Grand Arcanum Academy – Mana Theory Class
The lecture hall of the Arcane Studies Wing was a masterpiece of magical architecture—towering bookshelves lined the walls, enchanted quills hovered midair, scribbling notes on parchment, and glowing crystal orbs pulsed with mana, projecting complex diagrams across the room.
Professor Elara Vaelis, a regal elf with silver hair and piercing violet eyes, stood at the front. Unlike most instructors, she demanded absolute silence.
The moment the students entered, the temperature in the room seemed to drop.
"Take your seats," she said, voice cool and measured.
The room fell into order almost immediately. Even the more arrogant nobles dared not test her patience.
Alistair, Leon, Evelyn, Elaine, Kieran, Rael, Dain, and the Vampire Twins sat near the front, each aware that this class was not one to be taken lightly.
"Today," Elara began, "we will be discussing the Three Pillars of Mana Theory—Manipulation, Conversion, and Integration."
With a wave of her hand, three golden symbols appeared midair.
1. Manipulation – The ability to control and shape mana.
2. Conversion – The process of transforming mana into spells, techniques, or energy.
3. Integration – The fusion of mana with the body, enhancing physical and mystical abilities.
She turned, her violet gaze sweeping over the students.
"Who among you can tell me which of these is the most important?"
A few hands went up.
Leon Valerius, ever confident, spoke first. "Manipulation. Without control, mana is just raw energy."
Professor Elara nodded slightly. "A reasonable answer. However—incorrect."
Leon frowned but didn't argue.
Elaine Vaelthorne was next. "Integration. A mage's ability to merge mana with their body determines their overall combat potential."
Elara gave a small nod but said nothing.
Then, Morganna Draven smirked. "Conversion. The ability to shape mana into spells is what separates an average mage from a true sorcerer."
Elara let silence linger before finally speaking.
"You are all correct. And yet, you are all wrong."
She gestured, and the three symbols merged into one.
"The true answer is that no single pillar is greater than the others. A true mage must master all three—without Manipulation, you have no control. Without Conversion, you have no application. Without Integration, you have no foundation."
She stepped forward, and a faint ripple of mana spread from her.
"What many of you fail to understand is that mana is not a tool—it is a force that exists beyond mere spells and abilities. It is life, will, and law itself."
She flicked her wrist.
A simple flame appeared in her palm.
A second later, it froze solid—then shattered into a million glowing embers before reforming into pure lightning.
The class fell silent.
Kieran's eyes narrowed. "She altered the elemental composition without recasting…?"
Elara smirked slightly, as if reading his thoughts.
"The weak follow formulas. The strong shape reality."
She turned toward the class.
"For your first advanced lesson, I want you all to expand your perception of mana. You will each be tasked with refining your core affinity by altering its state at will."
Her eyes gleamed with challenge.
"Who among you will be the first to succeed?"
****
Each student was given a mana crystal to practice with—an enchanted gem designed to react to their elemental affinity.
Leon immediately ignited his with golden lightning, attempting to shape it into something more than raw discharge. Sparks crackled as he struggled to change its form.
Evelyn methodically channeled her mana, trying to shift her divine energy into something sharper, denser.
Kieran, however, went further.
He reached into the water affinity within him and tried to alter its properties.
His crystal turned into liquid… then ice… then mist…
For a moment, his expression sharpened.
Meanwhile, Alistair sat in complete silence, observing.
He understood mana far more deeply than any of them. He had studied nature magic.
He focused.
He let his abysall energy seep into the crystal.
The gem turned utterly covered in black flmes—then from flames small wines darker in sprouted.
His lips curled.
He was already beyond this level.
Professor Elara paced through the room, observing her students.
Some struggled. Some improved.
Then she stopped.
Her gaze landed on Rael Thunderfang, whose crystal had begun to glow with primal golden energy—a sign of someone awakening their true beastkin nature.
"…Interesting," she murmured.
Then she glanced at Lunara and Veylen Nightshade—the twin vampires.
Their mana crystals had darkened, pulsing with an eerie crimson glow.
