Laughter still lingered in the air, but Sabastian's expression had grown thoughtful. After a moment, he turned toward Scarlett.
"Hey, Scarlett… I'm sorry if this sounds rude, but—you said you're in the same batch as us, right? It's just… you seem a little older than we are."
Scarlett blinked, then let out a teasing chuckle. "You know, it's impolite to comment on a lady's age—especially in front of her."
Sabastian immediately flushed, flustered. "Ah—no, no! I didn't mean it like that! I'm really sorry!"
"It's fine," Scarlett said with a gentle wave of her hand. "Actually, you're not wrong. I am older—by about four years."
Everyone looked surprised.
"I'm what you'd call… a repeater," she continued with a sheepish laugh, scratching her head. "Failed the advancement exam twice already. This year's my third and final chance to pass."
Natasha's eyes widened. "Wait—you mean if you fail again… you'll be expelled from the academy?"
Scarlett nodded slowly. "That's right. It's all or nothing this time."
Her usual cheer faltered for a moment, and the smile on her face turned a little sad. The air grew quiet—until Shaun suddenly spoke up, his voice steady and bright.
"Then we won't let you fail," he said. "You helped us when we needed it most. Now it's our turn. We'll study together, train together—and make sure you ascend to the Scholar Class. I promise you'll graduate from this academy and achieve your dream."
Scarlett blinked, her lips parting slightly in surprise. For a moment, her violet-brown eyes shimmered with emotion before softening into a tender smile.
"Thank you, Shaun," she said quietly. "And thank you, everyone. You have no idea how much that means to me."
The group exchanged smiles—warm, genuine, and full of promise.
**********
Shaun and his friends were still processing everything that had happened when Sabastian suddenly leaned forward, curiosity gleaming in his eyes.
"Miss Scarlett, can I ask you something?" he said. "You've been at this academy longer than us, right? Then… you must know those three seniors—Aiden, Akshay, and Vince. Who are they? And why do their names carry so much weight around here?"
Scarlett tilted her head slightly, her expression thoughtful. Before she could reply, Shaun spoke up, the memory still vivid in his mind.
"Yeah, I've been wondering that too. When Vince attacked me, the pressure from his mana was overwhelming. My body wouldn't even move—it was like being crushed by a mountain."
"He wasn't the only one," Shaumin interjected, leaning forward. "When Aiden and Akshay showed up, the air itself changed. Their energy clashed with Vince's like a storm, and somehow… they completely overpowered him."
Sabastian nodded. "Yeah. I saw Aiden deflect Vince's attack with his bare hand. Just like that—" he snapped his fingers, "—as if it was nothing. That kind of strength... I've never seen anything like it."
"You're right," Shaumin said, frowning as he tried to recall. "Those two are definitely not ordinary disciples. And that name… Flamesaber... I swear I've heard it somewhere before."
Shaun looked at Scarlett, his tone firm but curious.
"Scarlett, you've been here longer than us. Please—tell us who they are. There's only one person who can explain this to us right now, and that's you."
Scarlett met his gaze for a long moment, then sighed softly.
"All right. I'll tell you what I know."
She clasped her hands in her lap, her expression turning serious.
"Kevin Fairywind. Garland Hetmyer. Vince Dragonblade. Akshay Himaira. And Aiden Flamesaber," she said, slowly pronouncing each name.
The room seemed to fall silent, the weight of those names hanging in the air.
"Each of them represents the pinnacle of a different element and discipline—five prodigies whose power is said to rival even the lower-ranking teachers. Around here, they're more than disciples. They're symbols of what it truly means to be a Magus."
Scarlett took a slow breath, her eyes reflecting both admiration and caution.
"Let me tell you about each of them."
She began, her voice steady and clear.
"Remember the guy who said he was the son of Guildmaster Kaspian Fairywind? That's Kevin Fairywind — Vice President of the Disciplinary Knights and heir to the Fairywind family. Charming, handsome, and a bit of a womanizer, he's what most girls here would call a 'fallen angel of love.' But behind that playful smile lies real strength — brave, loyal, and incredibly skilled in combat. His measured spiritual power is around 6,000, making him the fifth strongest disciple in the entire academy and the most trusted ally of President Akshay."
