Here, at Rhodeia College, a new generation of heroes is nurtured. The curriculum is rigorous by necessity, designed so that no one may succeed through mere chance. Students are expected to sharpen themselves, hone their skills, and push forward. Only then can they pierce the ceiling of their potential.
These were wise words spoken by Professor Archeota, yet not all are wise enough to heed them carefully. Despite how diligent they may appear, some do rely on dumb luck to carry them through. And in such cases, it is nigh inevitable that they will reap what they sow.
"Oh, Luvelaine," Asta drawled, his words loud enough for the crowd to hear. "You look confused. But this is the way of our nation. Power demands obedience, and obedience demands humility. I wouldn't expect you to understand, being absent for five long years, so I'll be generous. I'll even grant you the honor of correcting yourself. Go on, then. Kneel."
The crowd fell into a hush. Not a breath, not a shuffle of feet. The courtyard itself seemed to hold its breath, waiting to see what the fallen noble would do now that he had provoked the wrath of the crown prince.
And his answer was nothing. Long had he grown tired of such folly. Empty threats, hollow posturing — these things no longer stirred him. All he wished for was solitude, a peace that would never come. His gaze was flat, unbothered, but beneath the glow, something stirred.
"It seems I was not clear. The first was a warning. The second..."—his fingers twitched, sparks crackling at his palm—"...I cannot guarantee you will survive. But perhaps the Goddess Elysia smiles upon you today, for I am merciful. One last chance, Luvelaine. Kneel."
Again, he did nothing, so the crown prince resolved to answer for him.
"Very well. Caelus de Luvelaine, heir to a fallen house. You are hereby guilty of treason and conspiracy against the crown prince of Vectis."
No longer able to sit back while Caelus faced the abyss for her, Princess Aria gathered every last bit of courage within her and rushed out to stand before him.
"...Oh?" Asta said.
With a deep breath, Aria spoke.
"That's enough, Brother. Just... stop this."
"Hah. Brother? So now that the life of your knight in shining armor is at risk, all of a sudden, I am your brother again? That doesn't seem fair, does it, my dear sister?"
"I... I won't allow him to atone for my sins. Your fight is with me, not him."
"Such newfound confidence. I do wonder what goes on in that head of yours. To blatantly defy me, and when it doesn't work out, you default to your annoying pleas. This is getting rather old."
Aria ran out of words. She had never disobeyed her brother to this extent, so she froze in the moment, unsure of what else to do.
Asta let out a long, drawn-out sigh.
"And again, you've gone quiet. Worry not, Sister. I bear no grudge against you, for my attention has been garnered by someone else. He who has stained my pride. He who has insulted me and, despite the many chances I gave to this piece of trash, still has the gall to look at me in such a way. So..."—he smiled wickedly at Caelus—"just die already."
"No!" Aria cried out.
But it was too late. From the rune circle at Asta's fingertip, a lightning bolt zipped forward. It flew past Aria, aimed directly at Caelus's heart. Just when it was about to land, a blur of silver arced into view, disrupting the bolt's path with a deafening roar as loud as a real thunderstrike.
The boom echoed across the courtyard before falling into dead silence. Everyone froze, their eyes fixed forward. Caelus de Luvelaine was still standing, unaffected and undeterred, but the most surprising thing was the person hunched over next to him, a sword with a white and sapphire hilt locked in his grasp.
Slowly, the young man exhaled and stood. His light blonde hair seamlessly reflected the evening glow, and magnificent were those coral eyes that spelled resentment.
"That is enough, Your Imperial Highness," Taylor Reinhall said, his voice resolute.
"Ah... Yet another rat comes scurrying out of the shadows to face me," Asta muttered. "Shall I take this as treason as well, Reinhall?"
"Think as you wish. However, I must warn you that your judgment will have no effect here, Prince Asta."
"...What nonsense are you spouting?"
"The moment you set foot within the college grounds, you forfeited your identity as a subject of the empire and became a student of Rhodeia. At least, until you graduate... or get expelled. That means the laws of Vectis do not apply here, and you will be judged by the laws of Rhodeia."
"Hah... Is this some kind of scare tactic? There is nowhere that my authority does not reach."
"Except here, Your Imperial Highness. This rule was made to deal with people like you."
