VEDICI (COMMANDER) POV]
I was a first year student of the Royal Thoracen Academy.
Here being a noble meant nothing, I was only the first son of a Baron. An old and well-respected Barony to be sure, but compared to others…I was practically one step away from being a commoner.
There were students here with influence I'd never comprehend. They had the power to destroy my family, and the temperament to do it.
Licking my lips nervously, I kept my head low as I entered the academy. I needed to avoid any attention. Unlike others I didn't even want to form connections here. All I wanted to do was to train, graduate, and leave. That's it.
But of course…I wasn't going to be so lucky.
As soon as I sat down in my classroom I could practically swim in the tension. The class was divided in every single way.
One one side were the nobility. Young, immature, refined and powerful. On the other side were the commoners, ten times more brash, with the type of skill and talent that had managed to earn them a scholarship here.
And then there was me.
Even though I was noble, I wasn't interested in being part of either side.
Unlike the two groups…I just wanted to learn and go to school. Then get out of here. All these extra politics held no interest to me.
Nervously, I rocked back and forth, desperately waiting for the teacher. 'Nothing should happen once the teacher gets here…right?'
After a moment, a boy approached me.
He had sharp dark eyes and white hair. "Vedici isn't it. Yes, a baron's son eh. Well, at least your nobility I suppose" he drawled, voice dripping with condescension.
I stayed silent, biting down on my pride. 'Just stay silent, maybe he'll get bored.'
"Well then, what do you say, Vedici, don't you want to stay with your own kind?"
'Shit. Well…guess I was never going to be able to avoid it in the first place.'
"Yes" I sighed, resigning myself to my fate. I couldn't say no. It would single me out from every single damn noble here. Who knew how many problems something like that could cause to my entire barony as a result.
I heard a faint snicker from behind me.
Turning I locked eyes with a commoner. He had blonde hair, fair skin and deep azure eyes that seemed to glow.
And I think…he just laughed at me?
...…
I shot forward, ascension spinning in my hands, the spear glowing in an eager light.
Romulus raised his in reply, his face fixed in the same grim expression he used to wear when I got him into trouble.
The sound of our relics crashing together let out a wave of power, as our auras collided against each other in a clash of wills.
I locked onto his blue eyes, and for a moment I almost wanted to stop fighting.
But no…that couldn't happen.
'Those damn eyes…Mana Surge'
I vanished in a blur, mana flooding my muscles and bones with impossible strength.
My senses sharpened; the world slowed.
Every breath felt sharper, every heartbeat thundered in my chest. Power crackled in my veins, my muscles trembling with explosive power.
"1st Series — Judgement of the God King."
Ascension blazed in my hands like a shard of divinity, burning with pure white light.
The air trembled around me, warping under the weight of my power. I surged forward in a devastating thrust aimed at Romulus's back.
The impact erupted in an explosion of gold and white light, roaring across the battlefield.
Smoke clouded my vision….someone else might've thought that strike would've killed him.
But I knew better. He was still there. The weight of his Will still pressing down on me like a storm.
A flicker of movement to my right — a slash of green mana sliced through the smoke where my head had been.
I ducked, twisting away on instinct.
Spinning away I lashed myself upwards into the air bringing Ascension around in a vicious arc as Romulus shot towards me.
Metal met metal with a bone-rattling CLANG as Romulus's sword emerged from the smoke, his eyes bleeding into a fierce olive green.
His blade pulsed with power, emerald lightning crackling along its edge.
I shot backward, altering gravity to hurl myself away.
Anticipation burned in my chest — we had fought too many times not to predict each other's moves.
And yet, we had never fought like this. The risk of injury had always been too great.
I had always wondered however…of the two of us. Who was truly stronger?
My back slammed into a solid wall of green mana.
"Shit." Rolling to the side, I just about avoided the blade that came crashing down where I had been a heartbeat before.
We were mirrors. Two masters of gravity affinity, using it with such finesse that only we could counter each other.
A whisper echoed through the air, soft but sharp, just louder than my own.
"Mana Explosion."
"Mana Explosion."
Light detonated around us, gold and green mana colliding in a storm of raw force. The shockwave threw me to the ground, but I rolled, landing on my feet with Ascension poised and ready.
Romulus stepped forward, calm and unshaken, his sword in hand. Three mana shields orbited him, glowing with a lethal pulse.
I waited. Those shields were his platforms, his unpredictability. Combined with gravity, they made him an assassin on the battlefield.
Well — unpredictable to most.
