Morning light spread across the academy.
But the atmosphere—
Was anything but calm.
"…He didn't use any element…"
"I didn't even see mana…"
"Then what was that pressure…?"
"…Leo."
Leo walked through the corridor silently.
No visible energy.
No aura flare.
Nothing.
Yet—
People stepped aside.
Without realizing.
He entered the classroom.
Silence followed for a moment.
Then slowly faded.
The door opened.
A composed figure stepped in.
"Good morning."
It was Professor Sophia.
"Today," she began,
"We will understand what truly defines power."
She raised her hand.
A soft blue glow appeared.
Stable.
Controlled.
"This is mana."
"Mana is the energy required to use magic."
"Without mana… you cannot cast spells."
She shifted it—
Fire.
Ice.
Lightning.
"These are elements."
"Forms shaped by mana."
Students watched carefully.
Then—
She closed her hand.
The light vanished.
She stepped forward.
The air changed.
A silent pressure spread across the room.
No light.
No sound.
But everyone felt it.
"…This is aura."
A student stiffened.
Another swallowed.
"Aura is not magic."
"It does not come from mana."
She walked slowly.
Calm.
Controlled.
"Mana allows you to attack."
"Elements decide how that attack appears."
A pause.
"…Aura decides whether your opponent can even stand before you."
Silence filled the room.
"Mana is something you use."
"Aura is something you are."
Her eyes briefly shifted—
Toward Leo.
Then away.
"Now… show me your mana."
Students raised their hands.
Energy filled the room.
Small sparks.
Shaky flows.
Unstable bursts.
"Too rough."
"Slow down."
Then—
A strong surge appeared.
Ray stood still—
His hand glowing brightly.
Unlike others—
His mana was powerful.
Dense.
Sharp.
The energy around his hand didn't shake.
It pulsed steadily.
"…Good," Sophia said.
"Strong output."
Ray lowered his hand slightly.
A faint smirk on his face.
"Control it further."
Then—
"Leo."
The class went silent again.
"Stand."
Leo stood calmly.
"Show me your mana."
Silence.
Leo raised his hand.
Nothing.
No glow.
No spark.
Just… emptiness.
Whispers spread instantly.
"…There's nothing…"
"He really doesn't have mana…"
"That's impossible…"
Alex leaned forward slightly.
Eyes narrowed.
"…So it's true."
Nico looked confused.
"…Then yesterday… what was that?"
Sophia watched carefully.
"…As you can see," she said calmly,
"he has no mana."
A pause.
"But—"
Her voice lowered slightly.
"…he has something else."
Silence deepened.
"Aura."
The word echoed in the room.
"Aura does not require mana."
"It is not something you learn."
"It is your existence."
Her gaze hardened slightly.
"And in rare cases…"
"…it surpasses magic itself."
Every eye turned toward Leo.
Now—
Not just curiosity.
Respect.
Unease.
Interest.
Leo sat down calmly.
As if nothing had happened.
Class ended soon after.
This time—
No loud talking.
No jokes.
Just quiet thoughts.
Leo stood up.
"Wait."
Nico stepped closer.
"…You really don't have mana?"
Leo nodded.
Alex crossed his arms.
"…Then you're fighting without magic."
A pause.
"…and still winning."
Ray looked at him carefully.
His earlier confidence—
Slightly shaken.
"…That means…"
"…your aura is doing all of that."
Leo didn't reply.
Nico let out a slow breath.
"…That's insane."
Alex smirked faintly.
"…No."
His eyes locked on Leo.
"…That's interesting."
A short silence.
Then—
Nico spoke again.
"…Teach me that control."
Leo looked at him.
"…It's not something you learn easily."
Alex shrugged.
"Good."
Ray exhaled lightly.
"…Even better."
A small pause.
Then—
They started walking.
Not as strangers anymore.
Not exactly friends either.
But something had changed.
Because now—
They weren't just looking at Leo as someone strong.
They were trying to understand him.
And that—
Was where everything truly begins.