Chapter 3: A Different Path
The moment class ended—
The whispers followed.
"…He didn't awaken."
"Not even a flicker from the crystal…"
"Then what is he supposed to be?"
Leo kept walking.
He didn't react.
Didn't look.
Didn't speak.
Outside, the courtyard buzzed with energy.
Students gathered in groups, testing their abilities.
Mana flickered everywhere—
Fire.
Wind.
Reinforcement.
Power, alive and visible.
Near the center of it all—
Mira stood with a few classmates.
A soft glow of light gathered around her hand—steady, controlled.
"Wow… she's already that stable?"
"She's definitely top-tier…"
Murmurs of admiration spread.
Not far away—
Joren was watching.
His eyes lingered on Mira for a moment too long.
There was something in his gaze—
Not just admiration.
Expectation.
He wanted to be seen.
By her.
Then—
His eyes shifted.
Toward the edge of the courtyard.
Leo.
Standing alone.
Watching everything quietly.
Joren's expression changed.
The admiration faded—
Replaced by something colder.
Because Leo…
Was different.
Even before Awakening—
Everyone knew it.
In combat training, Leo didn't move like a normal student.
He adapted too quickly.
Read movements too easily.
Reacted without thinking.
Like fighting came naturally to him.
A born fighter.
And that—
Annoyed Joren.
No.
More than that—
It threatened him.
Because no matter how hard Joren trained—
There were moments…
Where Leo felt ahead of him.
Without even trying.
And now?
Now that Leo hadn't awakened?
That natural talent—
Was meaningless.
Useless.
A smirk slowly formed on Joren's face.
And just like that—
He started walking.
"Leo."
The voice cut through the noise.
Kael sighed. "Here we go…"
Leo stopped.
Joren approached casually, his voice loud enough for others to hear.
"I've been thinking," he said.
"Maybe the crystal wasn't broken."
Leo stayed silent.
Joren tilted his head.
"Maybe you just… don't have anything."
A few nearby students laughed.
Not loudly.
But enough.
Joren's eyes flicked—
Just briefly—
Toward Mira.
She wasn't laughing.
She was watching.
That was enough.
Kael stepped forward. "That's enough."
But Leo raised a hand slightly.
"…It's fine."
Then he looked at Joren.
"What do you want?"
Joren smiled.
"Let's spar."
The circle formed almost instantly.
Students gathered.
Watching.
Mira was among them.
Quiet and observing.
Sir Darius stood nearby.
Watching Silently.
For a moment—
It looked like he might stop it.
Leo hadn't even awakened.
The gap was obvious.
But then—
His gaze shifted to Joren.
A brief pause.
Sir Darius's eyes narrowed slightly.
The son of a high-ranking government official…
And someone I'm… acquainted with.
A thought crossed his mind—
Quick.
Subtle.
Stopping this now… might embarrass him.
His expression remained calm.
Unchanged.
Besides…
It's just sparring.
A controlled environment.
Supervised.
No real danger—
At least, that's what he told himself.
It should be fine.
Then—
He spoke.
"Keep it controlled."
Kael frowned. "…Seriously?"
Leo didn't react.
Joren, however—
Smiled.
Because he understood.
Joren stepped forward.
No warning.
No countdown.
He moved.
Fast—
He rushed straight at Leo, his right hand pulled back.
A simple punch.
Direct.
Leo saw it.
Clear.
Predictable.
He shifted his stance—
His left arm came up.
Block.
At the same time—
His right fist shot forward.
CRACK.
It connected.
Clean.
Straight into Joren's face.
A sharp gasp spread through the crowd.
Joren staggered half a step back.
A thin line of blood ran from his lip.
For a moment—
Silence.
Leo lowered his arm slightly, breathing steady.
His eyes focused.
Calm.
Joren touched his lip.
Looked at the blood.
Then—
His expression darkened.
"…You—"
Mana surged.
It wasn't subtle anymore.
Energy exploded from his body, wrapping around him like a second skin.
Reinforcement.
Full-body.
The air shifted.
Pressure rose.
Then—
He vanished.
Leo's eyes widened.
Gone.
No—
Too fast.
A blur appeared in front of him.
Joren.
Right hand again.
Same motion.
Same attack.
But faster.
Much faster.
Leo reacted on instinct.
Left arm up—
Same defense.
Same pattern.
BANG.
The impact slammed into him.
Harder.
Heavier.
Leo blocked it—
But his arm shook violently.
Pain shot through it.
Too fast…
Even if he could read it—
Even if he knew what was coming—
Joren was at least twice as fast now.
Leo's body couldn't keep up.
Joren clicked his tongue.
"…Still blocking?"
This time—
He changed.
No more patterns.
No more predictability.
He moved—
Side.
Back.
Forward.
Angles shifting.
Footwork breaking rhythm.
Leo tried to follow.
Tried to read.
But—
He lost him.
For just a second—
That was enough.
BANG.
A hit from the side.
Leo's body twisted.
Blood sprayed from his mouth.
Before he could recover—
Another strike.
BOOM.
His body lifted—
Then crashed to the ground.
Silence.
No cheers.
No laughter.
Just—
Stillness.
Leo lay there.
Breathing—
Heavy.
Broken.
Blood slowly spread across the ground beneath him.
Joren stood over him.
Calm.
Untouched.
"…That's the difference," he said coldly.
But Leo…
Didn't respond.
His fingers twitched.
Slowly—
Painfully—
He pushed himself up.
His body screamed.
His arm throbbed.
His vision blurred.
But he stood.
"…I'm not done."
A ripple went through the crowd.
Joren frowned.
"…You don't get it, do you?"
Leo didn't answer.
Because deep inside—
Something was burning.
Not anger.
Not yet.
Something colder.
Heavier.
I lost…
Not because I was weaker.
Not because I couldn't fight.
But because—
I wasn't fast enough.
Not strong enough.
Not awakened.
His fists clenched.
Next time…
His gaze lifted slowly—
Locking onto Joren.
There was no fear in his eyes now.
Only something sharp.
I won't lose.
Not again.