Aethelos: The Bastard of Light

After the Repulse class, Eli stayed behind while the other students dispersed. He hesitated for a moment, then followed Brock Rocket into a more isolated corridor. · “Brock… can I talk to you?” · The tutor stopped. For the first time since they had met, the tired and disinterested posture disappeared. His shoulders straightened and his gaze became firmer. · “Speak.” · Eli took a deep breath. · “In today’s class… the difference was big. I saw it. I want to get stronger, but I feel like I’m training without direction.” · Brock observed him in silence for a few seconds. · “Strength without identity is just noise,” he said, his voice more serious and instructive than usual. “You’re still trying to be what you think others expect. Until you figure out who you really are, you’ll keep falling behind. It’s not just technique, Eli. It’s knowing what you’re defending when you fight.” · Eli lowered his gaze, absorbing the words. Brock added nothing more. He simply gave a slight nod and walked away, leaving him alone with that weight. · In the main courtyard, the tension that had been building since the Repulse class finally snapped. · Layonel was leaning against a column, hands in his pockets, when Lygar walked past him. A low, almost lazy comment came from the fire user’s mouth. Lygar stopped. The two locked eyes. · It didn’t take much more. · The first strike came from Lygar. Layonel dodged easily and answered with an attack wrapped in controlled flames. Within seconds, the courtyard had turned into a circle of students watching. No one interfered. They only observed. · The fight was fast and aggressive. Shadow and fire clashed in the air. Lygar attacked with intensity. Layonel responded with the same force, but kept his relaxed air, almost as if he were enjoying the situation. · Then Professor Lito appeared. · “Enough!” His voice cut through the courtyard. “This is an academy, not an animal cage. What kind of savage behavior is this?” · The comment landed heavily. · Layonel lowered his hands and shrugged, as if the word “savage” hadn’t really hit him. Lygar, on the other hand, went rigid. His jaw tightened. The same anger from the class about the Schulon rose in his throat again. · Lito looked at both of them with contained disdain. · “I’m calling the director. This will not be left like this.” · Shortly afterward, the fight had been stopped and the students pushed back. Joseph Ville Light appeared in the courtyard with a calm step but a heavy presence. He spoke first with Lito, then called Lygar aside. · Lygar didn’t wait. · “That professor is prejudiced,” he vented, his voice tense. “In class he treated the Schulon like trash. Now he calls us savages. He doesn’t even hide what he thinks of us.” · Joseph listened in silence. When Lygar finished, the director looked him in the eyes and answered in a serious, cold tone: · “And have you already proven him wrong?” · Lygar had no reply. · Joseph added nothing more. He simply held his firm gaze on him for one more second and then turned away, leaving the question hanging in the air. · Lygar remained standing in the courtyard, his hands still trembling slightly from adrenaline and anger. For the first time, the fury had nowhere to go. · The director’s question had been simple. · And it hurt exactly because of that.