The first rays of morning light pierced through the translucent barrier surrounding the floating city of Arcadia, casting a soft glow over the luxurious dormitory assigned to the elite students of Erinoguard Academy. Inside one of the upper rooms, Elias Vale Elydrion stirred from his slumber.
He blinked open his eyes, sat up, and rubbed them sleepily before sliding off the bed with effortless grace. The soft thud of his footsteps on the enchanted flooring—warm in winter, cool in summer—broke the early silence.
With practiced routine, Elias entered the bathroom. Steam rose from the crystalline basin as he brushed his teeth and stepped into the enchanted shower—its temperature adjusting automatically to his preferences. Water glided down his lean, sculpted frame, revealing a V-shaped torso with well-defined abs and shoulders carved from years of disciplined training. Despite his noble origins, Elias bore the marks of hard work, not entitlement.
After drying off with a self-warming towel, he stood before the mirror. Long platinum hair fell to his back in damp strands, gleaming like moonlight. He tied it back neatly with a silken ribbon—the color of the Erinoguard uniform—deep midnight blue, fastened by a small but luminous blue gem at the knot. The subtle sparkle added a regal touch to his already striking appearance.
"I really am handsome," he muttered with a smirk, adjusting the ribbon.
His wardrobe for the day awaited him: the standard attire for elite students, tailored perfectly to his frame. He dressed in a fitted black shirt tucked into sleek black trousers, both enhanced with subtle magical runes woven into the seams. These enchantments adjusted warmth, resisted stains, and even reinforced durability—ideal for the unpredictable life of an academy student.
His black boots rose just below the knee, fastened with silver buckles. Each step would make no sound unless he wished it; the boots were enchanted to silence movement—designed for stealth and tactical lessons.
Over it all, Elias donned the iconic Erinoguard robe: a long, high-collared coat in deep midnight blue. Intricate silver runes traced the hems and cuffs, glowing faintly in darkness or proximity to mana. The inner lining adjusted to temperature, keeping him comfortable whether under summer sun or wintry skies. The coat moved like flowing water, weightless and dignified.
He glanced at the academy emblem emblazoned on the robe's left breast:
A towering stone spire symbolizing knowledge and growth.
A majestic dragon spiraled around it—
• Its tail curled at the base, anchoring the foundation of learning,
• Its wings wrapped protectively around the midsection—signifying balance and discipline,
• Its head rose above the top, roaring to the sky—a call to mastery and ambition.
Behind the emblem, a faint halo of arcane runes shimmered with ethereal light, visible only to those with trained eyes.
Elias ran a hand down the fabric to smooth it. His ribbon tie—matching the robe's color—rested elegantly at his collar, held in place by the same gemstone that sparkled in his hair.
With one final look in the mirror, he nodded to himself. No prince today—just a student, like the rest. But one who would shape the academy's destiny.
"Time to begin," he said softly, opening the door to meet his fate.
As Elias stepped outside his room, he paused. There were no signs, no directions—just the dim glow of mana-lamps lining the corridor. He didn't know where to go, but he kept walking. The hallway curved downward, and with each step, the atmosphere seemed to shift slightly.
Then he saw it.
The staircase ahead shimmered, changing shape as if responding to some unseen force. But Elias didn't panic. He'd read about this in the novel. The dorm's inner architecture was enchanted. Stairs would vanish and reappear, not just shift like in other tales. What he needed was the midnight blue stairway—a rare, fleeting path that appeared for just five seconds, then blinked out of existence.
There it was.
The moment it flickered into view, Elias sprinted. With a long jump, he landed smoothly on the blue steps, which thrummed beneath his feet like a living thing. By the time they vanished, he was already on the other side—outside the dorms.
He turned to glance at the building behind him.
It looked like an ancient castle, vast and towering, with spires piercing the morning sky. Ornate script hovered in the air:
"First-Year Combined Dormitory"
—housing both boys and girls, though it looked large enough for a thousand.