He raised his sword and pointed at Asta.
"I won't deny that you are the crown prince and the son of the emperor whom I serve. However, there is a fine line between a ruler and a tyrant. And today, Prince Asta... you proved that you are the latter."
"Pfft... Haha... Ahahaha~!" Asta laughed at the top of his lungs. "It seems you don't know your place. Allow me to remind you. House Reinhall has pledged itself to me. Of course, that means that you, Taylor Reinhall, already belong to me."
Having heard enough, Taylor pulled his sword back and pierced the ground in front of him. He met the prince's gaze with firm resolution.
"House Reinhall may have pledged itself to you, but I have not," Taylor declared.
Asta's smile faded, replaced by an extremely irritated scowl.
"What...?"
"Between the two Imperial Highnesses, there is a clear answer to who belongs on the throne," Taylor said. "And in my eyes, Prince Asta... it is not you."
The crown prince fell silent. The courtyard rippled with murmurs, unease bleeding through the gathered students. No one had ever seen such blatant defiance against Asta, yet here stood Taylor Reinhall, heir of one of the greatest noble houses, daring to do so anyway.
"Treasonous..." Asta hissed, his hand rising. "No matter how many rats I exterminate, more seem to take their place. Such is the way of this filthy world. Such a sin... is worthy of death."
A crackling rune circle flared into existence, and a lightning bolt erupted forth. Taylor braced himself, expecting to slash through it again, but before he could move, Caelus stepped forward.
With his bare hand, he seized the lightning, the crackle of raw power thrashing in his grip before he crushed it into nothingness. A shockwave thundered across the courtyard, rattling bones. Caelus slowly unfurled his fingers, arcs of electricity slithering away into the wind.
Gasps tore through the crowd.
"Did he... just grab lightning?" someone stammered.
"No, he... H-he... I don't even know what I saw," said another.
Even Prince Asta's expression faltered.
"You... What did you just do...?"
Caelus raised a hand to signal Taylor to stand down, his gaze unwavering. For a moment, silence pressed in heavy, as though the world itself held its breath.
How much longer must I bear this weight? How long must I hold back?
And then, it stirred.
An unseen presence slithered into the air, its gaze pressing against him. It reveled in this moment, whispering without words, urging him — break free, cast aside your chains. You are not one of them, and you never will be.
Caelus's voice dropped to a low, cold mutter.
"I warned you, Your Imperial Highness."
"...Warned me?"
"Cross the line, and you will see what I've endured these last five years. This..."
A rune circle bloomed into existence behind him. Then, at an angle above it, a second. A third soon followed, weaving in perfect harmony.
"...is your answer."
The courtyard erupted.
"T-three circles? At once?!" Kain blurted, his bravado gone.
Rosalina's eyes widened in horror.
"No, that's... That's impossible... he—?!"
Before she could finish, a fourth rune circle appeared, hanging like a dark star at his side. The air itself thickened, pressing down on every soul present, fear gnawing at their bones. A suffocating pressure radiated from him, as though death itself had taken form.
"Four..." Rosalina gasped in disbelief. "He's maintaining four rune circles."
"Then that means... Caelus is a... Fourth-Circle mage?" Kain gulped.
There he stood, Caelus de Luvelaine, his gaze still fixed on Asta. Perhaps it was due to the sunset, but his eyes seemed to glow a malignant red.
"This..." he muttered, paralleling a ghostly second voice, "is my judgment on what is to be done with the likes of you."
He locked onto Asta, but just before he could cast the spell, a tall figure emerged from behind him and chopped him in the back of the neck. The circles dispersed, revealing a woman with long, silver hair.
"What a sight to behold so early in the semester," her low, raspy voice struck their ears like an ice pick. "To so blatantly initiate a childish altercation within the hallowed grounds of Rhodeia... You lot must have a death wish."
She peered down at the unconscious Caelus, her pale gaze narrowing when she noticed the bleeding cut on his cheek.
"How disappointing... but I suppose I can't be too surprised. By the law of Rhodeia College, unsanctioned infighting is strictly forbidden. Therefore, everyone involved shall be sentenced to disciplinary action. This could result in a warning... or even expulsion. May the Headmistress have mercy on you."