The courtyard slowly settled after the demonstration of the four Houses.
But the tension had not faded.
If anything, it had only grown heavier.
Thousands of students stood in uneven rows beneath the towering spires of Astryx Academy, whispering to each other, glancing nervously toward the glowing orb that hovered above the stone pedestal.
The orb pulsed again.
A deep hum spread across the courtyard like distant thunder.
Professor Kael stepped forward once more.
His sharp eyes swept across the students.
"Now," he said, his voice cutting through the murmurs, "the House Selection will begin."
Instant silence.
Every student straightened.
Some looked confident.
Others looked terrified.
And Elias…
Elias felt like he might stop breathing.
The Selection Begins
The first name echoed across the courtyard.
"Adrian Volaris."
A tall boy with silver hair stepped forward confidently.
He placed his hand on the orb.
The sphere exploded with golden light.
Gasps erupted around the courtyard.
Professor Kael raised a brow.
"Solvaryn House."
Applause broke out from the upper balconies where older students watched.
Adrian smiled smugly as he walked toward the golden banner of Solvaryn.
Elias swallowed.
Of course…
Some people were born powerful.
Another name rang out.
"Lira Nyxvale."
A girl with dark purple hair approached quietly.
The moment her fingers touched the orb, shadows curled around it like living smoke.
The light turned deep violet.
"Noctryss House."
A few students backed away nervously.
The girl simply nodded and walked toward the shadowed banner.
Next.
"Garrick Stonehelm."
A muscular boy slammed his hand onto the orb.
It burst into crimson flames.
The ground trembled slightly.
Professor Kael nodded.
"Drakarion House."
Cheers erupted from the crimson banner.
Several older Drakarion students pounded their fists against the balcony railings.
Then came another student.
"Selene Ardent."
She approached quietly.
The orb glowed soft silver.
Moonlight shimmered through the air.
Professor Kael spoke calmly.
"Lunareth House."
Few students reacted.
The silver banner fluttered quietly in the wind.
Elias noticed something strange.
The students assigned to Lunareth looked…
different.
Quieter.
More observant.
Like they were listening to something no one else could hear.
Elias Waits
One by one, students were sorted.
The courtyard filled with noise.
Cheers.
Groans.
Excited whispers.
But Elias barely heard any of it.
His mind replayed the strange moment from earlier.
That voice.
"You are too weak…"
His fists tightened.
What was that?
A hallucination?
Stress?
Or…
Something else?
Then
The orb flickered strangely.
Just for a moment.
Elias blinked.
Had anyone else noticed?
No one reacted.
Professor Kael continued calling names.
But Elias felt a strange chill run down his spine.
Something was watching.
He could feel it.
The Forgotten House
Eventually, nearly every student had been sorted.
Only a small group remained.
Mostly students with weaker magical responses.
Elias stood among them.
The tension was unbearable.
A boy beside him whispered.
"Looks like we're the leftovers…"
Another muttered bitterly.
"Probably Lunareth."
Elias frowned.
"What's wrong with Lunareth?"
The boy shrugged.
"They say it's the weakest House."
Elias felt a small knot tighten in his chest.
Professor Kael cleared his throat.
"The remaining students will now be assigned."
A few students approached the orb one by one.
Most produced faint magical responses.
Silver light appeared repeatedly.
"Lunareth House."
Again.
And again.
And again.
Then
"Elias Thornvale."
The courtyard fell unusually quiet.
Some students remembered his earlier failure.
The boy with mana level one.
Even the teachers looked curious.
Elias walked forward slowly.
Each step felt heavier than the last.
The orb waited.
Silent.
Judging.
The Touch
Elias hesitated.
His heart pounded loudly in his ears.
What if nothing happens again?
The entire academy was watching.
Thousands of students.
Teachers.
Even the Headmaster from the podium.
Elias closed his eyes.
Just touch it.
He placed his hand on the orb.
For a moment
Nothing happened.
Then…
The orb flickered.
A faint glow appeared.
Silver.
Very weak.
Almost invisible.
Professor Kael sighed quietly.
"Lunareth House."
Whispers spread across the courtyard.
"Of course…"
"Level one mana…"
"Pathetic…"
Elias lowered his head.
He was about to remove his hand—
When something strange happened.
The Hidden Reaction
Deep inside the orb—
Something pulsed.
A flash.
Black.
Too quick for anyone to notice.
Except one person.
High above the courtyard, the Headmaster Varien narrowed his eyes slightly.
Just for a moment.
Then the flash disappeared.
The orb returned to its faint silver glow.
Elias stepped away.
No one noticed.
No one…
Except the voice.
"Interesting…"
The whisper echoed faintly in Elias's mind.
"You finally touched it."
Elias froze mid-step.
What?
But the voice was gone again.
The Path to Lunareth
A young female instructor approached the Lunareth group.
She wore silver robes decorated with moon symbols.
Her voice was calm.
"Follow me."
The Lunareth students gathered quietly.
About two hundred of them.
Much smaller than the other Houses.
Elias walked among them silently.
No one laughed now.
No one mocked him.
Most Lunareth students simply looked thoughtful.
Observant.
As if they were used to being underestimated.
The instructor led them through the massive gates of Astryx Academy.
Elias looked around in awe.
The inside of the academy was even larger.
Floating lanterns drifted through the air.
Stone staircases moved slowly like living creatures.
Magical creatures flew between towers.
Students from other Houses passed them in groups.
Many glanced at the Lunareth students with mild curiosity.
Or pity.
Lunareth Tower
Eventually they reached the far edge of the academy.
A quiet part of the grounds.
There stood a tall silver tower.
Unlike the other towers, it was not decorated with grand statues or flames.
Instead, glowing moon symbols floated slowly around its walls.
The instructor turned toward them.
"This is Lunareth Tower."
She smiled faintly.
"The House of insight, patience, and hidden potential."
Some students looked doubtful.
Elias simply listened.
She continued.
"Many believe Lunareth is the weakest House."
A few students shifted awkwardly.
"But that belief has existed for centuries."
Her eyes glimmered.
"And yet… Lunareth has produced some of the most dangerous mages in history."
The group went silent.
"Why?" a student asked nervously.
The instructor smiled slightly.
"Because power does not always appear immediately."
She gestured toward the tower doors.
"Some power takes time."
The massive doors slowly opened.
Silver light poured out.
Inside the Tower
The interior of Lunareth Tower was beautiful.
A massive circular hall stretched upward through multiple floors.
Floating bookshelves drifted gently through the air.
Moonlight streamed through a giant glass ceiling.
Magical runes glowed softly on the walls.
Elias stared upward in amazement.
"This… is incredible."
A student nearby whispered the same thing.
The instructor raised her hand.
"You will each receive your dorm assignments shortly."
Floating scrolls appeared in the air.
They drifted toward each student.
Elias caught his.
Room 3-17.
Third floor.
But before anyone could move—
A strange chill swept through the tower.
Elias felt it instantly.
A faint pulse.
Like something ancient had just awakened.
The whisper returned.
Soft.
Amused.
"So this is where we begin…"
Elias's heart skipped.
You again…
But no one else reacted.
The voice continued quietly.
"Astryx Academy… how nostalgic."
Elias's blood ran cold.
What are you?
The voice chuckled softly.
"Your future."
Across the academy, in the highest tower…
Headmaster Varien stood alone in his office.
His eyes glowed faintly.
He looked toward Lunareth Tower.
And spoke quietly.
"…So it has awakened."
And far below…
Hidden beneath the academy.
Deep within sealed ruins.
An ancient black book pulsed faintly.
Waiting.