The warmth of the morning sun brushed against Caius' face as he stirred awake, his eyes fluttering open. His body still ached from exhaustion, but the sudden realization that he had fallen asleep outside jolted him upright.
"Damn it! How long was I asleep?"
Panic surged through him as he bolted to his feet. His mother was probably waiting for him at the herbal store by now. Without wasting another second, he sprinted toward their home, weaving through the town's narrow streets. His breath came in ragged gasps, his heart pounding against his chest.
But then—
A scream.
Not just any scream. It was one of pure terror, a sound that sent shivers down his spine.
Caius skidded to a stop, his entire body going rigid. What was that?! His instincts screamed at him to run away, but instead, he turned on his heel and rushed toward the source of the sound.
As he rounded a corner, his eyes widened in horror.
A body. Lifeless. Blood pooling beneath it.
His stomach churned, and his breath caught in his throat. The scent of iron hung heavy in the air, mixing with the faint traces of burnt wood from a nearby stall.
"No… no, no, no—!"
His mind raced. He had to do something. Aetherwatch!
The thought snapped him out of his daze, and he forced his trembling legs to move. He had to get to the Aetherwatch station—the town's Reaper headquarters. If anyone could handle this, it was them.
But as he turned to run, his foot caught on a loose stone, and he fell—
"Tch!" He gritted his teeth, pushing himself up—
A low, guttural growl rumbled behind him.
His breath hitched. His hands trembled as he turned his head, his blood running cold.
There, standing mere meters away, was an Aethervore.
Its hollow, glowing eyes bore into him. Its distorted body shifted, dark tendrils writhing as if feeding off the very air itself.
Caius' body refused to move. His thoughts blanked.
"I... I'm going to die."
His heartbeat roared in his ears. Fear clutched his chest, suffocating him. His vision blurred as the Aethervore tensed, preparing to lunge.
"No… no! MOVE!"
He willed his body to react. He forced his legs to move.
But he was too slow.
The Aethervore's claws slashed toward him, a dark blur closing in—
"Caius!"
A flash of silver.
A blade struck the Aethervore's arm, forcing it back.
A figure leaped between them, standing defensively.
"M-Mom—?!"
Elara, his mother, stood before him, her expression cold and unwavering. Her silver hair was swept back, her healer's robe billowing slightly as she gripped a dagger.
"Are you hurt?!" she asked urgently, her voice firm but trembling at the edges.
Caius couldn't answer. He was still trying to process what had just happened.
The Aethervore growled, its focus now locked onto Elara.
Despite being a healer, she did not back down.
"I won't let you touch my son."
Summoning every ounce of strength, she charged. Her dagger glowed faintly with Arcanum, and she slashed at the beast, landing a deep wound on its chest.
The Aethervore shrieked.
But Elara staggered.
"Shit—!" She gritted her teeth. Using Arcanum in combat drained her, and she could already feel her body weakening.
"Caius, RUN!" she ordered.
"But—!"
"NOW!"
Tears welled in Caius' eyes, but he obeyed, sprinting toward the Aetherwatch station, his heart hammering.
"Please… someone… help!"
He barely registered the people staring as he burst into the Aetherwatch, collapsing onto the floor.
Kael, the Reaper Captain, turned to him, his brows furrowing in concern.
"Caius?! What happened—"
"My mom—she—she's fighting an Aethervore! Alone! Please, you have to help her!"
Kael's face darkened. He turned to his men.
"Move out! NOW!"
The Reapers scrambled into action. Within seconds, they were racing through the streets, weapons drawn, their Arcanum flaring to life.
As they arrived at the scene, a cold chill settled over them.
Elara lay motionless on the ground, blood pooling beneath her.
"NO—!" Caius choked out, rushing forward, but Kael caught his arm.
His eyes snapped to the nearby building—
A second Aethervore.
And it was powerful.
"How the hell did a higher-rank Aethervore get here?!" Kael's jaw clenched. This wasn't normal.
The beast lunged.
Kael reacted instantly.
"Infernal Rend!"
A wave of fire erupted from his blade, slamming into the Aethervore and forcing it back. The creature snarled but didn't fall.
The fight was brutal. Kael's sword clashed against the Aethervore's claws, sparks flying with each strike. He was fast, but so was the beast.
A sudden pain shot through his leg as the Aethervore landed a hit.
"Tch—!" He staggered.
The Aethervore took the opportunity to lunge at him, claws aimed for his throat—
"Blazing Ascendancy!"
A surge of fire erupted from Kael's palm, blasting the Aethervore through the town's gate.
The other Reapers followed up, launching their own attacks. After an intense battle, the Aethervore finally fell.
But at a cost.
Three Bronze-rank Reapers.
One Silver-rank.
And Elara, now in critical condition.
