The morning sun hit the golden spires of Aurelius Academy, but the atmosphere inside the stone walls was far from peaceful. Rumors at a magic academy travel faster than a lightning spell, and by breakfast, the entire student body was buzzing with a single, unbelievable story: Kaelen Vance, the 'trash' of the third class, had been seen returning from the Forbidden Grove in the middle of the night—carried or accompanied by Princess Elara herself.
In the Great Dining Hall, the clatter of silver spoons against porcelain was drowned out by hushed whispers.
"Did you hear? Silas said Kaelen used a dark artifact to lure a Manticore, and the Princess had to save him."
"That's not what I heard! I heard he saved her from an ambush!"
"Please, he's a commoner with broken circuits. He probably just got lucky."
The Lion's Recovery
Inside the infirmary, Kaelen Vance opened his eyes. The room was quiet, smelling of sterilized herbs and expensive incense. He felt a cool pressure on his forehead. As his vision cleared, he saw a familiar face—but it wasn't a nurse.
Liora was sitting by his bed, her red hair messy as if she hadn't slept all night. She was fast asleep, her head resting on the edge of his mattress.
Kaelen felt a pang of guilt. In his past life, Liora's loyalty had been his anchor until the day the Void demons tore through the academy's defenses. Seeing her here, safe and breathing, was a gift he didn't deserve but was determined to keep.
He sat up slowly. The pain in his chest had subsided into a dull ache, thanks to the Lunar Spirit Herb and Elara's healing. He checked his internal mana flow. To his surprise, his circuits weren't just healed—they were wider.
The Sovereign's Pulse is working, Kaelen thought, a small smirk playing on his lips. By forcing my limits, I've cracked the shell of my potential. I'm no longer at the bottom of Rank-F. I've reached the peak of Rank-E in a single night.
"You're awake!" Liora jumped, nearly falling off her chair. Her eyes were red-rimmed. "You absolute idiot! Do you have any idea how much trouble you're in? The Headmaster is furious, the Royal Guard is asking questions, and Silas is telling everyone you're a dark mage!"
Kaelen reached out and patted her hand. "Let them talk, Liora. Words don't win wars."
"Wars? What are you talking about?" she huffed, crossing her arms. "And what happened with the Princess? People are saying things, Kaelen. Noble girls are looking for your head because you 'defiled' her presence by being in the forest with her."
"I was just looking for herbs. She happened to be there," Kaelen said simply. He knew the truth was more complicated, but Liora wasn't ready to hear about time travel and apocalypses.
The Confrontation
Kaelen didn't stay in the infirmary for long. He had a schedule to keep. Every hour wasted was an hour the Void Emperor grew stronger in the distant realms.
As he walked toward the training grounds, he was blocked by a wall of blue-and-silver uniforms. These weren't minor nobles like Silas. These were the Azure Knights, the academy's elite student disciplinary squad, led by Prince Julian, Elara's cousin.
Julian was everything Kaelen was not: wealthy, handsome, and born with a silver spoon and a high-rank mana core. He looked at Kaelen with pure disdain.
"Vance," Julian said, his hand resting on the hilt of his decorative rapier. "I don't know what game you're playing, but the royalfamily is not a toy for your social climbing. Stay away from Elara. A gutter rat like you shouldn't even breathe the same air as the Golden Rose."
The crowd of students gathered around, sensing a fight. They expected Kaelen to cower. After all, Julian was a Rank-C mage—vastly superior to any commoner.
Kaelen didn't stop walking. He kept moving until he was inches away from Julian's face. He was shorter than the Prince, but his presence made Julian look like a child playing dress-up.
"If the Princess wants to speak to me, she will," Kaelen said, his voice cold and steady. "And if you want to stop me, Julian, I suggest you draw that toothpick you call a sword. Otherwise, get out of my way."
The gasp from the crowd was audible. Julian's face turned purple. "You... you dare? I challenge you to a duel! Next week, at the Monthly Tournament. If I win, you are expelled from the academy and exiled from the capital."
"And if I win?" Kaelen asked, his eyes flashing with silver light.
Julian laughed mockingly. "You won't. But fine. If you win, I'll give you my family's Mana-Conducting Steel."
"Deal," Kaelen said. He walked past the Prince, his shoulder hitting Julian's with such force that the noble stumbled.
A Secret Meeting
That evening, Kaelen went to the library, but not to study. He went to the forbidden section in the back, where the light was dim and the dust was thick.
"You're late," a voice whispered from behind a bookshelf.
Princess Elara stepped out from the shadows. She wasn't wearing her royal robes; she was in a simple student uniform, trying to blend in. But her radiance was hard to hide.
"I had to deal with your cousin," Kaelen said, leaning against a pillar. "He's quite charming."
Elara sighed, her eyes filled with worry. "Julian is an arrogant fool, but he's strong, Kaelen. Why did you accept the duel? You're still recovering."
"I need that steel to forge a real weapon," Kaelen replied. He looked at her seriously. "And I need you to stop following me into dangerous places. You're the future of this kingdom, Elara. You can't take risks like that."
Elara stepped closer, her scent of sun-flowers and ozone filling his senses. "I sensed your mana yesterday. It wasn't normal magic. It felt... ancient. Kaelen, who taught you? And why do you look at me as if you've known me forever?"
Kaelen looked away. He couldn't tell her. Not yet. If he told her he was a ghost from a dead future, she might think he was insane—or worse, it might change her destiny in a way he couldn't control.
"I'm just a boy who wants to make sure the world doesn't burn," Kaelen said softly. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a small stone he had found in the Grove—a Solar Quartz. "Take this. If you're ever in danger and I'm not there, break it. It will send a signal directly to my mana core."
Elara took the stone, her fingers brushing his. A spark of energy—a mix of gold and silver—flickered between them. She looked into his eyes and for a moment, the library vanished. She felt a memory that wasn't hers: a memory of blood, a white light, and a voice saying, 'Find me again.'
She pulled her hand back, breathless. "Kaelen... I..."
"Go back to your dorm, Elara," Kaelen said, his voice thick with emotion. "I have to train. I have a Prince to defeat."
As she hurried away, Kaelen sat down on the floor, crossing his legs. He had seven days. Seven days to master the 'First Form of theSilver Lion' with a body that was still fragile.
He closed his eyes and began to circulate his mana. I don't care if I have to break every bone in my body, he thought. Julian is just a stepping stone. The Emperor is the real target. And I am coming for his throne.
Outside, the moon rose over the academy, unaware that the wheels of fate were turning. The 'Trash' of the Academy was no more. The Sovereign was rising.