Morning sunlight poured across the Royal Academy.
The events of yesterday had already become legend.
The first-year who shattered the mana crystal.
The boy who defeated a noble student in two strikes.
The younger brother of Saksham Singla.
Every hallway, training field, and dining hall buzzed with only one name.
Aryan Singla.
Inside the first-year dormitory, however, the subject of everyone's gossip was currently asleep face-down on the floor.
Blanket wrapped around one leg.
Pillow missing.
One shoe on.
The dorm door slammed open.
"WAKE UP!"
Aryan shot upward in terror.
A senior student stood at the entrance with crossed arms.
"Morning bell rang ten minutes ago!"
Aryan rubbed his eyes.
"Oh... right."
The senior narrowed his eyes.
"You embarrassed nobles yesterday. They already hate you."
Aryan yawned.
"Then they woke up too early."
The senior twitched.
Ten minutes later, Aryan sprinted across campus while chewing bread.
Students pointed as he ran.
"That's him!"
"The crystal breaker!"
"He's late already?"
Aryan grinned.
"Great first impression."
At the central training ground, first-year students stood in lines.
Instructor Daren, a muscular veteran knight, paced before them.
"Today begins discipline."
"No titles."
"No family names."
"No excuses."
His gaze landed on Aryan.
"You are late."
Aryan swallowed bread quickly.
"Only by a little."
Daren pointed toward the field.
"Twenty laps."
Aryan sighed.
"Can't fame buy mercy?"
"Forty laps."
Aryan immediately began running.
From a distant upper terrace, Elena and Victor watched with amusement.
Victor laughed.
"He truly is Saksham's brother."
Elena shook her head.
"No. Saksham was quieter."
Victor smirked.
"Only after breaking three training halls."
Elena glanced sideways.
"You still hold grudges from childhood?"
"I hold memories."
Nearby, Saksham stood silently, watching Aryan run.
His younger brother was tired, sweating, but still smiling.
Saksham's eyes softened slightly.
"He'll adapt."
Victor folded his arms.
"You plan to help him?"
"No."
Elena looked surprised.
Saksham continued calmly.
"If I protect him here, he'll stay weak."
Below, training began.
Students practiced sword forms.
Others performed mana control exercises.
Aryan finished his laps and joined late.
A noble student sneered.
"Even legends have foolish relatives."
Aryan ignored him.
Another student whispered, "Can he really compare to Senior Saksham?"
Aryan heard that one.
He stopped smiling.
Instructor Daren tossed wooden swords into the field.
"Pair up!"
Aryan found himself facing a tall second-son noble named Roderic.
The same student who mocked him.
Roderic spun his blade confidently.
"I'll enjoy this."
Aryan rolled his shoulders.
"You talk like yesterday's guy."
"Begin!"
Roderic charged with polished technique.
Aryan blocked once, stepped back twice, then changed rhythm suddenly.
Fast.
Too fast.
He slipped inside Roderic's guard and tapped his chest with the wooden blade.
Point scored.
Roderic growled and attacked harder.
Aryan ducked, turned, struck the back of the knee.
Second point.
Students murmured.
Roderic lost control and rushed wildly.
Aryan sidestepped and lightly tapped his forehead.
Third point.
Instructor Daren raised a hand.
"Winner: Aryan."
Roderic threw down his sword angrily.
"This is luck!"
Daren's voice thundered.
"No. Your pride lost."
The field fell silent.
Aryan scratched his cheek.
"I was going easy."
Roderic nearly exploded again.
High above, Victor burst into laughter.
"I definitely like him."
Elena smiled faintly.
"He fights with instinct."
Saksham turned away.
"And no patience."
Later that afternoon, first-years were sent to the mana chamber.
A circular hall filled with glowing runes.
Instructor Mira, a mage professor, addressed them.
"You will now attempt controlled elemental release."
Students stepped forward one by one.
Small flames.
Weak water streams.
A few sparks.
Then Aryan stepped forward.
Mira adjusted her glasses.
"Control, not destruction."
"No promises," Aryan replied.
He placed both hands forward.
Blue lightning formed around his fingers.
Wind spiraled beneath it.
The energy merged unexpectedly into a rotating spear of storm power.
Students screamed and ducked.
Mira immediately raised a barrier.
The storm spear launched upward—
BOOM!
It pierced the ceiling barrier and exploded harmlessly into sparks.
Silence.
Mira slowly lowered her staff.
"...Control needs work."
Aryan coughed.
"But power was good?"
She sighed.
"Very."
That evening, students crowded the dining hall.
Aryan carried three plates proudly.
Before he could sit, several older students blocked his path.
Third-years.
Well-built.
Smirking.
One leaned close.
"Little brother of Saksham, right?"
Aryan shrugged.
"Depends who's asking."
"We are."
Another student grinned.
"People are tired of hearing your name."
Aryan looked around.
"No one forced your ears to work."
The table nearby burst into muffled laughter.
The seniors' faces darkened.
One grabbed Aryan's shoulder.
Then—
The hall temperature dropped.
Every sound died.
The seniors froze.
Saksham Singla stood behind them.
Simple black uniform.
Calm expression.
Terrifying presence.
He said only one sentence.
"Remove your hand."
The senior released Aryan instantly and stepped back.
No threats.
No shouting.
No fight.
Just fear.
The seniors hurried away.
Aryan looked impressed.
"That was cool."
Saksham sat across from him.
"Why provoke older students on your second day?"
Aryan grinned.
"They were already provoked."
Saksham stared for a moment.
Then a faint smile appeared.
"You've improved."
Aryan straightened proudly.
"I trained every day."
"I know."
Aryan blinked.
"You knew?"
Saksham nodded.
"I received reports from home."
Aryan's ears reddened.
"You had people spying on me?!"
"I had mother."
Aryan groaned.
Unbeatable.
For a few quiet minutes, the brothers ate together.
Then Aryan spoke softly.
"I didn't come here because of your fame."
"I know."
"I came because I want to stand beside you someday."
Saksham looked at him directly.
"Then stop chasing my shadow."
Aryan frowned.
"What does that mean?"
"It means become someone even I must notice."
Aryan slowly smiled.
"Deal."
That night, thunder rolled across a clear sky.
Impossible thunder.
Across the academy, teachers stepped outside uneasily.
Ancient pressure returned.
Stronger than before.
In the hidden tower chamber, Orion stood before a glowing seal.
The seal had begun to crack.
Elena and Victor arrived behind him.
Victor's smile was gone.
"What is that?"
Orion answered grimly.
"A gate."
Elena's voice lowered.
"To where?"
Orion looked toward the stars.
"To those who once blessed this world."
Elsewhere, in his room, Saksham's system window appeared again.
[DIVINE CONTACT IMMINENT]
[PREPARE HOST]
[THE FIRST GOD WILL ARRIVE AT DAWN]
Saksham closed the window slowly.
Outside, lightning split the heavens.
And in the first-year dormitory, Aryan snored through all of it.
END OF EPISODE 2