"He's Professor Zion!?"
"Uh... mm... yeah," Chast stammered, eyes locked on the man striding in. His breath caught as a heavy, foreign aura pressed down on him. Cold chills ran down Chast's spine.
Beside him, Luke and Nico groaned, shivering as though the room itself had dropped in temperature. They pulled their robes tighter around their bodies.
The room fell utterly silent. One by one, students lowered their heads in respect, bowing as though a royal had entered.
The three professors rose at once, moving swiftly to meet him halfway across the room. Their greetings carried both respect and unease, voices low and careful.
Professor Valkiery turned back to the students, her expression composed. "We'll be taking a short break before continuing." With that, she and the others accompanied Zion toward the far corner of the room.
"Idiot! He's not Professor Zion!" Luke snapped, still clutching himself as the professors gathered in the corner.
Chast frowned. "What do you mean, he's not?" he asked, bewildered.
Did... did Professor Zion lie to me?
"He's the boss," Nico hissed.
"Boss?" Chast asked, confusion deepening.
"He's Zayn Valvrynth, you moron!" Luke barked, smacking Chast on the head.
"Oh. And?" Chast blinked, not the least bit impressed or surprised.
Luke slapped his own face while Nico tugged his hair in frustration, like he was about to lose his mind. The two of them looked ready to kill Chast right then and there.
"What's with you guys?" Chast asked, staring at them in disbelief.
"Because you're an idiot!" Luke and Nico shouted together.
"Idiot!?" Chast hissed, rolling his eyes. You're the idiot here!
"You really don't know who Zayn Valvrynth is?" Luke asked, his shoulders slumping in defeat.
Chast shrugged. "If I knew, I'd probably be reacting like you two."
That was the last straw. Nico slammed his palm against Chast's back...hard. "He's the owner of Valvrynth Academy! The President! And more importantly, the leader of the High Celestial!" he snapped.
Chast froze. His breath hitched mid-air, his body stiffening as the words sank in. He didn't move. He didn't blink.
Did I hear that right? He... he's the Zayn Valvrynth?
"Didn't you even read the invitation? His name was literally there, bold, glowing, practically screaming at you," Nico muttered, exasperated.
Chast shook his head. The truth was, he didn't even remember half of what the invitation said. Back then, all he'd seen was the words refine your magic and that was it. He'd been too pissed off to care about the rest.
"Ughh!" Nico groaned. "Whatever, I'm so done with this conversation." He said, sinking into his cushion.
After a few moments, The Professors and Zayn returned, and behind them, a walking chair was following.
Before they reached the circle, Zayn halted, and he sat with effortless grace, like a royal, upon the walking chair. At the same time, the Professors stepped into the circle with a grin on their faces.
"We shall now continue the aether crystal judgement!" Professor Morrwynn declared, still grinning.
The students started to roar with excitement and were eager to see the next revelations of their magics.
The twins immediately shot their hands into the air, each trying to beat the other to it.
"I'll go first!" the girl snapped, kicking her twin brother in the chin.
"No, I'm older—I should go first!" he barked back, returning the kick.
"Oh yeah? Who cares? You're only older by a few minutes." She arched a brow and smacked him on the back.
He groaned. "Such a sadist! You're evil!"
The room erupted in laughter as the students watched their squabble, as if it were a live comedy show.
"Who are they?" Chast asked, still staring at the ridiculous twin.
"The Benguet twins," Nico replied casually.
"You mean Benguet from the high celestial?" Luke asked.
Nico nodded, then burst out laughing as the twin sister knocked off the brother and pinned him to the floor.
"Damn! That girl is a martial artist!" Chast commented, amused and entertained by the girl's actions.
"That's enough!" Professor Valkiery's voice echoed in the room, causing the students to jolt in their seats.
A tense silence followed. Professor Valkiery shot the twins with a deadly glare. Then took a deep breath.
"Since you are twins, you'll do it together," she declared.
The twins exchanged a quick glance, then grinned in unison. Hand in hand, they marched to the center. Still refusing to let go, they placed their free palms on the crystal's surface.
"Jane," the sister stated.
"John," the brother followed.
Then, grinning, they said in unison, "Jane and John Benguet!"
Chast sneered. Look at them, fighting like cat and dog earlier, and now clinging to each other like they're inseparable.
Above the crystal, near Jane's side, a blue haze shimmered and swirled into a small portal. On John's side, the crystal pounded and swallowed the portal whole until it gleamed, radiant and full. It was as though Jane opened the door, and John locked it away inside the crystal.
The twins gazed in amazement and high-fived each other.
"Dimensional Arts, Riftwalking!" Professor Morrwynn declared as the crowd cheered for the twins.
"Together, they form synchronized portals," Professor Valkiery added warmly. "Jane opens, and John closes.
"Wow!" the students gasped in awe.
When the twins returned to their seats, Professor Valkiery circled the group and stopped in front of a girl. "You're next," she commanded.
The girl groaned, dragging her feet as she stood. "Ugh, I really don't want to," she muttered.
Professor Valkiery's sharp glare left no room for argument, and with an irritated huff, the girl trudged closer to the crystal.
"Chelsea Valkiery," she stated and placed her hands on the crystal.
"She's Professor Valkiery's daughter!?" Chast asked in surprise.
