Defeat

Raella looked over the group, pleased to see that everyone was finally awake. With her usual mischievous smirk, she spoke, her voice laced with amusement.

"So, how was it? Enjoy getting tossed around?" She leaned back against her desk, arms crossed as she took in their varied reactions—some grumbling, some chuckling, and one or two glaring at the floor in frustration.

"None of you fought poorly. In fact, I'm impressed. But even the strongest individuals will fall alone. Teamwork isn't just about survival—it's about winning. Learn to rely on each other, and you'll stop ending up on the floor." Her gaze lingered on Idris for a moment before sweeping over the rest of them. "No more complaints, got it?"

Satisfied, she clapped her hands together. "Good. Now that we have that out of the way, we can finally do our introductions!" She raised her hands in the air as if this were the most exciting thing they'd done all day. "I'll go first, then Ceris, and we'll go clockwise from there."

Raella straightened, her smirk turning into something more self-assured. "I'm Raella Saint, Grade 6 Awakened, and the proud matriarch of the Saint family. My ability enhances my analytical abilities, helping me dissect combat styles, predict movements, and make faster decisions than most. It also plays a big part in the martial art I created. I won't be sharing my flaw—but if any of you are feeling brave enough, go ahead."

A silence settled over the room, the weight of her words pressing down on them. Raella watched their faces, her grin widening in anticipation. "Now, let's hear about you all."

Now that she had finished, it was Ceris' turn.

She took a moment to glance around the room, observing the faces of those around her before finally speaking. "My name is Ceris Sinclair, Grade 1 Awakened. My ability allows me to wield both the ice and fire attributes, combining them to create a unique element—Frostfire."

She stopped there, her words hanging in the air. The room remained silent for a moment, the others waiting for her to elaborate. But Ceris simply turned her gaze toward the window, showing no intention of continuing.

Seeing this, Raella raised an eyebrow before gesturing for the next person to speak.

The next to speak was the dark blue-haired girl with striking green eyes. With a warm smile, she began,

"Hi everyone, it's a pleasure to be in this group with you. My name is Seraphine Valemont. I'm 16 and the heir to the Valemont family. My ability..." She hesitated, her expression shifting as if struggling to put it into words. "Basically, my ability upgrades my eyes. While activated, I gain several enhanced visual features. I can expand my vision, seeing far into the distance, and I can also see in the dark. There are other functions, but I haven't figured them all out yet since I only recently awakened."

She took a brief pause before continuing, her voice quieter now. "My flaw... I cannot take in a mana attribute."

Her words were met with silence, a somber weight settling over the room.

The flaw itself wasn't the worst possible—attributes significantly enhanced mana and allowed access to powerful martial arts, but one could still use mana without them. The real cruelty lay in her lineage. As the sole heir of the Valemont family, she was expected to carry on their legacy—a powerful Wind-based martial art that had been refined over generations. Without the ability to use a mana attribute, she could never wield it herself.

While she could still inherit the technique, it would remain dormant within her, a legacy she could only pass on without ever mastering. And if no one in her future lineage could properly cultivate it, the Valemont family's signature art would weaken, perhaps even be lost.

Moving on, it was now Idris's turn. He leaned back casually, a smug grin on his face.

"I'll skip the name since I'm sure you all know who I am," he said, his voice dripping with arrogance. "I am the proud heir of the world's strongest family and a Grade 1 Awakened. Normally, I wouldn't bother telling you, but since you lot will be serving as my lackeys, I might as well inform you of my power so you can better assist me."

A few students exchanged glances, but Idris paid them no mind.

"My ability grants me complete immunity to fire—there is no flame in existence that can harm me."

It was a simple ability on the surface, but in the right circumstances, it was devastating. Fire wielders often faced the risk of overheating or burning themselves, but Idris never had to worry about such drawbacks. That explained his reckless, almost relentless fighting style—he never hesitated, never held back, because he didn't have to. Consequences that would deter other fire users simply didn't apply to him.

"And since I have nothing to fear from the likes of you," he continued, his smirk widening, "I'll tell you my flaw as well. I've got a short fuse—a wild temper, so to speak."

It wasn't much of a revelation. That much had been obvious from the start.

