Lucian sat under the sprawling silverwood tree near the academy's west garden, eyes closed, listening to the rustle of wind through the leaves. For once, the world was quiet.
That peace didn't last.
"There you are, wind boy."
Lucian cracked one eye open.
It was Liora Sunveil, the daughter of a noble merchant family from the southern isles. She had long sun-kissed hair tied into a loose ponytail and emerald green eyes that always carried a hint of mischief. Her face was adorned with a sun-shaped sigil near her right cheekbone — radiant and golden.
She dropped beside him without asking.
"Word is, you melted Seris Vaeloria's ego last week. With fire. Didn't know wind could do that," she teased, nudging him lightly.
Lucian sighed. "I didn't mean to—"
"Relax," she interrupted, "half the girls in our year think mysterious is attractive now. You're a trend."
Lucian blinked, baffled. "I'm… a what?"
Before Liora could answer, two more girls approached.
Elis Vrenna, the top healer in their year, calm and soft-spoken, with short white-blonde hair and a crescent moon sigil under her left eye.
And Nira Kael, daughter of a general from the eastern province. Sharp-tongued, confident, and rumored to have already defeated a full instructor in a sparring match. Her fire sigil shimmered near her collarbone.
"Elis wants to know if you'll partner with her in elemental control class," Nira said bluntly. "Also, she thinks you're cute."
Elis flushed. "Nira!"
Lucian just blinked again, completely overwhelmed.
"I, uh… I usually train alone."
"Brooding. Nice," Liora grinned. "You're really committing to this mysterious wind mage thing."
Lucian stood quickly, brushing grass off his uniform. "I have to get to the Archives."
"Why?" Nira asked, raising a brow.
"To study… for the elemental theory test," he lied.
None of them believed it.
But they let him go.
As Lucian hurried down the path to the library tower, he could still hear their laughter echo behind him. His pace slowed as he entered the vast halls of marble and crystal.
What is happening?
He used to eat lunch alone. Now people watched him wherever he went. Instructors kept him after class. Students whispered his name like he was already part of the Aether Class.
And all of it — all of it — made him feel further from the truth.
He wasn't just a talented Syntari.
He wasn't even just Syntari.
He was something else. Something still sleeping inside him.
Something dangerous.
As the sun set and the bells of Aetherreach chimed across the city, Lucian climbed to his dorm's rooftop and looked toward the horizon.
Banners were being raised.
Crowds were already arriving.
In two days, the Inter-Class Tournament would begin.
And win or lose, Lucian knew — this tournament would change his school life.