Aetherion Academy – Assembly Hall 01-A
The doors hissed open with a hydraulic sigh, revealing a chamber unlike any normal school auditorium.
The Orientation Hall wasn't just a hall—it was an arena.
Hundreds of seats climbed in tiers around a central stage made of black obsidian-like material. Floating screens rotated above the platform, each displaying the academy crest: a sphere of light surrounded by thirteen rings, pulsing in slow rotation.
Kai stepped into the hall, quiet but observant. He took a seat near the rear, away from the clusters of noisy students scrambling to find their groups. Most were too busy gawking to notice him.
The overhead lights dimmed.
A holographic display flared to life in the center of the stage. From it emerged the projection of a tall woman in a long black coat with silver trim, arms behind her back, hair coiled like silver wire. Her eyes glowed softly—a sign she wasn't entirely human.
"Welcome," her voice rang out, calm but commanding, "to Aetherion Academy."
"You are here because you are among the Awakened—those gifted with powers that defy known science. Powers that can change the world… or destroy it."
"Some of you will rise. A few of you may even be chosen as Elites. Most of you will break before the term is over."
A murmur ran through the crowd.
"There are no second chances here. You are not children anymore. You are weapons waiting to be sharpened—or discarded."
As her projection faded, a deep mechanical chime echoed throughout the arena. Then the platform began to rise, revealing a glowing ring underneath.
The corridors of Aetherion were a blur of white steel, soft neon, and murmuring voices. Students buzzed with nervous energy as they were ushered through pristine hallways toward their assigned sectors. Most wore wide eyes and unsure smiles.
Kai Draven walked alone.
His pace was steady. His expression unreadable. Unlike the others, there was no badge clipped to his uniform, no AI assistant chirping directions at him. Only a faint message on his wristband had appeared after orientation:
"Evaluation Room: ZC-09. Unescorted."
He passed groups of students chatting in hushed tones.
"Did you hear some kid got B-rank before the test even ended?"
"What if we're paired with SS-rankers? We're screwed."
"Nah, no one's ever started with SS. It's just a myth."
Kai kept walking, unnoticed.
Sector ZC-09 – Restricted Evaluation Chamber
The door slid open with a low hiss, revealing a stark black chamber. Unlike the tech-lined glass pods used by other students, this room felt… ancient. Quiet. Like a sealed vault.
Waiting inside was a single instructor—tall, gray-haired, and sharp-eyed. He wore no nameplate. No smile.
"Kai Draven," he said without greeting. "Step inside."
Kai obeyed.
The door sealed behind him with a solid thunk.
"No prior combat records. No registered guardian. No traceable origin. You're a ghost."
"And yet, here you are—personally approved by the Aetherion Council."
Kai stayed silent. His hands remained in his pockets.
"This is not a standard trial. You won't be tested on how much power you have."
"You'll be tested on how much power you can control."
The room darkened. A pale ring of light activated around Kai's feet, etching glowing circuits across the floor.
Then came the drones—six of them, silent and hovering. Each began to emit pulses: concussive blasts, stun rays, precision bolts meant to test reflexes.
The first bolt fired.
Kai didn't dodge.
The bolt slowed as it neared him… then collapsed, folding into itself like crushed paper. The energy sparkled out before it even touched him.
The instructor leaned forward, surprised. "Not evasion. Reversal?"
The remaining drones launched a barrage.
Kai moved—just barely. His right hand lifted lazily.
The space around him shimmered. The floor cracked with invisible force.
The drones spiraled, their movements breaking like puppets with cut strings.
In one blink, they were torn from the air—slammed into the walls, disabled.
Kai exhaled. Not from exhaustion. From restraint.
The lights brightened again. The evaluation was over.
"That will suffice," the instructor murmured, typing rapidly on a datapad.
"Strange… your data signature is unstable. Almost unreadable. It's like—"
He stopped himself. "Never mind."
Kai turned to leave.
"Draven."
He paused at the door.
"You're not SS. Not yet. But you're close."
Kai said nothing, but his eyes flickered. A faint, unreadable smirk touched his lips.
That Evening – Rank Announcement Board (Commons Hall)
As night fell, the academy's main commons filled with whispers and flickering holograms.
A massive ranking board materialized above the students—divided by color-coded tiers:
Aetherion Academy – Initial Rank Placement
E Rank – Basic Novices
D Rank – Low Aptitude
C Rank – Intermediate Stable
B Rank – Advanced Trainees
A Rank – High-Grade Awakened
S Rank – Elite-Class Potential
SS Rank – [Locked]
Cheers erupted. Some students screamed in excitement. Others sighed in disappointment as their names landed under C or D. Still, the energy was electric—until something changed.
The board flickered—then five names appeared at once in glowing red, highlighted by a crackling golden outline. They hovered at the very top under S Rank.
Silence swept the room.
S RANK CLASSIFICATION:
Kai Draven
Airi Tsukino
Rika Amagiri
Reika Takahara
Kaito Shiranui
Gasps followed.
"There's five S-ranks? No way!"
"How? Already?"
"Who even are they?"
"They must've had private evaluations…"
Students scanned the room, trying to match names to faces—but none of the five stood near each other. No one even knew what they looked like. Each of them had gone through separate, isolated assessments.
Kai stood at the back of the crowd, hood slightly raised, eyes calm. He barely glanced at the board.
He noticed the other names. Memorized them.
But made no move to search for them.
He didn't care who they were.
Not yet.
All he knew… was that this wasn't the end. It was the beginning.