I woke to a sharp light cutting through my eyelids and the faint scent of warm herbs. My head throbbed, and the first thing I noticed was the quiet hum beneath my skin—the Starborn Light, still alive, still restless.
I sat up slowly. The dorm was silent. Tarek's side of the room was empty. The top bunk felt too big, too empty, and too quiet. The warmth of the light pulsing through me reminded me of yesterday—of the Affinity Test, of the column of starfire, of the gasps, the murmurs, the fear.
They noticed it.
I swallowed hard. My hands trembled slightly as I flexed them. The light seemed to respond, pulsing in sync with my heartbeat.
I slid out of bed and padded quietly to the window. Outside, the academy grounds were waking. Students gathered in small clusters, whispering rapidly, pointing toward the Field. Some of them glanced at me, some with awe, some with fear. And then, I noticed him.
Kaelen. His arms crossed, standing tall, eyes locked on me with a mixture of fury and disbelief. He was pacing slightly, muttering under his breath, glancing back at Celene, who merely observed the scene without a hint of emotion.
I turned away quickly. I didn't want to meet his gaze yet.
---
Breakfast Hall Whispers
By the time I reached the Great Hall, I understood the magnitude of what had happened. Whispers filled the room like a low tide:
"That… that's impossible."
"Did you see the light? He lit the pylons—all of them."
"Was he even touching the Aetherstone?!"
"He's a Starborn. He has to be."
I didn't recognize most of the students staring at me. Many weren't even in my class. Some nobles were openly frightened, some commoners fascinated, and a few instructors leaned on the balcony above, whispering quietly.
Tarek slid into the bench beside me with a grin. "Bro… that was insane! You made the whole test—everyone else's attempt—look pathetic."
I grimaced. "That wasn't… supposed to happen."
"Wasn't supposed to happen?" he repeated incredulously. "You just woke up a star inside yourself and people are whispering your name in fear and awe. That's kind of the definition of supposed to happen."
I rubbed my temples. "I don't want attention."
Tarek waved a hand dismissively. "Too late. Everyone already knows. And believe me, Kaelen's been sulking all morning. He's plotting something."
I knew. I could feel it.
Kaelen approached slowly, cloak trailing behind him. The room seemed to stiffen. Students shrank slightly as he passed, and even instructors gave him a careful glance.
"You," he said finally, his voice low and sharp. "Do you even understand what you've done?"
I looked up, keeping my expression neutral. "I don't think anyone fully understands."
His glare sharpened. "You've drawn attention you can't control. Do you have any idea what kind of power that makes you? Do you even know what you're?"
I swallowed. No, I don't.
He leaned closer, his words slicing the air: "You're dangerous. And dangerous things… are always hunted."
Before I could respond, he turned on his heel and strode away, leaving me staring after him, heartbeat thrumming in sync with the Starborn Light pulsing beneath my ribs.
---
The First Class
After breakfast, Instructor Merel led us to the classrooms. My first class was Foundations of Mana Manipulation—an introductory course that, judging by the student chatter, was often skipped by nobles who relied on tutors.
The classroom itself was rectangular, walls lined with floating crystals emitting soft light. Every desk had a small Aetherstone embedded into its surface—something that could record magical output.
Merel entered silently. Her gaze swept the room, landing on me just long enough to make me feel the weight of her attention.
"Draven Valehart," she said softly, almost to herself. Then she looked at the class. "Starborn Light is not a common phenomenon. Its manifestation is rare. Control over it is rarer still."
A silence fell. I froze.
"Do you know what this means?" she continued, eyes locked on me. "It means that the student who wields it can either rise above the academy… or be consumed by it."
I nodded, though my mind was racing. Every lesson, every whisper, every glance from Kaelen—everything yesterday made sense in a new, terrifying way.
---
Practical Exercise
We were instructed to focus our mana and move small elemental spheres across the desks. Fire, water, wind, earth—simple. Something I had practiced in my private moments.
I concentrated, letting the Starborn Light ripple just beneath the surface. The sphere trembled, quivering… then slowly lifted. It hovered steadily, rotating smoothly. I tilted my hands, guiding it gently across the desk.
The other students struggled, some producing flickers or sparks that fizzled and died. Kaelen's sphere shot forward perfectly, of course. He looked over at me, eyebrow raised. I didn't return his look.
Merel's voice cut through: "Excellent, Valehart."
Heads turned. Murmurs rose. Some students exchanged worried glances.
Not again, I thought.
I lowered the sphere and let it land softly. The Starborn Light pulsed faintly beneath my skin. I could feel its power waiting, restrained but impatient.
---
After Class
Tarek and I walked out into the courtyard. He grinned like a madman.
"Bro! That was insane! You didn't just control mana—you bent it. Everyone's talking about you!"
"I don't want attention," I repeated.
"You're not getting to choose," he said. "Trust me, if they fear you, you have influence. If they respect you… you have control. And Kaelen? He's not gonna let this go."
I shivered, remembering the way Kaelen had leaned close yesterday, his words like knives: You're dangerous. And dangerous things… are always hunted.
The Starborn Light pulsed again, almost in agreement.
I clenched my fists. My second life wasn't just beginning—it was already war.
And for the first time, I realized something terrifyingly clear:
I wasn't just fighting classmates or rivals. I was fighting destiny itself.
---
Hints of What's to Come
As the afternoon sun lowered, I returned to the dormitory. Tarek was fiddling with yet another experimental device, sparks flying everywhere. I ignored him for the moment and lay back on my bed, eyes closed.
The Starborn Light pulsed beneath my skin. And then, faintly, I heard it—a whisper. Not Tarek, not Kaelen, not anyone in the room.
Draven… you are not safe.
The voice was soft. Familiar. Powerful. Almost like a warning.
I opened my eyes. The room was empty. Tarek had wandered into the hallway.
I touched my chest. The pulse beneath my ribs responded—warmer, insistent, alive.
Tomorrow, I thought, would bring more challenges. More lessons. More tests.
And one day, sooner or later… I would have to confront the truth about what I am.
For now, though, I had survived the Affinity Test, earned the attention of friends and enemies alike, and begun the first lessons in control.
But the Starborn Light reminded me softly, almost teasingly:
This is only the beginning.