The First Lesson

The Energy Synthesis lecture was held in a grand, amphitheater-like hall, designed to accommodate students from the Fifth to the Seventh Enlightenment levels.

The room was huge with sleek, polished floors and large holographic panels that were embedded in the walls, displaying relevant data for the students.

The lighting was soft and the seats were arranged in layers, making it easy to see the lecture from any angle.

Vastarael and Elyonari rushed in, just barely making it to the front row. They weaved through the clusters of students, the room almost vibrating with whispered conversations as they made their way to their seats.

As they moved, people's eyes followed them. It wasn't hard to guess why. Their names had already started circulating like wildfire. The two of them were the heroes of the 13th District incident. The ones who had taken down the Krepsunas with ease, practically saving the entire district in a matter of seconds. To most students, they were legends in the making.

Vastarael's curly white hair and mask only drew more attention. He wasn't shy about wearing it in public. Not that it mattered. His presence was more than enough to capture everyone's attention.

Elyonari didn't mind the attention, her expression calm as she quietly sat beside him. The room was abuzz as students leaned over to whisper to each other, heads tilted to catch a glimpse.

"Did you hear? The Elven Princess... she's the one who was with him! They took down that giant Krepsuna together!"

"I heard she's a Seventh Enlightenment student... but she's so young. And him? That mask..."

"No way, right? It's the Prince of Anqerise. I think he's in the Seventh, too, but didn't he only just get here?"

"I heard he survived a god at the age of thirteen for a whole day!"

Vastarael caught snippets of the whispers but he couldn't be bothered. He'd gotten used to the gossip and it wasn't anything new. Elyonari, on the other hand, leaned back in her seat as she adjusted her staff beside her. She wasn't one to let others' opinions affect her. They were here for the lecture, not to entertain the curiosity of the crowd.

A moment later, the door at the front of the lecture hall swung open. The room fell silent almost immediately as the lecturer, a tall and imposing woman with sharp, silver eyes, walked in. She wore a long cloak. Her presence commanded respect. Her name was Professor Lethore and she was known for being one of the most difficult instructors in the entire academy.

She was a master of Energy Synthesis, capable of manipulating and combining different energy types like it was second nature. She had one of the rarest abilities in Spheraphase.

And... she was of the Divine Rank.

Lecturers in Minafallen are Divine or at most, Minor Gods, nothing less. Mortals in the room felt incredible power that they felt like bowing down to her. For the Immortals, they felt the same way too.

Only the Seventh Enlightenment Students were unaffected by her power.

Without a word, she took her place at the podium, a holographic display flickering to life behind her. Her sharp eyes scanned the room for a moment before she spoke.

"Welcome, students, to Energy Synthesis," she paused for a moment, letting the silence settle. "I trust you've all come prepared for this lesson. This class will not be easy, but it will be necessary. Those of you in the Fifth and Sixth Enlightenment will find this to be a challenge, while those of you in the Seventh will be expected to grasp the concepts immediately."

She flicked her wrist and the holograms around the room shifted, showing visual representations of different energy types.

"You will learn how to blend and manipulate these energies to create new, more potent forms of magic or mysticism. Energy Synthesis is not about adding power to what you already know. It's about combining and harmonizing them. You can create something greater than the sum of its parts, but only if you understand the fundamentals."

Vastarael glanced at Elyonari out of the corner of his eye. She was already focused, eyes locked onto the screen. The class had begun and with it, the first of many lessons that would challenge them both.

Vastarael, however, was a little distracted by the attention still being given to them. A few heads were still turned in their direction and he couldn't help but smirk. He wasn't used to being the center of attention like this, but the whispers didn't bother him anymore.

He had learned to tune out most of the noise long ago.

"Now, who can tell me about all types of energy in Spheraphase?"

A student raised her hand and Professor Lethore nodded, gesturing for her to answer.

"There are nine of them. Mana, Essence, Miasma, Divine Energy, Demonic Energy, Nature Energy, Spatial Energy, Soul Energy and Elemental Energy."

"Correct," Professor Lethore confirmed. "There are eight types. Mana is for mortals who haven't reached the Awakened Stage yet. Essence is for Immortals and Mortals who have reached the Awakened Stage, which occurs when Spheraphasians are at Essentia level."

"Miasma is found in demons. Divine Energy is used by Gods, Divines and Nexuses only. Demonic Energy is used by Demon Sovereigns and royal Demonic bloodlines. It is the counterpart of Divine Energy. Nature Energy is manipulated by nature beings. Spatial Energy is controlled by spatial beings and Elemental Energy can be used by anyone wielding an element if it is not a divinity."

