It was a little past 5:30 AM when I walked into the deserted cafeteria, hoping to grab a quick bite before starting my day. I was surprised to see Able Mercurio sitting alone in a corner, his scraggly hair and tired expression suggesting that he hadn't slept in days. His cold gaze and distant demeanor only added to his enigmatic aura.

Unlike his empathetic and caring brother Cain, Able was more pragmatic and analytical, always searching for answers to the mysteries of alchemy. He was a studious individual, with bags under his eyes and a book on alchemy always tucked under his arm. His passion for his studies bordered on obsession, and his sharp mind often led him down paths of deep introspection, causing him to detach from the world around him.

It was evident that Able was a deep thinker, and his intellect was both a blessing and a curse. His passion for knowledge often came at the cost of his well-being, as he relentlessly pursued answers to the questions that consumed him. As I watched him from afar, I couldn't help but wonder what was going on in his mind and what secrets he held.

Befriending Able was crucial to my plan, so I approached him with a friendly smile and sat down beside him. "What brings you here so early?" I asked, trying to strike up a conversation.

Able looked up at me with a blank expression before responding, "I couldn't sleep. Got hungry."

I sensed that something was bothering him, so I probed further. "Is everything okay? You seem a little troubled."

"I'm about to break into Tier 4, but I'm stuck on the last formula," he admitted with a heavy sigh.

"I might be able to help," I offered, hoping to pique his interest.

He looked at me skeptically. "Are you joking? I'm not good at discerning humor."

"No, really," I said, trying to sound earnest. "I'm not an expert, but I'm willing to learn and help in any way I can."

Able studied me for a moment before nodding slowly. "I appreciate the offer, but it's a complicated formula. I doubt you would be able to grasp it without extensive knowledge of alchemy."

Undeterred, I smiled and replied, "I'm a quick learner. Maybe you could teach me a thing or two."

He appeared to be lost in thought for a moment before finally declining my offer.

“It would take too long to get you to my level. If I focused on it myself I could get done faster.”

I nodded and got up wishing him luck. I never truly expected the plan to work that way, but it was worth the try. I decided to return to my dorm until it was time for class. As soon as I was halfway to my dorm a loud yell reverberated in the halls. I smiled, it seems Colette finally got the memo.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

I walked in the dorm and Colette immediately looked at me. She muttered something under her breath while looking at my shirt.

“I’m sorry. What was that?” I asked leaning forward,

“Did you just come here to gloat about your victory?” She snarled,

“No I came to ask for assistance,”

I explained to her how I wanted to see if she could tell me what was wrong with my spellcasting that made the spells so weak. She told me to cast the Mineralized Warrior spell. I nodded and began to mutter the incantation. She stopped me immediately.

“You’re being too quiet,” She said,

“What?” I asked, was it really that simple,

“Magic, specifically conjuration, is all about communing with the spirits,” She explained, “Once you commune you need to convince them to join your cause, with that timid voice only the weakest spirits will help.”

I listened intently to Colette's advice, eager to improve my spellcasting abilities. She went on to explain the importance of projecting my voice and channeling my energy into the incantation, as it would allow me to connect with more powerful spirits and produce stronger spells.

With her guidance, I began to practice the Mineralized Warrior spell again, this time with a louder and more confident voice. To my amazement, the spell produced a much larger and sturdier golem than before. I couldn't help but grin at the improvement.

Colette smiled slightly seeming impressed by my progress, “You certainly have potential,” She sighed and grabbed a small card from the pocket of her dress, “Here, these are the credits I owe you,”

I thanked her as I grabbed the card, “You know you are actually a lot nicer than I thought,”

She blushed, “Sh- Shut up! I just felt bad because of how weak you are!”

I laughed, “Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone,”

On my way to class, my path was blocked by Warren Peters, a stereotypical bully who was tall, cocky, and not as strong as he liked to think. As he pushed me against a set of lockers, his black hair was pushed back, and he stared at me, trying to find any signs of fear. But I refused to give him the satisfaction of that reaction.

Warren wore a yellow shirt, indicating that he was a Tier 2 mage from the Divination school. He scowled at me, and a wicked smile spread across his face. "Come on, Quinn, you know the deal," he said. "200 credits, and I won't hurt you."

I glared at him and shook my head. "No."

"You think you're big and tough now that you're Tier One," Warren growled. "But you forget that it still means you're weaker than me!" He punched me hard in the gut, causing me to spit out blood.

Suddenly, a voice yelled out in my mind, urging me to fight back. But it wasn't my voice, and I was confused. Before I could react, my health was refilled by some unknown source, and a warning popped up: .

I felt a surge of energy flow through me as I braced for the next attack. Warren looked surprised by my sudden change in demeanor, but he quickly recovered and lunged at me again. However, this time, I was ready for him. I dodged his fist and landed a solid punch on his nose. He stumbled back, holding his bleeding nose in shock.

I didn't give him a chance to recover as I continued to attack with a series of precise strikes, targeting his weak spots. It was as if my body was moving on its own, guided by an unseen force that knew exactly where to hit to inflict maximum damage.

After a few seconds, Warren fell to the ground, defeated. I looked down at him, breathing heavily, and realized that the voice in my head was gone. I didn't know what had happened, but one thing was for sure - I had just unlocked a new level of power that I never knew existed.