Caius collapsed beside her, gripping her cold hand.
"Mom... please... stay with me..."
She was alive, but barely.
They rushed her to the hospital, but the healer's prognosis was grim.
"Her body is severely damaged from Arcanum Overuse. I can stabilize her, but her mind... The trauma is worsening. She needs an Abyss-rank Healer, and that kind of treatment costs more than most can afford."
Caius' world shattered.
He clenched his fists.
Money... I need money.
His gaze hardened.
"I'll become a Reaper."
Thus, his journey began.
Caius left his younger sister in the care of their mother's friend. Before his departure, Kael handed him a pouch of gold coins as a reward for what Elara had done for their town and for saving the Reapers through their herbal store.
"This should help you on your journey to the capital," Kael said, placing a firm hand on Caius's shoulder. "Dravon—ah, I mean Cairn—is a place full of opportunities, but it's also dangerous. Be careful."
Caius bowed slightly. "Thank you, Sir Kael. I'll make sure to use this wisely."
Kael then introduced him to a merchant friend from the capital, someone who could provide him with a place to stay. However, there was a catch.
"You can stay at my place," the merchant said with a smirk, "but in exchange, you'll have to help around with deliveries and errands."
Caius nodded. "That's fine with me."
After final farewells, including a tearful goodbye from his younger sister, Caius and the merchant set off for Cairn. The journey took one week and two days.
---
Arrival at the Capital
As they neared Cairn, Caius was struck with awe. Towering buildings lined the streets, bustling with people. The marketplace was filled with stalls selling weapons, armor, and magical artifacts. But what truly captivated him was the Tower—the massive structure that had crashed 500 years ago, still standing tall in the distance.
"Incredible…" he muttered, his eyes fixated on it.
After parting ways with the merchant, he wandered the city, trying to find Cairn Arcanum School. However, the capital was too vast, and soon he realized—he was lost.
He approached a passerby. "Excuse me, sir. Can you tell me where Cairn Arcanum School is?"
The man pointed down a street. "Follow that road, take a left, then another right. You'll see the entrance."
"Thank you!" Caius quickly followed the directions and, after a few more minutes of walking, arrived at the school gates. His breath hitched at the sight—the academy was enormous.
---
Testing and the Entrance Exam
Upon entering, he immediately applied for admission. He was led to a testing room, where an instructor handed him an Aether ball to gauge his power.
"Focus your Aether into this," the instructor instructed.
Caius did as he was told, and the orb glowed—but not too brightly.
"Hmm… average at best," the instructor muttered. "Next, let's check your affinity."
Caius was directed toward five elemental stones—Fire, Wind, Earth, Lightning, and Water. He was to channel his Aether into each one.
He touched the Lightning Stone—nothing.
He touched the Fire Stone—it faintly glowed.
He tried Earth and Water—both remained dull.
Lastly, he reached for the Wind Stone—
The moment his fingers hovered near it, it lit up instantly.
The instructor's eyes widened. "A strong wind affinity… Interesting."
Then came the entrance exam.
"What? There's an entrance exam too?!" Caius gasped.
"Yes. You didn't study for it?"
He shook his head. "I thought only the Aether test mattered…"
The instructor sighed. "Well, good luck."
Despite his best efforts, Caius failed.He sat outside the academy, tears welling in his eyes.
"Now what…? Do I really have to wait another year?"
---
An Unexpected Encounter
As he sulked, he heard a woman's scream.
He immediately ran toward the source and saw two men robbing an elderly woman.
"Stop right there!" he shouted.
One of the thieves sneered. "Oh? A hero, huh?"
Caius lunged at them, but he was quickly overpowered. One of them struck him down, and as he hit the ground, something inside him awakened.
His Aether flared uncontrollably.
A powerful wind force erupted from his body, knocking out one of the thieves.
The remaining thief used an Arcanum skill, but Caius dodged just in time. His mind raced.
I've seen Reapers fight before… How do they move? How do they strike?
With a well-timed counter, Caius landed a punch, knocking the thief unconscious. His Aether surged again, forming a faint aura around him.
What… is this?
The old woman stared at him with keen interest. "Are you a student at the academy?"
Caius's expression darkened. "No… I took the entrance exam, but I failed."
The woman was silent for a moment before asking, "Did you receive any formal training?"
"No," Caius admitted.
Her eyes widened. No training, yet he instinctively used Aether and an Arcanum skill…?
"This boy…" she thought. "He has potential."
"What part of the exam did you fail?" she asked.
"The written test," Caius sighed. "I didn't study… I thought only the Aether test mattered."
The old woman chuckled. "Why do you want to join the academy?"
Caius hesitated, then answered, "To become a Reaper."
He clenched his fists. "I need to find an Abyss-ranked healer… and earn enough money to save my mother."
