Autherian Academy

Tik-Tak-Tik-Tak

The rain kept tapping against the window, like it was trying to get my attention. Outside, it was basically a monsoon, but I wasn't paying much attention to that either. I was in class, sitting there like the model student I am, except, you know, totally zoning out. The professor was babbling on about something I've already forgotten, and all I could think about was how the rain looked like someone turned on a giant shower for the sky. If only the storm outside was as exciting as this lecture.

My name is Jinwoo Kim. 16 years old. Class D. Rank 19. First year. I'm far behind in both academic performance and skills. Class A was completely out of my league. Those students are the best of the best, sharp intellect, extraordinary skills, and most of them come from wealthy families, practically living in another world compared to me.

Aetherian Academy, the name says it all. The place is massive, far beyond what I imagined, but what really caught me off guard was how extravagant it is. Everything about this academy screams luxury and exclusivity. It's a school, but it feels more like a fortress designed for the brightest and the most capable.

I've been here for two months now, and let me tell you, the experience has been... interesting. The dorms, for instance, are like nothing you'd expect from a regular school. They call them 'student housing,' but these rooms are more like high-end apartments. Each student gets their own space, all perfectly furnished with the latest tech and amenities. They don't let us go outside the academy grounds for anything other than official reasons, so they make sure everything we need is right here. It's all about keeping us focused.

The classes are manageable. It's the usual mix of theoretical lectures and hands-on training, but with an emphasis on mastery, getting ahead in every way possible.

I was lying on my bed, doing nothing. The day had drained me. I needed rest, honestly, lol. The instructor had pushed me beyond my limits today. Endless drills, one after another. Practically a demon.

"Don't stop."

"More!."

"Jinwoo! What are you doing!."

"Another Lap!"

"10 more sets!."

Fuck that old man. It was already night. I needed rest. I had eaten and handled the essentials, but this day had been an absolute beast, nothing like the others. It felt like the instructor went harder on me today. At this point, I was starting to think he hated my guts. The next day, I was still dead tired.

My friend smirked at me. A classmate of mine.

"Hey, Jinwoo! The instructor's so rough with you every day. What'd you do?"

"Don't ask me. I hate that old man."

He threw his arm around my head and shoulders. "You know? I've been liking a girl from Class A, Calestia. You know her, right?"

"Yeah, I mean, who wouldn't?"

Calestia was the definition of perfection. She had a silver hair and beautiful yellow eyes. She was ranked second in Class A, and it was easy to see why. Academically, she was a prodigy. On top of that, her combat and magic skills were top-notch, always precise and calculated.

Not to mention, she came from one of the wealthiest families around, which gave her connections and status most people could only dream of. She was the kind of girl everyone wanted to be around, and guys especially were always vying for her attention. But honestly, i never really cared to be part of that crowd. She was way out of my league.

I was in my class sitting. My instructor walked in and sat down in the front of the class.

"All right, listen up!"

"Today you will be tested. Basically a rivalry between two individuals randomly. This is to test your skills and intelligence. Remember this is not just a battle of who overpowers one and another. The way of your thinking on how to distinguish and find a strategy to outmatch your enemy, as well as using your skills efficiently is important."

"The battleground for today's test is the Aetherian Arena, located in the central training area of the academy. It's an expansive, floating platform suspended high above the academy grounds, surrounded by vast skies. The arena is designed to challenge both your combat skills and strategic thinking."

He paused and started again. "There are floating pillars scattered throughout, which can be used for cover or as an advantage in battle. The terrain shifts periodically, adding a layer of unpredictability. Only those with the foresight to use the environment to their advantage will succeed."

He smirked. "So, don't just rely on strength. Think, adapt, and make sure your strategy is as sharp as your skills."

A classmate of mine stood up, his voice tinged with curiosity. "Sir, is there gonna be spectators who will watch our match? Like the higher grades and ranks?"

