Cairo stood before the small bathroom mirror, water dripping from his face as he studied his reflection. Dark hair plastered to his forehead, water running down his neck in rivulets. The face staring back at him was familiar yet foreign, like looking at a photograph of someone you'd never met but somehow knew.
This was Cairo Starlight now. For better or worse.
He splashed more water on his face, scrubbing away the remnants of sleep and the lingering heaviness of yesterday's events. The cold helped clear his mind, sharpening his focus. Today was too important to face in a fog.
After drying off, he moved to the wardrobe where he'd found the Academy uniform waiting. Black trousers with sharp creases. A white dress shirt with the Academy crest embroidered on the breast pocket. A dark blazer with silver trim along the edges. Simple black shoes that were surprisingly comfortable.
Cairo dressed methodically, taking care with each button and adjustment. The uniform fit perfectly, tailored to his exact measurements despite him never having been measured. Magic, probably. Or just the efficiency of an institution that had been producing heroes for generations.
He examined himself in the full-length mirror mounted inside the wardrobe door. The uniform transformed him, lending an air of legitimacy he hadn't possessed in his bloodstained clothes from yesterday. He looked like he belonged here now, like he was actually a candidate rather than an imposter wearing a dead man's skin.
The thought made him pause, but only for a moment. No time for existential crises. Not today.
Cairo grabbed his key, tucked it safely in his pocket, and stepped out into the hallway.
The difference between the quiet of last night and the chaos of this morning was staggering. Students flooded the corridors in a living river of black uniforms and excited chatter. Girls mostly, their voices rising and falling in waves of anticipation and anxiety. The occasional boy moved through the crowd with careful confidence, hyper-aware of being outnumbered.
Cairo let himself be swept along by the tide, following the flow toward what had to be the main hall. Conversations washed over him as he walked.
"I heard they're putting the top ten in Alpha for sure."
"My sister said the class teachers are all former heroes. Like, actually fought in the Demon Wars."
"Do you think they'll announce rankings? I'll die if they read out our scores in front of everyone."
"Skye, have you seen Eden this morning? She wasn't in her room when I checked."
That last one made Cairo's ears perk up, but he kept his expression neutral as he continued walking. The crowd eventually deposited him into a massive hall that could have held a thousand people comfortably. High ceilings supported by marble columns. Banners bearing the Academy crest hanging from the walls. Rows of seats arranged in a gentle arc facing a raised stage at the front.
Students were filing into the seats in clusters, friends sitting together, strangers eyeing each other with competitive wariness. Cairo found a spot near the middle, neither too close nor too far back, and settled in to wait.
He didn't have to wait long.
"Cairo."
The voice was soft, almost hesitant. He turned to find Eden standing in the aisle beside his row, her white hair pulled back in a neat ponytail. She wore the female version of the uniform, a blazer and skirt combination that somehow made her look both professional and devastatingly attractive.
Her crimson eyes met his for just a moment before dropping to the floor. The confident, powerful heroine from the stories was nowhere to be seen. In her place stood someone who looked like she was on the verge of breaking.
"You came," Cairo said quietly, keeping his voice low enough that nearby students wouldn't overhear.
"I had to," she whispered, the words carrying the weight of compulsion. "You told me to find you before the ceremony started."
Cairo glanced around. A few students were watching them now, curiosity evident on their faces. Two girls in particular, one with bright pink hair and another with striking green eyes, were staring at Eden with expressions that ranged from confusion to concern. Her friends, probably. Ayla and Skye from her story last night.
"Sit," Cairo said, gesturing to the empty seat beside him.
Eden hesitated for just a moment, her body language screaming reluctance. But the compulsion was stronger than her will. She slid into the seat, keeping as much distance between them as the narrow space would allow.
They sat in tense silence as more students filtered in. Cairo could feel eyes on them, people noticing that Eden Brighthelm, one of the most powerful candidates in their year, was sitting with Cairo Starlight, the nobody descended from a once-great line.
The whispers started almost immediately.
"Is that Eden with the Starlight kid?"
"Why would she sit with him?"
"Maybe they know each other from before?"
"He's in the weakest bloodline. What could they possibly have to talk about?"
Eden's hands clenched in her lap, but she said nothing. Cairo ignored the commentary, his attention focused on the stage as the last stragglers found their seats.
