The first day of classes began with a chilling reminder of NovaMyst's high standards. The Blanks were herded into the cold, unwelcoming lecture hall as Professor Lillian's voice echoed over them. "Welcome to your first lesson in survival," he began, his gaze sweeping the room, a hint of dark amusement in his eyes.

"Isn't this supposed to be AetherTech Fundamentals?" A student near the front piped up, sparking a welcome wave of laughter through the class.

Lillian leaned back, perching himself casually on his desk. "I see some of you are in high spirits. Good—you're going to need it."

The classroom itself seemed almost out of place for the Blanks, Nate thought, glancing around. A modern auditorium with sleek, U-shaped tables equipped with personal hologram stations for each student, all set under a large skylight. Nate preferred the view from the upper level; from up here, he could take in the whole room, observing everyone with quiet detachment.

"What's your name?" Lillian asked, pointing to the student who had joked.

"Theodore Larsson."

"Well, Mr. Larsson, while you're correct in saying this is AetherTech Fundamentals, it's also fundamental that those of you here learn... how things work."

Lillian's voice took on an almost playful tone. "Over the weekend, you should all have filled out and handed in your chosen curriculum, yes? Well, those of you without the stripe, and by extension all of you here, will not have professors assigned to you, regardless of the subject. You'll have self-study sessions during class time."

A few scoffs echoed through the auditorium, followed by murmurs of annoyance.

"I see none of you are surprised," Lillian remarked.

"Why would we be?" A female student huffed.

"Yeah," another muttered, rolling his eyes.

Theodore spoke up again, "Considering the Master of Ceremonies' display and the bullying over the weekend, I'm personally not surprised at all. And before you ask, yes, we tried to report the bullying, but the enforcers didn't do a thing."

"To be fair, from what I saw, by the time the enforcers arrived, there was nothing to report..." added another student from the back.

"Right, but what does all this mean for us?" Fane grumbled; voice edged with frustration. "I came to NovaMyst because it's supposed to be the pinnacle of education. People say graduating from here guarantees success, yet we can't even get teachers. And did anyone else see our living quarters? How is any of this allowed?"

Nate's voice cut in from the upper level, a note of disdain colouring his tone. "I told you, the only importance you'd have is being on the rejected list."

Fane whipped around, scowling. "The hell you say?"

Nate sighed, looking down with an air of boredom. "There you go again with your pointless bravado. Look, all I'm saying is you're a bunch of hypocrites. Most of you had no problem yesterday ganging up on that Melnic guy, showing off your family crests. You're only complaining now because you're on the other side. Don't pretend you wouldn't join in if the shoe were on the other foot."

A brief pause hung in the air as the students glanced at one another, some of them shifting uncomfortably.

Lillian's voice cut in smoothly, a faint glimmer of amusement in his gaze as he looked up at Nate. "Mr. Davis, welcome to the conversation. You seem rather enthusiastic this morning. What's the matter? I thought you didn't care about the system."

Nate shrugged, his voice dry. "This has nothing to do with the system; it's plain human stupidity and hypocrisy."

Lillian chuckled, nodding in agreement. "Right, let's all take a breath. What's important here is that you have an advantage the striped students do not."

Fane's expression grew wary. "And what's that?"

"You can skip classes whenever you like," Lillian said, deadpan.

A beat of silence followed; the class too thrown off to even react. Lillian shrugged, the faintest hint of disappointment in his expression.

"If it makes any of you feel better, I'll be able to give you some instruction Monday to Wednesday," he continued. "Now, any questions before we begin?"

Nate leaned forward, his tone skeptical. "How come you're here teaching us? What's in it for you? And... why the girl's name?"

A few students stifled chuckles, but Lillian seemed unperturbed.

"My parents always wanted a girl. When I came out not quite meeting their expectations, they decided to compromise," he said with a grin. "As for why I'm here, well, it's simple magic. This is NovaMyst, after all." He winked, sidestepping the question of what he gained from it, a glimmer of amusement in his eyes.

Nate watched him closely, a small smirk tugging at his lips. Look at you being smart.

"To start off with is anyone here able to tell me what C.A.T stands for? Professor Lillian asks.

"Cute and Thicc?" A student in the middle row jokes.