With Idris's introduction finished, the attention shifted to the next person in line. There sat a young man with wheat-blond hair, neatly kept yet slightly tousled, and eyes as dark as obsidian, an almost unnatural shade of black that seemed to absorb the light around them. He carried himself with an air of quiet confidence, his posture straight but relaxed, as if the entire situation neither excited nor bothered him.

When his turn came, he spoke with a smooth, even tone, as though he had already measured his words before saying them. "My name is Nyxen Solis. I am 16 years old, a Grade 1 Awakened, and my ability grants a significant upgrade to my system's functions. It also allows me to wield the light element."

There was a pause, a moment where the group processed what he had said. Unlike many abilities that enhanced the body, his was an augmentation of something less tangible—the system that governed every Awakened's power.

A system upgrade? That was a rare ability. Most enhancements affected a person physically or increased their mana efficiency, but an upgrade to the system itself? That could mean anything—faster adaptability, stronger growth potential, or even access to functions beyond what others could normally achieve.

His light attribute was also noteworthy. Light users were often known for their speed and precision, their martial arts swift and fluid, striking like flashes of brilliance. But how his system upgrade tied into that was still unclear.

Nyxen's expression remained unreadable, not revealing whether he was holding back details or simply uninterested in elaborating.

Instead, Nyxen simply glanced toward the next person, signaling that he was done.

With that, the final introduction was upon them.

Last but not least—Eden.

Sitting quietly, he had plenty of time to think about what he should reveal. Should he be honest? Or should he keep his abilities hidden? Weighing his options, he decided on a different approach—telling the truth in the most absurd way possible, hoping no one would take him seriously.

He straightened slightly and spoke in a calm but deliberate tone, "My name is Eden. Grade 1 Awakened. My flaw is that I'm blind… and my ability lets me see the future."

He kept his words concise, but just as he finished, he made sure to let a small, almost imperceptible crack slip into his voice—just enough to make it sound unconvincing, as if it were a nervous attempt at a joke.

Silence.

He could feel the weight of their stares, the skepticism, the curiosity. Some of them wanted to press further, to ask him to elaborate—because, really, who would believe that? Seeing the future? That wasn't an ability, it was a prophecy.

But before anyone could speak, Raella clapped her hands together, breaking the tension.

"Thank you, everyone, for attending tonight! Now that introductions are out of the way, you may head home. Make sure to rest well—tomorrow is your big day!" she said with a bright smile, gesturing toward the door.

Just like that, the moment passed, and the group began to disperse.

Eden exhaled subtly, the corners of his lips twitching into a faint smirk.

And just like that, the meeting was over. Everyone went their separate ways, some lingering for a moment before heading out.

Eden, Nyxen, and Idris naturally ended up walking together, their paths aligned as they made their way toward the dorms. Meanwhile, Ceris and Seraphine veered in the opposite direction—the girls' dormitory was in a separate building from the boys'.

The night air was cool, and the faint glow of mana-powered streetlights illuminated the pathway ahead. The silence between the three was not entirely uncomfortable, but there was an unspoken understanding—tomorrow would be the true beginning of their journey.

Idris

Idris walked with slow, heavy steps, his mind elsewhere. The sting of failure was new to him—foreign, unacceptable. He had always been strong. His ability made him immune to fire, the perfect complement to his family's legendary martial art. He had believed—no, he knew—that he was the strongest Grade 1 Awakened ever.

And yet, he had been utterly crushed.

It wasn't even close. Even when he begrudgingly fought alongside the others, they had been nothing more than playthings for Raella.

His jaw tightened, his pride in shambles.

He stole a glance at the two walking beside him. Nyxen Solis the commoner who ranked above him. Idris still couldn't figure out what made him so special. Watching him fight, there was nothing remarkable about him. If they clashed, he was confident he'd dominate him. There was no way someone like Nyxen deserved a higher ranking than him.

But it wasn't Nyxen that truly got under his skin.

It was Eden.

The kid was barely noticeable. He was a bit taller than Nyxen but had none of his presence. Idris had written him off from the start. His ridiculous claim about seeing the future had only made it easier to dismiss him.

He walked with a measured, almost lazy pace, as if nothing that happened today had affected him. His frail build, his lack of aura—everything about him screamed weakness. Yet, he had been chosen as a disciple. It made no sense.

And that so-called ability of his? Seeing the future? What a joke.

