CHAPTER 35—The academy
The long entrance exam had finally come to an end.
Days of relentless battles, sleepless nights, and silent determination—everything had led to this moment.
And with it's end—
A new beginning unfolded.
The freshmen year of the Grand Aetherion Academy had begun.
Students who had passed the exam walked through the towering gates.
Some walked with pride, their chins raised high.
Some with quiet confidence, their steps steady and measured.
Some whispered among themselves, excitement barely contained.
They moved forward—
Towards something unknown.
Towards something greater.
Towards their future.
Towards... their own stories.
Towards a path that would shape what they would become.
But—
Rowan didn't move.
He stood outside.
Alone.
His gaze remained fixed on the massive gates before him.
They rose like something out of a legend—tall, ancient, and unyielding. Intricate runes were carved into the surface, glowing faintly as if the gates themselves were alive.
Beyond them—
The academy stretched wide.
A structure so vast it resembled a castle more than a school. Towering spires pierced the sky, their tips hidden behind drifting clouds. Walls of pale stone shimmered faintly under the sunlight, layered with enchantments that hummed quietly in the air.
Rowan's throat tightened.
Back in his small town—
He had never even imagined standing in front of a place like this.
Yet now—
He was here.
His legs remained still like they have been frozen.
His fingers trembled slightly at his sides, curling and uncurling without purpose.
A strange feeling rose inside him—
Something he couldn't quite name.
Excitement.
Fear.
Disbelief.
All tangled together.
He tried to step forward.
But his body didn't respond.
"..."
Suddenly —
A hand came to rest on his shoulder.
Rowan turned.
Eldric stood behind him.
"What are you doing?" he asked casually.
"Not going inside?"
Rowan swallowed hard.
"I just… I…"
The words caught in his throat.
Refused to come out.
Eldric let out a quiet sigh.
Sigh...
He patted Rowan's shoulder once
"Yeah... I know it may look overwhelming."
He said, his voice softer than usual.
"But... You have earned it. The right to go there."
Rowan's eyes widened slightly.
"The right to walk through those gates,"
Eldric continued, looking straight at him.
"That's not something anyone just gets."
Something shifted inside Rowan.
The tightness in his chest loosened.
Just a little.
"Now stop standing here like an idiot,"
Eldric added, his usual tone returning.
"And go."
Rowan let out a breath he hadn't realized he was holding.
Then—
He nodded. As he took a step forward.
Suddenly he turned and looked at Eldric.
"Wait? What about you?"
Eldric chuckled.
"What, you want me to walk you in?" he said, shaking his head. "I'm not a student dolt."
He stretched his arms slightly.
"And I've got my own place to return to."
He waved his hand dismissively.
"Go on."
Then, as he turned away—
"Bye dolt. Study properly," he added without looking back. "And don't act like an idiot."
Rowan stood still for a moment. Watching Eldric's retreating form going smaller and smaller.
Until, he disappeared.
When Eldric couldn't be seen anymore.
Rowan turned back and this time his legs moved.
He started moving forward.
Towards the academy.
---
Inside the Academy
A massive hall stretched out before him.
Students filled the space—rows upon rows, standing in formation. Voices echoed faintly, footsteps blending into a constant murmur.
At the front—
A tall platform.
The principal stood there.
"…Good luck, students."
The principal stepped back.
His speech had ended.
Rowan yawned.
Barely holding it in.
'What is this…' he thought, blinking lazily.
'I thought I came here to learn magic. Why am I listening to all this?'
He shifted his weight slightly.
'Did bhaiya go through this too…?'
Before he could think further—
Another figure stepped forward.
The vice principal of Grand Aetherion academy.
Vice principal — Auren Valencrest.
He carried himself differently.
He was a man in his early forties, his appearance refined to the smallest detail. His dark hair was neatly combed back, not a single strand out of place. His sharp jawline and straight posture gave him an air of authority, while his narrow silver-rimmed glasses reflected the light faintly.
His robes were pristine—deep navy lined with subtle silver embroidery, the crest of the academy resting over his chest.
Everything about him—
Reflected the pride of the academy.
"Welcome, students."
His voice carried easily across the hall.
Not loud—
But impossible to ignore.
Rowan blinked slowly.
'When is this gonna end…?'
Rowan thought, his eyes already getting heavy.
The vice principal's speech continued.
"As you all know…"
The Vice Principal paused, letting the silence settle.
"…the continent you stand upon is no longer whole."
Auren looked across the students.
"The Second Grand Mage War changed everything."
The words hung in the air.
Rowan's eyes fluttered open.
'Wait..War? There has been war?'
"We lost."
The words fell heavily.
Unapologetic.
Unfiltered.
Auren didn't soften it
Didn't hide it.
"Half of this continent now belongs to the Dark Mage Society."
