Leveling Up With My Dragon System

The training had taken a toll on him, sweat soaking his shirt and his muscles aching, but the exhilaration of controlling the fire was addictive. He took a moment to catch his breath, leaning against the scorched wall, the heat from his previous attacks still radiating from the stones.

As he practiced, the whispers grew to shouts in the back of his mind. The voices of doubt and fear that had plagued him since the night before began to fade away, replaced by a newfound confidence. He wasn't just a grey level anymore; he was something more, something powerful.

The echoes of his fiery onslaught grew quieter as he mastered the fiery dance. Each movement was deliberate, each flame a silent declaration of his strength. Yet, as the room grew brighter with the light of the rising sun, Kai knew he had to be careful. If anyone found out, his world could come crashing down around him.

He took a deep breath, feeling the heat of his power sear his lungs. The room was a testament to his newfound control—scorch marks adorned the walls like ancient runes, each a story of his battle against his inner dragon. But the academy was a place of secrets, and Kai's was a dangerous one to keep.

As he left the abandoned wing, he couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched. He quickened his pace, his heart thudding in his chest with every step. The halls grew more crowded with students heading to their morning classes, and he slipped back into the anonymity of the crowd.

During the day, he avoided eye contact with anyone, especially the sergeants and colonel. The whispers about the mysterious death of Stu Maracher grew louder, and Kai felt the weight of his secret pressing down on him like an invisible force.

In class, he found it difficult to concentrate. His thoughts kept drifting to the encounter with Rerna, and the way she'd so effortlessly controlled the earth. If she could do that, maybe he could learn to control his fire. Maybe together, they could figure out what was happening, and why they were so different from the others.

As the day dragged on, Kai felt the whispers of his secret following him like a shadow. The academy's hallowed halls seemed to whisper of his transgressions, the very stones echoing with the fear of what he could become. He had to tell someone, had to find a way to make sure no one else got hurt.

After the last class, he found Frode, Annika, and Ingrid waiting for him outside, their faces etched with concern. "What's going on, Kai?" Frode asked, his eyes searching Kai's for any sign of distress.

Kai took a deep breath, the words tumbling out of his mouth before he could stop them. "I have to tell you guys something." He glanced around nervously, ensuring no one was within earshot. "I didn't mean to, but... I think I might have killed Stu."

Frode's jaw dropped, Ingrid's eyes widened in horror, and Annika's gaze sharpened with a mix of disbelief and concern. "What are you talking about?" Frode demanded.

Kai swallowed hard, his heart racing. "The night he was bullying Eli, I lost control. I used my powers... I didn't mean to, but... I knocked him out. I thought I'd just left him with a warning, but he... he had so little health left. And now he's dead."

Ingrid's hand flew to her mouth, and Annika's eyes searched Kai's. "You can't be sure it was you," she said, her voice a gentle reassurance.n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Kai nodded. "I know, but the timing... it just seems too coincidental." He looked at each of them in turn, his gaze earnest. "You guys are the only ones I trust. I need your help to figure this out. And we can't let anyone else know about this."

Frode stepped closer, his brows furrowed. "But if you didn't kill him, who did?"

Kai fished out the letter from his pocket, handing it over to Frode. "I found this in my locker this morning."

Frode's eyes scanned the paper, his expression darkening as he read. "Someone's threatening you," he murmured, passing the letter to Ingrid and Annika.

"They know about my powers," Kai whispered, his eyes darting around the hallway. "And they don't want me to tell anyone."

Frode's grip tightened on the letter, his eyes narrowing as he read the words that sent a chill down Kai's spine. Ingrid took the letter from Frode's hand, her eyes scanning the words with a mix of horror and disbelief. Annika was the first to break the silence, her voice cold and determined. "We can't just ignore this."

The four friends huddled closer, the letter passing from hand to hand as they pieced together the puzzle of threats and hidden powers. The air in the hallway grew thick with tension, the whispers of their classmates fading into the background.

"This changes everything," Frode murmured, his eyes still glued to the paper. "They're watching you, Kai. They know what you can do."

Kai felt his stomach drop. "But why would they kill Stu? He was just a bully."

Ingrid handed the letter back to him, her voice shaking. "Maybe they thought he saw something. Or maybe it was a warning to us all."

Kai nodded slowly, the weight of the words settling on his shoulders. "We have to be careful," he said, tucking the letter safely into his pocket. "I don't want any of you getting hurt because of me."

Annika met his gaze, her eyes unwavering. "You're not in this alone, Kai," she said firmly. "We're your team. We stick together."

The four of them exchanged a silent pact, a bond forged in the face of adversity. They knew that they couldn't let the fear of the unknown dictate their actions. They had to find out who was behind the murder and the threats, and why they were being targeted.

That evening, as the academy settled into the quiet of study hours, Kai, Frode, Ingrid, and Annika gathered in their dorm room. The air was thick with the scent of burning candles, the flames flickering as they spoke in hushed tones. Frode paced back and forth, his mind racing with theories. Ingrid sat at her desk, her eyes darting between the pages of a book and the others, her brow furrowed in concentration. Annika leaned against the wall, her arms crossed over her chest, her gaze never leaving Kai.

"We need to figure out who has access to our records," Frode said, his voice low. "Someone had to have seen that you're from Ground Zero and that your power is... different."

Ingrid nodded, her eyes still glued to the book. "But how do we do that without raising suspicion?"

Kai leaned back in his chair, his eyes distant as he thought of the implications. "I think I know someone who might be able to help us," he said slowly. "Her name is Lila. She's a librarian. She's shown me some... special archives before."

Frode stopped pacing and turned to face Kai. "What kind of archives?"

"Things that aren't meant for student's eyes," Kai replied, his voice tight with the secret he was about to share. "I think she might have some information on who could have killed Stu and why they're after me."