Zoe's knees gave out entirely. She dropped to the ground, the impact jarring up her legs, but she felt nothing. Her wide eyes were glued to the words 'Diamond Talent' and 'X-rank.' The friend she had discarded, the person she had written off as trash, worthless, was this. A talent among talents, a legend in the making. A cold, sickening disbelief hollowed out her chest. 'How… how did I not see this? How could I have been so blind?'
"You have got to be kidding me," Levi breathed, the words escaping him like a punch to the gut. "He has a freaking X-rank ability."
"And a Diamond talent," Alex added, his voice thin with awe. "When he told us he'd awakened… I never imagined this."
"To witness an X-rank ability…" Daniel murmured, pushing his glasses up, his analytical mind momentarily overwhelmed. "All Elemental Manipulation. It's not just powerful. It's a conceptual cheat. A foundational control over reality itself."
"So, he actually belongs to the Lyon family" Levi said as he was in surprise
"I still can't believe it either" Daniel said with a look of disbelief
"So, he actually comes from a wealthy family, I knew something was off when he felt less excited when we came to the capital" Alex had the look of a detective who just uncovered a clue as he was still shocked too.
Zack had questions to answer from his friends as they would really ask a lot from him without a doubt.
"Can't believe this is really is happening, an X-rank ability and diamond talent" the woman with red curly hair spoke with absolute shock on her face.
"not just that but he hails from the Lyon family" the man with red eyes said.
"Ha-ha! Finally! A new Diamond talent graces our academy!" The Dean's joy was a tangible, booming force.
"Who would have thought I'd live to see an X-rank manifest?" Miss Erica said, a beautiful, stunned smile gracing her features.
"I'm taking that kid." The declaration came from a man with short blonde hair and cold blue eyes, a wide, possessive grin on his lips.
"No. You can't. I will be taking him."
Every head on the stage swiveled. The voice, low and devoid of inflection, came from the young man who had been asleep throughout the entire proceedings. Now, his amber eyes were open, clear and focused.
"Look who's talking about taking a disciple, when he failed his duties" the man with blonde hair spoke to the young man with amber eyes with an arrogant tone.
"Sean Knock it off" Erica spoke to the blonde man with rebuke as the young man clenched his fist silently.
"stop what, am I not saying the truth, he wants to take in a disciple when he could not protect them, he failed" the blonde-haired man said with mockery.
Sean's arrogant smirk vanished. An unbelievable, invisible pressure slammed down on him. His knees hit the stone stage with a sickening crack. He gasped, a strangled sound, and blood sprayed from his mouth as he tried to push back against the weight. It increased tenfold, a crushing force that pressed him into the ground. The marble beneath his knees spider-webbed with fractures. He could feel his bones groaning in protest.
Many instructors had shock on their faces as they looked at the man no his keels as he struggled to get up and no one dared interfere.
"Leo calm down" the man with red eyes tried to speak to the Young man but he didn't listen.
"Leonard please stop it's killing him" Erica tried to plead with him but his gaze remained firm.
"Alright Leo cut it off" the Dean said without looking at them and with a reluctant look he turned his gaze away from the blonde-haired man, and the man felt relief as he breathed out ragged breaths and his face twisted with pain and anger as he stood up.
"Leonard me and you have a score to settle" the man said with rage as he took another seat for the other seat he was seated on before had broken to pieces because of the pressure.
The young man got up with saying a word to anyone and he walked towards Zack who stood with a smile on his face as he looked at his information.
The young man had a black ebony hair and his amber eyes holding a cold look in them, he had a short-pointed nose and a well- shaped and chiseled Jawline. He wore a black collar button up shirt and wore a black coat on and a black slim fit trouser and a black leather shoe which had golden patterns embroiled on the shoe and a black leather watch on his wrist.
Each step the young man took, specks of a shadow like aura left his feet as he walked towards Zack and his eyes had a sharp look in them.
"Sean, you fool," the red-eyed man hissed in annoyance. "Why must you drag that up?"
"It was the truth, wasn't it?" Sean defended himself, though his voice lacked its earlier bluster.
The red-eyed man turned his gaze on Sean, and this t
"Well enough with that, if there is anyone fit to be this kid's master, it will be Leonard" the Dean spoke as he looked the young man named Leonard walking towards Zack.
"this is what I am talking about" Zack said with a smile as he looked at his information on the holographic screen.
[Happy now] the system spoke to him.
"of course, yes I am" Zack had a wide smile on his face as his information was displayed on the holographic screen.
"hey there" a voice suddenly comes from beside Zack who in turn turned to look at who spoke.
Standing before Zack was the young man, Leonard, whose amber eyes had a cold gaze in them as Zack looked at the man who was taller than him, looking at his eyes Zack felt a chill run down his spin as he felt like he was been looked at by some sought of dangerous beast.
"what you do think about becoming my disciple" Leonard asked Zack.
