The days after Rey's unexpected victory in the fight hall turned into a maelstrom of mixed feelings. On one side, there was the pleasure of showing oneself in a little but important fight, a move most would have missed. Conversely, there was the unpleasant reality of being a D-Rank student at a Academy where rank decided everything.
Titanium Academy was harsh. Its corridors hummed with the enthusiasm of students wanting to outdo one another, to stake their position in the competitive hierarchy. Rey had been pushed to the bottom from the time he touched the Awakening Crystal. But now, for the first time, he could see a glimmer of optimism that maybe, just maybe, his D-Rank skill may take him beyond anyone's expectations.
Though the combat trials were over, the actual test had only just started.
Rey worked relentlessly throughout the following week. He concentrated on improving his control over his power, Unshackled Ascension, his awareness, and his motions. He still didn't comprehend its entire potential, but the tiny glimpse of speed and agility it had afforded him during his first combat had kindled a flame of intrigue.
Rey trained alone. The other students, with their higher-ranked ability, looked at him with indifference or derision. The teachers, too, appeared to observe him with a combination of pity and mild fascination. They were fascinated about his talent, an abnormality that defied the traditional categorization, but they weren't willing to invest too much in him, not yet.
"Focus on your weaknesses, Rey," Aya suggested one day as they trained in the gymnasium. "You're quick, but you need control. Speed won't matter if you can't direct your strikes effectively."
Rey nodded, taking a big breath. His muscles still felt stiff from the intensity of his previous exercise, but he couldn't afford to stop. Not when every other student was attempting to exceed him.
Aya's words lingered in his head as he altered his posture and refocused his energy. Control. He still didn't have a clear idea of what his gift actually was, but if it required mastering speed and agility, then that would be his starting point.
"Aya," Rey continued between gasps, "you think my ability could actually be more than just a way to move fast?"
Aya smiled softly, her eyes narrowing as she turned to face him. "Yes, but unless you learn how to control what you have now, there's no way you'll figure it out."
She flung her hair back, the wind whirling about her as if she could call upon it at will. Rey had seen her in action during the prior workouts, Aya's wind manipulation was nothing short of astounding. She manipulated the air with such accuracy that it looked as if the whole environment bowed to her will. As an A-Rank student, her talents were considerably more developed than his, and yet she still took the time to assist him strengthen his own skills.
"You'll need more than just speed," Aya added, her voice calm. "That's why I'm here, Rey. To help you unleash what's within."
Her words fuelled him, and Rey's determination strengthened. There was a part of him, hidden deep under the layers of self-doubt, that felt he might reach higher. He had to. The stakes were too great.
The days stretched into weeks, and Rey's training escalated. Every morning before dawn, he was awake, performing exercises, fighting with training dummies, or meditating to better comprehend the flow of his energy. There were times of frustration when his body seemed like it would give out, but Aya was always there, providing instruction, pushing him to go farther, to break beyond the limitations he'd unintentionally set for himself.
In the quiet hours of introspection, Rey pondered about what Professor Oren had said to him. The Professor had seen something in him, a spark that couldn't be denied. And for the first time, Rey started to think if maybe Oren had been correct. Could he genuinely soar beyond his D-Rank? Could his ability be anything more than simply a random fluke?
But as Rey polished his talents, he found that even with Aya's coaching, there were still numerous challenges to surmount. His lack of awareness regarding the nature of Unshackled Ascension weighed on him. It was a tremendous talent, yet it remained unexpected, elusive. Sometimes it activated on command, and other times, it seemed like attempting to compel an unwilling torrent of water to flow.
One day, after another tough session, Rey was brought to the administrative office by Professor Oren. The invitation arrived with an aura of formality that seemed both daunting and intriguing. Rey had never been summoned to the office before, and the notion of meeting the head teacher made his stomach churn with nervousness.
As he entered the office, Oren glanced up from a stack of documents, his eyes steely and calculating.
"Rey," Oren welcomed, his tone calm. "I've been following your improvement. You're improving, but you still have a long way to go. That's why I'm giving you a chance. Starting tomorrow, you'll be attending the Special Training program."
Rey blinked with amazement. The Special Training program was intended for the best students, those with demonstrated promise and talents that transcended the ordinary. A D-Rank student like Rey has no right being part of such a program. Yet here Oren stood, giving him a chance.
"I… I don't understand," Rey stammered, unable to digest the words. "I'm a D-Rank, one of the absolutely lowest ranks. What might I possibly add to the program? What can I do in middle of S-Rank, A-Rank and B-Rank elites?"
Oren's lips twisted into a faint, knowing grin. "That's precisely why you're being given the chance. Your ability isn't about rank. It's about what you can unlock, what you can uncover inside yourself. The Special Training will push you to your limits and beyond. It's not simply a test of strength, it's a test of your determination."
Rey's heart accelerated as Oren proceeded. "This is your moment to show that you belong here. That you're not merely a D-Rank student. That you're someone who can make a difference."
Rey's thoughts raced. This was it. This was the moment that may decide his destiny at Titanium Academy. It was an opportunity to show that his D-Rank didn't restrict him, that he had the capacity to climb, to develop above the limitations put on him.
'I won't disappoint you, sir," Rey answered, his voice calm, his determination resolute.
Oren nodded, his face inscrutable. "I'll be watching. Be ready. The training begins tomorrow."
As Rey left the office, his thoughts was a swirl of excitement and expectation. The journey ahead wouldn't be easy. But that was the route he had chosen. The journey that would lead him from a D-Rank student to someone capable of conquering the odds.
Tomorrow, the real struggle would begin. And Rey was ready to confront it head-on.