At the Garden of the Asta Academy...

"Lad, be careful with what you do now. At your current strength, this female human is too much for you to handle," Alastair said.

(I know that much already. I know who she is, the only S Tier awakened in the Academy before the Heralds arrived.)

"..." Lucille just looks on with an agitated face.

"That's enough, Lyra. You may let them go." Elowen comes walking towards the three of them.

" 'Kay."

Lyra lifts her spell, granting Lucille and Kael free movement.

(Who's the new chick? I remember seeing her during the entrance ceremony, what was her name again? And she looks so much alike to princess.)

"Tch! The Student Council President," Lucille exclaimed.

(Student Council?)

'Kael Voss, his power truly is a mystery. He was able to cancel out a spell that would've wiped out a tenth of an army.' A smile emerges on her face and thinks, 'He's good.' "I believe this is the first time we're meeting face to face, Kael Voss. My name is Elowen Heiliger, second daughter of the Duchess and also the Student Council President."

(That arm batch on her right arm below the society batch, the Stormbound Arcana. The number one Magi Company which specializes in tactical assault and battlefield dominion led by the number 2 Magi after the Zenith Sovereign, Kim Joon, the Stormbane.)

"You two know infighting isn't allowed in the Academy unless it's an approved fight. You should have registered for a battle if you wanted to fight," Elowen said.

"That was my act of self-defense. I was attacked by this moron here," Kael said.

"And you, Lucille Gallagher. Son of Duke Gerald Gallagher of the State of Ironstead. You have never been in the Academy for a whole month and you think you can do what you want?" Elowen interrogated.

"Jeez, get off my back would ya," Lucille said whilst rubbing the back of his head.

"You think you can just do what you want and get away with it? Then I'll show you why I'm the president and don't fear Heralds."

Elowen emits a black aura with a shadowed face and ominous pink glowing eyes.

"Tch, I just wanted to see how strong Kael Voss is. I have no interest in causing trouble for the Student council," Lucille said.

(Based on her mana, I'll say her Astral rank is B Tier. Seems she was not able to awaken higher than her society rank. She's the same rank as me, but she carries quite the presence with her.)

"That same law applies to you, Kael Voss," Elowen said.

"..."

"Big sister!"

Ada comes running to the scene with Williams and Anneliese behind her.

"Ada... How many times do I have to tell you? When we're in the Academy, it's Student Council President," Elowen said with a glare.

Ada jolts and begins to shiver.

"..."

"What is it you want that you'd make such an entrance?" Elowen questioned.

"Would you please spare Kael? He was attacked by Gallagher and only acted out of self-defense," Ada pleaded.

(What is she doing?)

"What's this? My little sister is defending the cursed child? How disgraceful."

Elowen increases her dark aura with a shadowed face and ominous pink glowing eyes, shooting fear into Ada.

"No sister but it would be an injustice if we punished," Ada said with her voice shaken.

"And you keep going on, do you have no shame? This is why you're the Heiliger's outcast despite awakening with an S-Tier Astral magic. The Academy may call you a genius but that's because you're in my shadow," Elowen said. 

Ada hugs herself and begins to shudder while her attendants look on.

"Now perish."

Kael stands before Ada, confronting Elowen and looking down on her (because of the height difference).

"Huh? What are you doing?" Elowen questioned.

"That's some nasty things to say to someone you call your sister," Kael said with a playful smirk.

"And what does what I say to my sister have to do with you?" Elowen questioned.

Kael's bangs obscure his eyes and he says, "I know it has nothing to do with me but I just can't stand it. I hate a lot of things but one thing I hate the most..." Kael said as an image of Ren bullying flashed in his head. "Is those who you use their power to bully the weak!"

Kael increases his aura, attempting to pin Elowen whilst his face is shadowed, and an ominous silver glow comes from his eyes.

"You damn cursed brat... Are you challenging me!?"

Elowen doubles the increase in her aura, raising her hair, and blowing everything away.

"If it seems that way to you then yes."

Kael also doubles the increase in his aura and Elowen and sees a spirit projection of a massive serpent with purple scales and swirling shadow eyes behind Kael.

'Just what sort of power is this? It's so menacing,' Elowen thought to herself as Kael glared down at her with his face shadowed and ominous silver-glowing eyes.

The students nearby began to murmur...

"He's going against the student council president?"

"No way."

"His ego has gotten over his head, he's so done for."

'There's no sign of fear in his eyes. He should be D Tier but he's confident he can take me on,' Elowen thought to herself as a bead of sweat fell off her face.

"President, can't we get this over with," Lyra said.

