Time passed and Kai grew: attending classes where he would work on magic and design with Valencia, polishing his general knowledge on beasts with Jilas, and practicing mana shaping with Mayara.
By now he could recognize most simple designs for constructs. Kai had grown to the point where he could construct golems the size of the chickens from his old farm. They weren't very strong, but they were extremely portable and excellent for scouting.
He had also progressed in his beasts class, mastering his knowledge on a lot of the surrounding areas' beasts, and their uses. His earlier mistake about flying drakes was something the current Kai wouldn't make even in his sleep. The mana shaping classes with Sangrid had polished his already outstanding talent with mana. He had managed to pass all the way up to puzzle number 57, only 18 away from mastering the element neutral category of shaping.
Mayara had already completed all of those, being extremely talented herself—especially as a caster. However, even she was stuck on puzzle number 76, the first element-specific challenge.
Jilas's drake had grown, from a tiny lizard, to a reptile the size of a house cat, with spindly wings that grew from its back awkwardly— much like the limbs of a teenage boy in puberty. Jilas had grown too, from the brilliant but odd boy, to a slightly more polished— but still quirky, young man.
Valencia remained conceited—she'd completed a full year's coursework in the first week, yet still insisted on taking the standard classes alongside Kai. He wouldn't mention it in front of her but he was sure it was because she had no other friends— and although the narcissistic girl had her shortcomings… She was extremely useful to Kai when studying mana design, much in the fact that she had the same interests as him, weapons.
Mayara on the other hand, hadn't changed one bit. She was still the bubbly, aloof girl without a filter Kai had met at the start of the year. As he grew to know her better though, she seemed sad. Not in the depressed sense of the word— but in the fact that she felt regretful, and lonely. He had never asked her about it, because frankly, there were still days he had trouble coming to terms with his own emotions. But he noticed, and perhaps his support was something that let her get through it all herself as well.
Over the past three months Kai had learned a few extremely useful things about Keldreth. First— it was possible to upgrade it. With magical engineering Kai could give the spell a physical body. It was extremely expensive no doubt, but with an upgrade like that it would become just as strong as Vaelric's weapon.
The second thing he had learned was that each of the rings had mechanisms of their own, they were dormant and useless for now, but— if Kai found a way to make them work? Well then he would be in for a massive boost in utility.
The combat class was much like the others, Kai had been able to fight against talented peers numerous times. But unfortunately, none of them pushed him like his fight with Vaelric, so his combat ability had grown only slightly.
His realm however had grown exponentially.
When he had arrived at the academy Kai's level was initial, by now he had grown by an entire two levels, pushing his mana condensation through the secondary stage, and into the tertiary stage!
The boy was fast approaching the midpoint of his realm, and after that he would break the next level and reach quaternary, all that was left after that was reaching the apex… then ascension.
While it seemed close now, Kai knew that it would be a grueling journey. Over the past few months, besides progressing in almost every aspect of his being, Kai had also grown back into himself. Talking to people was easier again, and he had friends—however few they were.
He had been able to sleep more, everything had felt happier and he had even received another letter from Sylvia, talking all about the beautiful colors of fall at the manor and how by the time Kai came home they would all be gone— replaced by the barren limbs of winter.
Inside the letter was a small paper imprinted with a magic circle, the second Kai infused it with mana, the circle flew up to his brain, attaching to it and dissolving. An image flashed through his mind, a smiling face, gorgeous green eyes, and silky blonde hair. Sylvia was sitting under a tree, smiling at the circle in front of her, the leaves falling around her in a beautiful spiral.
'No doubt about it, she used wind magic to do that didn't she.'
Outwardly scoffing he rolled his eyes, but inwardly, he was thankful for the commemoration— he had missed her face.
—
An announcement blared from the magic tower at the center of the campus, the 'Magnum Opex'
'So Edgy.' Kai didn't even know what 'Opex' meant– was it some stupid combination of Apex and Opus?—He cringed.
'To whoever named that condemned tower… its name is ridiculous.'
But even he had to admit, with a cheesy smile, that it added a bit of humor to the otherwise dull and bloody academy.
This place had grown to be his home. Some days sucked sure, with their gritty battles that left his muscles aching. Intense practices that left his core feeling like it would burst, and daunting students whose presence Kai felt in his very soul.
But in reality, this academy had already given him so much. He was learning a lot, progressing fast—his eyes opened to a new world. One that he would grasp within his hands, taking the reins of fate and driving it himself.
This was Kai's will, reality, life, and first term at the Elitist Academy— Elytrior of Cillanova City.
Midterms were about to begin.