The discussion had ended, and the weight of the day lingered as my father, Kael, and I boarded the carriage to return home. It was the end of our first day at the Royal Academy, and though my body was weary, my mind refused to settle.
Our family's insignia, the silver crest of House Veylin, gleamed on the side of the carriage as we rattled along the cobblestone streets of the capital. The city was alive with its usual vibrancy: glowing streetlamps, distant chatter, and the occasional flurry of magic lighting the night sky. Yet, none of it felt real to me. The events of the day loomed too large.
I was a Diamond-grade summoner.
The thought felt alien, surreal. Diamond—the pinnacle of summoning potential. My father's words echoed in my mind: "Many Gold-grade summoners could still best you." Yet even knowing I had much to achieve, the enormity of it gnawed at me. My place at the apex of summoners was more a looming mountain than a triumph.
"Elara," my father said, breaking the silence. His voice was softer than usual, lacking the stern weight it often carried. "I am proud of you for your achievement. It places us in a predicament, yes, but it is also extraordinary in every conceivable way."
I blinked at him, startled. Proud?
The word felt foreign, like a language I had heard but never spoken. My father was not a man who lavished affection or approval. Yet here he was, offering something I had spent years silently yearning for.
"Thank you, Father," I said quietly, the words coming out unsure, as though they didn't quite belong to me.
He smiled faintly before turning his gaze to Kael. "And you, Kael. I am proud of you as well. Your Royal Dragon—a Prime Luminara—is nothing short of remarkable. You have the potential to surpass me one day."
Kael inclined his head, his expression calm, but I caught the faintest flicker of satisfaction in his eyes. My father continued, his tone slipping into its usual instructive cadence.
"Remember, the first summon is always the strongest. It sets the tone for your path as a summoner. That is why it is so crucial. The grade of your first summon dictates the height of your potential." He glanced at me. "This is why both of your achievements today are exceptional. Elara, your Diamond-grade grimoire and Prime Eterna summon place you in unprecedented territory. Kael, your Prime Luminara will make you one of the strongest summoners in the Kingdom."
We both nodded. The importance of the first summon was drilled into us since childhood. My father himself had summoned an Omega Luminara as his first—a feat that had cemented his place as a Gold-grade summoner of renown. Yet even he, with all his skill and power, had been unable to summon another Omega Luminara, let alone a Prime.
"As for your growth," Father continued, his voice taking on the weight of experience, "both of you will face challenges far greater than I did. Forming mana cores grows more difficult as the grade of your grimoire increases. No Gold-grade summoner in the recent history of this kingdom has formed all twelve cores. The path becomes exponentially steeper with every step."
He leaned back slightly, his gaze thoughtful as if recalling battles long past. "Elara, you must understand: being a Diamond-grade summoner means uncharted territory. No one knows how difficult it will be for you to form cores at your level. Your summon has incredible potential, but the road to unlocking that power will be anything but easy. The same applies to you. Forming cores will take time, effort, and perhaps more than that—resilience. I myself have only formed nine Gold-grade cores in twenty-five years, and I began with far more guidance than you will have."
The carriage rattled over a bump in the road, but I barely noticed. His words felt like both a warning and a challenge, their weight sinking into my chest. Beside me, Kael remained composed, but I could see the flicker of determination in his posture. He was already strategizing, preparing to turn his Prime Luminara into an unstoppable force.
For me, though, the path seemed murkier. My summon, Aria, was beyond extraordinary. A Prime Eterna—words that felt both powerful and precarious. Yet Father's reminder hung over me: potential meant nothing without realization.
As the carriage began to slow, the familiar silhouette of our mansion loomed into view. Its towering spires reached toward the night sky, their edges catching the faint glow of the city's lights. It was home, but tonight it felt distant, overshadowed by the enormity of the future ahead.
Father's voice broke the silence once more, quieter now. "The two of you have already achieved more than most could dream of. But remember, strength isn't just power. It's discipline, growth, and the will to keep pushing forward."
Kael nodded without hesitation. I hesitated for only a moment before following suit. My father's words settled over me like a cloak—heavy, protective, and demanding. The road ahead was steep, but I couldn't allow myself to falter. Not now. Not ever.
The carriage rolled to a stop before the mansion, its towering spires silhouetted against the faint glow of the capital's evening lights. My father stepped out first, his movements as sharp and deliberate as ever. Kael followed, his posture exuding quiet confidence. Then, with a gesture that was both practiced and protective, Father extended his hand to escort me down.
