CHAPTER 28 — Aetheria (2)
Boom.
The explosion tore through the air like a violent crack of thunder.
The sound didn't just echo—it shuddered through Rowan's bones, rattling his chest as if something had struck him from the inside. His words died midway on his tongue, his breath catching sharply as his body instinctively stiffened.
For a moment, he didn't move.
Didn't think.
Didn't understand.
Only the lingering vibration of that blast remained, hanging heavy in the air.
Slowly—almost mechanically—Rowan turned his head toward Eldric.
Eldric, however, looked… calm.
Too calm.
He simply lifted one hand and made a lazy, dismissive wave, as if what had just happened was nothing more than a dropped plate in a kitchen.
Then he turned and began walking.
No urgency.
No panic.
Just… A quite simple walk.
Rowan blinked and was still stunned but he shook his head, before quickly stepping forward to follow him.
They moved along the side of the street, weaving through a few startled bystanders, until Eldric stopped near one of the large glass windows of the restaurant.
"What the hell?"
Inside the restaurant, chaos had taken form.
Tables lay overturned, their elegant legs splintered and broken. Chairs were scattered like debris after a storm.
The polished floor, once smooth and reflective, was now cracked in jagged lines, dust and fragments littering its surface.
At the center of it all—
Two groups.
The same two groups Rowan had noticed earlier.
One clad in silver uniforms, their chests marked with a crest shaped like swirling wind—sharp, elegant, and almost regal in its design.
The other dressed in white and pale blue, their uniforms carrying an emblem of clouds intertwined with streaks of thunder—patterns etched subtly across the fabric, like a storm waiting to break free.
And now—
They were clashing.
Spells tore through the air.
Bursts of wind collided with flashes of lightning.
The boy with silver hair and piercing golden eyes moved like a blade—precise, fast, cutting through the battlefield with terrifying control. Across from him stood another boy, equally composed, his presence crackling with restrained force—the apparent leader of the thunder-clad group.
Every exchange between them sent shockwaves rippling across the room.
"—!"
Another explosion.
A table shattered mid-air.
Glass splintered.
The restaurant, moments ago a place of warmth and comfort, had turned into a battlefield.
Around them, civilians scrambled in panic.
Some crawled across the floor, using overturned tables as shields, their movements desperate and uncoordinated.
Others rushed toward the exits, stumbling over debris, their breaths uneven, fear etched clearly across their faces.
Near the far wall, a middle-aged man stood frozen.
His clothes marked him as the owner—his posture rigid, his hands gripping his head as he watched his life's work crumble before his eyes.
"Hey—move!"
Suddenly, a figure burst through the window.
Glass shattered outward as one of the fighters was thrown from inside, landing hard on the street just a few feet away from Rowan and Eldric.
Rowan flinched, instinctively stepping back.
"What the hell…?" he muttered, his voice barely above a whisper.
His eyes remained locked on the scene, struggling to process what he was seeing.
"…Why are they fighting?"
Eldric exhaled slowly, rubbing the back of his neck.
"You see those silver uniform guys?"
he said, nodding toward the group inside. "They're from the House Aerilon."
His gaze shifted slightly.
"And those cloud-and-thunder ones… they belong to the Skyrend Sanctum."
Rowan nodded slowly.
"…Okay. But still... that doesn't explain why are they fighting."
Eldric glanced at him, then let out a quiet sigh.
He placed a hand on Rowan's shoulder and gently turned him away from the scene.
"Come," he said. "I'll explain while we eat."
---
A short while later—
Thud.
The two of them settled onto a wooden bench a short distance away from the restaurant.
The chaos still lingered behind them, but it felt… distant now. Muffled. Like a storm heard from afar.
Between them rested a box of food.
Rowan opened it.
And his eyes lit up instantly.
Inside lay a dish unlike anything he had ever seen.
Large pieces of meat—thick, tender, and coated in a rich, velvety sauce—rested at the center. The gravy clung to the surface in a deep orange hue, glistening under the light, with streaks of melted butter slowly sliding along its surface.
