Denwen moved toward the back corner of the classroom, weaving through the bustling students, all eager to claim their preferred seats. He deliberately distanced himself from Roy, not because of any ill will, but simply to avoid the extra attention that came with being close to the Academy's newest golden prodigy. Right now, the last thing he wanted was to be dragged into the whispers and comparisons that followed Roy wherever he went.
The classroom was chaotic, as expected on the first day. Students shuffled around, chatting loudly, exchanging greetings, and scouting potential rivals or allies. This year's intake consisted of over one hundred and fifty students, the twenty from the awakening and the rest from various parts of the continent who attended other academies.
Each batch is split into three primary classes called rooms—A, B, and C, each with around fifty students. Class A wasn't exclusive to A-rank talents—it had a mix of all talent grades, fostering competition, but was mainly occupied by those from the awakening ceremony.
Class B followed the same pattern, though its students were generally those from other continents and the students whose aptitude for mana either through theory or talent weren't up to those in class A.
Class C was often viewed as the bottom tier, It was mostly filled with E ranks and D ranks as their skills would be applied into other aspects
Each of these classes was further divided this way to ensure that even the lower-ranked students had opportunities to grow and apply their skills in other areas. These groups would train, study, and undertake missions together, forming the core of their learning experience.
—-
Denwen had just settled into his seat when a voice snapped him from his thoughts.
"Hey."
He turned, recognizing the voice before even looking up.
Standing beside him was Kara, her arms crossed, eyes locked onto him with an unreadable expression. But the tension in her stance, the sharpness in her gaze—it was clear she wasn't here for casual pleasantries.
For a moment, Denwen allowed a small smile to tug at his lips, but it quickly faltered when he noticed she wasn't smiling back. Instead, there was a storm brewing in her eyes.
"Hey, Kara. Long time no see," he said, forcing a casual tone, avoiding direct eye contact as he glanced toward the window.
Kara took a slow, deliberate breath. "Yeah. Long. Time. No. See."
She enunciated each word separately, her voice laced with controlled irritation. Denwen resisted the urge to wince, choosing instead to glance outside, whistling as if the conversation wasn't happening.
She sighed, crossing her arms tighter. "You know what? I'm not even going to bother."
Denwen's brows furrowed slightly, but before he could ask what she meant, she continued.
"Ghosting me? Not returning my calls? Leaving my messages on read?" Her voice was steady, but the frustration was evident. "I should've known better than to think you'd change."
There was no malice in her words—only a quiet disappointment, the kind that stung far more than anger.
Denwen opened his mouth, then closed it, exhaling through his nose. She wasn't wrong.
Kara scoffed softly. "I only blame myself for being a good friend."
She turned on her heel, ready to walk away, when suddenly, she felt a hand gently grasp her wrist.
She stopped.
A tense silence lingered between them before she sharply turned her head, her voice almost biting. "What?"
Denwen hesitated but didn't let go. His grip wasn't forceful—just firm enough to keep her from leaving.
"Thanks."
Kara blinked. "For what?"
Denwen exhaled, rubbing the back of his neck with his free hand. "For everything."
He met her gaze then, just for a moment, and something in his eyes made her pause. There was no defensiveness, no excuses—just raw honesty.
For the briefest second, her resolve wavered.
Then, before she could decide how to respond, the sound of the classroom door opening pulled everyone's attention away.
The heavy wooden doors at the front of the room swung open, and Kael Durnham stepped inside.
The moment he entered, the noise died instantly.
There was no need for him to demand silence. His mere presence commanded it.
Tall and lean, his build wasn't overly muscular, but there was an unmistakable strength in the way he carried himself. He wore the academy's standard instructor uniform—black with crimson accents—but on him, it looked more like a warrior's battle attire than a simple school outfit. His dark brown hair was slightly unkempt, yet it didn't diminish his sharp features. But what stood out the most were his eyes—piercing, calculating, as if they could strip away every layer of a person's facade in seconds.
He didn't need to introduce himself for the students to know he was someone to be feared and respected.
He slowly stepped forward, his boots clicking against the stone floor, his gaze sweeping across the room like a predator scanning for weaknesses.
