The Glitched Mage-Chapter 28: Body Reforging

Riven washed up quickly and reached for his academy uniform, only to frown when the shirt refused to button over his now broader chest.

"Huh... didn't really think this through," he muttered, scratching the back of his head. It wasn't until he returned to his room the night before that he realized his old clothes had been torn and stretched at the seams.

"Shit." He sighed, reluctantly pulling on the tattered garments before heading to the small reception desk at the dormitory entrance. The sun had yet to fully rise, and while the halls weren't crowded, a few first and second years loitered nearby - most of whom openly stared as he passed.

"How can I help?" The academy staff member behind the desk asked, barely glancing up from her stack of papers.

"It seems I've outgrown my uniform. I was hoping to get a larger set," Riven said evenly.

The woman let out a tired sigh and finally looked up - and promptly froze.

"Uh..." Her eyes flickered downward, lingering on his half-buttoned shirt and the firm lines of muscle beneath. A sharp gulp followed before she quickly turned away. "O-of course! Just give me a moment!"

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Her face flushed as she scrambled to the back room, returning a few moments later with a neatly bundled set of new clothes.

Riven plastered on a bright, polite smile as he accepted them. "I appreciate it."

"I, um... included a second set. Just in case," she added, voice slightly breathless as she dared to meet his gaze.

"That's very kind of you," Riven said, offering a small bow before turning to leave. The moment he was out of sight, his expression flattened, and he scoffed under his breath. Looks like this new strength of mine is going to be useful in more ways than I expected.

Back in his room, he changed into the fresh uniform, humming in satisfaction as the fabric fit snugly over his newly defined form. It felt good.

He glanced toward the window, where streaks of purple and orange painted the early morning sky. With a sigh, he rolled his shoulders and stepped out once more.

It was time for his next lesson with Elder Thorne.

—x—

As Riven made his way to class, he felt the weight of countless gazes pressing against him. Whispers trailed in his wake, students murmuring behind cupped hands, their eyes flickering with shock, envy, and something close to suspicion.

He sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. Great. Just what I needed - more attention.

'System,' he thought, keeping his expression neutral, 'is there any excuse I can give for my... drastic change in appearance?'

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[[ Results Found:

Reforging of the Body

Description: The Reforging of the Body is a phenomenon that occurs through enlightenment. When one achieves true synchronization with their own body, they can break past their limits and reshape themselves to better suit their skills. This process is rare but not unheard of, typically occurring in those who undergo extreme physical and mental trauma and/or training. ]]

Riven's lips curled into a slight smirk. Perfect.

Elder Thorne stood with the other students when Riven arrived. The moment they saw him, all conversation ceased. Wide eyes, gaping mouths - Riven had expected stares, but the sheer shock on their faces was almost amusing.

Valis and Lucenya looked particularly stunned, their gazes flickering over his newly transformed physique.

"What..." Valis's brows furrowed as he realized he now had to look slightly up to meet Riven's gaze. "What the fuck happened to you?!"

Riven ignored them entirely, walking up to Elder Thorne with a respectful bow. "Elder Thorne, last night - I was training alone when suddenly my body was consumed by pain." He kept his voice steady, lacing it with just the right amount of unease. "I had no idea what was happening."

"You..." Elder Thorne trailed off, scanning him from head to toe, his golden eyes narrowing in contemplation. "You went through body reforging? At such a young age..."

"Elder Thorne, what happened to him?" Valis cut in, his voice sharp with outrage. He gestured wildly at Riven, as if demanding an explanation. "How can someone change so much overnight?!"

"Did you say body reforging?" Jerrik asked, rubbing his chin as he slowly circled Riven. It was the first time Riven had seen Jerrik show any genuine interest in something. So, he values physical strength... interesting.

"What does that mean?" Lucenya piped in, her usual playful smirk absent.

Elder Thorne folded his arms, his expression unreadable. "When the body or mind is pushed beyond its limits, there are rare instances where a person achieves enlightenment. Body reforging is the result - the complete breakdown and reconstruction of muscles and bones, reforged to be stronger than before." His gaze grew distant, as if recalling something from his own past. "The process is... pure agony. Pain beyond human comprehension. Many do not survive it."

His golden eyes flickered with something unreadable before he added, "I underwent body reforging nearly a decade ago. It was one of the most painful experiences of my life."

"That's insane," Lucenya breathed, crossing her arms. "Your body literally destroys itself and then pieces itself back together? That sounds-"

"Morbid?" Elder Thorne supplied, arching a brow.

Lucenya nodded, looking vaguely disturbed.

Valis scoffed, crossing his arms. "You said it only happens when someone is pushed beyond their limits," he sneered. "What kind of 'hardships' could this pampered bastard have possibly faced?"

Riven's fingers twitched.

He had planned to keep up his anxious, uncertain act, but something inside him snapped. A wave of mana surged from within him - a slow, smoldering pulse of wrath that rippled outward like an unseen shockwave.

