CHAPTER 262: ELYSIA AND ETHAN.

The courtyard was filled with chatter as students prepared for their next class.

Selene walked beside Elysia.

"Do you remember the problem caused by Ethan during our mana class?" Selene asked, glancing toward the distant tower.

Elysia turned to her. "Ethan? What about him?"

"Ohh.. I quietly remember. He came in our free time during mana class right?"

Selene lowered her voice. "Some students said he was involved in that mana disturbance last time. Yes he came causing some problem in which Jin was somehow involved"

Elysia stopped in her tracks. "So this has to do with Ethan?"

Selene nodded. "That’s what I heard. He’s been acting strange lately, training alone, skipping lessons, and spending too much time in the restricted areas."

Elysia looked away, her eyes narrowing in thought. "Then I need to see him."

Without another word, she turned and headed straight toward the training grounds.

Selene called after her, but Elysia was already gone.

At Ground Two.

Most students were at their mana class, leaving the field empty except for the faint hum of magic still lingering in the air.

Elysia scanned the area but found no trace of Ethan.

"Where is he..." she said to herself.

Just then, a familiar voice called out from behind her. "Looking for someone?"

Elysia turned to see a senior student leaning against the wall.

She wore the academy’s red badge — a third-year.

"Yes," Elysia said quickly. "Do you know where Ethan is?"

The senior girl tilted her head slightly.

"Ethan? Oh, he’s not here. He’s been training alone in the personal training dorm for the past few days. That guy doesn’t know how to rest."

Elysia gave a short nod. "Thank you."

Following the directions, she made her way to the isolated part of the academy grounds.

The personal training dorm stood apart from the others for Final year students, an old stone building reinforced with mana seals, built to withstand powerful attacks.

As she reached the entrance, she could already hear the faint echoes of explosions and the crackling sound of mana clashing against something solid.

Without hesitation, Elysia raised her foot and kicked the door open.

BOOMMM!

The sound thundered through the hallway, startling even the sparrows perched outside the window.

Dust and splinters scattered everywhere as the door slammed against the wall.

"Ethan!" she shouted.

Inside, the room was filled with a bright blue glow.

Ethan stood shirtless, his body glistening with sweat, as he launched waves of blue mana at a wooden training figure.

The strikes were fast and powerful, each one leaving faint burn marks across the figure’s chest.

When he heard her voice, he stopped mid-attack and turned around, a faint smirk curling his lips.

"Well, well..." he said with an amused tone. "Who’s here? A beautiful lady barging into my personal space? I must be blessed today."

"Or should I say, thank you god!?"

Elysia’s eyes narrowed as she drew her sword in one swift motion.

The blade gleamed with faint mana light.

"Enough jokes, Ethan. What have you done to Jin?"

Ethan blinked, pretending to be confused. "What have I done? Just what happened to him?"

"Don’t play dumb with me," she shouted.

"He was injured after the Orwen class — and Cecelia too. You were there when it happened."

Ethan chuckled softly, brushing his messy hair back. "You really think I’d bother hurting those two? I was too busy saving myself from that explosion."

"Stop acting," she said.

"And be serious."

Ethan stepped closer, his smile widening.

"Serious? I can’t be serious when a beautiful girl is pointing a sword at me. It ruins the atmosphere."

"Ethan!" she snapped, lowering her sword slightly but her glare remained sharp.

"This isn’t a joke. People got hurt!"

His smirk faded just a little, and for a moment, his eyes turned distant.

"Hurt, huh? Maybe that’s the price of growing stronger."

Elysia frowned. "What’s that supposed to mean?"

Ethan turned away, walking back toward the damaged wooden figure.

"You wouldn’t understand. You’re strong — naturally talented. Some of us... have to break limits just to catch up."

He raised his hand again, blue mana flaring around his arm like wildfire.

The force pushed the air back, making Elysia take a step away.

"Is that why you’re risking other people’s lives?" she shouted over the sound of crackling mana.

Ethan smiled faintly. "If that’s what it takes."

Elysia clenched her fists around her sword, her voice trembling with anger. "You son of a dog!."

He turned his head slightly, his expression unreadable. "Or maybe I’ve just stopped pretending to be a hero."

Elysia finally lowered her sword. "I don’t know what you’re planning... but I’ll find out."

Ethan didn’t turn around. "Do whatever you want. Just don’t get in my way."

Elysia gave him one last glare before walking out.

Something about Ethan’s eyes — that faint, unnatural blue glow — lingered in her mind as she left the dorm.

The door slammed behind Elysia as she turned to leave, but before she could take another step, Ethan’s voice echoed behind her.

"You think you can just walk away after threatening me with a sword?"

Elysia froze. Her instincts screamed danger.

She turned slightly — just in time to see Ethan raising his hand, a surge of blue lightning forming around his arm like a storm caged within flesh.

"Don’t test me, Elysia," he said, devoid of his earlier playfulness. "You might regret it."

Elysia’s eyes hardened. "You’re the one who’s lost control."

A spark split the air, and in the next instant

BOOM!

a bolt of lightning struck the ground where Elysia had been standing a heartbeat ago.

She leapt backward, landing gracefully, her sword shimmering with faint celestial light.

"Fine," she said.

"If you’ve chosen this path, then I’ll stop you myself."

Ethan grinned, the wild energy flickering around him making his hair rise. "Show me then, Arcadia’s prodigy."

And with that, he lunged forward, his fists wreathed in glowing blue mana.

Elysia met him head-on.

The air cracked with every clash — her sword’s divine light against his lightning-infused strikes.

Sparks burst around them, the ground beneath their feet cracking from the sheer force of their exchange.

Ethan struck fast — a blur of movement — but Elysia was faster.

Her blade intercepted every attack, each strike followed by a flurry of counterblows.

Her eyes glowed faintly, the divine aura around her intensifying.

"You’re strong," Ethan said, panting slightly. "But you’re holding back."

"Because I don’t want to kill you," she replied sharply.

Ethan smirked, his veins glowing blue as mana surged through his body. "Huh.. a first year junior mocking me?"