Zephyr lay on his bed, unmoving, staring blankly at the ornate ceiling of his chamber. The ceiling was painted with faded murals of past Demios champions—men and women wreathed in black flame, holding the banners of a legacy he had never been allowed to claim.
He blinked once. Then again.
The room was quiet except for the slow ticking of the ancient aetherclock on the wall. His fingers were curled slightly over the edge of the covers. No thoughts. Just weight—mental and emotional—hanging over him like storm clouds waiting to burst.
The door clicked softly.
Serena entered with her usual grace, her black and red uniform pressed neatly. She gave a polite bow, her face unreadable. "Young Master Zephyr," she said, "your bath is drawn."
He nodded silently.
The bath was hot. Steam coiled around the blackstone tiles, and the scent of cold herbs floated through the air—mint, frostblossom, and a hint of ironwood resin. He slid into the water slowly, letting the heat thaw the tension in his muscles, though the tightness in his chest remained.
After drying and dressing, he returned to the small wooden table near his bedside. The acceptance letter to the Academy of Elden Vow still lay where he'd left it last night—its crimson wax seal broken, its parchment edges lined with silver thread.
He picked it up and opened the seal with care. Reading it for the 59th time since two days ago, the News of his Awakening has spread and the servants has begun to look at him with respect, he haven't met the rest of the clans men. How could he, he haven't left his room for the past two days, opting to stay in his room and have breakfast there. With his enhanced eyesight that had recovered when he awaken he went through the letter for the 59th time.
Inside was a single page, crisp and formal—
To _____________ of House Demios,
You are hereby granted provisional acceptance into the Academy of Elden Vow under special terms.
Report to the Northern Grand Conflux Gate at Cinderholt on the 3rd day of this month.
Instructor approval pending evaluation. Bring proof of acceptance.
Signed,
Arch-Chronicler Vexin, Elden Vow Admissions
---
Zephyr held the letter tightly.
'I made it'.
No contracts. No leash. Just a chance—an opening in the wall the clan had tried so hard to build around him.
He exhaled, sharp and deep. But this is only the first gate.
He mentally mapped the path forward: earn a place, survive the early trials, stay off the radar until his strength grew. He needed power, not just to thrive in the academy—but to make his enemies regret they hadn't killed him when they had the chance.
He strapped on his coat, the inner lining still frayed in places, then tucked the letter into a leather satchel.
When he stepped out, the manor grounds were already abuzz.
Several other members of the Demios Clan had gathered at the front courtyard. They were adorned in clan regalia—black coats edged in deep crimson, each bearing a different house sigil along the shoulder. The chosen few: children of high bloodlines, branch family elites, and combat prodigies.
Most of them greeted him as he passed, Zephyr would've accepted the greetings if only he couldn't see the hate and disgust those eyes.
'Why are they still looking at me like that'. Zephyr thought as he neglected another greeting. 'Wasn't it because I haven't awaken that they hated me, why are they still looking at me with those eyes'.
Zephyr was once again confused at the reaction of his clans men, he didn't awaken they loathed him now he has awaken why did they still him. But his inner musing was cut off when he saw what was in front of him.
A towering black carriage, engraved with glowing red runes, waited at the main gate. Aether engines hummed beneath its base, and six floating lanterns bobbed around it, carrying bags of supplies and armor containers. Winged automatons stood at the ready, their polished metal frames inscribed with clan script.
'Damn technology sure has come a long way'. From his memory this was the peak of technology in this world and to say the least this was marvelous.
The aether carriage that Zephyr was about to board was a marvel of high engineering. It resembled a long, armored chariot fused with a private lounge, forged of blacklight alloy that absorbed glare and heat. It hovered effortlessly, gliding through the air on a propulsion system powered by Aether hearth—crystalized Aether hearts harvested from fallen beasts.
Six large Hearth, one for each primary function—levitation, steering, shielding, propulsion, stabilization, and emergency anchor—were embedded deep within the carriage's belly. Elemental runes inscribed across its surface glowed faintly as the cores pulsed in rhythm.
