A thin layer of frost slowly spread across the stone courtyard.
Students walking past suddenly paused as their breath turned visible in the air.
"Why is it getting so cold?"
"Did someone cast ice magic?"
"No professor is even here yet…"
Whispers spread across the academy grounds.
Near the center fountain stood Adrian Valemont.
His hand was slightly raised as faint icy mist curled around his fingers like pale smoke.
Adrian stared at it silently.
This power…
The moment he formed a Resonance Bond with Lyra Frostveil, the system had amplified her ice affinity a thousand times.
Even a tiny leak of mana from his body was enough to freeze the air itself.
He slowly closed his fist.
The frost stopped spreading.
I need to control it.
If people noticed something strange on the first day, his peaceful academy life would disappear immediately.
Across from him, Lyra Frostveil was watching carefully.
Her silver hair moved slightly in the cold wind, and her pale blue eyes held an unusual trace of curiosity.
"You."
Her calm voice cut through the noise.
Adrian looked at her.
"Yes?"
Lyra stepped slightly closer.
"How are you using ice magic?"
Adrian raised an eyebrow.
"I thought that was obvious."
Lyra shook her head.
"That aura isn't normal."
She placed a hand lightly on the fountain's frozen edge.
"I possess the Frostborn Bloodline. My family has controlled ice magic for generations."
Her gaze sharpened.
"But the cold surrounding you… it's deeper than mine."
Adrian chuckled softly.
"That sounds like a compliment."
Lyra frowned slightly.
"No."
Her voice lowered.
"That's impossible."
Before the conversation could continue—
A voice echoed across the courtyard.
"Well, this is interesting."
Students quickly moved aside as someone approached.
A tall young man stepped forward.
His academy uniform was simple compared to the nobles around him, but his posture was steady and confident.
A sword rested across his back.
Dark hair.
Sharp eyes.
And an unmistakable presence.
Someone whispered nearby.
"That's him."
"The commoner genius."
"Leon Draven."
The name spread instantly through the courtyard.
Adrian looked up.
So he finally appears.
Leon Draven.
The protagonist of the original story.
In the novel, this was where he first met Lyra Frostveil.
But now the situation had already changed.
Leon approached calmly and stopped a few steps away.
His gaze moved from Lyra to Adrian.
Then back to Lyra.
"Lady Lyra."
He nodded respectfully.
Lyra returned the gesture politely.
Then Leon turned toward Adrian.
"You're Adrian Valemont."
His voice was calm, but his eyes held suspicion.
Adrian smiled lightly.
"That's correct."
Leon studied him carefully.
The rumors about Adrian were well known.
A useless noble.
Lazy.
Talentless.
But the lingering cold in the air told a different story.
"You seem different from what I heard," Leon said.
Adrian shrugged.
"Rumors can be misleading."
Leon remained silent for a moment.
Something about Adrian felt wrong.
Very wrong.
The Adrian Valemont he expected to meet today should have been arrogant and foolish.
But the man standing before him seemed calm.
Confident.
Almost dangerous.
Before Leon could say anything more—
A deep bell echoed across the academy grounds.
DONG
DONG
DONG
Students immediately straightened.
A magical voice spread across the campus.
"All first-year students report to the Grand Training Hall immediately."
"The talent evaluation will begin shortly."
Excited murmurs erupted around them.
"This is the ranking test!"
"The crystal measures your talent!"
Adrian glanced toward the enormous academy building.
Here we go.
In the original story, this moment was the beginning of Leon's rise.
But now…
The villain had entered the stage.
And destiny had already begun to shift.
Adrian smiled faintly.
Let's see how much the story can change.