Chapter Twelve: Echoes of Power
Chapter Twelve: Echoes of Power
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Rin spent the next day in a haze. The events from the previous night replayed in his mind like a broken record: the forbidden chamber, the monstrous creature, the shard's ominous energy. And then there was his own performance—dodging, striking, and reacting like someone far beyond an F-rank.
"Maybe I was just lucky," he muttered to himself as he shuffled into the cafeteria. The idea that he might have some hidden power felt absurd. People didn't just wake up one day and defy the rank system.
Still, he couldn't ignore the way his body had moved, as if guided by something beyond instinct. The memory sent a shiver down his spine.
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Unwelcome Attention
As Rin stood in line for food, he felt a pair of eyes boring into him. He turned to find Leon staring from across the room, his expression unreadable. Next to him sat Zeke, who was also watching Rin with an intensity that made his stomach churn.
"Great," Rin muttered, grabbing his tray. "More problems."
He sat in the farthest corner of the cafeteria, hoping to avoid attention. Aila, however, had other plans. She slid into the seat across from him, her tray clattering onto the table.
"We need to talk," she said, her tone serious.
"Can't we pretend last night never happened?" Rin asked, stabbing at his food.
"Not a chance." She leaned closer, lowering her voice. "You're not normal, Rin."
He nearly choked on his food. "Gee, thanks for the compliment."
"I'm serious," she insisted. "What you did last night—there's no way someone of your rank could have pulled that off."
Rin shrugged, trying to appear indifferent. "Maybe I was just lucky."
"You're not that lucky," Aila shot back. "I've seen skilled fighters struggle against creatures like that. You handled it like you'd been doing it your whole life."
Her words struck a chord. Rin wanted to brush them off, but deep down, he knew she was right.
"Even if I did, what does it matter?" he said, forcing a grin. "It's not like I'm going to start climbing the hero rankings."
Aila frowned. "You can't keep pretending to be weak. People are starting to notice."
Rin's gaze flicked toward Leon and Zeke, who were still watching him from across the room. "Yeah, no kidding."
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A Growing Threat
Later that afternoon, Rin found himself wandering the Academy grounds, his thoughts a tangled mess. Aila's words wouldn't leave him alone. You can't keep pretending.
"But that's the plan," he muttered. "Stay unnoticed, stay safe."
As he passed by the training fields, he spotted a commotion near the combat arena. A group of students had gathered, their excited voices carrying across the grounds.
"Another challenge," someone said. "It's Leon this time."
Curiosity got the better of Rin, and he pushed his way through the crowd. Sure enough, Leon stood in the center of the arena, his arms crossed. Across from him was a nervous-looking student holding a sword.
"This guy again?" Rin muttered. Leon had a reputation for challenging lower-ranked students to duels, using them as stepping stones to prove his strength.
The duel began, and it was over in seconds. Leon's opponent barely had time to react before he was disarmed and knocked to the ground. The crowd erupted into cheers and laughter as Leon stood victorious, his smirk as smug as ever.
"Is there no one here who can give me a real fight?" Leon called out, his voice dripping with arrogance.
Rin turned to leave, but Leon's next words stopped him in his tracks.
"What about you, Rin?"
The crowd fell silent, all eyes turning to him. Rin froze, his mind racing.
"Me? Nah, I'm good," he said, waving a hand dismissively.
"Come on," Leon taunted. "You've been looking pretty confident lately. Or are you afraid?"
The crowd murmured, and Rin felt the weight of their stares. He knew he should walk away, but something about Leon's smug expression lit a fire inside him.
"Fine," Rin said, stepping into the arena. "Let's get this over with."
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The Duel
The crowd buzzed with anticipation as Rin and Leon faced off. Rin's heart pounded, but he forced himself to stay calm.
"You've got guts, I'll give you that," Leon said, drawing his weapon. "But guts won't save you."
Rin raised his hands, unarmed. "Do we really need to do this? I mean, I'm just a weak, harmless F-rank."
Leon sneered. "You're not fooling anyone. Let's see what you're really made of."
The duel began, and Leon came at Rin with a flurry of attacks. Rin dodged effortlessly, his movements fluid and precise. The crowd gasped as he evaded strike after strike, his expression annoyingly calm.
"Is that all you've got?" Rin said, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
Leon's frustration was evident. He pressed harder, but Rin continued to dodge, almost as if he were toying with him.
Finally, Rin spotted an opening. With a quick movement, he disarmed Leon, sending his weapon clattering to the ground. The crowd fell silent, stunned.
"Well," Rin said, stepping back. "Looks like I win."
Leon glared at him, his face red with humiliation. "This isn't over," he growled, storming off.
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A Growing Target
As the crowd dispersed, Rin felt a sinking feeling in his chest. He'd just done the one thing he'd been trying to avoid: drawing attention to himself.
"That was reckless," Aila said, appearing at his side.
"Yeah, no kidding," Rin muttered.
"You're on Leon's radar now," she warned. "And probably Zeke's too."
"Great," Rin said with a sigh. "Just what I needed."
Aila placed a hand on his shoulder. "You can't keep hiding forever, Rin. Sooner or later, you'll have to decide who you really are."
Her words echoed in his mind long after she left. Rin knew she was right, but the thought of stepping into the spotlight terrified him.
For now, all he could do was hope that the shadows he'd been hiding in would protect him a little longer.