"…A Rift Surge occurred within outer-range territory near Nolvaris," Seiferus began.
"No prior full formation."
A pause.
"…Escalation was immediate."
The king did not interrupt.
"…A Greater Wyvern manifested before stabilization," Seiferus continued.
"…Rift-touched."
That—
held his attention.
Subtle.
But real.
"…Before formation?" King Aerthas repeated.
"…Yes."
Silence spread through the hall.
"…That should not be possible," the king said quietly.
"…It happened," Seiferus replied.
The king leaned forward slightly.
"…Then this is not natural."
"…Agreed."
"…What do you assess?"
Seiferus didn't hesitate.
"…Interference."
"…From cultists?"
"…Possible," Seiferus said.
"…But unlikely at that scale without detection."
"…Then something else."
"…Yes."
The king's gaze shifted—
not toward Seiferus—
but toward the distant direction of the Spire.
"…A hidden actor," he said.
Seiferus didn't disagree.
"…If Rifts can be forced…" the king continued,
"…then the Spire is no longer a guarantee."
That was the real problem.
"…Then we prepare for escalation," Seiferus said.
The king remained silent for a moment.
"…And your conclusion?"
"…This was deliberate."
The king studied him longer this time.
"…You speak with certainty."
"…I act on it."
A faint shift in the air.
Recognition.
"…Of course you do."
A pause.
"…Seiferus."
"…My Umbral Lance."
The title settled across the room.
Seiferus didn't react.
But the room did.
"…There is one more variable," he added.
"…Go on."
"…An unregistered individual engaged the Wyvern."
"…And lived?"
"…Yes."
"…Noted."
Seiferus continued.
"…He demonstrated Aether compression."
"…Without training."
That held the king's attention longer than anything else.
"…Untrained?"
"…Correct."
The king's expression didn't change—
but something behind it did.
"…Keep him under observation."
"…Already arranged."
The king exhaled slowly.
"…Increase Spire monitoring."
"…Double-check stabilization reports."
Seiferus watched him.
"…You believe it's connected."
The king didn't answer directly.
"…I believe…"
A pause.
"…something has started moving again."
His gaze lifted slightly.
"…and this time…"
"…we may not see it coming."
"…You will remain in Nolvaris."
"…Understood."
"…Coordinate with the Covenant."
"…Already in motion."
"…Then go."
Seiferus turned.
But just before the doors—
"…Seiferus."
He stopped.
"…If this is not the cultists…"
The king's voice lowered.
"…then we are already behind."
Seiferus didn't turn.
"…Then we move faster."
And he left.
---
## **The Next Day —**
The Archive felt quieter.
Or maybe—
Aetherwyn just noticed it now.
"…Unbound," he muttered.
The word still felt off.
Not a mage.
Not a class.
Not anything.
"…Feels like I should be more than that."
No answer came.
Just the hum of Aether.
He pulled a book free.
Diagrams filled the pages.
Flow lines.
Channel maps across the body.
"…Okay…"
"…This is a lot."
He flipped a page.
"…Control before output…"
"…Compression requires stability…"
He closed the book.
"…Alright."
He raised his hand.
Focused.
"…Slower."
He reached inward.
Not forcing it.
Not panicking.
Just feeling.
A faint glow formed.
Unsteady.
But there.
"…Okay…"
It held.
Then wavered.
He steadied his breathing.
"…Don't push it."
The glow stabilized.
Small.
But real.
"…Better."
He let it fade.
"…Control first."
"…Then everything else."
Days passed.
Not fast.
But steady.
Aetherwyn trained.
Every day.
The city moved around him—
but his focus narrowed.
Aether.
Control.
Consistency.
"Again."
Aetherwyn groaned.
"I just did it."
"And it was bad," Filo replied instantly.
"…It worked."
"It barely worked."
He raised his hand again.
Focused.
Slower.
"Don't force it," Filo said.
"…Shape it."
Aether gathered—
Not violently.
Flowing.
"…Okay…"
A small sphere formed.
Stable.
Filo nodded.
"…Now release it."
He flicked his wrist—
_THMP._
The burst struck the training post.
Clean.
"…Oh."
Filo smirked.
"Congratulations."
"You didn't almost die."
"…That's improvement."
She crossed her arms.
"…Your first real spell."
"…Aether Pulse."
"…Feels better."
"That's because now you're actually using it correctly."
"…So this is what mages do?" Aetherwyn asked.
Filo tilted her head.
"…This is what beginners do."
"…Right."
A pause.
"…How many classes have you mastered?"
Filo didn't answer right away.
"…Three."
Aetherwyn blinked.
"…Three?"
"…And working on a fourth."
"…That feels unfair."
She smirked.
"It's called being better than you."
"…Alright," Filo said.
"…It's time."
"…For what?"
She smirked.
"…Your test."
---
The Covenant building felt different now.
Less intimidating.
Still dangerous.
"…People get tested here?"
"More than you think."
"…If they're worth testing."
Inside—
the receptionist looked up.
Paused.
"…You're back."
Filo nodded.
"…Yeah."
"…And him?"
"…He's here to be tested."
The man looked Aetherwyn over.
"…He's young.
Filo didn't hesitate.
"…He'll be fine."
A beat.
"…He was trained by me."
That was enough.
"…Alright."
"…But he'll need a proper weapon."
The room felt older.
Weapons lined the walls.
Some ancient.
Some… wrong.
"…Most of these predate the guild," the man said.
"…Others were collected later."
"…From the Five Shadows."
Aetherwyn slowed.
"…These are real."
Filo leaned slightly.
"…Use your spell."
"…Aether Insight."
The world shifted.
Information formed.
Then—
He saw it.
A wand.
Simple—
but not.
"…That one."
He stepped closer.
Focused.
"…Aether Insight."
**Aetherial Conduit Wand**
_"Not all weapons are meant to strike. Some are meant to decide."_
Information flooded in.
Too much.
Aetherwyn blinked.
"…Okay—that's a lot."
Filo chuckled.
"You pushed too much into the spell."
"…So think less?"
"…Think better."
He nodded.
"…This feels right."
He picked it up.
The Aether within it pulsed—
Then settled.
"…Good choice," Filo said.
"…That's not a beginner's weapon," the receptionist added.
Aetherwyn looked at it again.
"…Guess I'm not a beginner then."
Filo smirked.
"…Keep telling yourself that."
---
The doors opened.
Heavy
Final.
Aetherwyn stepped inside.
The chamber was massive.
Circular.
Aether lines pulsed along the walls.
At the center—
A platform.
"…Step forward."
Aetherwyn looked up.
Observers above.
Filo among them.
"…Of course you're watching."
"…This is a Class Trial," the voice said.
"No class will be given."
A pause.
"…Only recognized."
Aetherwyn frowned.
"…Right."
"…Three criteria."
"Control."
"Application."
"Understanding."
"…Pass," the voice continued,
"…and the system responds."
"…And if I don't?"
A pause.
"…Then you leave as you entered."
Aetherwyn stepped forward.
The platform lit beneath his feet.
Aether stirred.
Not around him—
But toward him.
Watching.
Measuring.
Waiting.
Aetherwyn tightened his grip on his wand.
"…Alright."
A breath.
"…Let's see what I become."
The light surged—
And the trial began.