Chapter 9: The Thunderstorm

Chapter 9: The Thunderstorm

A/N: Its my first time trying to write in "First Person View" so forgive the disclarity

As the day waned and shadows stretched long across the land, we rode in silence, the rhythmic clatter of the horses' hooves the only sound between us. My thoughts wandered, trying to piece together a bizarre chain of events involving Valorions that could have landed me in the slumbs, but they were interrupted when Maestral City's great gates began to loom on the horizon, their spires catching the last rays of sunlight.

It was then that we saw him.

Standing directly in our path was a man—well, more like a caricature of one due to his appearance. His slicked-back dark blonde hair and shaved sides tried (but failed) to make him look sharp, and the empty frames perched on his nose screamed desperation. He wore a black suit with a blue undershirt and a gold tie, completed by brown shoes and a golden watch that gleamed obnoxiously in the twilight. Rings adorned his pudgy fingers, making his entire image look like a poor attempt at wealth.

For a moment, I was tempted to laugh. But then I noticed Sophie.

Her knuckles whitened as she gripped the reins, her shoulders stiff and tense. This wasn't the reaction of someone facing a mere buffoon.

"Is everything okay?" I asked, narrowing my eyes.

She hesitated, and when she finally spoke, her voice was unsteady. "Y-Yeah."

That was a lie.

I dismounted, my boots crunching against the dirt as I strode forward. The closer I got, the more ridiculous this man seemed, standing at barely 5'10". At my full height of 6'3", I towered over him.

"Why are you in our way?" I asked, my tone calm but carrying enough weight to make most men think twice.

He didn't answer. Instead, he raised a hand.

Ah, a slap. Easy enough to dodge. Confident, I waited until the last moment to shift my head—

CRACK!

The sound was deafening, like thunder breaking directly over my head. My cheek stung faintly, but it wasn't the pain that threw me off—it was the fact that he'd hit me at all.

I blinked, stunned, as he grabbed my cloak and yanked me toward him. His fist shot toward my kidney. This time, I was ready. My arm moved to intercept—

Thud.

It connected.

Again, there was no real pain, but the fact that it landed left me reeling. I stepped back, my mind racing. Something wasn't adding up.

The man straightened his tie, a smirk tugging at his lips. Electricity began crackling around his fists, and with a burst of speed, he lunged at me, aiming a lightning-charged punch at my face.

This time, I didn't hesitate. I focused, preparing to dodge—

And froze.

The punch landed squarely, a jolt of energy rippling through my body. It wasn't enough to hurt, but it was enough to frustrate me.

I vaulted in reverse, landing near the horses. Sophie caught my eye and, to her credit, quickly explained.

"That's Roove Thelistan," she said, her voice more composed now. "My... intended husband. He's an Arcana wielder with a three-star ability: Furtum Cogitationum. It steals your thoughts within a five-meter radius."

I blinked, absorbing the information. My thoughts? That explained the hesitation & the strange gaps in my actions.

My lips curled into a grin. "Three stars, huh?"

This was nothing. I was Atrax, the man whose name alone struck fear across the continent. There was no way I'd let some chubby noble with a parlor trick get the better of me.

The air around me darkened as I let loose of the battle intent I was holding back. Black mist swirled, shrouding my form as I disappeared, reappearing behind Roove in an instant. My fist flew toward his head—but he vanished before it could connect.

"Well done," his voice called, now several meters away. "You're the youngest to last against Rex Maleficius. I acknowledge your—"

He never finished.

My fist slammed into his jaw mid-sentence, cutting him off. The impact echoed, and I followed up with a relentless assault. Each punch landed with precision—left hooks, right hooks, uppercuts—each one faster and harder than the last.

He tried to speak, to recover, but I didn't give him the chance. Punch after Punch after Punch, Blood after Blood after Blood. By the time I had slowed down, his face was already a swollen, bloody mess, barely recognizable. Nevertheless I felt he could still recieve more so I decided to continue my abuse however.

Sophie's voice broke through my focus. "Ain, stop! You'll kill him!"

I glanced back at her, then down at Roove, who was barely conscious on the ground. With a scoff, I stepped back, letting him collapse.

"Let that be a lesson," I said, dusting the blood off my hands.

Sophie said nothing as I mounted my horse again, her eyes darting between me and the crumpled form of her so-called intended husband.

The ride to Maestral City resumed in silence.

A/N: I decided to write this in a first person view as Ain after reading some fellow webnovel authors works however if you prefer the former writing style feel free to inform me I would revert it back to normal from the next chapter

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Until Sophie broke it. "You could have held back, you know. He has some influence in the academy," she said grimly, though her lips twitched as if she was holding back a smile.

I shrugged, keeping my eyes ahead. "He attacked me first for no reason. I figured he deserved to learn a lesson."

She tried to stifle her laughter but failed, the sound ringing out like a bell. It was disarmingly pleasant—angelic even—but it washed over me without effect, as if I had long grown immune to such charms. When she finally composed herself, she said, "Alright, he deserved that.

