While I was considering the future, the room was dead silent. The usual murmur of nobles died down in an instant as our professor strolled in. His posture was casual, however it carried an air of authority. I think everyone here recognized him.

He had the sort of presence that demanded respect without trying—the fact that he was a Lightning Spellsword, the youngest 7th Ascension in the Empire, probably helped. Haha.

[Level 110]

The man looked like he hadn’t slept in days, yet there was a snarky glint in his eyes that made it clear he wasn’t the kind of person you wanted to mess with. His long blonde hair was slightly disheveled, and he wore sunglasses indoors for reasons that many students couldn’t begin to fathom.

“Morning, brats,” he said, his voice lazy and slow that somehow carried through the entire room. “Looks like a new bunch of snobby kids this year. Fantastic.”

I caught a few students shifting uncomfortably in their seats. Nobles weren’t used to being talked to like this, especially not by a professor. But none of them dared to say anything. Nobody wanted to offend him. There were only a few 7th Ascension individuals in the academy, and this man was one of them.

He walked over to the chalkboard and, with a casual flick of his wrist, began writing. The sound of the chalk scratching against the board filled the room as he scrawled out a few words in his messy handwriting.

[Waybound Academy: For Everyone]

I raised an eyebrow while noticing a few nobles glancing around to see if anyone else was as confused as them. They were curious about the slogan.

The professor didn’t wait for anyone to ask. “In case you lot were wondering,” he said, turning to face us, “this academy isn’t just for mages. Or knights. Or alchemists. It’s for all of you. All kinds of students. If you’re sitting here, then you’re expected to learn from all kinds of teachers—magic, aura, swordsmanship, alchemy, whatever. Although you’re here to specialize in one thing, you’re going to learn about everything.”

For a moment, he paused, stroking his chin as he looked back at the writing, “Ah, and the same saying goes for nobles and commoners too—hmm, I think that was the actual reason that saying was made… anyways.”

“....”

His eyes swept over the room, and I could practically feel the weight of his gaze as he studied us. I sat up a little straighter, trying not to look too interested. But it was hard not to pay attention to someone as interesting as him.

He turned back to the board, underlining the word Everyone twice before continuing. “You might think that because you’re a mage, you don’t need to know anything about aura. Or because you’re a knight, you don’t need to care about magic. That kind of thinking is why people like you die on the battlefield.”

I saw a few heads snap up at that, including Solara’s beside me. Even Nebula’s eyes had sharpened, though she maintained her calm exterior.

“In this academy,” the professor went on, “you’re going to learn the strengths and weaknesses of every discipline. Mages, knights, alchemists—it doesn’t matter. The more you know, the harder you are to kill. And let’s be real… some of you probably need all the help you can get.”

He turned back to us with a grin that didn’t reach his eyes. “Any complaints?”

The room stayed silent. Not a single noble dared to speak up. I couldn’t help but smirk a little. He already had them wrapped around his finger.

“Good. Now that we’ve got that out of the way…” He dropped the chalk back into the tray and crossed his arms, leaning against the desk with an air of complete indifference. “I’m Professor Katheran. No last name. I’ll be your homeroom teacher for Class S.”

Even in Waybound Academy, Class S was the elite of the elite. Not just anyone got into this class, which was why we were getting this man as our Homeroom.

Professor Katheran let the weight of his words hang in the air for a moment, as if daring someone to challenge him. No one did.

“Now, for those of you who don’t know who I am—good. You shouldn’t care about the names of the people teaching you. You should care about what they can do.” He pushed up his sunglasses slightly, revealing a flash of sharp, golden eyes beneath. “I’m one of the few people who can use both magic and aura. And before you ask, yes, that’s crazy. Yes, that makes me better than most of the people you’ll ever meet. Including yourselves.”

I already knew that, but it seemed some students nearby truly hadn’t heard of him. Using both magic and aura wasn’t just crazy, that was nearly unheard of.

Nebula had leaned forward slightly, her interest clearly piqued. Beside me, Solara’s eyes were slightly wide, and a few students whispered among themselves, though they quickly shut up when Katheran shot them a glare.

Speaking of both magic and aura… Could I do that? It wasn’t something I’d seriously considered before. I did have my energy core on my abdomen, unlike these people. Can someone like me use magic? Magic had always seemed like something out of my reach, I always focused on learning the Heavenly Demon’s martial arts. But…

If this guy could do it, then maybe…

No. I pushed the thought aside for the moment. There would be time to think about that later. Right now, I needed to focus on what he was saying.

“As your homeroom teacher,” Katheran continued, “I’ll be overseeing your progress this year. That means I’ll be the one grading you, teaching you, and kicking your ass when you inevitably screw up.” He flashed another grin, this one a little sharper than before. “I’m not here to make your lives easy. I’m here to make sure you survive long enough to matter in this world. We’re not at any war right now, but the Demon King has been acting up lately, so who knows how long that’d last?”

His words caused a ripple of whisper that he allowed this time as he turned back to the board and wrote again. This time he filled the space with more practical information.

