades on the beds, and the doctor said: "You may leave now and go to your department."
Noctus and Kealen thanked the doctor and headed to the classroom. Kealen broke the silence: "How long will they stay like this?"
Noctus reassured him: "They will wake up soon and go to their homes."
At the classroom door, Noctus knocked and apologized to the teacher for being late, but the teacher interrupted: "Sit down. I know what you're going to say; half the class is currently in the clinic."
The two friends sat in total silence, broken only by the teacher's voice as he explained: "Since you two were late, we were talking about those who didn't faint; these individuals have acquired half the stone's power and only need training to reach Level 3. And we warned against cheaters who use magical medical tools to skip levels—this could kill you or infect you with Ether Disease."
The session ended, and the teacher left first. Noctus followed quickly without saying goodbye to Kealen, seemingly annoyed by the teacher's talk about medical tools. Kealen didn't mind much and left the Academy, enjoying the beautiful sunset. This was the first time Kealen felt he was truly living, away from idle sleep.
Kealen arrived at Hanabi's house, where the servant greeted him.
— "How was your first day?"
— "Very beautiful."
The servant laughed: "Go to the kitchen, there is something for you to eat."
In the kitchen, he found Namiro cooking. She asked him about school while he searched for food.
— "I reached Level 2!" he said proudly.
Namiro was happy but asked: "What are you looking for?"
— "For food!"
Namiro said coldly: "I ate it all."
Kealen was shocked, his mouth hanging open: "My food? You—"
Before he could finish, Hanabi entered carrying chicken soup. "Congratulations on your first day," she said, giving him the bowl, adding: "I brought this for you because I know my sister eats everything she lays her eyes on."
Kealen thanked her and asked if she had eaten. Hanabi laughed, then looked at Namiro seriously: "We ate after the mission, then you ate when we arrived, and now you ate Kealen's food!"
Kealen laughed and said: "I'm going to sleep. Goodnight."
Kealen went up to his room on the second floor; his body was completely broken. The stairs looked like a long, endless road. He entered his room and found pajamas placed on his bed, realizing he needed to change to preserve his Academy uniform.
He entered the bathroom, put on the pajamas, and placed his uniform under the bed. Then he collapsed onto his bed, thinking: "It was a busy day... I wonder what fate has in store for me tomorrow?"