« 4238 YEARS LATER (Relative to Earth Calculated Time) »
A beautiful morning greeted those already awake. Warm sunlight spread across the land as the rising sun climbed higher, casting its glow over the massive city below: Alexsandria.
The Human Capital stood in the west of the country, its coastal location helping it grow into a major port city rich from trade and harbour commerce. Its wealth showed in its white-stone buildings, accented by red and blue pillars and statues. To any foreign visitor, the architecture made one thing clear: this was a city of prosperity.
Yet even within its walls, wealth was unevenly displayed. The buildings near Her Highness' castle were grander and more expensive, while those closer to the outer walls were simpler and more crowded. They seemed built mainly to house the population, though they were no less liveable.
On a road deep within the beautiful city, a man walked hand in hand with a child towards a giant domed structure in the distance.
The man wore a distinctive uniform.
A buttoned black-and-gold blazer covered his torso, paired with plain black trousers and sleek black boots that echoed against the marble road.
His left hand rested in his trouser pocket while his right held the child's hand.
The child wore a similar outfit, though the large logo sewn onto the left breast pocket of his small black blazer stood out most.
The child was Cur.
His black hair swayed as he walked, and his golden eyes glistened in the morning sun.
Father and son walked happily up the road, both smiling.
"Remember, Cur. If anything happens, you can always ask a teacher for help."
"Yes, Dad!"
The man's voice was soothing to the newly turned nine-year-old. After all, it belonged to his father.
Cur's voice, by contrast, was bright and cheerful, full of a child's carefree energy.
"You didn't forget your Armaments, did you?"
"Nope!"
Cur raised his right hand to show the ring on his middle finger, then glanced at the matching ring on his left hand.
They walked a little farther before coming to a stop.
Before them stood a large arch topped with three statues. At the centre was a knight-like man holding a massive two-handed sword. To his right stood a woman in a long robe and witch's hat, gripping a staff. To his left stood another man, this one carrying a great shield instead of a sword.
Cur stared up in awe until he noticed his father bowing slightly.
Snapped back to reality, Cur quickly copied him and bowed as well, though he did not understand why.
The moment of respect ended when an older voice called from behind them.
"Lord El! What a surprise to see you here!"
Cur glanced back and saw a gentleman much older than his father approaching them.
His father turned and raised his left hand in greeting.
"Lord Dohus. This is a pleasant surprise. I'm shocked a man like you is awake at this hour."
The older man laughed briefly, clearly appreciating the joke. As he reached them, he shook Cur's father's hand, then noticed Cur standing nearby.
"Ah, I see. Cur is joining the school this year, then?"
Hearing his name, Cur immediately looked up at him.
Unlike his father, the older man had a long white beard and wore a pure white suit with a red tie. He was broader than Cur's father too, though not from muscle—perhaps from a few too many beers over the years.
"Yes. Children grow up so quickly, would you not agree? Speaking of which... your nephew. Was he not—"
Before he could finish, a child came sprinting up the road towards them, as if answering the question himself.
As he drew closer, Cur heard him shout, which only left Cur more confused.
"Uuuuaaaaaahhhhhh! Made it!"
The child leapt towards them and landed safely on both feet.
"You did not make it. You are fifty-three seconds late!"
Lord Dohus exclaimed.
"Aww, man!"
The child grabbed his head with both hands and groaned up at the sky.
Cur stared, baffled. What exactly had he failed to make?
"Good morning, Hariel. Glad you could join us."
Cur's father greeted him with a gentle smile.
"Good morning to you too, Lord El!"
Hariel replied before turning to Cur with a puzzled look.
"Uh... who's this?"
He asked, pointing at Cur.
"This is your first time meeting him, isn't it? Hariel, this is Cur Ynha-El, Lord El's son."
Lord Dohus introduced him.
"Huh? Lord El, you have a son?"
Cur's father chuckled before replying.
"Yes. He did not attend school last year, so I'm not surprised you haven't heard of him. Go on, Cur. Say hello."
Cur hesitated, then found the courage to approach the boy. He was not shy exactly; it felt more like caution.
"H-hi there."
He said it awkwardly, extending his right hand.
Hariel looked at him for a moment, then broke into a wide grin and grabbed Cur's hand firmly.
"Hi, Cur! I'm Hariel! Let's be friends, yeah?"
Hariel's cheerful attitude immediately eased Cur's nerves. Cur smiled back and nodded eagerly.
The two adults watched with pleased smiles.
Now that Cur had a proper look at him, he saw that Hariel was quite striking despite his childish energy. He had medium blond hair, as scruffy as his unbuttoned black blazer and rolled-up sleeves, and eyes as blue as the ocean beyond the city walls.
