He didn't know how to use the hoverboard.
'I should probably ask him.'
Thinking so, Aziel called out to Zephyr, who was about to head ahead.
"Wait… Zephyr, do you actually know how to use the hoverboard?"
Zephyr froze mid-step, his expression unreadable.
He turned, placing his left hand on his chin, eyes narrowing as he studied Aziel.
After a pause, he pursed his lips.
"You… really want to know? Or are you just testing me?" His voice was calm but carried an edge.
Aziel's face turned serious as he replied,
"It's not like I don't know. I just… wanted to see if you still do."
Zephyr let out a long, quiet sigh, the kind that carried both annoyance and resignation.
"Fine. Listen carefully" He said, his tone sharpening.
"First, you have to channel your mana to your feet. The board absorbs it and stays afloat. But one mistake and it shuts down. Keep it steady. Keep it constant. Understand?"
Aziel's grin widened slightly, though he kept his tone serious.
"I do. Looks like you haven't forgotten the theory either. I was honestly wondering if you'd remember after all this time."
Zephyr shook his head, lips twitching in the smallest hint of a smirk. "Some people never stop doubting me, huh?"
After that, Aziel told Zephyr to go ahead, promising to follow right after.
"All right. Now that he's gone… I can figure this out myself," he muttered, clenching his fist in determination.
He stepped onto the hoverboard, which hovered a few inches above the ground without mana.
Closing his eyes, he tried to feel the mana flowing inside him.
Nothing.
He tried again.
Failed.
Again.
Failed.
Again.
Failed.
…
On his thirteenth attempt...
A warmth began to pool inside his chest, spreading slowly through his veins.
It was like a current, pulsing with energy.
His skin tingled, humming as the mana flowed, familiar yet alien.
The sensation was liquid, molten light moving with the rhythm of his heartbeat.
Each pulse sharpened his senses, heightening his awareness.
He felt an electric rush, a subtle hum beneath his skin as the mana filled every fiber of his body.
Then, deliberately, he directed the flow toward his feet, like water finding its path.
The hoverboard reacted instantly, its black outline glowing gold.
It levitated higher and shot forward at speed [80 km/h].
Aziel wobbled initially, struggling to balance, but gradually, his body synchronized with the board.
"Okay… I think I've got it," he whispered, a grin spreading across his face.
Now that he had mastered it, he was ready.
Slowly, he retrieved his phone and called a certain person.
Ring. Ring.
No answer.
Ring. Ring.
—Hello, what's the matter, Aziel?
—I can't explain over the call. Come home. It's urgent.
—Okay.
Click.
Zephyr immediately sensed from Aziel's tone that something serious had happened.
He turned halfway through the academy and headed back.
…
'Besides, I don't even know where the academy is.'
"Hehehe," Aziel said softly, ruffling his hair, a nervous laugh escaping.
Right before him stood Zephyr,
His gaze sharp, cold, assessing Aziel like a predator sizing up its prey.
"So," Zephyr said slowly, voice low and clipped, "why exactly did you call me back?"
"I thought… it would be better if we went together, hahah. Safer," Aziel replied, trying to sound casual, but his eyes betrayed the tension.
Zephyr's sigh was long, deliberate, almost like a warning.
"Fine. Whatever. Let's go. And don't do anything reckless," he muttered, his tone carrying both authority and restrained impatience.
"As you say, commander," Aziel said, letting out a small chuckle, though his heart pounded.
…
Aziel now stood in front of the establishment.
He couldn't believe his eyes.
The Arcanum Academy—a.k.a. one of the top academies on the continent.
It was as large as a city.
Towering spires and a grand, castle-like central structure dominated the skyline, surrounded by uniquely styled smaller buildings.
Cobblestone streets wound through the area, with floating islands, trees, and a river cutting across the ground.
The academy bustled with students and instructors, all bathed in a magical glow.
It housed everything—from living quarters to entertainment areas.
Not to mention game stations and shopping malls.
While Aziel looked around what he considered paradise,
The digital wristband on his left hand flickered, a holographic screen emitting a blue light.
He raised his wrist and read the information displayed.
—Aziel Frost
—1st year
Class: Y113
Rank: 117th
Elements: Wind, Earth
Exclusive Elements: None
Arcanum Points: 10,000
---
'Wait… what is this about Arcanum Points?'
"Aziel…?"
He snapped his head toward Zephyr, pursing his lips.
"Aziel, which class are you in?"
"Uhmm… I am in Y113."
"Oh? Same here."
"Really?"
"Yep."
"Then… let's go together."
As Aziel stepped forward, he halted—and Zephyr probably did the same.
A black holographic screen flickered into existence.
TARGET FOUND.
"INITIALIZING…"
ERROR.
"INITIALIZING…"
COMPLETE.
"DOWNLOADING FILES…"
COMPLETE.
"INSTALLING…"
COMPLETE.
LOADING… 10%… 40%… 80%… 100%…
.
---
.
"Name: Aziel Frost"
"Level: 1"
"Exp: 0/100"
"Title: The Good One"
"Class: Unclassified"
.
"Abilities - Skill Creation"
L Create any skill possible within user capabilities
L User can unlock +1 skill slot whenever he levels up"
.
"Total skills: 0/1"
"Skills"
• NONE
"Stats"
L STR: Frail
L MP: Surging
L DEF: Fragile
L AGI: Quick
L INT: Sharp
L Overall : Notable
.
