Ten Meters of Fury

Isla tried to move her leg, but her foot was frozen solid in a block of ice. Panic surged through her — she couldn't move. The massive rock was falling fast, heading straight for Leon. Finn and Fanny were too far away to help.

But the rock wasn't stopping.

It was going to crush him.

"No…" she whispered, eyes wide in horror.

In that split second, she shut her eyes tightly, bracing for impact.

But… nothing happened.

Slowly, Isla opened her eyes. The rock had stopped — mid-air — just inches above her. It hovered there, glowing with a strange purple aura. Her breath caught. What…?

She turned her head.

Leon stood a few feet away, arm raised and trembling. Blood dripped down his wrist — his hand was cut, badly. His face was strained with effort.

He was using his power to stop the rock.

"Leon…" she breathed.

Fanny sprinted toward her, fire crackling at her fingertips. With one swipe, she melted the ice trapping Isla's foot. Leon gave a small groan as the effort finally overtook him. He let go.

The rock crashed into the wall behind Isla with a deafening boom, shattering part of it. Dust exploded into the air.

Fanny, Finn, and Leon turned slowly — their eyes locked on the twin brothers standing at a distance. Their faces were unreadable, but their body language was tense. Out of all of them, Fanny was burning with rage.

Isla was her best friend — and those two bastards had tried to hurt her.

Fanny's aura flared around her, fire licking up her arms, shimmering with heat. She took a step forward. Then another.

The twins instinctively stepped back, a flicker of fear flashing in their eyes.

"H-Hey! You don't have any proof we did anything!" one stammered. "If you attack us, you'll get expelled!"

They kept talking, voices high with panic, but Fanny wasn't listening. Her eyes blazed, locked onto them. Heat radiated from her body. Around them, students started sweating. Some backed away, whispering nervously.

Fanny kept walking.

And then—she raised her fist, flames wrapping around it, ready to strike.

But before the punch could land, a large, muscular hand caught her wrist mid-air.

Fanny's head snapped around. Her eyes widened.

It was Edric Sir.

Seeing her teacher, Fanny froze. Her fire dimmed, and she quickly bowed her head.

"Sorry, sir," she said through gritted teeth. "But they tried to hurt Isla. On purpose."

The twins immediately jumped in, voices loud and full of fake innocence.

"She's lying, sir! They've been bullying us! We didn't do anything — there's no proof!"

Fanny clenched her fists again, jaw tight. But before she could lash out, Leon placed a firm hand on her shoulder.

"Let it go," he said quietly. "Not now. We'll deal with them… later."

Sir Edric looked around — at the damaged wall, at the scattered shards of ice, the faint puddle of water still glistening on the ground. His eyes narrowed.

Something had clearly happened.

And he knew it wasn't just an accident.

But then he sighed. His face was unreadable.

The twins' family was wealthy. Very wealthy. Their donations kept a good part of the academy running. Punishing them might have consequences.

Sir Edric turned to the group. "This time," he said coldly, "I'm choosing to ignore what I saw. But next time — there will be consequences."

Fanny's eyes blazed again, her fists shaking at her sides. But Leon stepped in front of her, blocking her view of the twins.

The brothers smirked, throwing one last smug glance at the group before turning away.

"They'll pay for this," Fanny muttered, storming back to the training field.

Finn followed, casting a glance at the damaged wall.

Leon walked over to Isla. "Are you hurt?"

She shook her head. "I'm okay." Her voice was soft, still shaken.

They headed back to training — but everyone was still buzzing with what had happened.

Fanny didn't speak to anyone. She walked straight to the boulder — the giant one that all students had struggled with since morning.

She planted her feet, glared at the rock, and placed both hands on it.

Then she pushed.

Her aura flared again — not with fire, but raw energy. Her hair fluttered. The ground vibrated.

Everyone froze. Students dropped their training weapons, turning to look.

Even Leon, Isla, and Finn stared, mouths hanging open.

Fanny wasn't using her element. She was pushing the rock with pure aura — the raw force inside her body.

The rock groaned as it shifted. An inch. Then another.

Gasps rang out across the field.

It usually took three strong students to even move that thing. But Fanny…

She pushed it ten meters.

And then — with a roar — she punched the boulder with a single, flaming fist.

The rock shattered into pieces.

Silence.

Total silence.

Finn's jaw dropped. "Leon's right. I'm never messing with her again."

Leon just nodded slowly. "Smart choice."

Fanny turned once, gave the twins a deadly stare, then walked away — without saying a word.

Isla let out a shaky breath. "Did you two notice that aura?"

Leon and Finn nodded.

"She didn't even use her power," Isla whispered. "Just like we were taught in our first training — how to channel our aura to boost our physical strength."

Leon nodded again, eyes wide. "We've been trying all morning and didn't move the rock an inch. Maybe… that's the key."

"We need to learn how to channel it properly," Isla said.

They returned to the training field. Isla closed her eyes, focusing.

Within seconds, a soft glow surrounded her. Her aura — calm but strong.

She opened her eyes — and began to push.

This time, the rock moved.

Not easily, but it moved.

Leon watched, impressed. Then he closed his eyes too, trying to focus, to feel his own aura.

But in the darkness behind his eyes… something shifted.

A figure.

A shadow.

It whispered again.

Kill them all.

Leon's eyes snapped open. He was sweating. His heart raced.

Something was wrong.

Terribly wrong.