Path of the Unmentioned: The Missing Piece-Chapter 79: Artificial Rift [1]

The classroom hummed with quiet conversations and the occasional scrape of a chair as students settled in.

Kyle slumped in his seat near the back, spinning his pen between his fingers with practiced ease.

The wooden desk felt smooth and cool beneath his elbows.

A week had passed since that friendly spar with Cedric.

Kyle absently rubbed his side where his ribs had been cracked.

The healing magic had done its job.

But sometimes Kyle still felt a phantom ache in his ribs.

Not from Cedric’s blows.

But from that masked figure’s brutal kick in the Viper’s warehouse.

That memory played in his head on a loop. More vivid than any dream.

The crunch of bone.

The coppery taste of blood filling his mouth.

Those crimson eyes staring down at him through that grotesque stitched mask.

Even now, safe in the classroom.

His breath hitched slightly when he remembered how close he had come to dying that night.

The pain had faded.

But the memory lingered like a shadow, creeping up on him when he least expected it.

He sighed.

At least the whole ice affinity thing hadn’t caused as much trouble as he had feared.

He had completely forgotten to tell Aurelia beforehand that he is going to show his ice affinity to everyone.

But when he finally told her.

She had just given him that typical Aurelia look.

One raised eyebrow, lips pressed in a thin line.

Before shrugging.

"Good," she’d said.

"I was going to tell you it’s fine to show another element anyway."

No big speech.

No drama.

Just pure, practical Aurelia.

Still, word had spread through the academy like wildfire.

Kyle Valemont, the Gale Witch’s little brother, wasn’t just a lightning mage.

He was a Deviant.

Lightning and ice at that.

Kyle sighed.

Resting his chin in his hand.

There was only one person who could have blabbed that information all over campus.

’Luna.’

That gossip girl couldn’t keep a secret if her life depended on it.

Not that it really mattered, he supposed.

He had been planning to reveal it eventually anyway.

Better to have it out in the open now than during some life-or-death situation later.

The classroom door slid open with a soft hiss of magic cutting through his thoughts.

Instead of Professor Carter’s usual scowling face.

It was Aurelia who strode in.

Her boots clicking sharply against the marble floor.

The chatter died instantly, like someone had cast a silence spell.

Even the most arrogant noble kids knew better than to keep talking when the Gale Witch entered a room.

Murmurs rippled through the classroom.

"Isn’t this supposed to be Professor Carter’s lecture?" someone near the front whispered a little too loudly.

Aurelia didn’t even raise her voice.

She just clapped her hands once.

A wave of mana carried through the room. Amplified by a pulse of wind magic.

The air itself seemed to vibrate with the mana. Leaving complete silence in its wake.

"I know this is Instructor Carter’s time slot," she said.

Her voice calm but carrying that unmistakable tone of command.

"But plans have changed. You have a practical exam today."

The classroom erupted.

— "What? Since when?"

— "We weren’t told about this!"

— "That’s not fair!"

Aurelia’s eyes narrowed.

Kyle could swear the temperature in the room dropped a few degrees.

"This is Solvayne Magic Academy," she said slowly, deliberately.

Like she was explaining something very simple to very stupid children.

"Not some backwater village school where they coddle you with warnings and study guides. You are here to become the best, not just mages, but warriors."

"The real world doesn’t send you an invitation before it tries to kill you."

A heavy silence fell over the room.

Kyle couldn’t help but smile.

’Damn, she was good at that.’

One minute of talking and she had a room full of teenagers acting like well-trained soldiers.

"Follow me," she ordered.

Turning sharply on her heel and striding back toward the door.

Chairs screeched against the floor as everyone scrambled to obey.

Kyle stood up and fell into step beside Reo.

Who was muttering under his breath like a grumpy old man.

"Man, I hate surprise exams," Reo grumbled.

Running a hand through his perpetually messy brown hair.

"I didn’t even bring my good gloves."

Kyle snorted. "When do you ever bring your good gloves?"

Reo opened his mouth to protest.

But before he could get a word out.

Luna appeared between them like a mischievous ghost.

Her short white hair bouncing with each step.

"Ooooh, a practical exam?" she said.

Grinning like a cat that had just spotted an unattended fish.

