Leveling Up With My Dragon System

As they left the assembly hall, the whispers grew louder. The students were abuzz with rumors and theories, but no one had the full story. Kai's thoughts were a tumultuous storm, the guilt and fear mixing with the excitement of his new power. He had to get away, to find someplace quiet to think, to understand what he'd become.

The new student, Rerna Ivar, was the topic of much speculation. She'd arrived with no fanfare, yet she had a spot on Ake's team. The same team the blue-level bully had been part of before his untimely demise. Kai watched her from afar, her green and black hair a stark contrast against the sea of students. She remained silent, her eyes focused on the colonel as he spoke. There was something about her, something that felt familiar yet foreign, like a puzzle piece that didn't quite fit.

As the assembly dispersed, the chatter grew louder, filling the hallways with a cacophony of voices. Kai's thoughts were a jumble of questions and fears, but he knew he had to keep his distance. He couldn't risk drawing attention to himself, not now. He slipped away from Frode, needing time to process the events of the past twelve hours.

The academy had never felt so oppressive. Every shadow held a potential accuser, every whisper a judgment. Kai hurried to the training grounds, hoping to find some solace in the familiar surroundings. The early morning dew clung to the grass as he approached the edge of the clearing, his boots squelching softly with each step. The smell of the earth was comforting, grounding him in a way that the cold stone of the academy couldn't.

As he reached the training fields, he noticed a figure standing alone, her back to him. It was Rerna, the recruit with the green and black hair. She was dressed in the standard grey uniform of a new student, but something about her posture, the way she held herself, screamed of hidden strength. He felt drawn to her, as if she too harbored secrets that could change the course of their lives.

Kai took a tentative step forward, and the crunch of gravel beneath his boot alerted her to his presence. She turned to face him, her eyes a piercing emerald that seemed to see right through him. For a moment, he felt exposed, his secret laid bare before her, but she just nodded in acknowledgment before returning her gaze to the horizon.

He watched as she bent down, her hand touching the earth gently. The ground rumbled, and a spike of rock shot up, stopping just short of her fingertips. It hovered there, a testament to her power. Kai felt a flicker of envy—his dragon abilities were unpredictable and volatile compared to her precise control over the earth. But he pushed the thought aside. Now wasn't the time to compare.

"You're new," he said, his voice a little too loud in the quiet.

Rerna looked over her shoulder, her eyes meeting his. "I am." Her voice was calm, almost serene, belying the power she'd just displayed.

Kai took a deep breath. "I'm Kai." He held out his hand, hoping to offer some kind of peace offering, some sign that he wasn't like the others. That he understood what it was like to be an outsider.

Rerna's gaze remained on him for a moment longer before she took his hand. "Rerna," she said simply. Her grip was firm, and he felt a strange pulse of energy pass between them, like a handshake between two magnets.

"What level are you?" Kai asked, his curiosity piqued by her earth-based powers.

Rerna released his hand, and the ground beneath them trembled slightly. "I'm a black-level," she replied, her voice carrying a hint of pride.

Kai felt a flash of excitement. "Really?" he exclaimed, a bit too loudly. He quickly composed himself. "I'm... I'm just a grey level," he mumbled, feeling a bit embarrassed.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Rerna's expression didn't change. "Don't underestimate yourself," she said, her voice still calm. "Everyone starts somewhere."

Her words echoed in Kai's mind as they stood there, the earth still vibrating slightly from her display of power. He felt a strange kinship with her, a bond forged in the face of a shared secret. "I've never seen anyone control Earth like that," he murmured, unable to take his eyes off the rock spike.

Rerna offered a small smile, the first he'd seen from her. "You have your strengths," she said, turning back to the training field. "You don't need to hide."

Kai felt a pang of hope at her words, but the weight of his secret was still heavy. He watched her as she began to move, her steps light and graceful despite the power she could command. The rock spike followed her, a silent sentinel to her abilities. "How do you do it?" he asked, his voice filled with awe.

Rerna paused, looking over her shoulder at him. "Do what?"

"How do you control your powers so... so perfectly?" Kai asked, the question hanging in the air between them.

Rerna's smile grew a touch wider. "Practice," she said simply, her eyes never leaving his. "And a deep connection to the earth."

Kai nodded, understanding what she meant. "I've read about that," he murmured. "But I've never felt it. I've always just... had these... these bursts of power."

Rerna's eyes searched his for a moment before she spoke again. "Perhaps you're looking in the wrong places," she said cryptically. "Or maybe you're just not letting yourself feel it."

Kai felt a shiver run down his spine as if she'd just offered him a clue to a puzzle he hadn't even known he was trying to solve. He watched as she continued her training, the spikes of rock moving in a mesmerizing dance around her. It was like watching a ballet performed by the earth itself.

He took a step back, his mind racing with the implications of her words. Could it be that simple? Could he just... connect with his power, like Rerna did with the earth? He'd always felt like his abilities were a wild beast inside him, something to be feared and controlled. But what if there was another way?

"Thanks," he murmured, watching her in amazement. "I'll... I'll keep that in mind."

Rerna nodded and continued her training, the spikes of rock moving with a fluidity that seemed almost otherworldly. Kai took a few steps back, feeling both inspired and overwhelmed. He hadn't felt this way since he'd first uncovered his dragon powers in the library. The urge to practice, to understand his new abilities, grew stronger by the minute.

With a newfound determination, Kai turned and sprinted back to his dorm. He needed to find a secluded spot where he could train without being discovered. His mind raced with the implications of what Rerna had said—perhaps there was a way to control the power that surged through him.

Once inside, he quickly changed into his training gear and made his way to the abandoned wing of the academy. It was a place he'd stumbled upon during his first week, a place where the air was thick with the scent of dust and disuse. The perfect place to train in secret. He hurried down the long, dimly lit corridor, his footsteps echoing off the walls.

The wing was a relic from a time before the academy had been rebuilt. The walls were scarred and the floor was uneven, but it was far enough from the main halls that the noise of his practice would be muffled. He found a room at the end of the corridor, its door slightly ajar, revealing a space that looked like a forgotten classroom. The desks were overturned, the chalkboard cracked, and the windows were boarded up, but it was empty.

Kai took a deep breath, feeling the anticipation build in his chest. He raised his hand, and with a flick of his wrist, summoned a fireball. It hovered in the palm of his hand, pulsing with energy. He threw it at the wall, watching as it exploded into a shower of sparks and flames. The room grew warmer, and he felt the heat dance across his skin, but there was no fear, only excitement.

The dragon-based powers were his to command, and he was eager to push the boundaries of his newfound strength. He practiced for hours, his movements becoming more precise, the powerless erratic. Each time he threw a punch or shot a fireball, he could feel the dragon within him stirring, urging him to go further, to unlock more of his potential.

As the sun began to peek through the boarded windows, casting shadows across the dusty floor, Kai's exhaustion was replaced by a sense of euphoria. He'd never felt so alive, so in sync with his abilities. It was as if he'd discovered a part of himself that had been lying dormant, waiting for the right moment to awaken.