Silence spread.
The weight of that statement settled deeply.
"There are many reasons for that defeat,"
He continued.
"Tactical errors. Political fractures. Betrayals."
His voice remained steady.
"But one stands above all others."
A pause.
"Lack of unity."
His gaze hardened.
"Mages—despite their power—failed to stand together."
The air itself seemed to grow heavier.
"But still... As I stand here. Welcoming our new generation."
Auren leaned on.
"The only thing I hope is to create a new generation that would bring an end to the dark mage society. And then like always. Aetheris will be under the rule of the council.
Auren looked around at the rows of students.
"Does anyone wanna say something."
A long silence streched in the hall. He let it sink in,
No student stepped forward.
"Well... Let me tell you. Even if you wanna say something, no one will listen to you right now."
His eyes swept across the hall.
"The world only listens to power. And so that's the case in this academy too."
"If you want your voice to matter—become strong."
"If you want to stand above others—gain power."
"If you want to shape the future—then earn the right to do so."
His tone sharpened.
"This academy exists for one purpose."
"To create mages the world cannot ignore."
Rowan blinked.
Fully awake now.
"I hope one day—"
The Vice Principal's gaze steadied.
"The world will listen to you."
The speech ended.
---
Rowan stood still.
Processing.
'So the continent is split…'
'Mages… and dark mages…'
He rubbed his chin slightly.
'If that's true… then…'
His gaze sharpened.
'Maybe… this place really has answers.'
He clenched his fist slightly
'If that's the case then...' he murmured under his breath,"Maybe I can find out what happened to bhaiya here.'.
---
The academy was vast.
No—
That word didn't do it justice.
It was overwhelming.
"Wow..." Rowan was in awe as he walked.
Corridors stretched endlessly, branching into different directions like veins of a massive organism. Arched windows lined the walls, letting in soft light that reflected off polished stone floors.
His gaze drifted upward, then sideways, then forward again, unable to settle on one thing.
'I can't believe Bhaiya studied in this place.'
He had imagined it before.
Tried to.
But imagination had limits.
This place didn't.
Students passed by him from time to time—some walking in groups, talking in low voices, some alone, lost in thought, others carrying books or strange tools.
No one paid him much attention.
Everyone seemed to already belong here.
That thought lingered for a moment.
---
Rowan walked slowly.
Turning his head again and again.
Then—
Suddenly, a realisation struck him.
Rowan stopped mid-step.
'Wait?'
His brows furrowed as he looked around.
'What am I doing?'
He scratched the back of his head slightly.
'No first of all. Where am I right now. and where am I even supposed to go.'
For the first time since entering—
He felt lost.
Properly lost.
His eyes scanned the corridor again, this time not with awe—but with confusion.
Then he noticed something.
A group of students walking together in one direction.
Without thinking too much, Rowan swallowed lightly and began following them.
---
A few minutes later—
He regretted that decision.
"…Where am I now?"
At first, it seemed like a good idea.
The students moved confidently, turning corners without hesitation, passing through wide halls and narrow passageways as if they had memorized the entire layout.
Rowan followed quietly behind.
But after a few turns—
Then a few more—
And then even more—
The surroundings began to blur.
The corridors started to look similar.
The pillars, the lights, the walls—everything started repeating in patterns he couldn't track.
And then—
Just like that—
The group he was following disappeared.
Rowan blinked.
"…Huh?"
He turned left.
Then right.
But there was no sign of them.
They were just… gone.
A faint uneasiness settled in his chest.
'Where am I now…?'
He looked around again, this time slower.
More carefully.
Students still passed by occasionally, but they weren't the same ones.
Some walked alone, eyes distant, as if lost in their own thoughts.
Others stood in small groups, talking in hushed, serious tones.
No one looked like they had time for someone like him.
And now he was more lost then ever.
'Should I ask someone..?'
Rowan thought for a second but then he quickly dropped the idea.
'Looks like I have to find my way myself.'
His lips pressed into a thin line. As he starts walking again.
As he walked, his pace slowed once more.
But this time—
Not because of the grandeur.
But because of curiosity.
The walls here were lined with paintings.
Large ones.
Each framed in dark, polished wood, glowing faintly with protective enchantments.
Rowan stopped in front of one.
It showed a man—dressed in flowing robes, standing atop a mountain, his hand raised toward the sky as lightning gathered around him like obedient serpents.
Another painting showed a woman surrounded by waves, the ocean itself rising as if answering her command.
'Who are these people…?'
Rowan leaned slightly closer, eyes narrowing.
'Were they some kind of famous mages…?'
There were no names written beneath them.
Just symbols.
Marks.
Like signatures left behind by legends.
He kept walking.
Still looking.
Still wondering.
And then—
Thud.
"Ah—!"
Rowan bumped straight into something solid.