The pieces themselves were enormous—far larger than any normal poultry—each one looking like it had been carved from something far more robust than an ordinary animal.
Beside it lay skewered chunks of grilled delicacy, their edges slightly charred, their surface coated in a deep, spiced marinade that shimmered faintly with oil. The aroma rising from it was smoky, rich, and intoxicating.
And then—
The rice.
Soft, golden-tinted grains, perfectly cooked, releasing thin curls of steam that carried a warm, fragrant scent.
Rowan swallowed.
"…Wow."
Eldric licked his lips.
And just like that—
They began.
Both him and Eldric quickly dinned at their food. Eating it nonstop.
For a while, nothing else existed.
Not the chaos.
Not the city.
Not the looming exam.
Only food.
Each bite burst with flavor—rich, layered, and unfamiliar in the best way possible. The spices danced across Rowan's tongue, the textures shifting with every mouthful.
He didn't speak.
Didn't think.
Only ate.
Fast and Hungry.
The only word that can describe the taste of the food was heavenly.
Eventually, Rowan slowed.
He lifted his head, chewing thoughtfully, his gaze drifting back toward the restaurant.
From here, he could still see the aftermath.
Guards had arrived—uniformed figures moving with authority, their presence steady and controlled. The fighting had ceased, and both groups of students were being restrained and escorted away.
The once-grand restaurant stood broken.
Silence had replaced chaos.
Rowan swallowed.
"…So," he said, brushing a grain of rice from his chin, "why were they fighting?"
"I told you, those crest guys are from the house Aerilon, and those thunder and cloud guys from the Skyrend sanctum."
"That still doesn't explain anything."
Eldric took another bite before answering.
"The Elemental Houses believe in purity," he said. "They think each element should remain untouched—perfect in its original form and should be pushed to achieve it's purest form."
He gestured lightly with his hand
"The mage Sanctums, on the other hand belive in Evolution of elements, mixing different elements with each other and creating variations ."
Eldric sighed and added. "There clash is more like ideological clash of Elements. And that's why, sometimes their students starts fighting when they meet each other."
"Umm." Rowan swallowed his food,"But still, aren't they both... mages? I thought mages only fight dark mages."
Eldric scoffed,"Hah... The mages are not a United force. That's just the illusion of non mages. Infact the mage world is more divided then normal society."
He counted lightly on his fingers
"Dojo association, Academy union, Sanctum Sandor, Elemental house alliance. And the mage council."
Each name felt heavier than the last.
"All these factions only belive in their own interpretation of magic."
Rowan looked at Eldric and then stared at his food.
"I thought that dark mages are the enemy of mages but—"
"The biggest enemy of mages are mages themselves." Eldric added eating his food.
"The dark mages comes as a close second."
"Hmm..." Rowan's eyes widened at the absurd revelation. He shook his head and stared at the destroyed resturant.
Silence settled between them.
Something inside him shifted.
Not fear.
Not confusion
but Something deeper.
"…I see."
"Hey dolt!"
Eldric's voice cut through his thoughts.
"If you pass the exam and enter academy. Keep in mind... Don't trust anybody easily."
Rowan stared at Eldric for a second, he met his gaze and only saw a quiet seriousness on that face.
He nodded.
"...Okay."
After that both returned back on their food.
This time—
More slowly.
After a while, Rowan glanced at Eldric again.
"By the way how did you know that they were going to fight?"
"Haha... Experience."
They both sat there eating their food quickly and peacefully before any other commotion may erupt.
---
Later—
They walked through the Aetherion region.
Rowan's gaze wandered endlessly.
Tall buildings stretched toward the sky, their structures elegant and refined. The streets were wide, clean, and filled with people moving with purpose.
Everything felt… elevated and disciplined.
"No matter how much I look…" Rowan murmured, "this place doesn't stop amazing me."
Eldric glanced at him.
"You're still surprised?"
Rowan nodded.
