The hum of Essentia filled the room as students continued to practice their offensive and defensive techniques. The sound of bursts, crashes, and the occasional frustrated groan echoed off the sealed walls. Many were still struggling to master the balance of power and control, retrying their techniques over and over.

Towan stood across from Sylra, his energy low but his focus sharp. She, on the other hand, seemed as composed as ever, the faint breeze around her barely disturbed despite the intensity of their training.

“Hey, Towan…” Sylra’s voice broke the silence between them, casual yet carrying a hint of curiosity.

“Huh? W-what?” Towan stammered, caught off guard. He adjusted his stance, trying to look like he wasn’t completely worn out.

“You might not know this yet,” she began, pausing briefly to let her words sink in, “but on weekends, we have ranking fights.”

“Ranking fights?” Towan repeated, his tone hesitant.

Sylra nodded, a small smirk tugging at her lips. “Yeah. Are you planning to get ranked?”

“Do I… have to fight?” Towan asked, his voice faltering slightly. He glanced away, trying to mask the unease creeping into his thoughts. I’d like to avoid attention, though. We’re here to learn more about the cult and how they use corruption, not to stand out… His mind wandered for a moment, distracted by the weight of their real mission.

Sylra raised an eyebrow, sensing his hesitation. “Not exactly,” she said, her tone softening. “We’ve got an Essentia Mediator here. It scales your Essentia power and places you in a rank among the students. It doesn’t measure control or flow refinement, just raw, unfiltered power. After that, you can fight students near your rank to prove yourself—or rank up, if you’re ambitious.”

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“Huh…” Towan trailed off, thinking it over. The idea of stepping into the spotlight made his stomach churn. We’re supposed to be blending in, not drawing attention. But refusing outright might raise suspicion too… He frowned, rubbing the back of his neck.

“I might… do the Essentia Mediator thing,” he said finally, though his tone carried more doubt than conviction.

Sylra gave him a small nod, seemingly satisfied with his answer. “Alright,” she said simply, taking a step back as the sound of the bell rang through the hall, signaling the end of class. “See you around, Towan.”

Before he could respond, she turned and walked off, the faint swirl of wind trailing behind her.

Towan raised a hand in a half-hearted wave, muttering, “Huh… see you around, then.” He watched her go, a faint smile crossing his face despite himself. She ended up being cooler than I thought…

“You talking to yourself now?” came a voice from behind, startling him out of his thoughts.

“Holy shi—!” Towan jumped, whirling around to find Elliot grinning at him. “Don’t sneak up on me like that!”

Elliot crossed his arms, clearly amused. “Sure, sure. I just couldn’t help but overhear how you were all ‘she’s cooler than I thought’.”

“I said nothing,” Towan replied quickly, his face heating up as he tried—and failed—to sound indifferent.

“Yeah, right.” Elliot snorted, a teasing glint in his eyes. “Face it, bro. She’s got you wrapped around her finger.”

Towan glared, but his attempt to look serious only made Elliot’s grin widen. “I said nothing,” he repeated, brushing past his brother toward the door. “And for the record, you’re imagining things.”

“Sure, Towan. Whatever you say.” Elliot followed, chuckling under his breath.

Towan groaned inwardly as they left the hall, but despite the teasing, he couldn’t shake the small, lingering smile that tugged at his lips.