The village square was crowded, but a path cleared as Caelum and Lyra arrived. At the center stood a carriage that looked like it was made of solid silver. Beside it was a woman who looked like she belonged in a palace, not a dusty village.
This was **Professor Vespera**. She was tall and slender, with skin as white as milk and hair black as ink tied in a strict, tight bun. Her dress was a deep, royal violet that hugged her narrow waist and curved over her hips like a second skin. Everything about her said "don't touch," but her eyes—a sharp, piercing indigo—were full of hidden fire.
Caelum looked at her Aether. It was a dark, icy blue, frozen in perfect, sharp crystals. She was powerful, but she was "cold." She hadn't felt the heat of a real reaction in a long time.
"Next," Vespera said, her voice like a cool breeze.
Lyra went first. When she touched the testing stone, it glowed a pretty teal. Vespera nodded slightly. "Strong wind affinity. You will join the Academy." Lyra beamed, looking back at Caelum with a wink.
Then, Caelum stepped up.
As he approached, Vespera's eyes narrowed. She felt something she couldn't explain—a sudden warmth in the air. Caelum didn't just put his hand on the stone. He looked Vespera straight in the eyes, his golden gaze locking onto her indigo ones.
The moment his skin hit the stone, Caelum didn't just push his energy; he used the stone as a bridge to reach *her*.
The stone didn't just glow; it turned into a miniature sun. A brilliant, hot gold light filled the square. But more importantly, a invisible wave of heat traveled from the stone, through the air, and slammed into Vespera's chest.
Vespera gasped, her hand flying to her throat. Her icy blue Aether shattered. For a second, her professional mask cracked, and her face flushed a deep, sexy pink. She felt a jolt of pure, raw pleasure shoot through her body, settling deep in her belly. It was the "Gold" energy of Caelum demanding a response from her "Ice."
"What... what are you doing?" she whispered, her voice trembling for the first time.
"I'm just showing you my potential, Professor," Caelum said, his voice a low, teasing growl.
He didn't pull his hand away. He let the resonance build until Vespera's knees felt weak. She had spent her life studying magic in books, but she had never felt a man's energy invade her so perfectly, so logically. It felt like he was rearranging her very molecules, turning her ice into steam.
"Stop," she commanded, but she didn't move away. She was hooked. The chemical draw was too strong. "That is enough. Your power is... irregular."
She straightened her dress, trying to regain her dignity, but her breathing remained heavy, her chest rising and falling beneath the tight violet fabric. She looked at Caelum not as a student, but as a dangerous, intoxicating mystery.
"You and the girl," Vespera said, her eyes lingering on Caelum's lips. "You will ride in my private carriage. I need to... study this energy further."
Lyra cheered and grabbed Caelum's arm, her soft weight pressing against him. Caelum smiled. He had already captured the interest of the village's most beautiful girl, and now, he had the most powerful woman in the region curious about what else his "Gold" could do.