The woman looked to be in her early thirties, wearing leather pants and a leather jacket, with a black cloak draped over her slender body. She walked to the front desk and placed the documents she had carried with her. She stood, looking at the students.
"Everyone, my name is Eleonora Sylwen Vaelith, and you can call me Ms. Eleonora," Eleonora said with a smile on her face.
"I will be your House Mentor instructor. I will teach you everything you need to become strong."
Everyone was ecstatic, seeing the gentle nature and soft voice of the instructor.
"Now, I believe everyone has gotten to know each other. I want everyone to get along, grow stronger together, and make a name for this Classroom Three."
Some of the guys glanced at Eren with mocking smiles as she mentioned getting along together.
"Now, before we start the class, is there anyone who possesses a unique or rare innate flame that you would like to show? I would love to see if any of you are gifted with a rare flame."
Around ten people raised their hands, eager to show off their innate flames. Eleonora was taken aback for a second, surprised by the number of students with rare or unique flames.
"I'm truly surprised that so many students with rare flames have gathered in Classroom Three."
Everyone looked at the students raising their hands with envy, as most of them only had common innate flames. Eren looked around, noticing those who had raised their hands, including the ones who had confronted him earlier, and the girl who had kicked him.
Sighing, Eren turned away, but he noticed a girl sitting near him raising her hand from the corner of his eye. He didn't dare look directly at her. Eren sat like a statue, still thinking about how she hadn't kicked him out of her table.
"Great. Come to the front of the class one by one and show your rare flame to your classmates," Eleonora said, walking toward the side of the room.
The guy who had stopped Eren earlier stood up, walking confidently to the front of the class and glaring at Eren, who was seated near the front.
"My name is Viktor von Auerbach, and I am from Blazewatch City," Viktor said with a smile.
"My innate flame is [Blazeburst] Flame," he said, giggling at the students.
Stretching his hand, he recited the verse, "From ember to inferno, all things end in flame's final roar." A fireball manifested in his hand.
Everyone looked at the fireball, unimpressed, since anyone could conjure a fireball.
Viktor's lips curled into a smirk as he threw the fireball at the ceiling.
Boom…
A deafening roar erupted, and everyone was thunderstruck by the explosion. The unique innate flame detonated upon impact.
Eleonora nodded in satisfaction at the demonstration. Viktor stood with proud glee on his face, his eyes locking with Eren.
"That is indeed a unique innate flame. Next," Eleonora said.
Viktor walked back to his seat, looking at everyone as if they were beneath him.
A girl stood from her table, walking forward with a carefree smile.
"My name is Selene from Blazewatch City, and my innate flame is Crimson Serpent."
Selene extended both hands and recited, "From coiling embers, the serpent of flame devours all."
Flames manifested into a serpent extending from both her hands, slithering like a real snake. One of the flame serpents moved toward Eren. Seeing the serpent approaching him, Eren quickly moved aside. The flame veered close to the girl sitting near him, and Eren hesitated to move further, afraid she might kick him. The moment the flame neared, it suddenly dissipated.
"Very well, it is indeed a rare flame. You may go now," Eleonora said.
"Next."
Eren shifted his hips, glancing back to see who was next. But to his surprise, no one stood. He frowned, confused. Weren't there ten people who had raised their hands?
As he was lost in thought, a soft voice came from the front of the class.
Eren quickly turned back, his gaze landing on a girl standing at the front. For a brief moment, he was transfixed. Then, a strange thought struck him. He shifted his eyes to the seat beside him—the one that had been occupied all this time.
It was empty.
His breath hitched. His pulse quickened. He turned forward again, his mind in turmoil.
And then, he truly saw her.
She was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. Her skin was paler than milk, her eyes darker than the night itself. Her hair, redder than blood, cascaded in soft waves around her delicate face. She stood with an almost otherworldly grace, her slender frame resembling a living masterpiece. Her sweet, honeyed voice still echoed in his ears.
Eren's thoughts blurred. His heart pounded wildly. His eyes traced every detail—the perfect oval of her face, her soft cherry lips, her elegant neck, smooth like a conch shell.
She was beauty incarnate, something beyond his imagination.
To others, it felt like a moment. But to Eren, it felt like a decade.
"My name is Evelyne. I am from Silverbrook Village, and my innate flame is Aurora Ember," Evelyne said.
