Taeryun and Veyron walked along a narrow mountain trail leading toward a high hill. At first, their purpose was simple—to find a secluded place to forge a sword from the leg bone of a Dragon King.
But Veyron knew one thing.
Within the Imperial Academy of Aethelgard, there was a name absent from every official record…
yet whispered among seniors as the greatest blacksmith alive.
Taeryun kept talking, reminiscing about his days as an adventurer—how he had met Veyron, how his life had changed since then.
Veyron listened.
His expression remained cold. Flat.
Until his gaze caught sight of an old building standing atop the hill.
"Taeryun," Veyron said quietly, pointing toward it.
"Isn't that… the blacksmith?"
Taeryun turned. His expression shifted instantly into disbelief.
"No way," he replied quickly.
"That's just an abandoned building. You were fooled by the seniors, Veyron."
Veyron kept staring at it.
"Taeryun," he said again, "do you know about the Five Pillars?"
Taeryun frowned, then shook his head.
"No. What does that have to do with this?"
"I read about them in the library," Veyron replied.
"The Five Pillars maintain the balance of the world… and ensure the Academy does not collapse."
He paused.
"Each governs a natural element—fire, water, ice, earth, and wind."
"And according to one senior… one of the earth-element Pillars resides within this Academy."
Taeryun snorted softly.
"Sounds like a fairy tale."
Without realizing it, their conversation had carried them right in front of the old building.
The sound of hammer striking metal echoed outward.
Inside, a dwarf was forging metal, engulfed in flames of terrifying intensity.
Veyron stepped forward and bowed.
"Good morning," he said respectfully.
"I came to request the forging of a sword from this material. Would you be willing?"
The dwarf stopped hammering and turned around.
"I refuse," he said harshly.
"I do not forge weapons for Academy students. Leave."
Taeryun immediately grabbed Veyron's arm.
"Let's go," he whispered.
But Veyron calmly produced the Dragon King's leg bone.
The dwarf froze.
"Stop," he said slowly.
"Is that… truly a Dragon King's leg bone?"
"Yes," Veyron answered evenly.
"I will give you one. In return, forge a sword for me."
"Agreed."
The response came far too quickly.
Taeryun exhaled in relief.
"Finally. Let's head back, Veyron. Your weapon will be ready in a few days."
"Wait," Veyron said.
"I want to add something."
He revealed a sword forged from the heart of a Fire Dragon.
"I want my new blade to absorb half of this sword's power."
The dwarf narrowed his eyes.
"Very well. But before the forging…"
"The sword must be given a name."
Veyron stared at the Dragon King's bone.
"I name this sword—Eschatyr."
"And I am your master… Veyron."
The dwarf smiled faintly.
"Eschatyr Veyron," he murmured.
"A name the world will remember."
Veyron and Taeryun left.
The dwarf watched their retreating backs for a long time.
"Will this sword…"
"…throw the world into chaos?"
---
Imperial Academy of Aethelgard — Class 1A
Veyron sat at his desk, reading. He paid no attention to the noisy classroom—the laughter, chatter, and whispers passed him by as if they did not exist.
Suddenly, the classroom door opened.
The sound alone was enough to send every student back to their seats.
An instructor entered calmly. Walking just behind him was a girl, about ten years old.
Some students stared, captivated by her beauty. Others glanced once and lost interest.
The instructor stood at the front of the room.
"Alright, everyone," he said evenly. "Today, we have a transfer student. Please introduce yourself."
He gestured toward the girl beside him.
She took a small breath.
"Hello. My name is Serelya Florayne. I'm a new student here. It's nice to meet you all," she said, her voice slightly shy.
The instructor smiled faintly, satisfied, then looked toward a desk in the corner.
"Serelya, you'll sit next to Veyron."
"Yes, sir," Serelya replied politely, bowing before walking forward.
She made her way to Veyron's seat. Her blonde hair—nearly the same shade as his—and her calm expression drew glances once more.
She sat beside him and glanced at the book he was reading.
"Excuse me," Serelya said gently. "May I know your full name?"
Veyron turned his head. His gaze was cold, detached—she was little more than an interruption.
"If I tell you," he said calmly, "will you stay quiet?"
Serelya paused, then nodded.
Veyron closed his book briefly.
"My name is Veyron Aldrecht," he said.
"Of House Aldrecht. My father rules the Northern Territory."
He opened his book again.
"That's all. Keep your promise."
Serelya was about to speak again—
BAM!
BAM!
BAM!
The instructor struck the blackboard with chalk.
"Alright," he said firmly. "Let's begin."
The room fell silent. All eyes turned to the board as the lesson started.
---
One Hour Later — Class Dismissed
As students were still writing, the sound of the break bell echoed through the classroom. Chairs scraped back as students stood almost simultaneously.
