Raizel gazed at the Aetheria Magic Academy building from a distance. A magnificent Gothic building with towering, pointed spires, surrounded by a magical shield that gleamed golden in the sunlight.
A stark contrast to Valthorr Castle, which was always shrouded in darkness.
"So this is where they educate future rulers," he murmured, his red eyes narrowed in assessment. Six years had passed since his coronation ceremony as the official heir, and now at sixteen, Raizel was tall with a cold, aristocratic face.
Beside him, Grim—an old butler who had always been loyal—studied his master's face carefully. "Prince, I still don't understand why Lord Valthorr allowed you to attend an institution founded by his enemies."
Raizel smiled thinly, a smile that never reached his eyes. "Politics, Grim. My father always had a long-term plan." He adjusted his black robe that bore the Valthorr emblem—a dark dragon wrapped around a skull. "And besides, this is a neutral academy, technically. They accept students from both the Solaris Empire and the Eastern Territories… though very selectively."
"Still, Prince. As the son of Lord Valthorr—"
"As the son of Lord Valthorr, I would be the perfect spy in the enemy's lair," Raizel interrupted calmly.
"Everyone would be watching me, waiting for my cruelty to emerge, while I would learn their weaknesses and secrets."
Grim nodded slowly. "You are truly your father's son."
Raizel didn't respond. He reached into his pocket, feeling the familiar contours of the black obsidian ring his father had given him six years ago—a gift that had come out of a mysterious box during his first lesson. The Void Pact Ring, proof that Raizel had made a pact with a dark entity. The price was a piece of his old soul, the reward a power he didn't even fully understand.
"Time to face the outside world," Raizel said, stepping forward toward the main gate.
The Aetheria Magic Academy's Orientation Hall was filled with hundreds of new students from various backgrounds. The majority came from the Solaris Empire's noble families, recognizable by their white-and-gold robes.
A handful from the neutral region in blue-silver robes. And only two or three students from the Eastern Region, their black-red robes made them look like ink spilled in a sea of light.
Whispers spread quickly as Raizel entered the room. Some students instinctively moved away. Others stared at him with a mixture of fear and hatred.
"There he is."
"Valthorr's son."
"I heard he killed all his brothers."
"A monster. What was the Headmaster thinking by accepting him here?"
Raizel ignored the whispers, walking gracefully to an empty seat at the back of the hall. This had all been calculated. This negative reaction was part of a game planned by his father.
As Raizel was about to sit down, a blond young man in the finest white robes stood, blocking his way.
"This seat is taken," he said coldly.
Raizel recognized the young man instantly from descriptions and paintings he had seen. Darius Lumiere, crown prince of the Solaris Empire. To think that the destined enemies would meet so soon.
"I don't see anyone sitting here," Raizel replied politely, though his eyes flashed with challenge.
Darius smiled—a perfect, diplomatic, and completely fake smile. "Some spaces must remain empty, Valthorr. Like the hearts of your family."
The tension around them rose. Several students subconsciously backed away, creating an empty circle around the two heirs to the greatest power on the continent.
Raizel was not provoked. Six years of training under Lord Valthorr had taught him that anger was a weakness in power games. "Interesting," he said calmly. "Is that why there are so many empty seats around you, Prince Darius? To match the void in your Empire's leadership?"
Darius's face hardened slightly, but his smile remained. "How dare you—"
"Enough." A sharp female voice interrupted their confrontation. A middle-aged woman with silver hair and formal purple robes approached. Madame Evelyn, Headmistress of the Aetheria Magic Academy.
"Prince Darius, Lord Valthorr. If you wish to fight, please do so in the scheduled dueling arena. Not in my orientation hall." Her sharp eyes shifted between the two young men. "In this academy, your family status means nothing. You will be judged on merit, discipline, and character."
"Of course, Madame Evelyn," answered Darius with exaggerated respect. "I was just giving a typical Solaris welcome to… guests from the East."
"And I really appreciate the Prince's hospitality," Raizel added in an equally polite tone. "I'm sure we'll be good friends."
Madame Evelyn snorted in disbelief. "Sit down. Orientation is about to begin."
As the Headmaster walked away, Darius whispered something that only Raizel could hear. "Your father killed my uncle, Varius. I will avenge him."
Raizel nodded as if Darius had just offered a friendly greeting. "Impressive that you care about the fate of a distant uncle you've barely met. Or is this just about royal pride?"
Darius gasped, clearly surprised that Raizel knew of his distant relationship with Varius. Before he could reply, the Principal started speaking at the podium, forcing all the students to shut up and pay attention.
Raizel sat in another chair, several rows from where the argument had occurred. He studied Darius from a distance, assessing. Prince Solaris is handsome, charismatic, and surrounded by followers who clearly admire him. A threat that could not be underestimated.
In the middle of an orientation lecture about the academy's history and expectations for students, Raizel felt an intense gaze from the corner of his eye. He turned his head slightly and found a pair of purple eyes watching him from the row of seats to the side.
A girl with silvery white hair, sitting alone with a cold expression. Her robes were dark gray with no family or country emblems—signaling that she was not from any noble family. But there was something about the way she observed her that made Raizel's instincts flare. This girl was dangerous.
When their eyes met, the girl did not look down or look away like most other students. Instead, she continued to stare, as if assessing and sizing Raizel up.
Who was she? Raizel wondered. She was not on his father's intelligence list of important students who would be entering the academy this year.
"…and in closing," Madame Evelyn's voice drew Raizel's attention back to the podium. "Remember that the Aetheria Magic Academy is not just a place to learn to control your powers, but also a place to learn how to use them wisely. Your decisions today will shape the future of this continent."
The Headmaster looked around the room, his eyes briefly stopping on Darius, then on Raizel. "You are all the future of Aetherium. Think carefully about what kind of world you want to create."
What kind of world do I want to create? Raizel repeated the words in his mind. A question he had never considered before. Up until now, his goals had been to simply survive, learn about this new world, and live up to his father's expectations.
Out of the corner of his eye, Raizel saw the silver-haired girl still watching him, as if reading his mind.
As orientation ended and the students began to move toward their dormitories, Raizel felt something strange—a cold sensation on the back of his neck, like someone had cast a tracking spell on him. He turned quickly, but the corridor behind him was empty.
"Interesting," he murmured. "It seems like this academy is going to be more dangerous than I thought."
On his hand, the Void Pact ring pulsed softly, as if responding to the approaching danger. The shadows around him vibrated almost imperceptibly, dancing on the soles of his feet like loyal dogs ready to protect their master.
His first year at Aetheria Academy had just begun, and the real battle had yet to even begin.