The next morning, Vax found himself standing in the academy’s restricted training grounds, a secluded area far from the prying eyes of other students. The principal had arranged for this space, a vast arena surrounded by towering trees enchanted to muffle sound and obscure vision.

Vax didn’t have to wait long before his instructor arrived. To his surprise, it wasn’t the principal.

A tall woman stepped into the clearing, her silver hair catching the morning light. She wore a black cloak adorned with strange runes, and her eyes glimmered with a sharp, almost predatory intelligence.

“I am Professor Riel,” she said, her voice crisp. “The principal has entrusted me with your training, though I have to admit I’m curious why he would waste my time on an F-rank.”

Her tone was laced with skepticism, but Vax didn’t flinch.

“You’ll see soon enough,” he replied simply.

Riel arched an eyebrow, a faint smirk tugging at her lips. “Confidence. Good. You’ll need it.”

Scene: Unleashing Potential

The first lesson was brutal.

“Magic is not about strength alone,” Riel said, her voice cutting through the air like a blade. “It’s about precision, control, and understanding. Show me what you can do.”

Vax nodded, stepping forward. He raised a hand, summoning a small ball of lightning that crackled with energy. But as he prepared to release it, Riel snapped her fingers, and the spell fizzled out instantly.

“Too slow,” she said. “If you hesitate, you’re already dead.”

Frustration flared in Vax’s chest, but he swallowed it down. “Again,” he said, determination hardening his voice.

For hours, Riel pushed him to his limits. She forced him to cast spells faster, more accurately, and with greater control. When he faltered, she made him start over. When he succeeded, she raised the bar higher.

By the end of the day, Vax was drenched in sweat, his muscles aching and his magic reserves nearly depleted. But he felt something else too—a sense of progress, a faint glimpse of the potential Riel saw in him.

“You’re raw, but there’s talent,” Riel admitted as she dismissed him for the day. “If you survive my training, you might even be dangerous.”

Scene: A Friend’s Worry

When Vax returned to his dorm, Alisa was waiting for him, her arms crossed and a worried expression on her face.

“Where have you been?” she demanded. “Everyone’s talking about you disappearing into the restricted zone.”

“I was training,” Vax said, collapsing onto his bed. “The principal arranged it.”

Alisa frowned. “Why would he go to so much trouble for you?”

Vax hesitated. He trusted Alisa, but the principal’s warning about revealing too much echoed in his mind. “He thinks I have potential,” he said vaguely. “That’s all.”

Alisa didn’t look convinced, but she let the matter drop. Instead, she sat beside him and handed him a cloth. “You look like you’ve been through a war. At least clean yourself up.”

Despite his exhaustion, Vax smiled.

Scene: A Warning in the Night

As the moon rose high over the academy, Vax’s dreams were restless. He saw flashes of light and shadow, battles fought long ago, and a figure cloaked in darkness.

He woke with a start, his heart pounding, and found Selena sitting at the foot of his bed.

“What are you doing here?” he hissed, glancing nervously at the door.

“Relax,” Selena said, her voice low and calm. “Your wards are good, but you might want to reinforce them. They didn’t even slow me down.”

Vax glared at her, but she only smiled.

“I’m here to warn you,” she said, her tone growing serious. “Aisha and her little friends are planning something. They don’t like the attention you’re getting, and they’re going to make sure you don’t outshine them again.”

“What kind of plan?” Vax asked, sitting up straighter.

Selena shrugged. “Something stupid, no doubt. But it could still be dangerous if you’re not careful.”

Vax studied her, trying to decipher her motives. “Why are you helping me?”

“Because I hate nobles,” Selena said bluntly. “And because I think you might be the only one here worth saving.”

Her words hung in the air as she stood to leave.

“Remember, Vax,” she said, pausing at the door. “Power is only as good as the choices you make with it. Don’t waste yours.”

And with that, she was gone, leaving Vax alone with his thoughts.