Regression of the Vector Magician

Training in Silence

Reyon's room was dimly lit by the soft glow of mana-infused lanterns, casting long shadows against the walls as he sat cross-legged, focusing on his magic. The air hummed with the faintest of currents as he manipulated the surrounding mana, allowing the familiar Vectors to surge through his veins. He had spent hours in his room, refining his control and practicing with the newly discovered Delta (§) symbol, his thoughts consumed by the upcoming tournament and the impending challenges.

Since mastering the basics of Epsilon (£) and Delta (§), Reyon had realized that these symbols were more than mere tools—they were keys to unlocking powers previously thought beyond his reach. Epsilon (£) helped him transform mana on the fly, and Delta (§) allowed him to direct that mana with even more precision than before, making his attacks and defenses nearly flawless.

However, despite his progress, Reyon knew that there was still much work to be done. His control was fine-tuned, but the true potential of his magic still lay dormant, just beyond his grasp. The finals of the Academy Tournament were only three months away, and Reyon had to master §—the most crucial symbol—before then if he wanted to stand a chance against the likes of Alice and the other top-tier contestants.

His thoughts were interrupted by a sharp knock on the door. Reyon tensed, his senses immediately on alert. No one came to his dorm this late. He hadn't invited anyone to visit.

"Come in," Reyon called, his voice calm, though his mind raced with the possibility of an interruption.

The door opened slowly, and a tall figure stepped inside. Alice, the strongest magician at the academy, stood in the doorway, her cold eyes fixed firmly on Reyon. The air in the room seemed to freeze as she stepped forward, her icy presence undeniable. Alice was not one to visit on friendly terms, and the glare she directed at Reyon only confirmed his suspicions.

"You," Alice's voice was sharp, colder than Reyon had ever heard it. "I've been looking for you."

Before Reyon could react, Alice's hand flicked upward, and a ray of blue ice shot out toward him, a frozen beam designed to incapacitate in an instant. Reyon's reflexes kicked in immediately, and he twisted his body, narrowly avoiding the blast. The ice melted against the wall, leaving a faint crack in the stone. He jumped back, his stance ready for combat, but his mind whirled with questions. Why now?

"Using magic in the dorms is prohibited," a voice suddenly rang out behind Alice, causing both of them to pause. Ryan, Reyon's eldest half-brother, stepped forward, his usually calm expression tight with concern. "You're going to get us both expelled if you keep this up."

Alice glared at Ryan, her eyes filled with disdain. "You think I care about rules, Ryan? This isn't about the academy. This is about him." She pointed at Reyon with an icy finger, her gaze never leaving his face. "He deserves this."

Ryan stepped closer to Alice, placing a hand on her shoulder in an attempt to calm her. "You don't have to do this, Alice. You're just hurting yourself."

But Alice shook him off, her fists clenched. "You always defend him, don't you? Why? Just because he's part of the Phoenix household? Just because he's the 'chosen one' who will surpass everyone?" She scoffed, turning her gaze back to Reyon. "Let me remind you, Reyon Phoenix, you failed. You failed at everything. And now you want to pretend like you're some sort of hero?"

Reyon's heart tightened at the harsh words, but he stood tall, refusing to let her provoke him. Alice, like him, was a part of the Phoenix family, and the pain in her eyes revealed something deeper—something personal. He knew all too well the feeling of failure and the resentment that came with it, but what struck him was the venom behind her words. It wasn't just about him. It was about the history they shared, the engagement that had once existed between them.

As Alice's icy aura intensified, memories of their childhood flooded Reyon's mind—the playful days when the three of them, Reyon, Alice, and Ryan, would spend hours together. Alice used to follow him around like a shadow, always there, always watching. There was a time when they had been close, even engaged. But when Reyon failed to live up to his potential, the engagement was broken. He had been a disappointment to his family, and to Alice, that failure meant more than just a loss of status—it meant betrayal.

He swallowed, his heart heavy with the burden of their shared past. He hadn't wanted to fail, but the expectations placed on him had been too great. He had tried so hard, but the fact that he could never match Leywin's achievements—the true genius of the Phoenix household—was something Alice couldn't forgive.

"I've never forgotten," Alice continued, her voice quieter now, but still laced with bitterness. "You were supposed to be the one to inherit Leywin's magic, his legacy, but you failed. You failed me. You failed House Phoenix."

Reyon's eyes softened, but he kept his voice steady. "I never asked for your forgiveness, Alice. But I won't let you torment Ryan over something I couldn't control." His voice hardened. "And I won't let you torment me anymore."

Ryan's face grew more concerned as the tension between the two escalated. He stepped forward, trying once again to reason with Alice. "Why do you keep doing this to him, Alice? To us? We've all been through the same pain."

But Alice's eyes, frozen with years of resentment, pierced through Ryan. "Pain? You have no idea what pain is, Ryan. You were always the perfect heir, the perfect son. You never had to live with the disgrace of being the failed heir, of living in the shadow of someone like Leywin."

Reyon felt the bitterness in her words, but he knew that deep down, Alice wasn't as cruel as she seemed. She had once saved his life—more times than he could count—when they fought the five dragons. She had protected him without hesitation, without thinking of the consequences. And in the end, she had died alongside Ryan, giving her life to protect him from the Black Dragon. That was the Alice he remembered—the Alice who cared, even if she couldn't admit it to herself.

Reyon's eyes narrowed, his voice cold but resolute. "I will defeat you in the finals of the tournament. And when I do, you will apologize to Ryan. You will apologize for everything."

Alice scoffed, a wicked smirk playing on her lips. "Pfft, as if you can even reach the finals. You can't even outmatch me, not with your pathetic magic and your failed techniques."

Reyon stood his ground, unshaken. "We'll see about that." He paused, his eyes sharp. "But if I win, you will apologize. And if you win, I'll accept your terms."

Alice's smirk widened. "Deal." She turned toward the door, her icy presence still lingering in the air. "But don't think for a second you can win, Reyon. You're still the same failure you always were. You'll never surpass Leywin."

Reyon's fists clenched, but he kept his thoughts to himself. He had to prove to Alice, to everyone, that he was not the same as before. That this time, things would be different.

As Alice walked out, the cold air she left behind seemed to linger. Ryan remained silent for a moment before speaking. "Are you sure about this, Reyon? Alice... she's not the same as before. She's angry, and it's not just because of you. She's hurting too."

Reyon sighed deeply, his eyes softening for a moment. "I know, Ryan. But this is something I have to do. I have to face her and prove to both of us that I'm not the person I was."

Ryan looked concerned, but he knew better than to push Reyon too hard. "Just be careful. Alice won't hold back. Neither should you."

With that, Reyon nodded, his resolve strengthening. The challenge ahead was monumental, but he had already faced so much worse. And with just three months left until the tournament, he knew that his training would be the key to unlocking the next stage of his power.

Training for the Final Showdown

Reyon spent the next few weeks in isolation, focusing solely on his training. He had mastered the basics of Epsilon (£) and Delta (§), but now he needed to take them to the next level. The upcoming battle with Alice loomed large, and he could not afford any mistakes. Every second counted.

His training focused on the transformation of mana, something that was not only difficult but crucial for the final battle. Delta (§) was his key to controlling and manipulating the vectors, but he needed to refine the application of this symbol. With Alice's raw power and experience, he had to be prepared for any contingency.

He could feel the pressure mounting—time was running out. The battle was no longer just about magic; it was about pride, about proving to Alice and the world that he was not the failure they all thought he was.

With determination, Reyon pushed forward, even when his body grew tired and his mind threatened to give way. There was no going back now.