The next morning, the golden sun of Lavatorian bathed the marble streets in a soft, inviting glow. The city was alive with carriages, students in uniform, and banners fluttering with the crest of Lavatorian Academy — the continent's most prestigious institute for mages and warriors alike.
Sam stood at its massive gates, staring up at the towering spires. The architecture seemed to hum faintly with energy — an ancient resonance that tugged at something deep within him.
So this is the Academy… the place where it all begins.
Arvane's carriage had brought him there, though the Duke himself had given the final words personally. "You'll be joining my daughter, Lucy, in her class. Consider it both protection and… companionship," he had said, smiling faintly.
Sam understood what he meant. Arvane wasn't only rewarding him — he was ensuring Lucy had someone trustworthy beside her. And perhaps… hoping they'd grow closer.
Lucy greeted him with a gentle smile as they entered the academy together. "It feels strange to be back," she admitted softly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. Her skin had regained its color, her divine energy now calm and steady — though her eyes still carried a trace of fragility.
"You look much better," Sam said sincerely.
Lucy blushed faintly. "It's because of you. I owe you more than I can ever repay."
Sam shook his head. "You don't owe me anything."
Their steps echoed through the great marble halls, lined with portraits of legendary alumni heroes, archmages, and scholars of ancient lore. Everywhere they went, whispers followed.
"Is that the Duke's daughter?"
"She was said to be dying just a week ago…"
"And who's the boy with her?"
"I heard he's just a commoner — a nobody."
Sam ignored them, but Lucy's expression tightened. She opened her mouth to say something when a group of students blocked their way.
The one in front, tall and broad-shouldered, smirked. "So it's true — the Duke brought in
a stray to sit beside his daughter."
Lucy frowned. "Gareth, step aside. He's my guest and a student now."
Gareth laughed, his companions echoing him. "Guest or not, this is Lavatorian Academy. We don't let weaklings waltz in just because they got lucky." He turned his gaze on Sam. "If you want to be here, prove it. Duel me."
Sam sighed. "I'm not interested in fighting."
That only made Gareth's grin widen. "Of course not. Cowards never are."
Lucy stepped forward, her divine aura flaring faintly. "Enough…"
But before she could finish, a sharp voice cut through the corridor.
"That's enough, Gareth."
Every student turned instantly. Two figures stood at the end of the hall — both radiant, commanding, and unmistakably royal.
The first was tall, graceful, and sharp-eyed, her hair the color of midnight silk tied neatly behind her back. The second was slightly shorter, with bright golden hair and eyes that shimmered like molten amber.
Whispers exploded among the students.
"The Third Princess… Princess Arin!"
"And the Second Princess… Princess Lyra!"
The two royal siblings walked forward, their presence alone enough to silence the crowd.
Arin's cold gaze settled on Gareth. "Challenging a new student, and one under Duke Arvane's protection no less? Are you trying to insult one of the Seven Great Families?"
Gareth paled instantly. "N-no, Your Highness, I.."
"Then leave," Lyra said gently, though her tone left no room for argument. "Before you embarrass yourself further."
The group scattered in seconds, vanishing down the hall.
Lucy sighed in relief. "Thank you, Your Highnesses."
Lyra smiled warmly. "Lucy, it's good to see you walking again. We were all worried."
Arin's gaze shifted to Sam, studying him with quiet intensity. "So, you're the one who healed her."
Sam nodded slightly. "Yes, Your Highness."
Her eyes narrowed for a fraction of a second, almost as if testing him. "Interesting. Few could touch a divine curse and live, let alone break it."
Sam didn't respond — her words felt more like an assessment than praise.
Lyra, however, broke the tension with a cheerful smile. "Don't mind my sister. She's just curious. I'm Lyra, by the way — second princess of the empire. It's nice to meet you."
Sam offered a polite bow. "Sam. Thank you for intervening."
Lyra waved her hand playfully. "Oh, that's nothing. Around here, picking fights is practically a sport. But not everyone deserves your time."
Arin crossed her arms, still observing. "Duke Arvane has a keen eye. You'll do well to stay close to his daughter — both for your sake and hers."
With that, the sisters turned and walked
away, their guards following quietly.
Lucy looked at Sam with an apologetic smile. "I'm sorry about that. Not everyone is kind here. The academy… can be cruel."
Sam smiled faintly. "I've seen worse."
Their first class began shortly after, inside a vast amphitheater filled with students of all races and backgrounds. Crystal panels floated midair, displaying magical symbols and historical diagrams.
The instructor — an elderly mage with eyes glowing faintly blue — welcomed them with a stern tone. "Welcome, students, to your first day of Advanced Arcane Theory. You are Lavatorian's finest — act like it."
Sam took a seat beside Lucy. As the lesson began, his attention drifted — not to the class, but to the faint hum of energy beneath the floor. The academy wasn't just a school… it was built on ancient magic, layers of enchantments older than the empire itself.
He whispered softly to himself, "So even this place hides its secrets."
Lucy glanced at him curiously. "Did you say something?"
Sam shook his head and smiled. "Just… thinking."
Outside, beyond the academy walls, banners were already being prepared — crimson and gold, emblazoned with symbols of competition.
In three months' time, the Celestian Trials would return — and with them, the destiny of every student who dared to chase forbidden truths.
The evening sun bathed the academy's towers in shades of amber and crimson, and within the royal residence wing, two sisters sat in silence.
