For a second, my heart clenched, expecting everything to be gone, but I was still there. Still sitting in the small group of dragon-girls. I blinked again and again, but each time the fear remained.

  “Do you think this is worth it?” I stared at my hands. They were real and so-so small.

  Mousei shrugged. Louize mumbled something I couldn’t hear. Ocoz didn’t even acknowledge me. Gretchen sat opposite me and spoke, “Yes. Strength is needed to protect this galaxy. We should all be ready to sacrifice ourselves.” Very unlike the apologetic words she spoke before.

  I chuckled… Sacrifice ourselves – what a bunch of horseshit. “I guess it might be worth it.” The constant fear didn’t go away, but I was stronger now.

  Ivaldie opened her eyes to look at me. “Were you truthful about me?” There wasn’t a shred of emotion in her tone.

  The voice pulled me back to the ground. Away from the terrible existential fear. “That I don’t want to do anything with you? No, I just said that to get Louize off my back.”

  “You lying bastard! I knew you were my enemy!” She growled, showing her claws.

  “And you are an irrational idiot obsessed with useless shit! If you’re so insecure, maybe grow a pair?”

  “How dare you?” She jumped to her feet, ready to pounce on me and tear my throat out.

  I flared my starpower, starting to weave the Mind Acceleration Technique. It felt so much easier to do now. The world slowed down slightly as I shouted, “I dare, because you are stupid! Why do you even care about me? I just want to become a wizard!”

  “You lie!” She shouted louder.

  “Don’t fight…” Gretchen murmured weakly.

  Slow clapping interrupted our argument. Siege stood in front of the door, looking at this group with a smug grin. “ELEVATE is not for fighting, kids. Keep your quarrels outside of this room.” He flared his starpower, breaking my technique. “Or I will kick you out, got it? Louize?”

  She clenched her fists and sat back down. “Yes, sir…”

  “Magnus?”

  “Thank you for stopping that maniac.” I stared at the copper-scaled idiot.

  “Magnus!” Siege said louder.

  “Why are you shouting at me? I wasn’t the one who was aggressive for no reason!”

  After a moment of silence, he started laughing. “Younglings are the worst.” Siege clapped his hands. “Ivaldie, stop Louize from misbehaving. Magnus, no talking for you!” His hand turned into a blur, and suddenly, my lips glued together.

  “Mhmhmhmm!” I couldn’t open my mouth even if I tried.

  “Meditate! Once you learn your lesson, you’ll be able to talk.” He smirked and walked away. “I’ll grab my mug of poison and be back shortly.” Just as quickly as he entered, he left.

  This was outrageous; it was idiotic. Why was I punished for that bitch’s actions?! I took a deep breath, feeling starpower crawl through my body. I couldn’t sense anything amiss.

  “Sorry, Magnus,” Gretchen said, shaking her head. “It’ll pass after ten minutes. Just don’t speak back to the professor, okay?” I nodded my head, rolling my eyes.

  “Louize, we must talk.” With a dead serious face, Ivaldie stood up, staring at the girl.

  “Y-yes!” She mumbled nervously.

  Quickly, they left the room.

  I couldn’t even voice any complaints. But once the silence returned to the room, fear became just as fresh as it was before. The image of the IV tube, sticking out of my hand… the blood endlessly flowing.

  I shook my head. I still thought about that bullshit illusion. That was no way for a supreme wizard.

  Gretchen smiled and spoke to me, “You should reflect on the tribulation, Magnus. It’ll help you understand yourself.” She closed her eyes and started doing a complex form increasingly slowly.

  Deep Geist Search Technique

  Affinity: Onyx-Diamon

  Description: Finds the horrors that exist on a deeper metaphysical level. Those that prey on emotions instead of flesh.

  The fact that things worse than existential dread existed here didn’t help my mind to rest easy. Nevertheless, I listened to her advice and closed my eyes.

  The scene of my second death kept flowing through my mind. Again and again, I saw myself doing the unthinkable, going through terrible pain, and never seeing my Mom again.

  Enjoying the story? Show your support by reading it on the official site.

  I wanted to dismiss it as just an illusion, but it just didn’t work. The feelings remained exactly where they were, festering like a wound deep in my soul. I hated the tribulation altar, and I hated myself for thinking about such a stupid solution.

  Mousei was right… Illusions eventually reveal themselves, and I was too hasty with everything. I acted too impulsively, dismissed reality too readily just because it wasn’t to my liking. It was the height of arrogance.

  I flared starpower, reanimating the flow. It was so much easier now. Solipsism always grated on my mind - the stupid idea that I was living in an illusion. How can I believe myself free if everything could be a lie? It was disgusting, and it was unavoidable.

  The solution was always easy - to accept reality as it was. The temptation to seek idiosyncrasies in my perception was the reason why I made such a huge mistake. I couldn’t do that again. Not if I wanted to show the tribulation altar that there was nothing I couldn’t handle.

  I had to be patient. I couldn’t know if this was another illusion, and I didn’t need to. I felt fear about that possibility, felt panic about those terrible memories, but the fact remained – it happened, and I let it happen.

  If I were to open my eyes again, would I get out of the illusion? This all could be an illusion after all. Yet, everything remained. I was still sitting on the mat. Suddenly, starpower pulsed within me, and a strong surge pierced my bones and muscles. What an obvious conclusion. Reality is real… I was still afraid.

  Your SE has increased by 2. From 20 to 22!

