The Extra Wants Control

In the dimly lit basement of his apartment, Neveah pushed himself to the limit. Sweat dripped from his toned chest, forming a small puddle on the cool concrete floor. He grunted with exertion, his muscles screaming in protest as he performed a one-handed, air push-up, weighted ice bracelets clinging to his ankles. The exertion left him panting, his lungs burning for air.

"997... 998... 999... 1000!" He gasped, finally completing the grueling set. "Fifty-three times gravity... that's my limit, even with person-sized localized area. Larger area should be about 43-46 times." Collapsing onto his back, he sucked in deep breaths, the icy air barely cooling his burning body. He gulped down a mouthful of chilled blood from a bottle provided by Verona.

The crimson liquid revitalized him, sending a surge of energy coursing through his veins

Neveah couldn't shake the image of Topaz from the recent duel. The unassuming, bookish girl had surprised everyone with her raw power and breathtaking display of swordsmanship. "Why did she hold back?" he pondered. "If I'm right I think she could easily overpower even Axl if she went all out. Don't know about Azrael though haven't seen him fight properly."

***************

Topaz Morton

Age: 19

Strength: 5 Star (above average for her age and human lineage)

Elements: Earth (mutation) - Metal

Wind?? (unconfirmed)

Affiliation: The Human Great Clan - Morton

Characteristics: Bookworm, reserved, quiet demeanor.

Background: Born with a weak and sickly constitution, Topaz initially displayed minimal magical aptitude. At the age of seven, she mysteriously vanished, only to reappear nine years later, a changed girl. Now, she held a prominent position within the Morton family, despite not being the heir apparent.

***************

Like all great human families, the Clans and the Royals, the Mortons had a clear line of succession. Topaz belonged to the direct lineage, the granddaughter of the current patriarch. However, her cousin, Stanley, held the official heir position, being the grandchild of the current patriarch's deceased brother.

Neveah's mind whirred. Topaz's sudden disappearance and remarkable transformation hinted at a hidden past. What secrets did she hold? Why did she suppress her full potential? These questions piqued his interest.

Neveah moved with a practiced grace. Every step, every strike of his training weapon, was imbued with the deadly efficiency of his shadow magic combat technique. Though the injuries from Verona's harsh training had subsided somewhat, he moved with a measured caution, the gravity field set to a familiar 53 times Elnova's normal pull.

Beads of sweat trickled down his face, a testament to the exertion, but a determined glint resided in his eyes.

"Act 1 should be starting soon," he muttered between breaths, referencing the upcoming event he'd gleaned from his intel network. "Hmmm... It was something about a rigged beast hunt and a couple of rogue teachers. Perfect opportunity to observe how the main cast reacts under pressure and handles it. And maybe..." a flicker of curiosity crossed his icy eyes, "...catch a glimpse of Topaz's true abilities."

Meanwhile, across dorms, in a modest apartment bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun, Topaz sat in a meditative pose. Her golden eyes, usually brown, were closed, her breathing measured and deep. A faint golden aura crackled around her form, the remnants of the excitement she'd felt during the sparring session.

"I got carried away," she sighed, a hint of frustration coloring her voice. "That Neveah... he's a formidable opponent. Thankfully, the duel ended prematurely. If I'd pushed further, I might have revealed more than necessary." A shiver ran down her spine. "I don't want... 'them' to know I'm here.

I'm also sure Stanley has eyes on me here at the academy, even if we share bloodline and he's far ahead in terms of strength and age, he sees me as a competitor for the Clan head position."

Golden light intensified around her as she focused her energy. "I need to get stronger," she murmured, the determination evident in her voice. "I'm still far from where I need to be. Grinding, learning, waiting for the perfect moment. Right now, exposing myself... is out of the question."

"I still need to build up my strength," she admitted, the frustration evident in her voice. "I'm weak. But I won't let that deter me. This is a game of patience and timing. Right now, I'm a fledgling. But one day..."

A mischievous glint reappeared in her eyes, a flicker of her true personality breaking through the facade. "Though... the thought of an all-out duel against that vampire... it holds a certain... appeal." A soft chuckle escaped her lips. "Perhaps someday. But for now..." she trailed off, a glint of steel replacing the amusement. "I need to repair my disguise.

That last outburst... it might raise unwanted eyebrows."

As Neveah and Topaz wrestled with their own thoughts, a wave of uncertainty washed over the rest of Class S students.

"Were those... really just 5-star students like us?" a nervous murmur rippled through the crowd. "Could I have withstood those attacks?"

The question hung heavy in the air, a seed of doubt planted in their minds. The overwhelming display of power from Neveah, the brutal vampire, and Topaz, the unassuming bookworm who'd unleashed a dazzling display of swordsmanship, had shattered their sense of security.

Azrael, the human Blessed, sat in his dimly lit room, eyes narrowed in thought. "Topaz... she surprised me. She didn't exude a strong presence, but I kept an eye on her nonetheless. A member of a Clan... but hiding such impressive capability? Having her on my side could be advantageous." He tapped his finger against the armrest.

"Moira! You absolute disgrace!" Axl roared, his voice laced with fury. "You make us - Dragons - look like utter fools! Compared to that human background character, you were pathetic! You didn't even last a second against that vampire!" He paced the room, his anger radiating outward.

Moira, sprawled on the plush carpet, cowered in silence. Shame burned like a hot coal in her stomach.

"Do you have any idea what this does to the reputation of Dragons? to my reputation?!" Axl bellowed, oblivious to his servant, Draven, silently observing the scene.

"Calm yourself, sir," Draven interposed finally, his voice a steady counterpoint to the Prince's fury.

Axl whipped around, his eyes blazing. "And you shut up! I'm tired of you constantly trying to dictate to me! You're just a bastard, a child of a commoner woman. What right do you have to tell me, the Crown Prince, to calm down?"

Draven, unfazed by Axl's outburst, met his gaze unflinchingly. "Then what are you going to do about it, huh?" he countered in a low, mocking voice. "When a second challenger for Neveah was called, why didn't you step up? Why? Because you were scared. You were afraid of losing to that Vampire again, just like you did in the Combat assessment."

Axl sputtered, his face turning an even deeper shade of red. "You... insolent creature!" He lunged forward, a snarling mess of rage.

"Sleep," Draven murmured, a single word dripping with power. Before Axl could land a blow, his eyelids fluttered shut, and he slumped onto the floor, unconscious. The same fate befell Moira as a wave of drowsiness washed over her.

With an air of weary resignation, Draven surveyed the unconscious pair. "Getting tired of this charade," he muttered. "Taking care of an imbecile prince and following orders from his arrogant father. Soon, this will all be over."

Picking up Axl's limp form, Draven skillfully maneuvered him onto a nearby couch. A vial materialized in his hand, and with a swift injection, he administered the unknown substance. Then, with Moira slung over his shoulder, he vanished from the apartment, leaving behind a chilling silence - the only testament to the power struggle brewing beneath the surface.