William spent three days in the medical wing with healers constantly checking his essence pathways and muttering about reckless students who pushed themselves too hard.
His body was slowly recovering but everything still hurt. The healers had been particularly concerned about the damage to his essence pathways, saying he was lucky he hadn't caused permanent harm to his cultivation foundation.
On the second day, Mira visited with food that was actually edible unlike the bland medical wing meals.
"You're famous now," she said while setting down the food. "Everyone's talking about your match with Liam. Some people are saying you would have won if your essence control hadn't failed."
"That's generous," William said while carefully sitting up. "I was completely outmatched."
"Maybe, but you still made it six and a half minutes against the protagonist and landed multiple solid hits. Most people can't last two minutes against him." She pulled out a bag of snacks. "Also, Seraphina beat him in the finals. It took her almost eight minutes but she won."
William wasn't too surprised. Seraphina had been confident she could beat Liam and apparently she'd delivered on that confidence.
That evening Lyanna visited with his class notes and assignments he'd missed.
"Professor Ashcroft wants you to complete these when you're recovered," she said while setting papers on the table beside his bed. "Also, our project deadline was extended since you're injured."
"Thanks for bringing these," William said.
Lyanna sat down in the chair Kai usually occupied. "Your match with Liam was quite impressive. I analyzed it and your essence control was fluctuating in crazy ways"
"It felt like my pathways were tearing themselves apart," William admitted.
"Because they almost were. You were forcing essence through channels that weren't fully developed yet." She pulled out her notebook. "But the interesting part is that your capacity stayed stable even when your control was failing. That suggests your foundation is stronger than your technique."
They talked about essence theory for a while before Lyanna left. William noticed the system notification hadn't appeared during their conversation, which was strange considering the percentage had been climbing.
On the third day, the head healer finally cleared him to leave with strict instructions to avoid any strenuous training for at least a week.
"Your essence pathways are healing but they're still fragile," the healer warned. "Light cultivation practice only, no combat training or enhancement until I clear you."
William made it back to his dormitory and found Kai reading on the couch as usual.
"Welcome back," his roommate said without looking up. "You have visitors waiting outside. They've been coming by every few hours since yesterday."
William opened the door to find Seraphina, Claire, and Sara all standing in the hallway. They looked at each other awkwardly before Seraphina spoke first.
"We wanted to check on you. The healers weren't letting anyone but immediate family visit."
William invited them in and they crowded into the small common room. Kai retreated to his bedroom without comment.
"Congratulations on winning the tournament," William said to Seraphina.
"Thanks. The match with Liam was harder than I expected." She studied him carefully. "How are you feeling?"
"Like I got run over by a carriage," William admitted. "But I'll recover."
They talked for a while about the tournament and upcoming classes before Claire spoke up.
"You've become quite interesting, William Cross. You know, fighting someone like Liam to unconsciousness tends to get people's attention."
"Not what I was aiming for," William said tiredly.
After they left, William collapsed onto his bed and pulled up the system interface he'd been avoiding while in the medical wing.
[Essence Pathway Recovery: 67%]
[Estimated Full Recovery: 4 Days]
[Warning: Essence Core reached critical strain during combat]
[Analyzing damage...]
William stared at the warning with concern. Critical strain didn't sound good, especially right after the healers said he'd nearly caused permanent damage.
[Analysis Complete]
[Critical strain has broken seal on dormant affinities]
[Multi-Elemental Core: Previously Locked]
[Status: Partially Unsealed]
[Available Affinities: Fire, Water, Wind, Earth, Lightning, Shadow]
[Current Access: 0%]
[Note: Affinities were unlocked during initial awakening at Cross Estate but user lacked sufficient essence control to manifest them]
[Combat strain has damaged control pathways but strengthened core foundation]
[Affinity Access Gates: Opening]
William sat up despite his body hurting all over. The system was saying he had these affinities since his mother tested him with that essence reader, but he'd been too weak to actually use them.
[Fire Affinity Gate: 23% Open]
[Wind Affinity Gate: 18% Open]
[Water Affinity Gate: 15% Open]
[Lightning Affinity Gate: 12% Open]
[Earth Affinity Gate: 8% Open]
[Shadow Affinity Gate: 5% Open]
[Estimated Full Access: 2-3 Weeks]
[Warning: Using affinities before gates fully open may cause further pathway damage]
[Recommendation: Focus cultivation on recovery while gates naturally open]
William closed the interface and tried to process this information. His mother's test had shown S-tier potential with multiple affinities, but this change only came about when he awakened the system and in such a weak body he couldn't access it.
Now after nearly destroying himself fighting Liam, the combat strain had somehow forced those sealed affinities to start opening. He still couldn't use them yet, but they were becoming accessible.
The next morning he attended his first class since the tournament. Magical Theory with Professor Ashcroft, and the moment he walked into the classroom, conversations stopped and people stared.
William ignored the attention and took his usual seat. Lyanna was already there and gave him a brief nod of acknowledgment.
Professor Ashcroft started her lecture about advanced essence manipulation techniques and William took notes while trying to focus despite the occasional glances from other students.
Halfway through class, William felt something shift in his chest. Not painful exactly, but like a door inside him had opened slightly wider.
[Fire Affinity Gate: 24% Open]
[Minor fluctuation detected]
[Maintain stable breathing to minimize disruption]
William focused on his breathing and the sensation passed. Professor Ashcroft continued lecturing without seeming to notice anything wrong.
After class, Lyanna stopped him in the hallway.
"Your essence signature feels different," she said while studying him with that analytical expression. "Did something happen during your recovery?"
William hesitated before deciding partial honesty was safer than lying to someone who could apparently sense changes in his essence.
"The healers said my core was stressed from the tournament. They think it might be adjusting to the damage."
Lyanna looked skeptical but nodded. "That can happen with severe essence pathway strain. Make sure you're careful with your cultivation practice while it stabilizes."
That evening William went to the training courtyard to do light essence exercises like the healer had instructed. He was running through basic circulation patterns when Seraphina appeared.
"You're not supposed to be training yet," she observed.
"I'm only doing light cultivation only, the healer said it was fine." William finished the current pattern. "Just keeping my pathways active while they heal."
"Your essence signature is different," Seraphina said while stepping closer. "It feels... deeper somehow, more pure."
William looked at her and sighed helplessly. Seraphina was too perceptive.
"Nothing serious, my core is just going through some changes due to the strain I put on it," William said simply.
Seraphina's eyes narrowed slightly. "Hmm alright"
"Some affinities that were detected when my mother tested me at the estate. I couldn't access them before but now they're starting to become available."
Seraphina was quiet for a long moment. "Multi-elemental affinity is extremely rare. Most people develop one affinity, maybe two. Having access to multiple elements means significantly more versatility."
"Assuming the gates open properly and I don't damage myself further trying to use them too early," William said.
They talked for another hour about essence cultivation and affinity development before Seraphina left. William continued his light practice while monitoring the occasional shifts in his core.
[Fire Affinity Gate: 26% Open]
[Wind Affinity Gate: 20% Open]
[Water Affinity Gate: 17% Open]
[Note: Natural opening progressing steadily]
[Continue recovery cultivation for optimal results]