Then, finally, he spoke.
"Settle down, everyone."
His voice was deep, steady, carrying an effortless authority that left no room for disobedience.
"You can call me Kael Durnham. Welcome to room A, I'll be your Room Instructor from today until you either graduate… or fail."
A heavy silence fell upon the students.
His lips curled into something resembling a smirk. "That is… if you make it that far."
—-
Kael Durnham let his words settle, his sharp gaze sweeping across the room. Some students looked excited, others nervous, and a few—like Roy—remained completely composed.
Satisfied with their silence, he raised his right hand, and with a simple flick of his fingers, a holographic display materialized in the air. The glowing projection showcased a structured breakdown of the Academy's curriculum, detailing the core subjects and their respective requirements.
"You all who have made it into this room are talented in one way or another," he stated, his voice even but firm. "Our goal here is not just to nurture that talent, but to refine you into something greater."
He paused, then turned slightly, his gaze lingering on Roy for the briefest second before offering a slight nod.
"Obviously, we have individuals who are truly exceptional due to raw talent."
A quiet murmur rippled through the class, as some students glanced toward Roy, who remained stoic. Kael ignored the reaction and clasped his hands behind his back, pacing slowly.
"But talent alone is never enough."
He stopped and snapped his fingers, causing the hologram to shift. A new section appeared, listing three key criteria required to maintain one's position in this elite room:
Academic Performance in Theory & its Application
Combat Proficiency in Spell Casting, Martial & Weapon Arts
Essence and Mana Mastery
"First and foremost, understand this: being here grants you privileges—access to better resources than other rooms. But," he paused, "those privileges must be earned."
His golden-brown eyes gleamed sharply as he took a step forward, his posture commanding absolute attention.
Kael extended a hand, and the hologram expanded, separating into two distinct sections: Theory and Practical Training.
"We will have two theory classes each week," he began. "These will focus on history, strategy, and essence control. While some of you might think theory is a waste of time"—he let his gaze linger on a few students already shifting in their seats—"I assure you, knowing the intricacies of aura manipulation, battlefield positioning, and even the history of combat techniques will give you an edge."
Some students nodded, while others still seemed unconvinced. Kael didn't press further.
Instead, he gestured towards the second section, and the atmosphere in the room visibly changed.
"Now, what most of you have been waiting for—practical training."
The hologram shifted, showing images of warriors in various combat stances, wielding different weapons, some barehanded, others channeling essence into their strikes. Some that could be seen as mages casting great spells on battlefields.
"We will hold three practical sessions per week, where you will train under different instructors."
Combat Training: Introduction to martial and weapon arts, each being an elective you can specialize in—or, if you're daring enough, you may choose them all.
The moment he said that, a few students grinned, already imagining themselves wielding swords or clashing in sparring duels.
Kael smirked slightly at their eagerness before continuing.
Essence and Mana Control: Learning the proper methods of absorbing essence from cores and other resources, refining it within your own core, and ultimately expanding it to breakthrough to higher ranks.
At this, he raised both hands, palms facing each other, and within seconds, a small sphere of golden essence appeared between them, spinning slowly in the air. The class fell into hushed silence, mesmerized by the way the energy seemed to pulse with life.
"Essence control," he said, his voice lower but more intense, "is what separates a true cultivator from a reckless brawler. You will learn how to channel essence from your core, move it through your body efficiently, and ultimately use it to refine your core itself."
He closed his hands, and the golden sphere compressed before suddenly vanishing with a sharp flicker.
Some students flinched, others looked fascinated, and a few—like Denwen—narrowed their eyes, absorbing every detail.
Kael allowed the silence to stretch, ensuring his words left an impact before speaking again.
"Without proper control, raw strength means nothing. Without discipline, talent fades. Without knowledge, power is wasted."
He clasped his hands behind his back again, surveying the room.
"You are here to build yourselves into warriors, scholars, and cultivators of the highest caliber. If you cannot keep up, you will be left behind."
He let the weight of those words sink in before his expression shifted slightly.
"Now… any questions?"