Nyxhara,
Arian Core.
A gentle breeze swept through the streets, carrying with it the calm hum of the weather. Music chimed faintly in every ear, mingling with the melody of laughter and joy that danced across the bustling marketplace.
"Arian Core has been so peaceful since the Ascension... Mother Seraphyx becoming the seed of the future has filled people with so much hope and pride," an old man sighed, rocking lazily in his chair.
"ACKH!!" he yelped as a wooden bat cracked down on his bald head.
Clutching his scalp, he squinted upward.
"Sorry, Grandpa! My hand slipped!"
A cheerful teenage girl leaned over from the rooftop, giggling mischievously.
"You brat! How dare you be so disrespectful? You tarnish your very name! A name like Merry is supposed to bring joy!"
"Is that old janitor grumbling again?" Elynas whispered, leaning toward Merry.
"Yeah… he's probably just daydreaming again."
The old janitor sighed and shuffled back inside the hostel building.
"Teens these days... so careless..." he muttered.
---
Back on the rooftop.
Merry puffed her cheeks, glaring after him.
"Ugh, that crusty janitor took the bat! How are we supposed to play with one ball now?"
"Whatever. Bat-ball is just a dumb game little kids play anyway," Elynas said, dropping into a chair with a long sigh, eyes drifting to the clouds.
"Yeah, yeah, says the dreamer. Ever since the Cultural Exchange, you can't stop daydreaming about—AHH!" Merry squealed mid-sentence as Elynas chucked the ball straight at her with a mock-pout.
The rooftop door creaked open.
"What's going on?" Tera asked, slipping in quickly before closing it behind him.
"We were talking about Elynas's new crush..." Merry began with a mischievous grin.
But before she could finish, Elynas shot up, grabbed a handkerchief, and shoved it into Merry's mouth. With swift hands, she tied her to the chair.
"WHY can't you let it go?! If you keep blabbing like that, I'll never tell you anything again!" Elynas's eyes blazed with frustration as she pinned Merry down.
Muffled laughter buzzed through the gag, until Elynas hissed,
"The old janitor was right—you don't bring joy to anyone!"
Tera pouted.
"Hey, that's not true. She brings plenty of joy to me."
Elynas groaned, rubbing her temples.
"Yeah, yeah... ever since you two became a couple, you've been hunted down by every guy in your dorm. Now you have to sneak up here just to meet in secret."
Behind them, Merry's muffled giggles and cries rattled against the gag.
Tera sighed.
"How is that her fault? Anyway—what's this about your new crush? Someone from my dorm? If yes, then don't worry. Pretty much every guy there already has a crush on you."
Elynas stiffened, her frown deepening.
"No… it's not that simple..."
Suddenly, Merry spat out the handkerchief and gasped for breath.
"HA! No, it's not like that at all!" she wheezed, eyes sparkling with mischief. "The one she's crushing on is none other than the Hydro Sovereign!"
She burst into uncontrollable laughter.
"Hahahahaha! Out of all people—seriously?!"
Elynas's eyes shot wide. A flush of scarlet streaked across her cheeks as she whipped her head away. With a furious growl, she slammed her palm against Merry's back.
"IDIOT! WHY would you tell him?! And stop laughing already!"
Tera blinked, stunned for a moment—then his lips curved into a sly grin.
"The Hydro Sovereign, huh? Wow, Elynas… aiming pretty high, aren't we?"
Merry nearly fell out of her chair laughing.
"'Pretty high'? More like impossible! What's next, Elynas? You gonna marry the Primordial Dragon too?"
Elynas buried her face in her hands with a groan.
"Why do I even talk to either of you?!"
Tera leaned against the railing, smirking.
"Come on, I think it's cute. A bit… terrifying, but cute."
Merry jabbed her finger in Elynas's direction, grinning ear-to-ear.
"Imagine her actually confessing—'Oh mighty Sovereign, ruler of the tides, I've admired your watery abs from afar!'"
Tera snorted so hard he almost choked, doubling over.
Elynas, bright red, grabbed the ball from earlier and hurled it at Merry's face.
"SHUT UP! I don't talk like that!"
The ball bounced harmlessly off Merry's forehead, but she leaned back dramatically in her chair, pretending to faint.
"Alas! Struck down for speaking the truth! Truly, I am the victim here!"
Tera was laughing too hard to play referee.
Elynas stood over Merry, fists trembling.
"I swear, one of these days, I'm actually going to throw you off this rooftop!"
Merry peeked one eye open with a sly grin.
"You'd miss me too much."
Elynas froze, her blush deepening.
"...Shut up."
Tera wiped away a stray tear of laughter, finally catching his breath.
"No, seriously… how did it even come to this? Tell me about it."
Elynas pouted, crossing her arms.
"You won't laugh?"
"Of course I will," Tera said with a grin.
"YOU—!" Elynas growled.
---
Two weeks earlier.
Inside the Knights Academy.