Professor Lillian looks at the student. "If only you were as good in school as you are at making jokes then mayhaps you'd have a stripe."

There is a slight pause, which Lillian uses to continue the lecture.

"C.A.T devices, CATs, or whatever you want to call them stand for Centralized Acclamation Technology. On that same note, can anyone tell me what they are used for?"

"Using and or casting magic." A female student says.

"Who spoke?" The professor questions, looking at the student

"Susana Bently." She replies.

"Very good Miss Bently, however you would be not totally correct." Professor Lillian looks around the class noticing the students' confused looks.

"Right then, let's go back to the basics, shall we?" Professor Lillian asked, his voice more serious now. "AetherTech was created by a man whose name has long since been forgotten. How, you may ask? No one knows—or if they do, they sure as shit haven't told me. "He chuckled, his voice tinged with sarcasm.

"As we all know, everything in our world, from the technological to the intangible, is composed of particles—essentially, information. AetherTech leverages this principle by copying the relevant information into the processing area of your brain, where your chip is located, and then overwriting the original data, effectively purging the residuals."

"Meaning what?" Susana asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Meaning that if you cast a spell to accelerate an object or a person in a certain direction, you're not just speeding up your target. You're copying the target's information into your chip, overwriting it with your intended changes, and casting your Aether Script to bring the phenomenon you've coded to life."

Anton's voice spoke from the back, filling in details. "This essentially lets you reprogram reality. If your goal is to change an object's speed or position, you're setting up a rewritten 'target' that the world recognizes as altered."

"Very good, Mr. Melnic." Professor Lillian gave him an approving nod.

Susana's hand shot up again, her face thoughtful. "So, what happens to the person if you're making a copy and imposing your will on them?"

Anton replied, "Depends on your intent. If your intent is to harm, it will harm. If not, it won't."

"Hm, so it's just like casting magic, which is what I said," she added smugly.

Professor Lillian interjected smoothly, "Not exactly. CAT devices, or Centralized Acclamation Technology Devices, overwrite information data—what we call sóma, from the Greek word for 'body' or 'wisdom of the body.' In both realms, physical and beyond, the CAT allows a mage to make use of magic, yes, but through a specific process."

With a growing interest, the students leaned in as he continued, "The CAT device absorbs Aetherium from the user. Its Aetherium Information Aide software transmits the energy into the chosen sub-chip, sparking an Aether Script. This Script transfers to the magic calculation area in the mage's brain, where it's processed into a spell. The device's hardware converts Aetherium signals into 'electronic magic,' forming Aether Scripts that run back through the caster's nervous system into their brain. From there, Aetherium particles inherent to the mage's body infuse the sequence, allowing for a direct overwriting of sóma in the 'other' dimension."

"So how is that different from what I said?" Susana pressed, a note of annoyance creeping into her voice.

"Because you aren't actually casting magic. You're changing information to reach a desired outcome," Lillian said calmly.

Susana paused, then asked, "Does that have anything to do with the Modulation process?"

"Bingo!" Lillian grinned, nodding approvingly. "Yes, Reality Modulation, or what you all know as modern magic, is rooted in Innate Magic. Modulation Magic is mostly categorized by its effects."

Anton chimed in again. "Momentum, Mass, Vector, Resonance, Focus, Diffusion, and finally, Ingestion and Emission."

The professor beamed, visibly pleased. "Another bingo! Damn, you guys are on fire today!"

"This Modulation involves precise sequences and calculations, often requiring the use of a device like a CAT to help modulate or structure the magic. This in turn, however, makes it predictable but consistent. Do keep in mind that the processing speed of the mage is also taken into consideration; that is why some prefer one type of CAT over others. But in general, it makes casting much faster—just beep, beep, boop into a device, and you're good to go." His mock-robotic tone drew more laughter, the students relaxing a bit more."

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"So, Professor Lillian, what's the proper academic answer?" Susana asked.

He smiled. "Based on everything I've said so far, what do you think, Miss Bently?"

Susana thought for a moment. "CAT devices are tools that overwrite information data, or sóma, in both the physical realm and the other side realm, allowing a mage to use precise Aether Scripts to achieve a desired outcome. Because these sequences have to be so precise and calculated, this would usually take a long time to do, but the processing power of the device and the mage linked to it lets it happen very quickly, making CATs perfect for modern magic use."