My mana flared, bleeding orange as it merged with my aura.
The air rippled.
Aura was a rare skill to master so young. We had both been prodigies in our affinities…but in Aura manipulation, I held the advantage.
"2nd Series — Divine Right of Judgement."
Golden mana erupted from me in a blinding surge. I shot forward, Ascension burning with orange light.
Overhead, the sky churned. Storm clouds twisted violently before releasing a rain of holy mana — shafts of light spearing toward Romulus.
Romulus smiled, maintaining his composure. His blade flashed green, and the earth erupted at his command, lush vines twisting upwards in a violent surge.
They tangled, coiled, intercepting the falling spears of light. The battlefield transformed — desolate ground now a vibrant snarl of nature.
We clashed again. Metal screamed against metal. Each strike blurred as we danced, dodging, parrying, adjusting in a deadly rhythm.
He thrust. I parried, altering the gravity of his sword as our blades met, dragging it downward. He countered it instantly with his own magic, falling away from me.
He landed on a green shield of mana, leaping off it and shooting back towards me.
I raised Ascension, bracing for the impact.
But…instead Romulus let go of his sword.
'Huh?'
The blade rocketed toward me, propelled by gravity. At the same time, Romulus flipped upward, jumping off another shield high above me. A second blade, pure condensed mana, formed in his hand as he shot towards me in a downwards slash.
My grin widened.
Infusing Ascension with holy mana, a colossal surge roaring through my veins. Nature affinity was rare for a stage 1 ability, that's what had earned him a scholarship into the Academy despite being a commoner.
But right now…my holy affinity reigned supreme.
The longer this battle dragged on, the more his power twisted the battlefield, he would slowly gain that advantage.
But my mana was purity. That was part of the essence of holy mana.
An immune system that rejected anything foreign.
Twisting, I narrowly avoided his downwards slash, thrusting Ascension forward with a roar. The explosion of holy mana sent both him and the spear flying away as he tried catching it with his hands.
At the same time, my hand shot out grabbing his sword mid-air while I flared my aura-infused mana.
With a snarl, I imposed my will on the weapon, burning away his connection.
Above me, another explosion boomed.
He had tried to do the same to Ascension.
I laughed. My magic rejected anything that wasn't its own by its very nature. It couldn't just be overwhelmed the same way his mana could.
Holy affinity was arrogance — unshakable, overwhelming.
Everything I wasn't back then…
...…..
I walked to my mana affinity class, my teeth clenched. My head stayed low, shoulders hunched, trying to disappear.
I wanted to be ignored. Forgotten.
Pushing down the overwhelming dread, I slipped quietly into the training hall. Here trained in our mana affinities. I moved to a corner, avoiding any eye contact.
"Hey, Vedici," a voice called.
My heart sank.
Slowly, I looked up to meet the dark-eyed gaze of a silver-haired boy surrounded by a group of fawning nobles.
The sight was sickening.
"Come on over," he called, his voice deceptively friendly. I knew better to think he held any genuine warmth.
Only for a moment did I hesitate. Then, resigning myself to my fate, I stepped forward.
A hard shove sent me sprawling to the floor.
"Whoops," Veshar said, a winning smile plastered on his face. "Looks like you tripped over me there." Then, with a casual drop, his sheathed blade landed heavily on my hands.
I had to bite back a scream.
"Do me a favor, Vedy. Since you're already crawling around down there, why don't you hand me my sword?"
Laughter erupted around me. My face burned with humiliation, but I said nothing. Could do nothing.
'I hate nicknames.'
He was the son of a Viscount. I was the son of a Baron. We may have both been nobility, but the difference between us was like night and day.
"Sure," I muttered, grabbing the sword with trembling hands. Handing it to him, I quickly stepped back, hoping his interest would fall onto others. That didn't happen often.
Mercifully, it was then the instructor walked, making my exhale in relief. Under his gaze, even Veshar's cruelty had limits.
"Alright," the instructor boomed. "Today, we'll be dueling for practical experience. Choose your opponents."
I scanned the room. My holy affinity was rare and powerful, yet I couldn't control it.
Every attempt to infuse my mana into it was met with rejection. No matter how much I trained, I never improved.
Then Veshar draped an arm around my shoulder, his tone mockingly warm.
"Hey, Vedy. Why don't you fight him? Crush him—he's an embarrassment to our name don't you think?"
I followed his gaze.
Across the hall stood a boy with regal features—azure blue eyes and blonde hair. A sword rested lightly in his hand.
My stomach knotted.
