Today marked the official beginning of mine and Kael's journey at the Royal Academy. Technically, yesterday was our first day—though it didn't feel like it. The Manifestation Ceremony had been a whirlwind of events, an initiation into a world neither of us could fully grasp yet. But now, the dust had settled, and we were about to be sorted into our classes and assigned our ranks.
Despite the forced nature of my bond with Aria as summoner and summon, there was something unnervingly deliberate about the way she obeyed. It wasn't just compliance—it was a choice. She chose to listen to me, and that realization, instead of being comforting, left me feeling… unnerved.
The truth was simple: Aria scared me.
Even now, a shiver crept down my spine at the thought. The memory of her sheer presence, her overwhelming potential, lingered at the edges of my mind. She wasn't just strong—she was the kind of strong that made the world seem fragile by comparison.
"You okay?" Kael asked, tilting his head at me as we walked. His tone carried more curiosity than concern.
"I'm fine," I muttered, shaking off the unease.
It turned out, after a bit of awkward conversation, that Aria was only twelve years old. A child in human terms. But despite her apparent youth, she already had two cores and power that defied comprehension.
I consoled myself with logic. Well, it's hardly fair to compare. She's a Prime Eterna, and I'm just Alpha Terra. Even so, the difference was staggering. Aria's stoicism only amplified the sense of terror she inspired. She spoke rarely, and when she did, her words were short, almost halting. It was as if language was something she wore rather than owned.
That, too, made sense. Summons communicated in our language because of the knowledge we imparted to them through the grimoire. For all I knew, Aria had lived in a world where words weren't necessary. A world where power spoke for itself.
Finally, the carriage came to a stop, the wheels crunching softly against the stone pavement. Kael stepped out first, exuding his usual confidence. I followed, clutching my grimoire tightly, trying not to think about the eyes already turning toward us.
They weren't the eyes I was used to. These weren't looks of disdain or indifference, the kind I'd grown up with. No, these were curious, probing gazes, as if the world had suddenly realized I existed and didn't know quite what to make of it.
I resisted the urge to summon my grimoire, to let its crystalline brilliance serve as a shield. Beside me, Kael walked with the kind of effortless confidence that came naturally to him, his every step declaring his place in the world. I envied that.
Eventually, we stopped in front of a massive bulletin board. This was where the academy would post our ranks and class assignments. The Royal Academy was divided into three years, with each year consisting of ten classes of twenty students. The placements weren't strictly by rank—there was some randomness involved—but the rankings themselves were public knowledge.
I stared at the board, scanning for my name. Instinctively, my eyes dropped toward the bottom. After all, that's where I had always been.
"Tsk." Kael clicked his tongue. "Elara, stop looking down. Look up."
His voice carried no malice, but it cut deep nonetheless. I swallowed hard and forced my gaze upward, past the familiar ranks of mediocrity, past the muddled middle where I'd once hoped to land.
Then I saw it.
Rank 5: Mary Greenward (Gold-grade summoner).
Rank 4: Gail Kilt (Gold-grade summoner).
Rank 3: Prince Valkas von Thane (Gold-grade summoner).
Rank 2: Kael Veylin (Gold-grade summoner).
Rank 1: Elara Veylin (Diamond-grade summoner).
For a moment, I couldn't breathe. The words on the board blurred, then sharpened, then blurred again as my mind struggled to accept what I was seeing.
Rank 1. My name. My grimoire. My summon.
"Congratulations," Kael said, his tone somewhere between amused and proud. His own name glinted just beneath mine, the second-highest rank in the first year. "Looks like you've finally beaten me at something."
I turned to Kael, my lips parting to speak, but no words came. Instead, I let a small smile form and nodded, silently acknowledging his presence and the sheer absurdity of the situation.
"You should've expected this, though," Kael sighed, rubbing the back of his neck with a touch of exasperation. "Still, it's messy. Four of the top five, all in the same class."
At his words, I glanced back at the board, my eyes scanning over the rankings again. He was right. All of the top five—save for Gail Kilt—had been placed in Class 1-C. It wasn't just unusual; it was deliberate. Someone had decided to pack our classroom with powder kegs and hope they didn't explode.
We made our way to the classroom together, the hum of activity growing louder as we approached. When we stepped through the door, the room stilled. Conversations faded, and all eyes turned toward us—or rather, toward me. It wasn't a hostile silence, but it carried weight nonetheless. The kind of attention I'd never known before, and frankly, didn't know what to do with.
Then my gaze moved to the man in the center of the room. Prince Valkas von Thane. The third prince of the kingdom himself, his presence radiated authority even though he was casually perched on the edge of a desk, surrounded by an eager crowd. His hair, a brilliant shade of gold, seemed to catch and hold the light, while his red eyes sparkled like rubies—bright, sharp, and watchful.
Kael leaned in, his voice low. "His summon was an Omega Luminara Miasma Beast: Infernal Boar."
I nodded, my stomach sinking slightly. An Omega Luminara beast as a first summon was a feat that placed Valkas on par with my father, one of the strongest summoners in the kingdom. The room buzzed with quiet admiration for him, the students around him laughing too loudly at his every word, vying for his attention.
Royalty and power—a combination everyone wants to align with.
My eyes drifted to another figure, a girl who was already holding court in the far corner of the room. Surrounded by a smaller but no less devoted group, she carried herself with the ease of someone who knew her place at the top of the hierarchy.
Mary Greenward.
The daughter of Duke Greenward and one of the four Gold-grade summoners in our year. Her immaculate posture and serene smile were practiced, polished, and utterly infuriating. She glanced at me briefly, her expression cool and distant, before turning her attention back to her admirers.
Kael's voice cut into my thoughts. "Her summon was a Beta Luminara Divine Beast: Golden Lion."
Another formidable achievement. Not quite at the level of Valkas, but still leagues above most students. My grip on my grimoire tightened reflexively, the crystalline surface pressing into my fingers.
I'm outnumbered.
Kael didn't seem to notice my growing unease. He strode confidently into the room, his presence as steady and self-assured as always. Meanwhile, I lingered in the doorway for a moment longer, feeling the weight of every gaze. The curious, probing looks from strangers who were trying to size me up. The wary glances from the likes of Mary, who already seemed to view me as a rival. And, perhaps worst of all, the speculative gleam in Prince Valkas's eyes when his attention briefly shifted my way.
I took a deep breath and followed Kael inside, finding an empty seat near the back.
A Diamond-grade summoner.
It sounded absurd even now. But here I was, sharing a space with royalty, dukes' heirs, and prodigies who were used to dominating the world around them. And for the first time in my life, I wasn't the one being overlooked.
But I wasn't sure if that was a good thing.