"What the fuck am i suppose to do now?"
Zeoth stood frozen before the door, beads of sweat trickling down his forehead, his pupils trembling.
One minute passed.
Silence.
Two minutes…
His shoulders began to quiver.
Five minutes.
His breath grew shallow, his inner voice screaming in desperation.
What do I do? How does one even channel magic?
Suddenly, the servant, unable to bear the prolonged silence, spoke up.
"Lord Zeoth… is something amiss?" he asked, his tone polite but laced with concern.
Zeoth turned his head, his voice shaky as he asked, "Channeling magic… how does it work?"
The servant blinked, momentarily stunned. "Pardon? You don't know, my lord?"
Zeoth fell silent.
"I mean… no one ever taught me. Can you explain it briefly? I want to try."
The servant thought to himself: Someone who doesn't even know how to channel magic… is here at the academy? No matter how talented, without the basics… how am I supposed to teach this in such a short time?
Yet he maintained his composure. "First, listen to your inner self, Lord Zeoth. You should feel a flow of energy within your body. If you can't sense it, delve deeper. Once you feel that flow, guide it to your hand, then to the surface you touch. It's not easy… especially without a foundation. But…"
He hesitated.
"If I may… I have a question."
Zeoth sighed. "I can guess what you're about to ask. Yes, I've never learned to use magic. But I'm here because… because I have magical power. It's just… a bit different from what you might expect."
The servant, at a loss for words, chose not to press further. "I understand, my lord. Please try to channel the magical flow now."
Zeoth closed his eyes.
He tried to dive inward, into his own darkness, his own void. But… he felt nothing.
No… I can't feel anything. What if I fail?
At that moment, words from a dream echoed in his mind.
"I am the universe itself."
His eyes snapped open. "That's it!" he exclaimed.
If I think of myself as the universe… I can connect with the core. Why didn't I realize this before?
He shut out the world, his mind adrift in a dark void. He was floating now, as if he were the cosmos itself. Everything and nothing. Galaxies, stars, black holes… he was all of it.
And at the center of the universe… a core. Dark, yet wreathed in light. Silent, yet roaring.
The core responded. The voice from his dream resounded, its words echoing through the vastness of space.
"Yes. You've truly done it. The core of the universe responds to your will. But never forget… even using this power for a mere moment could consume your body. Even a simple magical flow will be painful for you. You're not fully ready."
Zeoth gritted his teeth. If all this power is a universe… I'll just take a single star.
Slowly, he began to merge with a fraction of the core. But—
"AGHH! THIS IS TOO MUCH!"
Pain surged through his veins like a tempest, his body threatening to tear itself apart.
Enough… just this much. Any more will kill me.
He focused his mind, gathering himself.
He pulled back from the core. When he opened his eyes, he could feel the energy within him—overwhelmingly so.
It was so potent it began to spill outward. His eyes shimmered with galaxies, his aura pulsating around him.
The servant took a step back, sweating. "T-The pressure… is this coming from him?"
Zeoth directed the energy to his hand… then to the door.
The door… began to crack.
≓∃∳∞◎
Strange, ancient symbols etched themselves in black across the door's surface. The servant flinched.
"W-What does this mean? Your name was supposed to appear…"
But Zeoth was locked in a battle to control the energy.
His aura clashed, sparking explosions. It was as if his own power was fighting him. Yet he pressed on.
He descended once more to the core's center, releasing all his energy there.
The universe at the core's heart… trembled. His mind and body burned, but he refused to yield.
The power surged outward. Zeoth opened his eyes, his face contorted in agony, but he stood firm.
The servant, caught in the aura's shockwave, was flung against the wall.
He staggered to his feet. "You did it, Lord Zeoth… but for a moment, I thought I'd die. This power… it's truly dangerous. I hope you learn to control it at the academy."
The door… slowly creaked open.
Inside was darkness, yet visible. Zeoth stepped forward.
