Ronan left Mindward Tower with the lecture still echoing in the back of his mind. By the time he returned to his dorm, the sky outside had already darkened, the academy grounds washed beneath deep blue evening light. The day's exhaustion clung to his body like a wet cloth. His shoulders ached, his legs felt strangely heavy, and even his thoughts had slowed into a sluggish crawl.
He pushed the dorm door open and stepped inside, releasing a long breath through his nose.
"What a long day..."
The quiet room welcomed him with stillness. No voices. No movement. Just the faint rustle of curtains shifting near the window and the distant murmur of wind brushing through the academy trees.
Ronan dropped himself onto the edge of the bed and rubbed his eyes. His fingers brushed against the silver storage ring around his hand.
Immediately, a crystal orb floated out.
Soft crimson light spilt across the room.
The orb hovered before him, slowly rotating in the air. Inside it, several glowing crimson cores pulsed rhythmically, each heartbeat of light followed by delicate strands of red energy trailing behind them like miniature comets circling a dying star.
Ronan narrowed his eyes.
"What the hell is this thing...?"
He leaned forward.
The red glow reflected in his pupils as he turned the orb slowly in his hand.
"It even looks stronger than that golden one..."
The pulsing energy inside seemed alive somehow. Dense. Ancient.
He stared at it for a while, lips pressing together.
Then his expression twisted.
"If I absorb its essence..." he muttered, "...then I won't be able to absorb new flame types afterwards."
His finger tapped against the crystal surface.
"And even if I do use it..." he continued bitterly, "...my innate flame won't be able to use it immediately anyway."
He dropped backwards onto the bed, holding the orb above his face.
"The Primordial Flame Core doesn't contain a flame—it carries its essence."
The words felt irritating,g even coming out of his own mouth.
"Three... maybe four months before it stabilises."
Silence.
Then—
"Damn it!"
He sat up violently and ran both hands through his hair until it stood in uneven directions.
"Aaaaah, this is so annoying!"
He glared at the orb as if it had personally offended him.
"I want my innate flame to become stronger now—not after waiting an entire season!"
The room swallowed his complaint.
No response.
No magical revelation.
No hidden old master descending from the heavens to solve his problems.
Just him and a stupidly valuable treasure sitting in his hands.
Ronan stared at it for a few more seconds before finally groaning in surrender.
"...Forget it."
He placed the Primordial Flame Core carefully on the table beside his bed.
"I'll give it to Amara, ma'am, tomorrow."
His shoulders loosened slightly.
"Let her decide."
He extinguished the room lights and dropped into bed face-first.
The mattress dipped beneath him. The softness felt heavenly after the day's endless walking and mental exhaustion.
Within moments, his breathing steadied.
Moonlight filtered through the curtains, painting silver patterns across the room.
Everything grew still.
Then an hour later—
Something moved.
Two tiny wisps emerged silently from Ronan's chest.
One glowed crimson.
The other silver.
They floated upward slowly, almost cautiously.
The crimson one flickered sharply, burning with restless energy. The silver one moved differently, smooth and ghostlike, drifting without urgency.
Together, they floated toward the table.
Toward the Primordial Flame Core.
The crystal orb suddenly trembled.
Then rose into the air.
Thin crimson threads stretched outward from the core like strands of silk.
The two wisps froze.
Then instantly lunged.
Crimson and silver light collided around the orb.
Neither made a sound.
No explosions.
No waves of power.
Only two tiny lights pulling greedily at the same source as crimson energy began pouring into them.
Back and forth.
Back and forth.
Like two silent rivals locked in an argument neither intended to lose.
—
Morning arrived.
Warm sunlight slipped across Ronan's face.
"Mnn..."
Ronan frowned and slowly opened his eyes.
For some reason, his body felt heavier than usual. Not painful exactly.
Just... drained.
He stretched lazily and yawned.
"Today's the start of the hunting competition..."
His eyes wandered toward the table.
Then stopped.
His yawn died halfway.
He blinked.
Then sat upright.
"...What?"
The crystal orb sat exactly where he'd left it.
But the glowing crimson core inside—
Was gone.
No.
Not gone.
Dead.
The once brilliant crimson light had completely disappeared, leaving behind only a dull, lifeless shell.
Ronan stared.
His mind blanked for several seconds.
"...What?"
He rubbed his eyes hard.
Looked again.
Still there.
Still dead.
"What the hell?"
Instantly, he thrust out his palm.
"Come out."
Nothing happened.
Ronan frowned.
His heart skipped.
"...No response?"
Cold unease crawled across his spine.
"No, no, no..."
He tried again.
Purple flames burst into life.
Then icy white flames appeared beside them.
Even the wisp floated lazily above his palm, swaying in circles as if nothing unusual had happened.
But—
No Crimson Flame.
No Ghost Flame.
The space where they should have appeared remained empty.
