That afternoon, the group split for specialized sessions. Some trained under elemental specialists; others meditated, studied runes, or honed weapon techniques.
There was a kind of division within the group as Seth, Veronica, Matthew and the twins seemed to gel better than with the others while Kevin stayed on his own most times, other times he would be with Leo.
Among the others Arthur and Alex where mainly focused on training though for different reasons, Lucia and Summer would usually follow them, leaving Kevin,Leo and Sandra alone . Kevin would also usually disappear somewhere leaving Leo and Sandra.
Leo noticed an akwardness between Sandra and Kevin but overlooked it as he was more focused on finding out why he couldn't use world energy.
During his time in this world he had found out that though he couldn't use world energy he could still feel it and he had the base strength of some one at the world saint rank . Moreover he felt a second energy within him apart from the purple flame though it felt out of reach like the world energy.
—
Later that evening, as the sun dipped behind the distant peaks and the academy lights flickered on, Sandra found herself walking alone through the moonlit paths near the garden atrium.
A presence stirred behind her.
Leo.
He said nothing at first. Just walked beside her.
"I keep thinking about how fast everything is changing," she said eventually.
"Change is the only thing that is constant in life," Leo replied. "We just rarely notice until it's already behind us." He said with a small smile.
She stopped, looking up at him. "Who are you really?"
Leo looked at her, surprised. His mind racing with different taughts , had she found out he wasn't from this world, would she blackmail him, would she tell anyone, would he have to silence her .
He dreaded the last taught and was about to speak when she smiled at him , herbsoft aura calming his mind.
"You act like someone with weight on your shoulders. Like someone who's lost and found something."
Leo said nothing. But his silence wasn't rejection—it was acknowledgment.
They stood there, beneath the violet sky, moonlight shining down on silver and black hair.
For a moment, they weren't warriors or students or heirs.
Just two souls trying to understand one another.
*********************************
And somewhere far away, in a place no begin dared speak of, thirteen figures stirred once more.
The shadows were watching.
******************************
On the other side of the world a large frost covered mountain is seen , it's peak reaching at the sky and it's base covering kilometers .
Due to the influence of world energy on this world, it is thousands of times larger than Earth and is filled with numerous species, natural phenomenon, laws of reality, aspects of nature and semi realms contained within it .
The large range of the mountain which is as big as a country on Earth is currently void of any beast due to the powerful aura radiating from the top of the mountain.
Atop the mountain was a plain looking pagoda built with a shining black material.
Despite the plain appearance this was the most important and most protected places in the whole of Aether . It was the meeting place of the nine sovereigin Lord's , the undisputed leaders of Aether and the most powerful beings in the mortal realm.
Within the pagoda the Sovereign Council Chamber was beyond words, it was like a whole different realm where ordinary humans could ever step, nine chairs loomed like celestial thrones—each shaped from unique elements: obsidian flame, ancient crystal, flowing timeglass, silver wind, and others untouched by mortal craft.
The Nine Sovereigns had gathered.
At the center of the room, a shimmering cube of stardust hovered midair. Inside, blurred images flickered—Leo and his group training, talking, bonding. Faces familiar to the seated figures.
"He's adapting faster than expected," murmured the man seated upon a blue throne of folded starlight, the aspect of space twisting with his very breath . King Allister Chambers , the space sovereigin and Leo's father. His voice carried a weight that bent silence. He looked like a mature version of Leo wearing blue regal robes and a golden crown on his head "His mind is steady… but the fusion hasn't finished."
"It will,"
Replied the sovereign to his right. Lord Atlas Kincaid , the frost sovereigin, Arthur's and Alec's dad . His silver crown on his silver hair which rests on his shoulders, the very air round him frozen by his aura . " He'll awaken soon— they all will."
Another figure leaned forward from a throne carved of living gravity storms . Lord Ben Maxwell. He looked exactly like Seth with unstable gravity storms round him and a purple crown on his head . "Speaking of awakening… your second son's presence is disruptive. He carries bitterness. If it festers, it will divide the group."
"I trust Arthur," Atlas said simply. "He will bring his brother back… or break him if he must."
Across the circle, a woman cloaked in green leaves and silver vines, the aura of nature and life think around her, Queen Layla Collins, Veronica's mother—frowned. "And what about the legions of the dark sky ?"
The entire room turns silent for a while following this question.
Allister turns his gaze to a hooded figure sitting atop a throne that pulsed with calm pressure. Master Ren. The sound Sovereign, now a teacher at skycrest
He had requested to watch the chosen ones —for reasons none but Allister understood.
Ren finally spoke.
" It's funny how the power we all saugth is now what cages us " he lets out a rear smile and continues " They are not children anymore. Not with what's coming."
The shadows behind him stirred—and for a moment, everyone at the table felt the pressure of an unseen presence.
A pause.
Then a new cube formed in the air. This one was not of starlight—but of shadow and blood.
Thirteen silhouettes.
Unclear. Masked. Moving in synchronicity.
The Legions of the Dark sky
"They've already taken the underworld," said Ben grimly. "Last night, thirteen underworld leaders were slain. Some from clans we believed extinct."
"They've begun," another sovereigin covered in darkness whispered. "Just like the prophecy said."
Master Ren's eyes narrowed. "They're moving faster than expected. And I fear…" He paused, looking toward Allister. "...my brother is among them."
A silence fell over the council. He had never spoken of his brother before.
Allister exhaled. "Then the students must be prepared. We can no longer wait for subtle growth. They'll need trials."
"They'll break," said Layla flatly. "They'll bleed."
"But if they survive," Ren countered, "they'll become legends."
"And the anomaly?" The last sovereigin wearing all white robes with angelic wings on her back and a white crown asks in her calm voice.
The room pulsed.
Nine Sovereigns. And the looming threat of the thirteen shadows waiting beyond the border of the known world.
The war had not begun.
But the board was set.
*******************************
Back at the academy, the thirteen students stood at the edge of the southern training fields, unaware of the forces watching them. The sun was rising higher. Another day, another lesson.
Leo tightened his gloves, nodding at Arthur.
Seth bounced on his heels, grinning as Alex cracked his knuckles.
Veronica leaned close to May, whispering something sharp and sarcastic, earning a smirk.
Summer's eyes were closed, speaking softly to herself. June twirled a crystal of light on her finger, humming.
Matthew let out a long whistle. "Feel that pressure in the air?"
Leo nodded. "Yeah. Like the storm's coming."
Sandra stood beside Leo.
She looked at him, eyes full of knowing.
"Whatever's coming," she said softly, "we'll face it together."
Leo didn't respond.
But for a flicker of a moment—his space energy stirred beneath his skin.
And far away, behind thirteen masks…
The thirteen clocked figures smiled.
---