And suddenly, she was in the Grand Assembly Hall. She breathed in reality as her heart pounded in her chest, not from the teleportation, but from sheer, overwhelming excitement.

  The vast, gilded hall stretched before her, impossibly grand, with towering arches and shimmering banners of deep Aurelian blue. Floating crystal chandeliers bathed the hall in a glow that wasn’t just light but something more, something that radiated significance.

  Mira craned her neck, drinking in the sheer vastness of it. Towering marble pillars, veined with gold and inlaid with shifting sigils, rose to support a domed ceiling that pulsed with Thaumaturgic constellations. The stars weren’t just painted there, they moved, rearranging in slow, deliberate patterns, each formation whispering of ancient knowledge only a true scholar could decipher.

  She had seen so much on her journey here. The salt-laced wind, the endless expanse of sky, the glimmering ocean beneath the Academy’s towering cliffs. But this? This was something else entirely.

  The Grand Assembly Hall wasn’t just a place. It was an experience, a monument of power, ambition, and absolute authority.

  And then there were the people.

  Thousands of students stood in rigid formations, their uniforms crisp, their postures tense. First Years fidgeted, whispering among themselves, while the older students stood with the weight of survival pressing into their spines. The air buzzed with quiet anticipation.

  At the center of it all loomed the dais, an ornate stage where the Academy’s highest officials waited.

  Mira's gaze flitted across the crowd of the new students, all of them wide-eyed and awestruck, and then...there!

  Elias Corvus, leaning lazily against a far wall, arms crossed, looking as relaxed as if he had been here his whole life.

  His midnight blue long coat, finely tailored to Aurelian standards, was left unbuttoned, lazy, effortless, intentional. His messy golden blonde, streaked with unruly patches of black dye, a testament to either defiance, boredom, or a joke only he understood.

  Mira beamed. "Elias!" she called, waving enthusiastically as she practically skipped over to him.

  He smirked, pushing himself off the wall as she bounded up, his hazel-amber eyes shifting between warm gold and sharp bronze. "You’re way too excited for someone who just teleported. Shouldn't you be disoriented or something?"

  "Are you kidding?" Mira spun around, arms spread wide, her deep black eyes glinting with excitement. "This place is incredible! The banners, the chandeliers, the fact that the headmaster resides in a floating room! How are you not losing your mind?!"

  Elias chuckled. "Maybe because my body isn’t stuck in a four-year-old’s mind?"

  She gasped dramatically. "Rude."

  "Accurate."

  She huffed, crossing her arms. "You're way too calm for this. It's actually kind of disturbing."

  Before he could respond, Mira’s sharp eyes caught something, or rather, someone.

  Across the hall, a tall boy stood rigid, his gaze fixed on Elias like a storm ready to break. Jet black hair, piercing green eyes, an aura of sheer authority, and an expression of barely concealed loathing.

  "Uh… why is that guy looking at you like he wants to set you on fire?"

  Elias followed her gaze and snorted. "No clue. But I’m making it my mission to not end up as dragon food."

  "Dragon food?"

  "Yeah, he’s that Dragon Speaker kid. You know, the whole ‘commanding dragons with his will alone’ thing? Very intense, very serious, absolutely no sense of humor."

  Mira frowned. "Maybe he's just shy!"

  "Or maybe he's a moron," Elias said with a smirk.

  She elbowed him. "Elias! That’s so mean!"

  He laughed. "Relax, he doesn’t even know I exist, oh wait, never mind, he looks like he wants to end my bloodline."

  Mira sighed, thoughtful. "Still… he seems powerful. My father told me to make as many strong allies as possible."

  Elias scoffed. "You are free to be dragon food if you want, Mira, but I highly doubt that guy is interested in friendship. It would mess up his whole vibe, you know,. Dark, Silent, Brooding." He paused, then added with a fox-like glint in his eye, "His name’s Cassius, by the way."

  Mira shot him a look. "And you’re telling me this now?!"

