Chapter 15: Feeling the inner pulse
After every student was seated in their seats, Instructor Celestine gave a small nod.
"Class dismissed for now. Return to the east wing for your next session."
She turned gracefully, her green hair trailing behind her like a flowing ribbon, and left without another word.
The students gathered their things and shuffled toward the academy's east hall. It was a quieter, darker room—less polished, with walls marked by age and faint scorch marks, as if this place had seen more than just lectures.
They filed in and took their seats.
A moment later, the door creaked open. A familiar figure strolled in with hands behind his back, looking as if he'd rather be anywhere else.
Sky's eyes narrowed.
It was Instructor Ivin—the same man who nearly crushed them all with mana pressure during the entrance exam.
He stopped at the front of the class, his gaze sweeping lazily across the room.
"My name is Ivin," he said flatly. "I'll be teaching you the Essence of Bloodline Power."
The room fell silent.
His voice was casual, but the weight of his words hung in the air.
"Magic roots are common. Talent can be trained. But bloodlines..." He paused, his eyes glinting faintly. "Bloodlines are rare. And dangerous."
A few students shifted uncomfortably.
"Some of you were born with one. Some have no clue what lurks in their veins. Others... are just pretending to be weak."
His eyes lingered—just for a moment—on Sky.
Sky didn't flinch.
He knows something, the system whispered.
Let him guess, Sky replied inwardly.
Ivin turned to the chalkboard and drew a rough diagram of a body, marking the core, mana veins, and finally circling the heart.
"Bloodlines sleep inside the heart. They affect your magic, your instincts… even your evolution. A weak mage with a strong bloodline can surpass a genius. But power without control is suicide."
He tapped the chalk against the board.
"There are three ways to awaken your bloodline: extreme danger, deep meditation… or raw pain."
He paused for effect, then added:
"And if you truly want to strengthen your bloodline... find its origin. Trace your ancestry. What you find may empower you—or destroy you."
Some students gulped.
Ivin smirked.
"And none of those are part of today's lesson."
Relief washed over the room.
"For now, I want you to sense your own pulse—not the one in your wrist. The one inside your magic. Close your eyes. Focus. If there's something ancient hiding in your blood… it'll pulse back."
Sky leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes, playing along.
As he was searching for the inner pulse, he felt it in his veins, it was a whisp of blood, not red, but it was gold with a black mix
Sky smiled faintly.
Silence fell over the classroom as students closed their eyes, trying to connect with their inner pulse.
Some sat completely still, faces strained with concentration.
Others fidgeted, clearly unsure what they were even looking for.
A low hum of magic floated through the air—barely there, like a ripple beneath the surface of a lake.
Sky pretended to be focused, but his mind was sharp, and alert.
One of them's going to lose it, he thought.
He was right.
From the middle row, a faint red glow began to rise from a trembling student's chest. The boy's hands twitched, and his breathing became erratic.
Ivin's eyes flicked toward him, unimpressed.
"Looks like someone touched the edge of it," he muttered.
The student suddenly let out a scream, and flames erupted from his back, spiraling wildly into the air.
Students scrambled from their chairs, some shielding themselves with shaky magic barriers.
The boy's eyes glowed crimson—his veins lighting up like molten lava.
"I-I can't… control—!"
BOOM.
A wave of fire surged forward, threatening to consume the room.
Sky was already moving.
He didn't stand or shout—he just flicked two fingers, and a wall of fire rose up, redirecting the blast straight into the ceiling before it could hit anyone.
The room trembled. Smoke filled the air.
And then silence.
Sky sat down again like nothing had happened.
Ivin slowly turned toward him.
"Hmph."
No thanks. No praise. Just that.
He waved a hand, and the unconscious student floated into the air, surrounded by a glowing cage of mana.
"Take him to Recovery Hall. His bloodline reacted too early. Idiot."
The floating student vanished through a portal.
Ivin turned back to the class.
"Let that be your first lesson: your bloodline is not your friend. It's a beast. One you either tame… or get eaten by."
His voice dropped slightly.
"Class dismissed."
Sky stood up, brushing ash off his sleeve. Elen caught up to him as they exited.
"You moved so fast. That was—"
"Reflex," he cut in.
But she wasn't convinced. Her eyes lingered on him.
Sky simply smiled at her.