Chapter 57: Principal William Coldwell.
Aiden walked into his room. His body was exhausted from training. He washed his face, letting the cool water slide down his skin before changing into his casual clothes. His movements were calm, almost mechanical. He picked up his comb and ran it through his hair, straightening it neatly.
When he looked into the mirror, he saw his reflection staring back at him. His face was lifeless. His face held no emotion at all—no happiness, no sadness, nothing. It was like seeing a dead person, as if his soul had left his body, leaving only a body behind.
For a few seconds, he kept looking at himself; his eyes were dark and cold. Then he turned away from the mirror, his steps calm as he walked out of the room, as he started to walk toward the dining hall.
The moment he reached the dining hall door, the smell of roasted meat, fried rice, and chicken soup filled the air. The rich aroma of freshly cooked food entered his nose, carrying memories from the past—memories that used to make him feel warm. But now, they only stirred up something different inside him.
He felt nostalgic, but beneath that nostalgia lay sadness… and anger. His desire for revenge was growing stronger with every passing day.
Taking a deep breath, he opened the door and stepped into the dining room. Victor, Mary, and Victoria were already seated, waiting for him. Aiden's eyes swept across them before he quietly walked to the table and sat beside Victor.
Victor looked at him and smiled gently. As he said, turning to the others. "Everyone's here let's begin."
Mary smiled softly, while both Aiden and Victoria nodded. The four began to eat their dinner in silence, the sound of utensils faintly echoing through the room.
After a few moments, Victor placed his fork down and turned toward Victoria. He said calmly, "Victoria, Aiden will enroll in the academy under the name Julian Cross. So make sure not to call his real name in the academy."
Victoria glanced at Aiden, then back at her father as she replied, "Yes, Dad." Mary had already told her that Aiden would be using a different name to enroll in the academy, but she hadn't explained why. Still, Victoria didn't question it.
Victor's eyes then shifted toward Aiden as he said in a serious tone, "Aiden, you must be careful in the academy."
Aiden looked at him and gave a small nod, his face still blank.
"I've already prepared your uniform," Victor continued. "The butler will bring it to you tomorrow morning." He paused for a moment, then added, "You and Victoria will both join the academy this year. I have only one request—if danger comes, please protect her."
Aiden nodded again without hesitation. His expression didn't change, but his eyes held a quiet firmness.
Victoria, however, frowned slightly. She wanted to protest. She didn't like the idea of being protected; she wanted to become strong enough to stand on her own. Just as she opened her mouth to speak, Mary placed her hand gently on her daughter's shoulder.
Victoria froze for a second before lowering her gaze. She understood her mother's silent message and didn't say anything more.
Victor continued, "Both of you will stay in the academy dorms. It's a rule of the academy. You can return home every Sunday to meet your family, so Aiden, make sure to visit us when you can."
Aiden looked up and replied calmly, "Okay."
The dinner continued peacefully after that. Once finished, Aiden quietly stood up and returned to his room. He sat on his bed, closed his eyes, and began absorbing mana from the surroundings.
The air around him shimmered faintly as threads of mana entered his body. Two hours passed before he finally stopped. He lay down and soon fell asleep.
The night went by quietly. When morning came, sunlight entered through the window, spreading golden light across the floor. Birds chirped outside.
Aiden slowly opened his eyes. He sat up, rubbed them gently, and got out of bed. After washing his face, he heard a knock on the door.
"Young sir, I've brought your academy uniform," Benson's voice came from outside.
Aiden dried his face with a towel, then he walked to the door and opened it. Benson stood there, holding a neatly folded set of clothes. He looked at Aiden's face as he felt awkward. He still wasn't used to Aiden's cold and emotionless expression.
Aiden nodded once. Benson handed him the uniform and quickly left, still uneasy from Aiden's presence.
Aiden looked down at the uniform in his hands. The fabric was smooth, freshly pressed. It consisted of a white shirt, a red tie, black pants, and a black coat suitable for winter. There were also spaces on the shoulders for badges.
He changed into the uniform and stood before the mirror again. The boy who stared back was still cold and distant, but there was something else—an unspoken sharpness, like a quiet blade. The uniform suited him perfectly.
After a short glance, Aiden left his room and made his way to the dining hall.
