Theo's POV
Voices.
That was the first thing I heard.
Faint at first.
Blurry.
"…almost beat him…"
"…Class D…"
"…water magic…"
My eyes slowly opened.
The ceiling above me was unfamiliar for a moment.
White stone.
Dim light.
Then it clicked.
The academy infirmary.
I tried to sit up—
Pain shot through my chest.
"…Don't move."
A calm voice stopped me.
I glanced to the side.
One of the academy healers stood nearby, arms crossed.
"You took a direct hit from an enhanced lightning technique," she said. "Be grateful you're conscious."
I exhaled slowly and leaned back.
My body felt heavy.
Drained.
But alive.
That was enough.
"…How long?" I asked.
"Half a day."
So the evaluations were over.
The duel was over.
And I lost.
The thought settled quietly in my mind.
Not frustration.
Not anger.
Just… fact.
I closed my eyes briefly.
I was close.
Closer than I should've been.
But still not enough.
The healer spoke again.
"You should rest more."
"I'm fine."
She gave me a look that clearly said she disagreed.
But she didn't stop me when I slowly sat up again.
Pain pulsed through my body, but it was manageable now.
"I need to leave."
She sighed.
"At least don't do anything stupid."
No promises.
The academy halls were louder than usual.
The moment I stepped outside…
I felt it.
Eyes.
Students turned toward me almost immediately.
Whispers followed.
"That's him."
"The one who fought Lucian."
"He almost won."
"Is he really from Class D?"
I kept walking.
Ignoring them.
But the voices didn't stop.
"They said Lucian had to use his trump card."
"No way a Class D student pushed him that far."
"Water magic, right?"
"Yeah… somehow."
Somehow.
I didn't react.
Because they weren't wrong.
Even I didn't fully understand it yet.
When I reached the Class D building, the atmosphere felt different.
Quieter.
Tense.
The moment I stepped inside the classroom—
"THEO!"
Kairo was the first to shout.
He rushed over immediately.
"You're alive!"
I blinked.
"…Obviously."
He laughed.
"Man, you had us worried. You got destroyed at the end."
"…Thanks."
Mira stood nearby, arms crossed.
"But before that…" she said, studying me carefully,
"…you almost won."
The room was silent.
All of Class D was looking at me.
Some surprised.
Some impressed.
Some confused.
A boy near the back spoke up.
"Is it true?"
"That Lucian had to use his trump card?"
I paused for a moment.
Then nodded.
A wave of murmurs spread through the room.
"No way…"
"That means he actually pushed the strongest student…"
Kairo grinned.
"I told you guys he wasn't normal."
Mira shook her head slightly.
"Still lost though."
"Barely," Kairo shot back.
I walked past them and sat down.
"It doesn't matter."
The room quieted again.
"A loss is still a loss."
Kairo looked like he wanted to argue.
But he didn't.
Because deep down…
He knew I was right.
The door suddenly slid open.
Several figures stepped inside.
The mood in the room shifted instantly.
Heavy.
Uncomfortable.
At the front stood a tall, muscular student with a confident smirk.
Rex Calder.
Behind him were a few other Class C students.
Kairo clicked his tongue.
"…Of course."
Rex looked around the room slowly.
Then his gaze landed on me.
"So," he said casually,
"This is the guy everyone's talking about."
No one spoke.
Rex stepped forward.
"You're Theo, right?"
I didn't answer.
He smirked.
"The water mage."
Silence.
Then he laughed.
"Let me get this straight."
"You got lucky against Lucian…"
"…and now everyone thinks you're special?"
Kairo stood up slightly.
"Back off, Rex."
Rex didn't even look at him.
His eyes stayed on me.
"You're still Class D."
"Weak."
"Nothing changed."
The room felt tense.
Like it could explode at any moment.
I stood up slowly.
Ignoring the pain in my body.
Rex raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
"You want to say something?"
I looked directly at him.
Calm.
Steady.
"…If you're done talking."
The room went completely silent.
"…you can leave."
For a moment—
No one moved.
Then Rex's smirk slowly widened.
"…You've got guts."
Mana flickered faintly around his body.
The air grew heavier.
Behind him, his group shifted slightly.
Ready.
Kairo muttered under his breath.
"This is bad…"
Rex took a step forward.
"Maybe I should remind you where you belong—"
"Enough."
A voice cut through the tension.
Calm.
Sharp.
Everyone froze.
Even Rex.
Because that voice…
Didn't belong to anyone in Class D.
And the presence behind it—
Felt much stronger.
Slowly, all eyes turned toward the classroom door.
Someone was standing there.
Watching.
And for the first time since Rex walked in…
He stopped smiling.