The classroom was alive with the usual morning chatter, but it all faded the moment the door creaked open. A short old man entered, his long grey beard swaying with each step. He wore a white robe laced with faint blue constellation patterns that shimmered under the morning light.
The silence that followed was instant. Automatic. As if the room itself knew better.
Professor Xeni gave the students a tired glance, already looking like he regretted showing up.
"As you all know," he began, voice flat, "today is the last day of class before the exam—the day some of your lives might change for the better. Or the worse. Not that it matters to me."
Some students exchanged glances; others chuckled under their breath.
"Some of you will go on to become great adventurers… maybe even heroes. And some of you—well, maybe you'll get eaten by a beast. Or work at your parents' bakery. Life's full of surprises."
One student muttered under his breath, "Professor Xeni—always so uplifting."
Professor Xeni ignored it. "Today, we're reviewing everything I've taught you. Not that I expect most of you to remember half of it. Raise your hand to answer. Speak without permission, and you're expelled. Simple."
A resigned, half-hearted chorus replied, "Yes, sir…"
"First question. What are the three types of magic, and give examples of each."
Ren's hand shot up before anyone else could react.
"The three types of magic are: common, rare, and extremely rare. Common examples include fire, water, and wind. Rare would be lightning, lava, and ice. Extremely rare includes space, gravity, and time. But rarity doesn't equal power—it just tells us how often that affinity appears in people."
Even Kayden blinked, mildly impressed.
"That's… correct, Ren," Professor Xeni said, raising an eyebrow. "Unexpectedly thorough."
Kayden's smirk twitched. *Is he trying to outdo me because of what I said earlier? Alright then, game on.*
"Next question," Professor Xeni continued. "What are soul bond weapons and how do they work?"
Kayden's hand shot up with equal speed.
"A soul bond weapon is created using Celesta, a rare magical metal placed in a forge, and to be exact, one of the five Magical Forges. The forge reads the wielder's inner spirit—ambitions, emotions, all of it—and creates a unique weapon that reflects who they are. The weapon type and magic affinity are determined at that moment. Once bonded, it channels magical essence from one of the six Origin Beasts, letting the user cast spells or perform powerful weapon arts, crushing their enemies."
Professor Xeni gave a tired sigh. "Correct, Kayden. Though the dramatic flair at the end was unnecessary—but noted."
Beside him, Miya stifled a soft laugh. She looked at Kayden, eyes sparkling with quiet pride. She was always surprised by how confident he sounded when it counted. She fiddled with the sleeve of her robe, eyes drifting toward the floor.
"Next question," said the professor. "How does ranking work within the Adventurers Guild?"
Ren was ready again.
"Through a device called an Aetherband," he said. "It's a magical wristband that displays your adventurer rank using color: Sapphire for Initiate, Emerald for Adept, Amber for Master, Ruby for Expert, Pearl for Exalted, and Diamond for Magisterial. The band links to your soul bond weapon and tracks experience gained through quests, battles, and dungeon raids. Gain enough, and both your weapon and your rank go up. Only the best reach Magisterial. Everyone else just stays stuck at the bottom."
Professor Xeni nodded slowly. "Correct, Ren." Then, with a sly smirk he wondered to himself: "Are you two throwing jabs at each other?"
Miya frowned slightly, crossing her arms. She didn't like the way Ren always looked down on others. His words always had that bitter edge, like he was trying to cut someone down just to feel taller.
"Final question," Xeni said. "What are the mechanics behind spellcasting and weapon arts?"
Kayden's hand was already in the air.
"Humans aren't born with magic," he said. "We use a natural energy source called mana to channel magic from the Origin Beasts through our soul bond weapons to unleash spells and abilities. Everyone has mana reserves—fixed at birth, but they grow as we rank up."
One student shamefully muttered to himself, "I honestly don't remember this lesson. Was I sleeping?"
Kayden continued:
"Spells and weapon arts work by allocating mana into specific attributes. Take a fireball: its distance, potency, and radius are all adjustable. Each has a cap of 200 mana. You distribute your mana between them, and the spell or weapon art pulls from your reserves to create and release them. Use too much for too long, and you risk mana burnout. Which means… no tactics, no victory."
Professor Xeni let out a rare chuckle. "Correct again, Kayden. And well delivered. I'm almost proud. You too Ren."