The woman observed him closely, but then Caius added something that made her heart skip a beat.
"But more than that… since I was a kid, I've always dreamed of studying the Tower's origin. I want to find Luntheris.
At the mention of Luntheris, the old woman's expression changed.
"Luntheris…? It's been a long time since I heard someone mention that name."
She smiled. "I believe you'll achieve your dreams, Caius."
She then pulled out a golden letter and handed it to him.
"If you truly want to make your dreams come true… give this to the academy's guard tomorrow."
Caius stared at the letter in disbelief. "This…?"
"Trust me."
Overwhelmed with gratitude, Caius bowed. "Thank you! I won't waste this chance."
That night, he prayed—hoping that everything the old woman said was true.
---
The Golden Letter
The next morning, Caius arrived at the academy and handed the letter to the guard.
The guard's eyes widened upon seeing the golden seal. He immediately rushed inside.
Minutes later, the principal himself came out.
Caius, still clueless about what was happening, heard whispers and murmurs from the students inside.
"What's with the commotion?" he muttered.
Then, the academy doors swung open.
Standing before him was the principal himself.
Caius's fate was about to change.
---
The Golden Letter's Weight
Caius's heart pounded in his chest as he stared at the man before him.
Principal Lucien Ashenford.
Of all people, why was the principal—the most powerful figure in the academy—personally approaching him?
Lucien's piercing gaze settled on him with an intensity that made his legs weak. Despite the suffocating pressure emanating from the man, Caius forced himself to speak.
"I swear, I didn't do anything wrong! I was just following what that old woman told me last night!" he blurted out.
For a moment, the principal simply stared at him before suddenly bursting into laughter.
"He's laughing?! Why?!"
Lucien's smirk carried a mix of amusement and intrigue.
"You haven't done anything wrong, kid," the principal said. **"I'm just curious—how exactly did you get your hands on that golden letter?"
Caius blinked.
"...Golden letter? Are you saying this is the golden letter that only a Primordial Reaper can give?"
Lucien nodded. "That's right. And the fact that you have it... means a Primordial Reaper personally chose you."
Caius felt his entire world tilt.
A Primordial Reaper—the strongest, most legendary of all Reapers—gave him this letter?
"This... this doesn't make sense! Why would someone like that give this to me?" he muttered.
Lucien crossed his arms and leaned against his desk. "That's what I want to know too. The golden letter isn't just some fancy recommendation, kid. It's a ticket to unlimited privileges—you can buy anything, go anywhere, and even get **fast-tracked for rank promotions."
Caius's eyes widened. "W-Wait... does that mean I could sell it?"
The air in the room turned heavy.
Lucien stared at him, dumbfounded. "You... want to sell the golden letter?"
"Well, yeah!" Caius said. "I need the money for my mom. Her mind was affected after a fight with the Aethervores... I need to pay for her treatment."
A flicker of something unreadable passed through Lucien's eyes before he let out a sigh.
"You're an interesting one, Caius."
Lucien straightened up and said, **"You don't need to sell it. I'll personally heal your mother."
Caius's breath caught in his throat.
"Y-You can do that...?"
Lucien smirked. "I'm not just an ordinary principal, kid. Before I took this position, I was an Abyss-rank Reaper. My specialty isn't just healing—I'm also an expert in long-range Arcanum combat. My affinity is Darkflame."
Caius froze.
An Abyss-rank Reaper?! And a Darkflame user?!
He had heard of the legends—Reapers who could burn their enemies to nothing but ash.
Caius's emotions surged inside him, his throat tightening.
He clenched his fists and bowed deeply. "Thank you, Principal! Thank you so much!"
Lucien waved him off. "Don't get all emotional on me yet. I'll heal her tomorrow—today, I'm busy."
Caius wiped at his eyes and laughed awkwardly. "R-Right, of course..."
Lucien then handed the golden letter back to him and said, "By the way, congratulations. You passed the exam."
Caius almost dropped the letter.
"W-WHAT?! But I failed the entrance exam!"
Lucien chuckled. "That letter overrides everything. All tuition, training, and tests? Free. You can start classes anytime you want."
Caius swallowed hard. He didn't expect this. "I... I have to think about it first. I need to ask my mom."
Lucien raised an eyebrow. "I thought you wanted to reach Luntheris? If you do, you need to become a Reaper. Throughout history, only Reapers have set foot there. And even then, most of them never returned."
Caius's body stiffened.
"...I'll find a way to reach Luntheris without becoming a Reaper."
Lucien studied him for a long moment before asking, "Do you want to be a Reaper, even if your mother is against it?"
Caius fell silent.
He had spent his whole life thinking that he didn't need to be a Reaper. That there were other ways to reach his dream.
