Lysander woke the next morning with a splitting headache but a sense of triumph. The partial removal of his magical blockage had left him drained yet more alive than he'd felt in years—or in this timeline, perhaps ever. He lay still, extending his new Anima sense throughout the room.
Marcus's sleeping form radiated a steady green glow with unexpected flickers of red—the competing magical signatures of his Thornwood and hidden Drakos heritage. The plants on the windowsill pulsed with subtle vitality. Even the insects in the walls emitted tiny sparks of life force.
He rose quietly and dressed, careful not to wake his roommate. His first private practice session would need to happen away from curious eyes. Checking the time, he realized he had two hours before breakfast—perfect for what he needed to do.
The Academy gardens were largely deserted at this early hour. Lysander found a secluded corner surrounded by dense foliage and sat cross-legged on the ground. Closing his eyes, he extended his Anima sense outward, cataloging the living energies around him.
A dormouse nested in a nearby shrub. Birds perched in the branches above. Worms and countless microscopic organisms moved through the soil beneath him. Each had its distinct signature, its unique pattern of life energy.
Following techniques he'd mastered in his previous life, Lysander attempted to interact with these energies. He focused on a wilting flower, channeling a trickle of his own life force into its stem. The process was far harder than he remembered—he had forgotten how much practice it had taken to develop fine control.
After several attempts, the flower finally straightened, its petals regaining color. A minor achievement compared to what he'd once been capable of, but significant given his still-substantial blockage.
"Impressive," said a voice from behind him.
Lysander turned to find Elara Silverwind watching, her silver-streaked hair gleaming in the early light. She wore the same thin bracelet he'd noticed yesterday, now emitting a subtle blue glow.
"How long have you been there?" he asked, rising to his feet.
"Long enough to record an interesting magical signature." She tapped her bracelet. "Anima magic is exceedingly rare, especially in one supposedly lacking talent."
"You're monitoring me," Lysander stated flatly.
"I monitor everything magical within range," she corrected. "House Silverwind specializes in magical detection technology. This bracelet is my own design."
Lysander studied her carefully. In his previous life, he hadn't met Elara until much later, after his abilities had begun to manifest naturally. Her early appearance represented another significant deviation.
"You should be more careful," she continued. "Anima practitioners are watched closely. The ability to manipulate life energy makes people nervous."
"People like your family?"
"People like the High Houses who consider magic their birthright." Elara stepped closer, lowering her voice. "Something changed in you overnight. Yesterday you could barely move a wooden block. Today you're channeling Anima energy with intentional control."
Lysander weighed his options. Elara had proven a valuable ally in his previous life, but trust required careful cultivation.
"Perhaps the Academy environment is more conducive to my abilities than the court," he suggested.
"Perhaps," she replied, clearly unconvinced. "Or perhaps someone helped remove whatever was suppressing your magic."
Lysander's eyes narrowed. "That's a very specific theory."
"House Silverwind may lack ancient bloodlines, but we compensate with superior information." Elara's expression remained neutral, but her eyes held genuine curiosity. "The question is why an imperial prince would have his magic suppressed in the first place."
"An excellent question," Lysander agreed. "If you discover the answer, I'd be most interested to hear it."
Their conversation was interrupted by the Academy bell signaling breakfast. Students began emerging from dormitories, moving toward the dining hall.
"We should continue this discussion later," Elara said. "Unless you've changed your mind about meeting in the east garden this evening?"
"I look forward to it," Lysander confirmed.
Throughout the day's classes, Lysander carefully moderated his performance—showing slight improvement but nothing that would attract undue attention. In Practical Channeling, he successfully moved multiple objects while pretending significant effort. In Elemental Theory, he offered insightful but not revolutionary observations.
All the while, he practiced with his new Anima sense, mapping the unique signatures of professors and students around him. Most displayed conventional magical patterns aligned with their known affiliations. A few, however, showed discrepancies that intrigued him.
Professor Thorne's signature contained unexpected complexity—layers of Umbra magic interwoven with what appeared to be artificial constructs similar to Lysander's own blockage, though Thorne's seemed designed to enhance rather than restrict.
Even more interesting was Marcus, whose dormant Ignis affinity was stronger than Lysander had realized. The Drakos bloodline influence wasn't merely present; it was dominant, merely masked by external Terra energy.
During the afternoon break, Lysander encountered Cassius Drakos again, this time with two companions—all wearing the subtle emblems that marked them as Crown Prince Darius's loyalists.
"Prince Lysander," Cassius called, his tone falsely cordial. "Adjusting well to Academy life?"
"Quite well, thank you," Lysander replied, continuing to walk.
Cassius stepped into his path. "We were hoping for a demonstration of these remarkable abilities that earned you a place in Arcanum. Surely you wouldn't mind showing us?"
A classic intimidation tactic—force a public failure to undermine confidence. In his previous life, Lysander had fallen for such provocations repeatedly.
"I appreciate your interest in my progress," Lysander said calmly, "but I don't perform on command, even for my brother's representatives."
Murmurs from gathered students indicated his response had struck the right balance—neither confrontational nor submissive.
Cassius's expression hardened. "You misunderstand. This isn't a request from fellow students. It's a directive from the Crown Prince himself. He's concerned about standards being maintained at the Academy."
"Then he should address his concerns to the Headmistress," Lysander replied. "Now, if you'll excuse me."
As he attempted to step around them, one of Cassius's companions moved to block him. "Perhaps the prince needs incentive to cooperate," the young man suggested, his hand beginning to glow with Ignis energy.
Lysander assessed the situation rapidly. A direct confrontation would be unwise in his current state. Yet backing down would establish a dangerous precedent.
Before he could decide, an authoritative voice cut through the tension. "Is there a problem here?"
Professor Thorne approached, his expression severe. The students immediately straightened, magical energy dissipating.
"No problem, Professor," Cassius answered smoothly. "Just welcoming Prince Lysander properly."
"How thoughtful," Thorne replied dryly. "I'm sure you can continue your welcome another time. Prince Lysander has an appointment with me now."
As they walked away, Lysander murmured, "Convenient timing, Professor."
"Hardly coincidental," Thorne admitted. "I've been instructed to ensure your wellbeing at the Academy. Apparently, your father anticipated such 'welcoming' gestures."
Another deviation—the Emperor's active protection had never manifested in his previous life.
"The first unblocking has had noticeable effects," Thorne continued once they were alone. "Your Anima sense is active?"
"Yes," Lysander confirmed. "Though my control remains limited."
"As expected. We've merely opened a window in a walled fortress." Thorne paused, studying him. "Be cautious with Elara Silverwind. Her family's technologies have... concerning applications."
Lysander nodded, filing away this warning. The game was growing more complex by the hour, with new allies and threats emerging faster than anticipated. Tonight's meeting with Elara might provide crucial information—or confirm she represented another danger to navigate.
Either way, he was committed to his path. The partial unblocking had given him a taste of his true potential. He wouldn't stop until he reclaimed it all.