"R-right..." Elowen calms her aura down and so does Kael. "Kael Voss, you're quite an interesting fellow. Now I see how you've survived in the Academy for this long. Then, looks like I'll be seeing you later."

Elowen waves at Kael and walks away with Lyra.

"That was quite the bullet you've dodged, Kael Voss," Lucille added. "Looks like we'll have to do this the old-fashioned way. Catch you in the arena."

Lucille walks away with his hands placed in his pockets.

"Thank you for stepping up for me, Kael," thanked Ada.

"Why did you do that?" Kael questioned.

"Huh?"

"Why did you defend me? You didn't have any rights to," Kael questioned.

"Well, my older sister tends to punish those who are weaker than her in power. I felt it was wrong and decided to step in," Ada replied.

"And that's why she said those things to you and wanted to attack you," Kael said.

"That's right. My family has always produced geniuses. My older brother is the Vice Commander of the Armed forces and my eldest sister is amongst the nine to awaken an S Tier Astral magic, and Elowen has always been at the top of the Academy. I awakened an S Tier skill and was prophesied to be a Herald and yet I couldn't wield a blade. Which is why I'm always culled," Ada said.

"But that's no reason for them to treat you like that. From what I see, you're skilled enough," Kael said.

Ada is flustered and she says, "Thank you so much, Kael."

"I only did that because I hate those kind of people the most. Now that it's behind us, shall we go?"

Kael walks away with his hands in his pockets, and Ada looks at his back with a flustered face. Eve is watching from the top floor, her hand on her right, and everyone on that floor stares at her with awe.

"Humph, just what is she planning?" Eve murmured to herself.

The following day, Kael is walking down the hallway with the plastic of miso bun in his hand.

"Damn, those crazy bastards."

Kael remembers all his encounters before lunch break.

"Kael Voss, I'd like to claim Ms. Eve's heart once and for all," Arthur said.

"Hey, Kael Voss, let's sign for the Arena and fight," Lucille said.

"Hey Kael Voss, I haven't given up on your powers. Now tell me before you get expelled," Ada said with a flustered face.

Kael lets out a loud sigh and places his hand on the wall. He said, "I need to find a new hiding spot I can enjoy my meals."

Kael arrives at the base floor of the Academy and he comes across a large pair of doors.

"So there was a place like this huh? If I knew I would've just come here instead of the rooftop."

Kael tries to place his hand on the door and a large barrier is immediately erected.

"A barrier has been placed huh?  What could be in there that they would go that far to place a barrier? Well..."

Kael cloaks his hand in shadow energy.

"What I've learned is that all are useless against the shadows." Kael places his hand on the barrier and chants, "Absolute cancellation."

Kael destroys the barrier placed on the door. The doors open and he enters a mysterious room. The room is a beautiful greenhouse receiving sunlight from (who knows where).

"Why is a greenhouse in the Academy's basement? For a second I thought I ended up in that annoying class again."

Kael is walking around the greenhouse and keeps looking around in awe.

"Woah, it's way bigger than the one on the fourth floor. Might as well start hanging out here."

"Who goes there?"

Kael feels a powerful pressure keeping him down in place.

(What's with this powerful mana? It's nothing like what I've sensed in the Academy until now.)

Kael looks at his hand and sees it trembling.

(My powers are reacting.)

"I asked, who goes there?"

Kael looks and sees an old man with a high ponytail and a full white beard dressed in the Academy teacher's school uniform seated at a tea table next to a white horse.

(This guy... I feel like I've seen him somewhere before...)

"Based on the energy you're releasing, I'll say you're one of 'them'. How did you sneak in and what's your purpose here?"

"Uh, sorry. I was looking for a place to eat my lunch, I didn't mean to trespass," Kael said.

"So you won't reveal your true intentions. Consider yourself unlucky," the old man said, turning his teacup into a knife and throwing it at Kael.

Kael manages to evade it but his left cheek gets scarred.

(What was that!?)

"You're good. Like a true assassin, you were able to react to the malice directed at you."

The old man gets up from his seat, touches the horse, and transmutes it to a giant blade.

"I won't give you a chance to react, Assassin," the old man said.

(Transmutation? So he's an Alchemist!)

The old man emits a white aura whilst slowly walking towards Kael.

(What did I seriously do to these people to want to get killed by them?)

The old man takes another step forward and immediately appears before Kael.

(... Fast!)

The old man swings his sword and Kael manages to evade it but the plants get slashed in half.

"You're destroying my plants, you damn assassin!" the old man yelled.

"That's all on you!"

