The Academy wasted no time.
By the next morning, students were already being sorted into training groups, their ranks determining everything—who they trained with, who they learned from… and who they were expected to become.
Aiden stood in the courtyard, hands in his pockets, half-listening as instructors called out assignments.
"…Mid-tier group C."
He exhaled quietly. "Sounds about right."
"An artificial position," the Primordial voice murmured. "You stand far beyond—"
"I know," Aiden cut in. "And I'd like to keep it that way."
"Temporary illusions often collapse."
"…Then I'll adjust when they do."
Before the voice could respond, a sudden shift rippled through the crowd.
Conversations hushed.
Eyes turned.
Aiden noticed it immediately.
"…What now?"
"High-tier presences," the voice noted.
Five figures entered the courtyard.
Even without sensing magic, anyone could tell—
They were different.
At the center walked a tall girl with long silver hair, her posture straight, her gaze sharp enough to cut. Cold authority radiated from her every step.
To her right, a girl with crimson hair tied in a high ponytail stretched her shoulders casually, a faint heat distorting the air around her.
On the left, a quiet girl with deep blue hair and calm, unreadable eyes walked silently, as if the world itself moved around her.
Behind them, two more:
One with golden curls and a confident, almost playful smile—
And another with jet-black hair and an expression that suggested she'd rather be anywhere else.
"…Let me guess," Aiden muttered. "Top of the Academy."
"Correct," the voice confirmed. "These five possess the highest recorded potential among current students."
Aiden watched as they approached.
"…They look like trouble."
"Also correct."
—
"Those are the top five," someone whispered nearby.
"Number one is Elara…"
"Second is Lyra…"
"Then Seris, Mira, and Nyx…"
Aiden filed the names away quietly.
Too late.
The silver-haired girl—Elara—stopped.
Her gaze shifted.
Locked onto him.
"…Oh, come on," Aiden muttered under his breath.
She stepped closer, the others following.
The crowd instinctively parted.
Aiden stayed where he was.
"…Yes?" he said calmly.
Elara studied him.
Not casually.
Clinically.
"You're new," she said.
"Everyone here is."
A faint pause.
Then—
"…You're the one they've been whispering about."
Aiden blinked. "That's concerning."
The red-haired girl—Lyra—leaned slightly, looking him up and down.
"…Seriously?" she said. "This guy?"
The blonde—Mira—tilted her head, smiling faintly. "He is cute."
Aiden closed his eyes briefly.
"…Not this again."
Nyx, the black-haired one, clicked her tongue. "He doesn't even feel strong."
Seris, the quiet one, simply watched him.
Silent.
Observing.
Elara stepped closer.
"Your trial performance," she said. "It was… average."
"That was the goal."
That made Lyra laugh.
"Wow, he admits it."
Mira giggled softly. "At least he's honest."
Elara's eyes narrowed slightly.
"You're not ambitious."
Aiden shrugged. "I prefer staying alive."
Nyx scoffed. "Coward."
Aiden didn't react.
Inside—
"I could erase half this courtyard by accident."
"Correct."
"…Yeah, I'm the coward."
Lyra stepped forward, cracking her knuckles lightly.
"Let's test something."
Aiden raised an eyebrow. "I'd rather not."
"Too bad."
Before he could respond—
She moved.
Fast.
Not just fast for a student—
Fast.
Aiden's perception slowed instantly.
"…Okay," he thought. "She's actually decent."
Her fist came toward him—
Aiden stepped back.
Just enough.
It grazed past him.
He stumbled slightly—intentionally.
"…Careful," he said. "You might hit me."
Lyra stopped.
Frowned.
"…You dodged."
"Barely."
"You moved before I struck."
"Lucky guess."
She stared at him.
Then—
Scoffed.
"Fluke."
Nyx crossed her arms. "Told you. Weak."
Mira smiled faintly. "But still pretty."
Aiden exhaled slowly.
Elara turned away.
"Not worth our time," she said.
And just like that—
They dismissed him.
—
That should've been the end of it.
It wasn't.
Because the attention didn't go away.
If anything—
It got worse.
"Hey, pretty boy."
Aiden didn't even look up.
Three boys stood in front of him, blocking his path.
He recognized them.
Lower mid-tier.
Not strong.
But loud.
"…Yes?" Aiden said.
One of them smirked. "He talks nice too."
"Must be easy," another added. "No talent, just a face."
Aiden sighed internally.
"…I really don't have time for this."
"Too bad," the first one said, shoving his shoulder lightly. "People like you don't belong here."
Aiden didn't move.
Didn't react.
"You got lucky in the trials," the third one said. "But luck runs out."
Aiden finally looked at them.
Calm.
"…Are you done?"
That seemed to irritate them more.
"Look at him," one muttered. "Acting all calm."
"Think you're better than us?"
Aiden paused.
Then—
"…No."
That wasn't the answer they expected.
"…What?"
"I don't think I'm better than you," Aiden said simply.
Silence.
Then—
"Yeah? Then prove it."
The first boy pushed him again.
Harder.
Aiden took a step back.
Let it happen.
"…I could end this in less than a second."
"Correct."
"…But I won't."
The boy raised his fist.
"Say that again—"
Aiden didn't block.
Didn't dodge.
The punch landed.
Pain flickered across his cheek.
Minimal.
Controlled.
He let himself fall slightly.
Gasps echoed around them.
"…Pathetic," one of them muttered.
They laughed.
And walked away.
Aiden stayed on the ground for a moment.
Then slowly sat up.
"…That was unnecessary," the voice said.
"I know."
"…You allowed it."
"I know."
Aiden wiped a small trace of blood from his lip.
His expression didn't change.
But his eyes—
For just a second—
They flickered.
Something ancient.
Something vast.
"…I can't solve everything with power," he murmured.
"No."
"…But if they keep pushing…"
Silence.
The voice responded quietly.
"Then the world will remind them… why you were not meant to be tested."
Aiden stood up.
Calm again.
Controlled.
Hidden.
But something had shifted.
And somewhere across the courtyard—
Five pairs of eyes had noticed