"You think they will make us fight monsters? Or each other?" Her dark eyes sparkled with barely contained excitement.

Kyle gave her a sideways look. "You want to fight monsters?"

Luna’s grin widened until it looked like her face might split in half.

"I live for chaos."

Kyle’s fingers absently traced the smooth metal of the black ring on his left hand, feeling the familiar warmth pulse beneath his touch.

’Zalrielle’

"Don’t worry," he murmured under his breath.

’You will get your turn today.’

The ring gave a faint.

Approving hum against his skin. Like a cat purring at being acknowledged.

Kyle could almost picture the spirit’s satisfaction.

That smug, possessive pride she always showed when he chose her over standard practice weapons.

He rolled his eyes but couldn’t suppress the small smile tugging at his lips.

Even after just a few weeks bonded.

The temperamental spirit had already developed a habit of sulking when ignored.

Today’s exam would be the perfect chance to make it up to her.

The ring warmed further against his finger.

As if in agreement.

———

The massive doors of the Hall Trials groaned as they swung shut behind them.

Sealing with a finality that made Kyle’s stomach tighten.

The stone walls seemed to breathe with stored magic.

The faint blue glow of enchantments carved into every archway.

Kyle’s boots scuffed against the worn flagstones as he followed Aurelia inside.

The hall stretched before them like a cathedral.

Its vaulted ceilings disappearing into shadow high above.

Massive pillars lined the space.

Each one carved with intricate runes that pulsed faintly with stored power.

Around them, the hall buzzed with nervous energy.

Students packed every available space.

First years from all ten classes.

Nearly a thousand teenagers crammed together in their academy uniforms.

The noise was incredible.

Laughter, arguments, the occasional yelp as someone got stepped on.

Kyle spotted familiar faces in the crowd.

The nervous bookworms from Class C1.

The show-off noble kids from B1.

Even a few students he recognized from the joint lectures but couldn’t name.

At the front of the hall. The instructors stood in a grim line.

Professor Carter with his perpetual scowl.

Instructor Seraphina looking unusually serious, and...

Kyle’s eyes landed on the man stepping forward.

Brynn Foxglove.

He is the homeroom teacher of class B1.

His black hair greasy and uncombed.

Dark circles under his eyes so pronounced they looked like bruises.

His robes were wrinkled. The sleeves stained with what might have been ink or possibly coffee.

But when he spoke. His voice boomed through the hall with unnatural clarity.

Magically amplified to cut through the noise.

"Listen up, maggots!" Foxglove’s voice cracked like a whip.

The chatter died instantly.

He cleared his throat.

The sound echoing weirdly through the magic.

"Today’s little field trip is to an artificial rift. Teams of five. Your objectives will vary based on how much we think you can handle."

"Complete your objective," Foxglove continued scratching at his stubbled chin.

"Then haul ass to the central hill. First team there wins." He paused.

Letting that sink in.

"And before you start crying. No, you won’t actually die in there. But..." A nasty grin split his face.

"You’ll feel ninety percent of the pain. So if something bites your arm off? It’ll feel like it’s really happening. Try not to scream too much."

A wave of groans and protests rolled through the students.

Ninety percent of the pain?

"Oh, and one more thing," Foxglove added.

Picking at a stain on his robe.

"You can screw with other teams if you want. No extra points, but if you feel like being an asshole..." He shrugged.

"Also, no storage rings. Just your weapons."

Reo elbowed Kyle hard in the ribs.

"Hey," he hissed, jerking his chin at Kyle’s hip. "When did you get your sword out?"

Kyle glanced down at Zalrielle’s black sheath resting against his thigh.

The spirit weapon had transformed back the moment Kyle exited the classroom.

"What are you talking about?" he said, keeping his face carefully blank.

Before Reo could call him out.

A chorus of chimes echoed through the hall as every student’s mana band lit up at once.

The thin mana band around Kyle’s wrist vibrated sharply.

The glowing screen flashing with a new notification.

Team assignment.

Objective.

The noise around him faded to a dull roar as Kyle stared at the message.

Somewhere to his left.

Luna whooped loudly, already bragging about her team.

Reo cursed colorfully under his breath.

———