Temporal Dominion

The tension in the training hall lingered long after Lucian's trial ended. Even as the remaining students completed their tests, whispers still rippled through the crowd.

"How did he move like that?"

"That wasn't just instinct—he knew exactly where the attack would land."

Lucian could feel the weight of their stares, but he forced himself to remain composed. The fight had revealed something new: his Chronokinesis was growing stronger. Before, he had only seen fragmented glimpses of the future. But now, his perception had expanded—offering him a seamless flow of time's rhythm.

Still, one victory meant little in the grand scheme of Aurelian Academy.

And that fact became painfully clear when Instructor Kael spoke again.

"For some of you, today's results were satisfactory." His sharp gaze swept across the students before landing on Lucian. "For others, it raised more questions than answers."

Lucian tensed. He could already tell that Kael was testing him.

"Vale."

Lucian straightened. "Yes, Instructor?"

Kael's expression was unreadable. "Explain how you defeated the construct."

The room fell into silence.

Lucian hesitated. If he revealed too much, he risked exposing his power before he fully understood it. But lying or downplaying it would make him seem weak—and weakness was not tolerated at Aurelian.

After a moment, he answered carefully.

"I saw the attack coming before it landed. I adjusted accordingly."

Kael narrowed his eyes. "Foresight?"

Lucian nodded once.

The instructor studied him for a moment, then gave a slight nod. "Then prove it wasn't a fluke."

Before Lucian could react, Kael snapped his fingers.

A second construct emerged.

But this one was different.

Its movements were faster, sharper—adaptive.

Lucian barely had time to register its presence before it lunged at him.

Time bent.

He sidestepped just as the construct's fist shot past him—but it adjusted mid-motion, twisting unnaturally to strike again.

Lucian's breath hitched. It was learning.

Another strike. Another dodge. But the construct moved closer each time.

"You relied on instinct in the last fight," Kael said, watching him closely. "That won't work here."

Lucian's mind raced. What was different?

Then he realized—

The first construct had predictable attack patterns.

This one had none.

It was responding to his movements in real time.

Which meant—reacting alone wouldn't be enough.

Lucian had to do more than dodge. He had to break the pattern entirely.

The construct lunged again, its metal limbs a blur—

Lucian moved forward instead of back.

Time slowed—his perception sharpening.

He stepped inside the attack, twisting his body to let the strike pass millimeters from his skin.

Then—he struck.

This time, he didn't aim for the core.

He aimed for the joints.

His fingers struck the construct's arm at a precise angle—disrupting its motion mid-attack.

The construct stuttered, momentarily losing balance—

Lucian struck again.

A sharp impact to its neck joint—then a final blow to the knee.

The construct collapsed.

Silence.

Kael watched him carefully before finally speaking.

"Better."

Lucian exhaled. His body burned from the exertion, but deep down, he knew—this was progress.

He wasn't just reacting to time.

He was beginning to control it.