Break time had ended, and Class 1B settled in for their final lessons of the day. Xavier and Jupiter entered the classroom alongside their classmates, taking their seats as they waited for their next instructor. Today, they would be learning about the Ancient Rune Language.
The door creaked open, and the entire class gasped in unison. Standing before them was an elf.
For many students, this was their first time ever seeing an elf in person, let alone one who was teaching at their school. Whispers of awe spread across the room as the tall, elegant figure stepped forward.
The elf offered a polite smile and dipped her head in apology. "I must apologize for my tardiness," she said, her voice smooth yet firm. "I had a meeting with the school council."
She pushed back her long, dark-purple hair, tucking it behind one pointed ear before introducing herself. "My name is Faelwen Brightmind," she said. "I will be your instructor for this course, and I will be teaching you the fundamentals of the Ancient Rune Language."
As her gaze swept across the room, she froze the moment her eyes landed on Xavier. Her body stiffened, and a cold sweat formed on her brow.
Who on earth is he?
Her amethyst-colored irises began to glow, a telltale sign that her innate ability, the Eyes of Revelation, had activated. This power granted her the ability to see beyond the physical world, unveiling hidden truths invisible to ordinary eyes. Yet, as she peered at Xavier, she saw something far beyond what she had expected—something utterly terrifying.
Xavier lacked an ethereal core. That alone was strange, but what she glimpsed beyond that sent shivers down her spine. She quickly adjusted her glasses and steadied herself, trying to suppress her reaction before anyone noticed.
"Miss? Are you alright?" one of the students asked, noticing her unease.
Faelwen inhaled sharply and forced a reassuring smile. "Yes, I'm fine. Just a little tired, that's all." She wiped the lens of her glasses before composing herself and clearing her throat.
"Now then," she said, swiftly shifting focus back to the lesson. "Since this is your first time studying the Ancient Rune Language, I will begin by explaining its origins before we move on to practical applications."
She paused for a moment before continuing, "The Ancient Rune Language, also known as The Runes of Eldoria, is a conceptual language created by the Supreme Being, Dragon God Eldoria."
At the mention of the name, a hush fell over the room. The students leaned forward in anticipation.
"Eldoria, the Dragon God, was one of the two all-powerful creations of Origin," Faelwen explained. "He was also known as the Imperial Dragon King, the first dragon to ever exist, and the founder of the great Regaliath bloodline. His power was beyond mortal comprehension, possessing an ethereal core unlike any other—a colorless ethereal core, also known as the Zero Stage Core, surpassing even the Grand Herrschers."
A hand shot up. "Wait—you're saying there's a stage beyond a Grand Herrscher's pure-white core?!" a student asked, eyes wide in disbelief.
Faelwen nodded. "Yes. But only two entities are known to have reached such a stage—Dragon God Eldoria, the Supreme Being of Dragons, and Voidless, the Devourer of Dreams, the Supreme Being of Imagination. These two beings, possess an unparalleled strength, wielding the power of omnipotence itself".
Murmurs filled the classroom as the weight of her words sank in.
"Using his unmatched wisdom and power, Dragon God Eldoria created the Runes of Eldoria to help the Four Great Races refine their understanding of ethereal energy and enhance their abilities. Through this, they were able to develop the Seven Stages of the Ethereal Core."
A collective "Whoa..." escaped the students' lips as they absorbed the tale.
Faelwen smiled, pleased with their admiration. "Now, let's move on to why the Runes of Eldoria are essential. Not only do they allow you to better understand your abilities, but they are also one of the key factors in advancing your ethereal core."
She adjusted her glasses again before asking, "I assume Instructor Joshua has already taught you about the first method of progressing to higher core stages?"
The students nodded.
"Good. As you know, one must first be physically capable of withstanding the growth of their ethereal core. The Runes of Eldoria aid in refining the vast energy within, allowing for a more stable and controlled evolution of one's core. In other words, between each of the seven major core stages, there exists a refined sub-stage—a bridge to the next level."
The students scribbled furiously in their notebooks, eager to remember every detail.
"Now, let's move on to something more practical," Faelwen announced, setting down her chalk. "For the next exercise, we will test your current ethereal core stage using the Runes of Eldoria."
Excitement buzzed through the room.
"Before we begin, you must understand that runes are not just words or symbols," Faelwen continued. "They can also be expressed through mathematical equations and numerals."
Turning to the chalkboard, she wrote three words: Power, Formation, Reveal.
"Now, I want you all to recite this incantation together."
The students hesitated for a moment before following her instructions. As they spoke the words in unison, a soft, radiant glow appeared in their hands—an ethereal blue light hovering just above their palms.
Gasps of amazement filled the room.
Faelwen smiled knowingly. "That light you see is the ethereal force within your core. The fact that it shines blue means you are all in the Beginner Stage."
"This is incredible!" one student exclaimed, staring at the shimmering light in his palm.
"Yeah, this is so cool!" another added, eyes sparkling with excitement.
Miss Faelwen smirked proudly, satisfied with their enthusiasm. "This is only the beginning. If you continue to refine your understanding of the Runes of Eldoria, you will soon unlock even greater potential within yourselves."
Miss Faelwen moved gracefully around the classroom, her sharp eyes scanning the students as they marveled at the bright blue glow on their hands. Their expressions ranged from awe to quiet concentration, but as she reached Xavier's desk, her steps slowed.
She observed him carefully. The way his eyes gleamed with quiet satisfaction told her he was only just beginning to scratch the surface of his potential. Still, something about him gnawed at her instincts. Narrowing her gaze, she activated The Eyes of Revelation once more, peering deep into Xavier's very essence.
Her expression hardened.
Dragons may have an unmatched affinity for the Runes of Eldoria, she mused, but when it comes to ethereal energy and core manipulation, no race surpasses the elves.
Her thoughts grew sharper, more uneasy. We understand the ethereal core and its energy better than any other... But then, as she focused on Xavier, she felt an unfamiliar chill settle over her. This boy... No, I can't even call him a boy.
Sweat beaded at her brow. Her Eyes of Revelation revealed nothing where his ethereal core should have been. Instead, an endless, turbulent ocean of ethereal energy raged within him, vast and untamed.
Her stomach twisted.
This child is an anomaly. A freak of nature. Just like that Herrscher-born monster, Aleksander...
She tore her gaze away, swallowing hard. I can't believe those two monsters are related...
Miss Faelwen forced herself to regain composure and continued her inspection. As she approached Jupiter's desk, her breath hitched. Unlike the others, whose energy glowed in the standard beginner's blue, Jupiter's light burned a vibrant yellow.
Her lips parted slightly. Yellow? At his age?
Astonishment flickered across her face as she examined him. He's already at the intermediate stage... at just three years old?
Miss Faelwen cleared her throat. "Oh? I wasn't expecting to find an intermediate-level student in this class."
The room fell silent. The other students exchanged stunned glances before breaking into hushed whispers.
"What? Jupiter, I had no idea you were a genius!" Xavier blurted, his voice laced with excitement and disbelief.
Jupiter shifted in his seat, his cheeks reddening. "I... I didn't even know I was at the intermediate stage," he admitted sheepishly.
Xavier grinned. "That's amazing!"
Jupiter rubbed the back of his neck, laughing awkwardly, his embarrassment deepening under the attention.
Miss Faelwen watched their exchange with a small smirk. It seems this year's class is overflowing with prodigies...