Episode 15: A Bad Feeling
He sensed something was wrong just a few seconds ago.
‘Still not good enough.’
Too late. Considering his level, he should’ve noticed it sooner.
He had been talking to Seria — it was true that he let his concentration slip for just a moment.
But that’s not an excuse. He needed to be able to grasp everything, even while multitasking.
He had to try harder. That was the only way to survive in this harsh world of ability users.
With some self-reflection, Abel focused again on using his physical enhancement.
Boom!
Chunks of collapsed debris fell exactly where Abel and Seria had been standing.
Had he been alone, he could have easily moved away.
But Seria was with him. If he tried to move recklessly, it might’ve made things worse.
So Abel chose instead to use his own body as a shield and protect her.
A huge slab of rock slammed into Abel’s back. A heavy shock reverberated through his entire body.
But he didn’t show it. If someone asked, “Didn’t it hurt?” — well, of course it did.
Even with physical enhancement, pain doesn’t just disappear.
You get stronger, yes — but your nerves still feel everything.
So why endure it without flinching? Because he was thinking as if in combat.
If he showed pain, enemies would only grow bolder and more vicious.
But if he stood unshaken no matter the injury? It would rattle them, sap their momentum.
“Ah, Abel-nim…”
“Don’t move, Miss Seria.”
“But—”
“Just stay still. You’re fine.”
He wasn’t saying it just to be kind — it really was better if she stayed put.
If she moved and got exposed to falling rubble, she could get hurt.
If that happened, all his effort would be for nothing.
And if her movement broke his focus, it might weaken his enhancement.
Abel believed himself to be sturdy — but he wasn’t invincible.
If things went wrong, even he could get seriously injured.
The thunderous noise subsided, and the thick dust began to settle.
When Abel no longer felt impacts on his back, he slowly stood up.
“I think it’s safe now. Miss Seria, are you hurt anywhere?”
“N-No, Abel-nim, I’m fine. But you… you’re the one who—”
“No need to worry. I used enhancement, and I’m naturally a bit tough anyway.”
Sometimes he wondered if his real power was actually just his endurance and survivability.
Even with enhancement, having a boulder crash into your back is a nightmare.
Yet he endured it. His body seemed mostly fine.
The enhancement helped, yes — but it didn’t feel like that was the whole story.
“Please don’t do this again, Abel-nim.”
“Miss Seria?”
“I’m… I’m an ability user too. I can’t just keep receiving help forever…”
It seemed the thought of someone getting hurt protecting her had really shaken her.
“Then, someday — when you’ve improved — you can help me,” Abel said.
“…”
“Don’t go thinking things like, ‘Will I ever be good enough?’ or ‘Is that even possible?’
That’s what we’re all here at the Academy for — to make that possible.”
Everyone starts out lost. But eventually, they find the right path.
He hoped Seria would, just like he once did.
Someday, he wanted to see her become a promising, admired ability user.
‘More importantly… the culprits behind this mess should be showing up any moment now.’
Sure enough, just as he scanned the area, two boys came running toward them from a distance.
One had red hair, the other blue.
Just from that alone, it was obvious who they were.
“Hey! Are you guys okay—wait. Hold on. Are you…?”
“Abel Rotensilt, right? We met at the front gate the other day.”
“Nice to see you again, Flam Phoenix. Portus Sparrow.”
Just looking at the two of them, he could already picture what happened.
They had tied for second place during power testing, so no winner was declared.
And before that, a professor had stepped in before they could finish a duel.
So, they must have decided to settle things in the training hall with a sparring match.
And as a result, they ended up destroying part of the wall.
“That idiot didn’t control his power and knocked the wall down!”
“Don’t blame me! It was your constant provoking that pushed me!”
“Don’t act like you’re innocent! You were the one who lost control first!”
Watching two grown men argue like this… was almost childish.
Childish, but hard to stop.
It’s an age-old tradition for opposite elements to clash.
Especially when it’s fire and water, or light and darkness — even gods wouldn’t bother interfering.
In their case, it wasn’t just elemental rivalry.
Flam and Portus’s fathers were also longtime rivals.
The two had faced off several times before, but no winner ever emerged.
Now it was even harder to continue the feud, since both families had grown in power —
A real fight might spiral into something close to war.
So instead, all attention had turned to the sons, Flam and Portus.
And coincidentally, they had both entered the Academy at the same time.
