Erik Miller walked briskly down the bustling hallway of the United Continents Academy, the vibrant chatter of students echoing around him. He fidgeted with a small, shiny rock he had found weeks ago, absentmindedly rolling it between his fingers. It was smooth and glimmered under the warm light, a curious distraction from the thoughts swirling in his mind.

As he approached the training hall, he couldn't help but overhear snippets of conversation. A group of first-year students gathered nearby, animatedly discussing their rankings and aspirations. "I heard Aeliana Sylvari is already at the Adept Rank!" one exclaimed, eyes wide with admiration. "And Gurg Balac just unlocked his Aura manipulation!"

Erik's heart sank a little. Aeliana and Gurg were among the academy's brightest stars, members of Class S, the elite group that set the standard for excellence. He often found himself feeling overshadowed, especially when the name "Claire Miller" was mentioned.

Claire, his sister, was renowned as a prodigy, her skills in Ki manipulation earning her the prestigious Genesis Rank—the fifth rank in the hierarchy. Everyone admired her for her talent, and Erik was often introduced as “Claire’s brother,” as if he were just an extension of her achievements. He couldn’t escape the feeling of being trapped in her shadow, a constant reminder of his perceived mediocrity.

His father, a former army commander, had always held high expectations for both of them, but they had become a weight Erik struggled to bear. After being unfairly cast out from the army for a mistake he didn't commit, his father poured all his hopes into Claire, seeing her as the legacy he had lost. The way he praised her, the way he lit up at her achievements, only deepened Erik’s bitterness. He longed for his father’s recognition but often felt invisible, as though his existence was overshadowed by Claire's brilliance.

As he continued walking, Erik spotted a few of his classmates from Class C, their laughter ringing out like a jarring reminder of his place in the social hierarchy. "Did you see Erik fiddling with that rock again? Maybe he thinks it will give him some special power," one joked, earning chuckles from the group.

Erik clenched the rock tighter, trying to ignore the sting of their mockery. It was just a rock—yet it had become a small source of comfort for him, a token of something he couldn’t quite name. He felt a mix of anger and helplessness, emotions that churned in his chest as he approached the training hall door.

The human ranking system was unforgiving. The Trainee Rank was where Erik found himself, a status he had accepted but never embraced. Around him, the echoes of the ranks rang clear: Novice, Initiate, Adept, Genesis, Master, and finally Transcendent. It felt like a distant dream, a world where he could stand tall among his peers instead of being relegated to the background.

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Pushing the door open, Erik stepped into the training hall. The room was expansive, filled with students practicing various forms of Ki manipulation. He observed them with a mixture of admiration and envy, the way they moved with confidence and grace. His gaze wandered to the instructor, a stern-faced man who was demonstrating an advanced technique.

“Remember, your Ki is an extension of yourself! Harness it and let it flow!” the instructor shouted, his voice booming across the hall. Erik felt a flicker of determination igniting within him. He wanted to learn, to grow, to prove himself—not just to others, but to himself.

Finding a spot at the back of the hall, he took a deep breath, focusing on his own energy. He closed his eyes, letting the noise fade away, concentrating on the warmth of his Ki. He could feel it bubbling beneath the surface, a latent power waiting to be unleashed.

As he attempted to connect with his Ki, his thoughts drifted back to Claire and their father. He knew his father believed in her, but the pressure of those expectations loomed large. What would he think if he knew Erik felt this way? Would he still see him as his son, or would he always be just Claire’s brother?

Suddenly, a voice interrupted his thoughts. “Hey, Erik! You okay?” It was Rodger, one of his classmates. Erik opened his eyes, surprised to find Rodger looking at him with concern.

“Yeah, just…thinking,” Erik replied, trying to sound casual.

Rodger shrugged. “You should join us. We’re about to start a sparring match. It’s a great way to practice your Ki.”

Erik hesitated, but something in Rodger's genuine invitation sparked a flicker of hope. Maybe this was his chance to show that he could stand on his own.

“Alright, let’s do it,” Erik said, a newfound determination settling within him.

As he stepped onto the mat, he was paired against a dwarf named Thrain, known for his mastery of Mana. Thrain was stocky, his muscles bulging beneath his tunic, and his face bore a friendly but fierce grin.

“Ready to give it your all?” Thrain said, cracking his knuckles. “Don’t hold back just because I’m a dwarf!”

Erik felt a rush of adrenaline. Facing a dwarf meant he would encounter a different style of combat—one based on the structured and powerful nature of Mana. The atmosphere crackled with energy as the two took their positions, each sizing the other up.

As the instructor called for the match to begin, Erik watched Thrain intently. The dwarf focused his energy, summoning an orb of shimmering Mana in his hand. With a quick movement, Thrain hurled it toward Erik, the orb exploding with a radiant burst of light upon impact with the training mat.

Erik instinctively stepped back, startled by the force of the Mana blast. He could feel the energy ripple through the air around him, and suddenly, a strange sensation stirred within his body—a tingle that spread from his fingertips to his core. It was as if a dormant power had awakened, resonating with the energy in the room.

He gasped, his heart racing, overwhelmed by the unfamiliar feeling. This wasn’t just the warmth of Ki; it was something deeper, a connection to a power he had yet to understand. For a moment, he felt as if the world around him faded away, leaving only the pulsing energy that coursed through him.

As Thrain prepared for his next move, Erik stood frozen, captivated by the new sensation within him. The chapter of his life that had felt constrained and unremarkable was beginning to unfold into something extraordinary.