Zack looked at the man in front of him as a lot of thoughts ran through his mind on whether to accept or not but he chose the first option, because for somebody to come for a diamond talent like him would be no ordinary instructor.
"this humble lad here, agrees to become your disciple" Zack accepted with a smile on his face as he looked at the man before him.
"Then that seals everything, here is my address come over later to see me, we have a lot to finalize" the young man said to Zack as his voice carried no emotion and handing Zack a card with his address and Zack took it.
"We meet later" the young man said as he turned around and began walking away without sparing Zack another glance.
"I thought my assessment would have impressed him and maybe I would have gotten a token" Zack said to himself as he looked at the card in his hand.
"I wonder how I let myself be convinced by that old man to take a him as disciple" the young man named Leonard said to himself as he sighed.
"I guess in the end all fingers aren't equal" Zack said with a sigh as he put the card into his pocket as he left the podium as the next person's name was called.
On his way back to his bros, a girl was coming in front as she was the person called next, as they got closer to pass each other.
She had a hair as white as freshly fallen snow, a cascade that flowed down to her waist. Her eyes were a piercing light blue, sharp and firm, focused ahead. Her face was oval, with a small nose and beautiful pink lips that complemented an ethereal, cool beauty. She wore the standard uniform, but it did little to disguise a figure that was strikingly mature for seventeen, a fact not lost on the many eyes following her.
She passed Zack without a glance. Yet, as she did, a powerful sense of déjà vu slammed into him. It was more than recognition; it was a deep, visceral pull, a longing so acute it was physically painful. He stopped in his tracks, watching her walk away. To his own shock, he felt a hot prickling at the corners of his eyes.
'Why do I feel like crying?'
Then, the sharp, familiar pain lanced through his skull. The vision flashed: the woman with flowing black hair and gentle blue eyes, smiling at him with boundless warmth. The image vanished as quickly as it came, leaving him hollow and disoriented.
He stared at the white-haired girl's retreating back. "Why do I keep seeing her? What does this mean?" He looked up at the darkening sky, questions swirling in a void with no answers. Shaking his head, he continued toward his friends, bracing for the inevitable interrogation.
---------
The sun had bled into the horizon, painting the sky in washes of orange and purple. Zack walked alone, the card with his new master's address a slight weight in his pocket. The pathways buzzed with the movement of students dispersing for the evening. He followed the map on his phone, a guiding line provided by Ava.
"Ava, thanks for this. I'd be completely lost otherwise," he said, genuine gratitude in his voice.
He came before a gate and above the gate was a sign saying Teachers Living Quarters as they were some teachers leaving an entering and Zack entered.
Before him stood an enormous nine-story building, stately and imposing. The compound was vast, with cobblestone pathways lit by soft, ambient lights. Teachers, men and women, strolled or sat on benches in quiet conversation. The atmosphere was one of serene, academic dignity.
"wow so this is the living quarters for the teachers and instructors" Zack looked around as he walked towards the building.
Zack stood before a white door with room number 108 as he checked the card in his hand to make sure he was at the correct place.
"Okay this should be it" Zack looked again at the card to make sure he was at the right place and he took a step forward to either knock or to wait for an Al to speak, but at that moment the door slides open taking him by surprise.
"Come in" A voice boomed from within the room and Zack entered.
The sight before Zack stunned him, as he expected everything in the room to be of high tech but surprising it felt like room from a fantasy novel.
He had anticipated sleek, high-tech minimalism. Instead, he was transported into a scene from a rich fantasy novel. The floor was polished dark marble. The furniture was all crafted from deep, warm woods, each piece carved with intricate designs that spoke of masterful artistry. Plush armchairs and a sofa, upholstered in what looked like fine, aged leather, were arranged around a central, beautifully carved wooden table. Upon it sat a stunning statue of a golden dragon. A thick, luxurious fur rug covered the center of the floor.
To the left, a modern flat-screen TV was mounted, a slight concession to the present day. But above, a grand chandelier with golden lights cast the entire room in a warm, honeyed glow. His master, Leonard, sat with his back to the door in a high-backed chair, facing a crackling fireplace that filled the room with a dry, comforting heat. Floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, crammed with volumes of all sizes, flanked the fireplace.
The walls were adorned with exquisite paintings, landscapes, portraits, abstract pieces. One large framed photo showed a group of laughing teenagers posed on a mountain cliff, their smiles bright and carefree. A large, ornate wooden clock ticked softly on the far wall.
"Welcome to my humble abode" the young man spoke without looking back at Zack.
"Good evening sir, it's my humble pleasure of been here sir" Zack spoke with respect as he greeted him.
'with my ability he should have given me a token' Zack said in his mind as he looked at the young man seated on his chair without looking at him.
"I know you're thinking why didn't I give you a token after seeing your assessment result" Leonard said as his tone sounded neutral and Zack was stunned at his word as he said exactly what he was thinking.
