Chapter 1 – The First Flame
The afternoon sun fell lazily over the training grounds of the Venron estate.
The courtyard, polished and lined with meticulously trimmed hedges, echoed with the sound of clashing mana and disciplined footsteps.
At its center, a boy with messy silver hair and eyes that shimmered like molten metal stood alone, hands raised, chanting carefully.
"By the Lord of Blaze… I call forth fire, gather and obey my will!"
A sphere of orange flame spiraled into existence above his palms, hovering, perfectly contained.
Elias Venron narrowed his silver eyes and let it fly forward.
The fireball struck the metallic dummy, reinforced with layered mana, and exploded with a sharp clang.
Smoke curled upward, and a faint trail of heat lingered in the air.
"Not bad," Elias muttered to himself, stepping back to avoid the dissipating sparks. Better than the last one.
He wiped a bead of sweat from his brow. His first Star formed just last year was unusually stable for a young mage.
Even among nobles, few could produce flames so disciplined.
Fire was rare, and he was rarer still: one in a hundred thousand with affinity, and already a high Star with remarkable capacity.
Yet mastery didn't make him arrogant.
Elias knew the dangers of mismanaged mana.
A single misstep, and even a small fireball could become lethal not just to others, but to himself.
A sudden ripple in the air made him stiffen. A presence, calm but undeniable, appeared just behind him.
The head butler, an imposing man in black and gold livery, held himself with practiced discretion.
"Master Elias," the butler said, voice smooth and neutral, "a visitor has arrived."
Elias raised an eyebrow. "Visitor? At this hour?"
The man inclined his head, silent, and gestured toward the main gate.
There, standing with confidence, was a mage dressed in the academy's uniform: dark robes trimmed with silver sigils that pulsed faintly with mana.
His expression was unreadable, but the air around him shimmered faintly an unmistakable sign of high Star mastery.
The mage walked swiftly toward Elias. In his hand was a sealed letter, marked with the official crest of the Eldoria Arcane Academy.
"Master Elias Venron," he said, voice even and crisp, "I have been sent to escort you.
This letter is from Principal sarion herself."
Elias's heart skipped.
The principal a 7star mage, a war hero, and the crazy dragon slaughterer. She had sent a letter.the one some whispered had slaughtered dragons with little regard for her own safety."
Only the chosen elemental mages received such invitations, and this year, he was the only Fire mage admitted.
The academy rarely allowed more than one in a generation. He swallowed and nodded, quickly gathering himself.
"Of course. Lead the way," he said.
As he followed, he glanced down at the small device in his pocket a simple, compact magical communicator, akin to a modern mobile.
A small ping reminded him of a message:
"Eli! I'm going too! Can't believe we got in!"
He smiled faintly.
It was from Moon, his online friend who shared his obsession with elemental theory. Even amidst nobles and bloodlines, Elias found comfort in someone who measured worth by understanding, not status.
The ride to the teleportation gate was silent but charged with tension.
Elias's thoughts wandered to his family.
His father, Alric Venron, was a disciplined baron with high expectations; his mother, Isolde, gentle but calculating; and his elder sister, Rineth, already known for her charm and intelligence.
They had all expected him to excel but none of them could fully grasp the significance of his Star size, or the rarity of his fire affinity.
"Master Elias," the mage said abruptly, breaking his reverie. "You may wish to prepare yourself.
The transfer is instantaneous. All luggage and personal belongings have been sent ahead."
Elias frowned. "All of it? Even my "
The mage simply nodded.
No explanation was needed; the academy had perfected secure mana transfers to accommodate students of the highest elemental ranks.
He stepped into the glowing teleportation circle.
The mana hummed beneath his feet, warm and insistent.
He felt the familiar pull, the sudden tug at his soul as if being stretched across space.
It was swift so swift that his stomach lurched and then, just as suddenly, he was somewhere else.
The air smelled different: crisp, sharp with ozone and faint traces of mana from hundreds of elemental users practicing nearby.
The Eldoria Arcane Academy was enormous, its spires rising into the sky, inscribed with protective sigils that pulsed faintly with elemental energy.
Students moved in organized clusters, practicing spells, running errands, and chatting casually a perfect blend of aristocracy and modern discipline.
Elias blinked and glanced around, feeling a little overwhelmed.
He opened his communicator again, checking the latest messages from Orin. Then, he remembered.
"My… luggage?" he asked the mage who had accompanied him.
"Already transferred," the mage said simply. "All essentials will be at your assigned quarters. You may proceed."
Elias exhaled. The thought hit him how could he forget the transferring spells.
The tension of the teleportation eased slightly.
This was new, but controlled. Predictable at least, in comparison to the chaos he knew magic could become when mishandled.
A subtle shift in the air made him stop mid-step. His silver eyes narrowed.
A faint trace of mana, powerful but fleeting, flickered nearby something the academy's wards could not fully contain.
It disappeared before he could identify it, leaving behind only a whisper of heat.
Elias's heart rate increased. He had been trained to sense anomalies, to trust his instincts. Something, or someone, was here. Watching. Waiting.
The mage guiding him merely glanced at the disturbance, expression unchanged.
"Nothing for now. Focus on your path," he advised.as if he knew what it or someone was.
Elias swallowed, heart racing. He would have time to figure it out. For now, the academy awaited, with its endless lessons, challenges, and the subtle, ever-present reminder that his fire was rare… and dangerous.
He stepped forward, determination settling over him.
This was only the beginning.