A hush fell over the hall as a figure emerged from the wings.
Oberon Westen commanded attention simply by existing. He was tall, easily over six feet, with broad shoulders and a presence that filled the entire hall. His hair was silver, cut short and practical, framing a face that looked like it had been carved from granite. Scars marked his skin, the kind that came from real combat rather than training accidents. He wore a formal uniform similar to theirs but decorated with medals and insignia that spoke of achievements Cairo couldn't begin to guess at.
This was a man who had fought in wars. Who had killed and survived and risen to become one of the greatest Lords in the joint alliance of races. A warlord in the truest sense, now tasked with shaping the next generation of heroes.
Oberon reached the center of the stage and stopped, his gaze sweeping across the assembled students. When he spoke, his voice carried effortlessly through the hall without any need for magical amplification.
"Candidates," he began, the single word somehow conveying both welcome and challenge. "Today marks the beginning of your journey. Four years from now, you will leave this Academy as heroes. Protectors of our world. Defenders of the innocent. Warriors capable of standing against the darkness that threatens everything we hold dear."
He paused, letting the weight of those words settle over them.
"But today, you are not heroes. Today, you are students. Raw potential waiting to be refined. Power waiting to be harnessed. And it is our job, the faculty of this Academy, to forge you into something worthy of the bloodlines you carry."
Cairo felt a shiver run down his spine. There was something hypnotic about Oberon's delivery, a charisma that demanded attention.
"You come from five great races," Oberon continued. "Human, Elf, Therianthrope, Dragon, and Vampire. Each race has produced legendary heroes throughout history. Each bloodline carries power that can reshape battlefields. But lineage alone does not make a hero."
His expression hardened.
"I have seen candidates with the strongest bloodlines fall because they believed their heritage made them invincible. I have seen those from lesser-known families rise to greatness because they understood that power must be earned, not inherited. Your placement today reflects your current abilities. But it does not define your future."
The hall was silent, every student hanging on his words.
"You will be divided into four classes. Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta. Each class has ten students. Each class has a dedicated teacher who will be responsible for your training, your development, and your survival. Do not mistake this division for a judgment of worth. A Delta student who works harder than an Alpha student can surpass them. Your class is a starting point, not a destination."
Oberon's gaze swept across them again, and Cairo could have sworn those eyes lingered on him for just a moment.
"The teachers assigned to you are all former heroes. They have fought in real wars. They have seen friends die. They have faced horrors that would break lesser individuals. Listen to them. Learn from them. Respect them. Because one day, you will face those same horrors, and the lessons they teach you will mean the difference between life and death."
He stepped back slightly, his posture relaxing just a fraction.
"This Academy has stood for three centuries. In that time, we have produced heroes who have saved millions of lives. Who have pushed back invasions, sealed demons, prevented catastrophes that would have ended civilization. You stand in a legacy of greatness. The question is: will you add to that legacy, or will you be forgotten as another name in our records?"
The challenge hung in the air, heavy and undeniable.
"Four years," Oberon said, his voice dropping slightly. "Four years to prove yourselves. To grow beyond what you thought possible. To become the heroes this world desperately needs. Do not waste this opportunity. Do not squander the gifts you have been given. Because when you leave these halls, the world will not care about your potential. It will only care about what you can do."
He paused one final time, then nodded as if satisfied with what he'd said.
"Now, let us begin the placement."
A translucent screen materialized behind him, floating in the air and displaying four sections labeled Alpha, Beta, Gamma, and Delta. Magic hummed through the hall, the air itself seeming to vibrate with power.
"When I call your name," Oberon said, "you will be assigned to your class. Your class teacher will introduce themselves after all placements are complete. Listen carefully."
He raised one hand, and a smaller screen appeared before him, visible only from his angle.
"Alpha Class."
The hall seemed to hold its breath.
"Ivy Snowflash."
A girl near the front stood, her movements graceful and controlled. Cairo's attention locked onto her immediately. Snow white hair that fell past her shoulders in straight, silky sheets. Icy blue eyes that seemed to glow with inner cold. Her figure was impossible to ignore, curves that made Eden look modest by comparison. Bigger chest, wider hips, an hourglass shape that seemed designed to draw stares.
She walked to the stage with perfect poise, each step measured and confident. The air around her seemed to drop in temperature as she passed, frost forming on nearby surfaces before melting away.