The effect was immediate.

Lucenya, Jerrik, and even Valis instinctively took a step back, their bodies reacting before their minds could catch up. Valis's sneer faltered for just a fraction of a second - just enough for Riven to see it.

Elder Thorne, however, remained still. If anything, his golden eyes glowed brighter, a knowing smirk tugging at the corner of his lips. "It seems you've been living a much harder life than you let on." He clapped a heavy hand onto Riven's shoulder, his gaze steady, acknowledging. "We use the pain from our past to forge the foundations of our future. You've just taken your first step into true power." His voice softened just slightly. "Congratulations."

A flicker of something - recognition? Sadness? -passed through Elder Thorne's gaze before he turned and motioned for them to follow. "Come. We'll continue in the training field."

Riven hesitated for just a fraction of a second. He said he also went through body reforging. What had he gone through that pushed him past his limits? That forced him to break and rebuild himself?

"Don't think this proves anything," Valis muttered as he brushed past, his tone filled with venom. "If anything, you just look like a normal person now. Instead of a half-starved skeleton."

Riven didn't reply.

But as he walked forward, a shadow curled along the ground - a tendril of darkness slithering toward Valis's foot.

Valis let out a startled curse as his ankle snagged on something unseen, sending him stumbling forward. He barely managed to catch himself before falling flat on his face.

Riven smirked to himself as he kept walking, feeling just a bit lighter.

—x—

They spent the entire day training in the gravity chamber once again - though, unfortunately, this time it didn't end with Riven slamming his fists into Valis's face.

Despite the unrelenting pressure, Riven could feel the difference in his body. His movements were more controlled, his endurance stretched further, and while the gravity still weighed heavily upon him, it was nowhere near as unbearable as it was before.

As they finally stepped out of the training grounds, Lucenya exhaled heavily, massaging her neck. She glanced at Riven for what had to be the tenth time that day, still eyeing him like he was an entirely different person.

"I still can't get over how different you look," she muttered, her tone caught somewhere between fascination and disbelief.

"It's still a shock for me too," Riven replied, his voice absent as they weaved through the busy academy halls.

Lucenya hesitated for a moment before finally asking, "Was it... really painful?"

Riven's steps faltered slightly. His mind flashed back to the excruciating agony, the sensation of his body breaking apart and reshaping itself, the sheer ecstasy of it. A grin stretched across his face before he could stop it.

"Oh, it was horrendous," he murmured, almost too fondly.

Lucenya froze, her eyes widening at the expression on his face. She opened her mouth - then snapped it shut when, just as quickly as it had appeared, Riven's usual polite, practiced smile replaced it. It was as if she had imagined the entire thing.

"Haha... How can you say that with a smile like that?" Lucenya laughed, breaking the brief, unsettling silence. "If anyone heard you, they'd think you were a masochist."

Riven merely scoffed, pressing forward.

Then the crowd thickened. The steady hum of conversation turned into a quiet murmur. The students ahead of them weren't merely walking - they were gathering.

"What's going on?" Lucenya frowned, stretching her neck to get a better look at the mass of students clogging up the main courtyard.

"I'm not sure," Riven murmured. He started pushing through the bodies until they reached the edge of the crowd.

Then someone grabbed his arm.

Riven's reaction was immediate.

Shadows curled violently beneath his skin, a flicker of darkness lashing outward in warning as he ripped his arm free, eyes flashing with instinctual aggression.

"Riven, it's me!"

Ember's voice snapped him out of it.

His younger sister stood before him, her ruby-red eyes wide with shock. Her gaze darted over him, taking in his changed form, her breath hitching slightly. But she quickly shook her head, as if dismissing it entirely. "There's no time! You need to leave, now."

She shoved at his chest, trying to push him back into the crowd.

Riven barely budged.

"Why should I?" he asked, crossing his arms.

Lucenya glanced between them, puzzled. "What's going on? Do you know why everyone's gathered here?"

Ember ignored her entirely. She grabbed Riven's wrist again, her grip urgent. "Cole is looking for you - he's here, Riven! If he sees you, he will-"

A voice cut through the courtyard.

"Ah... so you finally decided to show your face."

The crowd fell into immediate, tense silence.

Riven turned his gaze to the side and met a pair of cold, amused crimson eyes.

Cole stood at the center of the courtyard, a pleased smirk curving his lips. His dark blood-red hair was tied back neatly, his regal posture effortless. He was taller than Riven had remembered, though still shorter than him now.

But that wasn't the only thing that had changed.

The moment Cole's eyes landed on Riven, something flickered through them - something sharp, something almost like confusion. Then it was gone, replaced by arrogant satisfaction.

He raised his hand, curling a finger toward Riven in a slow, beckoning gesture.

"Didn't I tell you?" Cole's smirk widened. "You would be finished at the academy."

His crimson eyes gleamed with amusement.

"You're dead."