"Well, it is time. You two can go ahead without us. Look after him, Hariel."
Lord Dohus said to his nephew.
Hariel turned to the older man and saluted.
Cur, however, looked at his father with worry. Sensing what was coming, his father knelt before him and placed a hand on his head.
"I know this is your first time somewhere like this, but you must be strong, just like I taught you."
He rubbed Cur's head, easing the child's worry.
Cur nodded with determination.
Soon, Cur watched his father leave with Lord Dohus. He waved with a half-open hand, still uneasy about the day ahead.
Hariel, however, was the complete opposite.
"BYE-BYE! SEE YOU LATER!"
He shouted, wildly waving both hands at the departing adults.
Once even his father's silhouette had disappeared, Cur turned towards the building that would now be his school.
The giant glass-and-marble dome loomed over him, its imposing presence sending a chill up his spine. But Hariel's words quickly eased his fear.
"So, this is your first time going to school, huh? It's okay. I'll help you out!"
Cur stared at him as Hariel gave a thumbs-up and flashed a wide smile.
To reach the school entrance, they had to cross a bridge over the river that ran through the city. Together, they started across it.
As they walked, Cur noticed there were no other students heading to school.
"Why are we the only ones going?"
"Hmm? Oh, we're not. Everyone else had their first day yesterday. Since we're nobles, we're allowed to start a day later. Classes usually begin at eight, but on your first day back, you can arrive two hours later."
The answer put Cur slightly more at ease.
They soon reached the middle of the bridge. Suddenly, Hariel jumped as if struck by a thought, then turned to Cur with a bright gleam in his blue eyes.
"W-what?"
Cur asked, completely confused.
"Your Armament!"
"Huh? They're right here."
Cur looked down at his hands.
"Can I see? Please?"
Hariel asked, barely containing his excitement.
"Why?"
Hariel calmed himself a little, straightened up, and replied.
"If I show you mine, will you show me yours?"
Cur hesitated, then nodded.
Hariel pulled a necklace from beneath his collar. Hanging from it was a sword-shaped pendant, which he quickly gripped in one hand.
He closed his eyes, tightened his hold on the small blade, and raised his fist above his head.
Then he threw the pendant into the air. A burst of yellow-white fire flashed around it.
Cur shielded his eyes for a moment. When the light began to fade, he slowly opened them again.
Wonder shot through him like lightning.
Beside Hariel now stood a giant sword, towering over the child in both height and size.
Its double-edged blade gleamed silver, with red writing etched along the fuller. The cross-guard and pommel shone in copper and gold, while brown leather wrapped the grip in a criss-cross pattern.
Cur could barely contain his excitement.
He stared at the weapon as though he had discovered the greatest treasure in the world.
"Wooooaaahh! That's so awesome!"
he cried.
"Right? Right? Isn't she?!"
The sword stood nearly three metres tall, making Hariel look even smaller beside it.
Then a thought struck Cur.
"Hariel, are you a Flamberge?"
"Yup, that's right!"
That explained how someone Hariel's size could hold such a weapon, let alone swing it. Cur nodded slightly, as if confirming the thought to himself.
The sword shrank back into its pendant form, and Hariel slipped the necklace around his neck again. Now it was Cur's turn to keep his side of the bargain.
"Well, what about yours?"
Cur hesitated, but a deal was a deal. His mother had always taught him that when two people made an agreement, they should honour it.
He stretched his right hand out to the side, palm open and fingers spread, then called out.
"Gungnir."
Unlike Hariel's sword, Gungnir did not appear in a flash of bright flame. Instead, black, all-consuming fire erupted around it.
The flames swallowed the space around the children, and a giant weapon appeared in Cur's hand. Its butt spike struck the bridge, cracking the pearl-white marble beneath him.
Hariel stared at the weapon before him. It was not a sword, rapier, or staff, but a spear unlike anything he had ever seen.
Its metal shaft was roughly 170 to 180 centimetres long. At the end, a large, swordlike black spearhead gave the weapon a lethal edge. Tattered black fabric wrapped around the socket, lashing the blade in place as it whipped in the wind stirred by the circling black flames.
Hariel was genuinely impressed.
He had never seen anything like it. Awe filled him first, followed quickly by a trace of fear.
Once Hariel had seen enough, Cur snapped his fingers. The spear spun, shrinking rapidly until it vanished.
Cur glanced at the ring on his right hand, then looked back at Hariel.
"That was AMAZING!"
Hariel could no longer contain himself.