“Let’s start with the basics,” he said, not bothering to look back at us. “You lot are probably used to the idea of magic being separate from aura. Most people think that way. Some also say that aura is at the center of the chest, while mana rests within the heart. The thing is, the heart is almost at the center of the chest too, so that’s a useless saying,” he added, “the truth is, aura and mana are just two sides of the same coin. Magic is about control. Aura is about force. But both are just energy. Same energy, actually. The filter is just different, one flows through the heart, and the other flows around it. And once you understand that, the line between them starts to blur.”

He tapped the board with his chalk, underlining the words Energy is Key. “Whether you’re casting spells or swinging a sword, you’re using energy. What matters is how you control it. Mages focus on precision. Aura users focus on power. Both have their strengths. Both have their weaknesses.”

He turned back to us, his gaze sweeping across the room once more. “And by the time you leave this academy, you’re going to know how to exploit both.”

Ah, I didn’t know about the heart filter part. I recalled telling myself how aura was far from mana’s placement, and that was why it was different. I learned that from the game, but that was a dialogue from some common men. I guess not all the lore was accurate either unless it was from the narrator.

So they were same but different things. If I could learn to control both…

I glanced at the professor, who was now talking about the different ways magic could be manipulated, explaining the basic theories to the class. His words flowed easily, but the way he freely spoke suggested he wasn’t just talking out of some textbook. He knew this stuff, for he’d lived it.

Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

For the first time since I’d arrived at this academy, I felt a spark of something new. This place didn’t just have to be a place for me to keep an eye on the plot, I could learn many things from here.

“Alright,” Katheran said, breaking me out of my thoughts, “let’s see which one of you brats actually knows something. Raise your hand if you think you understand the basics of energy flow.”

No one moved.

Katheran smirked. “That’s what I thought. Let’s get started then, shall we?”

The lesson began, and the room filled with the sound of chalk on the board, marking the beginning of something I hadn’t quite expected.

****

The bell rang, sharp and clear, signaling the end of class. Professor Katheran, who had spent the last few hours drilling us on energy flow and the fundamentals of magic and aura control, stretched lazily. His chalk hit the tray with a clatter as he turned to face us.

"Remember," he said, his voice carrying over the sound of students gathering their things, “after lunch, to the training arena. Don’t be late.” His sunglasses reflected the room’s dim light as he slung his coat over his shoulder and strolled out the door.

I stood up, stretching my legs as Solara and Nebula followed suit. “Well, that was… interesting,” Solara muttered, her voice low. “So that’s the infamous Katheran?”

“Yeah, good class,” I said, but before I could add anything else, a voice called out to me from across the room. “Iskandaar!” I turned to see Dorian Varn, waving with a smile. He made his way over, his dark curls bouncing slightly with each step.

I raised a hand in greeting. “Dorian, good to see you.”

“Same,” he glanced at the two ladies beside me, raising an eyebrow with a playful grin. “Hopefully I’m not interrupting anything, am I?”

I shook my head. “Not at all. Dorian, meet Nebula and Solara.” I gestured to each of them as I spoke. “Nebula Carlstein, my fiancée. Solara Fenixia, an… old friend.”

“Pleasure,” Dorian said, offering a respectful nod. His gaze lingered on Solara for a second longer than necessary, but he quickly turned his attention back to me. “You’re heading to the cafeteria, right?”

“Yes, let’s go together,” I said, leading the way as we filed out of the classroom.

The hallways of the academy were bustling with students as we walked toward the cafeteria. I could feel eyes on us as we passed, but it wasn’t unusual. Being in Class S automatically drew attention, plus I had made a name for myself recently. Alongside that, I had Solara by my side, and her lack of wings was bound to cause a stir.

The whispers followed us, low and constant, but we ignored them. But then, something shifted in the atmosphere.

The idle chatter in the hall quieted. Students ahead of us stopped in their tracks, their conversations dying off mid-sentence. I noticed the silence spreading, like a ripple, as more and more people turned to look down the hallway.

I slowed my pace as my eyes caught what they were seeing. The others followed suit. Dorian, Nebula, and Solara all came to a stop beside me. We didn’t need to ask why.

The answer was walking straight toward us.

Amelia Duskleaf, the Chancellor, moved gracefully down the hallway, her gaze locked on me. The crowd parted before her like water, students instinctively moving to the sides to give her space. Her long, light brown hair flowed behind her, and the glint of her purple eyes caught the light as she approached.

I stiffened slightly, feeling the weight of her attention. She came to a stop right in front of me, a faint smile on her lips.

“Iskandaar,” she greeted, her voice smooth and commanding. “I was expecting a visit from you by now, boy.” Her eyes twinkled with amusement. “But it seems I need to tell you about that beforehand.”

I blinked. “Uh… I—”

“Meet me after school hours end, okay?” she interrupted smoothly, her tone leaving no room for argument, her hand reaching out and patting my cheek.

“Um… sure,” I managed, feeling like a deer caught in headlights as a hundred eyes watched us.

