Chapter 15: Separation and Revelations
The corridors of Etheria Academy were still filled with whispers and hurried footsteps. Students were leaving the great hall of ceremony, hearts pounding and heads full of conflicting emotions. Roy, proudly wearing his crimson A-rank cape, walked with a confidence that intimidated some and fascinated others.
Kael, hands clenched on his white cape, stayed back. His dark, piercing eyes observed the scene with a mixture of calculation and indifference. He could hear the comments behind him:
"A Class A… I never thought Roy could get it," murmured a student as he walked away.
"Kael in Class D… I wonder what that means…"
Kael didn't respond. He knew that this ranking was only a step, a tool to conceal his true intentions.
Luxrius, the rector, stepped onto the platform. Silence fell almost immediately. His voice, deep and clear, rose through the hall:
"Now that each of you has received your cape, it is time to assign you to your classes. This distribution will determine your courses and progress at Etheria Academy."
Kael felt his stomach tighten but remained impassive.
"Kael, Class D. Seth and Damian, Class B. Tara, Class C. Alma and Teddy, respectively B and C."
Students exchanged glances, some smiling, others frowning. Kael simply nodded and left the hall, aware that this assignment was merely a tool to manipulate them as he wished.
---
The next day, students gathered in their respective classes.
Kael in Class D
Kael entered Class D, where Professor Arlen awaited, accompanied by a few other students. The room was vast, lit by the diffuse glow of crystals hanging from the ceiling.
"Welcome to Class D," began Arlen, a man with a silver beard and penetrating gaze. "Today, we will explore the history of Etheria Academy and the nature of the magic you will learn."
He swept his hand across a wooden-engraved map, showing the structure of the Academy, nestled deep within the Earth.
"Etheria is not merely a place of learning," he explained. "It is built at the very heart of the Earth. Moonlight filtering through the crystals illuminates our corridors, our halls, and even our grimoires. The magic you will study here is influenced by this unique environment. Understanding Etheria means understanding light, gravity, and the energy that surrounds us."
Kael nodded, absorbing every word, but his thoughts wandered. He wasn't attending the lessons merely for knowledge; he sought keys, secrets, openings in magic that others would never see.
---
Seth and Damian in Class B
In Class B, Seth and Damian practiced manipulating elemental crystals. Their teacher, a woman with golden eyes named Lyara, observed them closely.
"Focus your energy into the crystal," she explained. "Do not force it; simply feel the element respond to your presence."
Damian frowned, gripping the crystal in his hands.
"I can't… I just feel a faint warmth."
Seth placed a hand on his shoulder:
"You need to feel the connection, not control it. Close your eyes, let the energy flow through you."
Damian took a deep breath, and this time a small jet of flames shot from the crystal, illuminating the room spectacularly. Lyara smiled:
"Exactly. Magic obeys the will, but only if you know how to listen."
---
Class C
Tara, meanwhile, explored water magic and healing. Her teacher, an elderly man with a gentle voice named Selvaris, encouraged her:
"Every drop of water holds a memory. Learn to feel it and guide it. Healing begins with understanding the flow of life, not brute force."
Tara closed her eyes and extended her hands toward the fountain at the center of the room. The water rose gently, forming shimmering waves around her as if responding to her will.
"Perfect, Tara," murmured Selvaris. "You are progressing quickly."
---
Katia and Teddy in Class C
They studied shadows and illusions. Teddy, ever sarcastic, quipped to Alma:
"Be careful not to get eaten by your own spell…"
Katia rolled her eyes, but a smile appeared on her face. Shadows danced around them, twisting and changing shape according to their movements. Each failure brought them closer to mastery.
---
Two weeks passed.
Kael had withdrawn to his room, alone. He opened the forbidden grimoire he had been studying since his arrival. The ancient language remained incomprehensible. Every symbol seemed to dance before his eyes without revealing itself fully.
"Still impossible…" he murmured.
Moonlight, piercing through the windows, brushed across the pages. Slowly, almost imperceptibly, certain symbols began to glow, as if the grimoire itself was willing to reveal its secrets. Kael felt his heart race.
With a swift motion, he took from his bag a second grimoire he had carefully hidden all this time. Neither Seth, Tara, nor Suo were to know he possessed this book. He placed the two grimoires side by side. Each bore a key engraved upon it: one numbered 1, the other 3. A clear connection emerged.
Kael's smile was not that of a curious student. It was cold, calculating. His motivations were darker than anyone could imagine. The plan he had been preparing for so long could finally be set in motion.
Moonlight bathed the two grimoires, illuminating their pages and revealing the mysterious symbols. Kael caressed the covers, a shiver of excitement running down his spine:
"Finally… everything becomes possible…"
The night stretched around him, silent, as if observing the beginning of a dangerous destiny.
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To be continued…