The academy's testing field stretched wide under a silver sky. Rows of summoned targets, enchanted training dummies, and magical barriers gleamed in the morning light. Students were everywhere—displaying their newly awakened skills, showing off to teachers, sparring like it was the grand tournament already.
Kai stood near the back of the crowd, silent. His class, publicly displayed as [Scout – Tier 1], didn't attract any attention.
Just how the system designed it.
> [Aether Veil – Active]
All true stats, titles, and class traits hidden from external scans.
"Scout, huh?" someone muttered behind him. "Figures."
"Aria Valenhardt's brother and he gets that? Life's weird."
Kai didn't reply. His eyes followed the instructors as they moved between students.
His gaze briefly locked onto one man in particular.
A sharp-eyed instructor with long white hair, a red-lined uniform, and a sword at his hip.
Instructor Revan Korr.
A former elite commander. Known for uncovering potential others missed.
> He's scanning everyone, Kai thought. Looking for cracks in our masks.
Kai looked away. He had a part to play.
But across the field, someone else stood like a sun among stars.
Aria.
Her armor glimmered with light-forged steel. The air shimmered faintly around her form—just standing near her made the wind move differently.
She spoke to no one. Watched everything.
Including him.
---
"Begin the Class Demonstrations!"
A booming voice echoed. One by one, students stepped forward.
Fireballs. Shadow strikes. Spirit familiars. The air was alive with color and chaos.
When Kai's name was called, the noise dipped slightly. A few chuckled.
"Scout" wasn't exactly inspiring.
He stepped forward, calm.
The instructor raised an eyebrow. "Kai Valenhardt. Class: Scout. You may demonstrate agility or ranged skill. Go on."
Kai looked at the three tests ahead: speed, accuracy, and reaction.
He inhaled… and slowed everything down.
> [Temporal Glimpse – Passive]
Perceive time in slowed fragments. Triggered subconsciously.
The world felt quieter. Movements sharpened. Lines blurred into patterns.
He struck the speed trial's pressure plates faster than any student had before. His darts in the accuracy test hit center mass, dead on.
By the time he stepped away, the instructors looked… confused.
Revan scribbled something silently.
> Scout? That felt… wrong, the man thought.
Aria watched from a distance, lips pressed in thought. She hadn't missed it either.
---
Back in the dorms, Kai sat alone in his room.
The walls were old stone. The bed small. Nothing special. But when he focused...
> [System Interface – Internal]
Status: Stable
Class: Aetherbound Reclaimer (Hidden)
Title: Heaven's Chosen – ??? (Hidden)
Limitless Potential: Growing
> New Trait Pending Awakening: ???
And then a message appeared, out of nowhere:
> [PRIVATE INCOMING MESSAGE – UNTRACEABLE ORIGIN]
"We see you, Kai Valenhardt. The old stars remember. Be ready."
---
Kai blinked.
> Someone—or something—knew.
But before he could reply, the message disintegrated into golden particles.
Outside, thunder rolled. The wind changed.
A storm was coming.
---
Next: Chapter 4 – "Shadows Beneath the Crown"