Professor Haldrin, Origins and Authorities

Vesper was dreaming about falling endlessly through clouds when a faint knock echoed somewhere near his skull.

Another knock.

He groaned.

Then, a soft voice came to his ears.

"Wake up, young master."

His eyes opened. The sky was just starting to glow. For a moment, he hoped Nefeli had changed her mind and decided to let him sleep in the first day.

No such a luck.

She stood near the side of his bed, her expression as neutral as a library statue.

Vesper blinked up at her. "Is this what you meant by subtle?"

"You're awake."

"That's not the answer I wanted," he muttered, rolling onto his back and putting an arm over his eyes. "What time is it?"

"5 A.M"

"Great. Did the sun sign a contract with this academy or something?"

She didn't answer, but she was amused.

With a resigned sigh, Vesper swung his legs and sat up. His hair was a mess, and he was vaguely aware that he looked like someone who had been woken from a twenty-year coma.

Nefeli held out a folded uniform across both hands. "Your uniform."

The black overcoat was smooth and decorated with silver lining along the cuffs. A nine-pointed star was over the left side of the chest.

Vesper squinted his eyes. "Is that my uniform?"

"Not just you, young master, all the first years have this."

I didn't think they had a sense of fashion. This genuinely looks nice.

Still, he took the uniform and got dressed without much complaint. The fabric was surprisingly comfortable and light.

He glanced toward the mirror. His hair was still a bit of a disaster, but he shrugged.

"Acceptable?" he asked.

"You look pretty nice," Nefeli said.

Vesper blinked at her, then narrowed his eyes. "Was that... a compliment?"

"A statement."

"Uh...sure."

She turned toward the door. "Your schedule begins with Origin Theory. Let's go."

Vesper muttered something inaudible about early mornings and scheduling, then followed her out.

***

Soft lights hovered over the walkways. A few other first-years walked toward various buildings, all wearing the same black uniform. Some walked alone and others in groups. Everyone looked either half-asleep or too eager.

Vesper was somewhere in between.

They crossed a bridge toward the eastern wing. The main building loomed ahead, wide with large windows and towers.

Nefeli walked a step behind him now.

"Do I get a map," Vesper asked over his shoulder, "or are you just going to materialize every time I get lost?"

"Both are possible."

He laughed mockingly. "Right. Of course."

***

Classroom A was a wide lecture hall shaped like a semi-circle, with stone steps forming to the central podium. The walls were etched with luminous glyphs that pulsed faintly.

Students were still entering. A few already sat, heads down.

As Vesper stepped inside, everyone turned silent, just a little.

People noticed him. Being it for his rank or status as the son of the Grand Duke. Both were nothing to scoff at.

Some gave subtle glances and some didn't even acknowledged him.

A tall girl in the front row sccaned him from head to toe and raised an eyebrow. Vesper?

He ignored them all and found a seat somewhere in the middle.

Nefeli didn't follow him in of course. She just gave a short nod and closed the door behind her like a ghost or a bodyguard with excellent manners.

Vesper sat down and leaned back. He caught a guy two rows up whispering something while clearly motioning toward him.

He smiled faintly. First class of the year and I'm already famous... How tragic.

Moments later, a man entered the room in a deep brown robe decorated with blue symbols. He looked like he hadn't slept in three days.

"Welcome to Origin Theory Class," the man said. "I am Professor Haldrin. I don't care if you're tired. I don't care what your rank is. I care about two things, if you fall asleep and if you ask stupid questions."

He looked around the room.

"Now. Let's talk about things that you've already learnt from university." he said, looking at the twenty students. "Traditionally, the first class of the Origin Theory should be about the basics of Origins and their Authorities, because some of you might not know them fully. After all, not all of you have gone to university."

It was true. Attending the university was considered luxurious. While you can attend the academies freely if you get accepted, going to universities is not like that. You have to pay a huge amount of money.

Wealthy and influential families send their children to the universities for better foundation and understanding of power and mostly, political and strategic things. It's completely optional.

