Heir of the Lost Wish

Lucian returned to the Academy. Nothing had changed. The hallways were still lively, students laughing, talking, going about their business as if nothing had happened.

And yet, something was different.

The gazes.

As soon as he crossed the gates, he felt eyes on him. Whispers rose in his wake, some admiring, others suspicious. He hadn't set foot here since his fight with Jin, and now, his anonymity was gone.

The White Devil was now one of the most renowned students.

At lunch, Lucian went to the cafeteria as usual. He grabbed his plate and sat down at his usual spot, a quiet corner where no one ever bothered him.

But this time, just as he was beginning his meal, a familiar voice rang out across the room:

"Hey, Brother!"

Lucian froze. He slowly turned around and saw Jin flashing a wide grin, as if they were the best of friends.

*Brother? Since when are we that close…?* he thought, puzzled.

Jin walked over confidently, and behind him, a young girl with slightly tilted glasses followed nonchalantly. It was Karen. Unlike usual, she seemed more friendly, almost relaxed.

"Hey, Cyan."

Lucian raised an eyebrow. *Cyan?* he thought. *What's up with these two, why not just call me by my name?*

Keeping his cool, he gave them a small smile in response.

"Hey."

Without waiting for an invitation, Jin set his plate down next to Lucian's and exclaimed loudly:

"I can sit with you, right, Brother?"

Lucian stared at him, stunned.

"You're sitting down before asking…" he said sarcastically.

Karen sat down too, placing her tray without hesitation.

"Don't mind this idiot," she said. "He never asks anyone's opinion."

Lucian sighed, responding with a hint of mockery:

"Neither do you…"

Karen adjusted her glasses with her fingertips and, with a slightly superior air, said:

"That's different."

All eyes were on them.

After all, seeing the White Devil, Fiery Fist, and… a girl with glasses sitting at the same table was unusual enough to spark curiosity among the other students. Some whispered, others watched with interest, wondering how these three had ended up sharing a meal.

The silence was broken by Jin, ever the loudmouth:

"By the way, I wanted to thank you, Brother."

Lucian looked up at him, surprised.

"I learned a lot from fighting you. I'd gotten too arrogant."

Lucian raised an eyebrow before responding:

"No, no, it's you who taught me a lot. And honestly, I got lucky. If I hadn't grabbed that piece of metal, I would've lost."

Karen, who had been listening quietly, spoke calmly:

"He should've thought of that. Luck plays a huge role in a fight. Believing he'd won by breaking your blade, he got too cocky."

Jin scratched his head, embarrassed, then nodded:

"Yeah… that's pretty much it."

Lucian gave a smile. Despite being a fearsome fighter, Jin remained as spontaneous as ever.

Lucian, speaking calmly and with interest:

"By the way, Karen, I've always wondered… how exactly do you fight?"

The young girl let out a soft sigh, as if the answer was obvious.

"With a bow."

Lucian waited for her to elaborate. But nothing.

"…And?"

She adjusted her glasses and added, in a falsely pompous tone:

"And I hit my target."

Jin burst out laughing.

"Hahaha! Brother, I don't think you'll find anyone more modest than her!"

Lucian shook his head with a smile.

"I see… So absolute precision, huh?"

Karen didn't respond immediately. Then, she gave a small smile.

"Let's just say… I never miss." She said, with a hint of challenge in her voice.

After that, the conversation continued, Jin and Karen throwing jabs at each other nonstop. Lucian, as quiet as ever, watched them with a neutral expression, though a small smile betrayed his amusement.

He had never really stopped to enjoy a moment like this. Since his parents' death, he had moved forward alone, convinced that was the only way to survive. But today… here he was, surrounded, listening to these two idiots bicker endlessly.

He lowered his eyes to his plate for a moment, then whispered to himself, almost surprised by his own thoughts:

*Hmph… It's not so bad, after all.*

The end of the break arrived quickly, and the trio headed toward their respective arenas. But as they crossed the courtyard, a crowd of students caught their attention near Stadium 1. Jin, his eyes sparkling with excitement, exclaimed:

"A fight?!"

Karen, letting out an exasperated sigh, responded:

"No, idiot, that's Stadium 1. The one for Princess Elsa of the Vermillions."

