### **Trial One — Control**
The platform lit beneath his feet.
"…Stabilize Aether output."
Aetherwyn raised his hand.
"…Okay…"
He focused.
Slower.
Like Filo taught him.
Aether formed—
a small sphere of light.
It wavered.
"…Steady…"
He adjusted.
Not forcing it.
Letting it settle.
The sphere stabilized.
"…Acceptable."
Aetherwyn exhaled.
"…One down."
## **Trial Two — Application**
The ground shifted.
Three targets rose.
"…Demonstrate offensive capability."
Aetherwyn lifted his wand.
"…Aether Pulse."
_THMP._
First target—clean hit.
_THMP._
Second—no hesitation.
The third—
he paused—
Corrected—
_THMP._
All three struck.
"…Efficient."
Above—
Filo smirked slightly.
"…Not bad."
## **Trial Three — Understanding**
The room changed.
The targets vanished.
In their place—
A distortion.
Unstable Aether.
Shifting.
Alive.
"…Correct the flow."
Aetherwyn frowned.
"…Of course."
He stepped forward.
The distortion pulsed violently.
"…Think…"
Not force.
Not output.
Control.
He raised his hand—
felt for it—
"…There."
He guided it.
Not pushing.
Aligning.
The distortion resisted—
"…Come on…"
Then—
It snapped—
Into place.
Stable.
Silence.
"…Confirmed."
The room dimmed.
Aether gathered—
not around him—
but within him.
The system appeared.
Clear.
Focused.
**[Class Recognition Initiating…]**
Aetherwyn's breath slowed.
"…This is it."
**[Analyzing Aether Pattern…]**
**[Evaluating Control…]**
**[Evaluating Intent…]**
A pause—
Then—
The system flickered.
Hard.
**[ERROR—]**
"…What?"
Aether surged violently.
The wand pulsed—
"…Wait—!"
**[Stabilizing…]**
Silence.
Then—
**CLASS GRANTED**
**[Class Acquired: Aethermancer — Mage]**
The words settled.
Clean.
Final.
Aetherwyn stood still.
"…Aethermancer…"
Above—
Filo smiled.
"…Yeah."
"…That fits."
Murmurs spread.
"…Not a standard class…"
"…Rare for a first recognition…"
The doors opened.
Aetherwyn stepped forward—
No longer Unbound.
But not fully understood.
"…Aethermancer," he muttered.
"…That's actually real now."
Filo approached.
"…You didn't break anything."
"…That's a good start."
"…It glitched," Aetherwyn said.
Filo didn't react.
"…Unusual class."
"…Not unheard of."
The system flickered again.
**[Class: Aethermancer]**
**[Rank: Initiate]**
**[Available Points: 3]*
"…Points?"
Filo leaned closer
"…You see them now?"
"…Yeah."
"…Good."
"…What are they?
"Progression."
"…You earn them through combat, contribution, growth."
"…So leveling?
"…No."
A pause.
"Levels increase power."
"Points shape it."
"Like Rank."
That clicked.
"…And I already have some?"
Filo smirked.
"…You killed a goblin."
"…Barely."
"…Still counts."
A pause.
"…And you hit a wyvern."
"…That still feels fake."
"…It's not."
The system shifted.
**[Available Abilities Detected]**
Aetherwyn focused.
A small list appeared.
One stood out.
### **Aether Focus**
_"Still the mind. Sharpen the strike."_
- Enhances control and output briefly
- Boosts next Aether action
- Improves precision
"…So I just focus harder?"
Filo shrugged.
"…That's the beginner version."
"…Good enough."
**[Ability Acquired: Aether Focus]**
He felt it instantly.
Not power—
Clarity.
"…That's weird."
"…That's control."
"…Try it."
Aetherwyn raised his wand.
"…Aether Focus…"
The world narrowed.
Breath steady.
Thoughts aligned.
Aether became clearer.
"…Aether Pulse."
_THMP._
Faster.
Sharper.
Stronger.
The mark hit deeper.
"…Oh."
Filo smirked.
"…Yeah."
"…So I just spam this?"
"…No."
She tapped his wand.
"You improve it."
"Every ability has mastery."
"Use it. Understand it."
"…Then it grows."
A pause.
"…And combinations?"
Filo smirked.
"…That's where things get interesting."
"…That's enough for today."
"…Already?"
"…You just got your class."
Aetherwyn looked at the wall.
"…That hit was kinda clean though."
"Oi."
He froze.
The receptionist stood nearby.
Looking at the wall.
Then at him.
"…You serious right now?"
"…Uh—"
He tapped the crack.
"…Damn brat."
"…I get you got power and all…"
"…but don't go destroying my walls."
"…It was one shot."
"…It's always 'one shot.'"
Filo snorted.
"…Relax."
"…It's barely a crack."
The receptionist slowly turned.
"…That's exactly what you said."
A pause.
"…Last time."
Filo smirked
"…And?"
"…We rebuilt half the training wing."
Aetherwyn blinked
"…Wait—what?"
The man pointed at him.
"…Kid's gonna grow just like you."
Filo shrugged.
"…Then reinforce the walls."
"…I regret letting you back in here."
Aetherwyn sighed.
"…I feel blamed for future crimes."
Filo patted his shoulder.
"…Give it time."
"…Not comforting."
---
Days turned into weeks.
Training became routine.
Control became instinct.
Nolvaris—
once overwhelming—
became familiar.
The investigation continued.
Quiet.
Until—
It stopped.
"…That's it," Filo said.
"…That's it?"
"…Investigation's closed."
"…For now."
"…That doesn't sound finished."
"It's not."
A pause.
"…But we're moving."
"…So we're leaving?"
Filo smirked.
"…Yeah."
"…You ready?"
Aetherwyn looked at his wand.
Then his hand.
"…More than before."
"…Good."
The guild felt different now.
Familiar.
The doors opened.
"…Well, I'll be."
The receptionist smirked.
"…Didn't think you'd come back."
Filo shrugged.
"…Missed it."
"…Sure."
He looked at Aetherwyn.
"…Still alive."
"…Barely."
"…Good."
He leaned forward.
"…You're here at a good time."
"…New commission."
"…From the Guild Master."
That got Filo's attention.
"…Details?"
"…Not too hard."
"…But important."
A pause.
"…You can rejoin. Temporarily."
He nodded at Aetherwyn.
"…He can join too."
"…Good experience."
Aetherwyn glanced at Filo.
"…What do you think?"
She looked around.
At the guild.
At the past she never fully left.
Then smirked.
"…One job."
"…That's all I need."
Aetherwyn exhaled.
"…I'm in."
The document slid across the counter.
Filo picked it up.
Aetherwyn stepped beside her.
And for the first time—
This wasn't survival.
It was a choice.
Beyond Nolvaris—
The world was still fractured.
Rifts were moving.
Something was changing.
And now—
They were stepping into it.
Together.