(A/N: Hey everyone! Just a quick heads-up, this chapter leans heavily into worldbuilding and the mechanics of the magic system, so it might feel a bit like an info dump. But it's all important groundwork, and I promise we'll get to the juicy parts soon. Thanks for sticking with me, and have a great day!)
"A new year awaits, and with it... countless opportunities to challenge yourselves and grow into the future pillars of our world," the man said in a soft, somber voice that commanded the attention of everyone in the hall.
"Now," he continued, turning toward the first-year students, a gentle smile forming on his lips, "I would like to introduce myself to those of you who are new to our academy."
"My name is Laryce Bennett, and I have the honor of being the headmaster of Eldrynn Academy. The individuals seated behind me are your professors, esteemed educators who will guide and mentor you throughout your time here."
He paused for a moment, allowing the weight of his words to sink in.
"You'll meet each of them soon enough. Just know this, you're in capable hands. Your journey here will be demanding, occasionally unforgiving, but always rewarding. You'll be pushed beyond what you think your limits are, and then pushed again. Every challenge you face is by design."
He swept his sharp gaze across the room, the warmth in his eyes meeting the determination in the students' faces.
"Good," he said with a pleased chuckle. "This is your opportunity. Do not waste it. Strive each day to become better than you were yesterday."
With a graceful clap of his hands, he signaled the end of his address. "You've all received your timetables and class assignments. I suggest you get moving, your first lectures won't wait, and neither will the professors."
He turned and exited the stage, the professors following in his wake. As soon as they disappeared, the hall erupted into murmurs and low chatter, Students rose and filtered out in groups.
Alaric walked with the rest of the first years, though an invisible wall separated them. Ever since the incident with Jason, most of the boys kept their distance. Some couldn't even meet his eyes. A few glanced at him out of the corners of theirs, then quickly looked away.
He didn't mind. In fact, he preferred it this way.
The crowd made its way toward the first year lecture hall, a vast amphitheater carved from smooth stone, with rows of seats rising upward in clean arcs. The ceiling soared high above them, swallowed by shadows. The echo of shuffling feet and low voices filled the space as students trickled in and found their seats.
Alaric chose a spot in the third row. Beside him sat a gaunt-looking young man with messy black hair and pronounced dark circles beneath his eyes. He seemed lost in thought, or maybe just too tired to care. They didn't exchange a word.
From across the room, Alaric spotted Jason with his usual entourage and smiled lightly.
Jason, ever the politician in training. All charm, no bite. But even charm folds fast under pressure. But when his eyes landed on Alaric, the grin froze. His face blanched. And just like that, he turned and shuffled off toward the farthest corner of the hall.
The room quieted as a new figure entered—a plain-looking man with dark hair, glasses, and a calm, grounded presence. He wore a simple robe and walked with the confidence of someone who didn't need grandeur to command respect. Two assistant professors followed close behind.
The man stepped to the podium. When he spoke, his voice was deep and clear, carrying easily through the large room.
"Good morning. I'm Orson Sturch, your homeroom instructor for the year. Over the next two weeks, I'll be walking you through the fundamentals—Ether theory, elemental basics, and a brief history of our craft. Consider this your foundation. What you learn here will influence everything you do going forward, including the specialization paths you'll be sorted into."
He turned slightly toward the two figures behind him.
"With me today are two members of your instructional panel."
He gestured to the first. "This is Professor Linzay Urwyn, who will be teaching General Theories of Spells and Their Properties. In her course, you'll learn to deconstruct spells, understand their architecture, and improve or alter them as needed. Mastery of spell theory is what separates a rote caster from a true mage."
Then he gestured to the second. "And this is Kain Stewart, who will be leading Fundamentals of Ether Manipulation and Control. His course focuses on refining your ether flow—how you channel it, shape it, and use it to bring spells to life. No matter your eventual path, control is everything."
Both professors gave polite nods—Linzay with a quiet smile, and Kain with a stern expression that suggested little tolerance for nonsense.
From there, Orson took another step forward and announced, dismissing the two
"Alright, that'll be all."
He then addressed the entire class.
Orson stepped forward again, dismissing the two before addressing the class. "Now then, let's dive right in, shall we? We'll begin with the basics, and for many of you, this may be a review, but it's critical that we cover it thoroughly."
"Not all of you may be familiar with the deeper mechanics of Ethermancy, so we'll start with that first."
He turned and began writing on the board as he spoke. "As you already know, your path of Ethermancy begins with the awakening of your core through the Embrace. During this ritual, a person is usually taken to a special environment extremely rich with pure and natural Ether, untainted by any elements or artificial means. Once the individual remains there for some time, the Ether gathers around your navel, forming what we call the core and its surrounding nodes. However, only about four out of ten people have the natural talent to awaken their core."
