Time, Space and Gravity

Well, it was that time of year again—another ball at Mythos Academy. It made sense, really. This was a strange society where futuristic technology met old-school nobility, so these events were crucial for networking and maintaining status. But to be honest, it felt like a hassle this time.

'Are you not going to cut your hair?' Luna's voice echoed in my mind.

'No,' I replied simply. It had been over a year since I last cut it, and it was starting to grow long, especially in the back. I'd trimmed the front to keep it neat, but I left the back alone.

'Just felt like trying something different,' I added. 

I'd always liked the idea of having long hair, even back in my previous life. It never got long enough for a ponytail before, though. But as they say, there's a first time for everything, right?

'So what's making this ball such a hassle this time?' Luna asked, already knowing the answer. She had access to all my memories in this world and knew I had actually enjoyed last year's Freshman Ball—well, other than the cult attack and the run-in with the Shadow Seekers.

No, the real issue wasn't the ball itself. The problem was that I had three dates. And I had to go with all of them.

I'd made the decision to take things more casually with Rachel, Cecilia, and Seraphina. The truth was, I didn't fully understand my own feelings or theirs, and the whole situation was... messy.

First of all, teenage feelings can be fleeting. One moment, they might like me, and the next, they could lose interest entirely. I had to take that into account before making any real commitments.

Secondly, I still struggled with seeing this world as real rather than as a story. I often viewed the people in it as characters, and I knew I needed to change that—especially with these three girls. I had to see them for who they truly were, not as two-dimensional characters from a novel.

And then there was the part that made me feel like a bit of a hypocrite. Right now, I liked all three of them enough to be okay with being with them together. But at the same time, the thought of any of them being with another guy bothered me. 

I knew it wasn't fair of me, and I didn't know if they would be okay with sharing me either, just like I wasn't comfortable with the idea of sharing them.

That's why I needed more time.

Ultimately, if it came down to choosing just one, although I hoped it wouldn't, I wanted to make the right decision after spending more time with them, understanding my own feelings and theirs.

Back to the current issue: I had three dates to the ball.

Technically, there wasn't a rule limiting the number of dates someone could bring. But realistically, no sane person would ever show up with multiple dates—especially not at Mythos Academy. 

Mythos Academy housed the world's greatest geniuses, most of whom came from the highest-ranking powers. These were people who were not only incredibly skilled but also arrogant and fiercely possessive. The idea of them all vying for the attention of a single individual was laughable.

Yet, here I was, in that very situation.

'This happened to Lucifer in the third year,' I thought, recalling the novel. By the time the fourth year rolled around, things had escalated to the point where five girls were basically fighting over him.

I sighed internally. The parallels between Lucifer and me were becoming too much. Except, in his case, it made sense. He was the protagonist—the one everyone was supposed to flock to. Me? I wasn't meant to be in that position, yet here I was, stuck in a similar mess.

And the ball was just around the corner. 

'How do I handle this without making things even more awkward?' I wondered. Bringing three girls to the same event was just asking for trouble, and the dynamics between Rachel, Cecilia, and Seraphina were already complicated enough. They weren't oblivious to each other's feelings for me, and I could sense the tension between them whenever we were all together.

'It's going to be a long night,' I thought with a wry smile.

Luna's voice chimed in my mind, her tone amused. *'You really know how to get yourself into a mess, don't you?'*

'I didn't plan this,' I grumbled mentally. It wasn't like I was trying to be some kind of playboy or anything. This just... happened.

'You better make sure things don't blow up at the ball,' she warned.

I could only sigh again. Luna wasn't wrong. I had to figure out a way to handle this delicate situation, and fast. There was no point in denying my feelings anymore—I liked all three of them. But this was real life, not some novel. The stakes were higher, and so were the emotions involved.

The night of the ball was going to test everything. My patience, my relationships with them, and—most of all—my ability to keep things from spiraling out of control.

I turned my attention inward, focusing on my mana core. I could feel the cracks on its surface already starting to form—Valerie's Astral Convergence was working. A few more weeks of this, and I would reach the first stage of integration, finally matching Lucifer.

'He won't stay ahead for long,' I thought, clenching my fists. 'Though, he still has those God's Eyes.'

Lucifer and I hadn't sparred recently, but if the events from the novel were still playing out in a similar way, that meant he'd been training under the Kagu family. His control over God's Eyes wouldn't be as refined as Ren's, but that didn't matter. Even a rough mastery of such a Gift would make him a terrifying opponent.

'Doesn't matter,' I reminded myself, shaking off the thought.

I closed my eyes and meditated deeply, feeling the flow of mana coursing through my veins as Lucent Harmony activated. The gentle hum of energy surrounded me, and I reached out to control the elements I lacked—time, space, and gravity. These weren't part of my natural magic affinity, so my control over them was shaky at best. Luna had been helping me, but I still had a long way to go.

"I need to get better at this," I muttered to myself, flexing my fingers as I focused on manipulating space. I concentrated hard, willing the energy to bend and twist under my command.

'You're not going to get anywhere with that half-hearted effort,' Luna teased, her voice echoing in my mind.

I smirked, knowing she was right. "Okay, let's get serious."

I pushed harder, feeling the familiar strain as I pulled on the threads of time, space, and gravity magic. The sensation was disorienting—like tugging at something just out of reach, but I knew I could do it. Slowly, the space around me began to shift, warping subtly as I exerted my will over it.

Time slowed ever so slightly, a faint distortion in the air. Gravity fluctuated, pulling heavier one moment and lighter the next.

'Better,' Luna commented, her tone approving. 'Now let's push it further. Try to stabilize them simultaneously. You need balance.'

I nodded, focusing intently on keeping all three elements in harmony. It was like balancing on a knife's edge—one wrong move and everything would collapse. Sweat dripped down my brow as I held the magic in place, my mind working overtime to keep the forces from spiraling out of control.

"Come on... just a bit more..." I whispered through gritted teeth.

The strain was intense, but I could feel the potential there. The more I trained, the more I realized just how vital these elements would be in future battles. Lucifer wasn't my only obstacle; there were others—powerful beings who would come for me, who would challenge me.

Dark and light magic would come later, but for now, mastering time, space, and gravity was essential.

'Had enough of a break?' Luna's teasing voice snapped me back to the present.

I chuckled, shaking off the fatigue. "Yeah, yeah, I'm ready. Let's keep going."

'Good. You're improving, but we're far from done.'

I took a deep breath and dove back into the training, the room around me warping and twisting under my control. The battle wasn't just with Lucifer or the looming threats—I was fighting to master myself.