Chapter 8: The Hidden Prodigy

  The Royal Capital shimmered beneath the morning sun as magical transports zipped through the sky, ferrying students to the Grand Astral Academy—a majestic institution carved into a floating plateau and crowned by spiraling towers. Floating monoliths circled it like celestial sentinels, inscribed with ancient runes that pulsed faintly with protective magic.

  This day marked the beginning of a new Academy Term, where aspiring mages from across the continent took their first steps toward legend.

  Among them walked a boy dressed in a plain dark robe—unmarked, unclaimed by any noble house.

  Aether.

  Raven-black hair, silver eyes that shimmered with distant galaxies. Most students didn’t notice him. But they would.

  The Mage Classification System

  Mages were ranked from Class 1 to Class 10, though Class 10 was more myth than reality.

  Most citizens never reached beyond Class 2.

  Class 3 was enough to earn recognition.

  Class 5 was considered prodigious.

  Class 6 and 7 often held courtly titles or national positions.

  Only legends and anomalies ever reached Class 8 or beyond.

  Headmaster Dorian Vaelthorn — Class 8, Master of Spatial and Illusion Magic.

  Princess Seraphina Althea — Class 3, Prodigy of Light and Water Magic.

  Elite Professors — Usually Class 5–6.

  Most Students — Class 1, a few Class 2.

  And Aether…?

  The Evaluation Ceremony

  Within the Aurelian Hall, students lined up before the Arcanite Pillar—a towering obelisk of crystal-veined stone that revealed a mage's class, mana pool, efficiency, and elemental affinities.

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  First came Seraphina Althea. She stepped forward with elegant confidence. The pillar pulsed as her mana entered.

  A surge of white and blue light burst outward.

  Name: Seraphina Althea

  Class: 3rd-Class Mage

  Mana Pool: 210

  Efficiency: 78%

  Affinities: Water, Light

  Polite applause followed. She bowed with royal grace.

  Next came Brion Vex, son of a well-known merchant guildmaster from Halderan. Stocky build, confident smirk.

  He slapped the pillar with one hand. It flickered.

  Name: Brion Vex

  Class: 2nd-Class Mage

  Mana Pool: 120

  Efficiency: 65%

  Affinities: Earth, Lightning

  “Not bad,” a student whispered. “His Earth spells are pretty potent already.”

  Then came Lira Wess, a noble’s daughter known for her composure.

  Name: Lira Wess

  Class: 2nd-Class Mage

  Mana Pool: 134

  Efficiency: 72%

  Affinities: Wind, Fire

  Jeran Vale followed soon after.

  Name: Jeran Vale

  Class: 1st-Class Mage

  Mana Pool: 89

  Efficiency: 58%

  Affinities: Fire

  Then…

  Aether.

  He walked quietly, no fanfare. Just calm steps. He raised his hand to the Arcanite Pillar.

  Nothing happened at first.

  Then—the ground shook.

  The Arcanite Pillar cracked, glowing brighter than it had for anyone else.

  All ten elemental sigils burst into radiant life—

  Fire. Water. Wind. Earth. Lightning. Ice. Light. Darkness. Nature. Space.

  Silence fell. Then gasps.

  Name: Aether

  Class: 4th-Class Mage

  Mana Pool: 1020

  Efficiency: 100%

  Affinities: All 10 Elements

  One instructor dropped his clipboard.

  “He—he’s already Class 4?!”

  “With every affinity…? That’s—”

  “No. No one has all ten. Not even Headmaster Vaelthorn!”

  Students stared. Some in awe. Some in fear. Princess Seraphina’s smile had faded. Her eyes locked on Aether, unreadable.

  And Aether? He just stepped back and returned to his place in the line.

  He had restrained his true power. This was only a taste.

  Later That Day – Faculty Chamber

  Within the Headmaster’s Hall, a replay of Aether’s evaluation floated above a scrying orb.

  Professors muttered amongst themselves.

  Headmaster Dorian Vaelthorn sat silently, fingers steepled.

  “He’s far past the threshold of a normal Class 4,” Dorian murmured. “That mana density... the control. It rivals some of our Class 6 instructors.”

  A younger professor hesitated. “Should we question him? Investigate?”

  “No. Not yet.”

  Dorian’s eyes flickered with magic. “He hasn’t revealed his reason for coming here. But he will. For now… we watch.”

  That Evening – In Eidheria…

  Through a portal shimmering like liquid starlight, Aether stepped into his domain.

  A vast landscape stretched beneath him—towering trees, glowing rivers, and elemental storms swirling in harmony.

  Spirits of fire and water bowed as he passed. Beasts looked up in reverence.

  Above him, new stars blinked to life—born of thought, will, and power.

  He hovered mid-air, overlooking the ever-growing world he called Eidheria.

  “The Academy…” he whispered, voice calm as ever.

  “It will be a useful stage.”