Chapter 1 – The Weakest
Rain drummed against the towering crystal windows of Aetherion Academy as another class ended in laughter.
Not because something was funny.
Because Ren Ashvale had touched the mana crystal again.
And once again—
Nothing.
The crystal remained dull and lifeless in his trembling hand.
A boy near the front snorted loudly."Zero resonance. Again? Damn, even commoners have more mana than that."
The classroom erupted into mockery.
"Maybe the crystal's allergic to trash."
"Did the academy accidentally admit a servant?"
Ren lowered his gaze and quietly returned to his seat, his fingers tightening around the edge of the desk until his knuckles turned white.
The instructor adjusted his glasses and sighed in disappointment.
"Ren Ashvale. At this rate, expulsion may be merciful."
More laughter.
Ren said nothing.
He never did.
The hallway after class was worse.
Three upper noble students blocked his path near the stairwell.
"Well, if it isn't the academy parasite," said Darius Vale, the leader of the group, his grin cruel and familiar. "Kneel."
Ren's jaw tightened.
Darius's smile vanished.
"I said kneel."
A burst of force magic slammed into Ren's stomach.
He crashed into the wall, gasping.
Another spell struck his legs, forcing him down.
The boys laughed as Darius stepped on his hand.
"You should be grateful we let garbage like you breathe the same air as us."
His notebook was torn apart.
His lunch scattered across the floor.
Then a voice cut through the hallway.
"That's enough."
Everyone turned.
Elena Virel stood there, golden hair damp from the rain, eyes sharp with anger.
Darius clicked his tongue."Always defending the weak, huh?"
She stepped beside Ren."Leave."
After a tense silence, the boys scoffed and walked away.
Elena knelt beside him and helped him up.
"You should stop letting them do this."
Ren brushed dirt from his uniform.
"And do what? Fight back?"
"Yes."
He looked away.
"…Losing while resisting hurts more."
For once, Elena had no answer.
Later, on the academy rooftop, the storm had softened to a drizzle.
Ren sat alone near the railing until Elena appeared with two bread rolls in hand.
She offered him one.
"You skip lunch too much."
He hesitated, then accepted it.
They sat in silence.
Then she spoke softly.
"You know… they're wrong about you."
Ren gave a bitter laugh.
"The entire academy disagrees."
She shook her head.
"You're smarter than all of them. Someday… they'll regret treating you like this."
For the first time that day—
Ren smiled.
A small one.
But real.
Then—
BOOOOOOOOM.
The entire academy shook violently.
Both of them stood.
A second explosion shattered the distant barrier dome surrounding the school.
Students screamed below.
And from the blood-red sky—
A monstrous claw tore through the smoke.