After Aethel sorted out his thoughts, he rose from the bed. He wasn't surprised that he could move naturally despite the recent memory transition; after all, he had lived in this body for nineteen years. Checking the time, he saw it was early morning.
'Today is orientation; the new first-years should be arriving.'
The holidays had concluded, signaling the return of senior students and the arrival of freshmen. The Aetherium Academy hosted first- through fourth-year students and stood as the most elite institution in the world, admitting only a select few annually.
Only 1,000 students enter each year. This might seem like a large number, but the world of Aetherium is equivalent to the size of ten small solar systems, spanning several light-years. Although barely a tenth of that space is inhabited by humans, elves, and dragons—with the rest occupied by gates and monsters—that tenth still equals the size of a small solar system, housing trillions, if not quadrillions, of people.
With billions of youths turning seventeen annually, over a million apply in hopes of securing one of those thousand spots, knowing failure is guaranteed without at least a B-Rank talent.
'Hah... looks like I am at the bottom of the academy... for now.'
Aethel was already in the dorms because, as an orphan with nowhere else to go, he had arrived a week early to wait for classes to begin. He went to the bathroom to freshen up, glancing at his reflection. He realized he looked exactly as he did before reincarnating.
Same height, hair color, and features. Though he had memories of his appearance, seeing the perfect match was still a bit stunning. 'Must be a coincidence,' he shrugged.
After washing up, he dressed. Since there was no formal dress code, students could wear anything as long as it wasn't inappropriate. Donning a normal t-shirt and trousers, he decided it was time to head to the orientation. Aethel couldn't help but feel excited; he was going to see the "named characters" and, if possible, copy their abilities.
"Heh... this is going to be an exciting day."
________________
Academy Orientation Halls
The Aetherium Academy grand hall was a breathtaking fusion of ancient stonework and hyper-advanced magi-tech. Towering obsidian pillars pulsed with neon-blue mana veins, supporting a ceiling that mimicked a real-time starlit void. Floating data-scrolls drifted past, illuminating the ivory floors with the soft, ethereal glow of pure arcane power.
'This really is a fantasy world... beautiful.'
Aethel took a seat toward the back rows. He chose this spot to avoid potential arguments with nobles over front-row seating.
According to Academy rules, there was no distinction between nobles and commoners; the institution treated everyone according to strength rather than lineage.
However, the academy could only enforce these rules within its walls. Outside, it was every man for himself. This was why commoners avoided unnecessarily antagonizing nobles; they had families to protect and lacked the power to defend them.
Aethel's gaze shifted to a young man cutting through the crowd. With hair the color of deep amethysts and a presence that seemed to pull the very air toward him, there was no mistaking the figure.
'The protagonist, Adrian Astris.'
He stood a lean six feet tall, possessing a level of beauty that felt less like luck and more like a divine decree. He carried himself with the quiet, unshakable confidence of someone destined to lead, appearing like the natural center of the world while everyone else merely orbited his light. It was a face that could dismantle the resolve of even the most guarded individuals.
Aethel watched him for a moment, acknowledging the sheer gap in their public standing. While Adrian was the visible sun, Aethel remained the silent shadow beneath the surface. Pushing the thought aside, he narrowed his eyes. It was time to see if the System's functioms was as absolute as it claimed.
'System, show me his status'
{{STATUS SCREEN}}
NAME: ADRIAN ASTRIS
RACE: HIGH HUMAN
AGE: 17
TALENT: Supreme Adaptation (SSS-)
Can adapt to anything under the right circumstances, provided it does not cause instant death and sufficient time is given.
AFFINITIES: GRAVITY (SS-), SPACE (SS+), TIME (SS+) (LOCKED)
RANK: C
STATS:
* Strength: C
* Speed: C
* Intelligence: C
* Mana: C
* Luck: SS+
* Charm: B
[Note: Only the above is visible to the host]
____________
Aethel was shocked by the status. Compared to this, his own stats looked like complete garbage. Despite being the same age, the gap was massive—a full two major realms apart.
'I get that SSS-rank is different, but this is extreme. C-rank is considered a powerhouse in small areas and a formidable presence elsewhere. Even D-rank is a once-in-a-lifetime genius at 17, yet he is an entire rank above that.'
This growth had happened in just one year, as everyone awakens at sixteen before attending academies at seventeen.
Aethel looked at the affinities and wasn't surprised by the Time Affinity. The Duke House of Astris was famous for Space and Gravity; Adrian possessed Time because of the conceptual overlap. It remained locked because his body was still adapting. Others in his lineage had died because their bodies couldn't handle the simultaneous strain of Space and Time. Thanks to his talent, Adrian was adapting, albeit slowly.
'System, copy everything.'
___________
COPYING... Talent: Supreme Adaptation (SSS-)
Affinities: GRAVITY (SS-), SPACE (SS+), TIME (SS+) (LOCKED)
Daily Limit: (4/10)
_____________
Aethel was surprised by the daily limit, but since he had four years at the academy, he wasn't worried. He could copy and fuse every talent in the school if he just laid low.
