Grand Arcanum Academy –
The first rays of dawn seeped through the window of Room 117, casting a soft glow over the Grand Arcanum Academy dormitory.
Alistair Vaelthorne awoke without hesitation.
No grogginess. No lingering fatigue.
His body had already adjusted to the academy's brutal schedule—combat training, gravity chamber drills, and mana refinement exercises.
Another day. Another step toward power.
He sat up, running a hand through his dark, slightly longer hair.
***
After freshening up, Alistair grabbed his academy-issued uniform—a black and silver combat outfit, reinforced with mana-absorbing fabric.
Then, without a word, he left his room.
His plan was simple:
Grab food from the cafeteria, then return to training.
But as he descended the Tower Dormitory's grand staircase, he immediately noticed something was off.
The moment he entered the common hall, conversations halted.
Heads turned.
Eyes locked onto him.
And then—whispers spread like wildfire.
***
Alistair didn't react.
He simply walked, his boots echoing against the polished floors as he moved through the crowd.
But the hushed voices continued.
"That's him…"
"He's even scarier in person."
"Did you see that aura?! That shouldn't be possible yet!"
"An instructor personally sparring with a first-year… and he held his ground?"
Alistair's brows furrowed slightly.
Something had happened.
Then—
Ping!
His smartwatch vibrated.
A notification appeared:
[Trending on the Academy Network: "Exiled Heir Awakens Aura – First-Year Spars with Instructor Pyros!"]
Alistair clicked the link.
Immediately, a holographic screen projected in front of him—
And there it was.
A recording of his fight with Instructor Ignatius Pyros.
The video started mid-combat—
Ignatius, his dragonkin body radiating heat, launched a devastating punch. The air distorted from the sheer force.
Alistair, calm, focused, dodged by inches, countering with a precision strike.
Then came the moment that broke the academy's expectations.
Alistair's body suddenly radiated a dark, unrefined aura, flickering like shadowy flames.
The first sign of Aura.
A power that most students wouldn't even begin to touch for at least in years.
The audience gasped as the pressure of his presence intensified—even causing some weaker students watching in the distance to stagger.
The video cut to Ignatius smirking, wiping blood from his lip.
Then—
"Hah! You're interesting, kid. Starting next week, you're sparring with me every combat class."
The final shot?
A zoom-in on Alistair's emotionless black eyes as he simply nodded.
Then—end.
--
Alistair closed the holographic projection.
He didn't need to read the comments.
He could already guess.
Shock. Disbelief. Speculation. Fear.
The other students hadn't seen him fight before.
Now, the entire academy had.
And from the way they all stared at him as he entered the cafeteria…
It was clear—
Alistair Vaelthorne had just become the most talked-about first-year in the academy.
****
The Grand Arcanum Academy Cafeteria was vast, more like a banquet hall than a simple dining area.
Long tables stretched across the room, enchanted chandeliers hovering above, casting a soft golden glow. The scent of freshly baked bread, roasted meats, and exotic fruits filled the air as students gathered in groups, chattering about the latest academy events.
And at the center of it all—
Alistair Vaelthorne entered.
From across the room, Leon Valerius sat at one of the elite tables, his usual air of confidence slightly cracked.
His bright blue eyes, sharp and calculating, flickered toward Alistair.
Watching.
Measuring.
But more than that—he was frustrated.
That fight. That display.
Aura?
Leon hadn't even awakened his own yet, and he was supposed to be the top contender in this academy.
And yet, Alistair—the exiled heir, the supposed nobody—had shown something beyond normal first-year capabilities.
He clenched his fork slightly harder than necessary.
Evelyn had seen it too.
And that irritated him the most.
A few tables away, Elaine, Evelyn, and Morganna sat together, enjoying their meal.
Or at least, trying to.
Elaine subtly observed Evelyn, noticing the way her usually composed friend had been… off.
Ever since yesterday.
Ever since she tried to speak with him.
Alistair.
Evelyn hadn't been the same since.
Her mood darkened, her usual sharp but elegant presence clouded by thoughts she didn't want to share.
And Elaine knew exactly why.
Morganna, ever perceptive, smirked slightly.
"Evelyn," she drawled, swirling her spoon in her tea lazily, "you've been unusually quiet today. Should I be concerned?"
Evelyn blinked, realizing she had been absentmindedly pushing food around her plate.
"…I'm fine."
Elaine wasn't convinced.
Morganna certainly wasn't either.
So the gothic sorceress simply leaned forward, eyes glinting with mischief.
"Ohhh, I see." She grinned. "You're brooding. How tragic."
Evelyn shot her a look. "I do not brood."
Morganna smirked wider. "Oh? Then what do you call that very brooding expression you've had all morning?"
Evelyn sighed, setting down her utensils. "I'm just… thinking."
Elaine took a sip of her drink before calmly asking, "About Alistair?"
Silence.
Then—
Morganna laughed.
"Ahhh, I knew it! Evelyn, darling, you're practically radiating 'conflicted emotions and unresolved tension.'" She gave a fake dramatic sigh. "How romantic."
Evelyn rubbed her temples. "It's not—"
Elaine quickly decided this conversation needed to shift before Morganna made it worse.
So she cleared her throat and redirected the topic.
"Well, instead of fixating on that," Elaine said smoothly, "why don't we discuss Morganna's habit of traumatizing first-years using death magic?"
Morganna grinned wickedly. "Ah. So you noticed?"
Evelyn, despite herself, let out a small amused huff.
The tension lifted slightly.
And that was enough—for now.
***
After finishing breakfast, the students made their way toward the main lecture halls.
Alistair walked in silence, ignoring the occasional whispers and glances still directed at him.
He reached the massive lecture hall, large enough to seat over a hundred students—yet it still had plenty of space left.
As he entered, he immediately felt the weight of eyes on him again.
Not just from random students this time.
From everyone.
They had all seen the video.
They had all seen what he did.
Alistair remained unbothered as he moved toward an empty seat.
The murmurs continued until the sound of boots approaching silenced them.
The instructor had arrived.
And class was about to begin.
TO BE CONTINUE...