The news spread faster than fire.
"House Drakhar's heir… a failure."
"Unidentified contract."
"No creature."
"Below even F-rank."
By the next morning—
the entire capital knew.
Aetherion Valen Drakhar walked through the long stone corridor of the Royal Summoner Academy.
Not a single step faltered.
Not a single expression changed.
But the whispers followed him.
"That's him…"
"The one with no creature…"
"Even a horned rabbit is better…"
Some laughed.
Others simply stared.
A few… avoided him entirely.
At the end of the corridor stood a massive gate engraved with sigils.
Above it—
FIRST-YEAR TRAINING HALL
Aetherion entered.
Inside, dozens of students had already gathered.
Creatures stood beside them.
Small.
Varied.
Alive.
A horned rabbit hopped beside one boy.
A flame sparrow fluttered near another.
A stone lizard clung to someone's shoulder.
Every single one of them had something.
Except him.
The moment he stepped in—
the room quieted.
"…So it's true."
"He really doesn't have anything…"
"Then what was that yesterday?"
Aetherion ignored them and walked to the back.
A tall boy with sharp features and confident posture stepped forward.
A sleek bird hovered beside him, feathers crackling faintly with energy.
"Storm Hawk," someone whispered.
"C-rank… already?"
The boy smirked slightly.
His eyes locked onto Aetherion.
"So," he said, voice loud enough for everyone to hear,
"this is the famous heir of House Drakhar."
Silence.
"…I expected more."
Aetherion stopped.
Turned slightly.
Their eyes met.
"…Expectation is your mistake," Aetherion replied calmly.
A few students blinked.
The boy's smile thinned.
"Let's see how long that attitude lasts… failure."
Before anything could escalate—
A loud voice cut through the room.
"That's enough."
A man stepped forward.
Tall.
Broad.
Eyes sharp like blades.
Instructor Kaelron.
"Today is your first day," he said coldly.
"And you already think you're worth noticing?"
Silence fell instantly.
"You are nothing."
His gaze swept across the room.
"Your creatures are nothing."
Then—
his eyes stopped on Aetherion.
"And some of you… don't even have that."
A few students laughed quietly.
Aetherion remained still.
"Good," the instructor continued.
"Now that you understand your place… we begin."
He raised a hand.
"Summon your creatures."
Instantly—
light flared across the hall.
Creatures appeared one after another.
Rabbits.
Birds.
Lizards.
Foxes.
The Storm Hawk spread its wings proudly.
Energy filled the room.
Except—
around Aetherion.
"…You," the instructor said, pointing directly at him.
"Summon."
All eyes turned.
Aetherion didn't move.
"…I cannot."
Murmurs spread.
"Can't even summon…"
"What kind of contract is that?"
The instructor's gaze hardened.
"…Then step forward."
Aetherion did.
"Punch the target."
A training dummy stood at the center of the hall.
Reinforced.
Designed to withstand creature-enhanced attacks.
"Others will use resonance," the instructor said.
"You… will not."
A pause.
"Let's see what remains."
Aetherion stood before the dummy.
Silence.
Dozens of eyes watching.
Waiting.
Judging.
"…Pathetic," someone muttered.
Then—
A voice whispered.
"Why are you holding back?"
Aetherion's eyes shifted slightly.
"…This is not necessary."
"No… it isn't."
A soft pause.
"But it's entertaining."
His fingers tightened slightly.
"…You said to grow."
"And you will."
A beat.
"Start small."
Aetherion exhaled slowly.
Then—
he stepped forward.
And punched.
For a moment—
nothing happened.
Then—
CRACK.
The entire dummy shattered.
Not dented.
Not damaged.
Destroyed.
Fragments scattered across the floor.
Silence.
Absolute.
"…What?"
A student stepped back.
"That wasn't resonance…"
"He didn't summon anything…"
The instructor's eyes narrowed sharply.
"…Do it again."
Aetherion lowered his hand.
"…No."
The word was calm.
Final.
The room froze.
"…Excuse me?" the instructor's voice dropped.
Aetherion met his gaze.
"There is no need."
For a brief moment—
tension filled the air.
Then—
the instructor turned away.
"…Class dismissed."
Shock spread across the room.
"That's it?"
"Why end it now?"
But no one questioned further.
Students began to leave—
but their eyes remained on Aetherion.
Different now.
Not mocking.
Uncertain.
The Storm Hawk boy clenched his fist slightly.
"…That wasn't normal."
Outside the hall—
Aetherion walked alone.
"…You interfered."
"Only a little."
"…That was not my strength."
A soft laugh echoed.
"Of course it wasn't."
Aetherion's eyes narrowed slightly.
"…Then whose?"
A pause.
Then—
"Do you really want to know… this early?"
He didn't answer.
The wind passed quietly through the academy grounds.
Students trained in the distance.
Creatures moved.
Life continued.
But around him—
something had changed.
"Next time…"
Her voice softened.
"I'll let you see it."
Aetherion looked at his hand.
The black sigil flickered faintly.
Just for a moment—
A shadow moved behind him.
Large.
Winged.
Gone in an instant.
"…A glimpse," he murmured.
"Yes."
Silence.
Then—
"And soon… the world will see it too."
End of Chapter 2