"Well, well, well, Miss Bently, why don't you come up here and take my job already? I'm looking to retire," Professor Lillian said jokingly.

Susana grinned, pleased with the praise. "But you're so young, what are you, like twenty-something? Why retire so soon?" she teased.

"It was a joke," he chuckled. "But yes, I am twenty-six. I was actually a student here up until three years ago—" The bell rang, cutting him off.

"Well, it seems that's all for today. I'll see you all here tomorrow. Enjoy the rest of your day," he said, watching as students began to pack up.

As the classroom emptied, Lillian turned to look up at Nate. "I hope you learned something today, Mr. Davis," he said, half-smiling.

Nate paused, glancing back with a casual shrug. "That your parents are dicks."

He turned, hearing the professor's amused laughter echo down the hall as he walked out.

As Nate left the classroom, he noticed several students, including Susana, gathering around Anton, their voices a mix of curious whispers and laughter. Nate felt a pang of irritation—Anton's acceptance by the others was too quick, too easy—but he brushed it off, heading out of the lecture hall.

Outside, the cool, crisp air of the NovaMyst campus greeted him, carrying the scent of pine and the faint aroma of food from the cafeteria. The path ahead was lined with vibrant flowers, their colours in stark contrast to the gray stone of the buildings. Nate moved quietly; his mind focused on finding Elysia. As he walked, his thoughts were interrupted by the distant sound of laughter and muffled cries.

Around a corner, a Blank student was being cornered, their pleas for help met only with mocking laughter. Nate hesitated, his hand instinctively clenching into a fist. He could step in—but that wouldn't change a thing, and his presence might just escalate the situation. He let out a breath and turned to leave, just as a voice from behind hissed, "Look, it's the Blank from yesterday."

Nate didn't flinch. He held his expression steady, keeping their sneers at bay with a look of practiced indifference before continuing down the path.

Elysia and Irina made their way through the grand hallways toward the student council room, their footsteps echoing off polished floors. The scent of aged wood and leather-bound books filled the air, along with a metallic tang that hinted at the academy's old magic wards. As they neared the ornate door, the low murmur of voices within grew louder.

Inside, the room was grand, a testament to the academy's opulence. At the head of a polished table sat Chloe Rawllings, her composed expression projecting an air of authority. Her presence held the room, marking her as someone of influence.

"Ah, Elysia and Irina, welcome," she greeted them, her voice smooth and unwavering. "Please, take a seat."

The girls exchanged a quick glance before sitting, feeling the weight of the council's gaze on them.

"We've called you here to discuss something important." Chloe's tone softened slightly, and her expression grew serious. "Despite being first years, we believe your perspectives could contribute significantly to the student council's goals. We aim to end the blatant discrimination present within NovaMyst, and your unique experiences make you invaluable to this effort."

Irina leaned forward; curiosity piqued. "And why now?"

Chloe's gaze turned steely. "There are broader dynamics at play. The Rawllings family and others in the 12 royals are under pressure to promote inclusivity, especially after the incident during the entrance ceremony. It's not only about NovaMyst but about setting a precedent that reaches beyond these walls."

One of the other council members, a girl with glasses and an air of intellect, chimed in. "Ironically, many who pressure for inclusivity have done little to model it themselves."

Chloe cast her a weary glance but continued, "Moreover, there's unrest in the outer regions. If we ignore these issues, they could escalate beyond control. Including students like yourselves in the council is a step toward fostering a stable future."

Elysia's eyes narrowed, her skepticism unhidden. "So, this is about maintaining social order as much as it is about ending discrimination. You need us to be the face of inclusivity, to control what would otherwise unravel into upheaval."

Chloe nodded slowly. "That's exactly it. A more open environment here could serve as a model for the broader society. But yes, this will put you in a precarious position."

Elysia's voice was cold as ice. "In other words, we'll be your scapegoats."

Chloe's shoulders dropped slightly, her gaze empathetic. "If you choose to see it that way, then yes... but know that this is the first step towards real change. I'm genuinely sorry to place this burden on you both. Are you willing to take on the challenge?"

