The Grand Hall of Sky Walk Academy buzzed with the anticipation of the new students. Hundreds of eyes were fixed on the platform where the academy's headmistress stood tall, her robes flowing elegantly around her. Her piercing gaze swept across the room, silencing the murmur of excitement that rippled through the crowd. The ceremony was the final step before the students embarked on their journeys at the academy.
"Welcome, students of the Sky Walk Academy," the headmistress began, her voice resonating with authority. "You are here because you have proven yourselves worthy in the entrance exams. But know this—your journey begins here. It will be defined by your perseverance, your dedication, and your will to grow stronger."
Her words carried weight, filling the room with a sense of gravitas. The students listened intently, eager to begin their path to power.
"Traditionally, at this ceremony, we ask the top students in combat, magic, and strategy to address their peers and share their thoughts on their accomplishments. This year, however, things are a little different."
The headmistress paused, letting the suspense build.
"This year, one student achieved the highest score in all three categories."
The revelation sent a ripple of surprise through the crowd. It was rare enough to be the top performer in one category, but to score highest in combat, magic, and strategy was nearly unheard of. Whispers of curiosity filled the hall as students exchanged glances, wondering who could have achieved such a feat.
"Aetherion," the headmistress continued, her voice cutting through the noise. "Step forward."
Aetherion, maintaining his calm and composed demeanor, made his way through the crowd and ascended the platform. His black hair and blue eyes—part of the disguise he had crafted to blend in—caught the attention of everyone in the room. He could feel their eyes on him, a mix of admiration and envy in their gazes.
Before he could address the crowd, a loud, indignant voice interrupted the proceedings.
"This is impossible!"
The voice belonged to an elf—tall, with golden hair that shimmered under the academy's magical lighting. His regal bearing and fine clothing marked him as someone of high status, but his expression was one of barely contained fury. The other students immediately recognized him as Prince Eldrin, a member of one of the most powerful elven royal families known for their mastery over magic.
Eldrin strode forward, his voice filled with righteous anger. "I am the prince of the Elven Kingdom of Elysion, and my family has practiced magic for centuries. I was certain that I had achieved the highest score in magic! How could this human possibly surpass me?"
His words hung in the air, filled with arrogance and wounded pride. Eldrin's eyes locked on Aetherion, brimming with disbelief and resentment. To him, the idea that a human could outmatch his magical prowess was not just an insult—it was unthinkable.
The headmistress, her expression cool and unflinching, addressed Eldrin. "The scores are final, Prince Eldrin. Aetherion earned the highest marks in magic, combat, and strategy."
The elven prince's eyes blazed with indignation. "I demand a magic duel. Let him prove his superiority here and now!"
The room buzzed with tension as Prince Eldrin's challenge echoed through the hall. Other students looked on in awe and excitement—this wasn't just any challenge; it was a duel between the academy's top student and an elven royal, both known for their prowess in magic.
The headmistress, sensing the building tension, took a step forward and addressed the crowd. "Very well," she said, her voice firm. "In the spirit of fairness, we will allow this challenge. But know this—if anyone else wishes to contest the results of the exams, you must face Aetherion directly."
Her gaze swept across the hall, daring anyone else to step forward.
For a moment, the hall was silent. Then, from various corners of the room, two other students stepped forward, expressing their intent to challenge Aetherion in strategy. However, all eyes were now on the main event—the magic duel between Aetherion and Prince Eldrin.
The headmistress turned her attention to Aetherion, her expression calm but expectant. "Do you accept this challenge?"
Aetherion, his face unreadable but calm, nodded once. "I accept."
The Grand Hall quickly transformed as the students and instructors moved to prepare the arena for the magic duel. Enchanted wards were set in place, and the large space was cleared of furniture, leaving only an open expanse where the duel would take place.
Aetherion stood at one end of the arena, his mind already calculating how best to handle this challenge. He knew he had to be careful. While he could easily overpower Prince Eldrin with his Primordial Flame, doing so would risk exposing his true nature. He had to win, but he had to do it without revealing too much.
At the opposite end, Prince Eldrin stood with a fierce determination in his eyes. His hands glowed with magical energy, and the air around him crackled with the power of centuries-old elven magic. Eldrin was a skilled and talented mage, and he had no intention of letting a human—especially one he saw as beneath him—best him in front of the entire academy.
The headmistress raised her hand to signal the start of the duel. "Begin."
Eldrin wasted no time. As soon as the duel began, he summoned a torrent of arcane energy, his hands weaving intricate symbols in the air as he prepared to unleash a powerful attack. Aetherion watched carefully, noting the complexity of Eldrin's spellwork.
With a flick of his wrist, Eldrin sent a wave of lightning hurtling toward Aetherion. The bolts crackled and surged with raw power, their speed and intensity designed to overwhelm his opponent.
But Aetherion remained calm. With a simple motion, he conjured a shield of fire, the flames burning white and blue as they absorbed the lightning. The fire danced and flickered, but Aetherion kept its intensity in check, careful not to unleash its full destructive potential.
The crowd gasped at the display, but Eldrin wasn't finished. His next spell was even more complex—a combination of wind and water, designed to freeze Aetherion in place while battering him with sharp gusts.