Princess Arin Veloria, the Third Princess, was standing near the balcony, her eyes following the horizon where Lavatorian's skyline kissed the heavens. Her arms were folded, her posture calm — but her eyes sharp, cold, calculating.
Behind her, Princess Lyra, radiant and full of warmth, poured tea with a serene grace that masked her curiosity. "You've been quiet ever since the encounter with that boy," she said finally, handing a cup to her sister. "You're thinking about him, aren't you?"
Arin didn't turn around. "Sam," she said slowly, as though testing the sound of his name. "Yes. There's something about him that doesn't fit."
Lyra tilted her head. "You mean his strength? His ability to sense us, perhaps? Not even trained knights can sense my aura."
Arin nodded. "That too… but it's more than that. His presence felt like a contradiction — light and dark intertwined, neither one dominating. When I looked into his eyes, it was as though the shadows themselves were watching me back."
Lyra frowned slightly, her playful tone softening. "You think he's dangerous?"
"I think," Arin said, setting her teacup down, "he's unnatural."
Silence lingered for a moment. Outside, the wind carried the distant laughter of students and the hum of magical wards circling the academy. Lyra finally smiled, though her eyes carried a spark of concern. "Unnatural or not, he saved Lucy. And Duke Arvane is no fool — if he trusts Sam, then perhaps he sees something worth protecting."
Arin looked thoughtful, her gaze fixed on the moon that had begun to rise. "Or something worth controlling," she murmured under her breath.
The next day, the academy was abuzz with anticipation.
It was the day of the First Magical Evaluation a test that determined the strength, nature, and affinity of every new student's mana. The Grand Courtyard shimmered with enchantments as dozens of crystal pillars floated midair, each radiating a faint glow. Professors and students surrounded the area, excitement rippling through the crowd.
Lucy stood beside Sam, a reassuring smile on her face. "Don't be nervous. It's just a formality. The crystal measures your magical affinity and element — nothing to worry about."
Sam nodded, though his gaze lingered on the pillars pulsing with arcane energy. A test that reveals what kind of power I hold… he thought grimly. That's a problem.
The voice in his head, faint and ancient, whispered softly:
You can deceive them, child. The darkness within you is adaptable. Mask it with light… as you did with the girl.
Sam took a deep breath. "Right. Mask it with light."
The instructor, Master Rynn, an elderly man with silver hair and piercing blue eyes, stood at the front with a scroll. "Each of you will approach the resonance crystal, channel your mana into it, and release a small burst. The color, heat, and intensity will reveal your core element and class potential."
The students stepped forward one by one — bursts of red, blue, green, and white filled the air, each color representing flame, water, wind, and light. When Princess Lyra took her turn, the crystal ignited with roaring crimson fire. The flames rose like serpents, dancing with power so intense it scorched the ground beneath her feet.
"The royal bloodline of the Flame Emperor," the instructor announced proudly. "Unmatched as always."
The students applauded. Lyra smiled gracefully and returned to her place, but her eyes flickered briefly toward Sam — curious, expectant.
Finally, it was Sam's turn.
He walked slowly to the center, the crowd murmuring softly. Some students still saw him as an outsider, others whispered about the rumors — the commoner who healed the Duke's daughter.
"Begin when ready," Master Rynn said, his tone neutral.
Sam extended his hand. For a brief second, nothing happened. Then — faint golden sparks began to shimmer between his fingers. The air grew heavy, vibrating with unseen force.
The sparks multiplied, swirling together like liquid sunlight — and then, in an instant, they ignited.
A golden flame erupted from his palm, swirling upward like a divine inferno. It didn't burn with heat, but with presence — majestic, untamed, and pure. The light was so bright that several students shielded their eyes. The resonance crystals, instead of merely glowing, began to crack, unable to contain the power pouring out of Sam's mana.
Gasps echoed through the courtyard.
"W-What is that?"
"It's not normal fire — it's… it's alive!"
"The color — I've never seen anything like it!"
Even Lyra, whose flame lineage was unmatched, felt a strange sensation — her own fire trembled faintly, as though bowing to a superior element.
Master Rynn stumbled back, eyes wide with disbelief. "Golden flame… that's— that's impossible. Such a reaction hasn't occurred in centuries."
The flame twisted and expanded, taking the faint outline of wings before fading into shimmering embers that rained down like starlight.
Sam lowered his hand slowly, his expression calm, though his heart was racing. The moment the flame vanished, he felt the pulse of the darkness inside him receding — barely contained beneath that golden glow.
So this is the fusion, he thought. Light masking darkness… balance within chaos.
The silence in the courtyard was deafening. No one spoke for several long seconds, until Lyra finally stepped forward, her voice soft but steady.
"That flame," she said, eyes fixed on Sam, "is not of this world."
Arin, watching from the upper terrace beside the instructors, folded her arms. "He's hiding something," she whispered.
But Headmaster Grey, who stood behind her, smiled faintly. "Indeed he is," he murmured. "And whatever it is… it might just change the fate of this era.
As the crowd erupted into murmurs and disbelief, Sam turned away quietly, his expression unreadable. Lucy rushed to his side, her eyes wide with awe.
"That was… incredible. I've never seen anything like it!" she said.
Sam smiled faintly. "Neither have I."
Yet deep down, he knew — that golden light wasn't just magic. It was a reflection of something ancient, something born from the unholy union of light and shadow… a power that neither gods nor demons were meant to wield.
And as the sun set behind the academy's towers, casting long shadows across the courtyard, one thing was certain — Sam's true journey had just begun.