The Academy's Goddess

As I stepped into the center of the field to face Luna, the atmosphere shifted. The pressure emanating from her was palpable, as though the air itself was warning me to step back and concede defeat. But I despised losing, especially against opponents who carried the weight of death so effortlessly in their presence.

I couldn't help but notice her weapon. Luna wielded a lance of breath taking craftsmanship, its intricate design glimmering with golden hues and inlaid pink amethyst. The blade at the end gleamed menacingly, a clear reminder that one misstep could cost me dearly.

Without my Erythrotenebrae, I couldn't access my skill, Rapture. That was the curse of skills bound to specific weapons. All I had left were Clairvoyance and Blood Aegis, both of which required precise timing, particularly the latter. Using Blood Aegis would risk exposing its vampiric origin, a dangerous revelation for someone like me who wasn't a vampire. My Mimic Eye could provide an edge, but activating it carelessly would trigger the protective lens, potentially disabling the skill entirely.

My only viable option was Surya's Blessings, a skill I had avoided tapping into until now. Based on its passive description, it allowed mastery over the fire element. The lack of familiarity with fire-based techniques frustrated me, but there was no better time to experiment.

[Surya's Blessings: Activated]

The moment the skill engaged, heat surged through my body, enveloping me like an inferno.

"So, you're a flame elemental user as well?" Luna remarked, her eyes narrowing as she adjusted her stance.

A system notification materialized before me: [The abilities imbued with flames will form upon your will.]

Understanding dawned. These abilities weren't pre-defined; they were shaped by my imagination and intent. This connection, likely forged through Karna's intervention, granted me creative freedom with the fire element. I clenched my fists, feeling the potential ignite within me.

Professor Alaric raised his sword, signaling the start of the duel. As it struck the ground, Luna launched forward, her lance aimed at my left side. I reacted instantly, dodging right with a burst of flames beneath my soles, accelerating my movement.

She extended her palm, releasing a blinding beam of light. Ducking low, I propelled myself toward her, countering with a fiery blast from my right hand. The fireball struck her barrier, its translucent shimmer absorbing the impact. Yet, the barrier faltered slightly, a testament to its design that allowed absorption but had a threshold for the number of impacts it could handle within seconds.

"The same fighting style as that troublemaker, I see," she muttered, driving her lance into the ground. A wave of slashing energy surged toward me.

[Clairvoyance: Activated]

With foresight guiding me, I evaded the attack and retaliated, shaping flames into a bow and arrow. I loosed the fiery projectile, watching her raise her barrier again. Anticipating this, I snapped my fingers, causing the arrow to fragment into countless smaller shards. The barrier cracked under the assault, unable to handle the simultaneous impacts. It shattered, forcing Luna to retreat. She began charging another beam of light from her left hand, giving me an opening to close the gap.

Charging long-range spells had a fatal flaw they couldn't be canceled once initiated. Taking full advantage, I formed flaming claws around my hands and struck her breastplate. Desperate, she redirected the beam, narrowly avoiding a critical hit. I pressed my advantage, engaging her in close combat to neutralize her lance.

She blocked five of my ten strikes before releasing her weapon to grasp at my neck.

[Clairvoyance: Activated]

I sidestepped the attempt, delivering a swift high kick to her head, which she blocked with her arms. We traded blows, but she suddenly unleashed a shockwave of light, sending me sprawling to the ground. My clairvoyance hadn't foreseen it, a stark reminder of its limitations.

As I struggled to rise, I felt the cold steel of her lance against my forehead.

"I applaud your efforts, but this is the end," she declared.

"That may be the case," I replied, pressing my palms to the ground.

"May be?" she repeated, her confusion evident.

Smiling, I unleashed a fiery eruption beneath us. The ground burst open, the force throwing us both into the air. Luna's stance faltered, and I seized the opportunity, conjuring another bow and arrow. This time, I fired at point-blank range as we ascended skyward. The arrow struck, sending her hurtling back to the ground.

