This Chapter originally published on scribblehub cross-posting here with permission 

[Scene: Zenrai Institute — Storm Class Hall, Morning]

The air in Class A’s hall was tense. Not from fear, but anticipation.

After the explosive duel between Aizen and Kaien, the entire academy had begun watching Class A like hawks. Every seat was filled, eyes darting toward the front podium.

Whispers filled the space.

“I heard the instructors are all former warcasters.”

“One of them used to be a squad leader in the Demon War.”

“Who cares? I’m here to get stronger. Let them bring the heat.”

The doors creaked open.

A gust of pressure swept in like a storm front.

Four figures walked in.

The first was a tall man with golden cybernetic arms, half his face scarred. His presence screamed battlefield.

“Name’s Instructor Roen. Mana Combat and Weapon Arts. If you’re slow, you’re dead. If you’re lazy, you’re dead. If you talk back… well, you’ll find out.”

Next was a woman dressed in a jet-black trench coat, her eyes covered with dark glasses. A constant mist curled around her fingertips.

“Instructor Veyra, Elemental Theory and Special Affinities. If you’re not gifted, don’t waste my time.”

The third was a short man with messy hair, humming to himself while floating three notebooks telekinetically.

“Yo. Instructor Bell, Arcane Strategy, Support Tactics, and Control Zones. I like tea, cats, and ruining egos.”

Last came silence.

A shadow flickered. Then stepped forth a masked figure draped in violet-black robes. Mana shimmered like fog around them. No one saw them enter.

“They call me Ashen. I don’t take questions.”

The temperature dropped.

Sumiko’s gaze narrowed slightly.

Kaien leaned toward Aizen. “They’re all monsters. This’ll be fun.”

Aizen just nodded, arms crossed. “About time things got serious.”

[Scene: Physical Trial Grounds — Later That Day]

Instructor Roen’s voice echoed through the forested obstacle course.

“Welcome to Storm Trials. Five stations. One pass. One failure—you’re benched for a week.”

Kaien dashed forward first, leaping over rune-activated spikes and scaling a stone wall with ease.

Sumiko followed, using her elemental affinity to ride a gust of wind up the cliffs, landing cleanly and sprinting on.

Aizen watched silently, calculating every trap, every mana signal. He moved last, smooth and efficient, using minimal Noirvein to warp his momentum mid-air.

Whoosh—step—shift—slide.

“His movement’s insane,” one student muttered.

“He’s not even sweating,” said another.

At the final obstacle, a rotating arcane construct spun violently. Aizen and Kaien reached it at the same time.

“Race you,” Kaien said with a grin.

Aizen didn’t respond. He just ran.

Kaien laughed. “Oh, it’s on.”

Both moved like blurs, leaping between rotating platforms and deflecting magical bolts. They landed at the goal with identical timing.

Instructor Roen grunted. “Not bad. Try harder next time.”

[Scene: Class A Lecture Hall — Afternoon]

Instructor Veyra flicked a finger and conjured five elemental spheres that hovered mid-air.

“These are your basic elements. If you can’t bond with one, you’ll get left behind.”

Sumiko raised her hand.

“What about multi-affinity wielders?”

Veyra smirked. “If you can handle two or more, you’re either a genius… or a disaster waiting to happen.”

With a snap of her fingers, Veyra launched the spheres toward random students.

Sumiko caught the lightning sphere effortlessly.

Kaien grabbed wind.

Aizen caught nothing.

Everyone looked.

Veyra raised a brow. “You just gonna stand there, Caelmir?”

Aizen exhaled, slowly raising his hand.

A thin tendril of Noirvein slithered up his arm.

The room dimmed slightly. A shadow appeared behind him, faint and flickering. The elemental spheres began to vibrate.

Veyra’s smile vanished.

“Class dismissed. Now.”

The students filed out in silence.

Kaien nudged Aizen. “What the hell was that?”

Aizen shrugged. “No idea.”

But deep inside, Noirvein pulsed.

[Domain Progression: 7%]

[End of Chapter 4]

Chapter 5: The Eye in the Crowd

[Scene: Zenrai Institute, Week Two — Courtyard Noon]

It was a cloudless day at Zenrai Institute.

Laughter echoed through the courtyard as Class A students gathered during their lunch break. Mana drones zipped above them, delivering boxed meals and rune-coded drinks. It felt like any other high-tier academy… except for the growing legend of Class A.

Aizen sat under a tree, arms folded, calm as usual.

“Yo, moody prince.”

Kaien dropped down beside him, tearing into a meat bun. “Still glaring at the grass?”

Aizen replied without looking, “Still talking like you’re funny?”

Kaien smirked. “You’re just jealous I’ve got charm and biceps.”

Before Aizen could fire back, a soft breeze passed—and with it, a familiar presence.

Sumiko approached, silver hair gleaming, sword on her back. She tossed a mana water bottle onto Aizen’s lap.

“Drink. You look like a dehydrated corpse.”

Aizen blinked, taking the bottle. “You’re quite the charmer today.”

She sat beside him, eyes narrowing. “You didn’t use your full speed in the obstacle trial yesterday.”

Kaien leaned in. “Oho? Have we entered the analysis phase of this relationship?”

Sumiko ignored him. “Why are you holding back?”

Aizen leaned his head against the tree. “It’s a personal matter. Doesn’t concern you.”

His tone was serious, a wall dropped in place.

But after a pause, he chuckled quietly and added, “Didn’t mean to sound cold, though.”

Sumiko responded without missing a beat. “You’re weird.”

Aizen cracked a slight grin. “You’re just realizing that now?”

[Scene: Upper Academy Path — Afternoon]

The group grew: Kaien, Sumiko, Aizen, and three others—one of them being a silver-haired boy with calm eyes and a teasing smile.

Akio.

“You guys look like you’re walking to your own funeral,” Akio joked.

“Blame Aizen. His walking speed is set to ‘melancholic noble,’” Kaien added.

Sumiko rolled her eyes. “Says the one who poses before jumping stairs.”

Akio laughed. “I swear, one day this group’s gonna make headlines—not for battles, but for drama.”

The vibe was real. A group forming not by force—but by rhythm.

[Scene: Rooftop Tower — Evening, Unknown Figure]

A masked figure stood atop the northern tower, cloak fluttering. They gazed silently at the academy below. Their face was covered completely, their aura unreadable.

Not a word spoken. Not a single move made.

They simply… watched.

And then vanished.

[Scene: Courtyard, Twilight]

Aizen sat cross-legged, polishing his sword. Sumiko approached again, quieter this time.

She knelt across from him. “You don’t talk about yourself.”

Aizen didn’t look up. “Don’t like repeating things.”

“You’re difficult.”

“And yet, you’re still here.”

She exhaled through her nose. “Guess I’m patient.”

Suddenly, a small crackling sound popped near Aizen’s eye.

He touched his lens. “Ah. Dammit.”

One lens slipped from his hand and hit the grass.

Before she could see too much, he turned his face away.

“Broken?” she asked.

He nodded once, quickly. “Need to replace it. Don’t look.”

Sumiko raised a brow, but said nothing. Her gaze lingered.

“Fine,” she said finally. “Weirder than I thought.”

Aizen smiled faintly, still turned away. “I get that a lot.”

[Scene: Academy Observation Hall — Same Night]

Instructors stood overlooking the academy’s outer barrier.

No alerts. No pressure.

Just peace.

Instructor Bell muttered, “For once, it’s quiet. Like it’s supposed to be.”

Ashen, lurking near the shadows, replied, “Then let’s keep it that way.”

[End of Chapter 5]

Next: Chapter 6 — “Fault Lines”