"I've never seen an Armament like that! Was it a spear? A glaive? It was so cool! How did you make it? Who helped you? And those black flames—they burst out like whoosh, and the blade went blaam! Do it again!"
Cur could not imagine how anyone was supposed to calm him down now.
Showing Gungnir again would only make things worse.
"Hariel, please calm down. It wasn't that great."
Cur tried to steady him while fighting back a faint blush of embarrassment.
It would not have been surprising if he blushed. Cur had never attended school before, let alone made friends. He had watched other children play from time to time, but had never had the chance to join them. Now, his new friend was amazed by something Cur had created himself—with a little help from his father's colleague—and the thought made him quietly happy.
Before Hariel could keep pressing him, a sharp voice came from behind them.
"Will you two move? I have classes to attend in a few minutes!"
Both boys turned towards the sharp feminine voice behind them. Cur moved slowly, expecting to find an angry adult scolding them for the commotion. But Hariel remained relaxed and childish as ever, so Cur quickly reconsidered.
He was right.
Standing behind them, between the two boys as if completing a triangle, was a small girl with an annoyed expression. Cur tilted his head slightly.
"Well, well. Look who showed up. Miss House Appliance is running a little behind schedule, huh?"
Hariel said with a grin.
"Well, well. If it isn't the youngest heir of the 'Doofus' family."
The girl retorted with a grin of her own.
Hariel bristled at the insult, but Cur could not hold back a cheeky chuckle. Hariel shot him a look that clearly said, Don't side with her.
Cur raised his hands in a small apology, then turned to face the girl properly.
Like Hariel, she was young but striking. Hazel hair framed her face and fell to her shoulders, held neatly to one side by an ornate clip, while the rest was tied into a bun. Her emerald-green eyes stood out beneath the same black blazer worn by Cur and Hariel. Instead of trousers and boots, however, she wore a black skirt ending just above her knees and sleek black shoes with a slight heel.
She was the shortest of the three, while Hariel was the tallest, though the difference was not large.
"Hey, doofus, who's this?"
she asked, looking at Hariel while pointing at Cur.
"It's Dohus, you broken light bulb! And this is Cur. He's new to the school."
Hariel replied.
"Cur? Never heard of him."
She said it aloud as she stepped closer.
Cur instinctively took half a step back as she approached.
"Hmm... those are interesting eyes, Cur."
The girl said as she studied them closely.
"T-thank you."
Cur replied, unsure whether she meant it as a compliment or criticism.
"You're new, then? What are you, a transfer student?"
"Um, not exactly. I was home-schooled until today."
Cur explained.
"Hmmm..."
Suspicion flickered in her eyes, but she did not press him. Instead, she straightened, smiled, and offered him her hand.
"Well, I'm Anas. Anas Lorkan, second daughter of Loraine Lorkan."
As he had with Hariel, Cur hesitated at first, then found the courage to shake her hand and introduce himself.
"Pleased to meet you, Anas. I'm Cur. Cur Ynha-El, first and only son of the El family."
"You're... an El?"
Anas quickly looked to Hariel.
As if he already knew what she wanted to ask, Hariel nodded.
"Lord El told me himself. He's the real deal."
Anas looked genuinely surprised.
"Why is an El attending school?"
Cur's blank look made it clear he had no idea what she meant.
"Well, school is going to be chaotic for a while. This should be an interesting year..."
Anas said, looking directly at Cur and leaving him to wonder what his presence at the school truly meant.
An awkward silence settled over the trio until a loud bell chimed from the Academy, jolting all three children. Anas looked especially flustered. She had always been punctual, and this would be the first time she was late.
Green-and-white flames rose from her feet and quickly wrapped around her body. Her eyes glowed deep green, like fireflies in the dark. She winked at the boys, then shot towards the Academy, leaving a trail of wind behind her.
"That's cheating!"
Hariel shouted as bright yellow flames engulfed him and his eyes began to glow.
Like Anas, Hariel launched himself towards the Academy. He was not as fast, but his speed was still remarkable.
Cur was left behind. Not because they meant to abandon him, but because he stood frozen in awe. Their Fire Control far surpassed his own, but he knew he could not afford to linger.
Unlike them, Cur could not use his fire to increase his speed. His body had not been trained for it yet.
So he ran the old-fashioned way.
After running for a short while, Cur stopped at the Academy gates and found a sight he had not expected.
A few metres from the entrance stood a tall, slender woman.
Her abyss-black hair fell to her waist in loose curls, moving freely in the wind. Her crimson eyes burned brightly beneath the morning sun, almost like flash-fire. She wore a long dark-blue dress that reached her heels, fitted closely to her figure and split from the waist to reveal her left leg.