"Why does this city look so different. Not only that, this Aetherion region at all looks even more different then the rest of the city. What's so special about this."
Eldric glanced at Rowan the curiosity was Visible in the boys pulpis.
"This city has always been special." Eldric voice cut through the air Rowan turn towards Eldric.
"Even before the Era of mages. In the age of empires. This city has always been a place which everyone wanted to rule." Eldric continued.
Rowan looked even more confused.
"Why?" The word slipped out of his tongue without him realising.
Eldric sighed,"There is a very famous myth. They say that The one who rules Aetherion rules Aetheria. And the one who rules Aetheria rules Aetheris."
"Huh...?" Rowan's eyes widened when the words registered in his mind.
Before he could say anything Eldric added rubbing the back of his neck.
"Well... It might not even be a myth, at this point it could be considered a fact. Afterall... In the first grand mage war. Mages were only able to win, after they had captured Aetherion."
Rowan looked at Eldric in awe. His eyes roamed around the region.
"This place is...." he paused for a second. "That special."
"We are here." Eldric's voice pulled him back from his thoughts.
Rowan blinked.
In front of them stood a large building.
Exam registration Office.
Inside—
The atmosphere was structured, almost mechanical.
Rows of chairs lined the polished floor, each occupied by students dressed in different uniforms. Some sat quietly. Others whispered among themselves. Every single one held a letter.
Anticipation filled the air.
Rowan and Eldric sat down.
"Hey dolt!" Eldric looked at Rowan. "The recommendation letter."
Rowan rummaged his pocket and took out the letter.
"Good... your wand?"
Rowan took out his axe.
Eldric slapped his forehead.
"Next!" the voice echoed on the hallway.
Eldric grabbed Rowan's wrist and dragged him towards an office.
Inside, a man sat behind a desk—neatly dressed, composed, his posture straight and professional.
Eldric quickly put the application and letter on the table. The man checked the application and letter his eyes moving through each word.
"Your wand?"
Eldric stood with blank face. Rowan took out his axe and placed it on the table.
The man looked at the axe laying on his table for a second.
"N-No... I asked for your wand."
"This is my wand." Rowan replied with a straight face.
The man looked at his face for a second before —
"Heheha... Hahahahaha." He burst into laughter leaning on his chair, he started slapping his lap.
"Hahaha~hahahhahaha.... haha..." his laugh slowly started fading when he saw Rowan's straight face, he glanced towards Eldric whose face was also carrying an unusual expression.
"You serious?"
The man's eyes widened he looked beside Rowan, towards Eldric.
"Are you his guardian?"
Eldric replied with a nod.
"Care to explain what's this."
After some through explanation . The man finally marked the seal on Rowan's application. But he still looked at both Rowan and Eldric with narrow eyes that carried both confusion and suspicion.
---
Outside—
Rowan stared at his wrist.
A strange device rested there.
It resembled a watch—but far more intricate. A smooth metallic frame wrapped around his wrist, faint inscriptions glowing softly along its surface. At its center, a glass panel shimmered, displaying shifting symbols and numbers that changed with a quiet hum.
For some reason this watch looked way different then any other watch.
Eldric's looks at Rowan whose gaze is fixed on the watch and asked.
"What are you looking at?"
Rowan's gaze was still fixed on the watch.
"This…" Rowan lifted his wrist. "What is it?"
"It's called an Aether Chrono-Link," Eldric replied. "Every registered student gets one."
"It keeps you updated about the exam."
Diiinnn.
A voice echoed across the entire city.
Clear.
Resonant.
And Unavoidable.
{ All students for the Grand Aetherion Entrance Exam—
The registration period will close in 30 minutes.
Please proceed to the registration office immediately if you have not yet registered. }
After the echoes of announcement faded Eldric glanced down towards Rowan.
"Hey dolt! Are you ready?"
Rowan replied with a nod.
He slowly lifted his head.
His eyes drifted toward the vast city ahead.
"…So it's gonna start soon."
The world he had only imagined—
Was finally opening its doors.
---
CHAPTER ENDS