He stumbled back slightly, rubbing his nose with a small wince.
"What the—?"
When he looked up.
He saw it.
In front of him—
Was a painting unlike any he had seen so far.
It wasn't rectangular.
It wasn't centered like the others.
It was… pentagonal.
Perfectly shaped.
Each side equal.
Each edge sharp and deliberate.
And inside—
It wasn't a person.
It wasn't a scene.
It was something else entirely.
Five sections.
Each forming a part of the pentagon.
The frame itself was shaped like a five-sided structure, each segment separated yet connected, forming a perfect geometric symmetry.
And in each section —
There was a bird.
But not ordinary birds.
These were… different.
The first bird burned in deep shades of crimson. It's feathers seemed to glow, layered with tones of scarlet, ember, and molten orange.
Not just its feather—
But the space around it too.
The background wasn't simply colored—it moved, layered with deep crimson, flickering scarlet, and molten orange. It gave the illusion of heat, like the air itself would ripple if touched.
It felt like standing before fire.
The second bird was blue.
But not just blue—
An endless depth of it.
The background swirled with varying shades, from deep oceanic indigo to bright, almost glowing azure. It didn't look painted—it looked like water itself had been captured and frozen in motion.
The third bird was silver.
Sharp.
Refined.
The background shimmered like polished metal under light. There were waves of winds drawn by the shades, each wave moving steadily but aggressively, shifting subtly depending on the angle Rowan looked from. It felt cold.
Precise.
And Unyielding.
The fourth bird stood grounded in brown.
It's colors were rich and dense, evoking the weight of earth itself. The background resembled layered terrain—mountains, soil, and stone compressed into color.
And the final bird—
Gold.
Or perhaps yellow.
Or something in between.
Its background glowed—not brightly, but steadily, like thunder strikes trapped in still air. It wasn't overwhelming.
It was… absolute.
Rowan stood there.
Silent.
His eyes traced each section slowly.
Rowan was at awe seeing the painting. It was mesmerizing.
To the point that it looked otherworldly.
He didn't understand it.
But something about it—
Pulled him in.
"It's quite amazing isn't it."
The voice wasn't from him.
Rowan flinched slightly, turning his head.
A boy stood beside him.
He hadn't even noticed him approach.
The boy wore thin-framed glasses that rested neatly on his nose. His hair was dark, slightly messy but not unkempt, falling just enough to brush against the frame of his glasses. His eyes were sharp behind the lenses—not particularly expressive, but observant.
He stood with a relaxed posture, hands in his pockets, gaze fixed on the painting.
Rowan blinked.
'Was he talking to me…?'
"…Ah—yeah," Rowan replied, a bit unsure.
"The painting is amazing."
The boy turned his head slightly.
His gaze settled on Rowan.
"Hmm... Who are you?"
"Huh?"
Rowan blinked again, caught off guard.
"Wait...? You were talking to me first right."
The boy stared at him for a moment.
Then said flatly—
"Nah... Just talking to myself."
Rowan's eyes widened instantly.
But before he could react further—
The boy chuckled.
"Hahah.. just kidding."
The boy turned and looked at Rowan fully. Suddenly the boy's brows flickered like something clicked in his mind
"You are... That axe guy right."
"Huh? Axe guy?"
The boy nodded his head.
"Yeah... It's definitely you. The one who was casting spells with an axe shaped wand. Your casting was weird but amazing."
Rowan's eyes brighten.
"Oh thank you."
He glanced at the boy for a second.
'Axe guy. Is that what people calling me now?'
The boy extended his hand.
"I'm Ritvik."
Rowan nodded shaking his hand.
"Rowan."
Then, the conversation shifted—
"Which class are you in?"
"Huh class?" Rowan repeated blankly.
Ritvik looked at him over his glasses
"Yeah, class, S, A, B or C."
Rowan stood there like an idiot.
Processing.
Ritvik rubbed his chin thoughtfully.
"Hmm. Judging by your performance in the Areana dual. You must be in either A or S."
He snapped his fingers.
"Am I right."
Rowan just stood there blankly.
"Hello?" Ritvik waved his hand.
"I..." Rowan finally spoke. "don't know."
A short silence settled between them..
Both stood there, not moving. As if the time itself has frozen.
Then Ritvik spoke again.
"Didn't you check the bulletin board."
"Huh?" Rowan asked.
"There are 4 classes here. Class S the highest one and then A, B and C."
"Oh... What class are you in then, class S?"
"No." Ritvik adjusted his glasses slightly. "I'm in class B."
"...But I could have made it to class S." He said immediately.
"It's just that..." He shuttered for a second before continuing. "I got a bad match up in Areana."
"Oh..." Rowan looked at him sympathicly.
Ritvik added casually—
"You should go and check yours."