Ronan stared at his hand.
A strange silence settled inside his chest.
Then realisation slowly surfaced.
"...Did those idiots..."
He blinked.
"...absorb the Primordial Core?"
He stared harder at the floating wisp.
The wisp spun once.
Innocently.
Ronan narrowed his eyes.
"Both of you have consciousness..."
He rested his chin in his hand.
"...did you seriously fight over it?"
The little wisp continued drifting around as it had absolutely no idea what he was talking about.
Ronan stared for a few more seconds.
Then sighed.
What was he supposed to do now?
Scold fire?
He dragged a hand across his face.
"...Well. Not much I can do about it now."
The sound of running water soon filled the dorm room.
After a quick bath, the heaviness in his body eased somewhat.
He changed into fresh hunting gear and swapped his usual storage ring with an empty one.
Weapons.
Tools.
Emergency supplies.
He packed carefully, checking everything twice.
Knife.
Rations.
Rope.
Extra tools.
Satisfied, he nodded.
"Ready."
Knock. Knock.
Ronan looked toward the door.
"Coming!"
He opened it.
Samantha and Kairos stood outside.
Morning sunlight spilt over them from behind.
"Good morning," Ronan said with a small smile.
"Morning," both replied.
Samantha folded her arms and tilted her head slightly.
"Want to head to the hunting grounds together?"
"Sure."
As they walked through the academy pathways, students moved around them in groups. Excited conversations drifted through the air.
Ronan glanced sideways toward Kairos.
"Who's on your team?"
Kairos answered immediately.
"Liora Viridion and Dain Viridion."
"Ah."
Ronan nodded slowly.
"Both from the Viridion clan, huh?"
Samantha suddenly nudged him with her elbow and smirked.
"You're not really interested in the competition, are you?"
Ronan looked at her.
"So? What are you and Orin planning?"
Ronan scratched his cheek and laughed awkwardly.
"Well... Orin found a unique monster."
"Unique?"
"We're going to check it out."
Samantha's smile faded slightly.
"Ooooh..." She looked at him carefully. "Don't do anything reckless."
Ronan laughed.
"When have I ever—"
Both Samantha and Kairos looked at him silently.
Ronan stopped speaking.
"...Okay, that's fair."
Soon, the academy's outer training grounds came into view.
A massive portal stood ahead, humming with dense Aether.
The surrounding air rippled faintly as students disappeared into it one after another.
Samantha pointed toward it.
"That portal leads directly into the hunting zones."
Just then, two figures approached.
One boy.
One girl.
Kairos straightened slightly.
"This is Dain Viridion."
The boy nodded.
"And..." Kairos hesitated.
His ears turned slightly red.
Ronan slowly looked at him.
Kairos gestured toward the girl.
"This is Liora Viridion."
Liora smiled softly.
"They're my teammates."
Then Kairos turned.
"This is Samantha, my elder sister."
"And this is my brother, Ronan."
Greetings were exchanged politely.
Ronan smiled casually.
Dain smiled back.
Liora smiled too.
But for the briefest moment—
Ronan caught it.
A tiny flicker in their eyes.
Disdain.
Gone almost instantly.
He narrowed his eyes slightly.
Interesting.
As they walked away, Ronan leaned toward Samantha.
"Hey."
"Hm?"
He tilted his head toward Kairos and Liora.
"...Something going on there?"
Samantha followed his gaze.
Then a grin slowly spread across her face.
"Mmm."
She nodded dramatically.
"I think they like each other."
Ronan stared.
Then looked back toward Kairos.
Kairos was trying to act normal while stealing occasional glances at Liora.
Ronan smirked.
"Well then..."
He folded his arms.
"My brother has a very long road ahead."
Samantha suddenly looked at him with dangerous amusement.
"Speaking of which..."
Ronan immediately felt warning bells.
"...what?"
"Don't you think it's time you found someone, too?"
Ronan looked at her.
Then looked away.
"Do you think so?" he said with a laugh. "I'm not interested in that right now."
He shrugged.
"But maybe someday."
"Ooooh."
Samantha's grin widened.
"Should I introduce you to Lyra then?"
Ronan's eyes twitched.
"I still remember how your eyes were glued—"
"If you don't stop teasing me," Ronan interrupted immediately, narrowing his eyes, "next time you sleep, you'll wake up with half your hair gone."
Samantha blinked.
Then burst into laughter.
"Oh?"
She leaned closer.
"You mean like last time?"
Ronan froze.
"When you actually cut my hair in half?"
Ronan's face stiffened.
"And Father Matthias scolded you so badly that afterwards you hid in my lap, ap crying?"
"..."
"..."
Ronan looked forward silently.
Then groaned.
"Aaaand I'm not talking to you anymore."
He stepped straight into the portal.
Behind him, Samantha's laughter followed.
