Chapter 14: The SS-Level Talents
Before the grand staircase of Aetherion Academy, Lyra Evercrest's voice echoed, clear and commanding. "Before you stand the strongest first-year students to enter Aetherion Academy this year. These eight have been recognized as SS-level talents, the rarest of the rare, destined to become the powerhouses of tomorrow."
Aric and Leon exchanged glances. The so-called elite. The ones who would stand in their way. Aric's eyes narrowed, his mind already spinning with schemes and strategies. Leon, however, was too busy gawking at the individuals before him.
Lyra's gaze swept over the gathered group, her emerald eyes glinting as she began introductions. "From the Solaris Empire, Selene Frostbane, a prodigy of ice magic."
Selene stepped forward, her silver hair cascading like a frozen waterfall down her back. Her icy blue eyes were as cold as her demeanor. The air around her seemed to chill, tiny snowflakes swirling in her wake. Leon shivered, feeling the bite of her mana. Despite her beauty, there was a fierceness to her that suggested she would not hesitate to freeze anyone who crossed her path. Rumor had it that she had once encased a senior student in ice for insulting her family — a feat that earned her both fear and respect.
"And from the Bloodstone Empire, Vesper Thorn."
A tall, imposing girl with jet-black hair and crimson eyes strode forward, her spear resting against her shoulder. A dangerous smirk curled her lips as she scanned the crowd, sizing up potential threats. Her presence radiated bloodlust and raw power. Unlike Selene, who wielded ice, Vesper's aura was akin to a storm of violence, always on the brink of eruption. It was said that Vesper's spear was forged in the blood of fallen beasts and tempered with dark magic, a weapon that thirsted for battle as much as its wielder.
"Next, from the Solaris Empire once again, Mira Falken."
Mira, with her sun-kissed skin and radiant blonde hair, looked every bit a warrior. She wielded a heavy shield strapped to her back and a sword sheathed at her hip. Unlike Vesper, her expression was calm, almost serene, but her eyes gleamed with steely determination. While Vesper was the tempest, Mira was the unyielding mountain, ready to withstand any assault. Mira had been raised in a knight family renowned for their defensive techniques, and it was said she could withstand an onslaught from a squad of knights without so much as flinching.
Lyra's gaze then shifted to the mage department. "Now, the four SS-level talents from the Mage Department. First, from the Bloodstone Empire, Nyx Raelthorne."
Nyx stepped forward, her raven-black hair falling like a dark curtain around her sharp, striking features. She wore a black robe adorned with arcane symbols that shimmered faintly. Her eyes, a shade of violet, flicked toward Aric with a look that was both assessing and uninterested. Nyx exuded an air of mystery and danger, her dark magic crackling subtly around her. Whispers among the students claimed that Nyx could summon shadows that whispered secrets from the other side — a skill that made her both feared and avoided.
"From the Bloodstone Empire, Caelum Drakos."
Caelum's crimson hair and eyes blazed like fire, and the air around him seemed to simmer with heat. Muscular and tall, he looked more like a knight than a mage, but the flaming sigils tattooed across his forearms marked him as a fire magic user. He met Aric's gaze, a flicker of challenge flashing in his eyes. Caelum was known to be impulsive, his fiery nature mirroring his magic. There were tales of him incinerating an entire training ground in a fit of rage, leaving only ashes and embers in his wake.
"And finally," Lyra said, her voice softening slightly. "From the Solaris Empire, Elara Vaeloria."
Leon's breath hitched as Elara stepped forward. She was breathtaking. Long, wavy auburn hair cascaded over her shoulders, framing a heart-shaped face with striking emerald eyes that sparkled like twin stars. Her smile was gentle, almost angelic. When she moved, it was with an ethereal grace that made her seem like she was gliding rather than walking. Leon's heart thudded in his chest, his cheeks flushing red. Elara was not just beautiful; she was captivating — a living dream that every man in the academy would soon be chasing.
Aric's expression remained unreadable, but inside, a plan was already forming. In the original timeline, Leon had relentlessly pursued Elara throughout their academy years, suffering rejection after rejection until he finally managed to win her heart after they graduated. But now, Aric intended to ensure that history did not repeat itself. Instead of allowing Leon to claim her, Aric would manipulate the situation to gradually make Elara fall for him without ever appearing to try. He would feed Leon misleading advice, setting him up for embarrassing failures while subtly planting himself in Elara's mind as the unreachable ideal.
Leon, oblivious to Aric's intentions, continued to gawk at Elara as if she were the only person in the world. Aric's lips curved into a slight, almost imperceptible smile. Yes, let Leon be blinded by love and infatuation. It would only make him easier to control.
"And of course," Lyra said, her eyes shifting to the two remaining figures, "from the Astravell Empire, Aric Pendragon and Leon Helios."
Aric stepped forward first, his expression cold and calculated. Leon followed, his gaze still fixed on Elara. The eight of them now stood in a line, facing the rest of the student body.
"These are the ones to watch," Lyra said, her voice ringing with authority. "They are the future legends of Aetherion Academy. But remember, power alone will not secure your place. Strength, cunning, and resolve will determine who rises to the top and who is trampled underfoot."
Aric's gaze swept over the SS-level talents. Each one a potential enemy. Each one a pawn in his game.
But his eyes lingered a moment longer on Elara. He would not approach her directly. No, he would be the shadow she could never grasp, the presence she could never reach. And in time, she would find herself drawn to him, falling for him without even knowing why.
And Leon… well, Aric would ensure that Leon would continue to embarrass himself, losing more and more face with each failed attempt to win Elara's heart.
The battle had only just begun.