Ignis Arcanum Academy, the crown jewel of education and power, stands proudly in the heart of Elyndria, located within the kingdom of Flamguardia. It is the most prestigious academy across all four kingdoms, a place where dreams are forged and legends are made.
Students from every corner of the realm, regardless of race or age, gather here, accepted either through noble lineage or special admission earned by exceptional skill. Once admitted, they undergo five rigorous years of training, study, and real-world trials. Upon graduation, their futures are all but guaranteed.
Whether they wish to become warriors, researchers, diplomats, or even rulers of their own territory, the academy opens every door imaginable. Success isn't just expected, it's inevitable. That is the promise of Ignis Arcanum, a place where status is reshaped, talents are honed, and destiny is written.
But this semester, things were different.
Rumors spread like wildfire: five commoners, descendants of the disgraced Ten Heroes had been accepted into the academy. Their bloodline was known, but incomplete. Their ancestors had once betrayed Flamguardia in its darkest hour.
Mixed emotions simmered throughout the student body. Some were angry, others curious. Most were cautious. Yet none could voice open opposition.
Why?
Because the group in question was none other than Ashen Vanguard the youngest party in history to achieve Adamantite Rank, and the strongest rising force in all of Flamguardia.
After Cairo's sudden but powerful speech during the welcoming ceremony, the atmosphere in the academy shifted. There was no longer just prestige in the air, there was tension.
Despite this, the students were officially welcomed. The academy's staff, under orders from the Queen herself, toured the party around the grounds.
Cairo walked silently, his eyes looking at the ancient stone halls and magic-imbued walls of the castle. A faint smile appeared on his lips.
"I gotta meet him soon..." he whispered to himself.
When the tour ended, the five made their way to the academy's grand cafeteria. The moment they entered, all conversation ceased.
Hundreds of students and staff turned to stare.
Zayn chuckled, unfazed. "Well, looks like we're the main event now."
Aurella's gaze moved across the room. "They're not used to outsiders," she said quietly.
Maevis kept her expression unreadable. "Let them watch. It doesn't change who we are."
Serene took a deep breath, walking with quiet confidence.
Cairo took a seat in the center of the cafeteria, like he owned the place. The rest of the Vanguard followed suit.
Whispers filled the air like embers dancing in the wind.
"Are those really them?"
"I heard they defeated a dragon."
"Commoners? At Ignis Arcanum? Absurd…"
But none dared speak it aloud.
Cairo looked around calmly, then leaned back in his chair.
"Let them stare," he said with a grin. "They'll understand soon enough."
The doors of the cafeteria slammed open.
A group of students in pristine uniforms strutted in, flanked by two armored guards bearing the emblem of House Braveheart one of the oldest and most powerful noble lineages in Elyndria.
Leading the pack was a silver-haired youth with a haughty smile. His gaze swept across the room until it landed squarely on Cairo's table.
"So, it's true," he said, voice dripping with disgust. "Descendants of traitors… allowed to set foot in this academy? What in the world is the Queen thinking?"
Laughs rippled through his entourage.
"Do you really believe lowborns like you have a place here?" he continued, striding closer. "Spare me the fuckery, this is the golden standard. You won't last a year in Ignis Arcanum. Remember the name: Linus Braveheart. It'll be the last thing you hear before you're expelled."
He turned on his heel with theatrical flourish.
"Oi, did anyone else hear that?" Zayn drawled, mimicking Linus's noble accent with exaggerated pomp. "'Spare me the fuckery~' I swear, even the way he insults people smells like daddy's money."
The room burst into quiet laughter but Linus stopped cold.
He turned, face dark with rage. In a flash of motion, a dagger flew straight for Zayn.
But Zayn simply raised one hand and caught it effortlessly, barely looking.
"Wrong move, golden boy."
With a flick, he sent the blade spinning back. Linus caught it—but as his fingers closed around the hilt, he immediately flared a fire spell into his other hand.
Crackling flames burst forth, coalescing into a thunderbolt aimed directly at Zayn.
Gasps rippled through the cafeteria.
But Zayn didn't even flinch.
The bolt never reached him. It froze midair hovering.
Then, a pale shimmer began to swirl in front of Zayn. A translucent figure slowly materialized, her eyes calm and distant.
A spirit.
"Aurelia?" Cairo whispered in awe.
The ghostly entity had cupped the thunderbolt in its hands, holding it in place as if it were a flickering candle.
Linus's jaw dropped.
"A Spirit Link...?" he whispered. "That's supposed to be a myth!"
Before anyone could process what had happened, Zayn vanished in a flicker of lightning.
He reappeared an instant later right in front of Linus, eyes glowing faintly with electricity.
"Listen well, Linus Braveheart," Zayn said, his voice dangerously low. "You don't want trouble with us. You see commoners? I see firestarters. If we wanted to, we could burn this place down."
Linus stood frozen, the spirit's presence still lingering behind Zayn like a silent judge.
Then, without another word, Linus turned and stormed off. His entourage followed, pale and quiet.
Silence fell over the entire cafeteria. All eyes locked on the Ashen Vanguard.
Then Zayn smirked and chuckled. "That was fun."
But Cairo wasn't laughing.
"We should keep a low profile," he said, eyes narrowing. "I don't want any setbacks. We have a goal."
Zayn waved him off. "Low profile? Us?" He grinned. "Dude, after that speech you gave at the Flameheart Tournament, I'm pretty sure 'low profile' died in its sleep."
Cairo sighed.
Around them, whispers erupted like wildfire.
The chatter in the cafeteria fell into silence—again.
A heavy aura swept through the room as the doors slammed open.
General Morningstar had arrived.
Clad in crimson-trimmed armor and flanked by Flamguardia's Elite Force, his very presence commanded respect—and fear. Whispers erupted across the tables.
"They're here…"
"Weren't they defeated…?"
"That fight… it was legendary."
Indeed, the clash between the Ashen Vanguard and the Kingdom's Elite Force was still the talk of the nation, even months later. The rising stars who toppled the strongest force in Flamguardia had become living legends overnight.
Now, both groups stood face to face once more—this time, not in an arena, but in the heart of Ignis Arcanum Academy.
General Morningstar's voice cut through the tension like a blade.
"Ashen Vanguard. Field. Now."
Zayn leaned back slightly, groaning. "Uh oh… here comes trouble."
Reluctantly but confidently, Cairo and his party stood up, pushing back their chairs. They followed the General to the center of the massive cafeteria, where ten figures now stood in a wide circle—the Elite Force and the Ashen Vanguard, once more sharing the same battleground.
It was a familiar sight. A tense silence.
But this time, no clash of steel followed.
General Morningstar's voice was stern. "Listen carefully. Violence is not tolerated on school grounds. No magic. No fighting. Not unless you're inside the designated arena."
The Elite Force stood stoic behind him, their pride wounded but restrained.
Cairo crossed his arms, unimpressed.
"You call that fighting? We merely defended ourselves. You've seen how welcoming your students are."
Murmurs spread around the room. The students felt the heat rising in the air—not from magic, but from sheer tension.
General Morningstar chuckled darkly. "Consider this… your first and final warning."
Cairo said nothing, but his smirk didn't fade.
Morningstar turned to the rest of the students, voice booming.
"Everyone, back to your dorms. Now. Classes start first thing in the morning. If you're here to play, leave. If you're here to rise, prove it.**
The crowd dispersed slowly, still whispering, still glancing over their shoulders at the two legendary parties.
The Ashen Vanguard walked off together, eyes forward, heads high.