  He shrugged. "You never asked."

  Before she could properly scold him, something else caught her attention.

  A girl, standing alone in the middle of the hall.

  There was something about her which seemed a little sad. That fact alone would've been enough to push Mira to talk to her, but it was her appearance which caught Mira's eye.

  Her uniform was perfection itself, not a single wrinkle, not a single flaw. Her coat was buttoned up to the collar, fastened with near-military precision. Golden-blonde hair with red streaks of rebellion, half-Verdant features unmistakable, pale ivory skin, slightly pointed ears, eyes of shifting gold and grey.

  She looked... composed. But something about her felt detached, as if she were elsewhere entirely.

  Mira’s mind raced. A Thalorin girl.

  Her father had been clear. There would be a Thalorin girl in their year, and Mira needed to befriend her. No matter what.

  She turned abruptly to Elias. "I need to talk to her."

  Elias followed her gaze, then raised an eyebrow. His lips curled into something halfway between amusement and mischief.

  "Funny thing, her brother has the same name as me."

  Mira squinted. "Wait, really?"

  "Yep."

  "What's her name, then?"

  Elias smirked. "If you want to know, you should ask her yourself."

  Mira groaned. "Elias!"

  He just grinned.

  Rolling her eyes, Mira grabbed his arm. "Fine. Come on. We’re going."

  Mira marched forward with bright determination, dragging Elias along as they approached the lone girl in the middle of the hall.

  He stopped just before they reached her, and with an exaggerated flourish, he bowed deeply, one hand sweeping out as if presenting Mira to royalty.

  “M’lady, may I introduce Mira Harron, the finest conversationalist and menace you shall ever meet—”

  Mira promptly smacked him on the shoulder.

  She turned back to the girl, beaming. "Hi! What’s your name?"

  The girl sighed softly, and despite the hint of amusement flashing in her gray-gold eyes, Mira could also sense something else in those eyes. Her expression was guarded, a stillness like an undisturbed lake hiding unseen depths.

  Then, she gave a small, polite smile and said, "Selene, Selene Thalorin."

  Mira froze.

  Selene, the name rang in her mind, sharp and clear, breaking past the excitement buzzing through her veins.

  Her mother had been a Selene, the most important figure in her life.

  Every dream, every ambition, every thought, shaped by her mother. Her mother, a devoted cleric, a healer whose kindness had shaped Mira’s entire dream of becoming one herself.

  It was crazy how even after all these years, she would still feel so affected by just her mother's name.

  She swallowed hard, her smile faltering for the first time.

  Selene’s perceptive gaze narrowed slightly, noticing the shift.

  Mira forced herself to recover, her voice a little unsteady as she blurted, "Um, Uh—can I call you something else?"

  Selene tilted her head, her expression now cautious. "Why?"

  Mira hesitated, shifting on her feet. "Well… you see… your name—my mother, she—"

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  Before she could stumble over her words any further, Selene, with a kind understanding, interrupted softly, "You can call me Selia."

  Mira looked up in surprise, gratitude flickering across her face.

  Before she could respond and possibly embarrass herself further, Elias clapped his hands together. "Ah! Selia it is, then. A wonderful name, I must say, nothing compared to mine, of course, but still—"

  Selene’s sharp gaze snapped to him. "I’m fairly certain I didn’t give you permission—"

  Elias grinned, completely unfazed. "I’m sure we’ll be great friends, Selia. Ah, the flowers of friendship bloom so well today. Name’s Elias, by the way. And since you already have a brother named Elias, feel free to call me ‘Prince’ instead."

  Selene blinked slowly. "...No thanks, I’m comfortable."

  Mira giggled, tension melting away. Elias looked mock-offended but accepted the loss with a dramatic sigh.

  Just as the conversation found its rhythm, a movement caught their attention.