Rowan brightened immediately.
"Oh—right. Thanks."
He turned to leave—
Then paused.
"…Wait."
The boy looked at him.
"…Where is the bulletin board?"
A beat of silence.
Ritvik stared at him.
Dull.
Unimpressed.
Then, without a word—
He lifted his hand and pointed in a direction.
"…Thanks again," Rowan said quickly, before heading off.
---
The bulletin board wasn't hard to find.
The crowd around it made sure of that.
Students gathered tightly around a large glowing panel embedded into the wall. Names shimmered across its surface, rearranging themselves in neat columns.
Voices overlapped everywhere.
"I'm in Class A!"
"Why the hell am I in Class C?!"
"Thank god… atleast I made it…"
"Wait—where's my name?!"
Some laughed.
Some cursed.
Some just stood there in stunned silence.
Rowan pushed through the crowd,
squeezing between shoulders and arms until he finally got close enough to see.
His eyes scanned the glowing list.
Left to right.
Top to bottom.
Then—
"There."
He found it.
Rowan Vayen — Class B.
He stared at it for a moment.
And Just stood there.
Watching his name glow faintly among the others.
"…Class B, huh…"
A small breath escaped him.
'I wonder… which class bhaiya was in…'
The thought lingered—
But didn't stay long.
He turned and walked away.
After sometime —
By the time Rowan reached the dormitory
corridors, the crowd had thinned.
The hallway here was quieter.
More contained.
Rooms lined both sides, each marked with glowing inscriptions.
He slowed his steps, checking the number on the watch around his wrist .
Then—
"Room no. 32 (B)."
He stopped.
"This should be it."
Rowan reached for the handle.
Then paused.
"…It's already open?"
He pushed the door gently.
It creaked slightly as it opened.
The room inside was… surprisingly refined.
Not luxurious.
But far from ordinary.
The space was neat and well-structured. Two beds were arranged along one side—one on the ground, the other positioned above it with a sturdy ladder attached to the frame. Both were neatly made, covered with soft, dark-toned sheets.
A large window occupied the far wall, letting in natural light that mixed with the soft glow of a floating orb near the ceiling.
A wooden desk stood near the corner, already stocked with basic supplies—papers, ink, and a few academy-issued books.
Everything felt… prepared.
Organized.
Lived-in.
Rowan stepped inside.
And then—
Paused.
"…Wait."
Someone was already there.
A boy lay on the lower bed, one arm resting behind his head, the other holding a book up as he read. His glasses caught the light slightly.
Rowan squinted.
"…Vik-Vik?"
The boy flinched slightly at the voice, lowering the book.
"It's Ritvik... Wait?"
He lowered his glasses slightly.
"Oh. It's you... So you are in class B too."
Rowan blinked.
"What are you doing in my room?"
Ritvik shrugged lightly, already returning his gaze to the book.
"Students from Class A to C share rooms."
He turned a page.
"Looks like we're assigned together."
Then added without looking—
"If you have a problem, aim for Class S next time."
Rowan sighed and entered the room.
He placed his bag in the corner and looked at the beds.
The lower one was already taken.
So—
He climbed up.
The ladder creaked softly under his weight as he reached the top and lay down.
The moment his body touched the mattress
"—"
He froze.
The soft texture of the bed made his shoulder relaxe. It was far more comfortable then anything Rowan had slept on before.
A second later—
His eyes closed.
Sleep took him almost instantly.
---
Some time later—
"Yaaawn…"
Rowan stretched as he woke up, rubbing his eyes.
He climbed out of the bed.
Thud..
"Hmm..." He looked around.
"Where did he go."
There was no one in the room.
Rowan opened the door and walked out of the room.
The corridor was quiet.
Too quiet.
Rowan stretched his arms as he walked.
Then—
BAM...
THWACK... SMACK...
WHAP... WHOP....
THUD...
"Huh?" Rowan heard some unusual noises.
His head tilted slightly.
Those weren't normal sounds.
They were sharp.
Heavy.
Rhythmic.
Curious, Rowan followed the noise.
Step by step.
The sounds grew louder.
Clearer.
Until—
He came across a massive hall.
The space was enormous.
Far larger than any room he had seen so far.
The ceiling rose high above, supported by thick pillars spaced evenly along the edges. The floor was wide and open, divided into multiple sections marked faintly by glowing lines.
And at the center was Constant Movement and Explosive spells.
Dozens of students were fighting each other in one ground.
Spells clashed in bursts of light and sound. Fire collided with water, wind cut through stones, and barriers flickered into existence before shattering apart.
It was hard to tell who was fighting whom.
Footsteps echoed.
Impacts rang.
Voices rose.
And Rowan stood at the entrance.
Frozen.
His eyes widened slowly.
"…What the…?"
---
CHAPTER ENDS