If he was so powerful, why hadn't he fought alongside them? Why had he just stood there and watched? Idris wanted to dismiss him entirely, but then he remembered what he had seen before blacking out.

Idris had been the first to regain consciousness. He had laid still, body aching, staring at the battlefield.

Raella stood, completely unscathed. Nyxen, Ceris, Seraphine—all unconscious. But then, Idris saw something that made his stomach churn.

Eden.

He wasn't on the ground. He wasn't broken like the rest of them.

Idris had never lost before. Not to his instructors, not to his peers. He had always been the strongest. In every training match, every sparring session, he had stood victorious. His family name demanded excellence, and he had never once failed to deliver. Yet here he was—defeated, left to watch as someone weaker than him endured where he had fallen.

And now? He had been humiliated.

Eden fought alone.

Unlike Idris, he hadn't been instantly crushed. He dodged. He countered. He lasted.

How?

He was lasting longer than any of them had together.

The sight had made Idris sick.

It wasn't right.

It should have been him. He was the strongest. The pride of his clan. The one destined to stand at the top.

Yet that kid had done better than him.

His fists trembled at his sides. His teeth ground together.

Never again.

This would be the last time he ever lost like that.

No matter what it took—he would never be weaker than anyone else ever again.

Nyxen

Once they arrived back at their room, Nyxen finally felt like he could breathe again. The oppressive silence of their walk had weighed on him, but with Idris gone, the air felt lighter. Still, he hesitated. He had so many questions, but he didn't want to push too hard.

Eden, as always, was unreadable. He moved through the room with a calm, deliberate grace that Nyxen still couldn't fully understand. Despite his blindness, he maneuvered around furniture without issue, setting his things down as if he had memorized the layout in a glance. It was eerie—unnatural even.

"So… about what you said back there," Nyxen finally broke the silence, his voice low, uncertain.

Eden tilted his head slightly, acknowledging him without turning.

"Your ability… do you really see the future?"

A brief pause. Then, Eden sighed, shaking his head. "No."

Nyxen blinked. "No?"

"I don't see the future," Eden clarified. "At least, not in the way you're imagining." He ran a hand over his blindfold as if adjusting it, though it hadn't moved. "I have… heightened mana perception. Stronger than most people."

Nyxen furrowed his brows, intrigued. "How strong are we talking?"

Eden hesitated for a moment before answering. "Strong enough to understand my surroundings."

Nyxen's eyes widened slightly. "Wait—you can see?"

"Not in the way you do." Eden turned slightly toward him. "I can't see details. I don't see color. But I can perceive the mana that makes up everything. I can tell where objects are, where people are, how they move. The flow of mana is like a second sight to me, albeit nowhere near as good as natural sight."

Nyxen crossed his arms, processing the information. That explained a lot. But before he could say anything else, he figured it was only fair to offer something in return.

"Well," Nyxen exhaled, leaning against his bedpost. "Since we're sharing secrets… there's something weird about my system."

Eden didn't say anything, but Nyxen could tell he was listening.

"My awakened ability gives me Light as an attribute, that much is obvious. But the legacy martial art I inherited from my grandfather—it's a shadow-based art."

Eden's head tilted slightly. "Shadow?"

"Yeah," Nyxen nodded, a hint of frustration in his voice. "But the thing is… my system has it locked. I can see it listed, but I can't use it. I don't know why."

For a moment, the room fell into silence.

"That is strange," Eden finally murmured.

Nyxen scoffed. "Yeah, tell me about it. I feel like I'm missing out on something big. My grandfather was an incredible fighter, and this art was supposed to be passed down to me, but instead…" He trailed off, shaking his head. "Guess I'll have to figure it out eventually."

Eden hummed in response but said nothing more.

Nyxen sighed, looking over. "Alright, enough about me. So were you lying or not?"

Eden didn't answer.

"Hey," Nyxen called again.

Nothing.

The only sound in the room was the steady rhythm of Eden's breathing.

Nyxen blinked before letting out a soft chuckle. "Did you seriously fall asleep?"

Shaking his head, he sat back against his bed. He still didn't know if Eden had been telling the truth or not, but for now, he let it go.

Everyone had their secrets.

Tomorrow was a big day and they would have plenty of time for questions later.

With that final thought, he pulled his blanket over himself and closed his eyes.