Chapter 1 — The Boy Beneath the Ashes

*Rain fell endlessly over Astralis.*

The floating city glowed beneath storm clouds, magical lights reflecting across silver bridges and crystal towers suspended above the sky. Airships drifted through the darkness while students in black academy uniforms hurried toward the massive gates of Eclipse Magic Institute.

Lee Eden stood alone beneath the entrance arch.

Cold.

Wet.

Nervous.

“You’re blocking the way.”

A noble student shoved past him carelessly.

Eden quickly lowered his gaze. “Sorry.”

First-years streamed into the academy with excitement and pride, but Eden felt painfully out of place. Most students came from wealthy mage families with powerful bloodlines.

He came from the slums beneath Astralis.

A scholarship student.

Average mana.

Average grades.

Nothing special.

The silver badge on his uniform marked him as low-ranking immediately.

Some students whispered when they passed him.

“Scholarship trash.”

“His mana level is barely C-rank.”

“How did someone like him even get accepted?”

Eden ignored them.

He was used to it.

Still, hearing those words inside the most prestigious academy in the world stung more than he wanted to admit.

That evening, after classes ended, Eden worked part-time cleaning old alchemy rooms in the western tower. The corridors were silent except for distant thunder rumbling outside.

He sighed while stacking books onto dusty shelves.

“Why is this place so huge…”

Suddenly—

A pulse of magic exploded through the room.

Blue fire erupted from an unstable alchemy circle beneath the floor.

Eden’s eyes widened.

“What the—?!”

BOOM.

Shelves collapsed instantly.

Glass shattered.

Pain shot through his shoulder as debris slammed him against the ground.

Smoke filled the room.

Eden coughed violently, trapped beneath broken wood and books.

“Damn it…”

Footsteps echoed nearby.

Slow.

Calm.

The smoke parted slightly.

A tall figure walked through the flames as if fire itself obeyed him.

Black uniform.

Silver insignia.

Cold crimson eyes.

Kang Kael Draven.

The student council president.

The strongest mage in Eclipse Academy.

Every student knew him.

And every student feared him.

Kael glanced down at the wreckage blankly.

“…Pathetic.”

With one movement of his hand, flames spiraled through the air and lifted the debris away from Eden effortlessly.

Eden stared up at him breathlessly.

Kael looked even more terrifying up close.

Beautiful in an almost unfair way.

Sharp jawline.

Dark hair falling over piercing eyes.

The scent of smoke and expensive cologne clinging to his uniform.

“You’re weak,” Kael said calmly.

Eden winced.

“…Thanks for saving me too.”

For a second, silence filled the room.

Then—

Kael laughed quietly.

Not loudly.

Not warmly.

But enough to shock Eden completely.

“You’re interesting,” Kael murmured.

Before Eden could respond, Kael turned and walked away through the smoke without another word.

Leaving Eden’s heartbeat completely ruined.

The next morning became hell.

Because somehow…

Kael Draven kept appearing everywhere.

In the cafeteria.

At the library.

Outside classrooms.

Even during combat training.

Eden gripped his practice staff nervously while students gathered around the training arena.

Professor Ilya crossed her arms. “Today’s combat simulation will test mana control.”

Students paired off immediately.

Eden prayed silently not to embarrass himself.

Then the professor announced—

“Lee Eden versus Kang Kael Draven.”

The entire arena went silent.

“…What?” Eden whispered.

Several students burst into laughter.

“Poor guy.”

“He’s dead.”

Kael stood across from him calmly, one hand inside his pocket.

Eden swallowed hard.

“Please don’t kill me.”

Kael’s lips curved slightly.

“No promises.”

The signal bell rang.

Instantly, flames exploded across the arena floor.

Students gasped.

Kael didn’t even chant spells.

His magic obeyed naturally.

Eden barely dodged in time.

Heat burned past his face.

“What kind of monster is he—?!”

Kael watched him carefully instead of attacking again.

Almost like he was studying him.

“Fight back,” Kael said.

“I’m trying not to die!”

More laughter echoed around them.

Eden’s embarrassment boiled over.

Fine.

If everyone already thought he was weak—

He raised his trembling hands.

Silver mana burst violently through the arena.

The ground cracked beneath his feet.

Every student froze.

Even Kael’s expression changed slightly.

Because Eden’s mana…

Should not have been that powerful.

For a brief second, strange glowing symbols spread across the arena floor.

Ancient.

Forbidden.

Then the magic vanished instantly.

Eden stumbled backward in shock.

The arena fell silent.

Kael stared at him intensely.

Not fearfully.

Hungrily.

Interested.

Like he had just discovered something dangerous.

And from that moment onward—

Kael Draven never took his eyes off him again.

...To Be Continue.........

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