The instructor gave a quick, almost dismissive glance toward him before answering. "Of course. This is the Aetherian Arena. Spectators from every grade, including higher years and ranking individuals, will be watching your every move. It's not just a test of your abilities, it's a display of your potential, your worth. Don't disappoint."

As expected, we were brought into the Aetherian Arena. The atmosphere was different from the usual training grounds, this place had a certain tension, a weight in the air. I could already feel the gazes of countless eyes watching me, some curious, some eager, others perhaps even skeptical.

The instructor's voice cut through the noise of the students shuffling around, preparing for the upcoming battles.

"Alright, listen up. While one of you is fighting down there in the arena, the rest of you will head up to the spectator area. You'll find seating in the stands, just like a proper audience. Higher-ranked students from other years will also be watching, so pay attention"

"The stands are divided into sections. Take a seat in the one that's nearest to your battle, but don't cause any distractions. You'll have plenty of time to talk and ask questions later. For now, stay quiet and focus on what's happening down below."

As I sat down, I barely noticed that Calestia had taken the seat beside me. The goddess of Class A, Year One. Her golden eyes met mine, carrying a soft, almost pleasing look.

"Jinwoo," she said, her tone light, almost playful.

"Yes?"

"Good luck today."

"...Ah, yeah. Thanks." What was that? How did she know my name? I don't remember introducing myself to her.

"Um, may I ask… how do you know my name?"

She tilted her head slightly, as if amused. "Your name? Oh, I saw it on the student registry when I was checking the rankings. I tend to remember names easily."

Checking the rankings, huh? But why would my name even come up? Strange.

"Anyways let's just watch and enjoy the match"

"Sure…"

We watched a couple of matches until its my turn.

"Good luck" She said with a cute smile.

Whatever it is, my motivation got boosted after that. To think that the goddess of Class A talked to me. Definitely lucky.

I stood at the heart of the arena, the weight of countless gazes pressing down on me. The atmosphere crackled with anticipation.

The instructor's voice sliced through the tension.

"Three."

"Two."

"One."

"Begin!"

Even before my opponent could close the distance, I invoked the power of my eyes, the gift my mother had meticulously taught me to wield.

And in that instant, the battlefield unfolded before me like a meticulously crafted tapestry. Movements became sluggish, each motion unraveling itself in a sequence I could decipher with ease. My opponent's intentions were laid bare, their every shift betraying the next course of action. This ability is absurd.

I unfurled my wings and shot toward one of the floating pillars, taking cover just as my opponent unleashed a storm of razor-sharp wing shards. The projectiles struck the pillar in rapid succession, splintering against its surface.

Anticipating their next move, I raised my wings above the pillar, creating the illusion that I was about to take off. As expected, they fell for the bait, unleashing another barrage aimed upward.

But I never planned to go that way. Instead, I darted around the side, using a sudden burst of speed to propel myself forward. Another wave of shards sliced through the air, but I had already seen it coming. I twisted mid-flight, slipping past the attack with precision before getting close to my opponent. It was hard enough to reach him.

As expected, my opponent wasn't some rookie. He quickly backed up and hid behind one of the pillars, and I did the same, ducking into one myself. This was turning into a game of mind games, all about predicting what the other would do next. I had a feeling this guy wasn't just relying on wing shards. He had something else up his sleeve.

There were so many possibilities, like, I had no idea what he was planning. The wing shards were fast, but thanks to my eye, I could dodge them no problem. The catch is my eye burns every time I use it too much. And I had already been overusing it like a sucker, predicting every wing shard attack.

It barely lasted a minute, and I could already feel the energy drain. Like, seriously, who thought an ability this cool would come with such a terrible side effect. I still had some juice left, but if I didn't pace myself, I'd be out of gas.

Okay, time to think. I could endure this, but I had to make my next move count. Or I'd end up looking like a fool. Again.

…

This fucker's basically camping now. I flew around the pillars, showing myself little by little, but this guy wasn't even moving. Just sitting there like a rock. I was probably overthinking things behind the pillars, thinking about my next move for minutes, so I lost track of where he was. Then... wait, what's that? Feathers?. Dammit, I need to hide.