“Good boy,” her smile widened slightly, a playful glitter in it before she turned and continued down the hallway. Her presence was still noticeable even after she was gone.

The silence stretched for a few more seconds as everyone around us seemed to process what had just happened. Then, slowly, the usual murmur of voices resumed, though the whispers now had a new subject.

I exhaled, glancing at the three standing beside me. Nebula looked at me blankly, her eyes narrowing slightly. Solara raised an eyebrow while Dorian just stared at me, his expression somewhere between impressed and shocked.

“What?” I muttered, feeling a little awkward under their collective scrutiny.

“Nothing,” Nebula said, though the look she gave me said otherwise.

****

The training arena loomed ahead. It was an impressive gladiator-style structure with a wide, open floor and tiered seating that circled the entire arena. The ceiling was high, with beams of light streaming down, illuminating the center of the space. Yet, instead of taking the seats, we were all standing on the sandy ground, facing our teacher.

I glanced around at the crowd of students, each one radiating a different level of excitement, nervousness, or pure anxiety. The tension in the air was palpable.

“Good,” Professor Katheran' voice cut through the murmur, and we all straightened up as he walked toward us. “You’re all on time. Hopefully it stays this way.”

A few students exchanged uncomfortable glances at that. The professor, as usual, didn’t seem to care.

“As I mentioned earlier in class,” Katheran continued, his eyes sweeping over the crowd, “you’ve all learned about aura and mana being two sides of the same coin. But now, I’m going to show you how that actually works in practice. Practicals are always better than theories, in my opinion.”

A quiet murmur rippled through the crowd, but no one dared to speak up.

“I need a mage,” Katheran said, raising two fingers, “and a warrior. Any volunteers?”

Murmurs quieted down immediately, and the silence that followed was deafening. No one moved, no one even breathed. The noble students, with all their bravado, kept their hands firmly at their sides, eyes averted. The commoners gulped.

Finally, a voice broke the stillness.

“I’ll volunteer.”

It was Prince Orion stepping forward with a confident, almost arrogant smile. His aura was strong as usual—calculated and sharp. I could see the others' glances, the way their eyes darted between him and the professor. Everyone was impressed at his courage.

“As expected of the Empire’s next ruler,” someone whispered.

Before anyone else could respond, another voice chimed in. “I’ll go too.”

The Naga Princess slithered forward, her serpentine movements smooth and dangerous. She had a grin on her lips, her poisonous aura subtly pulsing through the air. The pair looked formidable facing one another, and I could feel the anticipation building as everyone wondered if this was going to be the match of the day.

But Katheran shook his head. “A poison [Mage] and a solar [Knight]. Not bad.” His eyes glinted with amusement. “But no poison games on the first day. And certainly not with the prince. I’ll remember your pair for a future class.”

Orion’s smile faltered for a moment, and I could practically feel his annoyance from where I stood. In the original timeline, it should’ve been him. Professor Katheran was supposed to replace the Naga Princess with Alaric, who was a forest Mage.

“Today,” Katheran continued, his eyes sweeping the crowd before landing on someone else, “we’ll go with a different combination.” His gaze fixed on Nebula. “You,” he said, and then… he turned to me. “And you. Blood [Mage] and a [Martial Artist]. That will make a good difference.”

I blinked. Martial artist? How did he know? It might seem like a simple stupid question, but he called Orion a knight and me a martial artist. How could he tell the difference?

Before I could dwell on it, I felt Nebula’s eyes on me, and I met her gaze. She shrugged, already moving toward the center of the arena. Someone’s eager. I followed her, feeling Orion’s heated glare on my back. He was furious... mad that I stole his limelight. How childish for the future Emperor.

Nebula and I weren’t supposed to be the ones doing this, yet here we were. We kept stealing the limelight from him, so no wonder he was pissed.

“Looks like you two are ready to have a go,” Professor Katheran said, looking over at us.

Nebula nodded at him and looked at me, “I won’t go easy on you,” she said as we reached the center of the arena. There was a familiar glint in her eyes—the same one she’d had back in the garden that day, curious to judge my strength. “Not like last time.”

I gave her a shrug, catching the wooden sword Katheran tossed in my direction. “Let’s see what you’ve got, my dear,” I said.

She smirked, flexing her fingers as the familiar red glow of her blood magic began to gather around her hands. I could feel the shift in the air—the weight of the magic building. She wasn’t holding back. Not this time.

Katheran raised his hand, signaling the start. “Begin.”

Nebula didn’t waste a second. She moved fast, her body a blur as she dashed toward me. “[Blood Magic: Crimson Claw]!” She shouted, waving her hand forward.

Blood claws extended from her hands in sharp, lethal arcs as they rushed at me.

I responded instinctively, tapping into my True Demon Sword Art, First Form. But this time, it looked different. Instead of the usual red demonic energy that surged through my blade, I felt a flash of something new—golden, star-like energy.

[True Demon Sword Art, First Form— Absolute Cataclysm of the Demonic Butterfly]

The sword in my hand flared with the Star Affinity, clashing against her blood claws with a burst of light. The arena exploded with the force of our collision.