CHAPTER 3 — They Laughed at Me… Until I Devoured Their Magic
"Yesterday, I was nothing. Today… their magic feels like it belongs to me."
The academy didn't forget.
Not even for a second.
By the time Aira Valen stepped out of the lower dormitory that morning, the whispers had already spread.
Not just about her weakness—
but about what happened last night.
The frost-covered stone beneath her boots cracked softly with each step.
The air was cold.
Sharp.
Unforgiving.
Just like the stares that followed her.
"They said she collapsed yesterday."
"No magic… and still alive?"
"I heard something weird happened in the dorm…"
Aira kept walking.
Head down.
Expression blank.
But inside—
something had changed.
The fear was still there.
The uncertainty too.
But beneath it—
something darker stirred.
Hunger.
Her fingers twitched slightly.
Her palms tingled.
Every time she passed another student—
she could feel it.
Their magic.
Different.
Unique.
Alive.
And her body—
reacted.
It didn't reject it.
It wanted it.
"…stop," she whispered under her breath.
But the sensation didn't fade.
It grew.
The Training Field
The moment she stepped into the training hall—
the noise exploded.
Students gathered in circles.
Watching.
Waiting.
For her.
"Look who showed up."
"The useless girl."
"She actually came?"
Aira didn't react.
Because something else caught her attention.
The arena.
The runes carved into the walls…
were glowing faintly.
Not bright.
Not active.
But… responsive.
Her gaze narrowed slightly.
For a brief second—
she felt it.
The same pulse from last night.
Faint.
Deep.
Like something beneath the academy…
was watching.
"…not now," she muttered softly.
The Announcement
A sharp voice cut through the noise.
"First-year combat assessment begins now."
A tall instructor stepped forward.
His aura heavy. Controlled.
"Names will be called. Step forward when assigned."
Silence fell.
Then—
"Aira Valen."
The hall froze.
A beat of silence—
then laughter.
"Oh, this will be good."
"She won't last one hit."
Aira stepped forward anyway.
Her heartbeat was steady.
Too steady.
"…Dorian Valtor."
The second name echoed.
The mood shifted instantly.
Dorian stepped into the arena with a smirk already on his face.
Tall. Confident. Dangerous.
"Looks like I got lucky today."
His gaze swept over Aira slowly.
Judging. Mocking.
"I don't even have to try."
Eyes Watching
From the upper balcony—
someone was already watching.
Ren Kael.
His arms rested lightly against the railing.
His expression unreadable.
But his eyes—
sharp. Focused.
Locked on Aira.
"…show me," he murmured softly.
Behind him—
another presence lingered in the shadows.
Silent.
Amused.
Lucien.
The Duel Begins
"Start."
Dorian didn't hesitate.
Magic ignited instantly in his palm—
bright. Violent.
A fireball formed.
Large. Dense.
And he threw it—
straight at her.
Too fast for a normal student.
Too powerful for a first-year.
The crowd leaned forward.
Waiting for her to fall.
Instinct
Aira didn't move.
Not backward.
Not sideways.
Forward.
Her body reacted before her mind could catch up.
She raised her hand—
and let it hit.
Impact
The fire exploded around her.
Heat surged.
Light blinded.
Gasps filled the hall.
"She's done—"
But then—
something changed.
The flames didn't spread.
They folded inward.
Collapsed.
Into her.
Devour
Aira's breath hitched sharply.
The magic entered her body—
raw. Burning. Chaotic.
But instead of destroying her—
it fed her.
Her core ignited violently.
Processing.
Breaking.
Rebuilding.
Her vision sharpened instantly.
Her senses expanded.
She could see the structure of magic now.
Threads.
Flow.
Weak points.
"…I understand it…"
Silence Breaks
The fire vanished completely.
Aira stood unharmed.
Not even a burn.
The hall went dead silent.
Dorian's smirk disappeared.
"…what the hell…?"
Counterattack
Aira lifted her hand slowly.
The magic inside her responded instantly.
Not wild.
Not unstable.
Controlled.
A sphere of fire formed.
Larger.
Denser.
More refined than his.
Her eyes narrowed slightly.
Then—
she released it.
Impact
The blast hit Dorian head-on.
He didn't even have time to react.
His body flew backward—
slamming into the arena floor hard enough to crack it.
The impact echoed through the hall.
Silence followed.
Aftermath
Dorian coughed violently.
His eyes wide.
Shocked.
Afraid.
"…that's not possible…"
Aira stood still.
Breathing steady.
But inside—
the hunger grew stronger.
Because she could still feel it.
His magic.
Still there.
Still available.
Dangerous Moment
Her body leaned forward slightly.
Instinct.
Take more.
Her fingers twitched.
The distance between them suddenly felt…
too far.
"…no."
She stopped herself.
Barely.
Ren's Reaction
From above—
Ren's eyes darkened.
"…she held back."
His fingers tightened slightly against the railing.
Interest turned into something deeper.
Something sharper.
"…mine," he muttered under his breath.
Lucien Watches
Behind him—
Lucien smiled faintly.
"…so it begins."
Recognition
The instructor stepped forward slowly.
"…match… concluded."
His voice carried something new.
Caution.
"Aira Valen wins."
The hall exploded into whispers.
"She absorbed it—"
"No, she copied it—"
"That's not a normal skill—"
Aira turned away.
She didn't stay.
Didn't celebrate.
Because something inside her—
was still moving.
Aftermath Hallway
By the time she stepped outside—
the academy felt different.
Students moved away from her.
Not mockery anymore.
Fear.
A first-year approached her hesitantly.
"What… what was that skill?"
Aira paused.
Her fingers twitched slightly.
She looked at her hand.
Then back at him.
"…I devour magic."
Her voice was calm.
But something in it—
made him step back instantly.
Foreshadow – Deeper Layer
As she walked away—
the ground beneath her feet pulsed faintly.
No one else noticed.
But she did.
The same rhythm from last night.
The same presence.
Watching.
Waiting.
"…what are you?" she whispered softly.
No answer came.
But deep below the academy—
something responded.
The Letter
That night—
a black envelope waited on her desk.
Sealed.
Heavy.
Not ordinary.
Her chest tightened slightly.
She opened it slowly.
Inside—
a single message.
Elegant.
Precise.
"We know what you are."
Her fingers stiffened.
"You should not exist."
Her breath slowed.
"Do not lose control."
A pause.
Then—
the final line.
"Or we will erase you."
Final Scene
Aira stared at the letter in silence.
Fear should have come first.
But it didn't.
Instead—
she smiled faintly.
"…try."
Her Devour core pulsed again.
Stronger.
Hungrier.
"They laughed at me yesterday… but today, even the academy is starting to fear me."