Miya smiled, her shoulders relaxing. She could feel Kayden's energy from here—determined, unyielding. Her gaze lingered on her hands. One step closer to keeping my promise…
Professor Xeni clapped his hands once.
"Well, I suppose that's enough review for today. It's also likely the last time I'll see most of you. If you spot me in town, don't say hello. Just keep walking."
Laughter rippled through the class.
"Bye, Professor Xeni!" the students called, their voices light with amusement.
"Most of you won't remember a word I said today. But someday, when you're standing between life and death, you might wish you had. Farewell, try not to die." Professor Xeni said with a warm mix of pride and care before heading off to get his drink.
As everyone gathered their belongings and filed out, Miya lingered at her seat, eyes drifting to the window where clouds drifted over the far-off mountain peaks.
Kayden glanced at her. "You okay?"
She nodded slowly, then whispered, "Just ready."
He gave her a reassuring smile, and together, with Ren trailing somewhere behind, they stepped into the corridor—toward the exam, and the future that awaited them all.
While the students were leaving the academy to go their separate ways until the big day tomorrow, Kayden and Miya started their journey back home. Ren didn't follow because he lived in the capital and was also a royal from one of the five noble families—the Duskveils.
Kayden walked Miya to the entrance of her village.
It was a quiet little place surrounded by tall pine trees and soft green hills. The houses were built from polished wood and grey stone, their windows glowing gently with lanternlight as dusk approached. Blue flags fluttered from rooftops, and a shallow stream wound through the center of the village, its gentle flow adding music to the peaceful air. Children laughed as they skipped stones. A blacksmith hammered quietly in the distance, and the scent of fresh bread wafted from an open window.
Kayden looked around and smiled. "It's nice here. Peaceful."
Miya nodded. "I like it. It's quiet… but it feels safe."
He stepped a little closer, then paused.
"Hey Miya, I, I.... never mind, maybe next time. This is where I leave you," he said. "I'll meet you at the square tomorrow."
She nodded again, this time with a soft smile. "Yeah… I'll be there."
Their eyes lingered for a moment longer than needed, as if words hung in the air—words neither of them could quite say yet.
Then Kayden turned and walked away, the sound of the stream slowly fading behind him.
By the time Kayden arrived, the sky had deepened into shades of gold and violet. Fireflies blinked in the grass as the scent of stew and baked bread welcomed him before he even stepped inside. His home sat near the edge of the village—a modest two-story cottage built from light stone and timber, wrapped in ivy and crowned with a sloped tiled roof.
The door creaked open to warmth, laughter, and the flicker of firelight.
"Kayden! Kayden!" his younger sister Liana shouted, charging into him like a bolt of lightning. "Did you fight any monsters today?"
He laughed, scooping her into a spin. "Not today, little troublemaker. Maybe tomorrow."
His grandmother sat by the hearth, knitting with practiced fingers. "How was your last day, Kayden?" she asked, peering over her glasses.
Before he could answer, his father stepped in from the kitchen, wiping his hands on a towel. "Let me guess—you made a scene?"
Kayden shrugged with a grin. "Only a small one."
His mother entered with a bowl in her hands, setting it on the table. She looked at him for a moment, eyes filled with quiet pride, then pulled him into a hug.
"We're proud of you, Kayden," she whispered. "Tomorrow, you'll take another step toward your destiny. Once you receive your soul bond weapon, everything changes."
She pulled back slightly and added, "Just… be careful, okay? Some gifts are heavier than they look."
They gathered for dinner, sharing laughter and stories over warm food. Liana wouldn't stop asking about spells and magical beasts. His grandmother told a tale about her youth, swearing she once saw a sky beast large enough to cast a shadow over the mountains. His father added his usual wisecracks, and even Kayden laughed freely.
The fire crackled. The home glowed. The world outside could have been a thousand miles away.
Later that night, after everyone had gone to bed, Kayden stepped outside. The stars shone bright above, like diamonds scattered across a velvet sky. He stood beneath the old pine tree in their yard, gazing up at the moon.
Tomorrow, everything would change.
He clenched his fists, a strange mix of excitement and fear washing over him.
"Let fate say what it wants," he thought. "I'll carve my own path."
And with that, he returned inside—ready to meet the dawn.