The night above the Elemental God Academy didn't calm after that warning.
In fact, the silence made the tension sharper—like the world was holding its breath.
Eryndor stayed on the balcony a moment longer, feeling the faint tremble of ether in the wind, the slight distortion in the astral flow that clung to the academy grounds.
Kaelus walked out beside him, rubbing his eyes.
"You're still up?"
"Couldn't sleep," Eryndor murmured.
Kaelus leaned on the railing. "Yeah… I felt something strange earlier. Like a gust that wasn't a gust."
Darius stepped onto the balcony behind them, silent as always. His presence was calm—cold, but calm.
"It's still here," Darius said softly.
Eryndor turned toward him.
"That higher being?"
Darius nodded once.
"Above us. Watching. Waiting."
Kaelus swallowed, brows tense. "But why? Why the academy?"
Darius closed his eyes.
"Because this place houses the next generation of gods."
A beat of silence.
Then Kaelus exhaled.
"Well… that's comforting."
Before Dawn-
A soft bell echoed through the academy grounds.
Ding… ding… ding…
The sound was warm but heavy—an ancient pulse that vibrated through ether itself. Eryndor's eyes flicked open instantly.
Kaelus groaned from the next bed. "Already? I swear I just slept."
Darius was already dressed.
"What is that bell for?" Eryndor asked.
Darius adjusted the collar of his cloak.
"The Call of Dawn. Every student must gather on the central plateau at sunrise."
Kaelus dragged himself upright. "Why sunrise? Can't god-tier training start at noon?"
Darius gave him a flat stare.
"No."
The plateau was massive—a circular platform floating above the academy like an island suspended in the early morning air.
Hundreds of students gathered.
Some glowing with divine auras.
Some surrounded by elemental storms.
Some with calm, terrifying presences that bent the air.
Eryndor, Kaelus, and Darius walked toward the crowd.
Whispers spread instantly.
"That's the Nasarik boy."
"The storm affinity one."
"He grasped ether on the first day…"
Darius walked unfazed.
Kaelus puffed his chest out proudly.
Eryndor just sighed.
Then the energy shifted.
Not from a student.
From above.
A figure descended slowly, stepping onto the platform with controlled grace.
Principal Seraphina Caldris.
Her presence was pure fire—but not wild or raging.
It was refined heat.
Air shimmered around her like reality was melting at the edges.
Even standing still, she radiated enough heat that the plateau stones glowed faint red beneath her feet.
"Students," Seraphina said, her voice soft but resonant.
"Today begins your true induction."
Behind her… another figure appeared.
Rein Clark.
Cold. Quiet. Arms crossed. Eyes sharp as spears.
Half the plateau stiffened at the sight of him.
Kaelus muttered, "Oh come on—him again?"
Seraphina raised her hand, and six enormous banners unfurled above the plateau.
Each one glowing with an elemental or conceptual symbol.
Storm Division
Inferna Division
Aetherion Division
Umbral Division
Zenith Division
Prime Candidate Division
Each one represented a tier.
Only the strongest were allowed in Zenith.
Only gods-to-be entered Prime.
Seraphina spoke:
"Your performance, potential, lineage, and resonant energy have been assessed. Your divisions will determine your training path."
Students whispered anxiously.
Rein stood beside her, arms behind his back.
"As you know," Rein continued, "your division is not permanent. Strength determines everything in this academy."
Then he pointed to two students in front.
"You two. Demonstration."
A tall muscular boy with white-crimson hair floated into the air.
Opposite him, a girl with braided silver hair and glowing frost eyes rose to meet him.
Seraphina's voice echoed:
"God Candidate — Ignis Ravel."
"God Candidate — Freyja Halewind."
The crowd stiffened.
Both were ranked top ten among all candidates.
Kaelus leaned toward Eryndor.
"They're monsters."
Darius nodded.
"Even Rein watches them."
Ignis clenched his fist, flames spiraling around his arm.
But not normal flames—white plasma-level heat.
The air rippled.
Freyja inhaled, and frost bloomed across the sky behind her.
Runes formed in a circle, sharp and cold.
Ignis shot forward.
Freyja moved with grace, raising her palm—
—and the temperature plummeted.
Frost spread like a blooming flower.
Ignis' flames tore through it, but the frost regenerated instantly, reforming into a shield of crystallized air.
"Impressive," Ignis said, smirking.
"But predictable."
He clapped his hands.
"Solar Burst."
A miniature sun ignited between his palms.
The platform rumbled.
Students stepped back.
Even Eryndor felt the heat touch his skin.
As the massive explosion formed, Rein flicked his fingers.
A pulse of divine energy swept the arena.
The spell collapsed instantly, folding into a tiny sphere the size of a marble.
Ignis flinched.
Freyja lowered her guard.
Rein's voice cut through the air:
"That is enough."
He looked over the gathered students.
"You all saw the level expected here.
If you cannot perform at even half this standard… you will not last."
His eyes slid toward Eryndor for a moment—
sharp and calculating.
Eryndor met the gaze without flinching.
A faint smile tugged at Rein's lips.
Just for a heartbeat.
Then it vanished.
One by one, students' names were called, and divisions assigned.
Kaelus was placed in:
Zenith Division — Wind Path.
Darius stepped forward.
"Darius Mike — Umbral Division."
The air grew strangely cold as the shadows reacted to his name.
Finally—
"Eryndor Nasarik."
The plateau became silent.
Seraphina raised her hand.
Her eyes glowed a deep amber flame.
"Storm affinity. Dual-element synergy. Ether comprehension. Astral resonance."
She inhaled.
Then declared:
"Prime Candidate Division."
A ripple of shock tore through the students.
Even Rein's eyes widened a fraction.
Kaelus grinned.
Darius raised an eyebrow.
Eryndor exhaled.
"Great," he muttered. "More attention."
But it was too late.
The academy had chosen.