Absolute Zero. The talent that gave complete command over ice and, to some extent, time itself. One of the most broken abilities in the entire webnovel.
"Fiore Voltaris."
Another girl stood, this one radiating energy even while still. Crimson hair that looked like it might catch fire at any moment. Bright blue eyes that crackled with barely contained electricity. She wasn't as thick as Ivy, built more like a model with long legs and a slender waist, but she carried herself with the kind of confidence that made her just as captivating.
Thunder Sovereign. Command over all lightning and electrical phenomena. Another top-tier talent.
"Aurora Flameheart."
The third girl moved like she was floating rather than walking. Flame-colored hair in shades of red and orange and gold. Blue eyes that seemed to contain dancing fire. She carried herself like royalty, like a princess who knew her worth and expected others to recognize it too. Her figure was elegant rather than overtly sexual, though Cairo noticed her posterior was notably pronounced.
Emberlord. Mastery over all heat, combustion, and flame. The natural counter to Ivy's ice abilities.
"Eris Luthaire."
An Elf stood this time, her movements almost reluctant. Violet hair that fell in messy waves, matching violet eyes that looked perpetually tired or sad. She had a gothic quality to her, like someone who'd seen too much darkness and couldn't quite escape it. Her figure was what could be called slim thick, curves present but not overwhelming.
Necronomicon. Death magic and necromancy. One of the darkest talents in the story, capable of horrifying feats if properly developed.
"Thalia Kaizer."
A Dragon candidate rose, and the sheer presence she radiated made several students shift uncomfortably. Tattoos covered her visible skin, intricate designs that seemed to writhe and move when you weren't looking directly at them. Her body was impressive, muscular yet feminine, with a bustiness that suggested her Dragon heritage manifested in more ways than just power.
Dragon God. The highest evolution path for Dragons, granting access to abilities that bordered on divine. She'd already unlocked the first path, putting her leagues ahead of most candidates.
"Camille Bloodirra."
A Vampire stood with inhuman grace, her movements too smooth to be entirely natural. Black hair that absorbed light rather than reflecting it. Crimson eyes that glowed faintly in the hall's illumination. Her skin was flawless, spotless, like porcelain brought to life. She was slim thick in the most perfect proportions, curves that seemed mathematically designed for maximum appeal.
Blood Monarch. The Vampire equivalent of Thalia's Dragon God path. Control over blood in all its forms, capable of terrifying and versatile applications.
"Yeffa Cordova."
A Therianthrope candidate rose, and Cairo felt his breath catch. Long, thick silver hair that fell past her waist. Golden eyes that held an animal quality, predatory and aware. She was thick in ways that defied description, curvaceous in every right place, her figure somehow managing to be both powerful and soft simultaneously.
Beast King. The mythic path for Therianthropes, granting the ability to command and embody the strongest aspects of multiple animal forms.
"Eden Brighthelm."
Beside him, Eden tensed. Her name had been called. She should stand. Should walk to the stage and join the other Alpha candidates.
But she didn't move.
The hall's attention shifted to her, students craning their necks to see why she wasn't responding. Oberon's gaze found her in the crowd, one eyebrow raising slightly.
Eden turned to Cairo, her crimson eyes pleading silently for permission. The compulsion held her in place as surely as physical chains. She'd been told to find him before the ceremony. She'd found him. But he hadn't dismissed her yet.
Cairo let the moment stretch just long enough to be noticeable, then gave the smallest nod.
Eden stood immediately, relief washing over her features for just an instant before she schooled her expression back to neutrality. She walked to the stage, but Cairo noticed the slight tremor in her hands, the way she kept her gaze fixed straight ahead as whispers erupted around the hall.
"Did you see that?"
"She waited for something before standing."
"Was she looking at the Starlight boy?"
"What's going on with her?"
Eden's friends, the pink-haired girl and the green-eyed one, were staring at Cairo now with open suspicion. He ignored them, keeping his attention on the stage.
"Seraphine Voidwalker."
Another girl joined the Alpha class, and Cairo recognized her from the webnovel. Space manipulation abilities that made her nearly untouchable in combat.
"Lyra Dawnstrider."
The final Alpha candidate, specializing in light magic and healing abilities that could reverse fatal wounds.
