Wrath's Virtue

In the void of his own mind, Aurelion focused on the air in his palm. His goal was to infuse his energy into the air, to make his energy become those molecules.

"The air we breathe is 99% oxygen and nitrogen," he thought, recalling knowledge from a past life.

"The other 1% is a mix of countless other molecules I don't recall, and I probably don't need to. For wind, it should be enough to transfer my energy to these molecules, or perhaps convert my energy into them."

He maintained his focus, pushing his will into the unseen.

Meanwhile, sounds of success began to fill the classroom.

The dwarf child who scared by Lyra, a few of the Northerners, a beastkin boy, and Ylva. they were all beginning to manifest their elements.

The dwarf's hands took on a stony texture, water beaded on the Northerners' desks, a flicker of flame appeared in the beastkin's palm, and a gentle breeze stirred around Ylva. Cries of joy and surprise started to fill the room.

"Don't make noise, and continue," Sten's voice cut through the excited whispers, instantly silencing them.

Ylva, now playing with the small vortex of wind she had created, glanced over at Aurelion, who remained perfectly still, seemingly lost in concentration.

But despite his scientific logic, Aurelion was failing. His energy refused to become wind.

"When I create lightning, I make my energy rub against itself, causing a reaction. I mimic how it exists in nature. When I started making water, I succeeded by focusing on the feats of water. Perhaps I'm approaching air the wrong way."

A new idea sparked in his mind. "Water exists as a solid, liquid, or gas depending on its temperature. Maybe... maybe I can heat water, create steam, and manipulate the air with that steam."

He brought his palms together, cupping them. As the seals on both hands began to glow, he manifested a small amount of water in his left palm and created tiny, crackling sparks with his right.

A sizzling, crack sound came from between Aurelion's hands.

Sten, along with a few other students, turned their eyes toward him just as a thick cloud of steam began to billow from his cupped palms.

When he felt he had enough, Aurelion retracted the lightning and the water. The steam, now infused with his energy, hovered in the air, and he began to draw it toward his hand.

Because it contained his own energy, the steam obeyed his will.

Aurelion opened his eyes and watched the cloud of vapor move around his hand. A faint smile touched his lips as a thought crystallized in his mind.

"Everything I can do with my energy... is born from destruction."

As the children stared at the vapor swirling around Aurelion's hand, Sten clapped his hands, the sharp sound startling them.

"This lesson isn't over until you've all achieved something. Get back to your books."

The students who had not yet succeeded quickly returned their focus to their task.

Aurelion, meanwhile, studied the vapor.As it began to cool, it became invisible to the naked eye, but he could still feel and control it.

"I can do unexpected things with this during a fight," he thought.

The lesson continued for nearly another hour.

By the end, about half of the children had succeeded, while the other half were still struggling in frustration.

"Those who have succeeded may leave," Sten announced.

"Tomorrow, you will be taught how to use these manipulations effectively. Continue to practice until then."

He then looked at the remaining students.

"You will continue the lesson with me," he said, and approached one of the Northern boys.

"Have you tried them all?"

With a voice full of disappointment. "I tried fire, but it's not working, Instructor Sten," the boy said.

"Have you try the others?"

The boy looked down. "I... want to do fire."

Sten let out a deep sigh and rubbed his temples with his fingers. "Leave the fire. Try the others."

As Aurelion was turning to leave with the successful group, Sten's voice called out. "Aurelion. Come here."

When Aurelion was beside him, Sten spoke in a whisper. "You seem to have found your own method."

"Yes."

"A roundabout path will cost you time," Sten said, his tired eyes was studying the boy.

"What matters is taking the first step, Instructor Sten," Aurelion replied.

"I've already started making plans on how I can use this in a fight..

"Good," Sten said.

A hint of something that might have been approval in his voice. "You must use wind manipulation in tomorrow's training. Practice accordingly."

Aurelion nodded, then turned and walked out of the classroom.

When the lesson ended, the children scattered in different directions. Some headed for the training halls next to the building, some dispersed into the vast courtyard, and others went back to the dormitory.

Aurelion also turned towards the dormitory building. As Ylva made her way to a training hall, she glanced back at him.

"He said he didn't sleep last night. Is he going to sleep now?" she wondered.

Aurelion noticed Ylva's gaze and turned towards her. She immediately averted her eyes and continued on her way.

He turned back, a thought crossing his mind. "She can't possibly expect me to go to the training hall and show off my skills in front of the other children right? I've already put on enough of a show for one day."

With that, he headed for the dorm.

When he arrived, Frida was greeting the incoming children.

She pointed to a large board in the main hall.

"Children, tasks suitable for first year classes have been posted. Examine the board and try to complete these tasks. You're going to need tokens," she said.

A few children immediately rushed towards the board.

Aurelion, however, waited calmly as the children swarmed the board, and then approached Frida.

Frida noticed him and smiled.

"What is the average value of a Rank 2 weapon in tokens?" Aurelion asked without preamble.

With an amused smile. "Thinking about what you can buy before you've even earned any tokens, I see," Frida said.

She thought for a moment. "The average price of a Rank 2 weapon is about 70 tokens."

"And the techniques I can get from the library?" Aurelion pressed.

Frida's smile widened. "I can tell you that they start at a minimum of 50 tokens, Aurelion. The price can range from 50 to thousands of tokens."

Aurelion nodded.

He walked to the stairs, climbed up a few steps, and positioned himself where he had a clear, unobstructed view of the board over the heads of the other children.

He activated his Seal, enhancing his vision, and focused on the texts written on the board.

From a distance, Frida watched him with curiosity. "What is that boy doing?"

Aurelion began to read the tasks posted on the board.

Task Name: Training Ground Maintenance

Description: Broken dummies in the main training arenas need to be moved to the workshop for repair. Blood and other debris in the area must be cleaned.

Reward: 5 Tokens

Task Name: Kitchen Assistance

Description: 3 students needed to peel and transport vegetables for the evening meal.

Reward: 4 Tokens

Task Name: Library Organization

Description: The scrolls and books in the history section need to be reorganized in alphabetical order. Attention to detail and literacy are required.

Reward: 6 Tokens

He scanned a dozen more similar tasks, a mix of menial labor and basic upkeep. He let out a slow breath.

"This was to be expected. Of course they'd make children who are just starting to use their energy do manual labor."

He focused on the board again. "That library task might be an option. I might come across something interesting," he mused.

But then, his eye caught another task.

Task Name: Monster Feed Preparation

Description: Requires dicing and preparing hunted meat for the carnivorous creatures in the Beast Taming section, and assisting with the feeding process. A strong stomach is preferred.

Reward: 8 Tokens

Aurelion's lips curved into a slight smirk.

"Looks like a bloody job," he thought.

"I was curious about the beasts here. This way, I get to see them. And the token reward isn't bad either."

His decision was made.

As he was leaving the dormitory, Frida called out, "Aren't you going to look at the tasks? Where are you going?"

Aurelion simply stopped and turned his head to Frida

"I'm going to chop some meat,"