Romulus. He was a commoner. But a powerful one.
His nature affinity wasn't the only thing that made him a menace. It was who he was. Romulus didn't care about the consequences. I was almost jealous of him. But unlike me, he had no barony that could suffer from his actions.
He fought nobles without hesitation, making him a hated figure among them—and a silent hero among the common folk.
There was no damn way I could beat him.
Worse, when I did lose to him, Veshar would make my life more hellish than ever. I wasn't the first noble sent by Veshar, what happened to them after was nothing short of horrifying.
For a moment I hesitated. But…there was no chance of saying no. Veshar was simply born better.
"Alright," I whispered.
Our duel was the third, but it drew the most attention. This wasn't just training—it was noble against commoners.
I gripped my wooden spear, body tense. Romulus raised his sword, calm.
"Begin."
I lunged forward, channeling my holy affinity. As always, my mana resisted, refusing to bend to my will.
CLACK!
My spear jerked sideways, tangled in vines that burst from Romulus's sword. He yanked, pulling me off balance, and slammed an elbow into my chest. I crashed to the floor, gasping.
Muttering and jeers surrounded me. My face burned.
Romulus tossed my spear back to me. "Here."
I caught it, stunned. Then, gritting my teeth, I charged again.
Our weapons clashed.
Romulus's azure eyes locked onto mine. "Why do you listen to him?" He pressed forward, each strike forcing me back.
"What?" I grunted, barely keeping up.
"I know you don't agree with him, so why do you follow?"
I parried, pouring mana into my spear, but most of it bled away, rejecting me. "You don't understand," I snapped. "Someone like you could never get it."
Romulus smiled, his wooden sword glowing green, his control effortless. "And you wonder why you can't use your affinity."
I faltered.
CRACK!
His sword slammed into my bruised fingers. I yelped, dropping my spear. He surged forward, a blur of motion.
A kick to my chest sent me sprawling again. Before I could react, Romulus was above me, his sword pressing lightly against my chest.
"Affinities aren't just elements you know. They're part of your soul. Your nature."
He leaned closer, a faint smile on his lips. "Tell me…Vedy, how much do you resemble your affinity? How much do you resemble your own nature?"
His words struck like a hammer.
'How much do I resemble my affinity?'
To me, holy affinity was loud. Powerful. Absolute. And yet…had I once acted like that?
I looked away, not wanting to meet that damn gaze anymore. 'I hate when people give me a nickname.'
Romulus chuckled and stepped off me.
Still reeling, I stood shakily. I had always theorised that my mana felt me unworthy, but it had never been more than a feeling.
I didn't think that was true… 'No, I didn't want to believe it was true. I just hoped if I worked a little harder everything would be fixed.'
Retrieving my spear, I walked away as the instructor announced Romulus's victory.
"Pathetic," Veshar sneered, stepping in front of me. He jabbed a finger into my chest. "You disgrace nobility, Vedy."
I barely heard him. My mind was still trapped in Romulus's words.
"I… I hate nicknames," I muttered quietly.
"What was that?" Veshar snapped.
I looked away, confidence crumbling. "Nothing."
Behind me, I heard a heavy, disappointed sigh. Then—"Fine then… I'll just show you myself."
A blur of motion. A fist rocketed past me and crashed into Veshar's face. A sickening crunch as Veshar's nose became a fountain of crimson.
Gasps filled the hall.
Veshar hit the ground, clutching his nose as blood poured between his fingers. My eyes darted up to Romulus, standing there with fire in his eyes.
"Do you understand now?"
I met his gaze. And, despite everything—a faint smile tugged at my lips.
Holy affinity was loud. Absolute. Arrogant. It defied weakness.
Veshar staggered to his feet, eyes blazing with rage. "You bastard!" He roared, unsheathing his sword.
Romulus didn't move. Didn't look away from me as Veshar charged towards him.
And I laughed.
For the first time since coming to the Academy, there was a smile on my face.
Then, without thinking, without bothering about consequences, I shot forward-
And slammed my fist into Veshar's face.
His eyes widened in shock, completely unprepared. He staggered back. I threw another, relishing the feeling of my knuckles cracking off his face.
"You know… I hate nicknames" I declared loudly as each of my blows struck true.
Behind me, Romulus let out a bark of laughter. "Finally!"
......….
I darted backward, away from the explosion, Romulus's blade clutched in my hands.
'Did I get him?'
A swirling tornado of green mana erupted before me, raw power spiraling into the sky. From its peak, a green comet shot downward, slamming into the ground with an earth-shattering impact.