'so, does it mean my ability and talent does not meet up to your standard' Zack dare not voice out his opinion.
"You may be asking your yourself whether your talent and ability does not meet my standards" said Leonard.
'what the heck, can he read minds?' Zack was shocked at his current guess on what he was thinking.
"Now you should be thinking whether can I read minds" Leonard said to Zack as smirk curved on his lips.
'to hell with that, you can read minds l bet' Zack had a squint on his face as he looked at the man who sat his back turned to him.
"Well you think I might read minds" Leonard turned around his chair as he sat facing Zack and Amber eyes locking onto Zack.
'I still don't believe you; you can read minds' "_____"
"Whether you believe me or not is none of my business, it's just that you kids are very predictable so I won't have any problem knowing what runs through your mind, especially after seeing that boy received a token" Leonard had no emotion on his face as he spoke to Zack.
"So that means I must meet your expectations in order to obtain the token, right?" Zack suddenly asked and Leonard looked at the kid in front of him as a smile appeared on his lips.
"already aiming for my token, heh" Leonard let out a light chuckle as his eyes seem to lit up with interest in the kid before him
"Yes of course" Zack smiled as he spoke.
"Well meeting my standard as a talented disciple of mine isn't gonna be an easy task" a mischievous glint shone in Leonard's eyes as he looked at Zack.
"Whatever it takes, am coming for the Token" Zack said with smirk on his lips as he looked straight at the man with amber eyes before him.
"looks like you are a daring one" Leonard's cold gaze was replaced by amusement.
"You belong to the Lyon family, right?" Leonard asked
"Yes, I do sir" Zack replied
"Interesting" the amusement in his eyes increased
"Well then from now on you are my disciple" Leonard said with a straight face his eyes held their cold gaze.
"So, what can I call this master of mine?" Zack asked him with a smile on his face
"Just Call me Master Leo" he told Zack.
"Master Leo thank you for taking me as your disciple" Zack said with Bow.
"Very well then Zack, tomorrow we meet after your Class, you may leave now" Leonard said to him and dismissed him and Zack turned to leave.
As Zack got to the Door to exit the room, Master Leo suddenly spoke up.
"And for the record I have a diamond talent just like you, so meeting my expectations is going to be a perilous one so the question is are you ready for what's coming your way"
Zack stopped in his tracks as he heard him as he was shocked that his New master has a diamond talent just like him and Zack turned to look at him and said.
"Even the tiniest of faith can move a mountain, I know I can beat whats coming" A smirk curved on Zacks lips as he exited the room.
"His a tough one, I guess my life might become lively by this Kid's appearance, no wonder he convinced me to take him as my disciple, I just hope I won't regret it this time" Leonard said with somber gaze as he remembered something.
Later That Night
Zack lay on his bed, staring at the ceiling. The day's events replayed in his mind—the shock on the square, the crushing pressure from Master Leo, the card in his pocket. But one moment surfaced above all others: the girl with hair like snow.
'Why did I feel that? Like I'd been waiting my whole life to see her. Like I knew her.' The emotional aftershock still lingered, a dull ache in his chest. 'And when I think of her, I see the woman from my dreams. None of this makes any sense.'
He rolled onto his side, gazing out at the balcony washed in silver moonlight. "What does it all mean?"
At the Platinum Dorm – Girls' Wing
In another room, a girl with white hair and light blue eyes lay on her side, hugging a pillow to her chest. Her thoughts were similarly tangled, circling back to the boy with the intense gaze she had passed on the podium steps.
'Why did I feel that pull when I passed him?' she wondered, her brow furrowed. 'It was like… recognizing a missing piece. A longing to finally meet.' She hugged the pillow tighter, as if it could contain the confusing swell of emotion. "What does this mean?"
On a Mountain Top
Far from the academy, beyond the walls of Evo glade, on a windswept peak, a man in a white cloak sat in a lotus position. His eyes, closed in deep meditation, opened. They were grey, sharp, and held depths of profound, ancient knowledge. A bright, holy aura emanated from him, pure and powerful.
Before him, suspended in a golden light, floated a Holy Bible. It radiated a majestic, serene power that seemed to quiet the very air around it.
"No matter how you are pulled apart," the old man whispered, his voice carried away by the mountain wind, "fate will weave you together again. Just as it did four centuries ago, after you gave everything. Now, in this new era, live the life you once fought for. The adventures you dreamed of shall dawn. The surprises you yearned for shall find you. For this chance has been given unto you."
His silver-white hair streamed behind him as he gazed into the star-flecked distance. Below, in the dark forests, the roars and growls of nocturnal creatures echoed, a reminder of the wild, untamed world that still existed.
Two teenagers, separated by dorm walls and unanswered questions, lay awake in the same night. Each haunted by a fleeting encounter, a mysterious pull, a sense of a story much larger than themselves, just beginning to unfold.