The Burden of Power

The hidden chamber was awash in the quiet murmur of students returning from the library, their gazes flickering between Sutra and Rawa with renewed curiosity. The atmosphere had shifted subtly — the students were more guarded, more alert, as if they sensed that something crucial was unfolding beneath the surface. Sutra stood at the center of the room, his expression serene but watchful.

"Gather around," he instructed softly, gesturing for the students to circle around the Bhugol. The magical globe floated silently above the table, its translucent surface still glowing faintly from the energy it had absorbed earlier. The students took their places, eyes wide with anticipation.

"Before we continue," Sutra said, his voice carrying the weight of unspoken truths, "there is something I need to show you — and something Rawa needs to understand. Earlier, the Bhugol could not fully reveal his true nature. What we saw was only a fragment, obscured by a magic even I cannot fully comprehend. To understand why, you must see a comparison."

Rawa felt a chill creep down his spine as Sutra turned his gaze to him. The librarian's words echoed ominously in his mind. Only five people know you're here to save us. It made no sense. Save them? He had barely come to grips with the fact that he was no longer in his own world, let alone that he might have some role in defending this one.

"I… don't understand," Rawa said slowly, shaking his head. "A moment ago, you said something about… moon magic. And that I'm seen as a foe?"

Sutra nodded, his expression serious. "In this realm, mages aligned with moon magic are regarded as the strongest of our kind. The power of the moon is vast, its potential still uncharted. But more than that, moon mages are often considered harbingers of change. Their presence heralds shifts in power, in destiny. Yet, your connection to it is unlike any we've ever seen. The truth of your power is being concealed — either by your own will, or by a force far greater."

Rawa frowned. "But what does that have to do with me being summoned here?"

A shadow passed over Sutra's face. "You were not brought here simply by accident, Rawa. You were pulled into this world to act as a catalyst. But whether you are meant to be our savior or our undoing… even I cannot say."

The revelation left Rawa reeling. He was no savior — he was just a man, caught in the whirlwind of events beyond his understanding. And yet… there was a nagging sense of familiarity, a strange pull, as if the very magic of this world was waiting for him to awaken.

"Enough speculation," Sutra said gently, sensing Rawa's turmoil. "Perhaps the truth will become clearer through comparison. Thvi Yui Ard," he called, turning his gaze to one of the students.

A murmur of surprise rippled through the group. The boy Sutra had singled out stepped forward hesitantly. Thvi was tall and lean, his royal-blue uniform embroidered with gold that marked him as a member of the royal family. His dark eyes were sharp, but there was an undercurrent of uncertainty in his gaze as he looked at the Bhugol.

"Me, sir?" Thvi asked, glancing around at his peers. There was an unmistakable note of pride in his voice, but also a hint of wariness. "You want me to use the Bhugol?"

"Yes, Thvi. Your lineage grants you a unique resonance with magic," Sutra said calmly. "You are the only one in this room whose magical potential is comparable to what Rawa's should be."

The other students shifted, exchanging curious and envious glances. Thvi's status as a prince of the kingdom was well-known, and his magical prowess had been lauded by teachers and mentors alike. But to be considered a match for a mysterious outsider? That was something new.

"Go ahead, Thvi," Sutra urged. "Place your hand on the Bhugol."

Taking a deep breath, Thvi stepped forward and stretched out his hand. The moment his fingers brushed the surface of the Bhugol, a surge of energy pulsed through the room. The globe flared to life, its colors shifting and twisting in a chaotic dance. Unlike the gentle patterns that had accompanied Rawa's reading, the Bhugol now seemed to thrum with a fierce intensity, its hues darkening and flashing in rapid succession.

Gasps echoed through the room as the light condensed, forming sharp lines of power that spiraled around Thvi's hand. The orb began to spin slowly, emitting a low hum that reverberated through the air. Then, with a brilliant flash, a page appeared above the Bhugol, the letters writing themselves in quick, bold strokes.

"Name: Thvi Yui Ard

Breed: Human

Gene: Boy

Weight: 60 Kg

Height: 170 cm

Level: 15/90

Magic Type: Electric

Combat: 50/110

Defense: 70/105

Speed: 50/99

Magic: 105/120

Health: 200/200

Intelligence: 110/135

Luck: 100/110

Rank: E+

Special Magic: Tarang (Shock)"

The room erupted into stunned whispers as they read the details. Rawa's mind reeled. The sheer power displayed on the parchment dwarfed his own stats by a wide margin. The high levels of combat and defense, the exceptional magic score… Thvi Yui Ard was not just a student — he was a prodigy, a mage whose potential could easily rival seasoned warriors.

"Sir, he's… incredible!" a student exclaimed, eyes wide with awe.

"Yes," Sutra said quietly, his gaze still fixed on Thvi. "This is the power of one blessed by royal blood, one who has trained rigorously to harness his innate abilities. And yet…" His voice trailed off, and he turned his attention back to Rawa. "Even Thvi's prowess is limited. You see, the Bhugol reveals the constraints of his growth. His path is set, defined by the rules of this world. But Rawa…"

He gestured to the place where Rawa's stats had been displayed. "Rawa's potential is obscured. Something is hiding his true strength — perhaps his connection to the moon magic, perhaps the nature of his summoning. Or perhaps it's something more insidious."

The students fell silent, their earlier excitement fading. They stared at Rawa with a mix of curiosity and trepidation. Even Thvi seemed taken aback, his expression guarded.

"Then… is he stronger than me, sir?" Thvi asked softly.

Sutra shook his head. "Not in terms of raw power. But there is more to magic than mere numbers. Rawa's presence here is a ripple in the fabric of fate. His abilities, once fully awakened, could reshape the very foundations of our world."

A heavy silence settled over the chamber. The implications of Sutra's words hung like a shroud. The students looked at Rawa not with the disdain they had shown earlier, but with something closer to fear.

"So… what does that make him?" someone whispered. "An ally… or a danger?"

"Neither," Sutra replied softly, his eyes never leaving Rawa's. "He is both hope and uncertainty. And only time will reveal which path he will walk."

Rawa swallowed, his heart pounding. The weight of their stares pressed down on him, but more than that, it was the weight of expectation, of a destiny he had never asked for.

"I… I still don't understand," he murmured, voice low. "What am I supposed to do?"

Sutra smiled faintly, a sad, knowing smile. "Understand this, Rawa: Power alone will not determine your fate. It is your choices, your will, and the alliances you forge that will decide whether you become the shield that protects us… or the blade that destroys everything we hold dear."

With those words, the Bhugol's light dimmed, casting the room in shadow. The students watched Rawa in silence, the flickering glow of magic the only illumination in the gathering darkness.

And Rawa, caught between worlds, felt the uncertain weight of his destiny settle upon him like a shroud.

"Class dismissed, next class will be tomorrow." Sutra breaks silence. Everyone left room and library. Student go for their next class. Rawa has to visit Palace as Sutra gave him a secret order copy to meet the king.