Extra's Ascent

Chapter 123 123: Second Clover Revelation (i)

With exam season in full swing, the flow of days had become erratic for the students of Eldora Institute. With exam around the corner, schedules blurred. Routines bent. In the haze of academic chaos, most students juggled between study groups and training regimens. But not Saldrich not today.

She had carved this day out for something personal. No distractions. No intrusions. A sibling date, if one wanted to call it that. However instead of beginning with shared snacks or nostalgic stories, this date kicked off with Saldrich dragging Aldrich into one of Eldora's many training facilities, a space designed for students to hone and refine their Arts.

Aldrich stood across from her, arms loosely crossed, clearly unimpressed.

"I'm all ears, Sal. You made me ditch a team bonding exercise for this, so it better be good."

It wasn't just Aldrich's team he'd bailed on. The newly formed squads of first-years, those grouped from F-Class through S-Class were all investing time in building camaraderie through exercises and collaborative drills. It was a necessary step in preparing for the trials ahead.

Yet here he was.

A day prior, Saldrich had approached him with urgency, asking for a private moment just the two of them. She claimed she had something important to share, something that couldn't wait another day.

And because of that, Aldrich had bowed out of today's team session, choosing instead to listen to whatever revelation Saldrich had in store.

"Relax, Al. By the time I'm finished explaining, you'll be thanking me on your knees if I dare say so," she said with a grin, exuding confidence.

He raised an eyebrow. She had said she wanted to show him something, not explain. But either way, he was willing to play along for now.

"Fine. Let's hear it."

He was curious, but more than that, he wanted to get on with it. The anticipation was starting to itch under his skin.

Saldrich didn't waste time. Her opening question cut straight to the heart of the matter: had Aldrich truly awakened his second Clover?

She wanted to confirm if what she saw during his battle with Kyle Dandada, the second Clover shining through his gaze had been real. Was it the genuine second stage of the Aldaman's signature Art, or just a phantom brought on by adrenaline?

To answer, Aldrich simply activated his Clover Eyes.

Two silver clovers shaped like hearts danced within his pupils, gleaming under the artificial light of the facility.

Saldrich took a step back, her mouth slightly agape. "It really is… the second Clover," she murmured, awestruck.

The timing shocked her. From awakening his first Clover to now wielding the second, the period had been remarkably brief. Too brief. Compared to her own journey of nearly a year and a half between the two stages.

For Aldrich, his growth bordered on unprecedented.

"When you used the second Clover for the first time," she asked softly, "how did it feel? What did you feel?"

What did he feel?

He

The value laid in her words crushed down on him. The implications… they were monumental. In a realm where strength often came through blood, sweat, and relentless repetition, here was an ability that sidestepped all of it. A power that defied conventional training, and replaced it with perfect mimicry.

"Is that even fair?" he whispered.

The question wasn't aimed at her, it was to the world itself.

Was it just? Was it balanced? An eye that allowed its wielder to transcend the grind that others toiled through for years?