An endless expanse stretched before him—dark forests, and in the distance, a shadowy throne.
The growls of beasts echoed.
Zeoth's eyes widened. "S-Seriously? I have to stay here?"
The servant cautiously entered. "I've never seen a place like this. Even the worst dimensions have a cabin at least. But this… it's just dark, eerie, with only a strange throne. Lord Zeoth… we'll need to arrange another place for you."
At that moment, Elizabeth emerged from her door.
A chilling aura enveloped her. She approached the adjacent door.
Her eyes locked onto Zeoth's dimension. "W-What is this? It's terrifying…"
Zeoth sighed. "I don't think I could sleep here."
The servant stepped outside. "Lord Zeoth, please come. We'll need to find you a new place."
Elizabeth hesitated, then spoke up. "Um… why doesn't he stay with me? My castle is far too big for one person."
Zeoth's face flushed slightly.
The servant cleared his throat. "I'll need to report this. We'll evaluate and inform you. For now, please place your belongings inside temporarily."
Zeoth set down his few magic books inside. He had no other possessions.
As he stepped out, he glanced at the door. "I… don't want to come back here."
The servant took a deep breath. "Please follow me. It's time to head to the academy for registration."
They followed the servant and soon returned to the academy city's square, where another carriage awaited. As the servant walked toward it, he spoke without turning:
"My duties end here. Lord Zeoth, I'll inquire about your lodging, considering Lady Elizabeth's offer. By the time you return from the academy, your arrangements should be finalized. Safe travels."
The two boarded the carriage. In the quiet of the journey, Elizabeth turned to Zeoth.
"Seriously, what was that dimension? And… how did you manage to channel magic?"
Zeoth gazed out the window. "I don't know. I just focused inward, tried to reach my source… and it worked. When I channeled it to the door… that horrifying dimension appeared. I have no idea why it opened to a place like that. I was hoping for at least a village."
Elizabeth smiled. "Don't worry, my dimension is more than big enough for both of us. I'll talk to my father. If he writes a letter, it'll be approved. No need to stress."
Zeoth relaxed at her words, turning to her with a faint smile.
After a forty-minute journey, they passed through the towering gates of the Aetherion Academy. Countless student candidates filled the grounds, chatting amongst themselves, some showcasing their abilities.
Elizabeth's face glowed. She was no longer confined to the palace alone. This was a place to make new friends. Zeoth, meanwhile, was experiencing such a crowd for the first time. Shunned in his village, he hoped the academy would be different as he surveyed his surroundings.
Around them, students performed minor spells. One froze water into shapes, another launched fireballs skyward, and another dashed at blinding speed. Zeoth watched, a mix of excitement and unease stirring within him.
Suddenly, a portal opened on a stage-like platform at the crowd's rear. The air around it warped. The crowd flinched, for this was spatial magic—a rarity. The academy's director stepped through, followed by four head instructors.
The director amplified his voice with an echo spell:
"Dear students… today begins the entrance exams for Aetherion Academy. Among you are those raised in palaces and others who survived the streets. Your pasts may differ, but your goal is the same: to join our academy."
He gestured to the four instructors behind him. "These are our head instructors. Here, power is status. Lineage, history, or race mean nothing. If you're strong, you're valued. If you're weak… you're forgotten."
One instructor stepped forward, conjuring twenty crystals on the stage. These were special materials designed to measure magical power. Excitement and tension rippled through the students.
The director continued:
"This year, we have 7,546 applicants. These crystals will measure your magical power. The 2,000 with the highest scores will pass. All you need to do is channel your magic into the crystal."
