SYSTEM ASCENSION

”This is Quil.” Elias introduced. ”I don’t even remember where I met him.”

Quil raised a brow. ”That’s about five years ago.”

”About a billion, for me.” He replied.

”Welcome to Ringoff Academy then.” Claude greeted. ”Feel free to ask any of the council members, if you need anything. Of course, that includes Elias.”

”You’re a council member?” Quil tilted his head. ”Since when do you start remembering your right from your left?”

”That’s rude.”

The professor came in, and they had to sit down.

The woman’s eyes were drawn to the child on Elias’s head and she stared at him for a moment longer.

”Alright class, today we talk about the one thing every creature has in common:

Vital Energy,” She turned around and pointed to a projected image. ”Other names from other worlds: Qi, Mana-Blood, Lifeforce, Prana, Aura. Doesn’t matter what you call it. It’s you. It’s life.”

”Now:

1. WHAT IS IT?”

She glanced around.

”President?”

”The fuel of life.” Claude replied.

”Correct! Think of your body like a lamp.

Your flesh and bones are metal. Your thoughts are the glass. Vital Energy is the flame.

It’s generated 3 ways. From your Breath; every inhale pulls in the world’s ambient energy. Exhale, and you refine it.

From Food + Rest; That stew you ate? That six hours of sleep? Converted and stored.

From Will; Emotion, conviction, rage, love. If you run out, the lamp goes out. That’s death.

2. HOW DOES IT FLOW?”

She looked around again. Mimi raised her hand and stood up.

”Inside you are Channels. We call the big ones Meridians, and the small ones Capillaries of Spirit.”

”Correct. And why does it start?”

”Vital Energy starts in the Core, right below the navel.” Coco replied.

”Correct! Energy follows intent...”

Elias stopped listening at some point during the conversation. He began to stare outside the window, and when Quil called back his attention, the professor had already walked out and the class was almost empty.

”Everyone was talking about going to the training hall,” Quil glanced at the door. ”Something about a duel.”

”Tiana and Tyler.”

Elias stood up to leave. But then he paused, and turned around. ”Are you not supposed to be dead?”

”Did you just see me?” Quil frowned. ”For a second, I thought you knew I was alive since you’re the reason why I was revived, when you didn’t look surprised.”

”I am the reason you’re alive?”

”Woke up in Uidan empire, Rose city. Something about a trigger bounty reward.”

”Elixir of life?!”

”Correct!” Quil snapped his finger. ”We’ve only known each other for a little while, but I didn’t know you cared about me that much.”

Elias averted his gaze. ”Emm...sure.”

’Let’s just avoid breaking his heart.’

”But, shouldn’t you have revived Yvonne instead?”

Elias’ expression didn’t change, but his mind travelled back to the only good memories in his past. She was a rare gem he didn’t treasure at that time.

”Let...go watch the duel.” He turned around and walked.

Quil stared at him for a moment longer before joining him. Kael was waiting by the door when they got out, and after a brief extremely awkward introduction, they proceeded to the training hall.

The fight had always started when they arrived.

The training field was warm from the repeated bursts of fire Tyler had been throwing at Tiana, but neither of them had done any serious damage. Mostly because Tiana had been deliberately fighting without using her own ability.

Tyler darted forward again, flames wrapping around his fists as he swung toward her shoulder, but Tiana stepped aside and redirected his arm before lightly striking his chest with her palm, forcing him to stumble backward.

”Come on, Tiana,” Tyler complained, rubbing his shoulder as he looked at her. ”You’ve been doing that the entire time.”

Tiana shrugged and settled back into her stance. ”Doing what?”

”Fighting without using your fire.” Tyler pointed at her accusingly, a small flame flickering around his fingers. ”You have an ability, I know you do, so use it.”

Tiana gave him an unimpressed look before moving toward him again. ”I’m fine like this.”

”You’re not even taking me seriously.”

”I’m taking the duel seriously.”

”Then use your ability!” Tyler shouted, and Tiana simply sighed before blocking another flaming punch.

Elias joined the rest.

”What the hell is going on?”

”Petty fights? He’s not even trying either.” Claude snorted.

”His flame is strong even for the candle attack he is flickering.” Quil muttered.

”The flame is a bloodline.” Fayera spoke. ”Almost all the royals awakened it.”

They continued exchanging attacks, Tyler repeatedly trying to pressure her into using her ability while Tiana stubbornly refused, choosing to rely on her physical skills and basic combat techniques instead.

”What is Tiana’s ability anyway?” Anya raised a brow.

They all exchanged glances before looking at Claude.

”What? I don’t know.”

”Lies.” Anya snorted.

”Ask her yourself.”

Elias blinked once, returning his attention to the fight.

Another exchange sent both of them skidding apart. Tyler stood there with his hands on his hips, looking genuinely frustrated. ”Why won’t you use it?”

Tiana brushed a strand of hair away from her face before answering, ”Because I don’t need to.”

Tyler stared at her for a moment before grinning. ”Fine, then I’ll make you.”

He rushed toward her again, throwing a series of controlled attacks that Tiana blocked and dodged, but this time he kept pushing her backward until she finally had to raise both arms to defend herself from a larger burst of flame.

The heat made her step back, and Tyler immediately noticed the slight change in her expression.

”There,” he said excitedly. ”You’re getting annoyed.”

Tiana lowered her arms and gave him a tired look. ”You’re really persistent. Fine. I’ll play your game.”

Tyler launched another small burst toward her, expecting her to dodge again, but Tiana stopped moving, took a breath, and finally lifted one hand. A flame suddenly appeared above her palm, before spreading around her arm in a controlled glow.

Tyler froze in place, his eyes widening as he stared at it, and for a second neither of them said anything because he had spent the entire duel trying to get exactly that reaction.

Then, instead of attacking, Tyler immediately let his own flames disappear, his face breaking into the biggest grin Tiana had seen from him all day. ”You used it!”

He ran straight toward her and threw his arms around her in an excited hug.

Tiana stiffened in surprise, the flame around her hand disappeared.

”Tyler!”

He laughed. ”You actually used it! I knew you could! I knew...”

He hugged her tighter.

The council members approached them.

”That was a lame fight.” Claude commented. The rest immediately nodded.

Tiana was still shoving Tyler. ”Get off freak! Get—!”

Her pupils dilated when she noticed that he was trembling slightly.

”What?”

She gently pulled his hands from her and leaned back, enough to see his face.

”Why...”

She reached out and touched his face.

”...are you crying?”

He sniffed. ”I missed you. Nria.”