From the cedar desks where students sat to the polished lecture platform at the front, everything about the Academy radiated the prestige of a world-class university.
Every seat was filled, the murmur of children buzzing through the air.
At the very back of the class, two figures sat side by side.
"Is Tera seriously going to miss this lecture? I heard the Hydro Sovereign is coming himself this time," Elynas muttered, brows furrowed.
Merry twirled a lock of hair, smiling smugly.
"Lecturing us is just his way of bonding with the nation's future. The real reason so many representatives are gathered here is because of the Sovereigns' peace talks after the war of facade."
"I know that much!" Elynas pinched Merry's arm with a glare. "Stop bragging about the 'common knowledge' you just picked up in class. Answer my question!"
"Ouch! He's sick, alright?" Merry winced.
Elynas rolled her eyes.
"Ever since you two started dating last week, you've been keeping all these secrets. And now you're telling me he's—"
But her words cut short when the classroom door opened.
Two figures stepped inside.
The first was Qinyue—black hair cascading down his shoulders, sharp Liyuen features softened by a modest beige suit. He didn't dress like he was here to dazzle, only to teach.
And beside him walked Neuvillette.
The classroom instantly hushed. A ripple of whispers spread as every head turned toward the door.
"That's him… the Hydro Sovereign…" someone whispered.
Dozens of eyes widened with awe, but Elynas just leaned forward, chin resting on her palm. Her gaze lingered, curious but unconvinced.
'So this is the great Neuvillette?' she thought, tapping her foot under the desk. 'He looks… normal. Too normal. But… maybe…'
Her posture was relaxed, but her eyes stayed sharp, waiting—half-expecting something to break the silence, something that would justify the reverence filling the room.
Qinyue's brow furrowed as he slammed his palm onto the desk.
"QUIET! Can't you see we have someone of esteemed presence here?"
"It's quite alright, Mr. Qinyue," Neuvillete said with a calm smile. "I'm confident I can manage a class of mischievous students."
With that, Qinyue let out a weary sigh and retreated to the back row, leaving the Sovereign to command the room alone.
The chatter died instantly. Silence clung to the air.
Neuvillete stepped forward. His gaze swept across the sea of young faces.
"My name is Neuvillete. It is a pleasure to be acquainted with the students here—the future of Arian Core… and perhaps the new Frost Dragon Legion, should the time demand it."
The words struck like thunder.
A wave of whispers erupted at once:
"What does he mean by 'Frost Dragon Legion'?"
"Is he being metaphorical?"
"Wait… are we all… Dragon seeds?"
Neuvillete let the whispers build for a moment before his lips curved into the faintest smile.
"It seems none of you have realized it yet. My apologies for delivering such news without preparation." His tone carried a quiet amusement, though his eyes gleamed with intent.
Qinyue pinched the bridge of his nose, sighing.
"He knew they didn't know… though, truth be told, neither did I."
Neuvillete raised his hand, his voice steady but ringing with authority.
"Every human in Arian is Mother Rosen's child. Her essence runs in all of you. Should the need arise, she can awaken that blood and reshape your bodies into Frost Dragons. Why else did you imagine the Sovereign representatives take such interest in these classes?"
Neuvillete's form shimmered. His body seemed to melt—collapsing into a pool of crystal-clear water that rippled silently across the floor. Gasps rose from the students as the liquid swirled and reformed, reshaping itself back into his tall frame.
When the water stilled, he was seated on a chair that had materialized with him—elegant yet understated. A crisp white shirt with its top button undone contrasted against his light sky-blue trousers. One leg crossed casually over the other as he leaned back, sliding a pair of thin glasses onto his face with unhurried poise.
"Now," he said in a calm, deep tone, "let us be patient. The tsunami of questions flooding your minds will be answered—after the lecture."
His voice carried with such resonance that even the faintest creak of wood or bead of sweat sliding down a brow sounded louder in the silence that followed.
He folded his hands, gaze steady.
"We will begin with the Hydro element—how it behaves, and the bonds it can form with its wielder. Yes, it is energy. But it is also personality. Consider heat: it diminishes when spread thin, but grows fierce when isolated and gathered. Hydro is no different. Its strength depends not only on flow… but on focus."
Around her, the other students scribbled notes in frantic awe, but Elynas sat frozen, her pen dangling uselessly between her fingers.
Her eyes drifted from the way his voice seemed to calm the entire room… to the casual confidence in the way he crossed his legs… to the faint gleam of those glasses that made him look less like a Sovereign and more like some untouchable scholar pulled out of a dream.
'He's… way too composed',Elynas thought, heart thudding louder than she wanted to admit.
'Like he's seen every storm, every war, and nothing can shake him anymore. And that shirt—who just melts out of nowhere and then shows up in that outfit?'
She swallowed hard, forcing her gaze back down to her desk, only to peek up again seconds later.
'This isn't fair… Why does he have to look that good while teaching about… water?'
Her cheeks burned as she slouched lower in her seat, trying—and failing—to hide her sudden fascination.