The academy's social structure was as rigid as the steel gates surrounding its grounds, governed by unspoken rules that everyone seemed to understand instinctively.
Students were sorted into groups as easily as essence abilities were ranked, their status determined not just by power but by bloodlines and wealth.
At the top were the nobles, the children of Pioneer families or those whose parents held the highest positions in factions or organizations.
Nobles carried themselves with the kind of confidence that came from generations of prestige, their essence abilities refined by the finest tutors and the rarest ability books. For them, victory was an expectation, not a goal.
Beneath them were the merchants, the high middle class of society. These students hailed from families with successful businesses or relatively influential positions within factions.
They had access to better ability books and training than most, though they could never truly rival the powerful nobles.
Still, merchants carved out their niche with determination and resourcefulness, often finding themselves caught between ambition and limitation.
At the bottom were the low-level students, a catch-all term for those from modest or disadvantaged backgrounds.
They lacked the means to purchase high-quality ability books or access specialized training some could not even afford any ability books, even the cheapest, as they themselves were very expensive, with the cheapest being sixty thousand tokens.
Another layer of hierarchy existed, driven by the system created by the Chronol family: the ability book ranking system.
This system classified abilities by tier—ranging from F to B—and introduced a star ranking within each tier.
A one-star F-tier book, for example, allowed the use of only 10 essence points, while a five-star F-tier book permitted up to 50.
The pattern continued with higher tiers: E-tier and D-tier books allowed increments of 20 essence points per star, while C-tier books increased by 30 and B-tier books by 40 per star.
There were no publicly available A-tier or S-tier ability books, their existence relegated to rumors and legends whispered among the ambitious.
This meticulous system made clear what everyone already knew: the higher the tier and star ranking ability you have, the more powerful and respected you were.
The ability book you owned was as much a symbol of status as it was a tool for survival.
The sun filtered gently through the branches of an ancient oak tree near the edge of the training grounds, casting dappled light on the students of Class F.
They had gathered here during a rare free period, an unusual lull in their otherwise relentless schedules.
Ian sat cross-legged on the grass, fiddling with a loose thread on his uniform jacket. "So, a fire user, a shadow manipulator, and a guy who runs away walk into a bar..."
Cole, lounging nearby with his hands behind his head, raised an eyebrow. "Go on."
Ian shrugged, trying to suppress a grin. "There's no punchline. They all get expelled for breaking academy property."
Roland sat with his back against the tree trunk, observing the scene with quiet amusement.
The dynamic of their class had begun to shift.
Ian, once reserved and timid, was finding his voice.
Cole, for all his bluster, was starting to show glimpses of genuine camaraderie. Even Eva, who rarely let her guard down, seemed more at ease in these moments.
It was an odd sight: two of the academy's weakest cadets, Ian and Roland, sharing laughter with two of its strongest.
But for now, the weight of their differences seemed to fade into the background.
Nearby, Ava sat apart from the group, sharpening a blade with practiced precision. She glanced at them occasionally, her expression unreadable. Roland couldn't tell if she was annoyed by their banter or secretly entertained.
Their brief reprieve didn't last long. The crunch of boots on gravel announced the arrival of an unwelcome interruption.
A group of students from Class E approached, their presence impossible to ignore.
At their head was Jasper Valen, a noble whose arrogant smirk seemed permanently etched onto his face.
His uniform was immaculate, his posture perfect, and his voice carried the kind of confidence that only came from years of being told he was better than everyone else.
"Well, if it isn't the illustrious Class F," Jasper drawled, his tone dripping with mockery. "Taking a break after getting such a low rank, I see. Didn't know they let Empties and leftovers lounge around during training hours."
The tension in the air shifted immediately.
Cole's relaxed posture stiffened, his hands curling into fists. Eva straightened from her position against the tree, her icy gaze locking onto Jasper.
"We're on a free period," she said evenly and coldly. "Not that it's any of your business."
"Oh, it's my business," Jasper replied, his smirk widening. "See, it's a shame. All that talent in your class—wasted on poor teamwork." His gaze flicked to Roland. "Case in point."
The military having given one star F-Tier ability books to all the empties.
Roland being the only one to not get it was the only empty in the academy therefore he was quite famous.
Bullies constantly eyed him, but were kept at bay by Cole's presence.
Cole took a step forward, flames flickering faintly at his fingertips. "Care to back that up, Valen? Or are you all talk?"
Jasper let out a sharp, mocking laugh. "Easy there, Cindercrest. Don't wanna lose it again like last time, do ya?"
The insult landed, and Cole's flames flared brighter. But before he could act, Eva stepped between them.
"You're looking for a fight," she said, her voice calm but firm. "Fine. Let's make it official."