Using the momentum of my descent, I shaped the flames around my hand into a massive, blazing blade. Luna recovered quickly, casting multiple light beams toward me. Forced to cancel my flame blade mid-air, I activated my last resort.

[Blood Aegis: Activated]

I remembered Professor Ardan's lesson on mana utilization; how the flow of mana could be concentrated to optimize skills. In a desperate move, I focused instead of not mana but the flow of my blood, redirecting it toward my palms. This caused Blood Aegis to manifest as a localized barrier rather than its usual full-body protection. The honeycomb-like shield absorbed the light beams, though the strain was immense.

With my free hand, I condensed a fireball, its temperature rising until it burned blue. Hurling it downward, I aimed to end the fight.

Luna cast her barrier again, bracing for impact. At the same time, she lunged with her lance.

"This is bad," I muttered, unable to fully evade. Her lance grazed my cheek as I crashed into the ground.

Luna collapsed to her knees, gasping for air. "Class is over," Professor Alaric announced, instructing the students to return to the academy. My vision blurred, and I passed out, dimly aware of the professor approaching us.

In the countryside, I sat on my porch, overlooking the bustling capital of Aetheris. My mind drifted to a boy I had encountered in the forest. At first, I thought he might be a spy sent by the Abyssals, but his lack of mana and his extraordinary ability to wield skills intrigued me.

A knock at the door interrupted my thoughts. On guard, I approached cautiously. As I opened it, relief washed over me.

"Ah, old friend. You startled me," I said.

"Ishtar, how long has it been?" The man before me, Erebus, was adorned in luxurious attire, his presence as commanding as ever.

"Fifty-three years, I believe," I replied, welcoming him inside.

"Far too long," Erebus said, settling onto my couch. He snapped his fingers, summoning a cup of coffee from thin air. "You've kept yourself busy, I see."

"I try. The countryside has its charms," I said, taking a seat beside him. "To what do I owe this visit?"

"Can an old friend not visit without cause?" Erebus replied with a chuckle. "But in truth, I wanted to discuss the state of things. The new generation of pillars… they're unpredictable."

I nodded. "Young and reckless. They lack the discipline we were taught."

"And yet, we cannot intervene. Once chosen by the descendants, their fates are set," Erebus said, his tone heavy. "You've taken a disciple, I hear."

"I have. He's… different. Reminds me of myself in some ways," I admitted.

"Just like Riganna?" he asked softly.

My chest tightened at the mention of my daughter. "Riganna… It's been so long since I last saw her."

"She inherited much from her mother, didn't she?" Erebus said, referring to Riganna's mother, a vampire of royal blood whose lineage was intertwined with the ancient clans. "That nobility flows in her veins, just as it flows in yours."

"And yet, my choices led us down different paths," I said. "Her mother's heritage made her a target, and my role as a pillar kept me distant. Now, I can only hope she's found peace in her path."

"And yet, your instincts haven't dulled. You saw something in this boy, didn't you?" Erebus said.

"I did. He struggles, but he's resilient. The first time I saw him, he was fighting for his life. Now, he's strong enough to face the world on his own," I said with a faint smile.

Erebus laughed. "You've always had a soft spot for the underdog. Perhaps that's why you're still the strongest among us."

"You can just call it a parent's instinct" i said as i smiled at the thought of Ezekiel.

We shared stories of the past, laughing and reminiscing about our lives as pillars. The years had changed much, but our bond remained steadfast.

In the academy infirmary, i Luna Galadriel reflected on the duel. The boy from Class E had defied my expectations. His fire magic and hand-to-hand combat skills, they don't just use it similar to students but to a boy who has to survive in a harsh environment.

I began searching the infirmary for him recalling that he have passed out after the duel.

"Where is he?" I asked the nurse in charge at this time.

"Oh, he returned to his dorm room after resting here," came the reply.

I was confused, as i pondered about his resilience. A fighter of his caliber, using vampiric skills no less, should have experienced mana disruption. Who was he really? The anomaly in Class E had piqued my interest.