Bound by power ; Two friends with S rank skill

Morning light streamed through the dormitory window, brushing against the face of a boy with fiery red hair and bright orange eyes. Rey groaned, rubbing his messy hair as he cracked an eye open.

"Ugh… going to school… what a hassle," he muttered, pushing himself out of bed.

He swung the curtains wide, letting sunlight flood in, then grabbed the uniform neatly folded on the chair—a crisp white shirt with the academy's crest stitched over the heart and a pair of black trousers. Pulling them on with practiced ease, he glanced at his reflection in the mirror.

"Not too bad," he murmured with a half-smirk.

Satisfied, Rey stepped out and rapped on the door next to his room.

It swung open to reveal a boy with calm blue hair and sharp sapphire eyes—Zane Yamamoto, Rey's best friend since childhood. Zane blinked, clearly taken aback.

"Bro, how are you dressed so fast? Don't tell me you're actually excited."

Rey shook his head, deadpan. "No way. Excited about this? Not happening."

"Oh yeah?" Zane raised an eyebrow.

"Yes," Rey shot back, adjusting his collar. "And you're the one who said we need to be early."

Zane paused, then tilted his head. "Did I say that?"

"You literally did."

A grin crept across Zane's face. "Guess I did."

Rey rolled his eyes as Zane slipped into his own uniform. Moments later, the two boys were walking down the bustling hallway, students streaming past them in every direction. The air buzzed with chatter and anticipation—the start of the new term at Zelbert Academy, the most prestigious magic academy in the kingdom.

Rey scanned the room numbers. "A-1… guess this is us."

"Yeah," Zane replied, a faint smile tugging his lips. "Feels nostalgic, huh? Like our first day back in the old school."

"Sure," Rey said flatly as he reached for the door.

The classroom fell silent the moment they entered. Dozens of eyes turned their way, sizing them up. These were not ordinary students—every single person here had passed Zelbert's three grueling entrance tests, trials that weeded out thousands of hopefuls. Only the strongest remained.

Rey's gaze swept across the room. "So… these are the others who passed, huh?"

Zane nodded, his expression calm. "Yeah. They look… strong."

From the back of the room, a whisper slithered through the air.

"Hey… aren't those the guys who shattered the crystal sphere?"

"Seriously? Both of them?"

"I heard that test measures raw mana output! No one's ever broken it before."

More voices joined the chorus, most of them female.

"Look at the blue-haired guy… he's handsome."

"And the one next to him… that red hair, those orange eyes… is he his friend?"

"No way. That guy looks like a delinquent. Definitely trouble."

Rey sighed loudly. "Here we go again…"

Zane tilted his head. "What do you mean?"

Rey shot him a look. "Are you serious? You don't know? Back in our old school, everyone thought I was a delinquent just because of how I look."

"Oh." Zane chuckled softly. "Rey, listen. Even if they call you that, I know better. We've been through everything together. So ignore them, alright?"

Rey blinked, then smirked faintly. "Thanks, bro."

Before Zane could reply, the classroom door swung open. A man strode in, exuding authority with every step. His sharp gaze swept the room, silencing the murmurs instantly.

"Good morning, class," he said, his voice deep and steady. "I'm Arthur, your instructor for this term. Congratulations on making it here. From today, you're officially students of Zelbert Academy."

Arthur set his papers on the desk and folded his arms. "Before we begin, let's start with introductions. State your name and age."

One by one, students stood and introduced themselves. Eventually, it was Rey's turn.

"Rey Sawada. Eighteen." His voice carried a hint of defiance, daring anyone to judge him.

Next was Zane. "Zane Yamamoto. Also eighteen." Calm, concise, confident.

As the last name was called, Arthur nodded. "Good. Now, let's begin with the basics. Our first lesson—understanding mana."

He raised a finger, and a faint blue aura swirled around it like liquid light.

"Mana," Arthur began, "is the lifeblood of all extraordinary feats—spells, elemental control, physical enhancement, healing, even destructive energy blasts. It flows through you, unseen, yet it defines your potential."

His tone sharpened. "Training increases your mana capacity, but remember—mana leaks. If you can feel someone's aura without them casting a spell, it means they're powerful."

Arthur scanned the room as he spoke—then froze.

(What… is this?)

His eyes landed on two figures. Rey and Zane sat casually at their desks, but the air around them rippled with raw energy, like a storm caged in human form. Their mana wasn't just present—it was overwhelming, spilling into the room in waves so intense Arthur's breath caught.

(Their control is nonexistent… but this amount… it's beyond anything I've ever seen. Just what are these two?)

"Any questions?" Arthur asked, masking his shock behind a calm facade.

The students shook their heads silently.

"Good. That's all for today."

The bell rang, and murmurs filled the room as Arthur dismissed the class. But his thoughts remained turbulent.

(Those two… if they can't control that power, they'll become monsters. But if they can…)

His fists tightened at his sides.