Life at Elaris Academy had settled into a steady routine. For most students, it was an intense schedule of training, classes, and endless expectations. For Alexander, it was something else—an opportunity to watch, learn, and grow without attracting too much attention.
He liked it that way. For now.
---
Mornings started with elemental studies. The class was held in a wide, open hall with glowing energy lines running across the floor and walls. Students were grouped based on their elemental affinities—fire, wind, earth, lightning, water, and a few rare ones.
Alexander had none of those. Not officially.
He sat in the neutral section, listening quietly. The instructor, Professor Calden, paced back and forth, his voice firm.
"Understanding your element isn't about power. It's about control. You don't bend it to your will—you grow with it."
Alexander scribbled notes in silence, mentally comparing their teachings with his own acid-based abilities. He still wasn't sure where he fit in, but the System reacted faintly during lessons—recording, analyzing, learning.
---
Later in the day, they moved to the weapon training grounds, a steel-floored arena surrounded by enchantment barriers. Here, Instructor Vale ran things with tight discipline.
"You will choose your own weapon. Not the one that looks good—but the one you can survive with."
Alexander tested a few options before settling on twin daggers. Fast. Quiet. Familiar.
He trained with focus, but kept his pace controlled. Enough to be competent—not enough to stand out.
Still, Instructor Vale gave him a lingering look.
"You've been in real fights," he muttered. "That's clear."
Alexander didn't respond.
---
Afternoons were packed with knowledge-based classes.
One class taught the structure of portals and how to read their energy patterns.
Another explained dungeons—how they formed, how they shifted, and why they were so dangerous.
The most interesting one involved beast crystals—what they were, how they powered weapons, and their importance in society.
Every class reminded Alexander that this world ran on resources pulled from deadly places. Students were expected to earn, not just learn. Money came from trading loot, completing school missions, or selling valuable finds.
If you didn't contribute, you didn't last.
---
Later that week, something new happened.
> [System Update Detected]
[Core Interface Upgrade Available]
[Personality Layer: Umbra - Activated]
Alexander blinked as a smooth, confident voice echoed in his mind.
> "Well. Took long enough to unlock this. I'm Umbra, your system's new interface. Let's make you dangerous."
He exhaled. "You can talk now?"
> "Talk, advise, analyze, and keep you alive. Think of me as your silent partner. Let's just say the real work begins now."
---
Meanwhile, other students were drawing all the attention.
There were constant whispers about the top-ranked elite—powerful students from high-status families, each with dangerous abilities and reputations.
Selene Valeborne controlled burning soulfire. Kael Drenic wore armor that moved like a second skin. Liora Aetherwind could bend wind and space together. And Crystal Emeris—cold, talented, and untouchable—was said to command frost beasts and frozen energy with surgical precision.
They battled publicly in training duels, pushing each other and showing off their power. The rest of the academy watched in awe.
Alexander watched too. Quietly. No one looked his way—and he was fine with that.
---
One afternoon, just after class ended, he was heading toward the dorm when he heard someone call him.
"Alex—wait!"
He stopped walking but didn't turn around.
Crystal caught up. Her tone was calm, but her face showed something else. Guilt? Confusion?
"I just wanted to talk," she said. "About… the last time. When you got hurt."
"You mean when you stood by and watched?"
She flinched. "That's not fair. I didn't know—"
"You knew," he cut in, his voice quiet but sharp. "You just didn't care enough to act."
Crystal looked away. "It wasn't that simple."
"It always is," he replied. "You're one of them now. Don't pretend to be anything else."
She said nothing.
After a few seconds, she turned and walked away.
He didn't feel good about it—but he didn't regret saying it, either.
Still, just to be safe, he didn't go back to his hidden base that night.
> "Good call," Umbra said in his mind. "She was trying to follow you. You've got instincts. Use them."
---
That night, alone in his room, Alexander sat on his bed and reviewed everything.
The training. The teachers. The other students.
He was still just a small name in a big place—but piece by piece, he was building something no one else could see.