"Silence!"

The old man grabs Kael's face and tosses him, sending him crashing back first against the glass. The old man touches the ground, sending out ground spikes at Kael. Kael cloaks both arms in shadow energy and punches away the spikes.

"So you're revealing your true nature."

"Listen to me you damn old man!"

<Skill Activated - Shadow Curse: Void Rend Eight Technique - Blackveil Aftershock>

Kael activates a powerful area-of-effect void rend, creating an eclipse effect where shadows expand and dispel all active magic within a radius.

(This is the final technique of Void Rend and since my mana isn't high enough, this is risky. But I can't afford to go easy on this old man.)

'My plants aren't receiving sunlight, and I'm unable to use my magic. I see, he was able to deactivate all magic in the greenhouse giving him the advantage. If it was any other opponent, it would've worked. But, I'm a different opponent!'

The old man's eyes glow yellow and he's able to deactivate Kael's skill.

"What?!"

He leaps for Kael and extends his hand back as he's about to swing. He sees the Academy logo on Kael's chest, stopping himself from attacking.

"You're a student here?"

The old man releases his skill, turning the great sword back into a horse.

"I've been trying to say that but you wouldn't listen to me!"

"Forgive me, I have trouble listening these days. So I just rely on my other senses," the old man said.

"It's cool. I'm still alive," Kael said whilst dusting himself.

"But it's a mystery how you were able to survive my attacks. You canceled out every attack thrown at you. What is your name child?"

"Kael Voss, I'm a Sanctified noble and my class is Reaper. My magic rank is D Tier."

"Reaper huh? You're just like that young kid who's the Starlight Warden of the Phantom Reavers. Wait, you said your name was Kael Voss?"

"That's right."

'So he's Eldwin's grandkid, he's grown so much.' "You don't have to worry, I won't do anything to you. It's just strange you awakened similar abilities to 'them'."

"Old man, just who are you?"

"Have I gotten so old that I'm unrecognizable? My name is Caelum Xan, founder and former Starlight Warden of the Celestial Forge."

"Wait, you're that legendary Doctor of the battlefield!"

"Ah, and here I thought you wouldn't recognize me."

"Well you're one of the famous heroes who fought alongside my grandfather and King Lancelot, You're the first Alchemist to awaken an S Tier skill despite being a Sanctifed noble. And also your daughter became the new Starlight Warden despite being B Tier."

"You know a lot."

"Well, I read a lot. And Grandpa used to tell me a lot about his battlefield days."

Xan chuckles and says, "I see. Though I'm glad my granddaughter took over the company. She was so hesitant to take over after her parents the previous leaders were killed by a Hazard."

"... I see... So, why are you so kind to someone like me? Is it because I'm your former colleague's grandson?"

"That's one of them, but the main reason is simple, I don't discriminate. Whether you've been blessed or not, I treat everyone the same. Some Hazards are created because of the oppression they suffer from upper society. To prevent someone with powers like yours from becoming a Hazard, I'm willing to shower you with kindness," Xan replied.

"... What did you mean I had similar powers to 'them'? Who are 'them'?"

"What I'm about to tell you, keep it confidential. You're a student, so I don't want to get you involved. As you know, Hazards are criminals who use their blessings to commit crimes. Illegal Magi is what we call them. The Astral Magus Association is capable of handling these types of criminals, but it all changed 30 years ago."

"What happened 30 years ago?"

"As you know, there are different kinds of Ashenfiends and only certain ranks of Magi can handle them. Do you know why A Tier gives us so much trouble? Because they're capable of using magic. Such Ashenfiends can create unique items like weapons, armor, and many other equipment. But Ashenfiend corpses should not be consumed because it's poison to the Blessed, but some consume their flesh in pursuit of power. Some have died but others succeeded and gained the ability known as Shadow Magic once used by the God of the Shadows and his army."

Alastair jolts.

"They have been causing us trouble for 30 years. What's worse is the leader of these Hazards. He took away my left arm, King Lancelot's right arm, Duchess Aisling's left eye, and the former Duke of Durnholde's life. It's no ordinary power which is why we made them our top priority. These individuals have formed an organization known as The Shadow Coven."

"And my power is similar to them."

"Well, you don't have to worry. Unlike them who use it for evil, you're using it to do good."

Xan gives Kael a small cut and pulls his blood out.

"Not only that, your blood is pure which makes it more of a mystery."

"..."

"But leave the stressing to us adults. You're still a kid and have much to live for. Don't let the words of others bring you down."

A smile emerges on Kael's face, "Right. I'll hold you to that."