Arius von Korvis lost both his mother and father in separate accidents. After their deaths, he was raised under the care of his grandfather. From a very young age, it was decided that he would become the next heir of House Korvis—but this fact was kept hidden from the rest of the family.
The other members of the house believed they still had a chance to claim the position of heir. However, three months ago, Arius' grandfather, the patriarch of the Korvis family, publicly declared Arius as the successor. The announcement was met with outrage and resentment, but none could oppose the patriarch's word. They had no choice but to accept his decision.
This is the very reason why Arius' siblings despise him and plan to come after him within the academy. Many outside the family also doubt his capabilities, believing he was chosen as heir only because of his father's reputation and his pure bloodline.
Arius was exceptionally talented, having inherited his mother's affinity and traits. Yet behind his lineage lay a cruel truth—his grandfather was the very reason both his mother and father had met their untimely deaths. Despite knowing this, Arius chose to accept it in silence.
And now, Arius stood within the grounds of the Imperial Avalor Academy, his gaze unwavering, his purpose clear—to achieve everything that had been denied to him.
---
In the corridor, groups of second-year students were gathered, chatting casually about their vacations and the excitement of moving up a year. Among them, a few first- and third-year students also passed by, filling the hall with noise and laughter.
Ruby was walking with her friend when her eyes suddenly caught someone she hadn't expected to see again. A familiar figure—someone she had known long ago. Her heart skipped for a moment, and without hesitation, she stepped toward him.
The boy stood tall, his slim frame wrapped neatly in the academy uniform. His skin was pale and strikingly clear, his black hair falling gently across his forehead. With sharp features and a handsome face, he carried an air of calm dignity that made him stand out even in the crowded corridor.
Arius walked steadily through the corridor, his eyes scanning the plaques on the walls as he searched for his lecture room. The halls were noisy with students, second-years sharing stories of their vacations and first-years nervously trying to find their way.
A voice suddenly cut through the chatter.
"Hey! It's you, Arius!"
He noticed it but kept walking, his face calm, pretending not to hear.
Through the crowd came a girl with long red hair that reached her shoulders. Her height was modest, her steps firm as she pushed forward. Her eyes were sharp, focused only on him.
Ruby Scott.
She stopped in front of him, blocking his way. "Hey, do you remember me, Arius?"
He did. The memory of her face surfaced immediately—but he had no intention of showing it. His tone came out low and dismissive, the sort of tone only someone raised in nobility could carry.
"I don't think I know you."
Ruby crossed her arms, frowning. "You're lying. You remember me. You're just trying to ignore me—just like you always do."
For a moment, Arius stayed silent, his gray eyes narrowing slightly. Finally, he exhaled and slowed his pace. His expression softened only a little as he glanced at her.
"Well… fine. I do remember," Arius said at last.
Ruby's eyes brightened at the reply. At least he was speaking back to her. "I didn't think you'd join the academy. It's good to see you here! Maybe you'll even enjoy it."
She sounded genuinely happy, surprised even. Clearly, she hadn't expected to find Arius in the academy.
Arius, however, only listened in silence. His expression didn't change, and his thoughts wandered elsewhere. He wasn't here to build friendships or chase comfort. He was here because his grandfather had ordered it—nothing more. To him, Ruby's words were little more than noise.
Ruby kept talking, cheerful as always, while Arius ignored nearly every word. Two minutes later, another student approached—a tall girl with short blue hair and sharp, straightforward eyes.
"Ruby, the lecture's about to start. We're already late," she interrupted firmly.
Ruby blinked, then gave a small nod. "Right. I'm coming." She turned back to Arius and smiled. "We'll meet again later, okay?"
Without waiting for his answer, she walked off with her friend.
Arius watched them go, his gray eyes narrowing slightly. "Hopefully," he muttered under his breath, "we won't cross paths again."
"Hey Ruby, who were you talking to? A first-year student?" Jasmine asked as they walked toward the lecture hall.
Ruby smiled faintly. "Yeah.
"Korvis…?" Jasmine almost stopped in her tracks, surprise flickering in her blue eyes. The name alone carried weight. House Korvis was a name most only heard in rumors, not something you casually encountered in a hallway. "Wait—you actually know someone from that house? How? Did your family have some kind of connection with them?"
Ruby's tone softened, almost nostalgic. "Well, my father used to work for House Korvis as a financial administrator. That's how I met Arius back then… and we became friends."
Jasmine glanced at her with genuine curiosity. "You've never mentioned that before. Why didn't you tell anyone that your family was connected to House Korvis?"
Ruby just smiled, her red hair swaying as she shook her head lightly. "Because I never needed to."
Jasmine didn't press further, but she couldn't help feeling slightly charmed by Ruby's simple answer.
---
After the brief encounter with Ruby Scott, Arius made his way through the long corridor toward the first-year lecture room. The engraved plaque above the tall wooden doors read Lecture Hall I—the place he had been searching for.
He paused outside for a moment. Even from there, he could hear the voices spilling out from within. The sounds of new students—some chatting excitedly, others speaking nervously, their words filled with curiosity and anticipation.
With a quiet push,
The lecture hall was vast, almost like a miniature arena. Long rows of polished wooden desks stretched upward in tiers, each row offering space for dozens of students. High windows let sunlight pour in, illuminating the chatter-filled room.
Some students had already taken their seats, books and quills neatly placed before them. Others stood uncertainly in the aisles, scanning the hall as if deciding where they belonged. A few were loud and lively, forming quick friendships. Others sat quietly, carrying themselves with the composed air of maturity—observing rather than speaking.
The atmosphere was a mixture of excitement, nervousness, and ambition—everything Arius had expected from the empire's most prestigious academy.
He moved forward slowly, his blue eyes sweeping across the hall, searching for a place to sit.
Within a few minutes, most of the students had found their seats, the chatter slowly fading into scattered whispers.
Then, the heavy wooden doors of the lecture hall swung open. A woman stepped inside—a middle-aged professor, her steps firm and precise. She carried a small stack of pages in one hand, but it was not the papers that drew the students' attention.
The moment she entered, a wave of pressure filled the hall. It wasn't visible, but every first-year felt it pressing down on their shoulders—a silent reminder that the people standing at the front of this academy were on an entirely different level.
"Everyone," her voice rang sharp and commanding, "you have one minute to settle down. Sit quietly."
The room obeyed instantly. Conversations died, chairs scraped as the last few students hurried to their seats, and soon the entire lecture hall was silent. All of first-years sat upright, waiting for her next words.
When the hall finally grew silent, the professor let the quiet hang for a moment, her sharp eyes scanning across the rows of nervous faces. Then, she spoke clearly, her voice carrying to every corner of the vast chamber.
"Once again—welcome to the Imperial Avalor Academy."