Chapter 115 — After the Storm
Chapter 115 — After the Storm
The first thing Kael noticed when he opened his eyes was the ceiling.
The second thing he noticed was that it was moving.
Or, more accurately, his vision was moving.
He blinked twice.
The ceiling stopped.
Kael stared at it for a few seconds before slowly turning his head.
A white room.
A bed.
A small table.
A window.
And, sitting beside the bed with her arms folded, was Lyra.
Kael immediately closed his eyes again.
"Ah."
Lyra’s eyebrow twitched.
"Don’t you dare."
Kael opened one eye.
"Don’t I dare what?"
"Go back to sleep."
"I’m injured."
"You’re not injured enough to avoid this conversation."
Kael sighed and slowly sat up.
The moment he moved, a dull ache spread through his shoulders and back.
He winced.
Lyra noticed.
"Exactly."
"What?"
"That."
She pointed at him.
"That little wince you just made. That’s your body telling you to stop doing stupid things."
Kael rubbed the back of his neck.
"I wouldn’t call it stupid."
Lyra stared at him.
"The simulation room was destroyed."
Kael paused.
"...Okay. Maybe a little stupid."
"A little?"
Lyra leaned closer.
"Kael, you nearly destroyed one of the academy’s most expensive simulation facilities because you decided to fight a copy of yourself after spending the entire day fighting other top-ranked students when you have exams to prepare for."
"I didn’t decide to destroy it."
"That’s not the point."
"It kind of is."
"No, it isn’t, why am I even talking to you." Lyra complained.
Kael looked away.
Lyra folded her arms again.
"Do you know how many people had to evacuate that building?"
"No."
"Do you know how long it will take to repair?"
"No."
"Do you know how much it will cost?"
Kael looked at her.
"Are you going to tell me?"
"No."
"Then I don’t see the point of asking."
Lyra closed her eyes.
For a moment, Kael thought she was going to hit him.
Instead, she took a deep breath.
"You’re troublesome student I’ve ever taught." Lyra muttered.
"I’ve been told that before." Kael replied smugly.
"And you’re going back to your lodge."
Kael frowned.
"I’m already in a bed."
"You’re going back to your room."
"Why?"
"Because the medical staff says you don’t need to stay here, and because if I leave you alone for five minutes, you’ll probably find another training facility to destroy."
Kael looked offended.
"That’s an unfair assumption."
Lyra stood.
"It’s an educated assumption and you’re forgetting your exams you idiot."
She picked up the small bag sitting beside the chair and threw it toward him.
Kael caught it.
"What’s this?"
"Your things."
He looked inside.
His academy uniform was folded neatly.
"So you already packed for me?"
"Yes."
"You’ve been planning this."
"I’ve been planning to get you out of everyone’s way since I saw you unconscious and make sure to study."Lyra cautioned glaring at Kael.
Who climbed out of the bed.
His legs felt slightly weak.
Lyra immediately noticed.
"Slowly."
"I’m fine."
"Slowly."
Kael sighed and stood properly.
"I’m fine."
"You’re lucky I’m not your mother."
Kael glanced at her.
"Honestly, I’m starting to understand why you two would get along."
Lyra gave him a flat look.
"Don’t compare me to your mother."
Kael smiled faintly.
"Fair enough."
They left the infirmary.
The academy corridors were unusually quiet.
Kael noticed a few students staring as they passed.
Some whispered.
Others immediately looked away when Kael noticed them.
Kael sighed.
"How bad is it?"
Lyra kept walking.
"What?"
"The story."
"There are several versions."
"Of course there are."
"One says you destroyed the simulation room."
"I did."
"Another says you fought an exact copy of yourself."
"I did that too."
"Someone claims you defeated your own clone."
Kael shrugged.
"Technically, we didn’t finish."
Lyra glanced at him.
"That’s the part nobody knows."
"Good."
"Another rumor says the simulation itself became sentient."
Kael stopped.
"...What?"
Lyra stopped too.
"That’s the rumor."
"That’s stupid."
"Yes."
Kael continued walking.
"People really have too much free time."
"It is exam period and they are using their free time to read except a certain someone." Lyra said glancing at Kael.
"Would you stop pestering me if I study?" Keal asked stopping to face Lyra.
"Well if you actually do study you are after all the top ranked student in the first year your grade must be similar to that of a top ranked student." Lyra replied.
"Maybe I should have forfeited my match with Aurellia." Kael complained as they kept walking towards his Hostel.
They eventually reached the section where the student lodges were located.
Lyra pointed toward Kael’s room.
"Inside."
Kael looked at the door.
"I know where I live."
"Then prove it ."
Kael opened the door.
Lyra followed him inside.
