Leon Lancaster stepped through the grand gates of the Imperial Academy, his heart pounding in his chest. Today marked the beginning of a new chapter in his life—the first step toward proving himself in the empire's most prestigious institution. As the son of a respected noble house, expectations weighed heavily on his shoulders, but he welcomed the challenge. He was determined to excel, to carve his name into the annals of history alongside the greatest knights, mages, and scholars of the empire.
The academy itself was a marvel of architecture, towering spires of ivory and gold standing against the clear blue sky. Ornate banners bearing the empire's crest fluttered in the morning breeze, and the polished marble pathways leading into the central courtyard gleamed under the sunlight. Students bustled about, some chatting excitedly, others walking with the quiet confidence of those who had spent years preparing for this moment.
Leon took a deep breath, steadying himself. He had studied diligently for this, trained tirelessly to refine his swordsmanship and magic. He would not falter.
As he made his way further into the courtyard, his sharp eyes instinctively scanned his surroundings, seeking out the individuals he knew would define this era—the so-called Golden Generation.
Mirabelle du Lys stood near one of the fountains, her long, golden curls shimmering like sunlight. The eldest daughter of Duke du Lys, her beauty was second only to her reputation as an unparalleled prodigy in light magic. She carried herself with an air of regal grace, speaking softly to a group of noble students who hung on her every word.
A short distance away stood Evelyn von Richter, a striking young woman with deep crimson hair and piercing amber eyes. Unlike Mirabelle's refined presence, Evelyn radiated raw intensity. Clad in the uniform of a knight cadet, she adjusted the hilt of her sword at her waist, her gaze scanning the crowd with cool calculation. Known as a dueling prodigy, she had already garnered a reputation as a warrior who let her blade do the talking.
To Leon's left, sitting quietly beneath a tree, was Celestia Ainsworth, her violet hair cascading around her shoulders as she read from a thick tome. A scion of the Ainsworth family, she was widely regarded as the most promising mage of their generation. Though she rarely spoke, her presence was undeniable—power radiated from her in waves, a silent declaration of her immense magical prowess.
And then, of course, Aria Fontaine.
She stood apart from the others, leaning casually against a stone pillar, her expression unreadable as her icy blue eyes flicked over the gathering students. With her silver-white hair and refined posture, she looked every bit the noble lady, yet there was something about her—something detached, as though she was observing rather than participating. Unlike the others, who bore open ambition or excitement, Aria seemed as though she was analyzing the unfolding events, quietly considering the possibilities.
Leon frowned slightly. He knew that she would play a crucial role in the future, but there was supposed to be one more.
The Golden Generation had five members.
Yet, no matter where he looked, he couldn't find the final one.
A loud commotion broke his train of thought.
"Fools! You stand before the Crimson Eclipse Queen and yet fail to recognize the tides of destiny? Truly, I weep for your ignorance!"
Leon's brows shot up.
That… was not what he had expected.
Following the source of the voice, he turned toward the far end of the courtyard, where a small crowd had gathered in stunned silence. In the center of it all stood a girl, her silver hair whipping dramatically in the wind, one hand placed firmly over her left eye while the other was raised in a grand, sweeping gesture.
"Behold! The shadows tremble as the Eclipse Queen makes her grand arrival! Today marks the beginning of a new legend—one that shall be sung by bards for centuries to come!"
Leon blinked.
What?
He tried to process the sheer absurdity of the scene before him. The girl—Avia Fontaine, he finally realized—was standing atop a bench, dramatically pointing at the students around her as if addressing a legion of followers. Scarlet energy flickered faintly around her, seemingly responding to her theatrics as she continued her impassioned monologue.
"You there!" she suddenly declared, pointing directly at a bewildered student. "You possess the aura of one who seeks greatness! Fear not, for as my subordinate, you shall bask in the Crimson Eclipse's radiance!"
The boy, looking utterly lost, hesitated before awkwardly shaking his head and backing away.
Avia scoffed. "Hmph. Another fool shackled by the mundane. Very well, I shall allow you to witness my rise from afar!"
The surrounding students exchanged uncertain glances, some whispering among themselves, while others simply watched in a mixture of confusion and amusement.
Leon ran a hand down his face. This couldn't be real.
He had expected the final member of the Golden Generation to be a formidable warrior or an enigmatic mage—someone whose presence demanded respect. Instead, he had found… this.
Shifting his gaze, he caught sight of Aria, who had turned her head slightly to watch Avia's antics. Unlike the other students, she wasn't whispering or reacting with confusion. Instead, she simply let out a slow breath, as if she had seen this countless times before.
Then, Leon noticed something strange.
A tiny, almost imperceptible smile played at the corner of Aria's lips.
It was gone as quickly as it appeared, but it had been there.
Leon exhaled, closing his eyes briefly before opening them again. The empire's finest academy, the best and brightest of their generation, the path to shaping the future… and the so-called Crimson Eclipse Queen had just spent the first morning of orientation recruiting random students into a nonexistent army.
His head ached already.
With a resigned sigh, he turned away from the scene, making a silent promise to himself.
He would not get involved with Avia Fontaine.
…Though, somehow, he had the sinking feeling that it wouldn't be that easy.