The moment the alignment ended, silence spread across the platform like a suffocating blanket.
Some students were still on the ground, gasping for breath. A few hadn't even regained consciousness. Others stood trembling, their faces pale, their bodies barely able to remain upright under the lingering pressure in the air.
Shivay stood among them.
Straight.
Unmoved.
Unaffected.
But inside…
He was thinking.
"That energy…" Shivay analyzed silently, his eyes slightly narrowed. "It wasn't just testing physical strength."
It had tried to probe deeper.
Into something far more fundamental.
"…It tried to read me."
And for a brief moment—
It had failed.
Not because he resisted.
But because something inside him… didn't allow it.
His mind replayed that exact moment.
The instant the energy reached his core.
The instant everything slowed.
The instant that… presence responded.
"…That wasn't me."
That realization didn't scare him.
It intrigued him.
Because if that power wasn't fully his yet…
Then what exactly had he inherited?
"Interesting," he muttered under his breath.
"You seem calmer than the others."
The voice came from the side.
Shivay turned slightly.
A boy stood a few feet away.
Tall.
Well-built.
Confident posture.
But his breathing was slightly unstable.
"…You're observing too much," the boy continued.
Shivay raised an eyebrow.
"…And you're talking too much."
A brief silence.
Then—
The boy smirked.
"Name's Kabir."
"…Did I ask?"
Kabir's smile widened.
"…No. But you will."
Shivay didn't respond.
Instead, he looked ahead again.
"…Unnecessary interaction," he thought.
Kabir studied him for a moment.
Then laughed softly.
"…You're interesting."
"…You're irrelevant."
That ended the conversation.
Kabir didn't get angry.
Instead—
His eyes sharpened.
"…We'll see."
At the front of the platform, the instructor stepped forward again.
His presence alone forced the remaining students to straighten.
"Those who are still standing," he said calmly, "step forward."
Only a handful moved.
Shivay among them.
Kabir too.
A few others.
The instructor observed them carefully.
His gaze paused on Shivay for a fraction of a second longer than the rest.
"…Follow me."
They were led deeper into the academy.
The environment changed gradually.
The open platform was replaced by structured pathways.
Training fields stretched on both sides.
Students could be seen practicing.
Some were sparring.
Some were meditating.
Some were doing things that clearly defied normal physics.
Energy.
Everywhere.
Dense.
Active.
Alive.
Shivay observed everything silently.
"…So this is their normal."
A student punched forward—
The air cracked.
Another moved—
And disappeared for a split second.
"…Interesting."
But Shivay didn't show surprise.
He simply watched.
Analyzed.
Stored.
"You're not asking anything."
The instructor's voice broke his thoughts.
Shivay looked at him.
"…Should I?"
"…Most do."
"…Most don't think before asking."
A brief pause.
Then Shivay added calmly—
"If I wanted answers, I'd ask the right questions."
The instructor's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…And those are?"
Shivay's gaze remained steady.
"Questions that matter."
"…Not obvious ones."
Silence.
Then—
The instructor turned away.
"…Good."
Kabir glanced at Shivay from the side.
"…Acting smart won't get you far here."
Shivay didn't even look at him.
"…Neither will talking."
They stopped in front of a large structure.
A hall.
Massive.
Ancient.
"This is the Primary Hall," the instructor said.
"From here… your real training begins."
Before anyone could move—
The atmosphere shifted.
Suddenly.
Without warning.
A heavy pressure swept across the area.
Stronger than before.
Sharper.
Focused.
Several students staggered.
"What the—"
"Who's doing this—"
Silence fell instantly.
Because everyone felt it.
This wasn't random.
This was intentional.
Footsteps echoed.
Slow.
Calm.
Every step carried weight.
Every movement carried authority.
And then—
She appeared.
A girl walked toward them.
No rush.
No effort.
Yet—
The entire environment seemed to react.
Students instinctively moved aside.
Not out of respect.
Out of instinct.
Shivay's eyes shifted toward her.
And for the first time—
He paused.
Not because of her beauty.
But because of something else.
Her presence.
Cold.
Controlled.
Absolute.
"…Interesting," Shivay thought.
Her aura wasn't unstable like others.
It wasn't aggressive like Kabir's.
It wasn't fluctuating.
It was perfectly still.
And that made it dangerous.
She stopped a few steps away.
Her gaze swept across the group.
Disinterested.
Detached.
Like nothing here mattered.
Then—
Her eyes met Shivay's.
Just for a second.
And in that single second—
Something passed between them.
Not emotion.
Not recognition.
Evaluation.
Then—
She looked away.
As if he didn't matter.
"…Hah."
A faint smile appeared on Shivay's lips.
"…So that's how it is."
Kabir frowned slightly.
"…She actually looked at him?"
The instructor spoke calmly—
"Meher."
So that's her name.
"Why are you here?" the instructor asked.
Meher replied without looking at him—
"Observation."
"Unnecessary."
"Not for me."
Silence.
Her voice was calm.
But carried quiet authority.
Shivay observed carefully.
"…Senior."
"…High rank."
"…Respected."
He didn't need confirmation.
He could see it.
The way others reacted.
The way even the instructor didn't dismiss her.
"…So she's important."
Meher turned slightly.
"…These are the new ones?"
"Yes."
She glanced once.
Then—
"…Weak."
Several students flinched.
Kabir clenched his jaw.
Shivay didn't react.
Instead—
He stepped forward slightly.
"Then leave."
The words were calm.
Simple.
Direct.
The entire area went silent.
Kabir's eyes widened.
"…Did he just—"
The instructor didn't move.
But his gaze sharpened.
Meher stopped.
Slowly—
She turned.
Her eyes locked onto Shivay.
Cold.
Piercing.
"…What did you say?"
Shivay met her gaze.
Unbothered.
"If they're weak…"
A faint smirk appeared.
"…then they're not worth your time."
Silence.
The pressure in the air increased.
Not from the academy.
From her.
Several students dropped to one knee instantly.
Kabir struggled to remain standing.
"…This guy is insane…"
But Shivay—
Didn't move.
Didn't bend.
Didn't break eye contact.
"…Good."
Meher spoke softly.
"For someone new…"
"…you're not boring."
The pressure vanished.
Just like that.
She turned away.
"…Try not to die."
And walked off.
Silence lingered.
Then—
Everyone exhaled at once.
Kabir stared at Shivay.
"…You've got a death wish."
Shivay shrugged.
"…No."
His eyes followed Meher's disappearing figure.
"…Just curiosity."
But inside—
He had already made a decision.
"She's strong."
"…I'll surpass her."