  A girl with flowing emerald-green hair and golden eyes approached, her steps light, almost ethereal. She moved with the effortless grace of someone trained in both combat and nobility. And yet, there was an undeniable hesitance to her, as if she was one step away from retreating.

  Her midnight-blue coat was fitted close, as if she wanted to disappear into it, as if armor could be made of fabric. The Sorcerer’s insignia lay over her heart, its crimson and violet hues vivid against the dark cloth, while the Fighter’s mark adorned her sleeve. She looked the part of both, lean, strong, capable, but something in the way she carried herself spoke of reluctance, of a path chosen for her rather than by her.

  As she neared, her shy smile wavered, like a flickering candle, as if she were unsure whether she was welcome.

  Mira’s eyes lit up immediately. “Oh! Another new friend?”

  Selene, now Selia, merely watched, her gaze unreadable.

  Before the green-haired girl could even part her lips to introduce herself, Elias swept in, grinning like a fox who’d just found a den of unsuspecting rabbits.

  "Alina Duvall," he declared grandly, as if unveiling some grand secret. "Of the esteemed Duvall family, if I may add."

  The girl, Alina, blinked in surprise. Confusion flickered in her golden eyes, a hint of wariness creeping into her delicate features. Selene, standing beside Mira, raised a single, unimpressed eyebrow.

  Mira, unfazed by Elias, waved a hand. "Ignore him, he thrives on being annoying." She then smiled warmly. "I'm Mira Harron, nice to meet you!"

  Selene, having regained her usual composed demeanor, nodded lightly. "Selene Thalorin."

  Elias cleared his throat dramatically. "Selia," he corrected.

  Selene turned to him slowly, fixing him with a stare that could chill steel. When she spoke, her voice was calm, but colder.

  "Selene."

  Elias just grinned.

  Alina watched their exchange, still seeming uncertain. She hesitated before speaking, her voice quiet but clear. "I… saw you all talking and decided to come over. My father told me to, you know..."

  Mira indeed knew.

  She knew that weight all too well, the invisible chains of expectation, the pressure to be someone you weren’t sure you wanted to be. She didn’t blame Alina for her nervousness, this place was overwhelming, and the pressure was real.

  Mira barely had time to process the thought before Elias, of course, took this as his cue for another proclamation. "Well then, Alina, welcome to our little group!"

  Selene let out a soft "Um—"

  Elias interrupted smoothly, grinning. "From now on, I dub this gathering: ‘Three royal headaches and their long-suffering companion.’"

  Selene's entire demeanor chilled, the gold in her eyes shining with carefully controlled anger. Mira caught the shift instantly, the slight narrowing of her gray-gold eyes, the almost imperceptible tension in her shoulders.

  “Elias.” Mira turned to him, her voice suddenly serious.

  He glanced at her, still smirking, but he seemed to recognize the shift in tone.

  Mira turned back to Selene, offering an apologetic smile. "Sorry about him. He doesn’t know when to stop."

  Selene held her gaze for a moment, the glint in her gold-flecked eyes cooling to something unreadable. Then, finally, she sighed. "So I’ve noticed."

  Alina, apparently deciding this was a safe moment to speak, looked at Elias curiously. "How do you know my name? I never told you, and I’m certain we’ve never met."

  Elias grinned knowingly. "Every student's name is listed in the Academy’s GSE ranking database."

  This piqued Selene's interest.

  "Oh?"

  She tilted her head, her tone turning vaguely sarcastic. "Tell me, Elias...did you only research the girls?""

  Elias let out a mock-offended gasp. "Selia, please. While that would have been far nobler work, I actually did it to scope out the most interesting people in our year."

  Mira, suddenly curious and excited, leaned in. "Wait, what did you find?! And why didn’t you tell me this before?!"

  She was a little annoyed at herself, if she was being honest. She prided herself on being endlessly curious, so why hadn’t she looked deeper into the database before?

  Typical, leave it to the Rogue Tactician to dig up secrets first.

  Elias only smirked, clearly enjoying the attention a little too much, his golden eyes gleaming with mischief.