"Too big for just 200 students," Elias muttered, adjusting the strap of his uniform jacket. He started toward the orientation hall, located in the central building. He had to hurry—the enchanted train station would only remain accessible for a limited time.
Directions had already been planted into their minds through unknown magic. No one got lost. As he walked, he noticed other students—first-years like him—all wearing the same academy uniform. None of them carried books or bags; today was when they would receive their materials.
Then, amidst the crowd, he saw her.
Golden hair. Blue eyes. A skirt instead of trousers.
"Hey, Georgina."
She turned, eyes lighting up. "Your Highness."
"No formality here," Elias replied with a small smile.
She nodded, returning the smile—genuine, gentle. Georgina was one of his favorite characters from the original novel. Meeting her here in person stirred something warm inside him.
"Shall we go together?" Elias offered.
She fell in step beside him. As they walked, they were soon joined by Jullian, clad in the same black-trimmed uniform.
"Morning," he greeted.
Together, they reached the train station just in time. The platform shimmered with ethereal glyphs—it existed only at certain times, vanishing without a trace otherwise. Today, they'd made it.
As they sat together in one of the carriages, Jullian looked around.
"Hey… where's Nyx?"
At the mention of his name, Georgina's eyes flicked away. Her posture stiffened.
Sensing the shift, Jullian added cautiously, "Is something wrong?"
Elias knew the truth. Nyx had been dumped—left behind in more ways than one.
Georgina replied, coolly but without malice, "We're not together. He entered the academy three years ago. I don't really know where he is now."
Jullian didn't press the subject further.
Instead, they fell into light conversation until the train arrived at the central building.
⸻
The Central Hall was a marvel—like the lair of some ancient dragon-god. Towers rose high above the clouds, and the building sprawled across a field so vast it made the horizon seem like a rumor. Enchanted fountains shimmered with floating runes, and marble walkways glowed faintly beneath their feet.
Students wearing variations of the academy uniform moved in and out. Some bore crimson coats, others silver-lined ones—upper-year designations.
As Elias and the others approached, some seniors offered polite nods, while others simply watched with curiosity. Elias led his group inside. They took the lift, a strange, whisper-filled platform said to move not to specific floors, but desires.
Legends whispered that this lift had taken students to places of power, wealth, or ruin—depending on what they wished for most. Most believed it nonsense. Elias knew better.
The lift deposited them at a vast auditorium, shaped like a colossal lecture hall, with rows of arched seating and desks arranged in elegant curves. The emblem of Erinoguard Academy shone in ethereal gold on the far wall—swords, stars, and a dragon coiled around a crystal sun.
As students filed in, Elias spotted familiar faces:
• Synthros Yzhalith Zephyros
• Threx Vaer Nyreth – Jullian's rival, cold-eyed and sharp-tongued
• Veylan, Feldine, and Davis—all loyal Elydrion students
• Even Elric, another of noble blood
Elias had planned this well. He gathered the Elydrion group near the front, positioning them as a united front—a subtle deterrent to rival factions.
Then, the hall fell into a hush.
A figure stepped in—graceful, radiant, otherworldly.
She had long white-blonde hair, eyes like polished sapphire, and ears so elegantly pointed they could only belong to royalty.
Nyssara Evelyne Aralyn, Princess of the Elven nation of Thryllmere, daughter of Queen Ithirel Aenya Aralyn.
Elias wasn't the only one staring. Veylan, Jullian, Davis—boys and girls alike—paused. No words could describe her beauty without sounding like exaggeration.
Some boys, of course, noticed… other attributes as well.
She was followed by more elite students:
• Caelistra Evandis, the Saintess of Vallhala Church—serene and divine
• Saryn Halric Bhumari, the prince of the Bhumari Empire, draped in royal blues
• And many others from the great nations and bloodlines of the realm
But one figure was missing.
Elias glanced around, frowning internally.
"He's not here," he thought. "Did he miss the train? I heard he's a heavy sleeper…"
He leaned back in his seat.
Something told him this year at Erinoguard would be nothing like what the novels had shown.