Inside, enchanted glass windows resisted wind pressure and allowed passengers to peer across the sky without interference. The ride was smooth but not without a slight hum of energy in the air, always reminding those inside that they flew only because of chained power.
Zephyr walked straight past the other candidates and boarded the carriage without hesitation. He didn't wait for permission. He was so eager to feel the marvelous tech with his skin.
He took the window seat, staring out across the obsidian gardens. The smell of wet stone and storm-fruit trees lingered in the wind. 'damn this is soft'. The leather seat was soft and comfortable he wouldn't be surprised if someone fell asleep here.
Moments later, the other clan members boarded—some acknowledged with a nod, others ignoring him entirely. No one sat beside him.
'Perfect. More space for me'.
The carriage jolted once as the aether-engines roared to life, and then they rose—slowly at first, then faster—soaring high above the cliffs of Demios Keep.
Looking around in amazement his enchanced eyes caught sight of a figure in one of the mountain peaks, as they voomed past for a moment he locked eyes with her.
Keede Demios.
One of the crownkin, she had made his life miserable, although he didn't have evidence he had a hunch she was the one who planned out that death mission. When he got the letter from Serena, it was no longer News that he was going to the academy, he had expected her to show up, but it seems she was busy as he could identify the mountain she was on. How couldn't he, it was the place he spent all in life in— The pit, it was the pass to the pit and currently she was walking out of it like a poor rat left in the rain.
As they passed her, he didn't give it much thought anymore, he was out of her reach and they was nothing she could do to him anymore.
The sky opened wide.
Purple clouds streaked past like torn silk. Far below, the shadowed mountains curled like sleeping beasts, their veins glowing with black flame.
They were headed for Cinderholt, the inner shell of the Demios domain. From there, they would rendezvous with members of the UmbraFen clan, infamous for their mastery over shadows. This clan focused on transportation as they could access the shadow realm.
Through the Shadow Realm, they would cross in days what would normally take weeks. But the passage was perilous—only the Shadow Clan could navigate its folds without losing their minds or their souls.
Zephyr leaned his head against the glass, watching lightning crackle along the horizon.
'This is so beautiful, definitely more then a first class'. The scenery was stunning.
Looking at the numerous mountain range he tried to recall this world geography.
After the end of the War, a cataclysmic battle against beings from beyond the Aether womb, five mighty clans rose as saviors of the realm. In recognition, the World Pact was signed—granting each clan control over a domain.
Among them, Clan Ambrose emerged as the supreme power. Blessed with Holy Aether and the divine favor of the Crystal Throne, they were crowned the Royal Family, rulers of Vaeltherium in both law and spirit.
The other four—Demios, Vermillion, UmbraFen, and DuskFall—were recognized as the Grand Clans, given control over regions to govern and fortify, but all swearing fealty to the royal lineage.
Central Domain – Crown's Heart (Ruled by Clan Ambrose):Home to the Crystal Throne and Capital City of Vaeltherium.
Contains the Academy of Elden Vow and the Sanctum of Kings.
All travel to the capital requires clearance or an Academy summons.
Northwest Domain – The Black Mountain Reaches (Ruled by Clan Demios):
The Demios seat is in Cinderholt, and it controls multiple lesser clans, like Ironhowl, Cindermoor, and Veith.
Southern Domaim – The Vale of Echoes (Ruled by Clan UmbraFen): seated in candle veil.
Eastern Domain– The Skywalker Highlands (Ruled by Clan Vermillion): seated in HighPure
Western Domain – The Emberdusk (Ruled by Clan DuskFall): seated in Emberdusk
Each Grand Clan governs their dominion with absolute authority—though bound to kneel when summoned to the Crystal Throne. Beneath them serve lesser clans, who maintain towns, provide resources, and offer military service in exchange for protection and status.
That was all he could recall from the memory, he only knew what he was taught, only knowledge related to Demios clan and the royal clan were taught to him, he had little to no knowledge of the rest clans.
'We are here'. Looking from above he got a bird eye view of the city center, where he came to once.
'it looks exactly the same from my memory.... Cinderholt'. They had arrived.