Chapter 03: Foxtrot

"I want to know what makes you special."

I don't know what expressions showed on their faces but I can hear a faint "Eh.." amongst the students. I don't have any ideas you know? It's just day one, give me a break. I may be a writer but my creativity takes time! Try to peg your disappointment down a bit, won't you?, I'm hurt.

"Don't sound so disappointed. I know you guys did the aptitude test already, but I want to see it with my own eyes. You know, the power of Arthea's brilliant seeds?"

"That's creepy, no offense."

A rough male voice grumbled. I tilted my head, "And you, what's your name?"

The orb of the boy is a clear blue ball with a water pattern and glitter. Just like how a ball of water is, except it's glittering. If one looked closely, they'd see a white outline of a big fish swimming in it.

"Petra Ekater."

Oh? I turned my head to look at him properly, this time I dared to open my eyes even a little bit. Ok, good, the light didn't block me! I had a chance even for a second. I saw a tall boy with long braided hair. His black eyes looked emotionless but the way his eyebrows furrowed made it clear to me. He probably thought something along the line of, "What the hell is this?"

Then once again it became too bright and I ended up closing my eyes. Damn, I need to do something about this. I can't keep my eyes closed forever and be called Fox Eyes again!

But I digress. Petra Ekater is the third protagonist to this story besides Azuly and Anya. Honestly, did I place them in the same class? I think I did but back then Petra played little to no role at all besides being mentioned here and there. After all, a Duke's son and a commoner like Azuly have no connection whatsoever. They finally interacted because Petra created a safe base in a remote area where both Azuly and Anya who were injured decided to take refuge in.

"Mr. Ekater, son of Duke Ekater, His Royal Majesty's right-hand man. One of the few people in this world blessed with a dragon's blood. As the same blood is currently running through your veins, I'm curious how your power looks like. Will you do a demonstration, Mr. Ekater?"

"You..."

Well, that's easy.

"Ha, you can't even see, how are you going to witness my power?"

This brat, If I knew you were going to insult me like this I should've given him a handicap back then. I knew this fellow is way too strong for his peers right now, only Azuly can match him.

It's not like I did any better by indirectly insulting him earlier but that is way out of line!

I wanted to pout but decided against it. Though, my smiling lips are twitching every now and then. "I have my ways," I replied in a hopefully, cordial tone. "Well then, if Mr. Ekater is shy, I'm not going to force you. Will the students with light blue hair and long brown hair come and demonstrate? After all, you and that girl were the first pair in line."

"Sure." Replied Azuly.

"It's a shame, Mr. Ekater. I'm sure yours would be as beautiful as the flowing water from Sky Palace."

I turned my back on them to watch Azuly as his orb walked a few steps ahead of me. I found myself not smiling as I focused on his grey orb. This unknown feeling in my chest grew heavier as the cracks began to be visible. I felt as if I lost my child, but he is right in front of me so what's wrong?

No time pondering over that, I have something to try. In the book, I wrote certain skills that can be trained and obtained through sheer hard work. But it all depends on the person's deepest desire. Simply put, It manifests in different ways and if you want to have certain skills you need to fill certain requirements too.

Like Azuly's Puma who enhanced his speed and blur his perception of time and place. It's because he was so desperate to save Anya from the clutches of the three-winged bats. With Puma, he was able to temporarily stop time and massacre the horde. Though after that, Azuly fainted and slept for 5 days. His wanting to be faster even just for a second and to be able to turn back time so that he can save Anya filled the requirement for Puma. At that time his magic is at its peak too. This is one of the requirements of the skill.

I've had plenty of time to familiarize myself with this body and its magic in the bathroom earlier. Turns out, I do have a skill. I used a part of it earlier in the classroom and being able to see orbs is one of the benefits of having this skill.

It is 'Sensory Overload'. I sighed when I finally know why I can't even open my eyes. I had suspicions of it because seeing orbs is also a benefit in other skills. But with me able to hear the littlest of voices, see uncanny details even in orbs, and discerning emotions in others' tone and expression fit the bill. The surrounding that got brighter as soon as I open my eyes shouldn't be because of the sunlight. No, I think it's because of magic. Because when I opened my eyes earlier when I was in the hallway, I can see just fine, making me able to contact Yuya.

