A gentle wind blew through the outer corridors of the Academy of Destiny.
The sky still carried the distant cracks.
And beneath it—
two figures walked side by side.
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Laylah was the first to break the silence.
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— So…
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She looked directly at Remiel.
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— Does that mean you have your own Path?
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Remiel didn't answer immediately.
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His gaze remained forward.
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— Probably.
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A simple answer.
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Laylah frowned slightly.
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— "Probably" isn't a normal answer.
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— Nothing about me is normal.
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She fell silent for a moment.
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— Creating your own Path…
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She murmured, more to herself.
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— That's not something anyone should be able to do.
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A pause.
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— Not even the Eternals.
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Remiel showed no reaction.
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— I've already met people stronger than me.
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Laylah stopped walking.
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Silence.
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— …stronger?
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Her voice lowered.
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— Yes.
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He answered without hesitation.
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— With powers beyond what I currently have.
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Laylah stared at him.
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Trying to determine if it was true.
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But his tone—
held no trace of doubt.
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— Then…
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She took a breath.
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— If your power really is a Path…
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Her eyes narrowed.
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— It needs a name.
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Silence.
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Remiel thought for a moment.
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— Sequence 10…
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He spoke slowly.
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— Mental Time.
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The air around them seemed to vibrate faintly.
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Laylah said nothing.
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But she was paying attention.
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— Sequence 9…
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A brief pause.
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— Erased Time.
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Silence.
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Laylah crossed her arms.
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— Simple… but fitting.
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She nodded slightly.
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— Naming a Path helps stabilize it.
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Remiel simply observed.
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— This confirms it.
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She spoke more seriously now.
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— You may have really created something new.
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Silence.
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Before the conversation could continue—
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Remiel turned slightly.
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— Aren't you going to fight?
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Laylah blinked.
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Then let out a small laugh.
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— No.
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She answered casually.
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— I don't need to.
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Remiel remained silent.
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— Top 10.
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She shrugged.
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— We have privileges.
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A pause.
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— And responsibilities.
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She looked toward the combat field in the distance.
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— Our strength has already been proven.
— There's no point in matching us against beginners.
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Remiel absorbed the information.
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— So you don't participate in anything?
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— I do.
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She replied.
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— Just… at different levels.
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A slight distortion formed around her.
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— Speaking of that…
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She looked at him again.
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— You didn't ask about my abilities.
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Remiel didn't respond.
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But he didn't deny it.
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Laylah smiled faintly.
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— Sequence 10: Observer of the Void.
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Her eyes glowed softly.
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— At that stage…
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The space around her seemed to reveal something invisible.
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— I can observe the space that exists throughout the world.
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A pause.
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— Flows.
Distortions.
Connections.
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She raised her hand slightly.
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— But it's still limited.
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Her eyes narrowed.
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— Not enough to observe the space between worlds…
— or realities.
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Silence.
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— Not yet.
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Remiel watched carefully.
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— Sequence 9…
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The air distorted more intensely.
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— Controlled Space.
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A small tear appeared beside her.
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As if reality itself had been bent.
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— I can create my own space.
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She closed her hand.
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The tear vanished.
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— A space that follows my rules.
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Remiel analyzed it.
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— Interesting.
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Laylah smiled.
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— I could say the same about you.
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A voice echoed in the distance.
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— Next match!
— Remiel!
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Silence.
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He began to walk.
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Laylah stayed where she was.
Watching.
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— Try not to destroy the arena this time.
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— No promises.
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Calm.
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She let out a small laugh.
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The arena was filled once again.
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But this time—
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There was expectation.
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Eyes.
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Whispers.
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— It's him…
— The one from before…
— That strange guy…
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Remiel stepped into the stone circle.
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Across from him—
another opponent.
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More cautious.
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— I saw your fight.
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He said seriously.
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— I won't underestimate you.
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Remiel didn't respond.
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— Begin!
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The fight started.
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The opponent moved first.
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Fast.
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Energy burst forward.
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But—
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Remiel didn't move.
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Silence.
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Then—
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Everything stopped.
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Sound.
Movement.
Time.
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Frozen.
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Remiel slowly opened his eyes.
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— Still three seconds…
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He stepped forward.
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But this time—
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Something changed.
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Without leaving the state—
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He entered another.
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The air around him became… nonexistent.
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— Erased time.
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Now—
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He was walking.
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But not within time.
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Not completely outside it either.
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A state in between.
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Where—
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He didn't need to erase an event.
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He simply existed beyond perception.
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He stopped beside his opponent.
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Observed.
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Calm.
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Then—
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Time resumed.
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— —?!
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The opponent froze.
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— Where did you—
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Before he could finish—
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— It's over.
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Remiel was already behind him.
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A light touch.
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The body collapsed.
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Silence.
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The entire arena… froze.
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— That was even faster…
— I didn't see anything…
— What did he do?!
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Outside—
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Laylah watched.
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Her eyes narrowed.
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— In the first fight…
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She murmured.
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— I wasn't sure.
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Her gaze focused on him.
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— But now…
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A pause.
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— I saw it.
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Silence.
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— He was in erased time.
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But her eyes narrowed even more.
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— But… when he stopped time…
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She took a breath.
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— I didn't see anything.
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A faint chill ran through her.
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— Not even me…
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From a higher platform—
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Two instructors watched.
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Their eyes fixed on Remiel.
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— Did you see that?
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— I did.
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Silence.
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— That's not a normal Path.
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— No.
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The other crossed his arms.
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— It looks like… something new.
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A pause.
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— Or he created his own Path.
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— Impossible.
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Immediate response.
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— Then someone gave him an unknown potion.
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Silence.
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— Or he experimented with something he shouldn't have…
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The instructor's gaze grew sharper.
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— …and got lucky enough to survive.
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Silence.
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— Either way…
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They kept watching.
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— We need to keep an eye on him.
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In the arena—
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Remiel stood in silence.
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As always.
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But now—
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the gazes directed at him…
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were different.
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No longer curiosity.
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But…
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caution.
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And perhaps—
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fear.
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Laylah smiled faintly.
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— You really are a problem…
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Her eyes gleamed.
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— Remiel.