Though Nero was anticipating Isabella’s response, he did not allow his focus to slip lest his performance suffer during the drills, or he make some kind of mistake. It was exactly because he maintained his focus that he noticed Sergeant Renald giving him an unusual look.
Nero almost expected to be sentenced to running all day again when he saw that look, but that did not happen. In fact, the sergeant told everyone else to begin their morning drills, but he kept Nero back.
"I’ve heard you’ve applied to take on more classes - is that true, cadet?" the sergeant asked Nero, his tone completely neutral making it difficult to determine his mood or intentions.
"Yes sir!" Nero answered promptly, realising what exactly had attracted the sergeant’s attention. Was he angry or upset that Nero had looked down on the effects of drill, requesting more classes instead? Based on his analysis of the man, that was unlikely, yet Nero could not figure out any other motive for investigating.
"I’ve also heard that you’ve applied to be able to extend Crucible challenges earlier than your peers - is that true as well?" he continued to ask.
"Yes sir!" Nero answered once more, showing not an ounce of hesitation.
The fresh morning air was pleasant, and filled with the scent of trees and morning dew. That was exposure that Nero was not used to, but had learned to tolerate. However, Nero suddenly wondered if the exposure to such fresh air was actually a privilege instead of a threat - one that only the genuinely powerful got to experience.
That was a random, fleeting thought, and it did not let it distract Nero from the situation in front of him.
"You’re quite interested in growing stronger, aren’t you? In that case, how far are you willing to go to become stronger?" Renald asked, showing no signs of his actual thoughts.
Nero looked at Sergeant Renald in his eyes before answering!
"As far as it takes," Nero answered immediately.
Renald nodded, as if he appreciated the answer.
"In that case, I will see you in the evening, and determine with my own eyes how far you’re willing to go for your goal," he answered, before sending Nero off to run drills. Surprisingly, the amount of drills he had to run that day were actually quite few compared to what he normally ran, leaving him with ample energy as he went for breakfast.
Everyone was confused by the odd treatment Nero got. While they were all too busy gulping down food to actually inquire, they had all noticed that he had done fewer drills today than normal. None of them believed, even for a moment, that the sergeant suddenly had mercy for Nero in his heart.
This was the army - the only two available paths were the hard path, and the path to hell. What appeared easier may not actually be easy. Compared to them, Nero was not too concerned. While he paid attention for any changes, he also had the self confidence to face whatever came his way.
As usual, the first class in the morning was Aether studies, led by Isabella. The first thing she did, right at the beginning of class, was lock onto Nero.
"Your application for further classes has been accepted," she said in front of the whole class, not finding it something worth hiding. "Your day will begin one hour before the morning call where you will receive an additional class within your Lines. Depending on your capacity, and your assessments, you may increase that to one more hour after a month of classes."
Nero simply nodded, accepting the change. An additional hour was good enough for now.
Beyond that, Isabella said nothing, nor did she mention any tasks requiring Nero in the evening, which made him wonder what the sergeant had been referring to.
The rest of the day was normal, with no notable exceptions, right up until their free time began. Just as they were given the remainder of the evening to do with as they pleased, a soldier came to find Nero, informing him that he was being summoned to the Battle Arena.
Whether he had been informed or not, that’s where Nero intended on going so it made no difference to him. To everyone else, though, it sparked curiosity. Why was he being summoned? Was someone challenging him?
Eager to see Nero dominate whoever challenged him, even his exhausted and weary battalion members followed along to the arena eagerly.
The battle arena itself was just as bustling as, even as free time only began, yet there was one anomaly that Nero immediately noticed. There was a big crowd around a particular arena, and not because there was a fight going on. No, there was a professor around whom the crowd was gathering.
There was something about him that just attracted attention. The way he stood, and the silent confidence his stature exuded was of unquestionable confidence. Yet while his appearance, even with his deep red hair, attracted a lot of attention, there was one thing even more noticeable - at least for Nero. That was the aether around him.
This was the first time Nero was cognisant of his aether sensitivity, because he could feel the aether around that man, raging as if it were a roaring flame. Nero could practically feel the heat around him, though it did not exist in reality.
As if sensing something, the man turned towards Nero and locked eyes with him. As it happened, Nero was also being led directly towards him.
"Sir, I have brought Nero Grant," the soldier spoke to the redhaired man, a tone of reverence in his voice.
"Thank you, Jacob. I’ll take it from here," the man said, before openly studying Nero. All the surrounding cadets noticed the attention he was paying to Nero, and began to study him as well.
Despite his popularity among the new cadets, not many besides them actually knew about Nero. At most, they had heard that there was an impressive new cadet, but that was all. Yet now...
"I have been informed that you have applied to be allowed to issue Crucible challenges to your seniors early," the man said.
It was not really a question, yet Nero felt compelled to answer.
"Yes, sir!" he said, as if responding to an army officer.
"At ease, cadet. I don’t care much for formality. Come, step onto the arena. I am here to test you. If you can impress me, then I will grant you permission."
Soft gasps were heard among the cadets, while others locked their gazes onto Nero, mixed with scrutiny and assessment. Nero still did not know who the man before him was, but it was obvious enough that he was quite famous, at least within the academy.
He quickly thought about anyone he might know or heard about who might match the appearance of the man before him, but couldn’t think of anything.
"Attack," the man said, slowly entering a stance. "Attack with everything you have and hold nothing back. This is an opportunity you earn only once."
From the tension in the air around him, Nero felt that this opportunity might be about more than just Crucible challenges. Yet whatever it was, he would not be deterred nor would he be intimidated.
As Nero took his own place, he quickly studied his opponent, judging how best to attack. There was no hesitation, no build up. One moment he stood, and the next he attacked, using his full speed, holding nothing back.
The observing student failed to follow him as he moved, yet a loud bang quickly drew their attention, alerting them of the first clash. The redhaired man had, using only his hand, blocked Nero’s punch and grabbed his fist, holding him in place.
That display of sheer, raw power was overwhelming, but it did not intimidate Nero. No, instead he felt a faint, familiar feeling that filled his body with excitement. Nero vaguely felt that standing in front of him was not a man... but a monster.
Michelle, who happened to be in the arena, also looked over when she heard the sound and was stunned by what she saw. She did not immediately identify Nero, for in her vision she saw aether take the form of two raging flames fighting and devouring each other - one deep red with a core that was almost black, and another rich, deep blue!
It was only after she ignored her ability and locked onto the people fighting that she realised that it was Nero, and he was fighting...
The pause after the first clash lasted barely a moment, yet that had been enough of a probe for Nero to understand that whether in terms of speed or strength, he was severely outmatched. The only thing he could use to win this fight, then, was skill and strategy.
What Nero failed to realise was that he’d never been told to win, only to demonstrate his ability. In his mind, though, there was always only one objective: victory.
He attacked again, his movement a blur, his attacks practically undetectable to most students, yet no matter what he did, the red haired man kept standing in his place, blocking each attack as he studied Nero.