Time had passed faster than I could track. In what felt like the blink of an eye, two years had slipped by. The Academy had changed from a place of overwhelming newness into a structured world I navigated with purpose. Lessons alternated with laboratory work, weekends were spent in quiet study or meditation, and my Space Magic had evolved quietly in the background, hidden from most eyes.
The most significant change was access. I now had my own laboratory, a private space where I could experiment freely without restriction. It was a privilege few received, and it was both exhilarating and nerve-wracking. Healing potions, the ones I worked on most, were still rudimentary throughout the Academy. Medical practice was limited, and most ailments were left to natural recovery. The medical experience in this world is so bad, in comparison to my old one. They just focus on magic and want to solve everything with it. But healing magic is rate…
I had made it my personal mission to improve health, to find ways to stabilize injuries, enhance recovery, and refine the basic principles of magical healing. The responsibility weighed heavily. Every potion was a chance to succeed, and every failure felt magnified.
That morning, I stood at the center of the laboratory, vials and ingredients floating in carefully controlled arcs around me. A delicate swirl of powdered herbs hovered above a mortar, ready to settle at precisely the right moment. Bottles of mana-infused liquids orbited gently, a silent ballet of science and magic. My Space Magic allowed me to manipulate multiple ingredients simultaneously, guiding them with telekinetic precision. I had even begun experimenting with small portals, miniature folds in space where I could store rare materials, extra reagents, or sensitive compounds. Well… or how Novels would say, a little pocket dimension. It is still small, but steadily growing.
"Where is it…" I murmured, scanning the laboratory. My voice barely above a whisper, I touched the air, feeling for the familiar presence of the ingredient I needed. "Ah, yes. It's still in the space."
With a breath, I opened the portal to my pocket dimension. A faint shimmer appeared, revealing the small, contained space where I kept my most valuable materials. I reached through, my hand brushing against the reinforced wooden box where I stored rare powders and experimental capsules. The portal's edges wavered slightly, a reminder that my Space Magic, though advanced, was still delicate. I could fold space, retrieve items, and even manipulate several threads of mana simultaneously, but it was far from perfect.
Once the ingredient was in place, I guided it through the array of floating herbs and liquids, putting it into the mixture with care. The potion glimmered faintly as the components combined, each reaction controlled by careful adjustments of my internal mana. I allowed myself a small smile, my progress was evident, and I could feel the potential of this particular formula. It might improve recovery from even serious injuries, though it still needed refinement.
Satisfied for the moment, I closed the portal and let the floating components settle. My lab quieted as ingredients returned to their resting places, and I leaned back slightly, stretching tired shoulders. The routine of experimentation, observation, and careful Space Magic had become second nature, and yet, a part of me still felt that familiar pang of apprehension. Progress was exciting, but the responsibility weighed heavily.
Later that day, I left the laboratory. The sun was high and warm, streaming through the Academy's tall windows and painting golden patterns on the stone walkways. The season was summer, and the heat was gentle against my skin, a contrast to the cool focus of the lab. Today was special, not just any day. It was my eighteenth birthday.
Kean was waiting outside, leaning casually against a column, his grin bright and infectious. "Happy birthday, Lianmei!" he called, waving me over. He had invited me, along with a few others, to lunch in the Academy cafeteria. My new best friend, Mei Lin, joined us, bright-eyed, meticulous, and energetic, her enthusiasm for Alchemy matching my own. A few other friends waved from nearby tables, though their identities mattered less; it was the small circle of three that I felt closest to.
We shared laughter, stories, and lightly teasing comments, the warmth of friendship settling comfortably around us.
Mei Lin, ever the gossip enthusiast, leaned closer, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "Did you hear?" she whispered. "Rumor has it that the Legendary Students might be interested in the same Person. Can you guess who I mean?"
I glance at her weirdly, "No how would i know?"
"How can you not notice? Its Sheng Rui, they aren't subtle about their feelings.
The way they glance, the way they challenge each other… it's obvious!"
I raised an eyebrow, amused but skeptical. "Really? I think you're exaggerating. Probably just rumors."
"Oh, come on!" Mei Lin laughed softly. "It's everywhere in the halls. Even the other students are talking. They're… competitive. But friendly, kind of." She winked. "Or at least, that's how it looks from the outside."
I smiled quietly, letting her chatter wash over me. I had learned long ago that rumors in the Academy were rarely fully accurate, yet they always contained a kernel of truth. I tucked the thought away, keeping my focus mostly on the laughter and stories of the small group around me.
My interactions with the Legendary Students had improved, though they remained distant. Sheng Rui, the Light Mage, caught my eye as he passed, giving a polite nod and a faint smile. Our encounters remained brief, superficial even, but there was a growing sense of acknowledgment. We were no longer strangers. Their trust was cautious, but not completely absent.
Later that day, as I wandered near the Rare Magic Hall, a faint commotion caught my attention. Peeking inside, I saw a brief flare of conflict: Yung Yu and the Dawei Chen,
both among the Legendary Students, seemed to be challenging each other, testing strength and skill in an intense but controlled exchange.
The room was secluded, the perfect space for private sparring, and yet, the energy felt unusually sharp, competitive rather than cooperative. Just as the situation seemed about to escalate further, Liang Yue, the Summoner, intervened. With a calm but firm tone, he stepped between them.
"Enough," he said, his hands raised as if steadying the tension itself. "This is childish. We are not here to provoke each other.
We are friends and just because we like the same person, this will not change! This is not a petty competition."
The two immediately paused, glancing at each other, then muttering under their breath. Liang's presence carried authority without aggression, diffusing the energy with a simple statement. His aura, always composed, radiated calm clarity.
I stayed on the edge of the room, observing silently. My heart beat a little faster, not from fear but from fascination. The Swordmaster's movements were precise, fluid, almost elegant, even in confrontation. The Dark Mage's energy flickered with sharp intensity. Liang Yue's intervention had been enough to cool the air, but I could still feel the lingering tension, the unspoken rivalry, and the careful respect that tempered it.
Then it hit me. My stomach twisted slightly.
Wait… didn't I read this before?
The memory flared, fragmented, fleeting. A story, a book I had started long ago… a tale where friendships were tested, rivalries sparked, and the tops vied for the attention of the bottom.
I blinked, heart racing. This wasn't real, was it?
I swallowed hard, the room quiet around me. Something about the scene felt familiar, almost too familiar.
Wait…