Before us lay the familiar sight of home: the grand mansion that bore the insignia of House Leylin. The staff lined up in neat formation, their heads bowed in unison as we approached.
"Welcome back, My Lord. Young Lord. Young Lady," the butler greeted us with a deep bow, his voice steady and refined.
Despite his outward humility, the butler wasn't an ordinary man. He was a Gold-grade summoner, one who had defected from another kingdom and been taken in by my father. His very presence was a quiet reminder of our house's power and influence.
Father gave a curt nod, and we made our way inside. The soft glow of enchanted sconces lit the grand hall, their light reflecting off the polished marble floors. The air was thick with the subtle hum of mana, a constant in a household brimming with summoners.
Once inside, Father turned to address the staff, his voice carrying the weight of both authority and pride. "My son, Kael Veylin, has manifested a Gold grimoire and summoned a Prime Luminara Divine Beast: Royal Dragon."
As if on cue, Kael stepped forward, his Gold grimoire appearing in his hands with a radiant flash. The book unfurled itself with an elegant shimmer of golden light, and then it emerged.
The Royal Dragon.
Its scales were pure white, gleaming with an ethereal sheen that seemed to catch the very essence of light. The dragon stood tall and poised, its wings folded but emanating a presence that was both regal and untouchable.
A chorus of gasps rippled through the room. The maids and butler alike stared in awe, their composure momentarily broken by the sheer majesty of the creature before them.
"Congratulations, Young Master," the butler said, his tone filled with genuine pride. "It is an incredible achievement."
Kael nodded graciously, his expression composed but carrying a hint of satisfaction.
Then, Father's gaze shifted to me.
The atmosphere changed. The awe and admiration that had filled the room moments ago gave way to something quieter, more uncertain. The maids' gazes flickered toward me with muted expectation—if expectation could be tinged with doubt. Even the butler's proud demeanor seemed to temper, his expression unreadable.
No one said anything, but the unspoken sentiment was clear: they were waiting for me to fall short.
Father's voice broke the silence. "My daughter, Elara Veylin, has manifested a Diamond grimoire and summoned a Prime Eterna Divine and Miasma Beast: Heavenly Demon."
For a moment, the room was silent, the words hanging in the air like a challenge. Then, with a steady breath, I willed my grimoire into my hands.
The Diamond grimoire shimmered into existence, its crystalline surface refracting the light like a thousand tiny stars. As it opened, the atmosphere in the room shifted again, growing heavier, denser.
And then she stepped out.
Aria.
She looked so unassuming, her small figure dwarfed by the room's grandeur. A girl no older than twelve, clad in a flowing black dress that seemed to shift and ripple like living shadows. Her long black hair framed a doll-like face, serene and calm. At first glance, she appeared entirely human.
But only at first glance.
The air around her was wrong. It didn't swirl or bend—it yielded. It was as if the very fabric of existence acknowledged her presence and adjusted itself accordingly.
For a moment, no one spoke. No one moved. The weight of her presence pressed against the room, and I saw it in their eyes—the maids, the butler, even Kael. Recognition. Fear.
My gaze flicked to the open page of my grimoire, where her traits were written in elegant, glowing script. Unbreakable Vajra Body. Duality. Voracious Mind. Perfect Growth.
These weren't just words—they were the essence of what she was. A being that defied logic and expectation, one that could not be contained by mortal comprehension.
"She looks…" one of the maids began, her voice faltering as she searched for the right words. "She looks human."
"She's not," the butler said quietly, his gaze never leaving Aria. There was no malice in his voice—only the grim understanding of someone who recognized a force far beyond himself.
Even my father, ever the stoic, seemed momentarily lost in thought. Then he spoke, his voice measured. "This is a Prime Eterna. A being that sits at the apex of all existence. Remember this moment, for it is one you are unlikely to witness again."
Aria tilted her head slightly, her dark, fathomless eyes scanning the room. There was no malice in her gaze, but no warmth either. She was a paradox made manifest—a childlike figure housing a power that could shatter worlds.
And yet, standing beside her, I felt a quiet strength. For the first time, I wasn't just Kael's sister. I wasn't just the overlooked daughter of a powerful house. I was something more.
"She is young," my father continued, addressing no one in particular. "Her strength, like Elara's, is untapped. But even now…" He trailed off, his gaze lingering on Aria as though weighing an unspoken thought. "Even now, she could give my Jade Dragon a fight worth remembering."
Kael's dragon rumbled softly, its golden eyes fixed on Aria.
As Aria turned to me, her expression serene but expectant, I straightened my back and met her gaze. She was mine, and I was hers.