Professor Lyanna continued her lesson after a brief silence, giving the students enough time to absorb the story about the King God and the emergence of T'harak. The morning light streamed more strongly through the classroom windows, illuminating the attentive faces of the students. Among them, Luther, Elise, Borik, and Naomi exchanged astonished glances, realizing that Aether's complexities far exceeded any initial expectations.
The professor paced slowly in front of the lectern, her hands clasped behind her back, before continuing.
"As I mentioned, Aether is a crucible of races, many of which were summoned from other planets, as we've already discussed. These races have had centuries to adapt, evolve, and establish their own societies here on our planet. Let us begin by reviewing the primary summoned races."
At her words, the students' gazes sharpened. Some tilted their heads attentively, others scribbled notes fervently. Elise laced her fingers together, Luther leaned forward slightly, and Borik raised his eyebrows, intrigued by the diversity the professor was about to describe.
"First, the Ethelians," Lyanna announced. "You should be well-acquainted with them since we—well, most of us—belong to this race. Ethelians are descendants of the humans who arrived on Aether centuries ago. Over time, mana took root in them, granting them magical abilities. However, while they gained mystical power, they do not specialize in any specific domain. They are respected for their lineage, as the King God himself originated from this race. So, even though modern Ethelians do not excel in any particular field, our historical influence commands respect."
Luther recalled the professor's mention the previous day about the King God's origins. He felt a certain connection with these beings who, like him, might have struggled to find their place.
"Next are the Sprites and Dark Sprites," the professor continued. "Both races originated from elves. Sprites dwell in the Viridia Forest, where they favor isolation and excel in spiritual magic. They keep their distance from the world's conflicts, safeguarding their verdant and magical home. In contrast, the Dark Sprites—formerly known as dark elves—live in the darker, more perilous parts of the same forest. They are few in number and live in hiding, as they were nearly exterminated during a war long ago. Their current existence is a constant struggle to remain unnoticed and avoid further massacres, as their diminished power has made them a common target for enslavement in enemy realms."
Elise frowned slightly. It pained her to imagine the historical cruelty that had driven a race to near extinction. Luther, on the other hand, nodded solemnly.
"The Tormentor," Lyanna continued, "are the evolution of demons. They live in the Ghaal Mountains and are renowned for their immense size, physical strength, and violent nature. Magic is not their strong suit, but they are formidable in hand-to-hand combat. They respect strength above all else and rarely cooperate with other races unless it serves their purposes."
A murmur rippled through the classroom. Some students paled at the thought of the Tormentor, while others barely concealed their fascination with these brutal warriors.
"The Ifrit and Dark Ifrit," the professor went on, her tone softening slightly, "hail from the same planet as the Sprites, Dark Sprites, and Tormentor. This shared origin has resulted in centuries of tension between them. Ifrit are nature-loving pacifists with an affinity for light magic. They are small, peaceful, and live in seclusion on the island of Valenith. However, history took a turn when some Ifrit and Dark Sprites intermingled, giving rise to the Dark Ifrit—a rare and extremely powerful race that combines light and dark magic. Their mere existence generates fear and conflict, as few understand or accept their duality."
"Among the summoned races are also the Khaar's, descendants of beastfolk," Lyanna continued. "They are versatile and adaptable but lack standout magical abilities. Their nomadic lifestyle and hunting skills have enabled their survival, although they are often enslaved or forced into labor because other races view them as inferior."
Indignation flickered across the faces of some students, while others nodded sadly, grasping the injustices that prevailed in Aether.
"Finally, the Midnight," Lyanna said, her voice dropping slightly, "originate from an inhospitable, radioactive planet. They are physically powerful and wield unique blood magic. Feared for their brutality and bloody rituals, they consider themselves superior and seldom cooperate with other races. Most avoid them, and they, in turn, prefer to keep their distance."
The classroom fell into a momentary silence as the students processed this information. Luther felt the world growing more intricate with every word, while Elise, Borik, and Naomi quietly reflected on their impressions.
"In addition to these summoned races, there are others even more ancient, present in Aether since time immemorial. These races, about which little is known, are far more powerful and wield ancestral magic from ancient times. They are scarce, elusive, and their exact details remain shrouded in mystery," Lyanna concluded enigmatically.
The class buzzed with murmurs of excitement and wonder. The professor, with a slight bow of her head, signaled the end of the session.
"Remember what you've learned today," she warned before dismissing them. "Aether's diversity is not limited to races and cultures but spans centuries of conflicts, alliances, and silences. Understanding each of these races, their origins, and their place in this world could mean the difference between survival and demise when you encounter them. Because, in case it hasn't yet dawned on you—you now live here… alongside them."
With these words, Lyanna Eldriss stepped away from the lectern, and the students began gathering their belongings, each lost in their thoughts. Luther, Elise, Borik, and Naomi left the classroom more aware than ever of Aether's complexity.
The hallway, bathed in the midday light, seemed like a tranquil haven compared to the intensity that permeated the classroom. Among the students coming and going, some were animatedly discussing what they had just learned, while others walked in silence, brows furrowed, trying to process the new realities the lessons had unveiled.
"Well, that was… intense," Borik finally said, breaking the silence. He walked with his hands clasped behind his head, his relaxed posture contrasting with the seriousness of his words.
"Yeah, I didn't expect this world to be so different," Naomi agreed, her tone unusually contemplative. Her gaze wandered across the faces of other students passing by.
Elise, gently holding onto Luther's arm, looked at him with a mix of curiosity and concern. "And you, Luther? What do you think about all this?"
Luther didn't respond immediately. He stared at the marble floor, the magical torches illuminating the hallway, and the classroom doors that lined the corridor. His mind lingered on Lyanna's words—about the summoned races, the absence of the God King, and the looming presence of T'harak. He wondered what role he played in all of this, with his peculiar affinity and the strange incidents involving dark mana.
"I think we'll have to be prepared," he finally said, his eyes still fixed ahead. "Nothing we've learned is a coincidence, and I suppose it'll all be useful at some point."
Borik was about to respond, likely with a joke, when a deep, measured voice broke the calm of the hallway.
"Luther, come here for a moment."