As I step into the room that Professor Griemore arranged, within, I feel walls that vibrate gently with the power of old runes. It is a tense feeling to the atmosphere, but nonetheless a soothing one, strangely. I snuggle into the blankets and drift off to sleep before I have a chance to even observe.
I am no longer in the room when I wake up.
I stand before a vast, boundless lake. Its waters are as unmoving as a piece of glass, reflected to a perfect mirror by the stars above. The sky is a deep, seemingly boundless navy. All is still—in fact, so quiet that it is almost sacred.
Then I see her.
A girl my age standing on the lake as if it were ground. Ripples of dark hair despite there being no wind, and she gazes at me with eyes of chocolate. She smiles—not a stranger's smile, but a smile of someone with whom I have lived my whole life. Soft. Warm. Familiar.
I'm drawn to her as if a force of gravity pulls me towards the coast.
She opens her mouth to say something—
But then, the dream shatters.
I wake with a heart pounding softly inside me, with a memory of her smile as a lingering note of sound.
The next few days flash by.
I spend these days chatting with Professor Griemore, Zach, and Will, and wandering around the nearby woods, enjoying the view. Although there's a distance between Professor Griemore's house and the academy, I can sense that every part of the academy hums with power—rumors of forgotten strength imbued in stone and sky.
I also have been practicing with my summoning abilities, Professor Griemore has brushes, paint, and canvases that I can borrow. Another training I have been doing is absorbing the aether energy in the aether world. Absorbing it can enhance the speed at which my mana recovers and improve its limit. Even though my body feels painful during these practices, according to Professor Griemore, that's a good sign. And yet, when the quiet comes before sleep, claiming me each night, I can't help thinking of the girl on the lake. She smiles in my head, an echo I can't resist.
And then, the day of the induction ceremony arrives.
I stand among a crowd of strangers, all of us gathered at the foot of Velmara's central hall—a towering whitestone cathedral topped with blue bunting that curls so high in the air it seems to pierce through the clouds themselves.
Somewhere in the crowd, I catch sight of Will's familiar messy hair and Zach's easy smile.
I take a deep breath, and I know that this will be the new beginning.
The sound of a distinct and piercing voice slices through the surrounding noise.
"First years! Over here!"
The platform before the gates hosts a young-looking man who might be in his early thirties sporting short dark hair and a trimmed beard. He wears a navy coat with silver runes running down his sleeves and moves with the confident authority of a person who demands obedience.
"Line up. Follow me into the Central Hall!"
We fall in line, herded into columns of students as he leads us forward. The Central Hall is even bigger up close. Towering whitestone walls stretch up to the sky, arched windows pouring light onto the polished floors. Murmurs echo off the vaulted ceilings and are swallowed by the size of the place. It could hold thousands of people—and will, by the time all the classes get here.
He gestures for us to quiet down.
A group of staffs—each wearing different colored coats—fan out across the floor, carrying crystal tablets that glow. One by one, they start verifying every student's identity, making sure that no one is impersonated and that everyone's here.
The process drags on but eventually finishes without incident.
No missing students. No impostors.
He steps forward again.
"Well then. Welcome to Velmara Academy," he says, a small smile on his face. "Where the extraordinary will be forged—and the unworthy will be broken."
"I'm Harry Grey, Vice Headmaster of Velmara Academy. New incomers, please listen — this academy has produced the greatest heroes of humanity. When you step through these doors, you're not just students. You're explorers, on the frontlines of humanity's future. The world outside the Altinium walls belongs to the creatures now — but it's ours to take back. Whether we succeed or fail is up to you. This won't be easy. This won't be safe. If any of you want to back out, you have one last chance."
A heavy silence falls over the room for almost a full minute.
No one moves.
"Very well, then we shall proceed," he says with a glare of approval.
Then he gestures to the six huge banners unfurling from the walls above.
Each banner burns with a different color and emblem:
Flame surrounded by waves — School of Elements
Hammer and anvil over an open scroll — School of Crafts
Book with a star on top — School of Magic
Beast with many eyes, leaping from a circle — School of Summoning
Gauntleted fist wrapped in vines — School of Physiology
Mirrored sigil splitting into two paths — School of Variations
He reveals that there are six Schools of Velmara.