She watched his disappearing figure and shook her head, smiling softly.
"He never changes."
For a moment, her expression lingered.
Warm.
Quiet.
Then she stepped into the portal after him.
As they stepped out of the shimmering portal, Ronan blinked several times against the sudden wash of light, his eyes narrowing as the world before him settled into focus.
He had expected preparation grounds. Maybe rows of waiting students, instructors barking orders, the usual tense atmosphere before a competition.
Instead—
A massive stage stood at the centre of an open plaza, polished stone gleaming beneath drifting strands of magical light. Floating screens hung overhead, suspended in the air like sheets of liquid glass, rippling with soft blue radiance. On either side stretched rows of vibrant stalls packed with people. Students moved through them in clusters, voices overlapping into a constant hum of bargaining and laughter.
Weapons caught the light with metallic flashes. Crystal vials filled with colored liquids clinked together. Maps, enchanted tools, talismans, armour pieces—everywhere Ronan looked, someone was selling something.
And beneath it all—
The smell hit him.
Roasted meat dripping fat onto open flames. Fresh bread dusted with spices. Sweet fruit glaze. Smoke and seasoning curled through the air and wrapped around him like invisible fingers.
Ronan stared.
"...This feels more like a fair than a competition."
Samantha folded her arms beside him, unsurprised by his reaction.
"It basically is." She nodded toward the crowded stalls. "The materials you don't want to submit for points can be sold or traded here."
Ronan's gaze followed a student proudly showing off some glowing herb to another group.
"Huh."
His brows slowly furrowed.
"I don't know..." He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "I feel like Orin should be handling this kind of thing."
Samantha released a long sigh and pinched the bridge of her nose.
"You really don't know, do you?"
"Hm?"
"Even teachers participate in buying and exchanging here."
Ronan's head snapped toward her.
"...Now that is interesting."
His eyes lit up.
Samantha immediately narrowed her own.
"No."
Ronan blinked innocently.
"No, what?"
She pointed a finger directly at his face.
"Don't you start scheming with that little scammer brain of yours."
Ronan placed a hand dramatically over his chest, looking wounded.
"Hey, hey! When did your little brother become a scammer?"
Samantha stared at him.
Ronan stared back.
"..."
"..."
She turned away.
"I'm not entertaining that."
Ronan clicked his tongue.
Cold.
Far too cold.
Then Samantha suddenly pointed ahead.
"Look, there's Amara, ma'am. Let's go."
Ronan shrugged and followed after her without complaint, though his eyes still wandered from stall to stall.
Unfortunately, before they got far—
"Good morning, Samantha."
The voice cut through the crowd.
Ronan looked up.
A tall young man stepped into their path.
His clothing was expensive without being excessive. Fine dark fabric embroidered with silver patterns traced the edges of his cloak, and a crest rested over his chest—something noble, judging from the quality alone. His posture was straight, his smile polished, every movement carrying the effortless confidence of someone accustomed to status.
Everything about him looked perfect.
Too perfect.
Ronan immediately disliked him.
Beside him, Samantha's steps slowed almost imperceptibly.
"Good morning, Soren."
Her voice remained polite.
But Ronan noticed the slight tightening near her jaw.
Soren's eyes shifted past her and landed on Ronan as if noticing him for the first time.
"Is this boy bothering you?"
The air cooled.
Samantha's eyes sharpened.
"He's my brother."
Soren blinked.
"I thought your brother was Kairos?"
He gestured toward the distance where Kairos stood examining weapons with complete focus, seemingly oblivious to the world around him.
"I have another brother," Samantha replied flatly.
Something shifted in Soren's expression.
No surprise.
Displeasure.
"You mean..." His gaze travelled over Ronan slowly. "The boy from the orphanage? The one with a single element?"
Ronan felt his brows twitch.
"How in the hell did he get into the academy? What happened while I was gone for two years?" He frowned slightly as if trying to remember. "What was his name again?"
Ronan stood right there.
Right.
There.
The man wasn't even trying.
For a moment, Ronan simply stared at him.
Then he smiled slightly.
Ah.
One of those types.
Beside him, Samantha stepped forward.
"You don't need to know his name."
Her voice had gone cold enough that even Ronan glanced at her.
Soren opened his mouth.
Samantha didn't give him the chance.
She grabbed Ronan's wrist and walked away.
No—
Dragged him away.
Ronan stumbled once before matching her pace.
"Who was that?" he asked quietly.
Samantha kept walking.
Her grip hadn't loosened.
"You don't need to know."
Ronan looked at the side of her face.
The smile she'd worn earlier was gone.
Her eyes burned with something hard.
"Stay away from him and his cronies." Her voice dropped lower. "Do you understand?"
Ronan blinked.
"...Okay."
Her reaction caught him off guard more than Soren had.
Several moments passed.
Then Samantha drew a slow breath.