Ten names. Ten of the strongest candidates. Alpha class was complete.
Oberon continued through Beta class next, calling names that Cairo only vaguely recognized from his fragmented memories of the story. Two names stood out though.
"Jovian Etherbridge."
A boy stood this time, one of the rare males in the Academy. Dark hair and blue eyes, moving with quiet confidence. Aura Master, a talent that let him manipulate the life energy of himself and others.
"Chris Tristram."
Another boy, this one with lighter hair and a nervous energy. Barrier Lord, capable of creating impenetrable defenses.
Gamma class followed, ten more names that blurred together. Cairo's attention was already drifting, his mind cataloging what he'd learned so far.
Then Oberon reached Delta class, and Cairo's attention snapped back.
"Michael Chamberlain."
A boy near the back stood, and Cairo studied him carefully. Average height, average build, brown hair and brown eyes. Nothing about him screamed power or potential. He moved to the stage looking almost embarrassed to be there, like he thought a mistake had been made.
But Cairo knew better. Sword Saint. An ability that made its wielder a master of blade work at a level that transcended normal skill. Michael didn't know he had it yet, thought he was just naturally good with swords. But eventually, that talent would awaken, and he'd become one of the strongest fighters in the entire Academy.
A recruitment priority. If Cairo could get Michael on his side before the boy realized his own potential, he'd have a powerful ally who'd feel indebted to him.
More names followed, students filling out Delta class. Cairo waited, knowing what was coming.
"Cairo Starlight."
There it was. His name called for Delta class, exactly as expected. The weakest of the weak, placed with the bottom ten candidates.
Cairo stood, feeling every eye in the hall turn toward him. He could hear the whispers, the judgment, the confirmation of what everyone already assumed. The Starlight bloodline had finally produced someone so weak they belonged in Delta.
He walked to the stage with his head high, refusing to show any shame or embarrassment. Let them think what they wanted. He knew what he was now, what he was becoming. The system had given him power they couldn't imagine, and he'd use it to surpass every one of them.
The final name was called, completing Delta class. Ten students who would be written off as failures, as cautionary tales about the dangers of bloodline dilution.
Cairo filed onto the stage with his class, standing with the other nine Delta candidates. From this vantage point, he could see the entire hall. Could see the clear division between classes. Alpha candidates stood with perfect posture and confident expressions. Beta looked determined. Gamma seemed resigned. And Delta...
Delta looked defeated before they'd even begun.
Oberon surveyed the assembled students, forty candidates divided into four groups.
"Your class teachers will now introduce themselves," he said. "Listen carefully to their instructions. They will guide you to your respective classrooms where orientation will continue."
He stepped back as four figures emerged from the wings.
The Alpha class teacher was a woman who looked like she could break mountains with her bare hands. Tall, muscular, with scars crisscrossing her arms and a presence that rivaled Oberon's own.
The Beta class teacher was a man with kind eyes and a gentle smile that somehow made him seem more dangerous rather than less.
The Gamma class teacher was a woman with sharp features and sharper eyes, missing her left arm but moving with the confidence of someone who'd long since adapted.
And the Delta class teacher...
The Delta class teacher was a man who looked like he'd given up on life years ago. Thin, tired, with hollow eyes and a slumped posture. He barely glanced at his assigned students before turning to leave the stage.
"Alpha class, follow me," the muscular woman commanded, her voice brooking no argument.
"Beta, this way," the kind-eyed man said pleasantly.
"Gamma, let's go," the one-armed woman ordered.
"Delta..." The tired man sighed. "Just... follow me, I guess."
The hall erupted into motion as students rushed to follow their respective teachers. Alpha moved with military precision. Beta with eager energy. Gamma with determined focus.
Delta shuffled along like prisoners heading to their cells.
Cairo glanced back one final time as he followed his class. His eyes found Eden in the Alpha group, standing among the strongest candidates in their year. She was looking back at him too, her expression unreadable.
Their eyes met across the distance, and Cairo saw something flicker in her crimson gaze. Fear? Resentment? Or something else entirely, something the Eros Sigil had planted deep in her mind?
Then the crowds shifted, and she was gone from view.
Cairo turned forward, following his dejected teacher and defeated classmates toward whatever classroom awaited Delta class.
The real story was beginning.
And he had work to do.