I quickly ducked behind the nearest pillar. That sneaky bastard was up to something. There's no way someone as smart as him, especially from this academy, would just leave feathers lying around like that. Wait a second... Bait.

The feathers were from the right side and led to the left. I couldn't help but laugh out loud. No way this dude's actually pulling this move, right?

But hold up. The feathers came from the right, but he hadn't even used his wing shards there. Like, at all. So how the hell did those feathers even get there? This guy was trying to set me up. Classic move, man. Classic.

This guy's from the other side where there ain't no feathers. Too suspicious. I quickly swooped around for a surprise attack, activating my ability again just in case he was about to unleash those wing shards. I scanned, he wasn't there. Wait... where the hell is he?

Oh, you've got to be kidding me. He pulled a Houdini and went underground? He was actually underground?! I barely had time to react before I felt something grab for my feet. Nice try, but my reflexes were on point. I quickly kicked him off with a burst of speed, pinning him down.

"Winner: Jinwoo."

When I first saw those feathers drifting from the right to the left, I knew something was up. See, there's no way he'd just drop feathers without a reason. And no, it wasn't some random, 'oh, I'm just casually shedding my wings' moment. No, that's too neat, too calculated. He was trying to make me think there was a hidden attack coming from the left.

What tipped me off wasn't just the feathers, though. It was the fact that I hadn't seen him use his wing shards over there. No wing shards meant no immediate threat from that direction, so why the feathers? Simple, he was trying to get me to react the way he wanted.

I kept moving around the pillars, never fully revealing myself. As I moved, I noticed the soft earth beneath my feet. It wasn't just the usual solid ground, there was something different about it. I've been around long enough to know that kind of surface didn't just happen by accident.

The feathers weren't just a distraction. They were a decoy for his real plan. He didn't want me to react to anything coming from the left, he wanted me to focus there so I wouldn't notice what he was actually doing.

What I didn't expect was for him to pull the classic underground trick. Guess that's why I felt a sudden pressure on my feet. But lucky for me, my reflexes were still on point. My eye caught the movement just in time, and before he could get me, I kicked him hard and fast. The feathers themselves weren't the problem, it was the absence of any real threat from that side that got me thinking. He was trying to throw me off. End of the analysis of mine.

...

The spectators looked at me with such looks, some of awe, others confused. It was obvious they didn't expect it to end that way, not with a swift kick to the ground. But the Class A's weren't impressed. They already knew how this worked. To them, this match probably wasn't much more than a game of cat and mouse, a simple back-and-forth of moves that didn't even break a sweat for someone of their caliber.

I could see a few of them exchanging looks. "Yeah, he's good, but is he really that impressive?"

I sat back down in the same seat where I was earlier with Calestia. The match had drained me a little, but I was still pretty hyped to see what was next. I mean, come on, the adrenaline was still pumping, and I wasn't about to miss the next spectacle.

"You're pretty impressive back there!" Calestia said, her tone light, almost amused.

Honestly, I couldn't tell if she was genuinely impressed or just being polite. Probably the latter. To her, watching people get wrecked in the arena was like me watching ants fight in the backyard. Big deal.

I gave her a half-hearted smile, "Eh, it was nothing." Yeah, I had to make it sound like I didn't care, but in reality, that fight was probably the most action I'd gotten in days.

"Next, Shina against Chae!" the instructor shouted.

Shina, the first-ranked girl in Class D, and Chae, the second-ranked. This was gonna be like watching two freight trains smash into each other. Sure, I wasn't expecting anything mind-blowing, but it would definitely be... entertaining.

At least it wasn't gonna be some awkward silence while the "prodigies" in Class A read each other's moves like they were playing some high-stakes chess match. Nah, this was gonna be messy, chaotic, and probably hilarious to watch. And I'm all about that.

Ah, yeah. This is gonna be fun.

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