The banquet hall of the Royal Academy was a place of splendor even nobles found difficult to describe. Towering chandeliers floated on clusters of levitating gems, and a massive dome above revealed an enchanted night sky—one not of this world, but a crafted illusion of the stars beyond the veil of reality.
Golden plates shimmered on long tables stacked with delicacies from every corner of the continent. Wine aged over centuries swirled in crystal glasses. Laughter echoed from noble offspring, but the tension in the room was undeniable.
Everyone was here
And they were all waiting for him
."Aether Zephyrion will be attending tonight."
That single statement had swept through the halls earlier like wildfire. Some came out of curiosity. Others, from jealousy. A few to challenge. But most? They came to see.
The doors opened.
Silence rippled through the hall like a crashing tide.
Aether walked in without fanfare. He wore a simple black coat with silver trim, a dark rose emblem pinned to his collar—the crest of the Zephyrion family. No jewelry, no weapons. Yet, his mere presence overwhelmed the room. His golden eyes held no light. His stride was calm, without arrogance or hesitation, like one who had already conquered the space he entered.
A few of the younger nobles found themselves stepping aside without realizing it.At the far end of the hall, two girls turned simultaneously.
The first, seated at the royal family's table, wore an elegant purple gown. Her violet eyes sharpened in interest as Aether met her gaze across the room. Sypha Elvaria, the First Princess of the Elista Kingdom, known for her icy demeanor and unmatched affinity for wind magic.
Beside her, a girl in a flowing crimson dress rested her chin on her palm. Long red hair framed her amused smile. Princess Reila, the Second Princess, rumored to be as dangerous as she was beautiful. A rebel in noble form.
Both of them watched as Aether silently took his place—not with the students, but among the highest-ranking nobles. The seat reserved for the heir of a Duke.
No one protested.
No one dared.
A minute passed. Then two. The atmosphere began to shift again—until the announcer at the front raised his voice.
"We welcome the final guest of the evening. Please give your attention to the Hero of the Elista Kingdom—chosen by prophecy and blessed by the gods—Leonhardt Evaris!"
This time, applause erupted. Every head turned.The Hero had arrived.
He was tall, with windswept blond hair and azure eyes that gleamed with righteous light. The favored son of fate. His armor was ceremonial, gleaming silver and engraved with divine sigils. He smiled, charming and confident, as he bowed toward the royal table.
Aether didn't clap. His eyes narrowed slightly.
So this is the protagonist.Leonhardt's gaze swept the crowd, full of warmth. Then, almost like an instinct, his eyes stopped at Aether. Their gazes locked.And the banquet hall suddenly felt colder.
Neither moved.
Neither looked away.
Aether studied him calmly. This boy—this hero—was the one the world would bend for. He would stumble upon lucky encounters. Noble girls would fall for him. Enemies would turn allies. Every battle would nudge him toward victory, every loss spun into future strength.
Aether, however, was different.
He wasn't the one destined to win.
He would force his victory.
Leonhardt gave a small nod—a polite gesture between noble equals. Aether returned it with nothing more than a half-smile. One that didn't reach his eyes.
The banquet resumed, but the tension never left
Later, as Aether stood alone by the balcony, the moonlight reflecting off his silver hair, a voice reached him.
"You didn't even glance at me," Reila said, walking up with a glass of wine in hand. "Most boys freeze when they meet a princess."
"You're not most girls," Aether replied, voice quiet and even. "And I'm not most boys.
She grinned. "So they say."
Another voice joined them. "You don't smile much, do you?" Sypha asked, stepping out from the shadows with elegance. "You're quite the mystery."
"Only to those who ask the wrong questions."
Sypha tilted her head. "Then tell me, Aether Zephyrion. Why are you here?"
He turned, meeting both princesses' eyes. "To win."
"Win what?" Reila teased, swirling her wine.
Aether looked past them, to where Leonhardt now laughed with nobles, glowing like a beacon of hope.
"Everything."
End of chapter 8