Scene: Classroom – Midday
The sun angled sharply through the academy's reinforced windows, bathing the sleek whiteboard in golden light. Holographic diagrams shimmered in the air as Professor Mickyle paced the front of the room with unshakable presence. His coat fluttered with every step, trimmed in silver threads that responded to the ambient energy of the classroom.
"Now pay attention," Mickyle said, voice crisp but not unkind. "Most of you are still relying on raw bursts. Wild resonance. Primitive techniques. It might've gotten you through your awakening and your first few ascensions, but we're beyond that now."
He tapped on a projected diagram of a human body overlaid with glowing green vein networks.
"Tier 7 marks the beginning of controlled amplification. From this stage forward, it's no longer just about absorbing energy. You must resonate with the world. Flow through it. Let it flow through you."
He paused, eyes sweeping the class.
"When your Veins expand, you gain access to more than raw strength. You gain clarity. Finesse. The difference between a brute and a master is the ability to refine chaos into stillness."
Kian sat still in the middle row, brows drawn faintly. The words were familiar but they hit differently now. Now that he'd felt it. The deep hum of the world flowing into him. His veins pulsing, glowing faintly with power as he ascended.
Resonating… yeah. That was exactly the word.
Nia sat a row behind him, scribbling quick notes, a soft smile on her face. She glanced at him now and then, already aware something had changed in him. She could sense it. Feel it. His presence was calmer like the eye of a storm.
A few seats to Kian's right, Silas observed without moving his head. He didn't take notes. He didn't need to. He watched the shift in Kian's breathing. The stillness in his posture. That calm confidence wasn't there a few days ago.
Did he…? Silas narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Tomorrow," Mickyle continued, "we'll begin outdoor resonance tests. But for now, study the diagrams. You'll need to identify all three resonance channels: stabilization, spirit sync, and environmental flow."
A groan passed through the class. Mickyle smirked. "Yes, I'm aware it sounds like spiritual philosophy. Doesn't change the fact that your bodies will shatter without it."
The bell chimed. Light flashed across the board, and the diagrams dissolved. Students gathered their tablets and filtered out, buzzing with complaints and theories.
As Kian rose to leave, Mickyle's voice cut in again quiet, but firm.
"Kian. A moment?"
He paused. Nia gave him a glance of encouragement as she passed, brushing his arm gently before heading out.
Private Talk
The classroom was silent now, empty except for the hum of dormant screens and the scent of faint ozone from residual lightning experiments.
Kian stood near the edge of the desk as Mickyle closed the door.
The professor folded his arms. "So… you've done it."
Kian nodded slowly. "Yeah. Last night. It just… clicked. Everything made sense all of a sudden."
"The world opened up to you," Mickyle said, voice quieting. "Like it always does when you're ready."
Kian exhaled. "I thought it would be louder. But it wasn't. It was calm. Like breathing in silence."
Mickyle gave him a rare smile. "That's Tier 7 for you. The resonance doesn't shout. It hums."
He stepped closer. "And you kept it hidden. Smart. I doubt even that snake of a new student, Silas, noticed."
Kian raised a brow. "You noticed him too?"
"I'd be worried if I hadn't," Mickyle said. "But right now, I care more about you. Tier 7 is when your powers begin to stretch beyond you. If you're not careful, your Veins will pull energy too quickly, overload, and tear themselves apart."
Kian's face went still.
"That's why I want to train you privately. Starting tomorrow," Mickyle continued. "Not just your lightningyour chaos. Your spatial field. Your new resonance."
Kian nodded once. "I'm ready."
Mickyle smiled again, something almost fatherly in it. "No, Kian. You're becoming ready. And I'm honored to guide that."