Inside, Mary, Victor, and Victoria were already seated. Victoria, wearing her own school uniform, looked stunning. Her long hair flowed neatly, and her posture was graceful. When they saw Aiden walk in, all three of them froze for a second.
They had always known that Aiden was handsome, but they had never truly noticed how much until now. His calm demeanor, combined with the sharp black uniform, gave him a unique sense of beauty.
Mary smiled warmly as she said. "You look really good in the academy uniform, Aiden."
Aiden looked at her and replied in a flat tone, "Thank you." Everyone could tell there was no real emotion behind his words, but no one said anything.
Victoria stared at him for a moment longer before quickly looking away. She wanted to talk to him but knew he wouldn't respond, so she stayed silent.
Aiden took his seat beside Victor, and they began eating breakfast together.
After finishing, Victor stood up and said, "Let's go, kids. We need to leave now, or we'll be late for the opening ceremony."
They followed him out of the dining room. Outside, their family's carriage was waiting. The horses stood tall and strong, their coats shining under the morning light.
Mary walked them out, stopping beside the carriage, she looked at Aiden and Victoria and said softly, " Victoria, Aiden take care of yourselves. And Aiden… make sure you eat properly."
Victoria smiled and replied, "Don't worry, Mom, I'll be fine."
Aiden just nodded silently.
The carriage started moving, and Mary waved at them as it rolled away.
After fifteen minutes, they arrived in front of the academy gates. The academy stood tall and vast, with towers rising into the clouds and walls engraved with ancient runes.
They stepped out of the carriage, Victor leading the way, followed by Victoria and then Aiden, who walked a few steps behind.
As they entered the academy grounds, Aiden's eyes quietly observed everything—the wide marble paths, the giant fountains, and the banners fluttering with the academy's crest. They continued walking until they reached a huge hall filled with students.
There were nearly ten thousand people inside. At the far end stood a massive stage with a speech desk on it.
The moment they entered, attention turned toward them. Whispering voices filled the hall.
"Who are they?" "Wow, that girl looks so pretty!" "That boy's really handsome." "Isn't that Professor Victor with them?" "I heard he only had a daughter. Who's the boy beside her?"
Some spoke with admiration, others with envy. Boys looked at Victoria with awe, while girls whispered and gossiped about Aiden's looks.
Aiden ignored them completely, as if they didn't exist. Victoria, however, frowned in annoyance.
Victor turned to them and pointed toward the front. "Go sit there. Professors have their own seats."
They nodded and walked to the front. Aiden took the first chair, and Victoria sat beside him.
Aiden's eyes scanned the hall, analyzing everything—the stage, the exits, the mana flow in the room. Victoria sat stiffly, irritated by the constant whispering around them.
Then, suddenly, an old man appeared on the stage. His white beard and mustache gave him a wise look, but his presence was powerful—so powerful that the air itself felt heavy.
The old man looked over the students, his gaze sharp. When he spoke, his voice echoed through the hall, strengthened by mana.
"Hello, everyone. My name is William Coldwell. I am the principal of this academy. From today onward, you all will become students of the most ancient and greatest magic academy in Eldoria."
His words rolled like thunder.
"Here, you will learn how to control mana, how to create attacks, and how to fight with strategy. You'll learn teamwork, discipline, and the true art of combat. For the next four years, this academy will be your home. You may visit your families once a week, but remember—breaking the academy's rules will lead to harsh punishment. Break them five times, and you'll be expelled."
He paused, letting his words sink in.
"There is no nobility or commoner here. Everyone is equal. Leave your pride behind these gates. Anyone caught harassing another student based on status or background will be punished. You will each receive a rulebook. Read it carefully."
The hall was completely silent.
"Lastly," William said, "you will now register for your mana training courses according to your elemental affinities. There are ten departments in total. You may join up to three departments, depending on your elements. Visit the department halls to register. That will be all."
As he finished, the pressure in the air slowly disappeared. He also dissappeared.
Aiden took a slow breath. The strength William had shown reminded him of something familiar—the overwhelming pressure he once felt from Michael. But this man's power was far greater.
His eyes moved across the crowd as he began to analyze his surroundings again—and then, suddenly, he saw a familiar figure standing near the back. A tall man with blue hair that roughly fell over his forehead. His presence was strong and calm.
It was Rayan. He had come to witness the students' ceremony.
Author's Note: This chapters marks the reunion of Rayan and Aiden but Aiden can only watch him from afar.