On one of the towering peaks of a vast mountain range, deep within a secluded courtyard, bangs! and booms! of spells echoed without end. Each explosion shook the mountaintop, and the tremors rippled outward, disturbing the peace of the neighbouring peaks.
Those who lived closest to the source had it worst of all.
On another peak blanketed by pink cherry blossoms, a young woman, no older than her late teens, sat upon a raised dais in her courtyard, a book resting in her lap. Her golden blonde hair shimmered under the soft light, and her delicate features carried the serene poise of nobility.
Yet the faint furrow between her brows betrayed her irritation.
"He's at it again," she muttered, snapping her book shut with an exasperated sigh. Her voice, though soft, carried a note of restrained annoyance.
She rose gracefully to her feet, her long dress swaying lightly with the mountain breeze. "Aris," she called.
From her shadow, a figure emerged, silent, fluid, and precise. A woman clad in dark garments materialized before her and dropped to one knee.
"My lady," Aris said, pressing a hand to her chest in greeting.
Celeste's golden eyes turned toward her attendant. "What did my father say about my proposal — and my siblings' — to send Sora to the Floating Academy ahead of schedule?"
Aris bowed her head. "His Majesty stated that unless the youngest master himself expresses a desire to go, he shall have no say in the matter, my lady Celeste."
Celeste snorted softly, her lips curling in mild annoyance. "You'd think the Emperor would show more enthusiasm for anything concerning one of his heirs."
"Pardon my forwardness, Lady Celeste," Aris replied gently, "but His Majesty is a busy man. And… you know he is rather estranged when it comes to young master Sora."
Celeste chuckled, though there was a trace of bitterness in her tone. "Estranged is an understatement. He acts all high and mighty in front of everyone — yet becomes so reserved when it comes to his youngest."
She sighed, brushing a lock of hair behind her ear, and her expression softened. "No matter. I'll go see if I can convince my dear little brother to leave home early. How difficult can it be? All I have to do is remind him that the Academy has far more magical resources than the royal family."
With that, she stepped lightly off the dais, her aura flaring subtly as shimmering mana gathered around her body. Her form lifted gracefully into the air, the hem of her dress fluttering as she rose above the cherry blossom trees.
Then, with a faint ripple of light, she shot forward, a golden streak cutting through the mountain mist, soaring toward the distant peak where the violent bursts of magic still roared without pause.
Celeste glided down onto an open courtyard, her silver hair catching the faint glimmer of the afternoon sun. Below, a young boy of no more than twelve stood at the centre, clutching a heavy tome. He said something softly, and every few moments, the air trembled as cataclysmic bursts of mana rippled outward from his hands.
He sensed her presence before she even landed. Looking up, he released the energy gathered in his palm, the blazing blue sphere that shimmered around his hand dispersed harmlessly into the air.
"Sora," Celeste said, landing gracefully in front of him, arms crossed. "Your spells are disturbing the rest of us."
He blinked, tilting his head. "Hmm… really? It can't be that loud. Your peak might be the closest to mine, but it's still quite a ways away."
"Oh, it's closer than you think," Celeste replied with a faint smile. "So, if you don't mind, keep it down."
"But how am I supposed to practice my magic then?" he asked, brows furrowing in genuine confusion.
Celeste's lips pursed as she 'looked' thoughtful, as if turning over an idea in her head. Then, as though a spark had ignited in her mind, her expression brightened.
"Ah!" she exclaimed, snapping her fingers. "How about entering the academy to advance your proficiency in magic? You may be too young, considering the normal age of new entrants, but that's only because most people awaken at fifteen. You, however, awakened the day you were born—so the rules don't apply to you. You might as well go right now."
Sora looked up at her silently. For a moment, Celeste felt her composure falter under his gaze.
He was... unsettlingly beautiful. His hair was black, not merely dark, but a void that seemed to drink in the light. His features were flawless, as though sculpted by the hands of gods themselves. But it was his eyes that disturbed her most.
His sclera was white, like anyone's. But so were his iris and pupil, only, with a hint of grey, his eyes looked like a blank white at first glance. To anyone who met his gaze directly, it felt as though he were peering straight into their soul—coldly and curiously, without restraint.
From his frame and appearance alone, it was easy to tell Sora couldn't be older than thirteen. But speaking to him always felt like conversing with someone much older. He carried himself with a maturity that clashed with his youth.
That said, when it came to his experiments, all that composure evaporated. He behaved like a spoiled child, doing as he pleased and ignoring the chaos he left behind. It made life miserable for some of his siblings, especially those whose residences were close enough to feel the shockwaves of his "practice."
"So," Sora said finally, his tone even. "You want me to leave home."
"More or less, yeah." Celeste tried to keep her voice steady. "You'll have access to far more resources at the academy."
"But aren't resources distributed according to your year?" he asked, brow furrowing. "That would mean it'll be years before I can access anything close to what Father already provides for us."
Celeste sighed softly as Sora continued, "On that note… why did you leave the academy anyway, Celeste? You're only nineteen," he pressed.
She looked away. "No reason," she said at last. "I just felt like coming back home. I got tired of it." Her tone was casual, but her eyes flashed with something more complicated. "It's not like I'm in a rush to get stronger or anything. Unlike you, my other brothers, I have no claim to Father's throne. I don't have the right to participate in the War of Succession."
"Hmmm, is that so?" Sora asked, tilting his head slightly.