~Clop-clop...clop-clop...clop-clop-clop-clop

We fell into a contemplative silence once again, the rhythmic clopping of hooves against the dirt road providing a steady backdrop to our thoughts. It was the kind of quiet that allowed the weight of the journey—and its implications—to settle over us.

By the time we reached Maestral City, the night had fully descended, cloaking the towering gates in a shadowy veil. Few people lingered near the entrance, though the disciplined guards stationed there remained unwavering, their postures straight and their gazes sharp, as if they could pierce through the gloom.

The city stretched beyond the gates, its golden lights glimmering like distant stars in a blackened sky. For a brief moment, I felt a flicker of relief, a sense that things were finally proceeding without issue.

Yeah I ate my words

As we neared the monumental Great Gate, a low rumble of thunder rolled across the horizon, announcing the arrival of an imminent storm. A few sparse raindrops quickly gave way to a relentless downpour, the kind that left no corner untouched. The etched runes on the gate shimmered with an unnatural brilliance, their glow magnified by the storm's ferocity, casting eerie patterns on the rain-slicked stone.

The guards standing at the entrance—figures clad in gleaming armor—did not falter. They remained statuesque, their halberds unyielding despite the water streaming down their polished surfaces. Even as the rain plastered their uniforms to their skin, they exuded an aura of vigilance, their eyes scrutinizing every movement.

I dismounted, the wet leather of the reins slipping slightly through my fingers. Sophie followed suit, tugging her cloak tightly around her shoulders in a futile attempt to shield herself from the deluge. As we approached the gate, the puddles at our feet rippled with each raindrop, reflecting the faint, shifting glow of the rune-etched stone.

A guard stepped forward, his voice steady and authoritative despite the storm's roar. "State your purpose."

Sophie's voice cut through the rain, calm and unshaken. "Sophie Galcrest, here to apply for the Hero Academy entrance exam. This is my escort."

The guard's gaze flicked to me, lingering for a moment too long. His expression remained inscrutable beneath the visor of his helmet, though I could feel the weight of his scrutiny. Finally, he nodded, stepping aside with a curt gesture.

"Very well. Proceed."

With a deep, resonant groan, the Great Gate began to open, its heavy stone mechanisms echoing like the awakening of a long-dormant beast. The glow of the city spilled out onto the rain-soaked path, illuminating the jagged edges of puddles and the slick surface of cobblestones. As we passed through, unease coiled in my gut. The storm, the towering gate, the watchful eyes of the guards—all of it seemed to foreshadow the trials yet to come.

Unfortunately, the rain proved more than just a nuisance. The worsening storm made it impossible to navigate the city streets on horseback. We were forced to abandon the animals, forfeiting any chance of selling them back to merchants who lets be real will most definitely under pay us . Sophie, however, seemed unfazed by the loss, directing me instead toward the heart of the city.

Despite the rain, the city was a sight to behold. It pulsed with life and energy, even as the storm raged overhead. Merchants shouted from beneath makeshift awnings, their voices carrying over the sound of rain as they hawked wares of every variety. Children ran through the streets, their laughter mingling with the distant rumble of thunder. I caught myself watching them, a bittersweet pang of nostalgia settling in my chest.

"We're almost there," Sophie said, snapping me out of my reverie.

The Hero Academy soon came into view, its towering spires clawing at the stormy sky like the talons of some great beast. Its grandeur was almost overwhelming—massive stone edifices adorned with intricate carvings, their banners flapping violently in the wind. Students and faculty moved through the sprawling campus with purpose, their cloaks billowing behind them as they braved the rain.

I adjusted my own cloak, channeling mana into its fabric to dry it and reshape it into a more practical design. The shorter sleeves and streamlined fit offered greater mobility, a small but necessary adjustment for what lay ahead. As we approached the academy gates, a wave of uncertainty washed over me. Sophie, with her confident stride and apparent familiarity with this world, seemed to belong here. I, on the other hand, felt like an outsider—a wanderer thrust into a realm of heroes and powers that I could barely grasp.

While Sophie engaged in an animated conversation with an official near the entrance, I lingered at the edge of the courtyard, taking in the sheer scale of the academy. Her gestures were precise, her tone unwavering as she presented a meticulously organized stack of documents. It was clear she had prepared for this moment, her determination shining through even the dreary weather.

"She's ready for this," I murmured to myself, watching her interact with the official.

For Sophie, this was a culmination of planning and ambition. But as I stood there, the thought occurred to me that perhaps the academy could be more than just her stepping stone. Perhaps it could serve as my sanctuary as well—a place to learn, to adapt, and maybe even to redefine myself in this unfamiliar world.

After what felt like hours, the rain began to ease. Sophie concluded her discussion and turned toward me, a small, triumphant smile playing on her lips.

"It's done," she said. "The exam is tomorrow morning."

I nodded, my gaze drifting to the academy's imposing gates. Beyond them lay a new chapter, one brimming with challenges, growth, and the possibility of redemption.

"Let's find shelter," I said, gesturing toward an inn I'd spotted earlier in the heart of the city. As we made our way through the damp streets, the storm's remnants lingered in the air, a reminder of the trials ahead. Whatever they might be, I resolved to face them head-on.