“If you think about it, I managed to break the wall you couldn’t. Doesn’t that make me the winner?”
“Wow, look who’s talking — destroying the Academy and bragging about it? Typical arsonist behavior.
Actually, I should upgrade your title now. Congratulations — you’re officially an arsonist and a demolitions offender.”
“Why, you—!!”
Flam had a hot temper, just like fire.
Portus, on the other hand, always poured cold water over everything.
As expected. Just as always.
Sure, characters like them were a bit exhausting on a daily basis —
But in crucial moments, they always came through.
And above all, with enemies like them, the “reluctant allies facing a powerful foe” kind of cathartic arc became possible…
“You two over there!”
A pink head suddenly popped between the three boys.
“Apologize to Abel-nim, properly!!”
Seria shouted at Flam and Portus with a fierce tone.
Her voice was so forceful that the two boys, who had been bickering endlessly, actually paused in surprise.
“H-Huh?”
“Is she yelling at… us?”
“Who else would I be yelling at if not you two?! Are you going to pretend like nothing happened to someone who could’ve been seriously hurt?!
Even if you are the sons of famous families, that doesn’t excuse this!
The very least you could do is apologize for what you caused!”
Even Abel was a little flustered — it was the first time he’d seen Seria this angry.
And truthfully, he wasn’t even injured.
Sure, he’d probably get a bruise later, but that hardly counted as a real wound.
A real injury should at least involve bleeding, torn skin, or a broken bone, right?
“What are you just standing there for? If you’re about to say you won’t apologize, don’t even bother!”
“W-Wait, that’s not what I meant at all….”
“…”
Flam waved his hands, flustered.
Portus blinked rapidly, staring at Seria.
Honestly, both of them were quite startled.
Until now, because of their backgrounds and natural talent, even adults rarely raised their voices at them.
Minor accidents like this were always brushed off as part of training to refine their powers — no one ever scolded them.
And more than that — very few people had the courage to speak so sternly to these two.
The Phoenix and Sparrow families had ability users spread across the entire continent.
Most people were too afraid of provoking them and kept their mouths shut.
“I know full well how great your fathers are,” Seria continued.
“Which is exactly why it’s your duty not to tarnish their reputation!”
Her voice grew louder.
Thanks to that, Abel — who had been standing behind her — noticed something.
Just for a moment, small flames flickered and vanished around her.
It was only a flash, but their clarity and heat were much better than during their previous training session.
“…”
“…”
Then, almost as if they had planned it, Flam and Portus moved in unison.
Seria flinched slightly but didn’t back down — she stood firm, determined not to bend.
The two boys approached slowly, then bowed their heads.
“…I’m sorry. We didn’t properly check whether anyone was nearby.”
“I apologize. We went overboard. We should’ve exercised restraint, just in case.”
First, they apologized to Abel.
Then, they turned to Seria and bowed again.
“I’m sorry again. I didn’t mean to act so high and mighty. I just couldn’t hold back.”
“I also apologize, my lady. I never intended to throw my weight around just because of my father’s name.”
Now this was unexpected.
Aren’t these guys usually full of pride?
While Abel silently marveled at the scene, Seria took a small step back and turned toward him.
“Abel-nim, if you’re willing to accept their apology, then so will I.”
“Well… I wasn’t hurt badly, and it wasn’t intentional.
So I suppose we can accept their apology — just this once.”
This wasn’t some half-hearted apology.
Looking at their families’ status, even bowing their heads showed sincerity.
“Let’s go, Abel-nim. You should still get checked out at the infirmary, just in case.”
“Eh? No, I’m really fine. I’d rather just get back to training…”
“Come on! What if something’s actually wrong with your body?”
With that kind of determination in her voice, Abel had no choice but to abandon their training plans.
It was a shame, but Seria wasn’t wrong — if there was even a small chance of injury, it was better to get treated immediately.
Seria turned first and left the training hall. Abel followed her.
But then, something felt off.
He stopped and looked back at Flam and Portus.
“…”
“…”
They were staring — fixed on something.
At first, Abel thought they were looking at him.
But no — their eyes were locked onto Seria, who was walking ahead.
“…What the hell. What’s with those eyes?”
He looked again. And again. No matter how he looked at it —
That was the look.
First love.
But that didn’t make any sense.
Wasn’t that role already taken by Caligo?
Wasn’t one first-love-triggered awakening enough?
This was… weird.