Morning came with a sky painted in muted lavender and soft gold. The floating islands of Arcanum Academy hovered in silent majesty above the low clouds, casting drifting shadows over the sunlit expanse below. Wind-carried mana twinkled like misted starlight across the bridges connecting the elemental wings.
Dean walked the stone paths of the Twilight Vault, his boots tapping quietly as other students passed him in clusters.
They all glanced at him.
Not one spoke.
He felt it in the way conversations dipped when he passed. In the stolen glances. A subtle buzz of curiosity wrapped in caution. Nobody had approached him about the fight yesterday—not even Kaela—but his name had clearly spread.
He was starting to hate that kind of attention.
<hr>
Today’s first class was different.
It wasn’t elemental-specific. No magic tests. No combat drills. No spellcasting circles. Just a wide, tiered lecture hall made from smooth sandstone and polished crystal, filled with students from every affinity.
The room buzzed with idle chatter as students filed in and took their places. Floating crystals illuminated the space with soft, shifting light, and arcane diagrams spiraled slowly in the air above the instructor’s platform.
Dean took a seat near the upper back row, as usual—quiet, distant, watching.
The instructor arrived in a cloak marked with every elemental color: crimson, cobalt, emerald, obsidian, and more. His beard was short and silver, and his voice, when it spoke, was deep and warm like rolling thunder.
“I am Instructor Maelik, and this is System Mechanics and Class Progression, the most important class you will attend this week—because it determines how far you’ll go in this world.”
The chatter stopped.
“Magic is not a gift,” he began. “It is a system. One with rules, patterns, and logic. You are not just wielders—you are part of that system now.”
<hr>
He waved his hand, and a massive illusion formed in the air: a chart of glowing branches sprouting from elemental icons.
“Each of you has an Elemental Affinity—most have one, some two, and a very rare few more.”
Dean tensed slightly but said nothing.
“From those affinities, your Class is shaped by two things: your mana’s behavior, and your soul’s instincts. That determines your path: Brawler, Sorcerer, Warden, Assassin, Shifter, and so on.”
A second layer of branches bloomed from the first.
“From your starting class, you can advance as you grow. Reach Level 10, and you unlock your first Class Evolution—a specialization.”
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He gestured again, and paths split further.
“A Sorcerer, for example, might evolve into a Cryomancer, Voidcaller, or Stormbinder, depending on your actions, spell use, and choices made during combat. The system observes. It adapts your growth.”
Dean’s mind raced. So even evolution wasn’t just a pick from a list—it was earned. That meant everything he did now was shaping what came next.
<hr>
Instructor Maelik continued, now pulling up a separate diagram of Skills.
“Skills are learned through affinity, combat, and repetition. Some you will gain instantly. Others must be unlocked through practice or unique actions. And yes—skills can be leveled, evolved, and even combined.”
Murmurs spread through the room. Dean leaned forward slightly.
Maelik smiled. “Yes. Skill fusion is real. But rare. It requires harmony of control, compatible affinities, and the creative intent to will something new into existence.”
Dean’s mind flashed to Obsidian Hail—his first fusion spell from Elemental Weave.
He had already done it.
“Skills evolve in stages,” Maelik went on. “A basic spell like Frost Shard may become Frost Lance, then Glacial Spear, each more powerful, but also more expensive in mana. Evolution often alters a skill’s properties.”
He snapped his fingers, and a small flame hovered above his hand.
“Basic Flame Orb,” he said. Then the flame twisted into a spinning wheel.
“Flame Ring—evolved.” Then it grew spikes and crackled with electricity. “Infernal Cyclone—fusion.”
The class whispered, wide-eyed.
<hr>
Maelik turned toward them again.
“Leveling comes from growth. Combat grants the most, especially killing magic beasts in the wild or defeating strong foes in duels. But everything helps—training, research, crafting. You grow by engaging the system.”
Dean tapped his fingers on his desk, processing every word.
So this wasn’t just about being stronger. It was about understanding how power worked—manipulating the system itself.
<hr>
After a moment of silence, Maelik added:
“Ranks matter, too. At the end of each week, your performance is evaluated and you are ranked within your affinity. The top five in each group receive direct access to advanced training, better gear, and faster evolution opportunities.”
Students began shifting in their seats.
“Finalized Ranking Lists will be released tonight,” Maelik said. “Publicly. And yes—everyone will see them. Including the staff and potential mentors.”
Dean exhaled slowly. So it wasn’t just about winning a duel. It was about where you landed after everything was taken into account—control, mana usage, performance.
He glanced down at his desk.
If he made top five, it’d be harder to stay low-profile.
If he made number one...
That would be even worse.
<hr>
Class ended shortly after, and students funneled into the stone hallways in clumps—buzzing with conversation about skill evolution paths and potential future classes. The glowing archways of the corridor reflected the colors of each passing student’s affinity.
Dean walked alone through the flow of bodies.
Eyes followed him.
Some curious. Some wary. A few impressed.
But not a single person approached.
Not one asked about what spell he had cast.
Not one tried to question his power.
It was as if no one wanted to acknowledge it openly—but none of them forgot it either.
<hr>
Back in the dorm that evening, Dean stood near his window in the Twilight Vault, watching the mana rivers drift through the air like glowing ribbons under the twin moons. Crystalline platforms drifted in the distance, students practicing evening drills or sparring with summoned constructs.
He opened his status screen.
<hr>
Name: Dean Everett
Class: Elementalist (Registered as Sorcerer)
Level: 2
Elements: Ice | Shadow (Active)
Title: The Elemental Nexus
Skills:
? Mana Conduit (Passive)
? Elemental Weave (Active)
? Frost Shard (Lvl 3)
? Shadowstep (Lvl 2)
? Obsidian Hail (Custom – Lvl 1)
? Mystic Insight (Passive)
<hr>
Level 2. He was leveling fast.
He sighed and closed the window. The night was calm, but the pressure was building. He could feel it.
Because no matter how quiet he stayed...
The system was watching.