Elias clutched the worn acceptance letter, its creases a testament to the countless times he'd reread it. Eighteen years of late nights studying under flickering streetlights, juggling odd jobs at greasy spoons and dusty bookstores, and scraping by on ramen noodles – it had all been worth it for this moment. Stepping through the imposing wrought-iron gates of Everbright University, a shiver of nervous excitement ran down his spine. This wasn't just any university; it was a bastion of prestige, a gateway to a future far brighter than the cramped orphanage room he'd called home.

But as he wandered the sprawling campus, a gnawing unease settled in his stomach. The air buzzed with unseen energy, the sunlight filtering through the ancient oak trees seemed to shimmer with an unnatural intensity, and the normally vibrant colors of the autumn leaves appeared distorted, almost like paintings with edges bleeding into one another. Was he nervous? Maybe. But there was something more, something unsettling he couldn't quite grasp.

Then came the hallucinations. Fleeting glimpses of people, not quite people. A professor with eyes that glowed faintly blue, a groundskeeper effortlessly hauling a massive oak log, his skin surprisingly smooth and unblemished beneath the harsh sunlight. Each image vanished as quickly as it appeared, leaving him shaken and confused. Stifling a gasp, Elias rubbed his eyes, wondering if the exhaustion from his long journey had finally caught up to him.

'Maybe I should have gone to a doctor for a checkup yesterday.'

If he did, he'd have to spend quite a bit of his precious savings then. Good thing he had a scholarship here.

Ignoring the strangeness, he found the grand auditorium where the opening ceremony was to be held. The cavernous hall, with its high arched ceiling and stained glass windows depicting fantastical creatures, was packed with students, their faces filled with a mix of anticipation and nervous energy.

As Elias squeezed into an empty seat at the back, he couldn't help but notice his classmates. Some looked…different. A girl with hair the color of spun moonlight and pointed ears that twitched inquisitively sat a row ahead. And to his left, a boy with an air of quiet nobility and an unsettlingly handsome face stared intently at the stage, his features marred by a jagged scar that ran across his left eye.

Hesitantly, Elias leaned toward the girl. "Hey, cool costume," he mumbled, motioning to her hair and ears.

The girl blinked startled, then her lips curved into a gentle smile. "Oh, this isn't a costume," she said, her voice surprisingly deep, laced with a melodic lilt that sent a pleasant shiver down his spine. "It's just me."

Elias' face flushed, heat creeping up his neck. "Oh, uh… right. Sorry, I didn't…" He stammered, his confusion growing. "I'm Elias, by the way."

"Elara," the girl replied, extending a hand tipped with impossibly long, elegant fingers. As their hands met, a warmth spread through Elias, a pleasant calmness washing over him. He suddenly felt an urge to do something. To look into her eyes and fiddle with her mind.

'As if. What the hell am I thinking?'

He dismissed it as a nervous quirk.

Just then, the boy with the scar leaned closer, a haughty glint in his golden eyes. "First day at Everbright, commoner?" he drawled, his voice laced with amusement and a hint of condescension.

Elias bristled, but before he could retort, Elara spoke. "Be nice, Adrian. Everyone needs to start somewhere."

Adrian shrugged, a flicker of something like respect crossing his features. "Just curious."

Elias cleared his throat. "So, uh, is everyone… cosplaying too?"

Elara and Adrian exchanged a glance, a silent conversation passing between them. Elara's smile turned mischievous. "How do you not know of variations when you got selected for the Everbright bro? Care to explain?"

Elias only grew more confused and was about to ask back when-

A hush fell over the auditorium as a group of impeccably dressed figures took the stage. The man in the center, radiating an aura of power that seemed to crackle in the air, addressed the students.

"Welcome, young scholars," he boomed, his voice filled with pride. "You stand on the precipice of a journey unlike any other. Here, at Everbright University, you will not only refine your minds but also hone your abilities, preparing you to become the pillars of this world, the guardians who stand against the unseen threats that lurk in the shadows."

Abilities? Elias felt his brow furrow. What abilities? His heart pounded a frantic rhythm against his ribs. Did he come to the wrong place? No, that couldn't be. He had received his dorm room number and Id card when he arrived here. Checked it again and again. Then.... was everyone here…different? Was he the only one who didn't know? A thousand questions swirled in his mind, a sense of isolation and absurdity settling in his gut.

'Is this some kind of prank?'

He looked at Elara and Adrian, their faces filled with a knowing confidence that only deepened his confusion.

A case of content theft: this narrative is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

As the ceremony concluded, a cacophony of chatter erupted as students grouped together. Elias longed to ask, to understand, but an invisible barrier held him back. Perhaps later, when he knew them better. Or maybe there was something about this world, or about Everbright, that he wasn't supposed to know. Yet. Something he hadn't got to know after 18 years of his life in this world. Even the few dreams of a different him never showed something about the presence of abilities.

He noticed Elara and Adrian surrounded by a group of students, their laughter echoing across the hall. Elias yearned to join them, to be a part of something bigger than himself. At least that way he could be privy to a lot more information. But his worn clothes and worn-out boots felt like a constant reminder of his past, a stark contrast to the air of privilege that seemed to cling to everyone else.

And somehow, all of this, the abilities, the atmosphere, and his own heartbeat felt so overwhelming that his mind was not processing things properly.