But deep inside, he already knew the answer.
He clenched his fists.
"Yes. I want to become a Reaper."
Lucien grinned. "Good. Then prove it."
---
An Unwanted Challenge
After leaving the principal's office, Caius decided to explore the academy.
The place was massive. Students trained in open fields, sparred in combat rings, and practiced Arcanum techniques. Watching them made his chest tighten.
"I wish I had someone to train with..." he thought, remembering his childhood friend—the only friend he ever had, who had moved away years ago.
Lost in thought, a mouthwatering aroma caught his attention.
"Oh hell yeah, food."
Since he was now a VIP student, everything was free. Caius grabbed as much food as he could and sat down, enjoying the moment—
—until a group of arrogant students approached him.
"Hey, you're the VIP student, right?" one of them sneered.
Caius swallowed his food and nodded. "Yeah, that's me."
The students laughed mockingly. "Meet us outside the school. We need to 'welcome' you properly."
Something about their tone didn't sit right with him. But maybe they weren't so bad?
He was wrong.
When he arrived, they threw a pair of gloves at his feet.
The moment he picked them up, the leader grinned. **"You just accepted our duel."**
"Wait, what—"
Before he could react, the student unleashed his aura. A suffocating storm of lightning** crackled around him.
Caius didn't flinch.
That made them pause. "Huh? You're not scared?"
Caius exhaled. "Let's just get this over with."
The arrogant student vanished in a flash of lightning, appearing in front of him in an instant.
"Too slow!"
Caius barely dodged as a lightning-coated fist whizzed past his face. His instincts screamed as he leapt backward, dodging every strike.
He wasn't fast enough.
A hit connected—sending him crashing to the ground.
But he stood back up.
Blood dripped from his lip as his rage flared. His aura erupted, and his Aether surged.
"Oh?" The arrogant student smirked. **"Finally getting serious?"
Caius charged. This time, he was faster. His fist connected—slamming into his opponent's gut.
The student grinned.
"Now we're talking."
Lightning erupted.
Caius barely saw the next punch before—
BOOM!
Pain exploded in his chest.
He hit the ground, coughing blood.
The student loomed over him. "You don't deserve that golden letter."*
Caius's vision blurred.
"How could I defeat this guy?" Caius thought, frustration creeping in. "He's too strong… Damn it!"
He clenched his fists, feeling the weight of his exhaustion. But then—
Fwoosh!
A sudden burst of heat surged from his palms. Flames erupted from his hands, crackling with raw power. His eyes widened as he remembered—when he first awakened, two affinities had resonated with him.
"Fire and Lightning…!"
Realizing the potential of his dual affinities, Caius instinctively channeled his Fire Arcanum. The air around him warped from the heat, and the ground beneath him charred.
"I have to take the initiative!"
With a sharp motion, he thrust his hands forward—
BOOM!
The explosion rocked the training ground as fire and electricity fused together, creating a devastating surge of energy aimed straight at his opponent. Smoke filled the air, and the crowd gasped.
But when the dust settled, the arrogant student stood there, unharmed.
A translucent barrier flickered around him, absorbing the attack. His smirk twisted into a sneer.
"That all you got?" He dusted off his uniform like the attack had been nothing more than a gentle breeze. "I expected more from someone acting so tough earlier."
Caius' heart pounded in his chest. He blocked it?!
The arrogant student's smirk disappeared, replaced by an expression of pure malice. His eyes gleamed with a deadly glint as he slowly raised his hand, power crackling around his fingers.
"You're starting to piss me off," he growled. "I was just playing around, but now… I'll show you what real power looks like."
His aura surged, and Caius felt his entire body freeze.
"This pressure… it's suffocating!"
The air became heavy, the ground trembling beneath them. The other students watching from the sidelines instinctively stepped back. Some even stumbled to the ground, overwhelmed by the sheer force of his presence.
"Hey! Stop this already!" one of his friends called out, grabbing his shoulder.
"Yeah, it's just a spar! You're going too far!" another one pleaded.
But the arrogant student shoved them away, his eyes burning with fury. "Stay out of this! This is between me and him!"
His voice boomed across the arena, sending chills down everyone's spine.
Caius took a shaky step back. His instincts screamed at him—this wasn't a mere spar anymore. This was a battle for survival.
"Get ready," his opponent snarled, his energy spiking to dangerous levels. "Say your goodbyes, because today will be your last!"
Caius tightened his fists. His heartbeat echoed in his ears. He wanted to move, but his body wouldn't respond.
"I can't block that… I don't have enough control over Aether or Arcanum yet!"
The energy gathering in his opponent's palm crackled violently, forming a sphere of raw destruction. The air hummed with lethal intent.
This was it.
Was there any way for him to survive?
---
End of Chapter.
-