Aetherion countered swiftly, calling forth earth from the ground beneath him. The stone rose to form a barrier, protecting him from the wind and deflecting the freezing water. Once again, his control over the elements was precise and deliberate, showcasing his mastery without revealing the full extent of his powers.
Eldrin's frustration grew with each failed attack. His spells were powerful, but no matter what he threw at Aetherion, the human countered with ease. Eldrin's pride and fury only fueled his desperation as he began to weave an even more dangerous spell. His hands moved rapidly, summoning a complex array of runes that glowed with an intense light.
"I won't let you win this!" Eldrin shouted, his voice filled with determination. "I am the prince of Elysion, and no human will surpass me in magic!"
The runes expanded into the air, forming a massive arcane sigil that pulsed with magical energy. Eldrin was preparing to unleash one of the most powerful spells in his arsenal—an ancient elven technique that called upon the forces of nature itself.
Aetherion narrowed his eyes. He could sense the immense power building around Eldrin, but he also knew that the prince's desperation was clouding his judgment. The spell was powerful, but it was also unstable.
As the sigil grew larger, Aetherion calmly raised his hand, summoning a soft breeze. The wind swirled around him, carrying with it the scent of the earth and sky. His movements were subtle, almost too subtle to be noticed, but as the breeze touched the edges of Eldrin's spell, it began to unravel the intricate runes.
Eldrin, caught up in his own fury, didn't notice the weakness in his spell until it was too late. The sigil flickered and cracked, its energy dissipating into the air. The elven prince stumbled, his concentration broken as his most powerful spell fell apart before his eyes.
The arena was silent for a moment as everyone watched the outcome of the duel. Eldrin stood frozen in disbelief, his chest heaving from the effort of casting such a powerful spell, only to see it undone so effortlessly.
Aetherion lowered his hand, his expression calm and unreadable. He had done exactly what he set out to do—win the duel without revealing the full extent of his power. He had used just enough skill and control to outmaneuver Eldrin without overwhelming him.
The headmistress stood, her voice cutting through the tension in the air. "The duel is over. Aetherion is the victor."
A murmur of awe spread through the crowd. Aetherion had not only matched Eldrin's power, but he had done so with a level of grace and control that few could match. The elven prince, despite his royal lineage and years of training, had been bested.
But before Aetherion could step down from the arena, another voice called out from the far side of the hall. It was a calm, confident voice, filled with quiet authority. "I challenge him next."
Aetherion's gaze shifted toward the source of the voice, and his heart skipped a beat. Standing at the edge of the arena was a figure that radiated a divine presence—an angel.
The crowd turned in unison, shocked by the appearance of the challenger. She was tall and graceful, her silver-white wings folded neatly behind her back. Her eyes glowed faintly with a celestial light, and her flowing robes seemed to shimmer with ethereal energy.
Aetherion felt a wave of confusion wash over him. "An angel?" he thought, his mind racing. "What is an angel doing here?"
The headmistress raised an eyebrow, her expression more intrigued than surprised. She addressed the angel directly. "You, of course, are an exception, as you did not participate in the exams."
The angel stepped forward, her calm demeanor unshaken by the attention of the crowd. Her presence was otherworldly, and it was clear that she was no ordinary student. "I did not take the exams," she admitted, her voice soft but carrying through the hall. "Because I am an angel."
The headmistress nodded in agreement. "Indeed. Azraelis was admitted without the need for entrance exams, due to her... unique status. She is not in service to any deity, and therefore, not bound by the rules of other celestial beings."
Aetherion watched the angel carefully, his thoughts swirling. "An angel outside the service of a god? That's rare." He couldn't help but wonder why an angel would choose to attend the Sky Walk Academy, a place meant for mortal beings, not divine ones.
Azraelis turned her gaze to Aetherion, her expression serene but focused. "I chose to come to this academy because I was curious. I have walked many realms, seen many things, but I thought it might be interesting to learn here, among mortals."
Her eThe headmistress smiled faintly, clearly intrigued by the challenge. "Very well, Azraelis. You are permitted to issue a challenge."
The crowd buzzed with excitement. An angelic duel was a rare and incredible sight, and the students were eager to see how Aetherion would fare against someone of Azraelis's power.
Aetherion, though still processing the sudden turn of events, met Azraelis's gaze steadily. "I accept your challenge," he said calmly, though inside, he was keenly aware of the potential danger. An angel's power was not to be taken lightly.
Azraelis nodded, her wings shifting slightly as she prepared for the duel. "Then let us begin."
As the arena cleared once more and the magical wards were reinforced, Aetherion stood ready, knowing that this duel would be unlike any he had faced before. Facing an angel in open combat would test not only his abilities but also his restraint. He couldn't afford to unleash the full force of his Primordial Flame—but neither could he allow himself to be defeated.
The chapter ends with Aetherion standing in the center of the arena, his focus locked on Azraelis, the angel who had just challenged him. The air was thick with anticipation as the crowd waited for the next duel to begin—this time, between mortal and celestial.yes gleamed with a quiet challenge. "And now, I would like to see if you are as powerful as they say."