"TRUE FORM [Unlocked]"
L Complete three quests in order to unlock the true form.
L Quests: None
.
---
.
'Is this... real?'
Aziel couldn't believe his eyes. He had expected that Zephyr would get his system right before he entered his class.
But that wasn't what surprised Aziel the most.
Apparently, the system Zephyr received held the title 'Apostle of Death God' if his memories were accurate.
But his own title 'The Good One'
It didn't make any sense.
He couldn't figure out anything.
'What the heck is good one supposed to mean?'
The question lingered in his mind.
For the moment, he kept his thoughts aside and focused on the screen again.
"Skill Creation... huh?"
--
L Enter Skill name
.
Aziel pondered for a while and entered the name and details of the skill he needed the most at the moment.
"Creating"
"Initializing"
"Skill creation successful"
--
"Total skills: 1/1"
"Skills"
• Intuitive Intellect:
The ability to know, understand, or do something without the need of studying or previous experience as long as it does not violate the laws of nature.
"Time" - 40 minutes
"Cooldown" - 480 minutes
--
.
"All right... today's classes will go without distractions."
'But how do I close it?'
"System... Shut down."
'No, that's not how they do it in novels'
"System... Dissipate."
The blue holographic screen suddenly dematerialized, and then Aziel glanced towards Zephyr.
Zephyr seemed lost in his own world as he hovered his fingers across nothing, at least what it seemed to others.
Aziel knew it, but he decided to ask anyway.
"Zephyr... what are you doing? It looks weird."
Zephyr snapped his head towards Aziel, face beet red due to embarrassment.
"N-Nothing, but you tell me first, why were you murmuring to yourself and dancing your hands like crazy?"
Zephyr flipped the tables.
"Ah-It was n-nothing, really, haha."
"Hahaha."
"Hahahaha."
They both laughed in unison. Without any further interrogation, they walked to their respective class.
...
.
"I am saying this the last time, you have to do it."
"No, you will be the one doing it."
"It seems like you are looking for a fight?"
"So what if I am?"
Currently, the Frost brothers were fighting.
Where?
Right now, they stood just outside their classroom. Luckily, the entrance door was shut, so there was no one to hear the commotion.
But in the first place, why were they even fighting?
The reason?
It was basically too lame.
They were fighting to decide who would be the one playing a cool entrance song from behind while the other entered the room.
After what seemed like a long commotion, finally it was decided.
Both of them would enter the room together. After all, both were equally stubborn.
They also fortified the idea of music.
.
Creak...
.
Opening the entrance gate, Zephyr entered the room accompanied by Aziel.
All the students present in the class turned their gaze towards Zephyr.
The gazes seemed to be a mix of curiosity and envy.
After all, Zephyr Frost was the top-ranked student of their class and eighth-ranked student of the whole year.
Soon after their eyes, all of them fell on Aziel as if evaluating him, but they quickly withdrew their gaze.
Recognizing him as the weakest.
The person following Zephyr, named Aziel Frost, was the last-ranked student of their whole year.
The gazes were those of disgust and frustration.
The reason?
Just that Zephyr was the top-ranked student, so basically the privileges and advantages given to Zephyr as a top-ranked student would also be shared by Aziel due to their brother bond.
At least some of them.
.
Of course, Aziel already knew before coming here that it would be like this, so he internally shrugged it off.
Ignoring everyone, he climbed upstairs before taking a seat among the last rows.
Before entering the class, he activated his newly created skill 'Intuitive Intellect.' So it was obvious that the seating in this academy was based upon rankings, powers, and status.
It wasn't like Aziel didn't belong to a higher status.
In fact, he was considered nobelity, even among the higher classes.
The Frost Clan.
.
One of the crest clans on the continent, also known for their specialty in wind affinity.
It had produced many talented mages of wind affinity for generations.
Also one of the clans, which played a pivotal role in the 'Doomspire Conflict', millennia ago.
But Aziel knew that ranking overpowered status.
As Aziel settled down on the empty long table, the classroom door opened again.
And in tandem, three beautiful girls entered, their charms unmatched.
Two of them belonged to crest clans ranked just below the Frost Clan.
And one belonged to the Imperial clan.
The clan which held supreme authority over crest clans and other lower-ranked clans.
Aziel knew each of them.
Why?
Not because of his skill, but because all three of them were part of the main cast as heroines.
Basically Zephyr's own harem.
Starting from the front, with dark purple hair that cascaded down her back and amethyst eyes, she elegantly walked towards the first table.
She was Selera Luminara, daughter and heir of the Luminary clan.
The girl behind her was just as beautiful.
She had flowing silver hair that reached past her back, shimmering with a hint of blue, perfectly complementing her cyan eyes.
Lyra Astral, also the daughter and heir of the Astral clan.
Moving on to the last girl, she was also the one with the most stares.
Most probably because of her status and power.
Alisa Vortex, the daughter of the Vortex clan [the Imperial clan], so she was basically a princess.
With long blonde hair that cascaded down her back and crimson eyes, she walked towards the front.
All girls were the same age as Aziel, around sixteen years.
As the beauties walked towards their respective seats, everyone gazed at them.
Their gazes filled with lust, envy, and jealousy.
Soon, they seated themselves accordingly.
Now the seating order seemed like this:
Zephyr, Alisa, Lyra, Seraphina, and so on till Aziel.
.
As those three settled down, another figure came into Aziel's peripheral view.
It was someone he knew.
But only him.
---
Thanks for reading