  "Ah, yes. A whole cast of characters," he mused, as if the idea itself amused him. "The possible villain, the overpowered sidekicks, the brooding loners…"

  Selene, despite herself, seemed intrigued. "And who, in your wise analysis, is the protagonist of our year?"

  Elias’s grin turned wicked. He lifted a hand, slow, deliberate, and pointed across the hall.

  "Two contenders."

  Mira followed his gaze.

  One was standing near the corner, engaged in what looked like a serious conversation with a professor. His tall form, dark hair, and distinctly Drakkin features gave him an undeniable presence.

  He towered over nearly everyone around him, yet there was an ease to his presence, a warmth that softened what could have been an otherwise overwhelming figure. He was power restrained, fire contained, and a storm just before it broke.

  His bronze skin, dusted with obsidian-black scales, bore the unmistakable mark of his lineage. His face, though mostly human, carried a sharpness that hinted at his Drakkin blood, his jawline strong, his cheekbones well-defined.

  His hair was wild, thick and wavy, his horns ridged at the base, curved back from his temples, shorter and less pronounced than a full-blooded Drakkin’s, but enough to remind anyone of what he was. A tail, thinner and more refined than those of his full-blooded kin, flicked absently behind him.

  But it was his eyes that revealed the most. They were a simple, earthen brown, deep and grounded, unassuming.

  "That one’s Kieran Drakos," Elias said. "Charismatic, powerful, and seemingly burdened with some great destiny he cannot avoid. A warrior who wants peace, I assume. The classic hero type."

  Then, Elias turned his hand slightly, gesturing to the very front of the hall.

  A boy stood there alone, deep in thought, his posture tense yet composed.

  There was no grandeur in the way he was dressed, but there was discipline. He was elegant in simplicity. The deep, midnight-black coat fit his lean frame flawlessly, its high collar lending him an air of quiet authority.

  Like Kieran Drakos, his primary path was Paladin but where the Drakkin had chosen Tactician as his secondary, this boy had chosen Diplomat.

  Even in the structured uniform of the Aurelian Academy, he stood apart, and Mira wondered, how had she missed such a striking figure?

  He did not wear his uniform like a student forced into tradition, but like a man who had chosen it as an extension of himself. Sharp, controlled, and undeniably commanding

  "And that," Elias declared, almost theatrically, "is Darius Blackwood. My bet for the real protagonist."

  The moment she heard that name, shock rippled through her like a stone shattering still water.

  The moment she heard that name, shock rippled through her like a stone shattering still water.

  Was this another one of Elias’s bad jokes? Or was this real? Who was this boy?

  She glanced at Alina, who seemed more intrigued now.

  "Wait, Blackwood? As in the Blackwoods?"

  Elias’s smirk widened. "Oh, yes, that Blackwood family."

  Selene frowned slightly, genuinely confused. "What kind of parents would name their child after one of the most hated men in Ministry history?"

  Mira nodded, she had been thinking the same thing.

  Darius Blackwood, the Fourth Minister. A parasite in every sense of the word. Not just corrupt, but a traitor of the highest order. He had sold Ministry secrets, betrayed his own kin, and handed them to the Verdants, their enemies.

  The Blackwoods had lost everything. Their wealth, their influence, and most of all, their noble title, all because of one man. Ever since then, the family had never risen again.

  Selene continued, arms crossed.

  "Darius is a fine name, but to belong to that family, and to carry his name? The Blackwood name is humiliation enough, but he isn't just a Blackwood, he is Darius Blackwood. That boy’s fate was sealed the moment he was born. People will make sure of that. Didn’t his parents know?"

  At this, Elias’s eyes gleamed with something unreadable, not just amusement, not just curious interest. Passionate investment, like he was rooting for the boy to win.

  He chuckled softly, voice dripping with amusement.

  "Now that’s the funny thing," he said. "His parents didn’t give him that name."

