The atmosphere in Class I-II was heavy with focus. Pens scratched against paper, styluses tapped on tablets, and every pair of eyes was fixed on the glowing diagrams projected at the front of the room.
Sir Geryn stood tall beside the digital screen. His voice was firm but steady.
"There are six officially recognized Aether types. Buffer, Conductor, Binder, Manifestor, Seer, and Resonator. Each has strengths, each has weaknesses. What matters is mastery, not envy. Respect your type, or you won't last long here."
The students scribbled diligently. The only one who didn't look too invested was Ruck. He leaned closer to Valz, whispering with a grin.
"Bro, imagine if I was a Manifestor. I could summon Maryl out of thin air—she'd just pop up and say, 'Ruck, I love you!'"
Valz turned his head slightly, his expression flat. "…You're an idiot."
A few students glanced at them, puzzled, while Ruck snickered to himself as if he'd just discovered the secret to happiness.
The class continued without disruption until the next subject began: Physics.
A middle-aged teacher replaced Sir Geryn at the board, filling the screen with long equations. The class grew quiet again, save for the rhythmic sound of calculations.
Except for Ruck.
He slumped back in his chair, groaning. "Ughhh… I can feel it. My brain's resonating with these formulas!" He clutched his head like a man in agony.
A few students burst into laughter. The teacher slammed his pointer on the desk. "Ruck! Sit up and focus!"
Ruck jumped in his seat, snapping a mock salute. "Yes, sir! Just… experimenting with my brainwaves…" His deadpan excuse drew another wave of muffled laughter. Valz simply kept his eyes on the board, ignoring him.
When the bell rang, everyone moved quickly toward the cafeteria. The smell of hot food mixed with the chatter of hundreds of new students. Valz and Ruck joined the line, their trays in hand.
Then the crowd parted. A group of students strode in with overbearing presence, and in the center was Reval. His sharp gaze, upright posture, and the way his gang orbited him left no doubt who held power.
He cut directly in front of Valz, giving him a light push on the shoulder.
"Move. Important people eat first."
Ruck bristled instantly. "Hey! Ever heard of waiting your turn? This is a line, not your kingdom!"
Valz turned his eyes, voice calm. "If you want food, wait like everyone else."
The air thickened. Reval's gang stepped forward, ready to escalate.
Then a firm, cold voice came from behind.
"You only act tough against the weak."
Claire stood a few steps away, her piercing stare fixed on Reval.
For a heartbeat, the cafeteria froze. Reval's jaw tightened. Offended, yes—but there was a flicker of something else in his eyes as he looked at her. Interest. Attraction he wouldn't admit. With a scoff, he stepped back.
"Fine. Consider yourselves lucky. But remember—" his eyes swept to Valz and Ruck "—you're marked now."
He walked away with his gang.
Ruck was still fuming. "That bastard—!"
Valz had already shifted his gaze back to the front of the line, expression unchanged.
Claire approached, her voice measured. "Don't let it get to you. People like him only prey on the weak."
Ruck's expression transformed immediately, eyes wide like a cat spotting fresh fish. "Y-yeah, yeah, you're absolutely right, Claire… so wise, so beautiful…" He nodded furiously, grin spreading across his face.
Valz glanced at her, tone cutting. "So, you're saying we're weak, princess? A princess who can't resist meddling in everyone else's business?"
Claire blinked, stunned. She had meant to sound protective, but his words flipped the meaning. Irritation bubbled up. They bickered briefly, their voices sharp but restrained.
Whispers rippled around them. "Are they… fighting like a couple?"
Claire froze, her cheeks flaming red. She spun on her heel and left.
Ruck's jaw dropped. "Bro, are you insane? You don't argue with Claire! She's the kind of woman you treat like royalty. Gentle care, romance, affection—ahhh, perfection…" His expression melted into dreamy foolishness.
Valz shot him a look of pure disgust.
The afternoon's final session took place in the indoor training hall. Students now wore Riverside's dark-blue training sets, standing on wide mats under bright lights.
Sir Geryn scanned the class. "Today, we test your basics. Show me how you control your Aether. Technique matters more than victory."
The matches began. Sparks and shouts filled the gym as pairs clashed. Most duels were brief, but three stood out.
Ellice faced Lyra, a Binder with sharp eyes. From the start, bands of binding energy whipped toward her. Ellice didn't panic; her Analyzer ability traced the flow like glowing lines in her vision. Step by step, she unraveled Lyra's attempts, slipping through with clean counters. With one decisive strike, she forced Lyra back. Murmurs of approval rose—her win wasn't flashy, but it was brilliant.
Later, Ruck stood opposite Brans. Where Ruck's Manifested weapons flared recklessly—blades half-formed and clumsy swings—Brans answered with steady arcs of electricity that rattled the floor. Sparks flew as the two pushed each other back and forth. The duel ended without a clear victor, both panting. Brans adjusted his glasses, then smirked faintly. "Not as bad as I thought."
Ruck blinked before breaking into a huge grin.
Finally, Valz stepped forward against Claire.
The gym fell hushed, all eyes locked on the top two candidates of their class.
Claire's aura darkened, deep-blue crystals forming in the air like floating blades. She moved fast, her attacks sharp and commanding.
Valz sidestepped with almost lazy grace, his voice calm.
"What's wrong, princess? Already out of Aether Essence?"
Claire's frustration boiled. She pressed harder, shards shattering across the mat. Yet Valz controlled the pace as if toying with her.
Then his body blurred—a sudden, razor-fast movement. His strike was light but decisive, knocking Claire off balance and sending her to the ground.
Silence swallowed the gym.
"A Buffer… did that?" someone whispered.
Claire sat frozen, her breath uneven. A cocktail of anger, awe, and confusion churned inside her. In her mind, she recalled the mysterious fighter known as The Shade.
Valz extended his hand, expression unreadable. After a pause, she accepted it. Heat rose to her cheeks as he pulled her up.
From the sidelines, Ellice watched, her hands tightening in her lap. The unfamiliar sting of jealousy pricked at her chest.
Sir Geryn's voice broke the spell. "That's enough. Training is over."
The class erupted into whispers. Buffers were supposed to be weak. But today, one had just shattered that belief before their eyes.
Valz said nothing. He stood calmly amid the murmurs, unaware that his quiet presence had already begun to shake Riverside High to its core.