Their progress was unnatural.
She narrowed her eyes.
But the most intriguing of all was Alistair Vaelthorne.
His crystal was covered small vines also at same time burning with black flames.
But flames didn't burn wines, showing synthesis within his elements
Professor Elara smiled faintly.
"Class dismissed."
****
The sky above the Grand Arcanum Academy had deepened into twilight, the academy's towering spires bathed in the glow of mana lights. The night air was crisp, carrying a quiet stillness that contrasted with the day's lessons and training.
After another grueling session in the Gravity Chamber, Alistair Vaelthorne stepped out, his body aching but his mind sharper than ever.
The increased gravity had pushed his body further, helping refine the power he had awakened—still unrefined, but growing.
He exhaled, rolling his shoulders as he made his way back toward the Tower Dormitory.
Then—
A familiar voice stopped him in his tracks.
"Alistair."
He turned.
Standing beneath a softly glowing mana light was Evelyn Aurelius.
Golden-haired. Emerald-eyed. Regal in every way.
But unlike when she addressed others—with composed confidence and unwavering poise—this time, her expression was uncertain.
As if she didn't know what to say.
For the first time in years, Evelyn sought him out alone.
For a moment, neither spoke.
Then, Evelyn took a step forward.
"You've changed."
Alistair said nothing, simply staring at her with those cold, abyssal black eyes—the same eyes that unsettled even the strongest of their peers.
She exhaled sharply. Frustrated.
"Why?" she pressed, stepping closer. "Why are you like this now?"
Silence.
She clenched her fists.
"I supported you," she said, her voice quieter now. "After your mother died… I was there. I saw you grieving. But even then, you still had that fire in your eyes. You still fought, still had something driving you."
She shook her head.
"But now…"
Her emerald eyes searched his, trying to find something—anything—of the boy she once knew.
"Now there's nothing. Just emptiness."
Alistair's expression remained unreadable.
His past self—the one who once admired Evelyn, who once dreamed of standing beside her, had died long ago.
He had once felt something for her.
But that was before.
Before he lost everything.
Before he saw the world for what it truly was.
Before he embraced what he had become.
"…Our engagement," Evelyn finally said, her voice quieter now. "You do realize it ended because of your actions, right?"
Alistair's gaze remained impassive.
"I stopped being an heir. That's all it took."
Her lips pressed into a thin line.
"That's not all."
She took another step closer, her voice barely above a whisper.
"You pushed us away. You shut yourself out. You abandoned your own family, your own future, your own…"
She hesitated.
"…Me."
For a fleeting second, there was something vulnerable in her expression.
Something real.
But Alistair…
He didn't care.
Evelyn's gaze hardened again.
"If you had stayed the heir, things would have been different."
Alistair raised an eyebrow. "Would they?"
Her jaw tightened.
"…My father wants to tie me to Leon now."
Alistair almost smirked. Almost.
Of course he did.
Leon Valerius was the golden hero, the favored son of war gods, the empire's chosen warrior.
The Valerius and Aurelius bloodlines uniting? Politically perfect.
It was the logical move.
And yet, the way Evelyn said it—the slight hesitation in her voice—revealed that she wasn't entirely pleased by it.
"So?" Alistair finally spoke, tilting his head. "Isn't that what you wanted?"
She stiffened.
"…You know it's not."
For a moment, the past and present seemed to blur.
Once, Evelyn believed in him.
Once, she stood by his side.
But the boy she had believed in was gone.
Finally, Evelyn let out a slow breath.
Her last attempt to reach him had failed.
"…Fine." She turned away, her voice composed once more. "If that's who you are now, then so be it."
She walked past him, her expression unreadable.
But as she did, she said one final thing—
"…I'll never forgive you for breaking what we had."
And then—
She was gone.
Alistair stood there for a moment.
He watched her disappear down the corridor, her golden hair fading into the distance.
Then, without a second thought—
He kept walking.
Whatever had existed between them?
It was between her and Alastair.
And he was not Alastair, nor ethan. He someone new.
TO BE CONTINUE...