Another Valkiery like me?
Like Chast, both Nico and Luke were stunned... and everyone who didn't know Chelsea was equally shocked.
Luke swallowed and muttered, "I... I guess so."
Everyone gasped when the crystal burst into golden fire, molten light spilling across the floor like living lava.
Chelsea grinned as she looked at her mother, smiling proudly at her.
"You hold the Phoenix Flame!" Professor Valkiery declared, her voice ringing with pride. The smile never left her face. "The flame that burns both body and soul."
The room broke into thunderous applause, amazement written on every face.
"That was awesome!" Nico cheered while clapping his hands.
Before Chelsea could return to her seat, she pulled a girl using her full force. The girl fought back and said, "Don't you dare do it!"
But to the girl's disappointment, Jane helped Chelsea, and the girl was finally standing.
"You go, girl!" Chelsea cheered her friend.
"Bitch!" The girl mumbled and stomped to the crystal.
Jane and Chelsea giggled.
"Katelyn Draven," She announced dryly, and placed her hands on the crystal.
She's Professor Draven's daughter, I guess. Chast thought.
"She's beautiful!" Nico blurted, clutching his chest as his gaze darted toward Katelyn.
Chast snorted. Am I seriously witnessing a love-at-first-sight scene right now?
The crystal glowed in deep crimson and droplets of blood beamed into the air.
Katelyn sighed in disappointment, her shoulders slumping. That's it? Just droplets? she thought with a groan. She had expected something grander, fiercer, something worthy of her presence.
"Blood Magic!" Professor Vrynth's voice rang out, steady and proud. "You carry the same gift as your mother."
Everyone clapped and cheered.
"Go,Katelyn!" Chelsea cheered, clapping her hands.
Meanwhile, Nico sat in a daze, eyes locked on Katelyn. He watched every small movement of Katelyn and couldn't stop the foolish grin creeping onto his lips. She's amazing.
"Turtle the lover boy!" Chast snorted, unable to resist. He leaned back with a smirk, watching Nico stare like an idiot in love.
While Luke kept his eyes fixed on Zayn from afar, awe shining in his gaze. In his whole life, he had only ever idolized one person in all of Labrynthia and that was Zayn Valvrynth.
Chast turned to Luke, who seemed fixated on something... or rather, someone. Curious, Chast followed his gaze only to find it locked on Zayn.
Chast's jaw dropped, and he clapped a hand over his mouth. What!? Don't... don't tell me he likes Zayn!?
What's going on with these two? Is falling in love part of the Academy's curriculum now?
Chast was so focused on his friends that he completely missed Kyla's introduction and the crystal's reaction.
"Kyla, you hold War Sigils!" Professor Morrwynn announced.
Damn, I missed the cool part!
Watching the crystal reactions always entertained him—it was like binge-watching a whole collection of movies, each one a different genre.
"Zera Valyrianth," Zera announced.
Luke's gaze immediately shifted to Zera. His eyes softened, practically glowing, and he let out a quiet, dreamy hum.
Nico snapped, smacking Luke's arm. "Don't look at Zera like that. You're disgusting!"
But Luke didn't flinch. He sat frozen, completely unfazed, lost in a daze as he admired Zera like she was the only person in the room.
Oh, God! Is Luke... bi? Why am I surrounded by lovesick idiots!? Chast groaned internally, burying his face in his hands. Seeing his friends being smitten by love made him shiver.
Chast sighed as the crystal glowed with a soft silver light. Vague images flickered inside its depths, and eerie whispers slithered into the air.
Everyone gulped. And one by one, they tucked themselves close to the person next to them.
A cold breeze swept through the room, raising gossips as shivers rippled across their bodies. Several students shrieked in horror.
Then Zera's eyes shifted with unnatural light and her body lifted off the ground, as if possessed by a ghost.
"Shit! Not again!" Chast yelped, scrambling to hide behind Luke and Nico. He already knew what was coming. The scene was all too familiar, and dread curled in his stomach.
"Zera!" Professor Valkiery called her out, with sharp alarm. She realized at once that what was happening wasn't part of the Crystal's Judgement.
The professors rushed beneath Zera, looking worried. But before they could do something Zayn strode swiftly ttoward them and ordered, "don't do anything."
The professors faltered, exchanging confused glances. Zayn met their eyes and gave a firm, reassuring nod.
Nico rushed towards Zera's and eyes locked on her, filled with worries and fear. "Sister!" His voice cracked, his legs were wobbly. His fists clenched and stood firmly. No matter how many times he'd seen it, the sight of Zera lost in a vision always shattered him.
"Sister? He's Zera's brother!?" Luke slapped his forehead, instantly regretting every insult and jab he'd thrown at Nico earlier.
The students, meanwhile, scrambled back, cushions scraping across the floor as they widened the circle. At first, they thought this was just part of the Crystal's Judgement but the longer they watched, the clearer it became. They realized this wasn't the crystal's doing. Something else was happening to Zera.
Zera was lifted higher, her once tied hair unravelled and draped on her shoulders. Eerie whispers echoed in the room.
"When crystal shatters, truth breaks free. One Chosen awakens, the other bleeds. Bound as one, yet cursed by fate, Together they rise and darkness waits."
Author's Note:
Thank you for reading and supporting Valvrynth Academy! 🖤
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