Before they had time to answer someone bursts through the door.

"Prez come quickly we need you." A young man says panting and out of breath

"Whoa hey calm down what is wrong?" Chloe asks worried.

"There is no time!" He says. "Someone has been killed at the academy.

Chloe's eyes widened in shock. "Let's go, everyone. Quickly!"

The group hurried through the winding corridors, led by the young man whose pale, horror-stricken face had silenced everyone. Their footsteps echoed over the cold stone floor, mingling with the faint, distant hum of the academy's old wards. The chill of the early morning air sharpened as they moved through the shadowed hallways, the crisp bite laced with a faint metallic tang that seemed to intensify as they neared their destination. Chloe's face remained impassive as she led the group, but her shoulders betrayed the tension she held tightly coiled.

As they turned the last corner, the oppressive silence broke with the muffled sound of crunching gravel underfoot. The tang of blood filled the air, metallic and raw. Nate stood before them in the center of the courtyard, a solitary figure among a gruesome display of twisted, torn bodies, dismembered limbs, and faces frozen in horror. Some bodies lay in contorted positions, fingers still curled as though clawing at the air, while others were in pieces, blood pooling and seeping into the cracked stone.

Elysia's stomach twisted, her pulse pounding as she took in the scene. The texture of the air felt thick, sticky, and hot with the smell of blood and sweat. Every nerve in her body screamed in outrage, and she fought the urge to recoil as her gaze fell on Nate, expression unreadable as he looked down at the bodies around him as his figured shadows over the students on the floor. Blood spattered his clothes, a sharp contrast against the stark whites of his uniform.

"What the hell did you do?" Her voice was sharp and cold, breaking the silence. Inside, she battled a wave of anger and disbelief, the fury laced with a pang of something she refused to acknowledge as fear.

Nate met her gaze, his voice calm but defiant. "I did what had to be done."

Elysia's fists clenched. "Had to be done? They're practically dead!" She gestured to the carnage, each disfigured face a twisted testament to Nate's wrath. Her chest tightened, emotions battling within her as she struggled to keep her voice steady. "This...this isn't justice, Nate. This is brutality."

"They were going to hurt you," he shot back, his voice rising with an edge of frustration. He wasn't willing to back down, not here, not now. "They were talking about doing all sorts of twisted things to you, Elysia. They didn't deserve mercy."

A flicker of something vulnerable darted across her face before her expression hardened again. "So you play judge, jury, and executioner just because they said things? You realize what this looks like, don't you? This will follow us, Nate. Everything you do affects all of us—me. You're reckless, and you're dragging me down with you."

His jaw clenched, a frustrated fire in his eyes. "Maybe I'm reckless, but I'd rather be reckless than let those scum talk about you like that. I protect you, Elysia—no matter what. That is my only job remember?"

Their heated exchange fell into silence, but it was broken by the murmurs and stares from the student council and enforcers who had gathered. The metallic tang of blood filled the air, and Nate could hear some of the enforcers muttering, disgust in their voices.

One enforcer with a silver streak in his hair sneered, taking a step forward. "You're nothing but a monster." He says his words are like spitting poison.

"Do a better job then cunt." Nate spits back.

"Enough." Chloe's voice, calm but steely, silenced them. She cast a wary look over the scene before turning her gaze back to Nate, her voice softer but resolute. "Nate, I know you think you're protecting her, but this kind of brutality doesn't belong here. We have standards—"

He cut her off with a low scoff. "Standards?" He swept his gaze over the council members, his voice cold. "They were the ones saying they'd cross any line to get to her, you should have seen what they did to the poor kid. You think I'm a monster? Fine, call me that. But I'll sleep just fine tonight."

Suddenly, the air shifted, and Nate's instincts prickled. He turned just as Anton appeared, his expression disturbingly calm. Anton's eyes darkened as he took in the mangled bodies, his face unreadable. Then his gaze fixed on Nate, and his voice dropped into a chilling monotone.

"Activating combat mode."

In a blur, Anton lunged forward, his fists crackling with a controlled energy. Nate barely had time to sidestep as Anton's fist grazed his jaw. The impact left a sharp sting, but Nate retaliated, a swift kick aimed at Anton's torso. Anton blocked the attack with ease, deflecting it and driving a fist into Nate's ribs, sending him stumbling back.