Yet Cur's attention was not on the striking woman herself.
She held two children aloft by the collars of their blazers, one in each hand. Hariel and Anas hung limply from her grip.
"I believe I taught you that using fire outside battlegrounds, training facilities, or private property is prohibited."
Her melodic voice carried the softness of a mother and the firmness of a scolding teacher.
"Yes, Lady Uls..."
The two children answered together.
When Cur realised who she was, he quickly bowed.
The woman looked down at the top of his head, and a gentle smile touched her lips.
"You must be Cur. I have been waiting for you."
"Yes, Lady Uls. I-it is an honour to finally meet you. My father told me you would be waiting for me."
Cur replied in a calm, formal tone that did not sound like him, as if he were trying to maintain appearances.
"I hope these two did not cause you any trouble?"
Hariel and Anas felt her gaze fall on them like divine judgement, and beads of nervous sweat formed on both their faces.
"No, ma'am. They only introduced themselves."
"Hmm... is that so?"
Lady Uls looked down at the two children in her hands. They quickly nodded in unison.
She set them down, and relief visibly washed over all three children. Hariel and Anas shared a small grateful smile with Cur.
"Miss Lorkan, you have already completed your Fire and Avatar Aptitude Test, correct?"
Lady Uls asked, looking down at the small girl.
"Yes, ma'am."
"Then you may head to class."
Taking it as an escape from further punishment, Anas quickly bowed and hurried into the Academy.
"Now, Mister Dohus. Your uncle asked me to repeat your test."
"Yep!"
Hariel replied in his usual carefree way.
Lady Uls then turned to Cur, her gaze unreadable.
"And since this is your first time here, Mister El, I believe your test should be completed as well."
Cur simply stared up at her.
"Come along, then. You both still have classes to attend." She turned and motioned for the children to follow.
Hariel and Cur walked side by side behind her. Hariel leaned closer and whispered, careful not to let Lady Uls hear.
"Maaaan, the Headmistress could have had my head. Thanks for saving me, Cur."
"Headmistress? She runs the school?"
Cur asked, surprised.
"You didn't know?"
Hariel asked, just as surprised. Cur shook his head.
"Lady Uls created the Academy, so of course she runs it."
Cur was impressed. She created the Academy? His mother had told him a little about Lady Uls, but never that she had built the school herself.
Then another thought occurred to him.
"Hey, Hariel..."
"Hmm?"
"What is the Fire and Avatar Aptitude Test?"
"Oh, that's simple. It's—"
Lady Uls cut him off.
"The Fire and Avatar Aptitude Test helps us identify the Fire Abilities you were born with, how much you have developed them, and which fields of Fire Arts suit you best. That allows us to place you in the right classes. It also reveals what kind of Avatar you may carry, if any, and helps us determine whether you could become a danger to yourself or others."
"A danger? That's harsh..."
Hariel replied.
"As I am sure you know, Mister Dohus, fire is powerful and dangerous. If we allowed it to spread through the school without restraint, without knowing how to stop it, or without proper safety measures, the results would be... problematic. Wouldn't you agree, Mister El?"
Cur raised his head to look up at her. Lady Uls had turned slightly, as if meeting his eyes. After a brief pause, he answered.
"Absolutely."
After a few minutes of walking, the trio stopped before two wide doors. Lady Uls opened them, revealing a vast room beyond.
It resembled a gymnasium, though barely. There was no equipment, no court markings, and nothing that clearly identified its purpose except the smell: a heavy warmth in the air, as if students had trained or fought there for hours.
At the centre of the open space stood a square table covered with a red cloth. Resting in the middle was a small ball, about the size of a watermelon, held steady by a folded cloth beneath it.
Only then did Cur and Hariel realise they were not alone.
To their right, near the wall, another group seemed to be waiting: two adults and a child.
The woman looked to be in her forties. Her ginger hair was neatly tied back, revealing a soft, gentle face. Warm, wood-brown eyes gave her a calming presence, and she wore a beige blouse with fitted dark-blue trousers.
Beside her stood an older man, slightly shorter and more hunched, who looked more suited to a care home than a school. His grey hair and stubble showed his age, yet suited him well. His rust-coloured eyes still carried the fire of someone far younger, and a simple black robe, fastened with a white belt, hung from his frame.
Then there was the child.
When Cur looked at her, he could not help but stare.
She had the most beautiful white hair he had ever seen, as if moulded from snow, falling to her waist like Lady Uls's. Her eyes burned red, like fragments of a star set into a child's face. She wore the same uniform as Anas, though her sleeves were rolled up slightly.
"Good, everyone is here. Let's begin."