But when those kids approached me my surrounding became bright. It's their magic that's doing it. Since I can see orbs, those orbs blinded me because of the Sensory Overload, and only when I closed my eyes can I properly see them.

Once again I coated the surrounding with my magic, a good thing my range is wide. I nodded at Azuly as a signal for him to start. I may not be able to see it but...

"Oh."

A gust of wind almost toppled me as I soon felt an overwhelmingly oppressive aura coming from Azuly. His orb turns brighter, showing a faint blue before turning back into grey. My lips twitched, no, I can't be overly excited.

Squeals and curses flew out of the students' mouths who got thrown back. Well, only some did. I can sense them not too far. Well, they are capable. they should be able to stand.

I clapped, giving a standing ovation for my eldest son who did his best. Dad's proud of you! "Impressive. What's your name?"

The oppressive aura disappeared and so does the fierce wind. "Azuly Geralt."

I hummed. Even an ordinary wind spell can be so fierce and dangerous when in his hands. I'd expect nothing less from the protagonist. "You really have a strong foundation of magic, did you learn before coming to Arthea?"

"I have a Master."

"It's no wonder. You're so in tune with your magic. Okay, next! We're going by the order of the pairs that followed me earlier, okay?"

This time it's Anya's turn. I'm not going to sugarcoat it but Anya right now is weak. That's what led her to be captured by the three-winged bats. Anya's foundation in magic is really weak despite coming from a talented magical house, Tamara. Still, this frustrates her and that's why she learned a lot of things.

However, when properly trained with someone who knows her core and what she is suited to be, she'll be unstoppable. Just like in the later parts of Apocalypse, Anya is someone to be feared with.

Right now what stands in front of me is an unpolished gem that needed the right method to shine. She showed a weak fire spell but nonetheless, I applauded her efforts. My daughter-in-law deserves a standing ovation!

The others that came after the two were boring but I can sense that they really deserve to be in Arthea. It really is getting a bit boring. I almost yawned but I pinched my arm so it didn't happen. Great!

"You said you wanted to see my powers, right?"

A familiar rough male voice called out to me. Petra Ekater.

My ears pricked up and I smiled. "Anytime now, Mr. Eka-"

I jumped away and caught the icicle thrown my way, "-ter. I didn't say you could attack me." I played with the icicle for a bit, examining it. The texture is smooth and the end of the icicle is ridiculously sharp. He could say he slipped when questioned and everyone would believe him because he's a Duke's son, rather than me, a commoner.

Well, I provoked him and I got what I wanted so it's fine. "Interesting. Your icicle could kill someone, so I suggest you train your aiming. I'll ignore this because you didn't have any killing intent towards me."

Sensory Overload is convenient only in situations like this. I mentally sighed, if I hadn't sensed the icicle coming for me and jumped away as fast as I can, I would've been injured. It's not funny if I suddenly become the gossip of the town!

I threw the icicle over my shoulder and laughed, "I'm really happy today! I witnessed something amazing! You are really brilliant as the rumors say, Mr. Ekater."

The rumors didn't say anything like that though. But I'm the author so everything goes. It's not like Petra pays any attention to rumors so what he didn't know couldn't hurt him. "I feel like that's all for today. You can go back and have your third period. It should be about time."

"Oh! You're ending things already? What a bummer..."

I turned towards the source of the voice. "'Yeah, I-"

Whatever was on my mind disappeared. No way, what's happening? I clearly know there's a person in front of me but I can't see their orb! I opened my eyes and found myself face to face with Yuya. The boy from earlier, the one I called. It seems like Arthur and Yuya were classmates since Year 1. But this is strange, how can I see him? Where's that damned light?

Yuya's smile is blinding, sure, but I can still see clearly without straining my eyes!

The boy is a head taller than me. His eyes twinkled for some reason. "Hey, Pres"