The next lesson began in a different hall—larger, darker, with walls lined with ancient tapestries depicting battles that had long been etched into history. The faint scent of aged parchment and candle wax lingered in the air, giving the room a weight of solemnity.
Students shuffled to their seats, murmuring quietly, some still buzzing from the earlier classroom. Aiden sat near the back, unbothered, as always. His calm presence seemed to absorb the chaos around him.
At the front of the classroom, a tall man with sharp features and dark hair strode in. His robes were perfectly pressed, his aura commanding. Students immediately straightened.
"…Professor Veylan," one whispered.
The man's gaze swept over the room, finally resting on Kael, the arrogant noble boy, who straightened with a smirk.
Kael's smirk widened slightly when he noticed his father—or at least his relative—standing there. Veylan's piercing eyes didn't linger on Kael, however. Instead, they seemed to sweep the room like a hawk assessing prey.
"Silence," Veylan commanded, voice low but cutting. The room obeyed instantly. "Today, we will discuss a subject far more important than power alone—history. Specifically, the War of Gods and Demons."
A few students groaned quietly, but the professor ignored them.
"The War," he began, pacing slowly across the front of the classroom, "was not just a conflict. It was a collision of ideals, of wills, and of powers beyond human comprehension. On one side, the Celestial Gods, wielders of creation and light. On the other, the Primordial Demons, beings of chaos and raw destructive intent."
He paused, letting the words sink in. His eyes, however, flicked briefly toward Aiden, just enough for no one to notice.
"The war lasted centuries, and countless mortals were caught in the middle. Entire civilizations rose… and fell." His gaze swept the classroom again. "…Power alone could not win this war. Strategy, wisdom, and control were essential."
Kael leaned back slightly, looking smug. "…Sounds boring," he muttered under his breath.
"Boring?" Veylan's voice snapped like a whip. "Perhaps. If you are weak enough to ignore history. Perhaps if you are too arrogant to learn from it."
Kael straightened, smirking nervously. "I know all this already. I—"
"Do not speak out of turn," Veylan interrupted sharply, his gaze locking on Kael like iron. "You may be noble, but arrogance does not equal understanding. This is a lesson for everyone, including you."
Aiden tilted his head slightly but made no move to interrupt. The Primordial voice inside him hummed softly: He's observing you, just like her. Careful, calculated.
"Yes," Aiden thought back. "He's testing Kael… and maybe everyone else."
Veylan's lecture continued, describing the battles, the strategies, and the betrayals of the war. He spoke of how some demons had powers that could manipulate reality itself, and how certain gods had been forced to awaken their own ancient primordial abilities just to survive.
He paused at a tapestry depicting a colossal battlefield, filled with gods, demons, and mortals. His eyes, sharp as ever, swept over the students. "…And yet, what made the difference was not strength alone. It was who could control the chaos within themselves."
Some students shifted uncomfortably. Some whispered. But the words seemed to hang in the air, and even Kael's smirk faltered slightly.
Veylan's gaze flicked toward Aiden again. The boy's calm composure didn't betray a single emotion, yet his presence resonated with something… ancient. Something that didn't belong entirely to this world.
A faint smile touched Veylan's lips, almost imperceptible. "…Interesting," he muttered quietly to himself.
Meanwhile, the five girls, sitting scattered through the classroom, exchanged glances.
"…He's watching him again," Lyra whispered.
Seris nodded slightly. "…Every time a teacher mentions something about ancient power or chaos, Aiden seems… aware. More aware than anyone else."
Mira leaned forward, eyes wide. "…And he's calm. Like he knows the outcome before it even happens."
Elara's gaze was fixed, analyzing both Aiden and the professor. "…And the teacher—he's noticing Aiden too. That's why he keeps glancing at him. He can feel it."
Nyx crossed her arms. "…The others think he's weak. They have no idea that this boy has drawn the attention of two of the Academy's strongest instructors. That's… dangerous."
Lyra smirked faintly. "…Or interesting."
—
Back at the front, Veylan continued. "The War of Gods and Demons was not won by brute force, nor by arrogance. The ones who survived—and the ones who ultimately shaped the world—were those who understood limits, who could suppress the power that could destroy them if uncontrolled."
His gaze lingered on Aiden one last time. "…It seems there is a student among you who understands that already."
A whisper ran through the classroom.
Kael's face tightened, unsure if he had been addressed.
The teacher's red eyes flickered faintly with something unspoken, almost knowing.
"…And some of you," Veylan added, voice firm, "are far too blind to see it."
Aiden didn't move. He didn't react. But deep inside, the Primordial voice hummed: They are awakening. Slowly.
And high above, the silver-haired female teacher, somewhere watching from her private chambers, leaned forward slightly, her heartbeat quickening again, faint excitement rising.
"…Yes," she murmured quietly to herself. "…He's doing exactly what I expected. And I can't wait to see what comes next."
The classroom buzzed with whispered questions and uneasy glances, oblivious to the fact that history was not just being taught—it was quietly repeating itself, and Aiden was already at the center of it.