Vastarael knew all this. His father taught him this after all.

"And so, on to the next question. Why is the difference between Divine and Demonic Energy compared to the other energy forms?"

For a few seconds, no one had the answer to that question. That was until, a hand was raised.

They all turned around and saw a beautiful student with demon features. The lecturer smirked when she saw her.

"Lady Denisia, you can give us your answer."

Denisia Andelaris was one of the ten Seventh Enlightenment Students. She was from Dynasty Andelaris, which rules the heavens of Spheraphase. What shocked everyone was that despite this, she was a demon while her sister was an angel.

If it wasn't for their features, they would have not have been easily distinguished because they are twins.

"Unlike other energy forms, Divine and Demonic Energy need to be cultivated from the faith and belief of those who worship them."

The lecturer nodded in agreement, "Good answer, Lady Denisia. Naturally, this can only work on the Seventh Enlightenment Students so there's no need to dwell on that. So, let's focus on the major lesson for today. If you have any of the energies mentioned from the Seventh Enlightenment, please step forward."

There was a moment of stunned silence as the students processed the request. Then, as if on cue, the students began to rise from their seats, walking to the front of the room with varying levels of confidence.

One by one, the students who were attuned to the specific energies stood, each representing a unique form of power.

Narisva Starisnova stepped forward first, representing Spatial Energy.

Next, Eldrigan Hanabas, a serious-looking student with an almost intimidating aura, stood up, his dark presence revealing the swirling miasma that clung to his every step.

Denisia Andelaris and Peroncerea Ceres were next, both of them with Demonic Energy.

Natalis Andelaris followed, her demeanor calm yet radiating the warmth of Divine Energy.

Then, Elyonari Mintheris stepped forward. The room seemed to hum with the vibrant pulse of Nature Energy.

Farrynelle Skyrover, the mighty princess from the Skyrover Dynasty, advanced next, her Elemental Energy manifesting in the form of lightning.

Vastarael Richinaria followed suit and the room went eerily silent as he stepped forward. A ripple of Essence spread out from him, a manifestation of his ability to draw from every conceivable source.

Next to him, Adelasta Viaca, with her powerful and fierce essence energy, added her own force to the room.

Finally, Xander Fedres, a quiet but undeniably powerful student, walked forward, his mana swirling around him like a steady stream of power. His calm exterior masked the depth of his capabilities.

The students who had stepped forward stood at the front of the lecture hall, each of them representing one of the eight primary energies. The room felt charged, like a storm was brewing.

Professor Lethore observed the students for a moment, as if considering the implications of their collective power. Then, she spoke again, her voice calm but with an edge of seriousness.

"Now, as all of you know, mastering your energy is not an overnight task. It takes time, patience and above all, guidance. So, here is your first and perhaps most important assignment. Until you graduate, you are to seek advice from these ten if you have any similar energies. If you need help understanding or controlling your energy, turn to those who share your affinity. Their experiences will help guide you."

"This course will exist as long as you're here at the academy and you will be stuck with me until the end. Consider it a lifelong assignment. It will be your responsibility to help your peers who might be struggling with energies similar to yours."

Vastarael glanced over at Elyonari, who gave him a faint smile. It seemed like they were both in for a long ride, but that wasn't anything new.

The lecturer paused, letting the weight of her words settle in.

"This isn't just a lesson in control or technique. The energy you wield affects the world around you. You will be expected to master it, understand its limits and help others do the same. Fail, and it will cost you. Not just in your academic progress, but in the balance of your energy itself."

The students nodded in acknowledgment, some still uncertain but eager to learn more. They all understood that the path ahead wouldn't be easy, but they had no choice but to embrace it. The academy had prepared them for the trials ahead.

"As for you," the professor said, turning toward Vastarael and Adelasta, "You two must learn to balance your energies with others, not just harness them for your own benefit. Out of everyone in this academy, you two are perhaps the only students who have a perfect resonance with energy."

Everyone was shocked by this information.

"The rest don't have stable energies but you two do. Your essence is beyond normal, perhaps even more than all lecturers in the academy. It seems that staying in the company of the strongest mage in Spheraphase history has its merits."

Was she... jealous?

Vastarael, although intrigued by the lecture, was already thinking ahead. He had his own plans and methods of harnessing and mastering essence energy and he knew it wouldn't be easy to fit them into the constraints of what the professor was teaching.

Elyonari, however, seemed to be taking it all in stride, already planning how she could apply what she was learning to her natural energy. Now she was going to be surrounded by people asking for advice.

She didn't like it one bit.

Fortunately and unfortunately for them, they were not going to stay in the academy for very long.