An Unexpected Awakening

The morning rose like any other, but for Kiro, everything was different. As he got up, a strange sensation passed through him. His body felt lighter, stronger, as if it had been nourished by a new energy. It was still subtle, but undeniably present. He hadn’t forgotten the light he had summoned the previous evening, nor the feeling of power that had awakened within him. Every muscle, every fiber of his being seemed to vibrate with a force he couldn’t yet fully grasp.

He was no longer the same Kiro who had shuffled through the hallways of the magic academy. He dressed with a determined step, his bag slung over his shoulder, his hands less trembling than usual. When he arrived at school, the air felt strangely fresher, as though the entire universe was watching him, waiting for him, ready to reveal its mysteries.

He sat in his classroom, and as his classmates took their seats around him, he felt a pressure in the air, like an unspoken expectation. The professor entered, an elderly man with a stern gaze, looking at him with a touch of disdain, as usual. Kiro wasn’t a student who stood out—he wasn’t a prodigy like some others. But today... today, he was going to prove to them that something had changed.

Professor Karro fixed his eyes on the board, grimacing.
“Today, we will test your mastery of elemental magic. You will summon a flame. It’s simple, but revealing.” He turned his eyes toward Kiro, staring at him for a moment before resuming his usual tone. “Kiro, it’s your turn.”

Kiro slowly stepped forward to the board, feeling an odd calm wash over him. In his mind, Radis’s voice rose.
“Do it slowly, Kiro. Don’t let your power explode all at once. You still need to learn to control it.”

The young boy gave a slight nod, though he didn’t need such advice. He already knew what to do. He had understood the lesson the night before. What he had within him wasn’t just magic. It was the power of a legendary mage, an infinite magic he had to learn to handle with caution.

He raised his hand, and a small flame instantly appeared at the tips of his fingers. But that wasn’t all. The fire intensified gradually, dancing around his palms, its heat becoming almost unbearable. His classmates backed away, some casting worried glances, while Professor Karro watched, mouth agape.

Kiro didn’t stop there. He focused even more, and the flame doubled, then tripled in intensity. An oppressive heat filled the room. The walls seemed to vibrate under the pressure, but Kiro, without even the slightest sign of fatigue, controlled the element perfectly.

“This is... incredible!” whispered a voice from the back of the class. It was Rika, one of the most talented students at the academy. She couldn’t stop staring at Kiro, eyes wide with disbelief. She, who had always been one of the best, was now effortlessly surpassed by this boy she had never taken seriously.

Professor Karro approached, his confused expression slowly turning to concern.
“Kiro...” He seemed to search for his words. “This is far beyond expectations.”

Kiro focused again, and the flame disappeared in a breath. The silence that followed was heavy, as if everyone was holding their breath. The students looked at one another, whispering, murmurs of confusion and astonishment hanging in the air.

Professor Karro cleared his throat.
“Very well. You have exceeded the required standard, Kiro. Far exceeded it. But…” He paused, suddenly looking worried. “We’re going to need to reassess your progress.”

Kiro returned to his seat, a strange sensation tickling the back of his mind. He hadn’t done anything wrong, had he? He had simply shown what he could do. So why the unease?

The lesson continued, but Kiro couldn’t ignore the fact that something had changed. The looks from the other students, the whispers. He felt... different. And not in the way he had imagined. It wasn’t just the magic that had transformed him, but the way others now saw him.

At the end of the lesson, Professor Karro called him over after everyone had left.
“Kiro, come with me.” He stood and followed, worried but curious.

“You know, Kiro…” Karro began once they were alone in his office, “your potential far exceeds what we expect from a student at your level. This isn’t normal. Not here.”

Kiro swallowed, wondering where this would lead.
“What do you mean, Professor?”

Karro placed his glasses on the tip of his nose and looked at him intensely.
“You’re... too powerful. Far more than any student at the academy. And I’m not sure that’s a good thing.”

Kiro felt a chill run down his back.
“What are you suggesting?”

The professor stared at him for a moment before sighing.
“I think it would be wiser to send you to an academy better suited to your level. A prestigious one. Here, you risk upsetting the balance. We fear that your presence will disturb the other students.”

Kiro felt his heart tighten. A more prestigious academy? That seemed like a good thing, right? But at the same time, it was a new world, a place where he might not be the ordinary student he had been before, a world where the expectations would be much higher.

“You’re transferring me…?” he said, as if speaking out loud for the first time.

“Yes. I’ll discuss it with the headmaster. We have no choice.” Karro looked at him for a moment before standing up. “Prepare yourself, Kiro. What you’ve just demonstrated is something few people can handle. It’s time to see what you’re truly capable of.”

Kiro stood as well, his mind racing. A new academy… Was he ready for this?

Radis’s voice, calm and reassuring, rose in his mind.
“Don’t worry, Kiro. You’ll learn to handle this situation. But remember, everything is moving very quickly now. Stay calm.”

Kiro closed his eyes for a moment, breathing deeply. He was closer than ever to a future he had never imagined. And what lay ahead, he had no idea of the magnitude.

End of Chapter 3.