Natalia waved her hand dismissively. "Oh, come on. This is Samuel we're talking about. If anyone can survive whatever those trials throw at them, it's him." She glanced at me, her grin softening into something more genuine. "Though I'll admit, you had us a little worried. What happened in there?"
I hesitated, unsure of how much to share. "Let's just say it was... lonely and dark," I replied vaguely. "I was there for what felt like an eternity."
Natalia tilted her head, studying me. "Well, you definitely look like you've been through something. But hey, you're here now, and that's what matters."
Noel nodded, her concern still evident despite Natalia's casual tone. "Just... don't push yourself too hard, alright? Whatever happened, it's over now. You need time to recover."
"I'll be fine," I assured them, offering a small smile. "Thanks for waiting, though. Both of you."
Natalia nudged me again, her usual playfulness returning. "Of course we waited. We weren't about to let you have all the fun without us."
I chuckled softly, grateful for their presence. Even after everything, it was good to know I wasn't alone.
Noel gave me another glance, her eyes narrowing with concern. "Were you training?" she asked, her tone laced with curiosity. Before I could answer, she stepped closer, gently pulling back my right sleeve. Her eyes widened slightly as she took in the sight of my forearm, riddled with fresh bruises. "Your body's covered in newly formed bruises," she said, her voice laced with concern.
"Yeah," I admitted with a small shrug. "I got here early this morning to clear my head. Most of these, though," I gestured toward my arm, "aren't from the training dummies. They're from Ms. Athena."
"Ms. Athena?" Noel repeated, clearly taken aback. "She sparred with you?"
Natalia let out a low whistle. "That explains it. Sparring with Ms. Athena is like signing up for punishment. I'm surprised you're even standing."
I chuckled lightly, though the ache in my muscles made the gesture feel hollow. "It wasn't easy, that's for sure. She doesn't hold back, even when she says she's going easy on you."
Noel frowned, her fingers brushing lightly over one of the more significant bruises on my forearm. "That's insane. You shouldn't push yourself so hard right after the trial. Your body's still adjusting."
"I had to," I said, meeting her gaze. "I needed to push myself, to see what I could do now with my new affinities and aetheric pathway. Besides," I added with a faint smirk, "I think she was testing me more than sparring with me."
Natalia laughed, shaking her head. "She was probably just having fun beating you up. Don't let her fool you; Ms. Athena has a competitive streak. Or that's what I heard. Who knows, though? Most rumours are usually baseless."
Noel still looked unconvinced, but she sighed and let my sleeve fall back into place. "Just promise me you'll be more careful. If you're not, she might break you before you even figure out what your limits are."
I gave her a reassuring smile. "I'll be fine, Noel. Thanks for worrying, though."
"Someone has to," she muttered, crossing her arms. But the slight smile tugging at her lips betrayed her relief.
Our conversation continued as we made our way to the classroom, where the morning sun cast soft rays through the windows. Once inside, the hum of activity surrounded us. Students were scattered throughout the room, each seated at their individual desks, which were arranged in neat rows but spaced apart, giving a sense of personal space.
Noel headed to her seat, one row ahead of mine. She moved gracefully, her sharp eyes already scanning the room as if anticipating something. Natalia, meanwhile, dropped into her desk behind me and to the right with her usual flair, the clatter of the chair loud enough to draw a few amused glances.
"Way too early for all this," Natalia groaned as she stretched her arms, leaning back casually.
I finally took my seat and glanced around the bustling room. To my left, I greeted Doran, the Everforge giant, with a smile. Like many of the other students, he radiated power, a clear indicator that most of my classmates were still adapting to their newfound power.
"I'm glad your trial went well," I said, glancing at Doran.
He let out a deep, hearty laugh. "Failing the first aetheric trial? That would've been a disgrace to my lineage," he said, crossing his arms. "No, that's not an option. The Everforge name must echo through the annals of time—just like yours, Samuel."
I knew he was referring to House Solis, a lineage that has stayed prominent and at the forefront of power since the introduction of aetheric energy.
"Well... best of luck to you," I said, unsure how else to reply.
Raising a house to prominence was no small feat. A family wouldn't even be considered notable until at least one member reached Order 6—better known as the rank of Angel, someone whose body embodied divinity itself.
Even then, most of the great houses had several dozen Order 6 beings in their histories, their legacies built on generations of power and excellence. The magnitude of such an undertaking was daunting, and it wasn't something I could imagine taking lightly.
"My creations will become renowned across the galaxy," he said, leaning in slightly, his voice lowering to a confident whisper. "My pathway abilities grant me unique insights into runic crafting. It's like seeing the world through a different lens, understanding how the runes connect in ways most can't even imagine."
"Runic crafting?" I repeated, my voice low. The number of pathways seemed endless, like the stars in the sky—unfathomable. Not everyone's affinity was tied to an element. Some people's powers were tied to concepts, abstract forces beyond simple elements. There were many affinities, such as sword affinities, soul binding, alchemy, spirit manipulation, and even memory forging. Who knows how many more? From what I understood, I was pretty sure my Dream affinity was a conceptual affinity as well.
Before I could ask more about his runic crafting, Ms. Athena manifested from what seemed like the air itself, appearing suddenly at the center of the classroom.
She scanned the classroom with her dark eyes, locking onto each student one by one until she inspected all of them.
"I'm glad to see you all in such high spirits after successfully completing your first aetheric trial and, in doing so, achieving the rank of Order 1— also known as Awakened." Ms. Athena's gaze swept across the room, her expression calm yet commanding, as though she could peer into each of our souls. "It is no small feat to have passed the trial. Many falter and fail to awaken, but you've all taken your first step on a path that will define your lives."