The instructor exited. The atmosphere shifted instantly—some students began chatting, others headed for the cafeteria, while several prepared for the advanced class: strategy, patterns, and war formations.
Veyron stood after placing his book into his bag.
Serelya, who had been watching him, looked up with curiosity.
"Veyron, where are you going?" she asked softly, touching his arm.
Veyron turned.
"We have an advanced class," he said shortly.
"Strategy—patterns and battle formations. It's held every two days."
After a pause, he added, "You're new. Come along."
Serelya nodded without hesitation.
They left Class 1A together.
Several gazes followed them.
Whispers spread.
"He's insane… already close with the new girl on day one."
"Jealous? Same hair color, almost the same height. They actually look good together."
Veyron and Serelya ignored it all.
They reached the door of the advanced classroom when a voice called out from behind.
"Hey, Veyron! Why didn't you wait for me?"
Taeryun jogged up, waving.
Veyron stopped.
Serelya glanced at Taeryun, puzzled by their dynamic.
"Oh, right," Veyron said flatly.
"Serelya, this is Taeryun. My friend from before I entered the Academy."
"There were two of them, but one returned to his territory."
Serelya bowed politely.
"Hello. My name is Serelya Florayne. Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too," Taeryun replied cheerfully.
"Let's go in. I want to face Veyron again."
"This time, I'll win."
Veyron said nothing.
Serelya smiled faintly.
Before the door to the advanced classroom, the three of them stood—
each wearing a completely different expression.
---
Inside the Advanced Classroom
The atmosphere was different.
At the center of the room lay a large chessboard atop a stone table—not merely a game, but a small-scale battlefield. Each piece represented a unit. Every move carried the weight of life and death.
On the board behind them, the lesson remained written: Basic War Formations and Defensive-to-Offensive Transitions.
No one paid it any attention.
All eyes were fixed on the board.
And on the two standing before it—Veyron and Taeryun.
Cold sweat ran down Taeryun's temple.
He had only two pieces left.
On Veyron's side…
not a single piece had fallen.
Not because Veyron was overly aggressive—
but because he never left an opening.
Taeryun bit his thumb, staring at the board.
Then—
A small hand moved.
"Taeryun," Serelya said softly, without hesitation.
"The left pawn. Pull it back two squares."
She moved it.
"Then the pawn behind it—one square back. That creates layered defense."
Gasps spread among the students.
That wasn't random.
It was an active defensive maneuver—sacrificing space for time.
Veyron narrowed his eyes.
Interesting.
He moved his knight—two forward, one to the side.
A fast move. Immediate pressure.
Without lingering on the board, Serelya slid a soldier piece to the right.
"Three lateral squares…" a senior murmured.
"She's sealing the attack route."
The instructor held his breath.
This wasn't beginner chess.
This was warfare.
Serelya kept moving.
Back one.
Forward half.
Closing one path, opening another.
She wasn't trying to win.
She was trying to survive.
Veyron observed calmly—too calmly.
Then, without warning—
He advanced his entire front line.
One row forward.
Not an attack.
An encirclement.
Serelya froze.
Her chest tightened.
Her mind screamed: Defend.
Her instincts whispered: Strike now.
Too late.
Veyron looked at her—and smiled.
Not mockery.
The smile of someone who had already seen the end.
"Go on, Serelya," he said quietly.
"Why did you stop?"
Silence filled the room.
Serelya drew a deep breath.
Then—
She swept her pieces off the board.
CLATTER!
"I surrender," she said honestly.
"If I move now… I'm only choosing how I die."
The room went still.
The instructor stared at the board for a long moment—then closed his eyes.
Veyron looked at Serelya.
And for the first time…
He laughed.
Not cold.
Not mocking.
A short, warm laugh—like something frozen for ages had finally cracked.
"Hahaha…"
Everyone froze.
Taeryun snapped his head up.
Seraphyra stiffened.
Zephyron's eyes widened.
"…Wait," Taeryun muttered.
"Did he just… laugh?"
Veyron stopped.
He realized.
All eyes were on him.
Heat rose to his face.
Without a word, he turned—and left the classroom.
His steps were quick.
As if he had just committed the most embarrassing mistake…
and the most human one.
For the first time since being reborn—
Veyron Aldrecht forgot how to remain cold.
---
Volume One End.
---
OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT
Volume Two Begins.
Volume One has ended.
Not with an explosion—
but with laughter.
A single crack in the silence was enough
to shift the board.
Veyron Aldrecht is no longer moving alone.
What was once a personal anomaly
is now a variable the world must respond to.
In Volume Two: The World That Moves,
the stage widens.
Politics begin to breathe.
Power starts to negotiate.
Allies watch more carefully.
Enemies stop underestimating.
This is no longer about survival.
This is about position.
---
📖 Volume Two — Chapter One
🗓 Release Date: February 1st
The world is already in motion.
The question is simple:
Who's moving it—
and who's about to be crushed beneath it?