Romulus.
Extending my hand, I called for Ascension.
Nothing happened.
'What? What did he do.' My heart pounded. Relics like Ascension were bound to my will. As long as I was alive, it would always come to my call. Well it should do anyway.
'He must have bound it.'
Romulus's smirk confirmed my suspicions.
Despite it all, I found myself smiling back. I let his sword fall and willed a spear into existence, carving it from my own mana.
It wasn't a relic, but it would suffice.
Launching forward in a surge of power, a flash burst as our weapons met, the impact making the air tremble.
I pressed in, but vines lashed out from the ground, wrapping around my legs, dragging me back. Holy mana flared through me, burning them away, but it took precious time and effort.
'He's getting stronger.'
Gravity bore down on me as Romulus tried to launch me skyward, seeking to trap me between his magic and the vines. I roared in defiance, and my mana answered, scorching away his encroaching magic.
'Third Series—The Word.'
The earth trembled beneath me, cracks splintering outward as my mana surged, its radiance growing blindingly bright.
My body strained under the immense pressure. The Third Series of the Holy Form wasn't an attack. It wasn't even a technique.
It was a state.
The price was immense. Entering it pushed my body beyond its limits. Yet, if I held back now, I'd lose.
Runes of pure power carved themselves across my skin, pulsing with divine energy.
Romulus fell back as his domain disintegrated in the onslaught of my presence.
Exhaling slowly, I allowed myself to relish the power for a moment. I'd never need to use it before…meaning Romulus had never seen it.
Then I exploded forward, a golden comet streaking toward him.
His defenses crumbled beneath my strikes, his mana eroding like mist in the morning sun.
Swinging my spear, he barely twisted away in time, the aftershock of my attack scorching the air. He flipped backward, lashing himself higher with gravity.
All around me, green mana shields blossomed, more refined, and strong than before. Romulus wove between them, his speed accelerating with every shift in gravity.
I laughed. Then I stretched out a single hand.
Ascension—freed from its restraints—rushed into my grasp.
Romulus's eyes widened in realization.
I had never been aiming for him in the first place.
The moment my fingers wrapped around Ascension, its dark metal burned away, turning brilliant gold beneath my will. Holy power crackled through it, a beacon of divine authority.
Romulus hovered above, his lips twitching. Then he chuckled. "Who knew you'd get so good at using that damn affinity.."
I said nothing.
His shields sprouted vines, twisting with life. 'He can imprint his domain onto his shields?'
I struck, burning away his attacks, but it wasn't as easy as before.
His shields wove together in intricate patterns, dozens of vine-covered barriers striking at me with gravity-infused force.
Romulus weaved between them, each motion perfectly timed, each strike carrying deadly precision.
I adjusted. My eyes tracked his movements. He was fast. Unpredictable.
Then I shot toward him, my spear primed. He spun midair, reversing gravity to accelerate toward me.
"Purgatory."
"Ruin."
Our weapons met in a cataclysmic collision, an explosion so vast it consumed the battlefield in an unholy storm of destruction. Blinding light and searing force obliterated everything in its wake, swallowing the world in chaos.
...…..
[Arthur POV]
I stumbled away, barely dragging Noah along with me. The clash behind me was more dangerous than I feared. At any moment we could be destroyed by the raging mana, turned to crisp.
Noah tried to make it easy for me to carry him, but he was still too weak from the bloodloss.
"Arthur" he rasped softly.
"What?"
"Leave me behind."
"Ahh you bastard…why'd you go and tempt me like that?"
But I kept my grip firm around his waist, as we continued to retreat as fast as we could.
Thanks to Commander Vedici's battle with the rebel MageKnight, all soldiers, rebel or otherwise, were fleeing as far as they could.
It made it easier to retreat as I didn't have to worry about fending anyone off.
The battle of the two warriors would leave a scar on the battlefield for a while to come. I didn't even turn back to see the chaos unfold.
I didn't dare.
But I could feel it. The power that was being used behind me, it was beyond comprehension.
And yet, despite it all. I wasn't scared.
I couldn't help but feel…alive.
That was the power I needed.
If I had that strength, I could truly live in peace, strong enough to carve out a little corner of the world for myself, and defend it if need be.
It was one thing to know power of that kind existed…and another to feel it.
I shook my head, dismissing the thoughts. For now I needed to focus on survival. If I got caught up in their fight, I wouldn't have to worry about getting stronger anymore.
I wouldn't even have to worry about a grave.