He paused to let that sink in before continuing. "But even among those who awaken their cores, there are differences in talent. Etherist societies have historically used a grading system to categorize individuals based on their core's condensation and volume, which reflects their talent and potential. These are commonly ranked from grades A to E. Each of you was assigned a grade during your admissions process."
"The grades being the indication of how much Ether can be stored and purified in one's core at a time."
He clasped his hands behind his back. "Etherists also ascend in ranks, from one to nine. Each rank is split into four stages: initial, middle, upper, and peak. Most of you are likely at Rank One, initial stage… yes?"
A wave of nods followed.
"This is where one's own talent and the grade of their core plays an extremely helpful role in their journey. As those with a core grade of E have the lowest condensation and will likely remain at tier one their entire lives, because they struggle to absorb Ether effectively. Grade D Etherists could potentially get to the second tier but with some difficulty.. Those of grade C, which is average, could potentially reach the third tier, and extreme cases suggests a few may even get to the fourth. Grade B cores have the potential to reach tier five, while grade A individuals will find it easier to ascend, potentially becoming Ether Master in the sixth tier.
He clasped his hands behind his back. "Any questions so far?"
A hand shot up from the back.
"Professor, what about ranks seven to nine?"
Orson smiled faintly. "Beyond the sixth rank, you enter the realm of myths and legends. I've never personally seen anyone at those levels, and such individuals are often referred to as demigods. Reaching those heights is beyond most of us."
"Now, onto the elements associated with us."
"Elements are divided into three classes:
Primary elements: Air, Earth, Water, and Fire.
Secondary elements: Sound, Wood, Lightning, Blood, Darkness, Light, Shadow, Poison, Ice & Snow, and Metal.
And finally, the fundamental elements: Time, Space, Life, Death, and Entropy. These are the rarest by far."
A hand went up near the front. A girl's voice followed. "Sir, what exactly differentiates the elements?"
"Excellent question," the professor replied, his eyes lighting up with interest. "Primary elements are the most abundant in nature, basic forces regarded as the building blocks of everything else. You're already familiar with them."
"Secondary elements are often called derived elements. While they may stem from the primaries, they've evolved enough to stand apart, unique in their nature and function."
He paused, his tone shifting.
"As for the fundamentals... that's where things get complicated. Some believe they're derived from primary elements in ways we don't yet understand. Others argue they exist outside of the elemental system entirely, rooted not in nature, but in reality itself. What defines them is their ability to influence the very fabric of existence."
A hush fell across the room.
"For example, a Time elemental at higher levels could slow, stop, or accelerate time itself. Even bend it."
A ripple of gasps echoed through the hall.
"But," he warned, "these elements are incredibly rare... and just as dangerous. The odds of someone being attuned to a fundamental element? Roughly one in a thousand."
He smirked, letting his words hang in the air.
"And yet... I believe we have someone like that in our midst."
Every head turned.
There, seated with quiet poise, was a girl who seemed almost too otherworldly for this place. Pale skin like porcelain. Silver hair that shimmered faintly under the lights. Unreadable eyes. Unbothered by the attention.
It was Eira Drayton.
Alaric couldn't help but overhear the murmurs around him.
"Yeah, she's attuned to Life and Vitality. How amazing is that?"
"But she's a Drayton... shouldn't she be attuned to Ice and Snow?"
The professor raised his voice, cutting through the whispers. "That's enough distractions. Let's return to the topic at hand."
The room quickly fell silent again.
"Each element comes with its own set of traits and applications. Some of you may have affinity with just one, while others might possess as many as five. And yes, I understand it may seem unfair, but that's just how the world works."
"Still, those with a single affinity often form the deepest bonds with their element. That depth leads to mastery. In contrast, while those with multiple affinities have broader potential, it doesn't mean they'll use all of them in combat. Assigning roles to each element might work in theory, but in practice, it's chaos."
"Multiple affinities provide versatility. But true power—true mastery—usually comes from focus."
He paused, letting the room absorb his words.
"Your path is yours to forge. In the end, it's not how many affinities you possess, it's how far you're willing to push them."
"Alright, that's enough on elements. Let's move on to Ether, and how it interacts with our cores..."
********
As the students began filing out of the hall, Alaric followed at his own pace. Noon sunlight spilled through the wide windows, casting long shadows on the polished floors. They had two hours before the next lecture.
"Might as well grab something to eat," he muttered.
He trailed after a few classmates, heading
g toward the public cafeteria. He wasn't necessarily hungry, but it would give him a moment to rest and refuel before his next destination.