Suddenly, a hand landed on his shoulder. He flinched, startled from his thoughts. It was Adrian, his golden eyes gleaming with an unreadable intensity.

"Need a hand navigating the social scene, commoner?" he drawled, a hint of a smirk playing on his lips.

Elias hesitated, then forced a smile. "Sure," he said, a strange metallic tang suddenly filling his mouth. "Lead the way."

As he fell in step with Adrian, a peculiar calmness washed over him. The cacophony of voices subsided, replaced by a singular, soothing melody that seemed to emanate from Adrian himself. Elias felt an inexplicable urge to do something again. He curbed it as soon as he felt it.

'I truly am going mad.'

Maybe it was all just a dream.

Adrian weaved through the throng of students, his movements smooth and practiced. He stopped at a group gathered around a table laden with an assortment of exotic fruits and shimmering drinks.

"Hey, guys, this is Elias," Adrian announced, his voice still tinged with amusement. "He's a new… acquaintance."

Elias felt his cheeks burn under the scrutiny of several pairs of curious eyes. Some students looked at him with a mixture of pity and amusement, while others wore expressions of suspicion and even hostility.

One girl, with fiery red hair and eyes as green as emeralds, scoffed. "An acquaintance, huh? More like a lost puppy you picked up on your way here."

Adrian's smirk faltered for a moment, but he quickly recovered. "Now, now, Fiona, be nice. Elias seems like a decent fellow." He turned back to Elias, his voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper. "Just ignore her. Fiona thinks everyone outside her noble bloodline is beneath her."

Elias stammered a response, his discomfort growing with each passing moment. He desperately wanted to escape, to find a quiet corner where he could process everything that was happening.

As if sensing his unease, Elara materialized beside him. "Don't mind Fiona," she said, her voice laced with a hint of disapproval. "She thrives on making others feel small. Come on, let's get some food. I'm starving."

Elias followed Elara gratefully, her presence a beacon of calm amidst the overwhelming chaos. They found an empty table in a quieter corner of the hall and helped themselves to the strange, but surprisingly delicious, food.

"So, Elias," Elara began, her eyes sparkling with curiosity. "Tell us about yourself. Where are you from? What brought you to Everbright?"

Elias hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. The only reason he wasn't screaming ' I don't get anything what's happening here!' was because he didn't want to make rash decisions when he was being overwhelmed with his emotions.

What if they erase his memories or some shit like that when they find out that he doesn't have any abilities?

What if it was some kind of heavy crime to be here?

So he thought a lot and then, launched into a hesitant explanation of his life in the orphanage, his struggles to get an education, and his unwavering determination to get into Everbright. As he spoke, he noticed something strange. The students around them, especially Fiona and her group, seemed to be listening intently, their gazes fixated on him.

He finished his story, feeling surprisingly exposed. Elara smiled warmly. "That's quite an achievement, Elias. It takes a lot of courage and determination to pull yourself up from nothing."

"Yeah," Adrian added, his voice devoid of its earlier arrogance. "Not everyone can just rely on their determination to get ahead. Most do it with their clan influence and even among them, only geniuses with exceptional bloodlines get in."

A prickle of unease ran down Elias's spine. Adrian's comment, coupled with the students' intense attention earlier, made him wonder if he'd revealed too much.

Just then, a booming voice echoed through the hall, silencing all chatter. A group of professors had gathered on a raised platform at the front of the auditorium.

"Now," the headmaster announced, a stern expression on his face, "let us begin the ability assessment."

A collective gasp rippled through the students. The ability assessment, as he had just heard, was a cornerstone of every new student's arrival at Everbright. It was a public display where their latent abilities were awakened and gauged. Elias's heart pounded in his chest. What ability did he even have?

He stole a glance at Elara. Her face was serene, her eyes closed as if in deep concentration. Adrian, however, seemed strangely hesitant, a flicker of something akin to uncertainity crossing his golden eyes.

One by one, students were called forward. Some displayed impressive feats – a boy conjured a swirling ball of fire in his palm, a girl manipulated the surrounding plants with a flick of her wrist. Each display was met with cheers and applause.

Elias was fascinated and terrified at the same time.

As the names were called, Elias's anxiety grew. He had no idea what to expect, no clue what ability, if any, resided within him. Even if it did, how would he show it? When his name finally echoed through the hall, his legs felt like lead as he walked towards the platform.

The teacher at the podium, with a long, flowing white beard, gestured towards him and asked "Can you show your ability on the stage, or do you want to want to show it privately? We can arrange any special materials you might need to perform as well."

Elias gulped. Many thoughts ran through his head as he tried to think a way out of it. "Um....Umm My ability... well..."

[Refuse to show it]

Elias almost jumped at the voice echoing in his mind. This voice.... He turned around and looked at Adrian, who was looking elsewhere.

'Did I imagine...'

[Refuse it. Do not show your ability.]

He didn't. It was definitely Adrian's voice.

"Well what do you say?"

Elias looked at the annoyed teacher and decided

"I'm sorry sir, but I believe my ability isn't great enough to be shown here."

The teacher frowned. "As I said, we can do it in private if you...."

"I really don't want to show it sir."

Elias gathered up his courage to say it and turned back.

'I'm trusting you Adrian, this better be worth it.'

.... or he'd be in really deep shit.