First Impressions

As Van and the other children entered their new classroom, he immediately took note of the room's simple yet orderly setup. Large windows lined one wall, allowing the morning sunlight to stream in, casting warm, golden hues across the wooden desks arranged neatly in rows. The air carried the faint scent of fresh parchment and ink. Each desk had a small inkwell, a quill, and a stack of clean parchment ready for the students. The walls were adorned with maps of Aetheria and charts illustrating the basics of arithmetic and grammar, all clearly intended to introduce the children to their new world of learning. At the front of the room stood a large chalkboard, its surface dark and pristine, awaiting the day's lesson.

Van, determined to remain as inconspicuous as possible, headed straight for the back of the room, choosing a seat that offered a clear view of the entire class while keeping him out of the teacher's direct line of sight. However, no sooner had he sat down than Elara followed close behind, her usual bright energy undiminished.

"Van, can I sit beside you?" Elara asked, her voice full of hope as she clutched her school supplies.

Van's first instinct was to refuse. "No," he replied bluntly, hoping that would discourage her.

Elara looked up at him with wide, questioning eyes. "Why not?" she asked, a hint of disappointment in her voice.

Van sighed inwardly. *This girl won't stop unless I let her,* he thought, realizing that his initial resistance was futile. "Fine, you can sit here," he conceded, his tone firm. "But keep quiet. Don't ask questions, and don't talk. Understand?"

Elara's face lit up with a smile. "Alright!" she agreed, quickly taking the seat next to him.

Van settled into his chair, trying to ignore the buzzing excitement of the other children as they found their seats. Soon enough, the last student took their place, and the room fell into a quiet hum of anticipation.

Mark Renz, their teacher, stepped to the front of the room. He was an imposing figure, tall and broad-shouldered, with a sharp, chiseled face framed by blonde hair. His brown eyes scanned the room with a keen, observant gaze, taking in each child as though assessing their potential. The large claymore strapped to his back added to his authoritative presence, and his black suit, crisp and formal, made him stand out even more against the classroom's warm, wooden interior.

"Alright, children," Mark began, his voice strong and confident. "Let me introduce myself. My name is Mark Renz, from the Renz family of Luminaris. I am thirty-two years old, an elemental fire mage, and a close combat specialist. I'm currently in the middle of the Refined stage of my Aether training."

The students listened in awe, their eyes wide as they took in the impressive credentials of their teacher. The mention of elemental fire magic and close combat skills was particularly captivating, sparking the imaginations of the young children who were eager to learn from someone so accomplished.

But as Mark continued speaking, Van found himself staring out the window, his thoughts elsewhere. The trees outside swayed gently in the breeze, their leaves rustling softly in the sunlight. Van's mind drifted to the woods where he usually trained, longing for the freedom and solitude they offered. Here, in this classroom filled with children who were wide-eyed and eager, Van felt out of place—like a hawk caged among songbirds.

Mark noticed Van's distant expression and paused, his brow furrowing slightly. *Interesting,* he thought, taking note of the boy who seemed unfazed by his introduction. While the other children were clearly impressed, Van appeared completely uninterested. *There's something different about this one,* Mark mused, his curiosity piqued.

After a brief moment, Mark continued. "Now that you know who I am, it's time for each of you to introduce yourselves to your classmates."

*Hell no,* Van thought, his reluctance growing at the thought of having to speak in front of the class. He wanted nothing more than to remain unnoticed, to blend into the background until the day was over.

Before Van could find a way to avoid participating, Elara's hand shot up eagerly. "I'll go first!" she volunteered, her excitement clear in her voice.

Mark nodded, gesturing for her to stand. "Alright, you're first."

Elara jumped to her feet, her smile radiant. "Hello, everyone! My name is Elara. I live near the Mistveil Forest, and my best friend is Van Gen. We're neighbors, and we like to play in the woods together."

Van grimaced internally as he heard Elara announce their friendship to the entire class. He could feel the eyes of the other students turning towards him, their curiosity evident. This was exactly the kind of attention he had hoped to avoid.

The introductions continued around the room, with each student sharing their name and a few details about themselves. When it was finally Van's turn, he stood up reluctantly, determined to keep his introduction as brief as possible.

"My name is Van Gen," he said simply, offering nothing more.

The other students looked at him expectantly, waiting for him to say more, but Van remained silent. Mark raised an eyebrow, intrigued by the boy's minimalist approach. *This one is definitely different,* he thought, noting Van's quiet but intense demeanor.

Once the introductions were finished, Mark stepped back to the front of the room. "Now that we all know each other," he began, "let me tell you what we'll be learning this year. Our first lesson, which starts tomorrow, will be on writing and reading. We'll focus on that for four months. After that, we'll move on to basic mathematics for three months. Finally, we'll train in basic close combat for five months. By the end of the year, you'll have a solid foundation in all these areas."

The other students buzzed with excitement at the prospect of learning new skills, especially the close combat training. But Van remained unmoved. *I really hate this,* he thought, already planning to speak with his father later. *Maybe there's something he can do to get me out of this.*

As the class murmured among themselves, Elara leaned over to Van. "Van, you know, I already know how to write, but I'm not very good at reading or math yet."

"Lucky for you," Van replied, his tone indifferent.

"Are you not excited?" Elara asked, puzzled by his lack of enthusiasm.

"Maybe," Van said, offering the vaguest answer possible.

"What do you mean, maybe?" Elara pressed.

Van turned to her, his patience wearing thin. "What did I tell you before?"