  Mira’s brow furrowed. "What?"

  Elias leaned in slightly, letting the moment hang in the air before finally dropping the revelation.

  "Darius himself chose that name."

  The weight of those words settled heavily among them.

  Something about that didn’t sit right. Why would he choose that name?

  Alina, clearly just as confused, asked, "Why?" Then, narrowing her golden eyes slightly, "And how do you know that?"

  Elias's grin spread wider, his amber eyes twinkling darkly.

  Then, with an almost casual delight, he answered, "Because Darius told me."

  Elias crossed his arms, looking thoroughly pleased with himself as he continued his explanation.

  "You see, our dear friend Darius had two names listed in the Academy's database." His grin widened. "On the application portal, he was registered as ‘Doran Blackwood.’ But on the GSE rankings, the name was suddenly ‘Darius Blackwood.’"

  Mira tilted her head, her confusion only increasing with each explanation. "Wait...so he changed his name between applying and getting ranked?"

  Elias snapped his fingers. "Exactly." He leaned in slightly, lowering his voice as if sharing a secret. "So, naturally, considering we were the first to arrive on the Aurelian Fleet, I decided to ask him about it."

  Selene's gaze narrowed slightly, her expression unreadable, but her fascination with this topic wasn't as hidden as she thought.

  Mira couldn't blame her. This… this was batshit crazy.

  "And he just told you?", Selene asked, her voice doubtful.

  Elias laughed lightly. "Shocking, right? But yeah, he didn’t even hesitate."

  Mira felt an odd sort of tension settle in the air. "And? What did he say?"

  Elias’s smirk didn’t fade, but there was something sharper behind his eyes now, something that suggested he found all of this deeply fascinating.

  "He told me he wants everyone to distinctly remember whose bloodline he belongs to. He said he wants no one to forget, everyone to understand."

  Mira scowled, this wasn't even getting a little understandable.

  "What?" she blurted out.

  Elias shrugged, he almost seemed giddy now, as if talking about his favourite book.

  "Apparently, he used to ask his parents to change his name to ‘Darius’ all the time. They always refused, looked at him like he was insane, worried sick about what it would mean." He chuckled. "So, finally, he threatened not to attend Aurelian at all unless they agreed, and guess what? They gave up."

  Mira felt something in her stomach twist, not in fear, but in something else. She opened her mouth to ask why, but before she could, Selene spoke, her voice quiet but certain.

  "He thinks that if people are going to judge him for someone else's crime," she murmured, "they might as well call him the criminal’s name."

  A heavy silence followed.

  Elias’s gaze flickered to Selene, his smirk deepening. "More or less exactly what he said."

  Mira felt a chill run through her. What kind of person thinks like that? She looked at Selene, and was shocked to see understanding in her eyes.

  Where the hell had she ended up? At least Alina looked just as shocked and confused as she felt.

  For a brief moment, no one spoke. Darius’s choice sat between them. Heavy, unspoken, and impossible to ignore.

  Then, there was a sudden shift, a ripple through the gathered students.

  Mira turned her head just in time to see a small group of older students in pristine uniforms making their way toward them.

  Prefects.

  One of them, a tall, poised girl with the same ethereal beauty as Alina, halted before them, her gaze sweeping over the students with quiet authority.

  Alina stiffened slightly beside Mira.

  "Stand properly in the queue," the Prefect instructed, her voice calm but firm. "Girls to the left, boys to the right. The assembly will begin shortly."

  Mira exchanged a glance with Elias, who just grinned like he hadn’t been half a second away from another joke.

  Alina, however, still looked tense. Mira leaned toward her slightly, whispering, "You know her?"

  Alina hesitated, just for a heartbeat, before nodding. "My sister."

  Before Mira could react, the crowd shifted, like an unseen current sweeping them toward their fate.

  This was the start of everything, and for the first time since arriving at Aurelian, Mira felt the full weight of it.

  The Opening Ceremony was about to begin.