Harvie couldn't sleep that night.
Even after the grand welcome, the quiet room, and Edna's silent gaze across the hall—he still felt cold.
The last words from Rector Yulan echoed in his ears:
> "Protect him. Guide him. And if he loses control… end him."
He had smiled when he said that.
Harvie sat on the bed, staring at his hands. His fingers shook.
Not from fear. From memory.
Because in another timeline, Edna did try to end him.
And she failed.
He took a deep breath.
No more rewinding unless he had to. Each death felt longer. Each rewind… lonelier.
---
The next morning
A bell rang across the city. The Academy Assembly was beginning.
Harvie followed Edna into a vast hall shaped like a coliseum. Hundreds of students, warriors, mages, and scholars watched from the stone benches above. A circle of marble was marked in the center—where duels and tests took place.
"Everyone's staring," Harvie whispered.
"They're not staring," Edna said. "They're judging."
He looked around. She was right.
Whispers buzzed like flies.
> "Is that the boy with the Seal?"
"The Mirrored Anomaly."
"Why is he still alive?"
Then a loud voice echoed.
"Hey, Seal-boy."
A tall student with a long spear stepped into the circle. His white hair was tied back, and his uniform was marked with golden pins.
"I'm Velric," he said, pointing his spear. "Top of Combat Division. I challenge you."
The crowd roared.
Harvie blinked. "Why me?"
Velric grinned. "Because you're dangerous. If you're really a Seal-bearer, prove it. Or stop pretending."
Rector Yulan raised a hand. "Harvie, you don't have to accept."
But Edna looked at him with calm eyes.
No pressure. Just… faith.
Harvie sighed. "Fine. I'll spar."
---
Inside the ring
Velric spun his spear with speed and skill.
Harvie stood still, arms relaxed.
> "System," he whispered inside.
[Activate Reflex Memory – Basilisk Spider (LV.33)]
[Enhancing body coordination. Boosting reaction time.]
The crowd didn't know, but he copied this from a forest monster weeks ago.
Velric rushed in—fast and sharp.
Harvie dodged. One step. Two steps. A twist of the body.
Then, with a flick, he touched Velric's wrist.
Velric grunted, twisted, and swung wide.
Harvie ducked, slid, then tapped the spear's edge.
The audience gasped. It looked like he was playing.
Velric growled. "Stop dodging and fight!"
But Harvie didn't stop. He moved faster, smoother, like water.
Until—snap!
He appeared behind Velric, holding the broken end of the spear.
Velric dropped to one knee, panting.
Harvie said nothing.
He didn't enjoy this.
---
After the duel
Rector Yulan watched with narrowed eyes.
So did the other council members.
"That speed," one whispered. "Was it magic?"
"No spell circle. It was instinct. Pure reflex."
Another frowned. "That's not normal. Not human."
They wrote something in their books:
> [Harvie – Unstable. High-risk Seal-bearer.]
---
Later, Harvie sat alone under the shadow of a stone pillar.
He stared at his hand again. It didn't feel like his anymore.
Velric came by. He had a bandage on his arm but smiled.
"You're scary," Velric said.
Harvie blinked. "You're not mad?"
"Nah. But… I saw something in your eyes."
Harvie waited.
Velric whispered, "You weren't fighting me. You were fighting something else."
Then he left.
Harvie sat there, thinking.
He didn't want to be feared.
But worse than fear… was pity.
---
That night, Edna found him by the railing outside the dorm.
"You fought well," she said.
Harvie stayed quiet.
"They've marked you unstable," she added. "I saw it."
He didn't answer.
Edna reached out and touched his shoulder.
"They don't understand you," she said gently.
Harvie looked at her.
> "And do you?"
Edna didn't blink. "Not yet. But I want to."