*Rowan who had been preparing myself for the revaluation exams for the first years or the Final Exams before which they are given freedom to leave the premasis of the academy at will with a few restrictions and the start of his active participation in changing the main storyline. Rowan had decided to lay the path for Aither to walk on, while controlling his growth to not make the Gods suspicious of anything and to end the cycle of Chaos once and for all*
I have been studying Aither's behavior and habits for nearly a year now, which stands corrected that he isn't being directly controlled but manipulated by the Gods in a way not viable to the eyes of normal folks or he was just inherently evil. I don't know. Even if I am not conform about his intentions as a whole, I am sure that he at least at the moment does not have good things on his mind and probably still lead on to the path of destruction.
*Rowan worked on his sword efficiency and started his last preparations for the finals. His dedication to saving the world showed in every swing of his blade, every moment he had but there were mistakes. The Evenfall's Secret Sword Style was a legacy of the family and was passed down with instructions which he didn't have but his father did. Rowan had found the sword style again, but the instructions on the sword style's basics were in his father's office. The Evenfall's Secret Sword Style needed for it's user to know the Basic Sword Style though to every solider of the family because it was an advanced version of the basics. Rowan wasn't informed about this because unlike the game were learning skills was a simple minigame away and screens were his battle fields not real combat. Rowan was able to full up an mild imitation of the real sword style.
At this very moment, the swordmanship's senior professor or a 67 years old retired Knight from the ranks of the royal guards and a sessioned sword master with the experience of a Captain noticed Rowan. He could tell from looking that Rowan was trying to perform an advanced sword style without proper basics. Even if the man was old, more then half his hair white, scars on his face that told a story about his past life and a gentle smile only a man with a kind heart could have, approached Rowan and gave him a suggestion to look into the basics of the sword style he was trying to perform in place pf wasting his time on trying to imitate a technique without its base. Rowan knew most of the important, most active and just genuinely helpful characters. Just looking at the old man told Rowan everything he needed to trust his words because this old professor, battle hardened by countless scars was John Storm, a commoner grown to be a Royal Knight from the times when monsters grew stronger then they had ever been and was able to climb up to the level of a Royal Captain also receiving a last name of Storm with a nobel title of Baron before retiring to find a disciple for himself to inherit the name. He spent his prime years on the battle field, practically grew up on the battle field fighting the biggest disaster of the century and being a living reminder of a person breaking his limits but he had aged so much by the time he was able to retire, that he no longer left emotions and didn't have a family left. A lonely old man from the age of chaos according to his backstory, the one who trained Aither for 6 months as a time skip which could be triggered by reaching certain requirements in a time period. Rowan had decided to help Aaron and John by introducing them together but can't decide when. Aaron, a swordman with the quickest adaptation and learning speed with John Storm, a War Hero of the past looking for a successor. Aaron in the main storyline reached his glory because of his own efforts and with better help from John who's sword style involved adapting to the situations for optimal use was perfect match for Aaron. Changes cased by Rowan's actions, which was soon going to change things for the better for Aaron. Rowan did succeed in making John intestated in him by the end, even if it was for his unique sword style and calmness.
As the day approached, not only the capital but the whole empire was much more active then normal. Each year of the Academy's Finals were broadcasted to show why it was the Royal Academy and the Hero's presence just made everyone more excited. While nearly the whole empire moved in excitement, there was movement underground. The demon worshippers were getting more active as the day came closer, even if they were making sure to cover their tracks they were growing more and more noticeable. The Church's branch from the capital was also seemingly being active because of the ruckus. Chaos was brewing in complete silence as things were just starting to go off road from the main storyline. It wasn't just Rowan's actions that were changing the story but a snowball effect of everything that was going on in the world, from the Demon Lord's silence to the growing suspicious activities.
By the time the day arrives all forces would be prepared, ready for a grand battle against countering forces. Even if the chaos brewing was silent, the tension was more then visible on most faces. Rowan didn't have time to do anything but eat, train and rest, so he was very well unaware of the changes that were happening. In the middle of this silent chaos was not the Demon Lord, not the Hero, not even Rowan but another party who's clear intentions was some kind of twisted revenge on humans. In the shadow it all was the Emperor, also playing a hand in everything to get his name in the history of the empire.