The tension in her shoulders eased slightly.
"He's not a good man." Her fingers loosened around his wrist. "I'll explain later."
Ronan looked down briefly where she'd been holding him.
Then back up at her.
"...Okay."
Behind them, Soren watched them disappear into the crowd.
His mouth twisted.
"A few more months, Samantha."
His eyes followed her figure.
"You'll be mine."
The look in his eyes felt less like affection and more like ownership.
Like someone staring at something they believed already belonged to them.
As they approached Amara, Samantha's expression shifted.
Ronan watched it happen.
Like a mask slipping neatly back into place.
The tension vanished.
A smile appeared.
Warm. Natural.
Almost as if nothing had happened.
"Good morning, Ma'am."
"Good morning," Ronan added politely.
Amara looked up from the documents in her hands and gave them a nod.
"Morning, you two."
Ronan glanced around once before asking,
"Ma'am, didn't Lady Ishulane come today?"
"She's occupied with something." Amara tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "She'll join us later."
"Oh." Ronan nodded. "Okay then."
He looked toward the distant crowd.
"Then I'll head out."
Samantha immediately reached over and touched his arm.
"Remember." Her eyes narrowed slightly. "Don't do anything reckless."
Ronan stared at her.
Then slowly smirked.
"Me? Reckless?"
He pointed at himself.
"Never."
Samantha looked entirely unconvinced.
Ronan walked off before she could say anything else.
Amara watched him leave before raising an eyebrow.
"That brat is actually participating?"
"Yes."
Samantha's smile widened slightly.
Amara groaned.
"Oh, come on. That brother of yours really knows how to get under my skin." She crossed her arms. "I wanted him on my team."
Samantha laughed softly.
"He didn't even want to participate at first."
"Hm?"
"He didn't like the competition format." She glanced toward Ronan's retreating figure. "But Orin baited him with interesting monster information."
Amara snorted.
"You know how curious Ronan gets."
Amara stared silently for a moment.
Then sighed.
"I bet Gideon and Alden had something to do with this."
She looked toward the far side of the plaza.
There, Gideon and Alden sat with complete ease, lounging in their seats like kings observing peasants below.
Amara's eye twitched.
Her fingers curled.
"Tsk."
Meanwhile—
Ronan found Orin standing beside a stall.
"Did you find anyone else?" he asked.
Orin shook his head.
"No."
He looked mildly irritated.
"Everyone declined."
Ronan shrugged.
"Then the two of us will be enough."
He spoke so casually that Orin looked at him.
Ronan didn't seem concerned in the slightest.
"Did you bring an extra storage ring?"
"No." Orin frowned. "Why?"
Ronan folded his arms.
"We'll hunt that monster you mentioned while our clones gather herbs."
He looked toward the surrounding stalls.
"We're going to need space."
Orin stared at him for a second.
Then nodded.
"...Not a bad idea."
He immediately headed toward a nearby stall and bought a low-grade storage ring.
Before they could continue talking, a powerful voice suddenly thundered across the entire area.
"All participants, gather around!"
The sound rolled through the air, strengthened by magic.
Conversations died instantly.
Heads turned.
Students began moving toward the stage.
Ronan and Orin joined them.
On the platform stood a man in academic robes.
"Your main task is simple—hunt monsters and gather herbs. Points will be awarded according to the value of what you collect."
Floating text appeared across the screens overhead.
"Each team will receive a guidebook containing point values and a jade pendant. If you enter critical danger, break the pendant, and you will be teleported to safety."
Murmurs spread through the crowd.
"Only submitted materials count toward your score. Anything left over may be auctioned on stage. Teachers and students are allowed to bid or trade."
Ronan's eyes narrowed slightly.
Auction.
Interesting.
"And lastly—"
The man smiled.
A very dangerous smile.
"Parties may steal from one another."
The crowd erupted instantly.
"What?!"
"Seriously?!"
"That's insane!"
"But—fights are not allowed to be lethal. We are monitoring everything through the screens. You are also forbidden from forcibly breaking another person's jade pendant."
The man stepped back.
"That concludes the rules."
Ronan folded his arms.
"...Okay."
Orin looked over.
Ronan stared at the stage with dead eyes.
"Now I officially hate this competition."
One by one, teams lined up before a female official and received glowing green jade pendants. The pendants emitted a soft warmth when held, faint streams of light moving inside like flowing water.
Then they stepped into a massive magic circle.
Light flared.
Space distorted.
And they vanished.
Ronan and Orin eventually reached the front.
The official handed them their pendants.
Ronan rolled his over in his fingers.
Warm.
Smooth.
Strange.
Then he looked toward the glowing circle ahead.
"...Ready?"
Orin adjusted his storage ring.
"Ready."
The two stepped forward.
The magic circle beneath them suddenly blazed with light.
The world twisted.
Space folded.
And then—
They were gone.