The morning sun had barely kissed the spires of Aether Academy when the
fourth-year students of Class Omega-6 shuffled into the expansive, dome-roofed
Lecture Hall Epsilon. At the heart of the room stood an intricate holomap
projector, humming with arcanotech energy. Today wasn's lecture was titled:
"The World Beyond Your Borders".
Eliar Thorne sat near the back, arms crossed, trying not to yawn. The events of
the past days still swirled in his mind—the appearance of Selene Varis, the
strange system screens that had begun appearing before his eyes,killing Kyren Vellore for revenge. Something had shifted in his life, and the world was beginning to show cracks he'd never noticed before.
Professor Caelius entered, robes trailing like shadows. He was an older man,
perhaps in his late sixties, but his presence was imposing, his steps
deliberate. With a flick of his wand, the projector came alive.
The lights dimmed. A three-dimensional map of the entire Elyndor Continent
shimmered into view, floating above the heads of the students.
"Today," Caelius began, his voice smooth as obsidian, "we study the anatomy of our world. Not as you've read it in censored textbooks... but as it truly is."
Gasps followed. Even Eliar leaned forward slightly.
The map zoomed in. Four glowing sections divided the continent—North, South,
East, and West. Each quadrant pulsed with a different hue, signifying the dominant culture, magic type, and political alignment.
"Each quadrant has its own ruling families, alliances, languages, and
power hierarchies," Caelius said, his wand floating above the Eastern Quadrant. "The Eastern Quadrant, our home, is known for its pursuit of knowledge and spiritual energy manipulation. It is also home to some of the
most powerful families, including several of the Five High Bloodlines."
Eliar's ears perked up.
"The Five High Bloodlines," Caelius continued, his tone reverent,
"are the pinnacle of magical evolution and political dominance. These are
families whose lineage traces back to the Founding Era. Their members are often
born with awakened abilities, enhanced intellect, and affinity to ancient
mana."
Names floated into the air:
House Vellore
House Draycin
House Caerthas
House Nyre
House Velmont
He paused before continuing. "Above even these powerful houses is the
mysterious and semi-autonomous Sky District."
The map zoomed out, then rotated upward to reveal a glowing, circular city that
floated high above the central landmass of Elyndor. Students stared, mouths
agape.
"The Sky District is not accessible by conventional means. It exists in a
suspended dimension tethered to Elyndor, floating thousands of meters above sea
level. Only those from the Five High Bloodlines or the Twelve High Houses may
be summoned there."
Gasps rose. A name flickered in Eliar's mind—Selene Varis.
Caelius answered their thoughts without needing to read them. "Yes, House Varis is one of the Twelve. They shape not only our continent's magical progression but also its political and technological paths."
Images of crystalline towers, mana-reactor engines, and winged carriages shimmered in the air. In the Sky District, magic and technology were indistinguishable.
A hand rose.
"Yes, Miss Elen?"
"Professor... what about the Fifth Quadrant?" she asked innocently,
pointing to a section of the map that was strangely... dark. No label. No
color.
Silence.
The ambient mana in the room pulsed once. Caelius turned to her, wand slowly
lowering.
"There are only four quadrants," he said calmly.
"But I've read—"
"Only. Four."
He flicked his wrist, and the map vanished, leaving the classroom dim.
A collective shiver passed through the students.
Caelius turned his back to them and began writing on the
blackboard.
Eliar leaned over to Selene, whispering, "What was that about?"
She didn't answer. Her gaze lingered on the spot the Fifth Quadrant had occupied.
---
The lecture continued, but the mood had shifted. When the bell rang, students
filed out slower than usual, whispers trailing behind them like shadows.
Outside the hall, Selene waited for Eliar.
"You're different," she said without looking at
him.
"So are you."
She chuckled faintly. "You're not scared of me? Most people are."
"Should I be?"
She leaned in. "Not of me. But of the world you're waking up in."
Before he could respond, a shimmer passed over her eyes—a System Notification.
Eliar recognized the expression instantly.
She saw his glance and whispered, "So... you have one too."
[Ally Candidate #001: Selene Varis – Heir of House Varis has detected System
synchronization. Initiating Link?]
Eliar blinked. Before he could react, the screen flickered and vanished.
"We need to talk," Selene said, her voice suddenly serious. "But not here. Come to the Southern Library after lights out."
"Why?"
"Because I think I know what you are. And if I'm right... they're going to come for you."
She walked off, her cloak billowing like storm clouds.
Eliar stood frozen as the evening sun dipped behind the academy walls.
Far above, the Sky District shimmered like a second moon.
And somewhere... in the corner of the continent left blank on every map,
something stirred.
---
End of Chapter 8.