That's why most of the commoners lack strategic and political understandings, unlike nobles.

"Alright," Professor Haldrin said with a firm tone. "I'll explain the basics as clearly as possible. If you still don't get it, I suggest you visit the doctor on the third floor."

After a pause, he continued.

"We, unlike the lower races, are born with two souls. The first is what every living being possesses, the source of life itself. We call it Vita. Without it, we simply don't exist.

The second soul is what sets us apart, one not everyone is born with. It's the source of our power, the bridge between us and Primal Energy. We call it Essence."

He scanned the room to make sure they were following. "Essence is what allows us to use supernatural powers. But not all Essences are the same. Since birth, each person's Essence is marked with something unique. We call it an Origin.

An Origin defines the general nature of your powers. For example, Lunette Blake, currently the strongest among the first years, has the Moon Origin. That means her powers are under that category. She can't use powers from other Origins."

He stopped for some moments. Some students looked confused but said nothing.

Professor Haldrin nodded slightly, expecting the hesitation. "Now, for a long time, people thought that if you had an Origin, you could use all powers under that category. We now know that's not true. Each Origin is divided further into what we call Authorities. Think of them as the branches of a tree. You don't gain access to the whole tree at once, you start with a branch.

Again, take Lunette. She has the Moon Origin, but her Authority is Moonlight. That's the specific aspect of Moon-related power she can control. She can't yet use Illusion, which is another Authority under Moon Origin."

A brown-haired girl cautiously raised her hand. Haldrin nodded for her to speak.

"What exactly is a Principle?" she asked. "And you said she can't use other Authorities… yet?"

No one laughed. Even the noble students, who likely knew the answer, stayed respectful.

"Good question," Haldrin said, clearly prepared for it. "Let's talk about spells first. As you move through the Cycles ,stages of growth, you can use your Affinity better and stronger. Affinities are elemental or conceptual forces, like fire, wind, or gravity, that are not tied to your Origin. They're tools. You use them to create spells. Like a fireball or a tornado.

Now, Principles are different. Think of them as unique spells born directly from your Essence and Authority. They are rare, deeply personal, and extremely powerful. They awaken as you grow stronger, and they grow with you. Although you can gain them externally too, but that's for later.

Most Principles have large-scale effects or deep impact, and they're always tied to your Authority. So Lunette, with Moonlight Authority, had a Principle that uses Moonlight Authority in a way no one else can replicate."

He paused and smiled faintly.

"As for your second question…yes. Over time, it's possible to gain access to more Authorities within your Origin. How that happens… we'll cover that in a later class."

Professor Haldrin gave the class a moment to absorb what he had said before moving on.

"Now, let's talk briefly about the Cycles, since I mentioned them earlier. Each time your Essence reaches a certain threshold of strength and stability, you advance to a new Cycle. Think of them as milestones in your growth. Each one expanding your capacity to handle Primal Energy, control Affinities, and eventually unlock more of your Origin's potential.

The 1st Cycle is about awakening. You learn to sense and manipulate Primal Energy. The 2nd Cycle brings refinement. Your control improves, and your Essence starts generating stronger spells tied to your Authority. By the 3rd Cycle, some students begin to get their own Principles, though that's rare. Most don't awaken a Principle until the Fourth."

He gestured toward the window.

"Everything you do here in the academy is designed to help you progress through these Cycles, sharpen your spellwork, and deepen your connection with your Authority. That's why it's important to understand what you are, where your power comes from, and what limits you're working with."

A student in the back raised his hand. "Professor, what happens if someone tries to use a Principle from an Authority they don't have?"

Haldrin didn't hesitate. "Best case? It fails. Worst case? Your Essence destabilizes, and your Vita tears apart. That's not exaggeration…it has happened before."

Most of the students except that response.

Haldrin crossed his arms. "That's why patience is essential."

He glanced at the crystal clock on the wall.

"That'll be enough for today. Next class, we'll begin the practicals."

"Dismissed."