As the process finished, a weird shift in his body almost made him scream, but before he could...
< Your resistance to soul aching pain has increased greatly>
< Your resistance to soul aching pain has increased greatly>
< Your resistance to soul aching pain has increased greatly>
Thankfully, this stopped him from screaming and embarrassing himself.
'Huh... huh... luckily I copied his talent first, otherwise...'
Aethel pushed the thought aside, deciding to check his gains later in private.
By the time he finished composing himself, the students had taken their seats. Adrian sat in the first row next to the heroines, who had arrived before Aethel noticed them.
Suddenly, a person appeared on stage out of thin air. While most students were shocked, Aethel remained calm. He knew this was coming.
This caught the woman's attention; he wasn't among those she predicted would remain unfazed. While a lack of surprise isn't world-ending, it was notable because even those with sensory abilities hadn't detected her—except for the protagonist's group. If an E-rank student sensed her, it meant either her skills had dulled or he was unique. Since he was the only outlier, she assumed the latter.
She pushed the thought aside to begin the orientation. As she did, Aethel studied her. She possessed a mature, hourglass figure—suggesting a balance between physical training and the life of a high-level scholar. She wasn't waifish; she had the broad shoulders and core strength required to channel massive energies.
She was one of the few beings with an SS-rank talent, though no one knew it. She also had a tragic history, only revealed after the protagonist and his harem defeated her.
Yes, she was a villain—specifically, a main villain of the first arc. She wasn't a mass murderer or a manipulator; she was considered a villain simply because she was part-demon.
'Looks like racism exists in every world.'
While demons and humans weren't mortal enemies, they weren't friendly. Demons were feared for their Chaos Magic, which made them formidable foes.
"Hello everyone, my name is NYMERIA DRAGONWEAVER," her voice rang through the hall.
"I am a teacher at AETHERIUM ACADEMY, and I am here to introduce the workings of this institution."
Murmurs rippled through the crowd.
"Hey, isn't that the youngest S-Rank in the world?"
"Yeah, the youngest in history."
"She's not even in her mid-twenties and she's already that strong."
"Her talent must be at least S or S+ rank."
"SHUT UP."
A single, quiet command cut through the chaos like a blade. A shockwave of stillness rippled outward, freezing hearts mid-beat. No one dared breathe. In an instant, all sound vanished. In that suffocating hush, the thought of speaking felt like a death sentence. The students remained frozen, certain that silence was their only anchor to life.
'That's an S-Rank for you,' Aethel thought.
"Now that introductions are settled, allow me to explain the rules. "
"Killing is strictly forbidden; any student who kills another will face immediate execution, regardless of background. Resources will be distributed monthly based on exam rankings. It is your responsibility to keep your resources safe; if they are taken by force, it is your fault for being too weak to prevent it."
"All first-year students will be in one class instructed by me. Attendance is mandatory. Failure to provide a valid excuse can lead to punishment or expulsion, depending on my preference at the time."
The students' lips twitched at the absurdity. Their livelihoods depended on her "preference"? Were their lives worth so little?
"These are the main rules. Others can be found in the handbook you will receive after orientation."
As she left the stage and the whispering resumed, Aethel returned to his thoughts.
'So far, everything is going according to the novel.'
He knew that maintaining the plot would be impossible with his presence, but he intended to use his meta-knowledge for as long as possible.
'Wait, if events are following the novel, then—'
Suddenly a woman appeared on stage. A starlit veil masked her lower face, radiating power and ancient secrets. Her eyes, bright as nebulae, commanded the void—a divine queen of the shimmering cosmos.
Where Nymeria's authority was forged in commands, this woman was a silent gale. Her mere presence demanded devotion without a word.
"My name is Aurelia Voidweaver, the Principal of Aetherium Academy."
There was no preamble—only her name and title, hanging with the gravity of a collapsing star. Her presence exerted a suffocating density, a silent authority that flattened the room into trembling submission.
'She could definitely destroy everyone here without us even noticing.'
Aurelia Voidweaver was the most powerful and beautiful character in the novel—someone the protagonist could never truly catch up to, even with his cheats.
'I only read forty chapters, so maybe he beat her later, but I doubt it. SSS-rank is OP, but her power is on another level.'
'In those chapters, he was trying to add her to his harem, even showing off his talent, but he was quickly taught why he shouldn't mess with her. That's also played a part in why I stopped reading; how does an OP protagonist lose his aura just because he's thinking with his lower half?'
'Well, I can't blame him. I'd probably do the same if the descriptions of her beauty in the novel were true and I had that kind of talent.'
'Could be on the table still , with my system nothing is impossible '
Just then, a sudden, obvious thought took root in his mind.
'SHIT! I forgot about the system! I should have copied Nymeria Dragonweaver's talent and affinity!'
Aethel had been so absorbed in his memories that he forgot the system's functions.
Although he had a weekly limit the talent of Nymeria Dragonweaver is definitely worth the spot as hers talent is the best SS rank talent in his opinion, close to even SSS RANK but that's just his delusion .
'Before I forget, let me copy the Principal's talents. System, show me her status.'
____________