They circled each other, the courtyard now silent, save for the soft crunch of their footwork on the blood-slick stones. The students watched with bated breath, caught between horror and fascination, as the two powerhouses clashed with brutal precision. Blood spattered across the stone as Anton managed to land another hit, slicing a thin cut across Nate's cheek. Nate's own grin widened, a disturbing glint in his eye as he swung low, his leg sweeping toward Anton's knees.

But Anton was faster, dodging and retaliating with a forceful kick to Nate's shoulder, the impact rippling through him. Nate staggered, briefly tasting iron as his lip split, but he lunged forward, swinging a punch that Anton only narrowly dodged, his movements precise but filled with raw fury.

The crowd held their breath, the only sounds the harsh breathing and rapid impacts of the two. Elysia felt her pulse racing, anger and fear coursing through her veins, but she couldn't just stand there. With a burst of determination, she stepped forward, throwing herself between the fighters, her hands raised.

"Enough!" Her voice echoed, her energy flaring as she pressed a firm hand to Nate's chest, a sharp warning in her eyes. "This has to stop. Now."

At the same time, Irina had stepped forward, placing a calming hand on Anton's shoulder. Her quiet voice murmured something soothing, and Anton's gaze softened, his breathing slowing as the red haze faded from his eyes.

Blinking, Anton looked down at the bloodied courtyard, a flicker of remorse crossing his face. He moved with a newfound gentleness, kneeling beside the nearest torn body. With practiced, deliberate movements, he placed a hand over the shattered chest. His fingers glowed faintly, a soothing warmth spreading as he muttered an incantation, and the torn flesh began to knit itself back together, bones snapping into place and wounds mending as if untouched by violence.

The gathered students watched in stunned silence, eyes widening as one by one, each body returned to wholeness. The bloodstains remained on the stone, but the victims themselves lay breathing and intact, their chests rising and falling, eyes fluttering open with bewilderment and shock. The initial confusion gave way to waves of relief and awe as the restored students shakily stood, their bodies showing no signs of the earlier brutality.

The silence hung heavy, punctuated only by the faint whispers of those who watched in astonishment. Anton stepped back, his expression grim as he surveyed his work, not meeting anyone's eyes. The shock and awe on the faces of the student council members mirrored the intensity of the scene.

Only Irina, her face calm but her eyes fierce with protective loyalty, seemed unfazed by Anton's display of power. As she stepped back to his side, the tension in her posture hinted at her readiness to shield him from whatever came next.

Other students and faculty members began arriving at the scene. Thanks to Anton's intervention, they were spared the grisly sight of mangled bodies; instead, all they saw now were unconscious students scattered across the blood-smeared courtyard. Some faculty members visibly relaxed, their initial alarm softened into confusion, while students exchanged looks of bewildered relief as they took in the strangely peaceful aftermath.

A faint murmur ran through the crowd, silenced only when Chloe stepped forward. Her gaze swept over the group, her expression sharp and unyielding, like the edge of a blade. She met each pair of eyes with a steely calm before turning to the key figures at the centre of it all—Nate, Anton, Elysia, and Irina.

"We are all going to have a nice, long chat," Chloe said, her tone unmistakably clear that this wasn't a request.

As Nate looked at her, a brief flicker of rebellion sparked in his eyes, though it faded quickly. He cast a glance toward Elysia, who was still at his side, her face softened by a mix of frustration and concern. Despite her earlier anger, a hint of something else lingered in her gaze, a quiet intensity that made him feel both grounded and vulnerable in ways he couldn't easily name. She held his gaze for a second longer, something unspoken passing between them, and he felt the smallest, inexplicable tug in his chest.

Elysia swallowed hard, keeping her expression neutral as she looked away, trying to focus on the rising murmurs around them instead of the worry twisting in her stomach. Her hand clenched at her side, fingertips brushing the faint scar on her wrist from a training session they'd shared long ago. Nate had always been trouble, but this... She closed her eyes briefly, knowing she'd go through a thousand conversations with Chloe and the council if it meant keeping him safe.