Introduction Arc: Chapter 5.
Ringing ears and a heavy chest were one of the last things that Lyle Cass remembered before collapsing—then a crowd, then a stretcher, then the buzzing of the magical light.
There were murmurs and whispering in close distance. He opened his eyes and blinked several times, vision and hearing were gradually returning.
"Oh goddamnit..."
A single curse was his first word upon waking up, he was aware of his folly. Beside him was a nightstand with a small flower vase and a small card that read, 'Get Well.'
"You showed regret. That must mean you've learned your lesson."
A voice interrupted his thought. The voice was soothing, like a parent comforting a crying child. The voice came from the nurse of this clinic. The school's head nurse.
*Snap!* A finger snap caught Lyle's attention.
"Mr. Lyle Cass. Do you know what happened to you?" The nurse asked while holding a clipboard and checking Lyle's temperature.
"You suffered from severe exhaustion. You almost had a heart attack. You needed respiratory help and we had to supplement you with oxygen via a nasal tube."
"Do you understand what I am saying?" The nurse asked again, emphasizing the severity.
Lyle nodded, agreeing.
"Good. What you did was stupid. I hope that's the last time you ever attempt something like that. You were unconscious for a day."
"Thankfully there were no lasting damages. A torn muscle here and there but we managed to fix you up. You're good as new."
"You're free to go." The nurse added, walking away while sipping on a cup of coffee.
There was a momentary pause as Lyle had to collect his thoughts as he stood up. The frustrated expression was slowly replaced with a joyous expression.
"Holy fucking crap. This
"It felt real. It felt all too damned real. The exhaustion and the pain."
The current time was 7:04 AM. That was enough time to take a shower and eat breakfast. The thought of getting breakfast made his stomach rumble. He hasn't eaten anything due to his condition.
The nurse shook their head, watching Lyle exit the clinic.
"That kid is going to die someday. What a shame, his talents are decent."
⟐ Forty minutes later.
The cafeteria was magnificent, each meal was prepared and cooked magically. The eggs were perfect and so was the juicy steak. He wanted to stay, observe how the kitchen operated.
However, he had a class to attend.
Lyle Cass arrived at the classroom entrance after the satisfying breakfast. There was hesitance but he pushed through and opened the door, all eyes on him.
"Good thing this isn't real. I would've probably dropped out from the shame."
While heading to his assigned desk, he couldn't help but ascertain the whispering from behind. He couldn't help but sigh upon taking a seat.
The moment he tried to show off a little in front of his new classmates and teacher, it backfired. Almost killing him from the compounding side effects.
(Martial skills are the results of continuous training, conditioning, experience, and hardships. An experienced warrior would have several and a veteran would've a dozen or so.)
(They're the culmination of a person's physical effort. My [Martial Advice] talent is a shortcut. Granting me access to multiple martial skills without the need for any hardship.)
(Despite the lowered side-effects and costs, my body is still untrained. Unprepared for the physical toll. Especially when you activate multiple at once.)
A sigh escaped Lyle, his brows furrowing upon the self-reflection.
(It looked so cool when Post-Timeskip Pival did it. Now that I think about it. I wonder what Pival is doing right now. He's one of Mary's allies.)
⟐⟐⟐
Mary Anne Grace entered the classroom and as usual, everyone was staring at her. An expected outcome since she religiously grooms herself. Erasing any imperfections on her jade appearance.
There was a hint of shame in the air. A hint of disappointment. Mary's eyes landed on the student absentmindedly looking outside the window.
"The martial skills showoff..."
Mary passed by, ignoring him as she sat down on her desk and waited for the teacher to arrive.
"Psst!" Mary knew who was calling her. Loid Ferener. The son of a noble businessman who had close ties with her family. The annoying yet endearing childhood friend.
⟐⟐⟐
The doors opened, revealing their teacher Madame Cassie Cydonia. The teacher brought another instructor with her. This time an elderly yet youthful-looking woman, holding a green glassy orb with several magical rings on her fingers.
The teacher noticed Lyle Cass who was blankly staring at the classroom window. Seeing that he was fine, she slightly huffed.
(I knew it was a bad idea for him to try and activate multiple martial skills at once but if I had stopped him, he wouldn't learn. Experience is the best teacher after all.)
"Attention, eyes on me. This is Instructor Feit Aked, she will be grading your person to gauge your growth potential and in case you've forgotten." Madame Cassie Cydonia pulled out a small notebook.
"Gold has an almost limitless potential. Purple has a considerable amount of potential. Blue has a moderate amount of potential and lastly. White, little potential."
"Remember. The reason why you're on Class A-1 was because your awakening was better than most."
"If your potential is low then you've got to make up for it in hard work and strategic thinking. Not all that glitter is gold."
Madame Cassie Cydonia motioned for the instructor to finally gauge the students. The instructor stepped forward while rubbing the orb, sending a soft green wave of energy, hitting all of the students.
"One of the vanguards, please list the students and their potential. I will be collecting it later."
The whole classroom erupted in chattering noise as the students reacted to the results. Five out of the forty students stood out. Their auras shine in golden radiance.
Madame Cassie Cydonia grinned, unable to disguise her elation whereas the instructor furrowed her brows. Unable to comprehend the amount of golden potential.
"T-t-this is unprecedented. Before this, the most golden potentials in a single class were three. You have your work cut out for you. Teacher Cassie."
"You kidding me, Instructor!? If I play my cards right. I'll be the most famous teacher in this country!"
Mary Anne Grace was the first one to brightly glow in gold.
Loid Ferener was the second.
Kilroy Better was the third.
Gratias Hartner was the fourth.
Hanna Bae was the fifth, though her spark seemed weaker than the rest.
Lyle Cass watched as his classmates erupted in awe and excitement. Though he could see that beneath their awe, was envy.
(Becoming an accomplished was a massive financial investment. In this world, humans are born with powers but an expensive ritual is needed to activate that potential. I forgot what it was but it included an activation stone and a magic stone.)
(The author said that it was similar to doping. The earlier you're awakened, the better the results will be. It didn't matter if you were born under a bad star. So long as you were awakened at an early age and were exposed to an extreme amount of mana. You'll be powerful.)
(In the real world, the rich get richer. Here, the rich get stronger. Anywhere you go, even in fiction, money will always talk.)
He recollected, deep in thought.
(I'm confident that most of the student's parents here have burned a lot of money for their children to be considered top tier and prayed to several gods to be placed in Class A-1.)
Lyle shrugged his thoughts away, focusing on his aura.
"Purple..." He muttered, scanning the classroom and looking for anyone similar.
"That golem summoner, Freya May, and the head sweeper Rose Herms are purple while the rest are blue and not a single white aura. I expected as much."
The instructor smiled content with the results.
"Your ID cards will reflect the color of your potential. I suggest you don't lose it." With that, the instructor shook Madame Cassie's hand and promptly left.
The teacher slammed then her desk, catching the class' attention.
"This Monday will be the practical ground test, remember that. For now, you'll be studying Arcane Theories and Martial Applications. Then this Friday will be Language and History."
Lyle Cass raised a brow.
(Actual studying. I survived college by cheating. I hope that some magical tools can help me.)
⟐ Several hours later, end of class.
Lyle Cass stretched, smiling wistfully. A part of him missed school. The time when his only responsibility was to do well not minding any financial or future responsibilities.
(My parents made sure that I would not have to worry. Just study. How I missed those times.)
"Well, time to go sleep."