She paused briefly, then continued.
"Next is Garland Hetmyer, Aiden's closest comrade and sparring partner. He's the only son of the Blazing Flame Division's commander from the Silver Heaven Imperial Army. A true martial artist, Garland is fiery, disciplined, and unmatched in raw combat. His spiritual power is about 6,500, ranking him as the fourth strongest disciple."
"If he's Aiden's duel partner, then there's no doubt he's strong," Natasha murmured in awe.
Scarlett nodded slightly, her expression darkening.
"The third on the list is Vince Dragonblade — prince of the Dragonblade family and the younger son of the Emperor of the Silver Heaven Region, Lord Robert Dragonblade. Arrogant, ruthless, and spoiled by privilege, he's feared by most and despised by many. He enjoys tormenting weaker disciples, which is why people keep their distance. Still, his talent can't be denied. His spiritual power reaches nearly 8,000, making him the third strongest disciple."
Her tone softened a little as she spoke next.
"Then comes the pride of this academy — Akshay Himaira, the President of the Disciplinary Knights. Calm as ice, sharp as lightning. Intelligent, disciplined, and kind to those who follow the rules — but merciless toward those who break them. Akshay joined the Knights back when he was still in the Apprentice Class, and his leadership was so exceptional that he was immediately promoted to President. His spiritual power measures around 9,500, placing him as the second strongest disciple."
Shaumin's jaw dropped. "Nine thousand five hundred?! That's almost at Master Rank!"
Scarlett smiled faintly, then turned her gaze toward the window.
"And finally… there's the one who stands above them all — Aiden Flamesaber. The cold prince who rules over hearts and duels alike. He hails from the royal Flamesaber family, one of the Five Great Houses of Silver Heaven. Handsome, composed, and undefeated, he's the academy's reigning champion — a warrior who's never lost a single match. His father, Lord Aaron Flamesaber, is the leader of the Celestial Scroll Division and one of the Emperor's ministers."
Her voice lowered, almost in reverence.
"Aiden's recorded spiritual power is about 9,500, nearly equal to Akshay's… but rumours say his true power surpasses 10,000."
"Over ten thousand?!" Sabastian exclaimed in disbelief. "That's impossible! How can someone our age be that strong?"
Scarlett gave a small, knowing smile.
"Believe it or not, it's true. Aiden won last year's Magus Tournament flawlessly — not a single opponent could land a decisive blow. When he first entered this academy, his entrance test results shocked everyone — 4,000 spiritual power, equivalent to a Scholar Rank Magus."
Shaumin swallowed hard. "What kind of monster is this guy…?"
"'Monster' might be an understatement," Scarlett said quietly. "That 9,500 figure I mentioned was from a year ago. No one knows how powerful he's become since then."
A tense silence filled the room. No one spoke — only the faint hum of mana crystals echoed through the infirmary as the weight of Scarlett's words settled over them all.
Scarlett's voice softened, a faint note of awe slipping through.
"These five aren't just popular seniors—they're legends. The strongest disciples in all of Silver Heaven Academy. Together, they're known as the Elite Five."
Her gaze drifted toward the window, where sunlight filtered through the curtains, glinting like gold dust in the quiet room.
Shaun and his friends froze, eyes widening in disbelief.
"The Elite Five…?" they echoed in unison.
Scarlett nodded slowly, her tone carrying a hint of warning.
"The path of a Magus is never simple. Power brings responsibility, enemies, and choices that will test who you really are. And now that you've crossed paths with them… it seems fate has already begun to tie your paths with theirs. Your story in this academy has only just begun."
The faint breeze from the open window stirred the curtains, whispering like a distant omen. Outside, the silver bell of the academy tolled, marking the end of lunch — and the quiet beginning of a new storm.
**********