Rhea and Aiden

As the sun began to rise, casting its first rays across the academy grounds, Aiden stirred in his bed. Unlike his roommates, who were still deep in sleep, he was wide awake, his mind buzzing with anticipation. He couldn't wait to start training. The ability to willingly manifest his powers had changed everything. Now, he felt a surge of confidence, a belief that things were finally starting to go his way.

With that thought in mind, he quietly left his roommates to rest and headed to the training grounds. He gazed at the wooden training dummies, his expression determined. Touching the back of one of the dolls, he channeled his newfound power, and it instantly felt as though it had come to life. The doll, wielding two wooden swords, took a stance, ready to spar.

"How did you know that?" a voice asked.

Aiden turned to see Rhea standing there, arms crossed, observing him.

"Ehm, your father told me where to awaken the doll," Aiden explained, trying to appear nonchalant.

Rhea slowly nodded, accepting his explanation.

Unbeknownst to her, Aiden had used his eyes to identify the doll's activation point. He didn't want anyone to know he had fully manifested his abilities yet. He preferred to keep his newfound strength a secret, at least for now.

"So, ehm, y-you came here to train?" Aiden asked, a slight stammer betraying his nervousness.

"Yes," Rhea replied. "I'm surprised to see you here, Aiden."

Aiden's eyes widened. *She knows my name! How? Why does she know my name? he thought, his mind racing. "How do you know my name?" he asked aloud.

"Arthur mentioned it," Rhea chuckled, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "Anyway, you need to be careful," she added, settling down to observe him.

"Careful of what?" Aiden asked, a prickle of unease running down his spine. Just then, the wooden doll lunged, its wooden sword whistling through the air. Aiden reacted instinctively, his head snapping to the left, narrowly dodging the blow. Rhea's eyes widened slightly, a flicker of surprise crossing her face.

"That," Rhea said, a hint of amusement in her voice. "You didn't let your guard down."

"Thanks for the warning," Aiden replied, trying to appear nonchalant. "So, are you just going to sit there and watch me, or what?"

"The first option," Rhea said, settling more comfortably. "I want to see what you can do."

"Y-you want to see me fight?" Aiden stammered, his confidence wavering.

Rhea nodded in response, a curious glint in her eyes.

Aiden turned to face the wooden doll, but his legs began to tremble slightly. 

"Are you shaking?" Rhea asked, a hint of amusement in her voice.

"No, I'm not, no. I'm just warming up," Aiden insisted, his face flushing crimson with embarrassment.

"By shaking?" Rhea nodded, a mischievous smile playing on her lips.

*What is wrong with you, Aiden?* he thought to himself. *Why am I so nervous around her?*

"For some reason, I feel comfortable talking to you," Rhea mused, as if sharing a secret. "It's almost like talking to Issac." 

"What did you say?" Aiden asked, his eyes narrowing slightly.

"Nothing," Rhea replied, her gaze fixed on him. "Focus on your training."

************************

"RISE AND SHINEEEEEEE!!!" Elara, the dorm guardian spirit's voice echoed through the academy, jolting Peter awake. He slowly opened his eyes, surveying the room. Cedric and Marcel, his roommates, were still half-asleep. 

Aiden was gone. 

Peter wondered where he had gone. He joined his roommates in getting ready for class, his movements still a bit sluggish.

Cedric, noticing his subdued demeanor, asked, "You alright, man? You seem a bit off."

Peter sighed. "Yeah, I'm fine," he replied, though a flicker of rage still simmered beneath the surface.

Marcel, sensing his unease, suggested, "You should talk to Issac Ironheart. He might be able to help."

Peter considered the suggestion. Issac, the renowned warrior and instructor, was known for his wisdom and guidance. Perhaps a conversation with him would help him regain control. 

They got to their respective classes, Pelia meeting Peter along the way. Together, they headed towards the training grounds.

Most of the young warriors were surprised to see Aiden already deep in training. He moved with a fluid grace, dodging the wooden sword with impressive agility. However, a stray blow caught him on the cheek, leaving a small cut. Aiden's expression hardened, his frustration evident.

He abruptly stopped, the intensity draining from his movements. He took a few deep breaths, trying to regain his composure.

Rhea, observing from a distance, raised an eyebrow. "He wants to be that good, huh?" she murmured to herself

Daniel and his followers intently watched Aiden, their eyes narrowed in suspicion. Veins began to bulge on Daniel's forehead.

"He's already capturing Rhea's attention, Daniel growled, his voice low and menacing. We just need to make a fool of him in front of her, and that will be the end of him."

Issac entered the training ground, his voice booming across the open space. 'Begin your training regimen: speed or strength.

The students dispersed, each choosing their focus. Aiden, despite his earlier struggles with the wooden sparring dummies, pushed himself relentlessly. Pelia and Peter, though showing improvement, also faced their own challenges.

Lost in his own pursuit of mastery, Aiden had completely forgotten to check on Peter. Pelia, however, noticed his single-minded focus. Though concerned, she decided to let him be.

Issac finally called for a break. As the other warriors relaxed, Aiden made his way towards Rhea, who seemed to have been waiting for him.

'How did you do it?' Aiden asked, referring to her effortless grace during their earlier sparring session.

'Do what?' Rhea replied, a playful smile gracing her lips.

'Dodge those attacks without even a scratch?'

'Training, of course,' Rhea said, her voice soft. She reached out and lightly touched his shoulder, a strange warmth spreading through him. Then, as suddenly as she had touched him, she pulled away, her expression turning serious.

'Is anything wrong?' Aiden asked, confused by her sudden withdrawal.

'Nothing,' Rhea said abruptly, her voice tight.

'If there is anything you can…'

'I said nothing!' she cut him off, turning away and walking towards the edge of the training ground, distancing herself from him.

Aiden watched Rhea walk away, his eyebrows furrowed in confusion.

The other students, sensing the tension, had stopped their training, a murmur of curiosity rippling through the group. They were all wondering what had transpired between Aiden and Rhea.

Aiden rejoined Peter and Pelia, his face grim.

"What happened?" Pelia asked, concern etched on her face.

"I don't know, and I don't want to talk about it," Aiden muttered, his voice low and laced with anger.

Peter and Pelia exchanged worried glances, sensing the simmering frustration within him.

Meanwhile, Daniel and his followers watched the scene unfold with amusement.

"Looks like I don't need to do anything," Daniel chuckled, a triumphant glint in his eyes. "He's already losing his cool."

His followers joined in the laughter, their eyes fixed on Aiden with a mixture of amusement and malice.

Rhea, standing apart from the group, closed her eyes. A soft pink glow emanated from her hands as she slipped a delicate golden bracelet onto her wrist. The glow subsided, leaving her looking serene, but a hint of sadness lingered in her eyes.

"I'm sorry, Aiden," she whispered, the apology lost in the murmur of conversations.