Lucian widened his eyes, surprised. The Vermillions… The most prestigious family in the country. The head of this family was known as "The King's Sword." Lucian murmured inwardly, his thoughts mixed with admiration and curiosity:

*The Vermillion family…*

Karen, as if she had read his mind, added:

"I've heard she's already formed her Nexus. She's probably mastering her awakening ability."

Jin and Lucian exchanged shocked looks, then said in unison:

"Already?!"

Although they were both close to forming their own cores, the fact that she was so advanced in her training set her apart as a true prodigy. A week ahead of geniuses like Jin and Lucian was no small feat.

Karen shrugged and continued:

"She's not the only one."

She pointed toward Stadium 2, where another group of students seemed to be gathered, also watching a spectacle.

"Julius Wynd is said to have finished forming his Nexus too."

At these words, Jin and Lucian's expressions darkened. The two young men exchanged a determined glance. They had no time to waste.

"We need to train."

Before leaving, their eyes lingered for a moment on the "prodigies" displaying their talents. In Stadium 1, an impressive scene was unfolding. A young girl with long, deep blue hair stood at the center, emitting an aura of infinite calm and grace. She was beautiful, almost unreal in her posture. But what shocked Lucian was the brutal contrast around her. Ten students, armed with swords, stood around her, ready to fight.

The students hesitated, their eyes filled with doubt and fear. Even their numbers seemed insufficient to break the palpable tension in the air. Then, with an almost imperceptible movement, four of the ten charged, their swords raised to strike. But the young girl didn't move an inch.

As the four blades descended on her, a cold wind suddenly swept through, causing the spectators to look away. The scene seemed frozen in a suspended moment. When they were able to redirect their attention, a shiver ran down their spines. The four students were frozen, their torsos encased in blocks of ice, motionless.

Before the remaining six could react, the princess shot forward with blinding speed, gliding across a thin layer of ice that seemed to form beneath her feet. In the blink of an eye, two more students were frozen mid-motion, statues of ice.

But one student, positioned well in her blind spot, didn't hesitate. He leaped with surprising speed, delivering a powerful vertical strike to her back. Without even looking, the princess raised her hand, and a massive wall of ice appeared instantly, blocking the attack with disconcerting ease.

A few moments later, the battle was over. The ten students were unable to move, trapped in the relentless embrace of the ice. Lucian, Jin, and Karen watched, stunned by the scene.

Jin, his face pale, whispered in a trembling voice:

"Ten students from Ether Academy… She defeated them all so easily?!"

Lucian, his eyes fixed on the young girl with admiration and respect, murmured almost to himself:

"Ice… So that's her awakening ability. Fascinating… So this is the power of an awakened one against humans."

The princess, with sovereign calm, sheathed her sword. She didn't even seem disturbed by the violence of the confrontation, as if she had just performed a simple demonstration of her mastery.

Karen let out a sigh before speaking:

"Don't compare yourselves to her," she said with a tone laced with slight exasperation.

"She's probably the greatest prodigy in the kingdom right now, but you can see she hasn't fully mastered her power. She's draining too much mana. After a month, she'll be able to choose where she'll be sent to challenge the creatures of the dark."

She paused, then continued with a slight grin:

"We're really out of luck… The two greatest prodigies are our age and come from the two biggest families in Elden."

Jin, as usual, seemed unfazed and responded with enthusiasm:

"You call that bad luck? It's more like a blessing!"

Lucian, still watching the scene, turned his head toward Karen, a perplexed expression on his face.

"Two greatest prodigies?"

Karen nodded seriously.

"Yes, Julius Wynd is also a raw monster."

The trio then moved toward Stadium 2. Inside, a young man with deep black hair and light blue eyes stood facing another student, a sword in hand. The fight seemed intense, though Julius was taking hits. Lucian, surprised to see such a fierce confrontation, asked, intrigued:

"Who's his opponent for him to have so much trouble?"

Karen watched closely and replied, a hint of disappointment in her voice:

"He's not really struggling, unfortunately. As you can see, his awakening ability isn't as impressive as Elsa's. The path of ascension can be cruel."

Lucian squinted, trying to unravel the mystery of this ability. He watched Julius, who, despite taking blows, showed no signs of injury. Then, Lucian understood.