"From prismatic flames, the world bends and falters, reality flickering between truth and illusion," Evelyne muttered to herself, her voice so soft that Eren barely heard it.
She manifested a multicolored flame where the green hue dominated the others. With a graceful motion, she reached out, separated the green flame from the rest, and cast it forward. The flame burst and vanished in an instant. As everyone turned their eyes to the front, their jaws dropped in disbelief.
Another Evelyne stood at the back of the class. One remained seated near Eren, and the third was still standing near Eleonora.
"How is this possible? How can she create duplicates of herself?"
"I wish I had this innate flame."
"Be happy with what you have. Don't envy others."
The class erupted into murmurs, bewildered and astonished. Some even speculated whether Evelyne's flame might be a legendary one. Discussions spread like wildfire, admiration and disbelief mingling in the air.
Suddenly, Eleonora clapped, drawing everyone's attention. The students followed, breaking into applause for the dazzling display. The duplicates of Evelyne faded away, leaving only the original standing at the front.
"Very good, Evelyne. This is truly a unique, if not legendary, type of flame," Eleonora said, approaching Evelyne with admiration.
Evelyne bowed gracefully and returned to her seat. Eren tried his best to keep his composure, resisting the urge to glance at her as she sat next to him.
"Anyone else wants to show their innate flame?" Eleonora asked.
But no one stood up. No one dared to present their flame after witnessing Evelyne's astonishing display.
"He has a legendary flame. He'll show us his innate flame," a voice called out from the back.
All eyes turned toward Eren. Eleonora's gaze followed, landing directly on him. Eren stiffened, bewildered as to why she was looking at him.
"Do you want to show your innate flame?" Eleonora asked, her expression curious.
Eren remained silent, unsure of how to respond.
"I would be delighted if I had two legendary flame awakeners in my class. Do you wish to show your flame?" Eleonora asked again.
Eren hesitated, but then, from the corner of his eye, he saw Evelyne watching him. Her gaze was calm, yet there was a trace of curiosity — an eagerness to see if there truly was another like her.
Eren didn't want to back down. Not when Evelyne seemed to expect something from him. Despite the swirling anxiety within him, he slowly stood up. The room filled with whispers and giggles. But Eren ignored them, just like always.
He sneaked a glance at Evelyne. She remained composed, her face unreadable. Yet Eren's heart pounded uncontrollably. Faster. And faster.
Closing his eyes, he reminded himself to endure. He didn't want to embarrass himself in front of Evelyne. Three minutes. Just hold it for three minutes.
He focused on his heart, which was still racing, and stretched out his hands. Channeling all his energy, Eren conjured a small flame — no larger than a candlelight.
One second.
Two seconds.
Three.
Four.
He held it, suppressing the trembling in his body. His arms felt numb, and his strength drained rapidly. All he wanted to do was collapse, but a stubborn voice within him insisted, Smile.
Forcing a faint smile, Eren extinguished the tiny flame and lowered his hands. His body begged for rest, yet he stood tall, maintaining his composure. He glanced briefly at Evelyne. Her lips parted slightly, her expression frozen in disbelief. Her mouth hung open, her eyes locked on him.
Eleonora, too, stared at Eren as if she had seen a ghost.
"Ahem..." Eren cleared his throat, unsure of what to say. "My innate flame is… Candlelight."
Silence.
Eren turned, walking back to his seat under the weight of countless eyes. Some students chuckled, while others gawked, shocked at how insignificant his flame seemed compared to Evelyne's. But deep inside, Eren felt a strange sense of pride.
He resisted the overwhelming urge to glance at Evelyne, keeping his gaze forward as the class remained eerily quiet. Eleonora shook off her shock and addressed the class.
"Anyone else?"
No one spoke. No one dared.
Just then, a soft, gentle voice broke through the silence.
"How did you manifest your innate flame without a Verse?"
Eren froze. He turned toward the source of the voice. And there she was — Evelyne, leaning slightly toward him, her beautiful eyes searching for an answer. Her cherry lips parted, waiting for his response.
Eren's mind went blank. His lips remained sealed, glued together in hesitation.
Finally, he gathered the courage to respond. He leaned slightly toward her, but before he could say anything, Eleonora's voice rang out.
"Okay, if no one else is willing, let's begin the class."
Both Eren and Evelyne instinctively straightened up, turning their attention forward.
And yet, as they sat side by side, both of them exchanged a glance.
A shared, unspoken smile lingered on their faces.