The night air over Aetherion Academy was quiet.
The excitement from the sparring match had finally begun to fade as students returned to their dormitories. But conversations about the duel between Catherine Ravenscroft and Ethan Voss continued spreading through the academy halls.
Rumors moved quickly in places like this.
Some said Catherine had almost won.
Others insisted Ethan had been holding back the entire time.
A few even claimed the match had ended before either of them showed their true strength.
Inside the first-year dormitory building, Lucas Hartley was still talking.
Loudly.
"I'm telling you, that was insane."
Marcus sat across from him at a small wooden table.
"You've said that ten times."
Lucas ignored him.
He pointed dramatically at Ethan.
"You didn't tell us you could fight like that!"
Ethan sat calmly near the window of the room, reading a small academy booklet.
"I didn't think it was important."
Lucas nearly fell out of his chair.
"NOT IMPORTANT?"
Marcus leaned back in his chair.
"To be fair, he didn't lie."
Lucas stared at both of them in disbelief.
"I feel betrayed."
Ethan closed the booklet slowly.
"You're exaggerating."
Lucas crossed his arms.
"You hid your strength from us."
Marcus added calmly,
"You hide a lot of things."
Ethan said nothing.
Because Marcus wasn't wrong.
The room fell quiet for a moment.
Outside the window, the academy grounds were dimly lit by tall lanterns placed along the stone paths.
Students walked between buildings in small groups.
The academy never truly slept.
Lucas leaned forward again.
"Alright. Serious question."
Ethan glanced at him.
"Hmm?"
Lucas tapped the table.
"Where did you learn to fight like that?"
Ethan paused.
For a moment.
In another life, he had learned through years of war.
Through countless battles that had ended with blood and ashes.
But those memories belonged to a future that hadn't happened yet.
So Ethan gave a simple answer.
"Practice."
Lucas stared.
Marcus stared.
Lucas finally sighed.
"That answer is illegal."
Marcus nodded.
"Extremely suspicious."
Ethan returned his attention to the booklet.
The title on the front read:
Aetherion Academy – Combat Theory Fundamentals.
Inside were diagrams explaining basic aura circulation and sword stances taught to first-year students.
Simple.
Basic.
Far below what Ethan already knew.
Lucas suddenly leaned closer again.
"Wait."
Ethan looked up.
Lucas pointed at him.
"I just realized something."
"That's dangerous," Marcus muttered.
Lucas ignored him.
"You said your full name earlier during the evaluation."
Ethan remained silent.
Lucas spoke slowly.
"…Ethan Aldric Voss."
Marcus blinked slightly.
Then he looked at Ethan.
"…Voss?"
Lucas nodded.
"Yeah. That's what I was thinking."
Marcus crossed his arms.
"That family?"
Lucas shrugged.
"Maybe?"
Ethan closed the booklet quietly.
The Voss name.
Even in this timeline—
It carried a certain weight.
Not the most powerful noble house.
But still known.
Especially among knights and military families.
Marcus studied Ethan carefully.
"You never mentioned that."
Ethan shrugged lightly.
"It never came up."
Lucas leaned back in his chair.
"That explains some things."
Marcus nodded.
"A little."
But Ethan could tell neither of them fully understood.
Which was good.
The fewer people who paid attention to his name—
The easier things would remain.
Lucas stood up and stretched.
"Well, I'm exhausted."
Marcus stood as well.
"Tomorrow's training will be worse."
Lucas pointed at Ethan one last time.
"But this conversation is not over."
Ethan gave a small nod.
"I'm sure it isn't."
The two left the room, still talking quietly to each other in the hallway.
The door closed.
Silence returned.
Ethan remained by the window.
The moon hung high above the academy towers.
Its pale light covered the stone buildings and training grounds.
For a long moment—
Ethan simply watched.
Then he spoke quietly to himself.
"…The Voss name."
In the previous timeline, his family had played a small role in the larger events of the continent.
Not heroes.
Not villains.
Just another noble family caught in the storm of history.
But that future had ended.
Burned away along with the rest of the world.
Ethan rested his hand against the wooden desk.
"…Things will be different this time."
Outside the academy walls—
Far beyond the quiet dormitories—
The world was already moving.
Forces hidden in shadows.
Events slowly approaching.
And somewhere in the future—
A catastrophe waiting to happen.
But for now—
The story inside Aetherion Academy continued.
And Ethan Aldric Voss intended to watch every part of it carefully.
Because the smallest change—
Could alter everything.