"Healing," he murmured almost to himself.

Karen nodded, confirming his suspicions.

"Yes, everyone considers him Elsa's equal, but now that his ability isn't focused on combat, there's going to be a slight gap between them."

Lucian continued to watch, analyzing the situation. He then understood Julius's strategy.

"He's trying to create a new fighting style based on his healing."

Jin, not missing a second of the scene, added with a knowing smile:

"Yeah, it looks like it. Healers aren't supposed to be on the front lines, but someone with an ego like Julius will definitely find a way to use his power in battle. No doubt."

Lucian wasn't sure how Julius would adapt his healing for offense, but he understood the direction he was taking. His strategic mind would likely help him close the gap between him and Elsa, even if his awakening ability wasn't as spectacular.

After that, Jin and Lucian went to train. For Lucian, having a partner like Jin was a blessing—or perhaps a curse, given the intensity of their battles. They trained relentlessly for several days, this time being careful not to hurt each other too seriously.

Jin was the first to deal Lucian a real defeat. And not just one—several. Quickly, their training evolved into a constant duel, with a rivalry naturally blossoming between them. They began to tally their victories and defeats, exchanging taunts after each training session.

As of now, the score was close. Jin had won 19 times, while Lucian had 21 victories.

But neither of them planned to stop there.

A few days later, under the moonlight, in an entirely ordinary room, a young man with silver hair meditated on his bed. His delicate, elegant features were illuminated by a soft glow radiating from his stomach, while an ethereal blue aura surrounded him.

Lucian had finally formed his Nexus.

Two months after his arrival at the Academy, he had accomplished a crucial milestone—an undeniable proof of his exceptional talent. Still focused, he could now see his core, feel it existing within him. He was already channeling mana into it, slowly saturating it, as though feeding a growing flame.

Then, guided by instinct, his mind dove into his Nexus—this inner space unique to each Awakened. It was as natural as when a child takes their first steps, without even thinking about it.

Inside, a sight both terrifying and fascinating unfolded before him.

A raging ocean.

Huge waves rose beneath a brilliant sky, their uncontrollable fury speaking of raw power still untamed. Lucian watched the scene, thinking:

*Could these waves… be my mana?*

His gaze rose higher, drawn by a powerful presence.

A gigantic sun loomed in the sky.

Its light bathed the ocean, unwavering, omnipresent. Lucian frowned, puzzled.

"But this sun… what does it represent?" he murmured inwardly.

Worried about an uncontrollable explosion in his room if his power was linked to flames, Lucian decided to explore his awakening within his Nexus itself.

Normally, once awakened, it was enough to focus to materialize one's power—an act as natural as breathing. A simple exertion of will could summon flames, lift the wind, or shape the earth.

Lucian closed his eyes and tried to release his energy.

But nothing happened.

No fire, no gusts, no wings on his back. Nothing immediately perceptible. Yet, a strange sensation emanated from deep within him. Something he struggled to define.

Suddenly, he felt his body lift into the air, as if raised by an invisible breeze coming from his core.

He had become weightless.

Light as a feather.

Wide-eyed, he whispered:

"I can… make myself lighter? Is that it?"

Barely had he formed the thought when his body fell sharply.

As if a colossal force were pulling him downward, he sank into the raging waves of his Nexus. He was now as heavy as a cannonball.

Upon impact, the water around him violently split, creating a liquid crater before closing in around him.

Lucian understood then.

It wasn't fire, wind, or earth.

His power wasn't elemental.

He could alter his own weight.

Or rather…

"My power…" he murmured, stunned. "It's Alteration."

He didn't say these words with shock, but in a detached tone, lost in a flood of ideas rushing through his mind.

Making his body as light as air, dodging attacks with inhuman agility. Then, in an instant, becoming as heavy as a mountain, striking with titanic force, anchoring his steps to the ground so he would never falter again.

Each possibility opened a door to another.

His power wasn't just a skill.

It was a concept, a fundamental principle that he could shape and perfect.

A thrill of excitement ran through him.

He had barely awakened… and yet, he already felt he was only scratching the surface of what he could achieve.

Who knows… At the height of his art, perhaps Lucian would no longer be content altering his own body…

*Perhaps he could alter the world itself.*