The crowd stirred. Some students smirked confidently, sizing each other up. But four names were on everyone's lips:
Elizabeth Ruthgard: Princess of the Ruthgard Kingdom. Known for her silver hair and rose-red eyes. Trained in magic since childhood, yet she doesn't see herself as a prodigy. Kind and warm, but fierce when needed. Her aura is a blend of colors, balancing serenity and wrath. Lucen Aldor Veylan: Second son of the Veylan King. Exceptionally skilled in lightning magic. Charismatic with golden hair and eyes. Intelligent and strategic, he's won numerous duels before arriving at the academy. Arvella Wyncrest: Youngest daughter of the Wyncrest Kingdom. Elegant yet powerful, with pink hair and eyes. A master of light magic. Seen as sweet and kind, but her true strength emerges when provoked. Thirya: No surname. A village girl tied to moon magic. Mysterious, with black hair and violet eyes. Her quiet observance carries an unseen weight. Less known, but her presence is undeniable.
The crowd buzzed about these four—powerful, charismatic, and brimming with potential.
Elizabeth, unaware of being called a prodigy, drew attention. Zeoth noticed but smiled, warmed by her focus on him.
Elizabeth leaned closer to Zeoth. "What do we do now, Zeoth? I'm not confident. And you… you're struggling to control your power. We're both nervous, aren't we?"
Zeoth took a deep breath. "Stay calm, Elizabeth. I'm sure you'll pass. As for me… I don't know. But I'll do my best."
Elizabeth gave him a look of unwavering trust. "I bet you'll score higher than me."
Zeoth smiled, blushing slightly. "T-Thanks… Elizabeth."
Elizabeth's cheeks warmed as she returned his smile.
Then, whispers from behind caught their attention.
"Look at that… the Ruthgard Princess, laughing with a peasant." "Maybe we should talk to her too. She's even chatting with that guy."
Zeoth's eyes narrowed. He spun around. "Say one more word about Elizabeth, and I'll make you regret it!"
The crowd fell silent. The candidates turned to Zeoth. The whispering boy, brimming with confidence, retorted:
"Who do you think you are? Just a pathetic villager. Think you're something because you talked to the princess?"
Zeoth, used to such taunts, didn't respond. But Elizabeth…
Her aura erupted.
A vibrant, multicolored energy field surged, commanding attention.
"Stop bullying Zeoth!" she declared loudly.
Raising her hand, a colossal sword of shimmering colors materialized in the sky. The size of a castle, it pulsed with magical might.
"Apologize. Now. Or you'll regret it."
At that moment, the director appeared beside them.
With a snap of his fingers, he dispelled the energy of Elizabeth's sword.
"Ho ho ho… what a spirited pair. Your youthful fire is warming this place up."
He turned to the whispering boy. "Your name, young man?"
"Sylas Renhart, sir."
The director nodded. "Sylas, here power is status. If you wish to mock Zeoth, you must first prove you're stronger."
Sylas spoke with pride: "I don't sense a trace of magic from this kid. His power's probably so weak it's negligible. I'd finish him in two moves."
The director fixed his gaze on Zeoth. "Do you accept? The duel will be supervised by our instructors. If it becomes dangerous, it will be stopped immediately."
Zeoth stepped forward. "I don't usually fight. But I can't rest until I make someone who insulted Elizabeth regret it. I accept."
Sylas laughed mockingly. "You should've run. This won't end well for you."
Zeoth didn't care. He walked silently to the stage.
Elizabeth called after him: "Don't hold back, Zeoth! Crush him!"
Zeoth nodded. Elizabeth thought to herself: Normally, I'd stop you, but not this time… They need to see your power. Once they do, no one will dare bully you again. I believe in you, Zeoth.
The director and instructors stepped off the stage. All eyes were on the two.
Zeoth thought: This time, I'll use a bit more power. I just hope it doesn't backfire.
The director's voice boomed: "The duel… begins!"
And everything was about to unfold…
_____________________________________________________________
Hello everyone,
Due to some personal issues in my life, I'm pausing my novel writing for one week. I've noticed these problems starting to affect my storytelling, but I love writing to the best of my ability. I don't want to share subpar chapters with you, so I'm postponing the book's progress. I apologize for this situation.
[onlyPillow]