A few days had passed since Logan's entry into Room A, yet the doubt surrounding him had only deepened. His frail physique and unimpressive grade C talent had made him an easy target for whispers and ridicule. While many classmates openly disregarded him, others took a more direct approach, mocking his presence and making subtle jabs during training exercises. Logan kept his head down, trying to avoid unnecessary conflict, but the weight of constant judgment bore down on him like an anchor, each passing day becoming heavier than the last.
Among those leading the harassment were three students—Kelvin, Briggs, and Nero. They were known lackeys of Angus back in the elementary academy. Though they didn't outright attack Logan—since the academy rules protected new entrants under a grace period where they could reject challenges—their words and actions were just as cruel, gnawing away at his composure like relentless vultures.
It was during one of Miss Agrona's lectures that their latest attempt to humiliate him unfolded. The lesson was a refresher on balancing essence within their cores, practicing the subconscious method of channeling energy through their bodies. Every warrior or mage was expected to perform this as second nature, converting a voluntary action into an involuntary one over time. It was an old topic, one that should have already been mastered, but due to the recent addition of Logan to the class, Agrona was forced to revisit it.
Logan sat quietly among the students, his eyes shut in deep concentration. He was far from proficient in the method, but his sheer determination made up for what he lacked in talent. He took slow, deep breaths, his mind focusing on guiding the essence through his body, feeling its flow, trying to merge with it—
Until a sudden impact shattered his focus.
"Oh no, Nero!" Briggs exclaimed, his voice laced with false concern as Nero's slender body stumbled forward, slamming into Logan with enough force to send him tumbling to the ground.
The backlash was immediate.
A sharp, excruciating pain surged through Logan's body as his disrupted essence turned volatile. It felt as though every nerve in his body had caught fire, each pulse of energy a miniature explosion beneath his skin. He clenched his teeth, but the pain was unbearable.
"ARRGGHHH!" he screamed, his body curling in on itself as waves of torment wracked through him.
Gasps and chuckles filled the room. Most students knew exactly what had happened but remained silent, content to watch the spectacle unfold. Logan's torment was mere entertainment to them.
Kara, who had been idly watching the lesson, immediately shot up from her seat, her face twisting with fury as she rushed toward Logan.
"What the heck was that, Nero?" she snapped, kneeling beside Logan and placing her hands over him as a faint golden light spread from her fingertips, beginning the healing process.
"What do you mean?" Nero replied with an innocent grin. "I clearly fell over. Couldn't control that. But channeling my essence consistently? That's something I can do even when caught off guard."
Kara scoffed, recognizing his smugness for what it was. "You think you're clever?" she muttered, her hands glowing brighter as she focused on stabilizing Logan.
"Come on, guys, why are you all being such cowards?" Jay's voice rang out as he stepped forward, placing himself between Kara and the three bullies. His stance was firm, his eyes locked onto Kelvin, Briggs, and Nero.
Kelvin smirked but didn't push further. He grabbed his friends by the shoulders and guided them toward the back of the class. "Relax, Jay. We wouldn't want to make a scene now, would we?"
Logan slowly sat up, still catching his breath. His fists clenched as he forced down the pain and humiliation boiling inside him.
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Days later, the students gathered in the combat training hall, dressed in their academy-issued uniforms. The atmosphere was thick with anticipation as Vorden, their combat instructor, strode into the room with his usual commanding presence.
He walked through the ranks of students, his sharp eyes scanning each of them, as if peering into their very souls. When he reached Logan, he halted.
Logan instinctively lowered his head, but that only made things worse.
"Why do you have such a strong spirit and mind," Vorden spoke, his voice booming, "yet you have chosen to hide behind self-induced weakness?"
A hushed silence fell over the room.
Briggs chuckled quietly, but that was a mistake.
Vorden's head snapped toward him. "Did I just hear you chuckle?"
Briggs straightened up immediately. "No, sir."
"Are you calling me a liar, then?"
"No, sir."
Vorden stared at him for a long moment, unblinking, watching as beads of sweat formed on Briggs' forehead. No one wanted to be on the bad side of Vorden. Some students even wondered how Denwen managed to survive as his student for this long.
Vorden continued walking. "The battlefield, especially within dungeons, can be merciless. A battle is often decided before the first strike is ever thrown. An opponent who has mastered their environment turns it into a weapon. A fire mage will never defeat a water mage in the sea. A lightning mage is doomed against a brawler who manipulates the earth itself. These are the laws of nature."
He stopped again.
"Logan."
Logan stiffened. "Yes, sir."
"What is your greatest strength?"
Logan hesitated. All eyes were on him again. Kara subtly gestured toward Vorden, urging him to answer.
"My gadgets, sir," he finally replied, his voice barely above a whisper.
Vorden cupped a hand to his ear. "I didn't hear you."
"My gadgets, sir," Logan repeated, this time with conviction, his fists clenching. "I feel most confident when I have them with me."
Vorden nodded. "That's fine. Get ready. By our next class, you shall battle Briggs."
Gasps filled the hall.
Briggs' lips curled into a sinister grin. Logan felt a lump form in his throat.
"You're still under your grace period," Vorden continued. "You may reject the fight. But if you do, I never want to see you in my class again. No—" His eyes narrowed. "I will personally send you back to Room B."
Logan felt his heart pound against his ribs. He looked toward Kara and Jay, who were staring at him with worried expressions. Then, he looked at Briggs, who was practically drooling at the thought of tearing him apart.
________________________________________
After class, Logan walked with Kara and Jay, his head hanging low. "Come on, you don't have to accept," Kara said gently. "He's ranked 15th in the class. We can talk to Roy after his personal lessons. Maybe he can convince the principal to intervene."
Before Logan could respond, Kelvin, Briggs, and Nero stepped into their path.
"Hope you're ready," Briggs said smugly. "Because by this time next week, you'll be back where you belong."
"Yup," Nero sneered. "This was just a little vacation before you go home for good."
Kara moved to pull Logan away, but Kelvin placed a firm hand on his shoulder. "Listen closely. This is the consequence of trying to reach too high. You have no one to blame but yourself."
Jay immediately smacked Kelvin's hand away. The three bullies raised their hands mockingly and sauntered off.
Logan stood still, his fists trembling. His mind flashed back to the humiliation, the years of struggling to prove he belonged, He remembered why he worked so hard to get into room A. Then, as if something inside him snapped, he lifted his head.
"I'm accepting the challenge." His voice was steady, filled with newfound resolve. "I'm going to make them eat their words."
Kara and Jay stared at him, stunned.
"I will make them respect me."