Jasper's smirk deepened. "A sparring match? Bold of you, Frost. Three-on-three. No essence restrictions. Let's see if Class F can scrape together a win."
Ava, who had remained silent until now, stood and sheathed her blade. "I won't participate," she said curtly, her voice as cold as ever. "Pick someone else."
Jasper's expression twisted with mock disappointment. "What a shame. Guess the Frost sisters aren't as united as they claim."
"Enough," Eva snapped. She turned to the rest of the group, her gaze sweeping over the gathered students.
"Cole, you're in. And..." She hesitated, her eyes landing on Roland. "Roland, you're with me."
The murmurs started immediately.
"An Empty? Seriously?"
"Why not pick someone who can actually contribute?"
Cole silenced them with a glare, his flames dimming as he crossed his arms. "You've got a problem with it, take it up with me."
He did not doubt Eva's choice.
Jasper chuckled. "This is going to be entertaining."
The sparring area was a marked-off section of the training grounds, surrounded by other students who had quickly gathered to watch the impromptu match.
The rules were simple: the first team to incapacitate or corner all three opponents would win.
Jasper's team consisted of himself, a girl named Lyra who specialized in earth barriers, and a hulking boy named Brant whose ability to harden his skin made him nearly impervious to physical attacks.
On Class F's side, Cole's flames blazed to life as he took his position, his fiery aura making the air around him shimmer.
Eva stood poised, her icy demeanor matched by the frost forming at her fingertips.
Roland, feeling painfully out of place, adjusted his stance and focused on staying calm.
The match began with a roar of fire and a crash of stone.
Jasper's sword, infused with searing energy, slashed through the air, forcing Eva to dodge and retaliate with a volley of sharp ice shards.
Lyra summoned towering earth barriers, cutting off Cole's line of attack and forcing him to adjust his approach.
Meanwhile, Brant charged at Roland, his hardened fists swinging with devastating force.
Roland barely dodged the first strike, the sheer impact of Brant's fist leaving a small crater in the ground. He ducked and weaved, relying on his agility to stay one step ahead.
"Stick to the plan," Eva called out, her voice cutting through the chaos.
"What plan?" Cole shouted back, his flames slamming uselessly against Lyra's barriers.
Eva didn't respond, her focus entirely on Jasper as their abilities clashed in a dazzling display of ice and sword energy.
Roland gritted his teeth as Brant closed in again.
He knew he couldn't win in a direct confrontation. Instead, he waited for an opening and lunged, aiming a low kick at Brant's knee.
It wasn't enough to do serious damage, but it unbalanced the larger boy just enough for Roland to slip away.
As he caught his breath, Roland's mind raced. He could see the problem—Class F was acting as individuals, while Jasper's team moved with practiced coordination. If they didn't adapt, they were going to lose.
"Cole!" Roland shouted, dodging another of Brant's attacks. "Use your flames to distract your opponent—force her to spread her defenses thin!"
Cole hesitated for a fraction of a second before nodding. He redirected his flames, sending a wave of heat toward Lyra's barriers. As expected, she adjusted her focus to counter the attack, leaving an opening for Eva to press forward against Jasper.
Roland turned his attention back to Brant. Drawing on the faintest threads of his shadow manipulation, he reached out toward the larger boy's shadow, pulling it just enough to disrupt his balance.
Brant stumbled, his movements growing clumsier as he tried to regain control.
Eva seized the moment, her ice smashing through Jasper's defenses. The tide of the battle began to shift as Class F found their rhythm.
In the final moments of the match, Roland used his limited essence reserves to move the shadows subtly around Lyra and Brant, disorienting them just long enough for Eva and Cole to land the decisive blows.
The match ended in a narrow victory for Class F, though the celebration was short-lived. Jasper's smug grin returned as he dusted himself off.
"Well played," he said, his tone laced with condescension. "But don't let this go to your heads. Luck won't save you in a real fight."
His team retreated, their parting jeers lingering in the air.
Back under the oak tree, the mood was subdued. Cole stretched his arms over his head, grinning despite the exhaustion. "A win's a win, right?"
Eva didn't respond immediately. Instead, she turned to Roland, her expression unreadable. "That shadow trick... was that you?" She asked in a low voice.
Roland hesitated, unsure how to answer. "Just a lucky move."
Eva's sharp gaze lingered on him for a moment before she nodded. "Lucky or not, it worked. Keep it up."
As the group dispersed, Eva stayed behind with Roland. The silence between them stretched until she finally spoke.
"You're learning," she said. "But trust doesn't come easy. Not for people like us."
Roland glanced at her, surprised by the note of vulnerability in her voice. "I guess that makes two of us."
Eva's lips curved into a faint smile. "Then maybe we'll figure it out together."
As she walked away, Roland remained under the oak tree reflecting on how far he'd come—and how far he still had to go.