"Each of you will belong to one by destiny."
"Your school will shape your path."
The crowd emits an excited low hum as it vibrates through the air. The hall's enormous walls make me feel as if the weight of history bears down upon us.
"I want to be in the School of Magic, wizards are the best class," a kid whispers.
"Vanguards are much cooler!" Another kid my age says quietly.
"And now," Grey continues, raising one hand—
A teacher moves toward the front while holding a stone that emits a subtle energy glow.
The stone appears entirely white, yet holds vibrant rainbow light that moves within it as though it were a living entity.
"The Awakening Stone," he says.
Murmurs ripple through the gathered first-years.
"Please go to your advisor, Micky Sanchez, to begin your awakening. Touch the stone with your hand. Let it judge your soul. The Awakening Stone will reveal your class to you if you haven't awakened yet. Your gift. Your class."
He smiles faintly.
"For those students whose path belongs to Physiology—the Vanguards—know this: vanguards will receive not only their Aetherkind but also a specialized Codex Ability. Each Codex Sequence represents a distinct will and there are one thousand such sequences in total, and the lower the number, the stronger the ability is."
"Lastly, after your awakening, Professor Sanchez will provide you with an Aetherplate. It'll track your basic stats, your abilities, your growth, and your expedition credits later on. Please treat it like it's your life."
Vice Chairman Grey then walks back to his seat.
"Ashley Kim!" Sanchez calls the first name.
With trembling hands she moves toward the Awakening Stone to place her palm upon it.
Light flashes.
A powerful magical sound fills the hall when a violet spark shoots up into the air.
Standing by the massive stone Professor Sanchez projects her voice toward everyone gathered in the hall.
"Violet! You have awakened as a Wizard through the color of the School of Magic. Congratulations."
A glowing necklace that is an aetherplate floats down from a nearby platform causing the girl to recoil with wonder. The staff member Micky Sanchez reaches out to grab the object before passing it to her with a friendly smile.
She assures her warmly that the device will monitor her development. "Stats, abilities, and everything important. Take good care of it."
The following student moves forward with a burst of excitement that resembles a sprint. His hand strikes the stone immediately without any pause.
A deep crimson burst of light spreads throughout the hall in a wild and untamed display.
"Crimson! Professor Sanchez proclaims, "The mark of the School of Physiology—a Vanguard is born!"
Some laughs spread across the crowd. Vanguards are the most common, but they're awakened with a codex to compensate.
Another boy nervously steps up.
The boy touches the stone with his hand which releases emerald green light that envelops him in a shimmering glow.
"Bronze! The School of Crafts has chosen you to become a Forger," says Professor Sanchez.
The boy gives a rigid nod while attempting to hide his satisfaction. Forgers formed the essential foundation of Velmara because they produced both tools and weapons in addition to the rare Awakening Stones. The most important part is, forgers are not mandated for expeditions.
After the boy returns back to his seat, a tall girl whose face shows quiet serenity places her palm against the stone surface.
Pure and calming sky-blue light bursts outward a moment later.
"Sky Blue! Professor Sanchez identifies the stone's color as Sky Blue which belongs to the School of Elements and indicates Channeler status.
The crowd becomes active once more as Channelers received praise for their unique ability to manipulate fire, water, air, and earth.
"Samuel Johns!"
A restless boy continuously shifting between his feet advances forward.
His hand touches the stone which causes silver light to burst forth, flowing like liquid metal across the polished floors.
"Green! Sanchez confirms with a nod that the School of Summoning crest signifies you as a Summoner.
Summoners possessed extraordinary power which allowed them to summon creatures and allies from the hidden worlds.
The students face forward one by one and their actions create vibrant light displays that bring energy to the immense cathedral-like hall.
As I wait my turn I feel my pulse quicken with every display of magical energy.
What would the stone show for me?
The Awakening Ceremony continues.