The first day was chaos.
Students struggled.
Some couldn't even complete basic training.
Others forced themselves forward—
Only to collapse halfway.
Adrian didn't stand out.
Not yet.
But he observed.
A Few Days Later
The difference began to show.
Footsteps became steadier.
Breathing more controlled.
Some students adapted.
Others… didn't.
"Keep your pace!"
Darius' voice cut through the field.
"Endurance is the foundation of control."
Adrian ran.
Same as before—
Not the fastest.
But efficient.
"…Don't waste movement."
"…Don't rush."
Nearby—
The loud boy from before groaned.
"…Why is this still running…?"
"…Because you're still slow," another replied calmly.
Adrian glanced briefly.
The quiet student again.
Still composed.
Still consistent.
End of First Week
By the end of the first week—
The gap widened.
Some students had begun to show results.
A few—
Very few—
Had started to feel it.
Aura.
Adrian sat cross-legged.
Eyes closed.
Breathing steady.
"…Focus inside."
"…Not outside."
That faint ripple—
Appeared again.
This time—
Slightly clearer.
Still unstable.
But real.
Nearby—
A presence shifted.
Seraphina.
She opened her eyes.
Her gaze moved—
Toward him.
"…You're improving."
Her voice was calm.
Adrian didn't open his eyes.
"…So are you."
A brief silence.
"…Don't fall behind," she added.
"…Not planning to."
No more words.
But something had changed.
Second Week
Training intensified.
Running increased.
Sword drills introduced.
Basic swings.
Repeated hundreds of times.
"Again."
"Again."
"Again."
Blisters formed.
Muscles ached.
Students complained less.
They didn't have the energy anymore.
New Faces Stand Out
Cedric—
Still ahead.
Effortless.
The quiet student—
Consistent as ever.
And then—
Others began to appear.
A sharp-tongued noble.
A focused girl with quick movements.
Competition was forming.
Even without rankings.
The Incident
It happened during endurance training.
Students were running again.
Longer this time.
Harder.
A girl stumbled.
Then fell.
No one stopped.
No one helped.
"…Get up," someone muttered coldly.
"…If you can't keep up, leave."
She tried to stand.
Failed.
Adrian slowed slightly.
Not stopping—
Just adjusting.
As he passed—
He spoke.
"…You're breathing wrong."
The girl froze slightly.
"…You're wasting energy early."
"…Control it. Slow it down."
No lecture.
No sympathy.
Just fact.
Then—
He kept running.
The girl hesitated.
Then—
Tried again.
Breathing slower.
More controlled.
She stood.
Then ran.
Observation
From the front—
Darius watched.
Silently.
Nearby—
Seraphina noticed.
Her gaze followed Adrian for a moment.
Then returned forward.
End of Second Week
Back in the dorm—
Adrian sat quietly.
[System Notification]
Training Progress Recognized
Stamina +1
Control +1
Another message appeared—
Minor Reputation Increase
Adrian looked at it briefly.
"…So it counts."
Third Week
The academy changed.
Students moved differently now.
More focused.
More serious.
The weak had fallen behind.
The strong—
Began to stand out.
During aura training—
Something shifted.
Adrian sat still.
Breathing slow.
Controlled.
Then—
That ripple returned.
Stronger.
Clearer.
Not just a sensation anymore—
But presence.
His eyes opened slowly.
"…Closer."
Not far away—
Seraphina exhaled quietly.
She had felt it too.
Final Days of the Month
Tension filled the academy.
Everyone knew.
Something was coming.
Darius stood before them once again.
Silent.
"…You've had time."
"…More than enough."
His gaze swept across them.
"…At the end of this month…"
A pause.
"…you will attempt to awaken your aura."
Silence fell.
Heavy.
"…Those who succeed…"
"…move forward."
"…Those who fail…"
"…fall behind."
No comfort.
Just reality.
Adrian stood quietly.
"…So this is it."
His gaze shifted briefly—
Toward Seraphina.
Then forward again.
"…Let's see who stands at the top."