  Just one session on the altar gave me so much strength. Seven whole standing emissions. It was insane. I tried asking Mousei for some marshmallows, but I couldn’t speak… Damn Siege.

  Utilizing a detection form, I spread the field of perception around me. Like always, I couldn’t help but marvel at the beauty of magic. Such intricate patterns of starpower flowed through my course-mates.

  Mousei’s felt like a flame. Gretchen’s like a whisper in the dark. Ocoz was nothing like I’ve felt before, like a new color that made my head hurt when I focused on it. I looked at the walls. With more power flowing through the form, I could sense faint structures within them.

  They were like metal veins, giving off support and life, breathing air. It dawned on me – the floors produced oxygen. The tubes weren’t just metal, they were plant-like, breathing, pulsing life-giving chemicals into the air.

  I directed my focus on myself. Around my mouth, there was a faint blob of energy around my mouth. I tried surrounding it with my starpower, but it simply passed through, as if it wasn’t even there.

  I made a second detection form with my other hand. The fields overlapped, growing larger. The blob sharpened, revealing itself to be a web, sewing my lips shut. And I still couldn’t touch it with my starpower. The good news was – it was slowly dissolving.

  Your mastery of Detection Form has reached Adept!

  While my hands still shook, and occasionally I felt the room becoming small and constricting, I could still think. Captured by the magnificence of the supernatural matter, I kept sensing the surroundings. The room was quiet as people meditated.

  Ten tranquil minutes passed, and then a fat sausage tail hit my back…

  “Learn to control that thing!” I shouted. I could speak again.

  “That’s what I’m trying to do!” Mousei blushed and turned her head away from me.

  I scratched my head awkwardly. “Sorry, I didn’t mean it.” I sighed. “Can I have a marshmallow, please?”

  Mousei looked back at me. “Fine.” She stood up and grabbed the packet of marshmallows from behind the blackboard. “You’ll owe me, kid.” The dragon showed her fangs and ate one herself. Then she threw another at me.

  My body felt lighter as I caught the tasty morsel. Gulping it, I thanked Mousei.

  “I said, you’ll owe me.” She rolled her eyes, plopping down on the mat. She wasn’t that bad of a person, I realized.

  Gretchen kept making forms with her hands; her scales were slowly growing darker. My scouter failed to identify what technique she was performing… It was concerning.

  The door slammed open, and Ivaldie and Louize stepped into the room. Louize had a frown on her face; her copper scales seemed to have lost their luster. Ivaldie appeared cold and untouchable… Though on a kid’s body, it looked more comical.

  Uncertainty reared its head as they walked straight to me. Louize looked around nervously, and Ivaldie bumped her shoulder.

  The copper-head took a deep breath and mumbled, “I’m sorry for accusing you…”

  A smirk spread across my face. “What did you say?”

  She clenched her teeth. Ivaldie’s face became even more serious. After an annoyed groan, she shouted, “I’m sorry for being mean to you!”

  I giggled, standing up. “Apology accepted! Let’s be friends from now on.” I extended a handshake. “And don’t worry, I won’t be your competitor.” I subtly glanced at Ivaldie.

  Louize pursed her lips and, after a loud gulp, she grabbed my hand, squeezing it painfully.

  “S-see… no need to be enemies.” I strengthened my hand, relieving the pressure. Damn, she was strong.

  “Whatever…” She dropped my hand and walked to the mat.

  Ivaldie nodded approvingly. “Behave yourself, Magnus. I am still your class leader.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” She didn’t even react to an obvious insult, even smiling slightly.

  “What a tear-jerking scene. I knew I could rely on the soldier-girl to keep my course in check.” Siege was already back in the room somehow. In his hand, there was a mug made out of a black crystal; the liquid inside bubbled viciously.

  Ultimate Necrosis Instant Death Destruction Venom

  Description: It’ll kill anything, destroy their corpse and their soul in the process. Strangely, it’s safe to drink, though ill-advised

  He took a sip. “Want a drink, kid?” That damned smile reached his ears.

  I just had to ignore the weirdness. There were things worse in life. “Professor Siege, can I leave? I’d like to go to the biocrafting course.”

  He opened his mouth, feigning surprise. “You signed up with Granny Simona.” He shrugged. “Sure, go. You’ve got enough growth for today, whelp.”

  I didn’t expect him to let me go so easily. I bowed, not wanting to anger the fickle, crazy dragon. “Thank you, Professor Siege. See you tomorrow.”

  Siege took another sip and waved at me. I was out of there. My body felt full of energy and power, but my mind was in shambles. Hands shook constantly, and sometimes sudden spikes of fear assaulted me. I was a mess… Nothing some sleep and sweets couldn’t fix...

  I scratched my head and set off towards Simona’s laboratory. Reading would surely calm down my nerves… It was no good to jump at every shadow.

  The laboratory looked the same as before. Quiet, slightly unsettling, but ultimately more comfortable than the ELEVATE room. Simona still worked on her hologram, and one of her eyes snapped to me.

  Softly, the giant woman spoke, “Oh, hello, Magnus.” Her tone was very upbeat. “You don’t look so well. Take a seat.” Her hands moved with lightning speed as she tweaked the barely perceptible parts of the illusion. Exhausted from the traumatic event, I sat down, choosing which book to read. “Hello, professor.”

  Half of Simona’s face smiled. “You remind me of my old human friend, let me tell you a story…”

  I couldn’t get much reading done, absorbed in the story of a warrior who gave up his dreams to protect the lives of his friends. I didn’t want to be anything like him. There were no other interesting things that day.