We Meet!

Aether stood before the towering doors of the academy's grand hall, his hand hovering just inches from the polished brass handle. His heartbeat was steady, but there was a subtle tightness in his chest, a quiet tension that threaded through every muscle.

I need to be careful once I open this door, he thought, narrowing his sharp green eyes slightly. Who knows what might be waiting for me on the other side?

It wasn't simple paranoia. It was intuition — that subtle whisper that had saved him more times than he could count. Because this wasn't just anyone who had summoned him here. This was Luke, the president of the Year Five chosen ones. A man said to wield power on a level most could only dream of.

Aether's uneasy mind

Why send someone to fetch me along with Morgan? It's not like this academy is a place where someone would kidnap him, Aether mused. His fingers drummed lightly against his leg. The more he thought about it, the less sense it made. And why go so far just to make sure I'd personally open the door?

His thoughts flickered briefly to the last tournament, to the dark look he'd caught on Lucas's face after his own easy victory.

Is this some roundabout revenge for Lucas? Nah… I don't think so. I mean, probably…

But he wasn't truly convinced. That's why each breath he drew was calm, measured. That's why he let his mana flow subtly under his skin, ready to snap into defense at a moment's notice.

Still… I hope I'm just overthinking this. Would be nice not to be dragged into something dangerous for once.

The doors open

With a faint exhale, Aether finally pushed. The doors began to swing inward, the heavy wood groaning slightly on its hinges. Time seemed to slow, each inch of movement stretching out.

Then the doors fully opened.

What happened next was so sudden, so savage, that most people in the hall never even saw it happen until it was nearly over.

A shape lunged from Luke's side — golden and immense. A mane like a sunburst. Claws extended, sharper than blades, aimed straight at Aether's face.

A lion.

Luke's lion.

The beast was upon him in less than a breath, its roar splitting the hush of the grand hall. The wind of its strike was so fierce it whipped the hair of nearby students backward.

Aether didn't move.

Or rather — he didn't appear to. In the space between heartbeats, he stopped the flow of time around him by the barest fraction. Just enough to step half a foot backward. The lion's claw sliced through the air, missing his cheek by mere millimeters.

The marble tiles under Aether's feet cracked from the pressure of that dodge.

The hall erupts

Gasps broke out across the hall.

"Did you see that?!"

"Aether… didn't even flinch…"

"What the hell just happened?"

Some who had blinked at the wrong instant completely missed the attack and had to clutch at the arms of those beside them, begging hurried explanations.

Shanny's knees almost gave out. A hand flew to her mouth, eyes wide and shimmering. Thank gods, thank gods — that was too close…

Meanwhile Olivia frowned, her brows knitting. "Why did the president's lion attack like that? It shouldn't behave that way, not at all…"

From off to the side, Lucas watched with a twisted sneer. His fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white.

"Tch. Lucky bastard. That claw should've raked right across your smug face."

Luke intervenes — but it's too perfect

"STOP."

Luke's voice rang out, smooth and authoritative. The lion froze instantly. It turned with disciplined grace and padded back to its master's side, muscles rippling, tail lashing once before settling.

The entire hall exhaled in relief.

Aether stood there perfectly calm, as though he'd merely opened the door to a pleasant garden party instead of a near-death mauling. His lips curved faintly, not quite a smile.

Hoo… that was close. Almost got me.

Luke approaches

"Everyone, please settle down," Luke said, his tone as gentle as warm milk. The ripple of chatter gradually subsided, though awe and fear still lingered in every glance.

Then the president began to walk — slowly, deliberately — until he stood right before Aether. Up close, his golden eyes were striking, bright and watchful. He extended a hand.

"You must be Aether Ryens that I've heard so much about," Luke said. His voice was apologetic, but there was something just beneath it — a faint, playful edge that made Aether's instincts tighten further. "I'm sorry for what my familiar did. Sometimes it acts beyond even my control, since it's… quite strong."

He smiled, all polished charm, as if nothing unusual had happened at all.

Aether clasped his hand, feeling the subtle crush of Luke's grip — power carefully leashed. "Oh, it's alright," he said lightly. "I understand. Mana beasts like that can be hard to handle sometimes. Thank you for the compliments, President."

Aether's dangerous thoughts

My ass, Aether thought, while outwardly calm, still holding that faint polite smile. You're a year five chosen one — the president, no less. You want me to believe you can't control your own bonded familiar?

He felt a faint pulse under his palm. The handshake was long enough for Aether to taste the dense, oppressive mana Luke carried. It was like staring into the sun — beautiful and terrible at once.

No. There's no way that lion acted on its own. Once a bond is formed, especially with an AA-class beast like that, it follows your will absolutely. Unless… it's an SS-class with its own mind. Which it isn't. So the only explanation…

Aether's eyes narrowed a touch. You ordered it. That whole stunt was yours. Probably why you sent someone with Morgan — to make sure I'd be the one to open that door first.

He couldn't stop a ghost of a grin. If I hadn't been cautious, I'd have a lovely scar across my face now. Trying to ruin my looks, huh, Mr. President?

But even that thought faded under a darker one. Still… if we fought for real right now, I doubt I could beat him. When we shook hands… the weight of his mana was monstrous. And the other chosen ones probably aren't pushovers either.

Aether sits — Luke plots

Aether let go of Luke's hand and moved to sit down at an empty chair near the front, feeling many eyes follow him — some in admiration, others with envy or suspicion.

Luke stood there for a moment, his lion at his side. Under his breath, too low for anyone but perhaps the beast to hear, he murmured, "Tch. How did that not scratch him? That was the first time you've ever missed, wasn't it? Lucky… for now."

A sly smile ghosted across his face as he turned back to the crowd. Clearly, the game wasn't over. If anything, it had only just begun.

Around the hall — reactions and rumors

Shanny let out a long, shaking sigh. Thank gods… or maybe that was a miracle?

Meanwhile, gossip rippled through the rows like wildfire.

"Did you see that? The lion was incredible — it's true what they say about the king of the jungle."

"Yeah… but Aether was even scarier. He didn't even blink!"

"I was hoping for… I don't know, something more romantic, like them shaking hands under sparkles…"

"Wake up. Nothing ever goes as planned in this accursed world. Heh… that felt good to say."

Luke resumes as if nothing happened

Luke's voice sliced neatly through the chatter, instantly reclaiming every ear.

"Well then, everyone… let us continue where we left off. As I was saying, this is my familiar — a lion, an AA-class mana beast. Currently, it is the strongest in this academy. Watch carefully and learn."

Excitement returned to the faces of the crowd, though a sharper edge remained now, tinted by what they'd just witnessed.

One by one, the other Year Five chosen ones came forward to introduce their own mana beasts — graceful panthers, colossal serpents, a hawk that flared its wings and rained faint motes of light across the crowd. Each new beast brought gasps and shouts of awe.

Aether's quiet promise

And through it all, Aether sat with one elbow resting on the arm of his chair, chin propped against his knuckles. A slow smile curled across his lips — not warm, not exactly cold, but filled with dangerous amusement.

So this is how you want to play, Luke. Alright then. I'll dance your little dance. But you'd better hope your plans are as flawless as your smile…

Because he was already beginning to think of counter-moves. Already measuring the flows of mana, already plotting what he'd do if — when — this all inevitably spun out of control.