Kael looked around.
Everything was exactly as he had left it.
He walked toward his bed.
Lyra pointed at it.
"Sit."
Kael sat.
"Lie down."
He lay down.
"Stay there."
Kael looked at her.
"You’re enjoying this."
"A little."
She walked toward the door.
"You’re not training today."
"I wasn’t planning to."
"Tomorrow either."
Kael raised an eyebrow.
"That’s a bit much."
"You destroyed a simulation room yesterday."
"It wasn’t yesterday."
"Close enough."
Lyra opened the door.
"And Kael?"
"Yeah?"
"Make sure to study don’t bother sleeping this night."
Kael nodded.
She left.
The door closed.
Silence returned.
Kael stared at the ceiling.
For once, he didn’t feel like training.
He was tired.
Not just physically.
His mind was tired too.
The fight against his own reflection kept replaying in his head.
Same movements.
Same instincts.
Same swordsmanship.
And that mana emphasization...
Kael looked at his right hand.
The memory of the simulated version of himself using the same power made his expression tighten.
"That thing..."
He slowly closed his fist.
A knock came from the door.
Kael frowned.
"Come in."
The door opened.
Zion stepped inside.
Kael looked at him.
"You too?"
Zion walked over and stopped beside the bed.
"You look terrible."
Kael stared.
"That’s your greeting?"
"At the very least I greeted a psycho like you."
Kael laughed quietly.
"You could try being nicer."
"Why?"
"Because I’m your little brother."
"That doesn’t make you special."
Kael placed a hand over his chest.
"That hurt."
Zion ignored him.
His expression became more serious.
"I saw the recordings."
Kael’s smile faded slightly.
"Of the fight?"
"Yes."
"And?"
"You were careless."
Kael raised an eyebrow.
"That’s rich coming from you."
"I’m serious."
"So am I."
Zion looked toward Kael’s hand.
"The mana emphasization."
Kael said nothing.
"You controlled it better this time."
"Yeah."
"But you shouldn’t rely on it."
"I’m confident I can master it." Keal replied.
Zion paused.
Then nodded.
"I see."
Kael looked at him.
"That’s it?"
"What else do you want?"
"I don’t know. A heartfelt speech. Maybe a hug."
Zion stared at him.
Kael smiled.
"Never mind."
Zion turned toward the door.
"You should study you are the top ranked student after all."
Kael sighed.
"Everyone keeps saying that."
"Because you don’t listen and also sleep in class."
"Occasionally." Kael replied
"Always." Zion countered
He opened the door.
"See you tomorrow."
Kael looked at him.
"Tomorrow?"
"If Lyra lets you out."
The door closed.
Kael stared at it.
"...Traitor."
A few minutes later, another knock came.
Kael groaned.
"If that’s Lyra again, I’m pretending to be unconscious."
The door opened.
Professor Raphael stepped inside.
Kael sat up.
"Professor."
Raphael smiled.
"How are you feeling?"
"Like I got thrown through a wall."
Raphael chuckled.
"That would be because you were."
Kael stared at him.
"Was that necessary?"
"Probably not."
Raphael pulled a chair toward the bed and sat down.
For a moment, he simply looked at Kael.
Then his expression became more serious.
"Kael, I want you to understand something."
Kael waited.
"Your growth is impressive. But your greatest danger right now isn’t your lack of power."
Kael frowned.
"Then what is it?"
"Your willingness to keep pushing after you’ve already achieved enough."
Kael looked away.
Raphael continued.
"You adapted to six times gravity. You fought through the simulations. You defeated students who, only weeks ago, were far beyond you."
He paused.
"That’s remarkable."
"But?"
"But if you keep treating every obstacle as something that must be broken immediately, eventually you’ll meet something that breaks you first."
Kael remained silent.
Raphael leaned back.
"You don’t need to prove that you’re strong every time you pick up your sword."
Kael looked down at his hands.
"I know."
"Do you?"
Kael smiled faintly.
"I’m learning."
Raphael nodded.
"Good."
He stood.
"Then start by learning how to rest and also study."
Kael groaned.
"Why does everyone keep saying that?"
"Because apparently nobody has managed to convince you yet."
Raphael walked toward the door.
Before leaving, he stopped.
"Next week you have exams."
Kael’s eyes widened.
"...Right."
Raphael smiled.
"Try not to destroy the examination hall."
The door closed.
Kael stared at it.
Then at the ceiling.
"Next week."
He sighed.
"Right."
He pulled the blanket over himself.
For once, there was no training schedule running through his head.
No dungeon.
No simulation.
No opponent.
No tournament.
Just sleep.
And for Kael Draven...
that might have been the hardest training of all.