Elara blinked, then remembered his earlier warning. "Oh, I'm sorry, Van," she said, retreating back into her seat.

Mark finished his explanation and looked over the class. "That's all for today. I hope you understand what we'll be learning, and remember to tell your parents what to expect this year. You can go out now—your parents are waiting for you in the schoolyard."

*Finally,* Van thought as he stood up, eager to leave the classroom behind.

As he made his way to the door, Elara caught up to him, her energy as boundless as ever. "Van, let's go! I want you to meet my father first. I told him about you."

Van stopped in his tracks, a wave of unease washing over him. *What did she tell her father?* he wondered, anxiety creeping in.

"What did you tell him?" Van asked, trying to keep his voice calm.

"That you're my playmate in the woods and my best friend!" Elara replied cheerfully.

*Whew,* Van thought, relieved. *For a second, I thought she might have mentioned our training.* The last thing he needed was someone finding out about his abilities and informing his mother. That would be a disaster.

"But my mother is waiting too," Van protested, hoping to avoid this meeting.

"It'll be quick," Elara insisted, grabbing his hand and pulling him along.

Van sighed. "Fine," he relented.

They made their way through the bustling schoolyard, weaving between groups of parents and children. Finally, Elara pointed to a tall man standing near the entrance. "Look, that's my father!"

Elara's father was a commanding presence, much like his daughter. He had the same sharp green eyes and dark hair, though streaks of gray ran through his. His build was broad and muscular, and he carried himself with the confidence of someone who had seen many battles. He was dressed in a simple but well-made tunic and trousers, with a leather belt that held a finely crafted sword at his side.

"Father, this is Van, my playmate in the woods and our neighbor that I always tell you about!" Elara said excitedly, pulling Van forward.

Her father looked down at Van, his gaze assessing. He was clearly surprised by Van's height, especially considering his young age. But as he looked closer, he noticed Van's youthful face, confirming that the boy was indeed only five years old. *He's tall for his age,* Elara's father thought, *but there's something more to him. Something… different.*

"So, you're Van, the son of Aric Gen?" he asked, his tone polite but curious.

"Yes, nice to meet you, sir," Van replied, offering a small bow out of respect.

"Nice to meet you too," Elara's father said with a nod. "My name is Eamon Calder. Elara has told me quite a bit about you."

Van stiffened slightly, wondering just how much Elara had shared. "All good things, I hope," Van said, keeping his tone light.

Eamon chuckled, a warm, fatherly sound. "Yes, all good things. She speaks highly of you. It seems you've made quite the impression on my daughter."

Van glanced at Elara, who was beaming up at her father. "We have fun," he replied diplomatically, though he wasn't entirely sure if "fun" was the right word for the time they spent together. Training was serious business for him, but he knew Elara viewed it as a game.

Eamon nodded, his eyes narrowing slightly as he studied Van. "You're tall for your age," he remarked, "and you carry yourself well. Your father must be proud."

Van felt a pang of pride at the mention of his father. "Yes, sir. My father has taught me a lot."

"I'm sure he has," Eamon replied, clearly impressed by Van's maturity. "It's good to see young boys learning to be strong and responsible. The world can be a dangerous place."

Van nodded in agreement, though he remained cautious. He wasn't used to interacting with other adults besides his parents, and he didn't want to say anything that might draw too much attention.

"Father, Van is really strong too!" Elara chimed in, her excitement evident. "We play all kinds of games in the woods, and he always wins."

Eamon smiled indulgently at his daughter. "Is that so? Well, Van, it sounds like you're quite the playmate. I'm glad Elara has someone like you to keep her company."

Van forced a smile, feeling increasingly uncomfortable with the attention. He was relieved when Eamon glanced up at the sky, noting the late hour.

"It's getting dark," Eamon said, his tone turning practical. "We should head home. Come along, Elara."

"Okay, Dad," Elara replied cheerfully. She turned to Van, her smile still bright. "Bye, Van! See you tomorrow!"

Van nodded, watching as they walked away. He let out a small sigh of relief, grateful that the interaction had gone smoothly. He then scanned the crowded schoolyard for his mother. Spotting her near the entrance, he jogged over to her, eager to put the day behind him.

Seraphina was standing with a few other mothers, chatting amicably. When she saw Van approaching, she smiled warmly and excused herself from the conversation.

"How was your first day, Van?" Seraphina asked as he reached her, her eyes full of curiosity.

Van shrugged noncommittally. "It was okay," he replied, not wanting to go into too much detail.

Seraphina chuckled, sensing his reluctance. "I'm sure it was more than just okay. But you can tell me all about it when we get home. Are you ready to go?"

"Yes, Mom. I'm hungry," Van said, his stomach growling in agreement.

"Alright, let's head home," Seraphina said, taking his hand as they began to walk. As they left the schoolyard, Van cast one last glance back at the building, feeling a mix of emotions. The day had been long and full of surprises, but it had also shown him that there were parts of this new life that would challenge him in ways he hadn't expected.

But as they made their way back to their cozy home, Van pushed those thoughts aside, focusing instead on the comforting presence of his mother beside him and the promise of a warm meal waiting for him. Despite everything, he couldn't deny that there was something comforting about the routine and normalcy of this life, something he had never known as Kael Draven.

And as they walked together, hand in hand, Van allowed himself to relax, knowing that whatever challenges tomorrow might bring, he would face them head-on—with the strength and determination that had been his greatest assets in both his past and present lives.