Chapter 58: Victoria Windsor

Nero wiped the sweat from his face when Lilly called an end to their basic exercises. He still had to concentrate on each movement to keep his Mana active.

Lilly returned with a small bottle and handed it to him.

"Here, drink this. It’s a 1-Star Recovery Potion."

Nero drank it, and a pleasant warmth spread through his body. His exhaustion gradually faded as the potion helped his Mana circulate.

A common 1-Star Recovery Potion contained roughly a hundred Mana Units that the body could absorb directly. Nero could even convert the excess into Cell Energy to replenish his Cellular Reservoir.

Unfortunately, these potions were expensive for a reason.

Producing them required condensing raw Mana from the atmosphere. Although Awakeners couldn’t directly control atmospheric Mana themselves, certain relics obtained from Gates could accomplish this.

Relics came in many forms, but those capable of producing recovery potions were particularly valuable. Only a small number of people possessed the means to manufacture them.

Nero still had another problem, though.

His Mental Power.

Recovery Potions helped restore the body and Mana, but they couldn’t replenish the mental energy consumed by Telekinesis.

Fortunately, he had Alchemy Emperor’s Knowledge.

There might be something within that vast collection of knowledge capable of restoring or developing Mental Power further, although he would need to investigate before attempting anything.

"Thanks for helping me."

Lily stared at him for a while before a small blush formed on her face. "Y... You can keep me company when I practice them tomorrow."

"Sure."

By the time they reached Pride University, an enormous pillar of light was shooting into the sky.

Students had already gathered around it, discussing the strange phenomenon.

"Let’s go check it out," Lilly suggested.

Nero spotted Damian and Lucas among the crowd, while Jasmine stood nearby with several friends.

"Lilly! Nero! Come over here!" Jasmine called when she noticed them.

"Who’s inside that light?" Lilly asked.

"It’s Richard. He just reached D-Rank, and his Talent seems to be undergoing a second awakening."

"A second awakening?" Nero asked.

"It means his Talent is becoming stronger and developing something it didn’t have before. We’ll have to wait until he finishes to find out what changed."

"Oh...."

Richard’s figure was barely visible through the pillar of light.

Lyris stood near the front of the crowd with her hands clasped against her chest, watching him intently.

Several professors soon arrived and began clearing the area around Richard.

Among them was a woman who immediately caught everyone’s attention.

She had no trouble controlling the excited students, even sending one particularly eager student back into place when he tried sneaking closer.

"You’ll get a better look once he finishes. Until then, try to remain someone I don’t have to carry to the infirmary."

"Richard is undergoing a second awakening already?" another professor remarked. "That boy really is talented."

He turned toward the woman.

"You’ve done well with your students, Victoria. Richard and Lyris were impressive enough, and then there’s Lilly."

Victoria smiled at the compliment without taking her attention away from Richard.

"It isn’t just those three. All my students are my pride, even the ones who enjoy testing my patience."

"Who’s she?" Nero asked.

"That’s Professor Victoria Windsor," Jasmine explained. "She’s our professor and trainer, and she’s guided plenty of top Awakeners."

Lilly seemed pleased to see her.

"She’s been away until now. Since she’s back, Jasmine, Lucas, and the rest of us should be returning to her lessons."

At Pride University, students who caught a professor’s attention could receive personal guidance for free. Others could spend credits to request private lessons.

Nero wasn’t particularly desperate to find a teacher yet. After all, he already had Enis, and this morning’s training had given him plenty of things to practice.

Meanwhile, Victoria noticed Lilly and Jasmine among the students before her attention settled on Nero.

She didn’t recognize the handsome young man standing beside them, but before she could ask about him, Lyris approached.

"Professor, will he be safe?"

"We’re all here, aren’t we? We’ll look after him."

Just then, the pillar of light suddenly flared.

A streak of light broke away from Richard and shot toward the students near Nero.

Unfortunately, he was standing directly in its path.

His High-Human senses immediately detected the incoming attack, and his body was already preparing to dodge.

However, he quickly realized that displaying his abnormal speed in front of so many people might attract unwanted attention.

Before he could decide what to do, a burst of red energy shot toward the light from beside him.

It was Lilly’s Destruction Talent!

BOOM!

The two energies collided, sending a powerful gust of wind through the crowd.

Jasmine covered her face while several nearby students stumbled backward. Fragments of scattered light flew past Nero before disappearing.

"Nero, are you alright?" Lilly asked.

"I’m fine. You stopped it in time."

Professor Victoria, however, had noticed something unusual.

Unlike the other students, she had clearly seen Nero’s movements before Lilly intervened.

The young man’s body had reacted almost immediately after the light broke away from Richard. Even more surprisingly, he had recognized Lilly’s attack and abandoned his own movement before the people around him could react.

’Huh... I’ve never seen him before.’

Those weren’t the reflexes she expected from an ordinary eighteen-year-old.

’An instinct-related Talent, perhaps?’

That would explain his reaction, although Victoria couldn’t remember seeing him before.

She decided to ask about him later and concentrated on moving the crowd farther away from Richard.

Meanwhile, Lyris was still looking toward where the attack had struck.

’Nero...’

For a moment, seeing him in danger had made her forget about Richard completely.

Even after Lilly stopped the attack, she had wanted to rush over and make sure Nero wasn’t hurt.

’What am I doing?’

Hadn’t she already decided to stop concerning herself with him?

Richard was her boyfriend, and he was currently achieving something extraordinary. Yet instead of watching him, she had been worrying about Nero.

Lyris forced herself to concentrate on Richard again.

Nero, of course, had no idea what she was thinking.

He was still watching the pillar when a familiar notification appeared.

[Choice System Activated]

[A/N: If you are enjoying the book so far. Give it Power stones/GT to support it]