The news spread faster than a fire spell. In every corner of the academy, from noble dormitories to servant kitchens, his name was whispered. No longer as an anomaly or a zero-genius, but as the chosen champion—a title that was as befuddling as it was terrifying.
At the Imperial Palace...
Princess Selene Solaris gazed at the holographic projection of the official announcement, a faint smile playing on her lips. Her brother, Crown Prince Aurelian, stood beside her, his face etched with worry.
"You're playing with fire, Selene," Aurelian said, his usually confident voice strained. "Elevating this Nocturne anomaly to the main stage... it could be a disaster. What if he loses control?"
